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 22, 2017

 

 

SUPERIOR INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

Commission File Number: 1-6615

 

Delaware   95-2594729
(State or Other Jurisdiction Incorporation)   (IRS Employer No.)

26600 Telegraph Road, Suite 400

Southfield, Michigan

  48033
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (248) 352-7300

 

(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

Uniwheels Acquisition

On March 23, 2017, Superior Industries International, Inc. (NYSE: SUP) (“Superior”), announced that it had entered into various agreements to commence a tender offer to acquire Uniwheels AG, a German stock corporation ( Aktiengesellschaft ) that is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (“Uniwheels”), through a newly-formed, wholly-owned subsidiary (the “Acquisition”). The Acquisition will be effected through a multi-step process as more fully described below.

In the first step of the Acquisition, on March 23, 2017, Superior obtained a commitment from the owner of approximately 61% of the outstanding stock of Uniwheels, Uniwheels Holding (Malta) Ltd. (the “Significant Holder”), evidenced by an irrevocable undertaking agreement (the “Undertaking Agreement”) to tender such stock in the second step of the Acquisition. In connection with the Undertaking Agreement, on March 23, 2017: (i) Superior entered into a business combination agreement with Uniwheels (the “Combination Agreement”) pursuant to which, subject to the provisions of the German Stock Corporation Act (AktG), Uniwheels and its subsidiaries undertook to, amongst other things, cooperate with the financing of the Acquisition; and (ii) Superior and the Significant Holder entered into a guarantee and indemnification agreement pursuant to which Superior will hold the Significant Holder harmless for claims that may arise relating to its involvement with Uniwheels (the “Indemnification Agreement”).

In the second step of the Acquisition, Superior will commence a tender offer (the “Tender Offer” and all of the documents, schedules and exhibits related thereto as are required to effect the Tender Offer, including the Undertaking Agreement, the Combination Agreement and the Indemnification Agreement, as each may be amended, modified, supplemented or waived from time to time, the “Tender Documents”), pursuant to which, Superior will offer to purchase all (but not less than 75% of) the outstanding stock of Uniwheels and, upon the consummation of the Tender Offer, will purchase the stock of the Significant Holder along with all other stock of Uniwheels tendered pursuant to the Tender Offer (the “Tender Effectiveness”). The aggregate equity purchase price of the Acquisition, assuming all outstanding shares of Uniwheels are tendered in the Tender Offer, will be approximately $715 million.

Superior and Uniwheels each have made customary representations, warranties and covenants in the Tender Documents, including, among others, covenants by Uniwheels to, subject to certain exceptions, conduct its business in the ordinary course during the period between the execution of the Tender Documents and the closing of the Acquisition.

The Undertaking Agreement and Combination Agreement are filed as Exhibits 2.1 and 2.2, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein. The Indemnification Agreement is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein. The above descriptions of the material terms of the Undertaking Agreement, the Combination Agreement and the Indemnification Agreement do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to Exhibits 2.1, 2.2 and 10.1.


Equity Financing

On March 22, 2017, Superior and TPG Growth III Sidewall, L.P. (the “Investor”) entered into an Investment Agreement (the “Investment Agreement”) pursuant to which, upon the Tender Effectiveness, Superior will issue a number of shares of Series A Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock (the “Series A Preferred Stock”) and Series B Redeemable Preferred Stock (the “Series B Preferred Stock”) to the Investor for an aggregate purchase price of $150 million (the “Investment”). The number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be issued by Superior will be equal to 19.99% of the shares of Superior common stock outstanding upon the closing of the Investment and the remainder of the preferred stock to be issued by Superior pursuant to the Investment Agreement will be issued in the form of Series B Preferred Stock. The Series A Preferred Stock is convertible into Superior common stock and the Series B Preferred Stock is not convertible into Superior common stock. Superior has undertaken to hold a special meeting of stockholders within 120 days after the closing of the Investment for the purposes of approving the conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock into Series A Preferred Stock. In addition, upon the closing of the Investment, the board of directors of Superior (the “Board”) will increase the size of the Board by one director and the Investor will be entitled to designate one director for one election to the Board.

The Investment Agreement is filed as Exhibit 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein. The above description of the material terms of the Investment Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to Exhibit 10.2.

Debt Financing

On March 22, 2017, Superior entered into a $550 million senior secured credit facility, which will be funded upon the Tender Effectiveness, consisting of a $150 million senior secured revolving credit facility and a $400 million senior secured term loan facility between Superior, Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and the Lenders party thereto (the “Credit Agreement”). In addition, on March 22, 2017, Superior entered into a €240 million senior unsecured credit facility pursuant to a Bridge Credit Agreement between Superior, Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and the Lenders party thereto (the “Bridge Credit Agreement and, together with the Credit Agreement, the “Debt Financing Agreements”). Funds obtained under the Debt Financing Agreements will principally be used to fund, directly or indirectly, the payment of the consideration for the Acquisition pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Tender Documents.

The Credit Agreement and the Bridge Credit Agreement are filed as Exhibits 10.3 and 10.4, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein. The above descriptions of the material terms of the Credit Agreement and the Bridge Credit Agreement do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to Exhibits 10.3 and 10.4.

 

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

On March 23, 2017, Superior held an investor conference call regarding the Acquisition. The presentation used for such conference call is attached as Exhibit 99.1.

The information in Item 7.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto, is being furnished and 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 such section. The information in Item 7.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto, shall not be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, unless specifically incorporated by reference into any such filing.

 

Item 8.01. Other Events.

On March 23, 2017, Superior issued a press release announcing the Acquisition, which is attached as Exhibit 99.2 and is hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 8.01.


Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits:

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Exhibit

Description

  2.1    Undertaking Agreement, dated as of March 23, 2017, between Superior Industries International, Inc. and Uniwheels Holding (Malta) Ltd.
  2.2    Combination Agreement, dated March 23, 2017, between Superior Industries International, Inc. and Uniwheels AG.
10.1    Indemnification Agreement, dated March 23, 2017, between Superior Industries International, Inc. and Uniwheels Holding (Malta) Ltd.
10.2    Investment Agreement, dated March 22, 2017, between Superior Industries International, Inc., and TPG Growth III Sidewall, L.P.
10.3    Credit Agreement, dated March 22, 2017, among Superior Industries International, Inc., Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and the Lenders party thereto.*
10.4    Bridge Credit Agreement, dated March 22, 2017, among Superior Industries International, Inc., Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and the Lenders party thereto.*
99.1    Investor Presentation of Superior Industries International Inc., dated March 23, 2017.
99.2    Press Release of Superior Industries International Inc., dated March 23, 2017.

 

* Certain schedules and exhibits to this agreement have been omitted in accordance with Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. A copy of any omitted schedule or exhibit will be furnished supplementally to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.


SIGNATURES

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

 

    SUPERIOR INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Date: March 24, 2017     By:  

/s/ Kerry A. Shiba

      Kerry A. Shiba
      Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer


INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit

Number

  

Exhibit

Description

  2.1    Undertaking Agreement, dated as of March 23, 2017, between Superior Industries International, Inc. and Uniwheels Holding (Malta) Ltd.
  2.2    Combination Agreement, dated March 23, 2017, between Superior Industries International, Inc. and Uniwheels AG.
10.1    Indemnification Agreement, dated March 23, 2017, between Superior Industries International, Inc. and Uniwheels Holding (Malta) Ltd.
10.2    Investment Agreement, dated March 22, 2017, between Superior Industries International, Inc., and TPG Growth III Sidewall, L.P.
10.3    Credit Agreement, dated March 22, 2017, among Superior Industries International, Inc., Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and the Lenders party thereto.*
10.4    Bridge Credit Agreement, dated March 22, 2017, among Superior Industries International, Inc., Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and the Lenders party thereto.*
99.1    Investor Presentation of Superior Industries International Inc., dated March 23, 2017.
99.2    Press Release of Superior Industries International Inc., dated March 23, 2017.

 

* Certain schedules and exhibits to this agreement have been omitted in accordance with Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. A copy of any omitted schedule or exhibit will be furnished supplementally to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.

Exhibit 2.1

 

 

A GREEMENT REGARDING M UTUAL I RREVOCABLE U NDERTAKINGS

between

Uniwheels Holding (Malta) Ltd., Sliema, Malta

and

Superior Industries International Germany AG, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

and

Superior Industries International Inc., Southfield, Michigan, United States of America

regarding the acquisition of shares in

UNIWHEELS AG, Bad Dürkheim, Germany

dated

March 23, 2017

 

 

 


Table of Content

 

§ 1 Irrevocable Undertakings of the Offeror vis-à-vis the Offeree

     4  

§ 2 Irrevocable Undertakings of the Offeree vis-à-vis the Offeror

     7  

§ 3 Preliminary Agreement

     8  

§ 4 Guarantee Undertakings of the Offeror vis-à-vis the Offeree; Liability of the Offeror

     8  

§ 5 Guarantee Undertakings of the Offeree vis-à-vis the Offeror; Liability of the Offeree

     10  

§ 6 Contractual Penalty

     15  

§ 7 Covenants from the Offeree

     16  

§ 8 Guarantee Undertakings of the Guarantor vis-à-vis the Offeree

     18  

§ 9 Withdrawal

     19  

§ 10 Confidentiality

     20  

§ 11 Notices

     20  

§ 12 Costs; Taxes

     23  

§ 13 Miscellaneous

     23  

§ 14 Governing Law and Arbitration

     26  

 

2


A GREEMENT REGARDING M UTUAL I RREVOCABLE U NDERTAKINGS

( THE “A GREEMENT ”)

between

 

  1. Uniwheels Holding (Malta) Ltd. , 24 Regent House, Bisazza Street, Sliema SLM 1641, Malta, registered with the Registry of Companies of Malta under registration number C 30698, represented by the managing director Mrs. Beata Olejnik with sole power of representation

(“ Offeree ”)

 

  2. Superior Industries International Germany AG , c/o Intertrust (Deutschland) GmbH, Grüneburgweg 58-62, 60322 Frankfurt am Main, Germany, Commercial Register ( Handelsregister ) of the Local Court (Amtsgericht) of Frankfurt am Main, under No. HRB 107708, represented by Dr. Hartmut Krause on the basis of the power of attorney dated March 21, 2017, with sole power of representation

(“ Offeror ”)

 

  3. Superior Industries International Inc. , 26600 Telegraph Road, Suite 400, Southfield, MI 48033, United States of America, represented by Donald J. Stebbins, Chief Executive Officer, with sole power of representation

(“ Guarantor ”)

The Offeree, the Offeror and the Guarantor each individually a “ Party ” and collectively the “ Parties ”.

P REAMBLE

 

  A.

UNIWHEELS AG, Gustav-Kirchhoff-Straße 10, 67098 Bad Dürkheim, Germany, is a stock corporation ( Aktiengesellschaft ) under German law (“ Company ”, the Company and the enterprises dominated ( beherrscht ) by the Company within the meaning of § 17 German Stock Corporation Act ( Deutsches Aktiengesetz ) at the Settlement Date collectively “ Uniwheels Group ”). The Company has its registered domicile at Bad Dürkheim, Germany, and is registered with the local court ( Amtsgericht ) Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany, under HRB 64198. The stated capital ( Grundkapital ) of the Company amounts to EUR 12,400,000.00 and is divided into 12,400,000 ordinary no-par-value bearer shares ( auf den Inhaber lautende

 

3


  Stammaktien ohne Nennbetrag ) (collectively “ Shares ”, and each individually “ Share ”). The Shares are admitted to trading on the Main Market of the Warsaw Stock Exchange (“ WSE ”), Poland, only (ISIN Code DE000A13STW4). The Offeree owns 7,600,000 Shares representing approximately 61.29% of the stated capital of the Company (“ Offeree Shares ”).

 

  B. In accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Offeree intends to sell and transfer the Offeree Shares to the Offeror by accepting, consummating and settling a takeover offer made by the Offeror (“ Intended Transaction ”) pursuant to Article 90a section 1 point 1 and section 2 of the Polish Act on Public Offering and the Polish Regulation on Tender Offers, and the Offeror intends to make, consummate and settle such a takeover offer and to purchase and acquire all of the Shares tendered into such takeover offer, including the Offeree Shares (“ Takeover Offer ”).

 

  C. The Guarantor intends to accede to this Agreement in order to assume certain guarantee undertakings.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties hereto agree as follows:

§ 1 Irrevocable Undertakings of the Offeror vis- à -vis the Offeree

 

(1) The Offeror hereby irrevocably undertakes vis- à -vis the Offeree to make the Takeover Offer by submitting an offer document (“ Offer Document ”) pursuant to Article 90a section 1 point 1 and section 2 of the Polish Act on Public Offering with the following terms and conditions (any Takeover Offer which fulfills cumulatively the following terms and conditions an “ Acceptable Takeover Offer ”) ( wezwanie ):

 

  (a) the Acceptable Takeover Offer shall be announced pursuant to Article 90a section 1 point 1 and section 2 of the Polish Act on Public Offering by the Offeror by 30 March 2017 (24:00 CET) at the latest (the actual date of the announcement the “ Announcement Date ”) ( og ł oszenie wezwania ); and

 

  (b) the consideration offered in the Acceptable Takeover Offer for the Shares held by the shareholders other than the Offeree (i) shall be in the form of an all cash payment ( reines Barangebot ), and (ii) shall amount to PLN 235.83 (in words: two hundred thirty-five Zlotys and eighty-three Groszys) per Share (“ Consideration ”); and

 

4


  (c) the consideration offered in the Acceptable Takeover Offer for the Offeree Shares (i) shall be in the form of an all cash payment ( reines Barangebot ), and (ii) shall amount to PLN 226.50 (in words: two hundred twenty-six Zlotys and fifty Groszys) per Share (“ Offeree Consideration ”); and

 

  (d) a minimum acceptance rate ( Mindestannahmeschwelle ) ( minimalna liczba akcji obj ę ta zapisami ) of 75 % of Shares shall be the only condition precedent ( aufschiebende Bedingung ) ( warunek ) on which the effectiveness of the Acceptable Takeover Offer is dependent (“ Condition ”); and

 

  (e) the collateral ( zabezpieczenie ) for the Consideration pursuant to Article 77 section 1 of the Polish Act on Public Offering (“ Performance Bond ”) shall be issued in a legally binding manner prior to the Announcement Date and accepted by Offeror’s intermediary ( podmiot po ś redniczacy ) in the Acceptable Takeover Offer; and

 

  (f) the period to accept the Acceptable Takeover Offer pursuant to Paragraph 7 section 2 point 1) of the Polish Regulation on Tender Offers shall be in accordance with the applicable Polish law, provided that the Offeror shall be permitted and obligated to (i) extend the period for up to 70 days (such period including any extension thereof “ Subscription Period ”) ( termin przyjmowania zapis ó w ), and (ii) amend the Offer Document accordingly, if and to the extent the Condition has not been met at an earlier date; and

 

  (g) the transfer of the legal title to the Offeree Shares from the Offeree to the Offeror on the basis of the Acceptable Takeover Offer and the payment to the Offeree by the Offeror of immediately available funds in the amount of the Offeree Consideration multiplied by the number of the Offeree Shares (i.e. PLN 226.50 multiplied by 7,600,000) (“ Settlement ”) ( rozliczenie ) shall be performed simultaneously ( delivery versus payment ) with the intermediation of a Polish licensed investment firm ( firma inwestycyjna ) within the meaning of Article 3 point 33 of the Polish Act on Trading in Financial Instruments of July 29, 2005 (Journal of Laws of 2016, item 1636, as amended) engaged by the Offeror in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Polish Act on Public Offering, the Polish Regulation on Tender Offers and other applicable laws and regulations (the point in time of the completion of the Settlement “ Settlement Date ”) ( dzie ń rozliczenia ); and

 

5


  (h) the Acceptable Takeover Offer and the contracts concluded upon its acceptance, including the Acceptance shall be governed by the laws of the Republic of Poland, except if and to the extent mandatorily to be governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany; and

 

  (i) the Offeree as a holder of more than 5% of all Shares agrees pursuant to Article 79 section 4 of the Polish Act on Public Offering that the Offeree Consideration may be lower than the consideration per Share for other holders of Shares; and

 

  (j) except as otherwise stated in this Agreement, in particular with respect to the amount of the Offeree Consideration, (x) the tender of the Offeree Shares into the Acceptable Takeover Offer shall be subject to the same terms, conditions and procedures as any other Share and/or Shares tendered into the Acceptable Takeover Offer, and (y) the Offeree shall benefit from any amendment, revision, extension, or improvement of the Acceptable Takeover Offer to the same extent as any other holder of a Share who subscribes for the sale of a Share or Shares in the Acceptable Takeover Offer.

 

(2)

The Offeror hereby irrevocably undertakes vis- à -vis the Offeree (i) to consummate and settle the Acceptable Takeover Offer in accordance with its terms and any (further) applicable legal requirements as promptly as possible, and (ii) not to take any action that would have the effect of delaying, impairing or impeding the consummation and/or the Settlement of the Acceptable Takeover Offer, and, in particular, (iii) not to withdraw from or otherwise nullify the Acceptable Takeover Offer (e.g., in accordance with Art. 77 section 3 of the Polish Act on Public Offering), regardless of whether a right of withdrawal and/or nullification is available pursuant to the Acceptable Takeover Offer or applicable statutory law and regardless of whether or not any offer for the acquisition of Shares has been announced by any third party, irrespective of the consideration payable pursuant to such offer, and, in particular, (iv) not to increase the minimum acceptance rate ( Mindestannahmeschwelle ) ( minimalna liczba akcji obj ę ta zapisami ) of 75 % of the

 

6


  Shares (e.g., in accordance with § 9 Section 2 Item 1 of the Ordinance of the Minister of Finance of October 19, 2005 on the forms of tender offers to subscribe for the sale or exchange of shares in a public company, the detailed procedures of the announcement thereof, and the conditions for acquiring shares pursuant to such tender offers, Dz. U. of 2005 No. 207, Item 1729, as amended).

§ 2 Irrevocable Undertakings of the Offeree vis- à -vis the Offeror

 

(1) The Offeree hereby irrevocably undertakes vis- à -vis the Offeror to accept the Acceptable Takeover Offer of the Offeror for the Offeree Shares (i) not later than five (5) Business Days after the beginning of the Subscription Period, provided that such acceptance is compliant with applicable closed periods to which the Company and its directors and persons related to directors are subject under Regulation No 596/2014 on market abuse (MAR), and (ii) in any event no later than on the second last Business Day of the Subscription Period (subject to and after any extensions of the Subscription Period, if applicable) (“ Acceptance ”) ( z ł o ż enie zapisu ). The Offeree is not obligated, nor permitted, to accept any public or private offer for the Offeree Shares other than the Acceptable Takeover Offer.

 

(2) The Offeree hereby irrevocably undertakes not to (i) offer, sell, transfer, charge, pledge or grant any option over or otherwise dispose of any interest in the Offeree Shares, whether directly or indirectly, except to the Offeror, (ii) solicit or accept any other offer (public or private) directly or indirectly relating to any of the Offeree Shares, (iii) directly or indirectly solicit proposals or offers from third parties for the direct or indirect acquisition of Shares, (iv) take any action or make any statement which materially prejudices the Acceptable Takeover Offer, or (v) other than in accordance with § 9 withdraw from the Acceptance , regardless of whether a right of withdrawal is available pursuant to the Acceptable Takeover Offer or applicable statutory law and regardless of whether or not any offer for the acquisition of Shares has been announced by any third party, irrespective of the consideration payable pursuant to such offer.

 

(3)

The Offeror is entitled to include in the terms of the Acceptable Takeover Offer and public announcement related to it the fact that the Offeree has irrevocably undertaken to accept the Acceptable Takeover Offer and to abstain from disposing of any of the

 

7


  Offeree Shares other than to the Offeror. Furthermore, the Offeree shall as soon as reasonably practicable publicly announce in Poland and Germany that he has tendered the Offeree Shares into the Accptable Takeover Offer.

 

(4) The Offeree further hereby irrevocably undertakes not to acquire any Shares, options or other financial instruments in the Company as from the Signing Date until the lapse of two (2) years after the Settlement Date.

 

(5) The Offeree further hereby irrevocably undertakes to provide to the Offeror on request all information available to the Offeree relating to the Offeree and the Offeree Shares as the Offeror may reasonably require for the preparation of any document or announcement to be issued by or on behalf of the Offeror in connection with the Takeover Offer.

§ 3 Preliminary Agreement

For the avoidance of doubt, the mutual irrevocable undertakings of the Offeror and the Offeree set out in § 1 and § 2 of this Agreement constitute a binding and legally enforceable preliminary agreement ( Vorvertrag ) in respect of a sale, purchase, transfer and acquisition of the Offeree Shares. The sale, purchase, transfer and acquisition of the Offeree Shares are effected by way of making, accepting, consummating and settling the Acceptable Takeover Offer. The binding nature of the other undertakings given in § 1 and § 2 of this Agreement shall remain unaffected.

§ 4 Guarantee Undertakings of the Offeror vis- à -vis the Offeree;

Liability of the Offeror

 

(1) The Offeror hereby guarantees by way of an independent guarantee undertaking ( verschuldensunabh ä ngiges selbst ä ndiges Garantieversprechen ) within the meaning of § 311(1) of the German Civil Code ( B ü rgerliches Gesetzbuch ) vis- à -vis the Offeree that the following statements contained in this § 4(1) of this Agreement are accurate, in each case at the point in time of the conclusion of this Agreement (“ Signing Date ”) and at the Settlement Date, unless otherwise specified below:

 

  (a) The Offeror has been duly established and validly exists.

 

8


  (b) The Offeror has the unrestricted right, power, authority and capacity to execute, consummate and settle this Agreement and the Transactions. The execution and consummation of this Agreement and the execution, consummation and Settlement of the Transactions by the Offeror do not violate the articles of association or other corporate documents, as the case may be, or any other legal obligation of the Offeror.

 

  (c) No insolvency or similar proceedings have been, or have been threatened to be, opened or applied for regarding the Offeror or its assets.

 

  (d) This Agreement constitutes legal, valid and binding obligations of the Offeror enforceable in accordance with its terms, and the Transactions will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Offeror enforceable in accordance with their terms.

 

  (e) The Offeror will announce the Acceptable Takeover Offer in accordance with the terms and conditions provided for in § 1(1) of this Agreement by 30 March 2017 (24:00 CET) at the latest, and will neither withdraw from the Acceptable Takeover Offer nor otherwise nullify the Acceptable Takeover Offer and will undertake all necessary actions (including execution of the pertinent order to its broker and properly and promptly addressing of all inquiries, comments and requests of the Polish Supervision Authority ( Komisja Nadzoru Finasowego ) regarding Acceptable Takeover Offer) to settle the Acceptable Takeover Offer at the Settlement Date (for the avoidance of doubt, the Offeror shall not be required to increase the Consideration).

 

  (f) Neither the Offeror nor the Guarantor nor any Member Third-Party Offeror Group will

 

  (aa) make any public or private offer for a Share or Shares, including the Offeree Shares, other than the Acceptable Takeover Offer until the Settlement Date;

 

  (bb) assert and/or enforce, at any time, any claims, rights or other remedies whatsoever against the Offeree and/or against any Member Third-Party Offeree Group out of or in connection with this Agreement, the Transactions and the Contract Initiation, unless otherwise expressly provided for in § 5 of this Agreement.

 

9


(2) In the event of (i) an inaccuracy of any of the guarantee undertakings by the Offeror in § 4(1) of this Agreement and/or (ii) a breach of any of the undertakings of the Offeror in § 1 of this Agreement (each a “ Breach Offeror ”), in each case irrespective of any responsibility ( Verantwortlichkeit ) on the Offeror’s part, the Offeror shall put the Offeree in the same position it would be in had the guarantee undertaking(s) been accurate or were the undertaking(s) not breached, either by providing for such position in kind ( Naturalrestitution ), or, at the election of the Offeree, by paying to the Offeree an amount necessary to hold harmless ( schadlos stellen ) the Offeree against all damages which it would not have suffered if the respective guarantee undertaking(s) had been accurate or were the undertaking(s) not breached ( Schadensersatz in Geld ). Unless provided otherwise herein, §§ 249 et seqq. of the German Civil Code ( Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch ) shall apply. The liability of the Offeror in case of a Breach Offeror shall, to the extent legally permissible, in no event exceed an aggregate amount of EUR 40,000,000 (forty million Euros). For the avoidance of doubt, the right of the Offeree to assert specific performance ( Erfüllung ) of any of the undertakings and guarantee undertakings and other obligations of the Offeror expressly provided for in this Agreement remains unaffected.

 

(3) No Member Third-Party Offeree Group shall have any claims, rights or other remedies against the Offeror, but only the Offeree shall be entitled to assert and enforce any claims, rights and other remedies for the benefit of any Member Third-Party Offeree Group mutatis mutandis in accordance with § 4(2) of this Agreement in case of a respective Breach Offeror of the guarantee undertaking set out in § 4(1)(f)(bb) of this Agreement ( unechter Vertrag zugunsten Dritter ).

§ 5 Guarantee Undertakings of the Offeree vis- à -vis the Offeror; Liability of the Offeree

 

(1)

The Offeree hereby guarantees by way of an independent guarantee undertaking ( verschuldensunabh ä ngiges selbst ä ndiges Garantieversprechen ) within the meaning of § 311(1) of the German Civil Code ( B ü rgerliches Gesetzbuch ) vis- à -vis the Offeror that the following statements contained in this § 5(1) of this Agreement are accurate,

 

10


  in each case at the Signing Date and at the Settlement Date, unless otherwise specified:

 

  (a) The Offeree has been duly established and validly exists.

 

  (b) The Offeree has the unrestricted right, power, authority and capacity to execute, consummate and settle this Agreement and the Transactions. The execution and consummation of this Agreement and the execution, consummation and Settlement of the Transactions by the Offeree do not violate the articles of association or other corporate documents, as the case may be, or any other legal obligation of the Offeree.

 

  (c) No insolvency or similar proceedings have been, or have been threatened to be, opened or applied for regarding the Offeree or its assets.

 

  (d) This Agreement constitutes legal, valid and binding obligations of the Offeree enforceable in accordance with their terms, and the Transactions will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Offeree enforceable in accordance with their terms.

 

  (e) At the Settlement Date, the Offeree will hold and transfer sole, unrestricted legal and beneficial title ( uneingeschr ä nkte rechtliche und wirtschaftliche Inhaberschaft ) to the Offeree Shares and any ancillary rights appertaining thereto.

 

  (f) At the Settlement Date, the Offeree Shares and any ancillary rights appertaining thereto will not be encumbered ( belastet ) with rights that a third party could raise against the Offeror.

 

  (g) The Offeree has no actual knowledge ( positive Kenntnis ) pursuant to which information provided to the Offeror, its employees, managers, consultants, agents or advisors during the due diligence of the Uniwheels Group or otherwise in the auction process for the Offeree Shares, including during any Q&A sessions, constitutes inside information within the meaning of Regulation No 596/2014 on market abuse (MAR) at the Signing Date; for the avoidance of doubt, the Parties agree that this guarantee undertaking does not apply with respect to any information which arises from the conclusion of this Agreement or the compliance with the obligations stipulated therein.

 

11


(2) In the event of (i) an inaccuracy of any of the guarantee undertakings by the Offeree in § 5(1) of this Agreement and/or (ii) a breach of the undertakings of the Offeree in § 2(1), § 2(2) and § 2(4) of this Agreement and/or (iii) a breach of the covenants in § 7(4) of this Agreement (each a “ Breach Offeree ”), in each case irrespective of any responsibility ( Verantwortlichkeit ) on the Offeree’s part, the Offeree shall put the Offeror in the same position it would be in had the guarantee undertaking(s) been accurate or were the undertaking not breached, either by providing for such position in kind ( Naturalrestitution ), or, at the election of the Offeror, by paying to the Offeror an amount necessary to hold harmless ( schadlos stellen ) the Offeror against all damages which it would not have suffered if the respective guarantee undertaking(s) had been accurate or were the undertaking not breached ( Schadensersatz in Geld ). Unless provided otherwise herein, §§ 249 et seqq. of the German Civil Code ( Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch ) shall apply.

 

(3) In the event that after the Signing Date the Offeror obtains knowledge of a Breach Offeree, the Offeror shall, without undue delay after discovery of the relevant facts, give the Offeree written notice thereof setting out the Breach Offeree in reasonable detail (“ Breach Notice ”). If the Offeror fails to submit the Breach Notice in due time and/or in proper form, the Offeree will only be liable for the Breach Offeree to the extent that the Offeree would have been unable to avoid or mitigate the relevant damage if the Offeror had submitted the Breach Notice.

 

(4) The Offeror expressly declares and acknowledges (i) that it acquires the Offeree Shares, and any further Shares, and thereby the business operations of the Uniwheels Group on the basis of the own independent assessment and evaluation of the Offeror, and (ii) that the Offeror took the decision to acquire the Offeree Shares, and any further Shares, and thereby the business operations of the Uniwheels Group without having relied on (a) any express or implied representations ( Zusicherungen ), (b) warranties ( Gewährleistungen ), (c) guarantees ( Garantien ) or (d) any other express or implied declarations whatsoever which could lead to a liability of the Offeree ( Einstandserklärungen ) which deviate from or go beyond the claims, rights or other remedies provided for in § 5 of this Agreement.

 

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(5) To the extent legally permissible and notwithstanding the other restrictions and limitations set forth in this Agreement, the Offeror accepts in particular that the Offeree neither granted nor grants express or implied representations ( Zusicherungen ), warranties ( Gewährleistungen ), guarantees ( Garantien ) nor made or makes any other express or implied declarations whatsoever which could lead to a liability of the Offeree ( Einstandserklärungen ) regarding (i) any forecasts, estimates or budgets with respect to future revenues, profits, cash flows, the future financial situation or the future business operations of the Uniwheels Group, and (ii) any other information or documents made available to the Offeror, the Guarantor or any Member Third-Party Offeror Group with regard to the Uniwheels Group and/or its business operations, including business plans, estimates, calculations, or any other assumptions made, e.g. , in the course of the due diligence, the management interviews or the Q&A sessions which deviate from or go beyond the claims, rights or other remedies provided for in § 5 of this Agreement.

 

(6) To the extent legally permissible and notwithstanding the other restrictions and limitations set forth in this Agreement, the compensation of any (i) unforeseeable consequential damages ( unvorhersehbare Folgeschäden ), (ii) lost profit ( entgangener Gewinn ), (iii) damages and losses to goodwill, (iv) punitive damages, (v) frustrated expenses ( vergebliche Aufwendungen ), (vi) internal administrative and handling cost ( interne Verwaltungskosten und interner Abwicklungsaufwand ), (vii) reputational damages, or (viii) a depreciated enterprise value, is expressly excluded, and (ix) the Offeror is not entitled to claim damages based on any argument that the Consideration and/or Offeree Consideration has been calculated based on incorrect assumptions.

 

(7) To the extent legally permissible and notwithstanding the other restrictions and limitations set forth in this Agreement, the Offeree’s Liability for a Breach Offeree pursuant to § 5(1)(e) and/or § 5(1)(f) of this Agreement shall be limited to an amount equaling the Offeree Consideration that the Offeree has actually received per Offeree Share concerned by the respective Breach Offeree. In any event, the aggregate of the Offeree’s Liability is limited to an amount equaling the total amount of the consideration owing to the Offeree under the Acceptable Takeover Offer (i.e. Offeree Consideration multiplied by the number of Offeree Shares).

 

(8)

To the extent legally permissible and notwithstanding the other restrictions and limitations set forth in this Agreement, the Offeree’s Liability, other than, and/or

 

13


  extending beyond, the claims and rights and other remedies provided for in § 5 of this Agreement, is excluded; in particular: (i) the statutory warranty claims and rights ( gesetzliche Gew ä hrleistungsanspr ü che und -rechte ), including (a) claims for supplementary performance ( Nacherf ü llung ), (b) a reduction of the purchase price ( Minderung ), (c) claims for damages ( Schadensersatzanspr ü che ), (d) a right to withdraw ( R ü cktrittsrecht ), (ii) claims from pre-contractual breaches of duty ( culpa in contrahendo , cf. § 311(2) of the German Civil Code – B ü rgerliches Gesetzbuch ), (iii) claims from the infringement of ancillary duties ( Neben-, Schutz- und R ü cksichtnahmepflichten , any obligations of the Offeree other than the obligation to transfer title to the Offeree Shares shall be regarded as ancillary obligations) in accordance with § 241(2) of the German Civil Code ( B ü rgerliches Gesetzbuch ), (iv) claims based on a breach of duty in an obligatory relationship ( Pflichtverletzung , cf. § 280(1) German Civil Code – B ü rgerliches Gesetzbuch ), (v) liability in tort ( Delikt ) or (vi) claims and rights due to frustration of contract ( Wegfall der Gesch ä ftsgrundlage , cf. § 313 German Civil Code – B ü rgerliches Gesetzbuch ), as well as (vii) any other right to withdraw from this Agreement or to demand the cancellation of the Transactions (viii) any other claims, rights and other remedies whatsoever regardless of their legal basis out of or in connection with this Agreement, the Transactions and the Contract Initiation are excluded, to the extent legally permissible. For the avoidance of doubt, the right of the Offeror to assert specific performance ( Erf ü llung ) of any of the undertakings and guarantee undertakings and other obligations of the Offeree expressly provided for in this Agreement shall remain unaffected.

 

(9)

To the extent legally permissible and notwithstanding the other restrictions and limitations set forth in this Agreement, the Parties agree that the Offeree’s Liability, (i) is limited to the claims, rights and remedies expressly contained in § 5 of this Agreement, and (ii) that, also in this respect, (a) the Offeror shall have no claims, rights or other remedies whatsoever against any Member Third-Party Offeree Group, and (b) that neither the Guarantor nor any Member Third-Party Offeror Group shall have any claims, rights or remedies whatsoever against the Offeree and/or any Member Third-Party Offeree Group out of or in connection with this Agreement, the Transactions and the Contract Initiation. For the avoidance of doubt: (i) the restriction and limitation of liability in the preceding sentence shall be an undertaking to cease

 

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  and desist and a covenant not to sue ( pactum de non petendo ) of the Offeror and the Guarantor if and to the extent it operates for the benefit of any Member Third-Party Offeree Group, and (ii) the restriction and limitation of liability in the preceding sentence shall not constitute an agreement to the detriment ( Vertrag zu Lasten Dritter ) of any Member Third-Party Offeror Group, but shall be the agreement that this Agreement, the Transactions and the Contract Initiation, shall not grant any claims, rights or other remedies to, and are not intended to operate for the benefit of any Member Third-Party Offeror Group.

 

(10) To the extent legally permissible and notwithstanding the other restrictions and limitations set forth in this Agreement, an attribution ( Zurechnung ) of willful deceit ( arglistige Täuschung ) or willful misconduct ( vorsätzlich rechtswidriges/vertragswidriges Handeln ) of parties other than the managing directors of the Offeree to the Offeree, and/or an imputation of knowledge ( Wissenzurechnung/Wissenszusammenrechnung ) of parties other than the managing directors of the Offeree to and/or in relation to the Offeree shall be excluded. For the avoidance of doubt, the Parties agree that the Offeror shall bear the burden of presentation and proof ( trägt die Darlegungs- und Beweislast ) for willful deceit ( arglistige Täuschung ) or willful misconduct ( vorsätzlich rechtswidriges/vertragswidriges Handeln ).

 

(11) To the extent legally permissible, any claims of the Offeror against the Offeree under this Agreement shall be time-barred ( verjährt ) with the expiration of eighteen (18) months as of the Signing Date.

 

(12) The liability of the Offeree and/or any Member Third-Party Offeree Group out of or in connection with the Transactions, regardless of its legal basis, shall not take precedence over the stipulations set out in this Agreement which shall be exclusively applicable.

§ 6 Contractual Penalty

 

(1) Each of the Offeree and the Offeror undertakes to pay to the respective other party a contractual penalty ( Vertragsstrafe ), in each case irrespective of any responsibility ( Verantwortlichkeit ) of each of the Offeree and Offeror, in the amount of EUR 10,000,000 (in words: euro ten million) for the following:

 

  (a) the Offeree for a breach of its undertaking pursuant to § 2(1) this Agreement; ;

 

15


  (b) the Offeror for a breach of its guarantee undertaking pursuant to § 4(1)(e) of this Agreement.

 

(2) The aggregate liability of each of Offeree and Offeror arising from the contractual penalty shall be limited to a maximum amount of EUR 10,000,000 (in words: euro ten million) . Any other claims, rights and remedies, including for specific performance ( Erfüllung ), injunctive relief, restitution in kind ( Naturalrestitution ) or compensation of damages ( Schadensersatz in Geld ), shall remain unaffected. Any such claim shall be reduced by the amount of a contractual penalty actually paid.

 

(3) For the avoidance of doubt, claims arising under this § 6 shall not be subject to the liability limitations set forth in any of § 4, § 5 and § 8 of this Agreement.

§ 7 Covenants from the Offeree

 

(1) Nothing in this Agreement shall require the Offeree to act in breach of any fiduciary duties that it is owing to the Company pursuant to statutory law or a breach of any other statutory law.

 

(2) The Offeree shall, in each case regarding the period between the Signing Date and the Settlement Date:

 

  (a) refrain from any action, voting or other behaviour and procure that any Member Third-Pary Offeree Group, refrain from any action, voting or other behaviour, by which the Takeover Offer is or could be materially harmed or negatively affected;

 

  (b) support the Takover Offer in a reasonable manner, in particular:

 

  (aa) by appealing to the management board ( Vorstand ) of the Company that it shall issue a positive statement in relation to the Acceptable Takeover Offer pursuant to Article 80 section 1 of the Polish Act on Public Offering;

 

  (bb) by appealing to the management board ( Vorstand ) of the Company that the Company’s business shall be conducted in the ordinary course consistent with past practice;

 

16


  (cc) by appealing to the management board ( Vorstand ) of the Company that the Company shall enter into a business combination agreement with the Offeror;

 

  (dd) by publicly announcing a positive statement on the Acceptable Takeover Offer;

 

  (ee) by not using its voting rights in the Company in a manner materially detrimental to the success of the Acceptable Takeover Offer;

 

  (c) appeal to the supervisory board that it shall in the period between the Signing Date and the Settlement Date not approve any extraordinary business of the Company, in particular, that the supervisory board shall not approve any business expenditure in Mexico nor amend and/or extend the service contracts of the members of the management board ( Vorstand );

 

  (d) procure that no Member Third-Party Offeree Group acquires any Shares, options or other financial instruments in the Company and that any Member Third-Party Offeree Group adheres to the terms and conditions of this Agreement as it would be a party to this Agreement itself;

 

  (e) not engage, and procure that no Member Third-Party Offeree Group engages, into any discussion or negotiation with any party concerning any competing offer and the terms and conditions thereof;

 

  (f) appeal to the management board ( Vorstand ) of the Company that the Company shall cooperate with the Offeror from the Signing Date until the Settlement Date, in particular by providing financial information (to the extent admissible by law and without providing any inside information within the meaning of Regulation No 596/2014 on market abuse (MAR)) to the Offeror and its funding providers (whether equity or debt) designated by the Offeror, by co-operating with the advisors retained by the Offeror for the purpose of producing (pro-forma) financial reports on the Uniwheels Group under US-GAAP, and by implementing steps for the preservation of tax loss and interest carry forwards after the Settlement Date;

 

  (g) vote against any resolution on the distribution of dividends or any other shareholder resolution of the Company to which the Offeror has not consented in writing; and

 

17


  (h) refrain from objecting to, and challenging in court, any shareholder resolution based on § 254(1) of the German Stock Corporation Law ( AktG ).

 

(3) The Offeree shall issue a declaration within ten Business Days following the Settlement Date (in notarized and apostilled form) waiving the right to delegate a member into the supervisory board of the Company ( Entsendungsrecht ) and agreeing to the deletion of such right in the articles of association of the Company, substantially in the form as attached as Annex § 7(3).

 

(4) The Offeree shall take all steps necessary to ensure that Ralf Schmid’s appointment to the supervisory board will come to an end upon, or at least within three (3) Business Days after, the Settlement Date. Furthermore, the Offeree shall procure that each of Ralf Schmid and Michael Schmid will do the following:

 

  (a) within ten (10) Business Days after the Announcement Date submit a written letter to the Company, declaring his resignation from the supervisory board as per the Settlement Date, provided Settlement is occurring; and

 

  (b) within three (3) Business Days after the Settlement Date, submit a written letter to the Company, declaring his resignation from the supervisory board for important reason with immediate effect.

The Parties are aware of § 9(7) of the articles of association of the Company and agree that the Offeree cannot be held liable if the above declarations fail to achieve the removal of Ralf Schmid and Michael Schmid before the lapse of the period of time foreseen in § 9(7) of the articles of association of the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, the offices as members of the supervisory board of Ralf Schmid and Michael Schmid may be terminated for whatsoever reason at an earlier date, in which case the foregoing obligations shall not apply.

§ 8 Guarantee Undertakings of the Guarantor vis- à -vis the Offeree

 

(1) The Guarantor hereby guarantees by way of an independent guarantee undertaking ( verschuldensunabh ä ngiges selbst ä ndiges Garantieversprechen ) within the meaning of § 311(1) of the German Civil Code ( B ü rgerliches Gesetzbuch ) vis- à -vis the Offeree that the following statements contained in this § 8(1) of this Agreement are accurate:

 

  (a) The Guarantor has been duly established and validly exists.

 

18


  (b) The Guarantor has the unrestricted right, power, authority and capacity to execute and consummate this Agreement. The execution and consummation of this Agreement by the Guarantor do not violate the articles of association or other corporate documents, as the case may be, or any other legal obligation of the Guarantor.

 

  (c) No insolvency or similar proceedings have been, or have been threatened to be, opened or applied for regarding the assets of the Guarantor.

 

  (d) This Agreement constitutes legal, valid and binding obligations of the Guarantor enforceable in accordance with its terms.

 

(2) The Guarantor hereby guarantees vis- à -vis the Offeree the complete and punctual performance of any and all obligations of the Offeror vis- à -vis the Offeree out of or in connection with this Agreement and out of or in connection with the Transactions.

 

(3) § 4(2) and § 4(3) of this Agreement shall apply mutatis mutandis in respect of § 8(1) of this Agreement. § 4(3) of this Agreement shall apply mutatis mutandis in respect of § 8(2) of this Agreement.

§ 9 Withdrawal

 

(1) The Offeree is entitled to withdraw ( zur ü cktreten ) (i) from this Agreement, and (ii), as the case may be, if legally permissible, from the Acceptance or otherwise nullify the Acceptance:

 

  (a) if the Acceptable Takeover Offer is not announced by the Offeror by 30 March 2017 (24:00 CET) at the latest; or

 

  (b) if the Acceptable Takeover Offer has been withdrawn or otherwise nullified or

 

  (c) if the Settlement has not taken place by 15 July 2017 24:00 (CET) at the latest.

 

(2)

Save for the events expressly provided in this Agreement, each Party hereby, to the extent legally permissible, irrevocably waives any rights to withdraw from or otherwise nullify this Agreement or, respectively, the Acceptable Takeover Offer or,

 

19


  respectively, the Acceptance, provided that if and to the extent the undertakings vis-à-vis the Offeree arising out of or in connection with § 1(1)(j) of this Agreement, in particular, the obligation to grant any benefit by the Offeror to the Offeree, require a withdrawal from the Acceptance or requires otherwise its nullification by the Offeree, then the Offeree shall be entitled to withdraw from or otherwise nullify the Acceptance, provided, however, that such withdrawal or nullification shall not affect the undertaking of the Offeree pursuant to § 2(1) of this Agreement with respect to the amended, revised, extended, improved or increased Acceptable Takeover Offer or in respect of any other advantage, favor or privilege granted by the Offeror to any other holder of the Shares in connection the Acceptable Takeover Offer.

§ 10 Confidentiality

Save as permitted by this Agreement, each Party shall keep confidential and not disclose to any third party, other than any Member Third-Party Offeror Group and any Member Third-Party Offeree Group, the content of this Agreement and any business and trade secrets and other confidential information regarding the other Party disclosed to it in connection with this Agreement or its consummation, except as expressly agreed upon with the other Party. Notwithstanding the above, each Party may disclose any information as required in order to comply with applicable law, the rules and regulations of any stock exchange or an enforceable order of a court or public authority; provided, however, that the relevant Party shall, to the extent legally permissible and practicable, notify the other Party thereof in advance and seek to agree with it upon the content of the information.

§ 11 Notices

All notices, requests and other communication in connection with this Agreement shall be made in writing in the English language and shall be delivered personally or sent by registered mail ( Einschreiben ), telefax, via E-mail transmitted pdf copies of originals, or courier, to the addresses below or to such other addresses as may be specified by any Party to the other Parties in the same manner:

 

(1) If to the Offeree,

 

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  (a) to: Mrs. Beata Olejnik, Uniwheels Holding (Malta) Ltd., 24 Regent House, Bisazza Street, Sliema SLM 1641, Malta

E-Mail: olejnik@mt.uniwheels.com

Telefax-No. +356 21346996

 

  (b) with a copy to: Mr. Ralf Schmid, c/o Uniwheels Holding (Malta) Ltd., 24 Regent House, Bisazza Street, Sliema SLM 1641, Malta

E-Mail: rs@mt.uniwheels.com

Telefax-No. +356 21346996

 

(2) If to the Offeror,

 

  (a) to: Andreas Grundhöfer

c/o Intertrust (Deutschland) GmbH,

Grüneburgweg 58-62,

60322 Frankfurt am Main,

Germany

 

  (b) with a copy to:

Don Stebbins, Chief Executive Officer

Superior Industries International Inc.

26600 Telegraph Road,

Suite 400, Southfield, Michigan 48033, USA

Telefax-No. + 1 248 352 6989

Bruce Toth,

Winston & Strawn LLP

35 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60601-9703, USA

Telefax-No. +1 312 558 5700

Dr. Hartmut Krause,

Allen & Overy LLP

Haus am OpernTurm

Bockenheimer Landstraße 2

60306 Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Telefax-No. +49 69 2648 5800

 

(3) If to the Guarantor,

 

  (a) to: Don Stebbins, Chief Executive Officer

 

21


Superior Industries International Inc.

26600 Telegraph Road,

Suite 400, Southfield, Michigan 48033, USA

Telefax-No. + 1 248 352 6989

 

  (b) with a copy to:

Bruce Toth,

Winston & Strawn LLP

35 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60601-9703, USA

Telefax-No. +1 312 558 5700

Dr. Hartmut Krause,

Allen & Overy LLP

Haus am OpernTurm

Bockenheimer Landstraße 2

60306 Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Telefax-No. +49 69 2648 5800

or to such other recipients or addresses which may be notified by any Party to the other Parties in the future in writing. The requirement to provide copies to certain parties shall be for convenience purposes only and failure to send such copy shall not affect the validity of service of any notice.

The Offeree hereby irrevocably appoints

Dr. Heino Rück

SZA Schilling, Zutt & Anschütz Rechtsanwalts AG

Otto-Beck-Straße 11

68165 Mannheim, Germany

Telefax-No. +49 621 4257 296

and

Offeror and Guarantor hereby irrevocably appoint

Dr. Hartmut Krause

Allen & Overy LLP

Haus am OpernTurm

Bockenheimer Landstraße 2

60306 Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Telefax-No. +49 69 2648 5800

 

22


in each case as authorized recipient ( Empfangsbevollmächtigter ) and process agent ( Zustellungsbevollmächtigter ) for the receipt of any declarations of will and/or any other declarations and the services of process to be effected in any arbitration proceedings or proceedings before ordinary courts of law under or in connection with this Agreement.

§ 12 Costs; Taxes

 

(1) Each Party shall bear its own costs, including advisor’s fees, arising in connection with the preparation, negotiation, execution, implementation, consummation and settlement of this Agreement and the Transactions.

 

(2) Any stamp duties, stock exchange taxes, value added taxes and transfer taxes (in particular, German real estate transfer tax ( Grunderwerbsteuer )) arising out of or in connection with this Agreement and the Transactions shall be borne by the Offeror.

§ 13 Miscellaneous

 

(1) All Exhibits to this Agreement constitute a part of this Agreement. The defined terms used herein are set forth in Exhibit  §  13 (1) and shall have the meaning ascribed to them therein.

 

(2) This Agreement shall not grant any claims, rights or other remedies to, and is not intended to operate for the benefit of the Guarantor or any Member Third-Party Offeror Group. In particular, neither the Guarantor nor any Member Third-Party Offeror Group shall have any claims, rights or other remedies out of or in connection with this Agreement, the Transactions and the Contract Initiation.

 

(3) Any amendments to this Agreement (including amendments to this paragraph) shall be valid only if made in writing, unless another form is required by mandatory law; § 127(2) of the German Civil Code ( Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch ) shall apply.

 

(4) All words used in this Agreement will be construed to be of such gender or number as the circumstances require. The words “ including ” and “ in particular ” shall not limit the preceding or following words or terms.

 

(5) Wherever English terms are included herein with respect to which German or Polish terms have been inserted in brackets and/or italics either immediately after the English term or elsewhere herein, the respective German or Polish terms alone rather than the English terms shall be decisive for the interpretation of such term in this Agreement.

 

23


(6) No Party shall be entitled to assign any rights or claims under this Agreement without the prior written approval of the other Parties, provided however that if the Offeror intends to assign any right or claim under this Agreement to a party affiliated with the Offeror in the meaning of § 15 Stock Corporation Act ( verbundenes Unternehmen ), the Offeror shall notify the Offeree of such intention and, unless such assignment has a material adverse effect on the Offeree, the Offeree shall consent to such assignment within a period of no longer than two weeks following receipt of the Offeror’s notification.

 

(7) Except as explicitly provided for herein, no Party shall be entitled to any set-off ( Aufrechnung ) or retention ( Zurückbehaltung ) with respect to any rights or claims under this Agreement unless the right or claim of the Party claiming a right of set-off or retention has been acknowledged in writing by the other Party or has been confirmed by a final judicial decision ( rechtskräftig festgestellt ).

 

(8) The Parties assume that any rights and claims arising out of this Agreement and/or the Transactions are either not subject to value added tax (VAT) ( nicht steuerbar ) or tax-exempt ( steuerfrei ). The Parties hereby undertake that they will neither opt for value added tax (VAT), nor waive any exemption from value added tax (VAT). If and to the extent that, contrary to the assumption set out in § 13(8) sentence 1 of this Agreement, the competent tax authority, or authorities, hold(s) that value added tax (VAT) is chargeable on any rights and claims arising out of this Agreement and/or the Transactions for reasons other than an option for value added tax (VAT) or a waiver of any exemption from value added tax (VAT) by the Offeree, the Offeror shall, against issuance of a proper invoice, pay to the Offeree an amount equal to such value added tax (VAT) in addition to any payments owed by Offeror and/or Guarantor arising out of this Agreement and/or the Transactions, if and to the extent such value added tax (VAT) is not owed by Offeror under the reverse charge regime.

 

(9) In the event that one or more individual provisions of this Agreement are entirely or partially invalid or unenforceable, or become so in the future, or if this Agreement contains gaps, the validity and effectiveness of the remaining provisions of this Agreement remain unaffected. In the place of the invalid, unenforceable, or missing provision(s), this Agreement shall be deemed to contain such other provision or provisions that are valid and enforceable and correspond to the provision(s) that the Parties would have agreed to, giving consideration to the economic purpose of this

 

24


  Agreement, had they known at the signing of this Agreement about the invalidity, unenforceability or absence of the provision(s) contained herein. Each Party undertakes to confirm the applicability of such substitute provision in the form required, which shall be at least in written form.

 

(10) The Parties agree that this Agreement will be concluded by means of telecommunication ( telekommunikative Ü bermittlung ) attached as an electronic photocopy (pdf., tif., etc.) to E-mail as follows: the signatory for the Guarantor shall initial, sign and send the signed and initialed Agreement (including the Exhibits) to the Offeror, the signatory for the Offeror shall also initial, sign and send the signed and initialed Agreement (including the Exhibits) to the Offeree, the Offeree shall sign the signature page of the Agreement only, which bears the signatures of the signatories for the Guarantor and the Offeree, and send the signed signature page to the Guarantor and Offeror. This Agreement shall be considered concluded once the Guarantor and the Offeror have received ( ist ihnen zugegangen ) the signature page signed by the signatory of the Offeree. For the avoidance of doubt, each Party herewith confirms that the dispatch ( Abgabe ) and receipt ( Zugang ) of any declaration of will ( Willenserkl ä rung ) in order to conclude this Agreement are valid on March 23, 2017 (CET) irrespective of any regular business hours at the places of dispatch and receipt.

 

(11) For documentation purposes only, the Guarantor and the Offeror shall confirm receipt by E-Mail immediately upon receipt of the signature page as set out above from the Offeree.

 

(12) Further, for documentation purposes only, the Offeree shall send the Agreement (including the Exhibits), which bears the initials and signatures of the signatories for the Guarantor and the Offeree, initialed and signed by it, to the Guarantor and the Offeror by means of telecommunication ( telekommunikative Übermittlung ) attached as an electronic photocopy (pdf., tif., etc.) to E-mail.

 

(13) In addition, for documentation purposes only, the signatory for the Guarantor will initial, sign and send (by courier) three originals of the Agreement (including the Exhibits) without undue delay to the Offeror, the signatory of which will initial, sign and send (by courier) these originals to the Offeree, the signatory of which will initial, sign and send (by courier) one original to the Guarantor and one to the Offeror. For the avoidance of doubt, the originals shall bear the date March 23, 2017 being the date of the conclusion of this Agreement.

 

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§ 14 Governing Law and Arbitration

 

(1) This Agreement and any dispute arising out of or in connection with it (including the Transactions, except if and to the extent pursuant to § 1(1)(h) of this Agreement or mandatorily governed by Polish law, the Contract Initiation and any non-contractual disputes) shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany excluding the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) and without regard to the conflict-of-laws principles.

 

(2) All disputes arising out of or in connection with the present Agreement (including the Transactions, the Contract Initiation and any non-contractual disputes) shall be submitted to the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce and shall be finally settled under the Rules of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce by three arbitrators appointed in accordance with the said Rules. The place of arbitration is Zurich, Switzerland. The language of the arbitration is English.

 

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UNIWHEELS HOLDING (MALTA) LTD.
Meggen, Switzerland, 23 March 2017,              (CET)
Through:  

/s/ Beata Olejnik

  Name:   Beata Olejnik
  Function:   Managing Director
SUPERIOR INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL GERMANY AG
Frankfurt am Main, Germany, 23 March 2017
Through:  

/s/ Dr. Hartmut Krause

  Name:   Dr. Hartmut Krause
  Function:   By Power of Attorney dated 21 March 2017
SUPERIOR INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL INC.
Southfield MI, United States of America, 23 March 2017
Through:  

/s/ Donald J. Stebbins

  Name:   Donald J. Stebbins
  Function:   Chief Executive Officer

 

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EXHIBIT § 13(1)

 

Defined Term

  

Definition or Reference

Acceptance    as defined in § 2(1)
Acceptable Takeover Offer    as defined in § 1(1)
Agreement    Agreement regarding Mutual Irrevocable Undertakings
Announcement Date    as defined in § 1(1)(a)
Breach Offeree    as defined in § 5(2)
Breach Offeror    as defined in § 4(2)
Breach Notice    as defined in § 5(3)
Business Days    a day on which the banks and the stock exchange in Poland are open for regular business
Condition    as defined in § 1(1)(c)
Consideration    as defined in § 1(1)(b)
Contract Initiation    the initiation of this Agreement ( Vertragsanbahnung ), in particular, any kind of correspondence, communication, provision of information and agreements, including, issuance, initiation, conclusion and performance of a non-disclosure agreement, process letters and non-binding offers, confirmations of interest and final offers
Company    as defined in Preamble A.
Intended Transaction    as defined in Preamble B.
Member Third-Party Offeree Group    any natural or legal person other than Parties to this Agreement and the Uniwheels Group (i) affiliated with the Offeree within the meaning of § 15 of the German Stock Corporation Act ( Deutsches Aktiengesetz ) or (ii) otherwise associated with the Offeree, including, a(n) (indirect) shareholder, a director, an employee, or an advisor of the Offeree as well as, for the avoidance of doubt, Michael Peter Schmid, Rasch Holding Ltd., Misch Holding Ltd., Beata Anna Olejnik and Heike Pfleger
Member Third-Party Offeror Group    any natural or legal person (i) affiliated with the Offeror and/or the Guarantor within the meaning of § 15 of the


   German Stock Corporation Act ( Deutsches Aktiengesetz ) or (ii) otherwise associated with the Offeror and/or the Guarantor, including, a(n) (indirect) shareholder, a director, an employee, or an advisor of the Offeror and/or the Guarantor
Offer Document    as defined in § 1(1)
Offeree Consideration    as defined in § 1(1)(c)
Offeree’s Liability    any liability of the Offeree pertaining to any and all claims and rights and other remedies of the Offeror out of or in connection with this Agreement, the Transactions and the Contract Initiation, irrespective of its legal basis
Offeree Shares    as defined in Preamble A.
Performance Bond    as defined in § 1(1)(e)
Polish Act on Public Offering    Polish act on public offering, the conditions governing the introduction of financial instruments to organised trading, and public companies dated July 29, 2005 (Journal of Laws of 2016, item 1639, as amended) ( Ustawa z dnia 29 lipca 2005 r. o ofercie publicznej i warunkach wprowadzania instrumentów finansowych do zorganizowanego systemu obrotu oraz o spó ł kach publicznych )
Polish Regulation on Public Offers    Polish regulation of the Minister of Finance dated October 19, 2005 regarding forms of tender offers to subscribe for the sale or exchange of shares of a public company, the detailed procedure of announcing such tender offers as well as the terms and conditions of acquiring shares in result of such tender offers ( Rozporz ą dzenie Ministra Finansów z dnia 19 paxdzeirnika 2005 r. w sprawie wzorów wezwa ń do zapisywania si ę na sprzeda ż lub zamian ę akcji spó ł ki publicznej, szczegó ł owego sposobu ich og ł aszania oraz warunków nabywania akcji w wyniku tych wezwa ń )
Settlement    as defined in § 1(1)(g)
Settlement Date    as defined in § 1(1)(g)
Share    as defined in Preamble A.
Shares    as defined in Preamble A.
Signing Date    as defined in § 4(1)
Subscription Period    as defined in § 1(1)(f)


Takeover Offer    as defined in Preamble B.
Transactions    the transactions contemplated in this Agreement, in particular, the Acceptable Takeover Offer and the Acceptance, and the consummation and Settlement of the Acceptable Takeover Offer upon Acceptance
Uniwheels Group    as defined in Preamble A.
WSE    as defined in Preamble A.

Exhibit 2.2

BUSINESS COMBINATION AGREEMENT

MARCH 23, 2017

between

UNIWHEELS AG

and

Superior Industries International, Inc.

and

Superior Industries International Germany AG

 

 

LOGO

Allen & Overy LLP


CONTENTS

 

Section        Page  

Index of Defined Terms

     2  

Recitals

     5  

1.

 

Announcement of the Offer; Press Releases

     6  

2.

 

Launch of the Offer

     6  

3.

 

Support of the Offer by the Company; Mutual Actions to support the Transaction

     7  

4.

 

Recommendation of the Offer

     10  

5.

 

Business Strategy

     11  

6.

 

Corporate Seat and Headquarters

     12  

7.

 

Workforce and Employees

     12  

8.

 

Brands/Maintenance of the Uniwheels Group Brands

     13  

9.

 

Corporate Governance

     13  

10.

 

Corporate Measures

     13  

11.

 

Approval by Corporate Bodies

     14  

12.

 

Effectiveness, Term and Termination

     14  

13.

 

Confidentiality

     15  

14.

 

Notices

     16  

15.

 

Miscellaneous

     17  


BUSINESS COMBINATION AGREEMENT

By and among

 

(1) UNIWHEELS AG , a stock corporation incorporated under the laws of Germany, corporate seat in Bad Dürkheim, Germany, and its registered office at Gustav-Kirchhoff-Straße 10, 67098 Bad Dürkheim, Germany, registered in the commercial register of the Ludwigshafen Local Court under HRB 64198 ( Company ),

 

(2) Superior Industries International Germany AG , c/o Intertrust (Deutschland) GmbH, Grüneburgweg 58-62, 60322 Frankfurt am Main, Germany, Commercial Register of the Local Court of Frankfurt am Main, under No. HRB 107708 ( Bidder )

 

(3) Superior Industries International, Inc. , 26600 Telegraph Road, Suite 400, Southfield, MI 48033, United States of America ( Superior )

the Company, the Bidder and Superior each individually a Party and collectively the Parties .

 

1


INDEX OF DEFINED TERMS

 

Defined Term    Meaning / Reference

Advantageous Bidder Offer

   Section 4.4

Advantageous Offer

   Section 4.3

Agreement

   Means this Business Combination Agreement

Banks

   Section 3.3(b)

Bidder

   Rubrum

Budget

   The budget for the business year 2017 as adopted and updated by resolutions of Management Board and Supervisory Board of the Company dated December 05, 2016.

Business Combination

   Recitals (D)

Business Day

   Section 4.3(b)

Closing

   Section 3.1

Company

   Rubrum

Company Share or Company Shares

   One or more no-par value bearer shares issued by the Company

Company Shareholders

   All holders of Uniwheels Shares

Competing Offer

   Section 3.1(a)

Confidentiality Agreement

   Section 13.5

Financing

   Section 3.3(b)

Irrevocable

   Recitals (E)

KNF

   Polish Financial Supervision Authority ( Komisja Nadzoru Finansowego )

Management Board

   The management board ( Vorstand ) of the Company

MAR

   Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on market abuse (market abuse regulation) and repealing Directive 2003/6/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Directives 2003/124/EC, 2003/125/EC and 2004/72/EC (also known as the Market Abuse Regulation)

Offer

   The public cash tender offer extended to all shareholders of the Company for the purchase of all Uniwheels Shares at the Offer Price, contained in an offer document within the meaning of Article 77 section 2 of the Public Offerings Act to be published in

 

2


   accordance with Article 90a section 1 in connection with Article 74 section 1 and Article 77 of the Public Offerings Act and open for acceptance by the Company Shareholders during the Offer Period.
Offer Document    The document within the meaning of Article 77 section 2 of the Public Offerings Act and to be published in accordance with Article 90a section 1 in connection with Article 74 section 1 and Article 77 of the Public Offerings Act, containing the Offer.
Offer Period    Section 2.4
Offer Price    Section 2.2
Parties    Rubrum
Party    Rubrum
Public Offerings Act    The Polish Act on Public Offerings ( Ustawa z dnia 29 lipca 2005 r. o ofercie publicznej i warunkach wprowadzania instrumentów finansowych do zorganizowanego systemu obrotu oraz o spó ł kach publicznych )
Recommendation Requirements    Section 4.2
Recommendation Statement    Section 4.1(d)
Regulation on Public Offers    Polish regulation of the Minister of Finance dated October 19, 2005 regarding forms of tender offers to subscribe for the sale or exchange of shares of a public company, the detailed procedure of announcing such tender offers as well as the terms and conditions of acquiring shares in result of such tender offers ( Rozporz ą dzenie Ministra Finansów z dnia 19 paxdzeirnika 2005 r. w sprawie wzorów wezwa ń do zapisywania si ę na sprzeda ż lub zamian ę akcji spó ł ki publicznej, szczegó ł owego sposobu ich og ł aszania oraz warunków nabywania akcji w wyniku tych wezwa ń )
Shareholder    Uniwheels Holding (Malta) Ltd., a limited liability company organized under the laws of Malta, having its headquarters at 24 Regent House, Bisazza Street, Silema SLM 1641, Malta.
Stock Corporation Act    German Stock Corporation Act ( Aktiengesetz ) of September 6, 1965 as amended.
Supervisory Board    The supervisory board ( Aufsichtsrat ) of the Company
Superior    Rubrum.
Superior Affiliates    Shall mean affiliated enterprises ( verbundene Unternehmen ) of Superior within the meaning of Section 15 Stock Corporation Act from time to time.
Superior Group    Shall mean Superior and the Superior Affiliates (but excluding the Company and any of their subsidiaries from time to time)
Superior Transferee    Section 15.5

 

3


Third Party Offer    Section 4.3
Transaction    Recitals (D)
Uniwheels Affiliates    Shall mean affiliated enterprises ( verbundene Unternehmen ) of the Company within the meaning of Section 15 Stock Corporation Act from time to time
Uniwheels Group    Shall mean the Company and the Uniwheels Affiliates taken together
Uniwheels Shares    Shall mean all shares issued by the Company from time to time

 

4


RECITALS

 

(A) The Company is a stock corporation incorporated under the laws of Germany ( Aktiengesellschaft ), having its corporate seat in Bad Dürkheim, Germany, and its registered office at Gustav-Kirchhoff-Straße 10, 67098 Bad Dürkheim, Germany, and is registered in the commercial register of the Ludwigshafen Local Court under HRB 64198. The Company’s share capital amounts to EUR 12,400,000.00 and is divided into 12,400,000 no-par value bearer shares ( auf den Inhaber lautende St ü ckaktien ohne Nennbetrag ). The Uniwheels Shares are listed on the Main Market of the Warsaw Stock Exchange (ISIN: DE000A13STW4).

 

(B) Superior is a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware, having its headquarters at 26600 Telegraph Road, Suite 400, Southfield, MI 48033, United States of America.

 

(C) The Bidder is stock corporation incorporated under the laws of Germany ( Aktiengesellschaft ), having its corporate seat in Frankfurt am Main Germany, and its registered office at Grüneburgweg 58-62, 60322 Frankfurt am Main, Germany, and is registered in the commercial register of the Frankfurt Local Court under HRB 107708. The Bidder is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Superior.

 

(D) With a view to mutually strengthening the business of each other, the Parties intend to bring about a combination of Uniwheels Group and Superior Group (the Business Combination ) by the Bidder acquiring a controlling participation in the Company pursuant to the Offer (the Transaction ). The Parties believe that the Transaction is in the best interest of both Uniwheels Group and Superior Group and their respective shareholders, employees and other stakeholders. The Company’s Management Board and Supervisory Board have reached this conclusion after considering all information currently known to them in connection with the Transaction. This Agreement sets forth the principal terms and conditions of the Transaction as well as the mutual intentions of and understandings of the Parties with regard thereto, the future organizational and corporate governance structure of the Company and the business strategy to be pursued by the Business Combination.

 

(E) Simultaneously to the execution of this Agreement the Shareholder, the Bidder and Superior are entering into an Agreement regarding Mutual Irrevocable Undertakings (the Irrevocable ) pursuant to which, inter alia, the Bidder undertakes to make the Offer and the Shareholder undertakes to tender into the Offer 7,600,000 Company Shares (equaling 61.29% of the share capital of the Company), subject to the provisions set out in greater detail in the Irrevocable.

 

(F) Prior to the conclusion of this Agreement, the Bidder and Superior were given the opportunity to conduct a due diligence review with respect to the Uniwheels Group. The Bidder has informed the Company that it has successfully completed the due diligence prior to entering into this Agreement.

 

(G) The Parties are aware that the Management Board of the Company has to publish a reasoned statement in accordance with Article 80 of the Public Offerings Act (the Reasoned Statement ) after the Bidder has published the Offer Document. This Agreement shall be without prejudice to the obligations and fiduciary duties of the Management Board in connection with the Reasoned Statement.

 

(H) The Company is aware that the Bidder, subject to meeting the applicable legal requirements, intends to implement a domination and profit and loss transfer agreement between the Bidder and the Company, de-list the shares of the Company from the Warsaw Stock Exchange and proceed to 100% ownership in the Company.

 

5


NOW, THEREFORE , the Parties agree as follows:

 

1. ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE OFFER; PRESS RELEASES

 

1.1 Announcement

Immediately after the signing of this Agreement and the Irrevocable

 

  (a) the Bidder will publish in accordance with Article 90a section 1 in connection with Article 74 section 1 and Article 77 of the Public Offerings Act the Offer Document within the meaning of Article 77 section 2 of the Public Offerings Act attached as Annex 1.1(a), and

 

  (b) the Company shall publish an ad hoc announcement concerning the conclusion of this Agreement pursuant to Art. 17 para. 1 MAR as set forth in Annex 1.1(b).

 

1.2 Press Release

Promptly after the publication of the Offer Document pursuant to Section 2.1(c) and the ad hoc announcement pursuant to Section 1.1 lit. (b), Superior shall issue a press release in respect of the Transaction as set forth in Annex 1.2.

 

1.3 Disclosure of this Agreement

The Company hereby agrees that the Bidder will disclose the material content of this Agreement as part of the Offer Document, in press releases by the Bidder and Superior issued in connection with the Offer (in addition to the press release referred to in Section 1.2) and/or any other document or announcement required to be made in connection with the Offer. Conversely, the Bidder hereby agrees that the Company will disclose the material content of this Agreement in press releases and ad hoc announcements pursuant to Art. 17 MAR made by it in connection with the Transaction (in addition to the press release referred to in Section 1.2), as well as in statements of the Management Board pursuant to Article 80 of the Public Offerings Act.

 

2. LAUNCH OF THE OFFER

 

2.1 Procedure for Launch of the Offer

 

  (a) The Bidder has prepared the Offer Document in accordance with the provisions of the Public Offerings Act and the Regulation on Public Offers and in accordance with the terms of this Agreement in reasonable cooperation and consultation with the Company and its advisors. In relation thereto, the Bidder will give the Company and its advisors the opportunity to review and comment upon the Offer Document prior to announcing the Offer Document. In case of any amendment to the Offer Document the Bidder, acting reasonably, shall have the ultimate decision right.

 

  (b) The Bidder will procure that a brokerage house licensed in Poland, acting as an intermediary for the Bidder, files pursuant to Article 77 section 2 of the Public Offerings Act the Offer Document with the KNF and the Warsaw Stock Exchange before the opening of the stock market operated by the Warsaw Stock Exchange immediately after the signing of this Agreement.

 

  (c) The Bidder will procure that the Offer Document is published pursuant to para 5 of the Regulation on Public Offers immediately after the signing of this Agreement.

 

  (d) Save for the Uniwheels Shares held by the Shareholder, the consideration offered for each Uniwheels Share will be the Offer Price, subject to any increases made in accordance with the provisions of the Regulation on Public Offers.

 

6


2.2 Offer Price

The consideration offered for the Company Shares in the Offer will be a cash consideration in the amount of PLN 235.83 per Uniwheels Share (the Offer Price ), subject to any increases made either voluntarily or in accordance with the provisions of Polish legislation. The Shareholder has agreed pursuant to Article 79 section 4 of the Public Offerings Act that the consideration per Company Share for the Shareholder may be lower than the consideration per Company Share for other holders of Company Shares.

 

2.3 Offer Condition

The Offer will only be subject to the following condition (the Offer Condition ):

a minimum acceptance threshold of 75% of the Company Shares issued at the end of the Offer Period has been reached.

The Bidder shall be entitled to waive the Offer Condition in whole or part.

 

2.4 Offer Period

Save for any delay resulting from the comments of KNF on the Offer document, the Offer will start on April 12, 2017 and will be open for acceptance for an initial subscription period of 40 calendar days (such period, as extended by the Bidder from time to time, but for no longer than a total period of 70 calendar days, the Offer Period ).

 

3. SUPPORT OF THE OFFER BY THE COMPANY; MUTUAL ACTIONS TO SUPPORT THE TRANSACTION

 

3.1 Support of the Offer

The Company hereby undertakes, to the extent legally permissible ( im Rahmen des gesetzlich Zulässigen ) and subject to Section 3.7 and the Recommendation Requirements that from the date hereof to the earlier of (i) the termination of the Agreement and (ii) the consummation of the Offer (the Closing ) it will refrain (which includes that its Management Board will refrain), and will procure that its employees, representatives or any other Uniwheels Affiliate will refrain (which includes that the employees or representatives or the members of the representative bodies ( Vertretungsorgane ) of such members of the Uniwheels Group will refrain), from initiating any measures or steps which may adversely affect the success or the timely completion of the Offer or the intentions of the Bidder or Superior set forth herein. In particular, neither the Company nor any other member of the Uniwheels Group shall, directly or indirectly:

 

  (a) solicit or initiate a competing public offer for Uniwheels Shares by a third party ( Competing Offer ), or another transaction, proposal or approach that, if implemented, would be reasonably likely to adversely affect the success or the timely completion of the Offer or the intentions of the Bidder or Superior set forth herein or any proposal or approach in relation thereto; and

 

  (b) enter into any communications, discussions, negotiations, correspondence or arrangements – unless being approached without the Company’s solicitation – or make any confidential documents relating to Uniwheels Group or its business available with a view to soliciting or supporting any Competing Offer or any other transaction that, if implemented, would be reasonably likely to adversely affect the success or the timely completion of the Offer or the intentions of the Bidder or Superior set forth herein or any proposal or approach in relation thereto.

 

7


3.2 Ordinary Course of Business

To the extent legally permissible ( im Rahmen des gesetzlich Zulässigen ) and subject to Section 3.7 and the Recommendation Requirements, during the period from the date hereof to the earlier of (i) the termination of the Agreement and (ii) the Closing, the Company shall, and shall procure the each Uniwheels Affiliate shall in all material respects, carry on its business in the ordinary course, consistent with past practice, in particular:

 

  (a) refrain from conducting any business or entering into any transaction outside the Budget;

 

  (b) use reasonable commercial efforts to keep available the services of its current managers and employees and to preserve its relationships with customers, suppliers and other parties having business deals with them;

 

  (c) use reasonable commercial efforts to preserve (i) the Facilities Agreement between, inter alia , Uniwheels Production (Poland) Sp. z o.o and IKB Deutsche Industriebank AG dated July 19, 2016 and (ii) the financial lease agreements with third parties beyond Closing (e.g. by obtaining waivers of termination rights based on change-of-control provisions); and

 

  (d) refrain from entering into any transaction with the Shareholder of the Company or any entity controlling or controlled by the Shareholder, except in the normal course of business and at arm’s length terms;

provided that nothing in this Section 3.2 shall operate so as to restrict or prevent the completion or performance of any obligations undertaken pursuant to any contract entered into by the Company or any Uniwheels Affiliate and/or anything required to be done by this Agreement or in order to implement the Transaction in accordance with this Agreement.

 

3.3 Delivery of Information

During the period from the date hereof to the later of (i) the termination of the Agreement and (ii) the Closing, the Company shall, and shall procure that each Uniwheels Affiliate shall, to the extent legally permissible, cooperate with Superior by promptly providing, upon request, financial information and other support to the Bidder and the banks and equity providers designated by the Bidder for the financing of the Offer, in particular by

 

  (a) cooperating with the advisors retained by the Bidder for the purpose of producing (pro-forma) financial reports on the Uniwheels Group under US-GAAP (including reconciliation from IFRS to US-GAAP) as well as proforma financial statements required by SEC Regulation S-X);

 

  (b) furnishing to Citibank, JP Morgan, Deutsche Bank and Royal Bank of Canada (the Banks ) as promptly as practicable all financial information on the Uniwheels Group required to be made available for purposes of (A) the syndication of the debt facilities of the Superior Group, and (B) a potential issuance of bonds by Superior or a Superior affiliate (together the Financing );

 

  (c) using commercially reasonable efforts to obtain accountants’ comfort letters as reasonably requested by the Banks;

 

  (d) assisting in preparation for meetings and calls, drafting sessions, rating agency presentations, road shows and due diligence sessions (including accounting due diligence sessions) and sessions with prospective lenders, investors and rating agencies, and assisting in the preparation of obtaining ratings as contemplated by the financing documentation and, after Closing, participating in such meetings and calls upon reasonable advance notice.]

 

8


  (e) assisting the Banks in the preparation of (A) offering documents, private placement memoranda, bank information memoranda, prospectuses and similar marketing documents for any of the Banks, including, after Closing, the execution and delivery of customary representation or authorization letters in connection with bank information memoranda authorizing the distribution of information to prospective lenders and identifying any portion of such information that constitutes confidential information, and (B) customary materials for rating agency presentations;

 

  (f) using commercially reasonable efforts in connection with the preparation of pro forma financial information and financial statements to the extent required by SEC rules and regulations or necessary or reasonably required by the Banks to be included in any offering documents;

 

  (g) preparing, and after the Closing, taking all corporate actions reasonably requested by the Bidder that are necessary or customary to permit the consummation of the Financing; and

 

  (h) providing at least five Business Days prior to the date of Closing all documentation and other information required by applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations including the USA PATRIOT Act to the extent reasonably requested at least eight Business Days prior to the anticipated date of Closing.

For the avoidance of doubt, prior to Closing the Company shall have no obligation to disclose any unpublished financial information referring to the time after December 31, 2016.

 

3.4 Cooperation in Tax Matters

During the period from the date hereof to the later of (i) the termination of the Agreement and (ii) the Closing, the Bidder shall co-operate with the Company with a view to supporting the preservation of tax loss and interest carry forwards after the consummation of the Offer.

 

3.5 Notification of the Company

The Bidder shall promptly notify the Company of the occurrence of any circumstance which would be reasonably likely to result in the non-compliance with any of Superior’s and/or the Bidder’s obligations under this Agreement, or which would otherwise be reasonably likely to have a negative impact on the completion of the Transaction.

 

3.6 Notification of the Bidder

To the extent legally permissible, the Company shall promptly notify the Bidder of the occurrence of any circumstance which would be reasonably likely to result in the non-compliance with any of the Company’s obligations under this Agreement, or which would otherwise be reasonably likely to have a negative impact on the completion of the Transaction. In addition, the Company shall inform the Bidder immediately if it has been approached by a third party in relation to a Competing Offer or other transactions that, if implemented, would be reasonably likely to adversely affect the success or the timely completion of the Offer or the intentions of the Bidder or Superior set forth herein or has gained otherwise knowledge about any proposal for a Competing Offer or any such transaction. To the extent legally permissible, the Company shall advise the Bidder of the name of such third party or third parties, the content of any such (considered) Competing Offer and any further developments in this regard.

 

9


3.7 Directors’ Fiduciary Duties

Nothing in this Section 3 shall prevent the Company or the Management Board from:

(a)    providing information duly requested or required by a regulatory authority;

 

  (b) following receipt of a proposal or approach in relation to a Competing Offer made by a third party without the Company’s solicitation, taking any action to the extent that to do so would, in the opinion of the Management Board and/or Supervisory Board (acting reasonably and in good faith) be required in order for them to comply with their fiduciary duties under German law, in particular, the duty of care and loyalty under Sections 76, 93 Stock Corporation Act and duties under Articles 77(5) and 80 of the Public Offerings Act;

 

  (c) otherwise taking or omitting any action to the extent that such actions or omission is required, in the opinion of the Management Board and/or Supervisory Board (acting reasonably and in good faith) to comply with their fiduciary duties under German law, in particular the duty of care and loyalty under Sections 76, 93 Stock Corporation Act; and

 

  (d) making any reporting or disclosure or other mandatory communication resulting from the announcement of a Competing Offer.

 

4. RECOMMENDATION OF THE OFFER

 

4.1 Recommendation by the Management Board

At the time of the execution of this Agreement and subject to the Recommendation Requirements, the Management Board supports the Transaction based on the considerations set out in this Agreement. The Management Board will refrain (i) from performing any act, including any public statement contrary to the Recommendation Statement or otherwise adversely affecting the implementation of the Offer, and (ii) from recommending that the Company Shareholders take or consider taking any action that could prevent, adversely affect or delay the implementation of the Offer. Therefore, subject to the Recommendation Requirements, the Management Board will confirm in its Reasoned Statement, which it will not amend or withdraw as long as the Recommendation Requirements are met, that it

 

  (a) regards the Offer Price to be adequate ( angemessen ) and that the Offer Price reflects the Company’s fair value ( warto ś ć godziwa );

 

  (b) considers that the Offer and the Transaction are in the Company’s best interest, and that based on the Management Board’s knowledge of the Offer and the Transaction the Management Board expects the Offer to have a positive impact on the Company’s employees and their employment conditions;

 

  (c) expects Superior’s strategic plans in relation to the Company to have a positive impact on the employees and their employment conditions, and to not cause any changes to the location of the Company’s sites, and

 

  (d) recommends to the Company’s Shareholders to accept the Offer ( Recommendation Statement ).

The Bidder shall have the right to review and comment on the reasoned opinion statement of the Management Board to be prepared pursuant to Article 80 section 1 Public Offerings Act before its publication. In case of any amendment to the Recommendation Statement, the Management Board, acting reasonably, shall have the ultimate decision right.

 

10


4.2 Recommendation Requirements

The obligation to render the Recommendation Statement is subject to the following requirements ( Recommendation Requirements ):

 

  (a) the Offer Price is not less than PLN 235.83 per share;

 

  (b) no Advantageous Offer (as defined in 4.3 below) has been launched by a third party without the Bidder amending the Offer pursuant to Section 4.3(b);

 

  (c) no other circumstances exist, that, in the reasonable opinion of the Management Board acting in good faith with regard to its duties, would cause the members of the Management Board to violate their duties under applicable law (including their fiduciary duties and obligations towards the Company, in particular, the duty of care and loyalty under Section 93 Stock Corporation Act) by issuing the Recommendation Statement.

 

4.3 Third Party Offer

If a third party launches an offer for all Company Shares within the meaning of Article 74 section 1 Public Offerings Act, ( Third Party Offer ), the Management Board shall be entitled to recommend such Third Party Offer to the Company’s Shareholders, provided that

 

  (a) the Management Board, acting reasonably and in good faith, determines that such Third Party Offer is more favorable to the Company, the Company Shareholders and its stakeholders than the Offer, taking into account, without limitation, all of the terms and conditions of the Third Party Offer including its conditionality, the likelihood of its completion in accordance with its terms and the likely timing of the transaction; and

 

  (b) Superior has not amended the Offer within five (5)  Business Days (a day on which the Warsaw Stock Exchange and banks in Poland are open for regular business) following information by the Management Board of the Company that in good faith and based on external expert legal and/or financial advice by a reputable law firm and/or investment bank or audit firm, the Third Party Offer is more favorable to the Company, the Company’s Shareholders and its stakeholders than the Offer in the view of the Company’s Management Board

(such Third Party Offer as set forth under (a) and (b) being an Advantageous Offer ).

 

4.4 Advantageous Bidder Offer

If Superior amends the Offer as set forth above under Section 4.3(b), thus transforming it into a Advantageous Bidder Offer , i.e. an offer that, compared to the Advantageous Offer, meets the requirements set forth in Section 4.3(a), all provisions herein, in particular the obligations of the Parties that relate to the Offer, shall, from the date of such transformation, relate to the Advantageous Bidder Offer in lieu of the Offer.

 

5. BUSINESS STRATEGY

 

5.1 Joint Strategic Objectives

 

  (a) By effecting the Transaction, the Parties intend to create a leading aluminum wheel manufacturer with a leading presence in major American and European markets. The combined facility footprints in Mexico and Poland will enable global competitiveness.

 

11


  (b) The complementary regional focus of the Uniwheels Group and Superior Group will reduce customer and geographic concentration and provide aftermarket opportunities in major American and European markets.

The Company and Superior intend to pool their resources by mutual agreement, particularly in the areas of technology, process expertise, IT, financial resources, engineering and program management in a manner which fuels further expansion and ensures that each benefits to a maximum extent from the know-how, specialty capabilities and experience of the other in the relevant area.

 

5.2 Company Strategy

As soon as reasonably possible after Closing, Superior, the Bidder and the Company will jointly develop and determine, in good faith, the future strategy of the combined Uniwheels and Superior businesses.

 

6. CORPORATE SEAT AND HEADQUARTERS

Superior and the Bidder confirm their intention to maintain the legal domicile of the Company in Bad Dürkheim and the locations of its important operations (wesentliche Unternehmensteile) in Bad Dürkheim, Fußgönnheim, Lüdenscheid, Werdohl and Stalowa Wola.

 

7. WORKFORCE AND EMPLOYEES

 

7.1 General Framework

Superior acknowledges that the dedicated workforce of the Company and the Uniwheels Affiliates is the foundation of the current and future success of the Uniwheels Group. Superior expressly views the Transaction as an opportunity for growth for the workforce of Uniwheels Group and other stakeholders and not as an acquisition which is directed towards cost reductions to the detriment of the workforce of Uniwheels Group. Superior intends to continue and further strengthen a constructive dialogue with all of workforce constituencies of the Uniwheels Group and to support the Management Board in maintaining and developing an attractive and competitive framework to retain an excellent and worldwide employee base.

 

7.2 Headcount

Superior and the Bidder undertake not to cause the Company to take any actions that would lead to a significant reduction of the Uniwheels Group’s existing level of employment.

 

7.3 Management and Incentives

 

  (a) The Parties anticipate that the Uniwheels Group’s incumbent Key Management Team will continue leading the business operations of the Uniwheels Group (across all dimensions including scheduling, pricing, client interaction, technology) and pursuing an attractive career in the combined business, unless mutually agreed. The members of the Key Management Team are set out in Annex 7.3(a).

 

  (b) The Parties further anticipate that between announcement and completion of the Offer an appropriate compensation scheme will be agreed with the Key Management Team of the Group.

 

12


8. BRANDS/MAINTENANCE OF THE UNIWHEELS GROUP BRANDS

Superior and the Bidder acknowledge that the Company owns several strong brands in certain countries with a high degree of brand awareness by the respective markets and customers. The Parties agree that the names and logos / trademarks of the operative brands and company names used by the Group in the aftermarket (accessory) and international motorsport business will not change after the implementation of the Transaction.

As soon as reasonably possible after Closing Superior, the Bidder and the Company will jointly determine the future name of the Company.

 

9. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

9.1 Supervisory Board

 

  (a) The Supervisory Board shall consist of three (3) members. Superior does not intend to initiate any modification of the size of the Supervisory Board, unless changes in supervisory board membership are required by law. Immediately following the resignation of incumbent members from the Supervisory Board as agreed in the Irrevocable or otherwise, the Management Board will apply to the Ludwigshafen Local Court for at least two persons nominated by the Bidder to be appointed as new members of the Supervisory Board, unless there is an important cause against such appointment recumbent in a nominee.

 

  (b) For the avoidance of doubt, Superior and the Bidder intend to appoint a new chairman of the Supervisory Board.

 

9.2 Management Board

 

  (a) Superior has trust and confidence in the current members of the Management Board and will support the Management Board and the Key Management Team.

 

  (b) Should the Company’s Management Board come to the conclusion that an action directed, demanded or instructed by Superior or the Bidder would constitute a disadvantageous legal transaction ( nachteiliges Rechtsgeschäft ) within the meaning of Section 311 of the Stock Corporation Act, it will inform, without undue delay, the Bidder accordingly. Should the Bidder nonetheless request the action, direction or demand to be implemented, the Bidder will compensate the Company for any disadvantages out of or in connection with the implementation of the action, direction or demand in accordance with Section 311Stock Corporation Act.

 

  (c) Superior and the Bidder intend that the members of the Management Board will be included into the Superior senior management team at the first level.

 

10. CORPORATE MEASURES

 

10.1 Enterprise Agreements and Merger

Nothing in this Agreement shall be taken to prevent any of the Parties to seek to enter into and/or to adopt resolutions in favour of any enterprise agreements pursuant to Section 291 Stock Corporation Act, merger under the German Transformation Act ( Umwandlungsgesetz Transformation Act ), change of corporate form under the Transformation Act, squeeze-out under the Stock Corporation Act or the German Takeover Act, merger squeeze-out under the Transformation Act or integration under the Stock Corporation Act in relation to the Company and/or the Bidder. Following any merger of the Company and the Bidder, all stipulations herein on rights and obligations of the Company shall apply to the merged company mutatis mutandis .

 

13


10.2 Synergy Effects

In the event of the implementation of any such enterprise agreement, squeeze-out, merger squeeze-out or integration, nothing in this Agreement shall hinder the Bidder, Superior or another member of Superior Group to require or to take steps to implement measures which are directed at fully realising synergy effects from the business combination contemplated under this Agreement or optimising the tax structure or realising tax benefits of the combined group.

 

11. APPROVAL BY CORPORATE BODIES

 

11.1 Approval by Superior and Bidder

The Bidder and Superior hereby confirm that their respective competent corporate bodies have agreed to concluding and executing this Agreement. No further approval or permission is required on Superior’s and Bidder’s part for concluding and executing this Agreement.

 

11.2 Approval by the Company

The Company hereby confirms that its competent corporate bodies have agreed to concluding and executing this Agreement and that no further approval or permission is required on the Company’s part for concluding and executing this Agreement.

 

12. EFFECTIVENESS, TERM AND TERMINATION

 

12.1 Effective Date

This Agreement shall become effective upon signature by all Parties, provided that all provisions dealing with the future operation and governance of the Business Combination shall become effective only upon the Closing.

 

12.2 Fixed Term

This Agreement shall have a fixed term, ending 36 months after the date hereof. Any intentions expressed in this Agreement do not extend beyond the term of this Agreement.

 

12.3 Termination

This Agreement may be terminated with immediate effect

 

  (a) by the Company or the Bidder (acting in its own name and on behalf of Superior) in the following cases:

 

  (i) any competent governmental authority or court has prohibited the closing of the Offer or the Transaction and such decision has become final and non-appealable; or

 

  (ii) the Offer has lapsed as result of non-satisfaction of the Offer Condition unless the Bidder has approached the Company within four (4) Business Days from non-satisfaction of the Offer Condition with a view to consent to a new takeover offer for the Company and the Company has agreed to a consequent offer within four (4) further Business Days;

 

14


  (b) by the Company in the following cases:

 

  (i) the Bidder has not published the Offer Document (which shall comply with this Agreement and with the Public Offerings Act) on or prior to 12 May 2017;

 

  (ii) the consideration offered in the Offer is lower than the Offer Price;

 

  (iii) the Offer contains completion conditions that materially differ from those specified in Section 2.3;

 

  (iv) Superior or the Bidder have breached any material provision of this Agreement;

 

  (c) by the Bidder (in its own name and on behalf of Superior) in the following cases:

 

  (i) the Management Board has not issued the Recommendation Statement by the deadline pursuant to Article 80 section 1 of the Public Offerings Act;

 

  (ii) the Management Board has withdrawn the Recommendation Statement, other than due to the Bidder and/or Superior failing to comply with the Recommendation Requirements; or

 

  (iii) the Company has breached any material provision of this Agreement.

 

12.4 Notice of Termination

Notice of any termination must be given in writing and must be made within ten (10) Business Days after the terminating Party has become aware of the event triggering a termination right. In the event of termination, this Agreement shall have no further effect save for those provisions the surviving of which is expressly agreed on in this Agreement (and which shall remain in full force and effect) but without prejudice to the accrued rights of each Party upon termination.

 

12.5 Termination for Good Cause

The right to terminate this agreement for good cause ( aus wichtigem Grund ) shall remain unaffected. Good cause shall exist where the terminating party, taking into account all circumstances of the specific case and weighing the interests of all Parties, cannot reasonably be expected ( unzumutbar ) to continue the contractual relationship through the remainder of the agreed fixed term (Section 314 para. 1 sentence 1 of the German Civil Code ( Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch - BGB).

 

13. CONFIDENTIALITY

 

13.1 Except for the communication set forth in Section 1 of this Agreement and the Offer Document, (i) each Party shall keep confidential and shall not disclose to any third party (other than a Subsidiary or in case of the Bidder an Affiliate, the Banks or a professional advisor bound to this Section 13.1 or professional confidentiality obligations with a need-to-know, provided that the disclosing Party shall remain responsible for any breach of confidentiality of such Subsidiary, Affiliate or professional advisor) the contents of, the subject matter of and the negotiations relating to this Agreement or any confidential information regarding any other Party disclosed to it in connection with the discussions preceding, or resulting in, this Agreement or its implementation.

 

13.2

Section 13.1 does not prevent any Party from disclosures required under any mandatory laws, enforceable orders by courts or public authorities or the rules and regulations of any stock exchange

 

15


  governing the listing of any securities of the relevant Party. In such circumstances, any disclosure shall be no more extensive in scope and nature than the minimum standard required by the relevant laws, orders, rules or regulations. If a person is so required to make any announcement of or to disclose any confidential information, the relevant Party shall promptly notify the other Party or Parties concerned, where practicable and lawful to do so, before the announcement is made or disclosure occurs and shall co-operate with the other Party or Parties regarding the timing and content of such announcement or disclosure or any action which the other Party or Parties may reasonably elect to take to challenge the validity of such requirement.

 

13.3 Confidential information regarding the other Party in this Section 13 shall not include information that (i) is or has become known in the public domain other than through a fault of the Party obliged to hold the information confidential or of any of such Party’s Affiliates or (ii) was lawfully known to such Party or to any of such Party’s Affiliates prior to the signing date of this Agreement and which is not subject to any other confidential obligation to the other Party or Parties concerned.

 

13.4 The Company acknowledges that Superior may be required by U.S. security laws to announce the signing of this Agreement and to describe the major terms and conditions of this Agreement (including the consideration payable).

 

13.5 The Non-Disclosure and Standstill Agreement among Superior and the Company dated 8 November 2016 (the Confidentiality Agreement ) shall terminate upon the execution of this Agreement. It shall become binding again on its signatories in case this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 12.3 hereof.

 

13.6 The Company confirms to Superior and the Bidder that no information provided to the Bidder, its employees, managers, consultants, agents or advisors during the due diligence of the Uniwheels Group or otherwise in the auction process for the Company Shares sold by the Shareholder, including during any Q&A sessions, constitutes inside information within the meaning of MAR at the date hereof, at the moment of announcing the Offer, and in the period of time between such dates.

 

14. NOTICES

All notices, requests and other communications hereunder shall be made in writing in the English language and delivered by hand, by courier, by telefax or by email (provided that receipt of the telefax or email is promptly confirmed by telefax or email) to the person at the address set forth below, or such other person or address as may be designated by the respective Party to the other Party in the same manner:

to the Company:

UNIWHEELS AG

Attention: Dr. Thomas Buchholz

Gustav-Kirchhoff-Str. 10

67098 Bad Dürkheim

Germany

Fax: +49 6322 9484-414

Email:   t.buchholz@de.uniwheels.com

 

16


with a copy to:

Baker & McKenzie

Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten,

Wirtschaftsprüfern und Steuerberatern mbB

Attention: Dr. Christoph Wolf

Bethmannstrasse 50-54

60311 Frankfurt/Main

Germany

Fax: +49 69 2 99 08 108

Email: Christoph.Wolf@bakermckenzie.com

to Superior and/or the Bidder:

Superior Industries International, Inc.

Attention: Don Stebbins, Chief Executive Officer

26600 Telegraph Rd.

Suite 400

Southfield, MI 48033

Fax: + 1 248 352 6989

with a copy to:

Bruce Toth,

Winston & Strawn LLP

35 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60601-9703, USA

Telefax-No. +1 312 558 5700

Dr. Hartmut Krause,

Allen & Overy LLP

Haus am OpernTurm

Bockenheimer Landstraße 2

60306 Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Telefax-No. +49 69 2648 5800

 

15. MISCELLANEOUS

 

15.1 Undertakings

For the avoidance of doubt, any undertakings of the Bidder and/or Superior pursuant to this Agreement shall not be construed as containing any financial commitment to the Company.

 

15.2 No third-party rights

For the avoidance of doubt, this Agreement shall only grant rights to the Parties and shall not constitute a contract for the benefit of third parties ( Vertrag zu Gunsten Dritter ) or a contract with protective effect for third parties ( Vertrag mit Schutzwirkung für Dritte ).

 

17


15.3 Entire Agreement

Subject to Section 13.5, this Agreement (including all Exhibits hereto, if any) contains the entire agreement and understandings between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings with respect thereto. There are no written or oral supplements to this Agreement, neither among all nor some of the Parties.

 

15.4 Amendments

Any amendment, supplementation or suspension of this Agreement, including of this provision, shall be valid only if expressly labelled as such and only if made in writing, except where a stricter form (e.g. notarization) is required under applicable law. Any conduct of the Parties in conflict with the provisions of this Agreement shall not result in a modification of this Agreement and the failure of any Party at any time to require performance of any provisions hereof shall in no manner affect such Party’s right to enforce such provisions at a later time. The same applies for modifications of or amendments to this provision 15.4.

 

15.5 Assignment

Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, no Party may assign any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the consent of all other Parties.

Bidder shall be entitled to transfer its shareholding in the Company to a wholly - owned Superior Affiliate ( Superior Transferee ) without the prior written consent of the Company provided that

 

  (a) Superior informs the Company in writing of the intended transfer prior to the sale;

 

  (b) the Superior Transferee accedes to this Agreement and assumes all rights and obligations under this Agreement; and

 

  (c) Superior shall re-acquire the shareholding before the Superior Transferee ceases to be wholly owned by Superior, whereas Superior Transferee shall irrevocably grant Superior the right to acquire such shares on first request in the case of a change in the ownership of Superior Transferee.

 

15.6 Language

This Agreement is written in the English language. Terms to which a German or Polish translation has been added shall be interpreted throughout this Agreement in the meaning assigned to them by the German or Polish translation.

 

15.7 Costs and Expenses

All costs and expenses incurred by the Parties in connection with the negotiation and conclusion of this Agreement will be borne by the individual Party concerned.

Out of pocket expenses (e.g. reasonable travel expenses and reasonable fees of outside advisors) incurred by the Company in connection with the delivery of information in accordance with Section 3.3 shall be borne by the Bidder and/or Superior.

 

18


15.8 Governing Law and Jurisdiction

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany, excluding the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) and without regard to the conflict-of-law principles.

All disputes arising out of or in connection with the Agreement (including non-contractual disputes) shall be submitted to the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce and shall be finally settled under the Rules of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce by three arbitrators appointed in accordance with the said Rules. The place of arbitration shall be Frankfurt am Main, Germany. The language of the arbitration shall be English.

 

15.9 Interpretation and Definitions

 

  (a) The headings of the sections and subsections in this Agreement are for convenience purposes only and shall not affect the interpretation of any of the provisions hereof.

 

  (b) Words such as “hereof”, “herein” or “hereunder” refer (unless otherwise required by the context) to this Agreement as a whole and not to a specific provision of this Agreement. The term “including” shall mean “including, without limitation”.

 

  (c) Terms defined in the singular have a comparable meaning when used in the plural, and vice versa .

 

15.10 Severability

Should any provision of this Agreement, or any provision incorporated into this Agreement in the future, be or become invalid or unenforceable, the validity or enforceability of the other provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby. The invalid or unenforceable provision shall be deemed to be substituted by a suitable and equitable provision which, to the extent legally permissible, comes as close as possible to the intent and purpose of the invalid or unenforceable provision. The same shall apply: (i) if the Parties have, unintentionally, failed to address a certain matter in this Agreement ( Regelungslücke ); in this case a suitable and equitable provision shall be deemed to have been agreed upon which comes as close as possible to what the Parties, in the light of the intent and purpose of this Agreement, would have agreed upon if they had considered the matter; or (ii) if any provision of this Agreement is invalid because of the scope of any time period or performance stipulated herein; in this case a legally permissible time period or performance shall be deemed to have been agreed which comes as close as possible to the stipulated time period or performance.

 

19


UNIWHEELS AG      

/s/ Dr. Thomas Buchholz

   

/s/ Dr. Karsten Obenaus

Name:   Dr. Thomas Buchholz     Name:   Dr. Karsten Obenaus
Function:   CEO     Function:   CFO

/s/ Dr. Wolfgang Hiller

   
Name:   Dr. Wolfgang Hiller      
Function:   COO      
Superior Industries International, Inc.      

/s/ Donald J. Stebbins

   
Name:   Donald J. Stebbins      
Function:   Chief Executive Officer      
Superior Industries International Germany AG      

/s/ Dr. Hartmut Krause

   
Name:   Dr. Hartmut Krause      
Based on Power of Attorney dated 21 March 2017      

 

20

Exhibit 10.1

 

 

A GREEMENT REGARDING G UARANTEE AND I NDEMNIFICATION

U NDERTAKINGS ALSO FOR THE T HIRD -P ARTY B ENEFIT

between

Uniwheels Holding (Malta) Ltd., Sliema, Malta

and

Superior Industries International Germany AG, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

and

Superior Industries International Inc., Southfield, Michigan, United States of America

dated

March 23, 2017

 

 


Table of Content

 

§ 1 Indemnification Undertakings of the Offeror vis-à-vis the Offeree and for the Third-Party Benefit of the Third-Party Beneficiaries

     5  

§ 2 Guarantee Undertakings of the Offeror vis-à-vis the Offeree and for the Third-Party Benefit of the Third-Party Beneficiaries

     6  

§ 3 Guarantee Undertakings, Waiver and Release of the Guarantor vis-à-vis the Offeree and for the Third-Party Benefit of the Third-Party Beneficiaries

     9  

§ 4 Indemnification Undertakings of the Offeree vis-à-vis the Offeror and for the third-party benefit of the companies of the Uniwheels Group

     10  

§ 5 Guarantee Undertakings of the Offeree vis-à-vis the Offeror and for the third-party benefit of the companies of the Uniwheels Group

     11  

§ 6 Condition Precedent

     12  

§ 7 Confidentiality

     12  

§ 8 Notices

     13  

§ 9 Costs; Taxes

     15  

§ 10 Miscellaneous

     15  

§ 11 Governing Law and Arbitration

     18  

 

2


A GREEMENT REGARDING G UARANTEE

AND I NDEMNIFICATION U NDERTAKINGS

( THE “A GREEMENT ”)

between

 

  1. Uniwheels Holding (Malta) Ltd. , 24 Regent House, Bisazza Street, Sliema SLM 1641, Malta, registered with the Registry of Companies of Malta under registration number C 30698, represented by the managing director Mrs. Beata Olejnik with sole power of representation

(“ Offeree ”)

 

  2. Superior Industries International Germany AG , c/o Intertrust (Deutschland) GmbH, Grüneburgweg 58-62, 60322 Frankfurt am Main, Germany, Commercial Register ( Handelsregister ) of the Local Court (Amtsgericht) of Frankfurt am Main, under No. HRB 107708, represented by Dr. Hartmut Krause on the basis of the power of attorney dated March 21, 2017

(“ Offeror ”)

 

  3. Superior Industries International Inc. , 26600 Telegraph Road, Suite 400, Southfield, MI 48033, United States of America, represented by Donald J. Stebbins, Chief Executive Officer, with sole power of representation

(“ Guarantor ”)

(the Offeree, the Offeror and the Guarantor each individually a “ Party

and collectively the “ Parties ”)

and for the third-party benefit within the meaning of § 328(1) of the German Civil Code ( echter Vertrag zu Gunsten Dritter ) of any of the following third-party beneficiaries ( echt Drittbegünstigte ), without them being a party to this Agreement,

 

  4. Ralf Gunter Schmid , c/o Uniwheels Holding (Malta) Ltd., 24 Regent House, Bisazza Street, Sliema SLM 1641, Malta, registered with the Registry of Companies of Malta under registration number C 30698

(“ Third-Party Beneficiary 1 ”)

 

  5. Michael Peter Schmid , c/o Uniwheels Holding (Malta) Ltd., 24 Regent House, Bisazza Street, Sliema SLM 1641, Malta, registered with the Registry of Companies of Malta under registration number C 30698

(“ Third-Party Beneficiary 2 ”)

 

3


  6. Rasch Holding Ltd. , Registered Office at: Belmont Chambers, P.O. Box 3443, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands, Register of International Business Companies / Number 523730

(“ Third-Party Beneficiary 3 ”)

 

  7. Misch Holding Ltd. , Registered Office at: Belmont Chambers, P.O. Box 3443, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands, Register of International Business Companies / Number 523731

(“ Third-Party Beneficiary 4 ”)

 

  8. Beata Anna Olejnik , c/o Uniwheels Holding (Malta) Ltd., 24 Regent House, Bisazza Street, Sliema SLM 1641, Malta, registered with the Registry of Companies of Malta under registration number C 30698

(“ Third-Party Beneficiary 5 ”)

 

  9. Heike Pfleger , c/o Uniwheels Holding (Malta) Ltd., Sliema, Schweizer Zweigniederlassung Meggen, Luzernerstrasse 8, 6045 Meggen, Switzerland

(“ Third-Party Beneficiary 6 ”)

(the Third-Party Beneficiaries 1 through 6 each individually a “ Third-Party Beneficiary

and collectively the “ Third-Party Beneficiaries ”)

P REAMBLE

 

  A. On the date hereof and simultaneously herewith, the Parties conclude an Agreement regarding Mutual Irrevocable Undertakings (“ Irrevocable ”) (unless otherwise specified herein, the definitions therein also apply to this Agreement).

 

  B. The Offeree on the one hand, and the Uniwheels Group on the other hand, entertain, inter alia , the following legal relationships:

 

  a. the Offeree licenses trademark rights to the Uniwheels Group on the basis of agreements set forth in a table attached hereto as Annex B. (“ Trademark Relationship ”);

 

4


  b. the Offeree provides services to the Uniwheels Group on the basis of an agreement set forth in the table attached hereto as Annex B. (“ Service Relationship ”);

 

  c. the Offeree and the Third-Party Beneficiaries, as the case may be, entertain additional and formerly entertained additional, legal relationships with the Uniwheels Group, arising from or in connection with: direct and indirect shareholdings ( direkter und indirekter Beteiligungsbesitz ), memberships of corporate bodies ( Organwalter ), employment, advisory services, provision of loans, further service provisions, or any other kind of legal relationship (also if no written agreements exist) set forth in the table attached hereto as Annex B. (collectively “ Additional and Former Relationships ”).

 

  C. The Offeree and the Company reorganized the Trademark Relationship, the Service Relationship and the Additional and Former Relationships (collectively “ Reorganization ”) with a view to the Intended Transaction. The agreements concluded to effect the Reorganization are set forth in the table attached hereto as Annex B .

 

  D. The Offeror intends to undertake certain guarantee and indemnification undertakings vis-à-vis the Offeree with respect to the Trademark Relationship, the Service Relationship, the Additional and Former Relationships, the Reorganization and the Intended Transaction.

 

  E. The Guarantor intends to accede to this Agreement in order to assume certain guarantee undertakings and to declare a waiver.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties hereto agree as follows:

§ 1 Indemnification Undertakings of the Offeror vis- à -vis the Offeree

and for the Third-Party Benefit of the Third-Party Beneficiaries

 

(1)

The Offeror hereby undertakes, to the extent legally permissible, vis- à -vis the Offeree and for the third-party benefit within the meaning of § 328(1) of the German Civil Code ( echter Vertrag zu Gunsten Dritter ) of any of the Third-Party Beneficiaries ( echte Drittbeg ü nstigte ) vis- à -vis any of the Third-Party-Beneficiaries to indemnify and hold harmless the Offeree and/or any of the Third-Party Beneficiaries ( Freistellung ) from and against any and all liabilities (whether known or unknown, present or future, actual or contingent, founded or unfounded), damages, losses and

 

5


  out-of-pocket costs and expenses (e.g. court and advisors fees) which are asserted by a company of the Uniwheels Group and arise out of or in connection with:

 

  (a) the Trademark Relationship; and/or

 

  (b) the Service Relationship; and/or

 

  (c) the Additional and Former Relationships; and/or

 

  (d) the Reorganization;

provided that any liability, damage, loss and/or out-of-pocket costs and expenses which is based on any action or omission occurring after signing of this Agreement is fully excluded.

 

(2) Furthermore, the Offeror hereby undertakes, to the extent legally permissible, vis-à-vis the Offeree and for the third-party benefit within the meaning of § 328(1) of the German Civil Code ( echter Vertrag zu Gunsten Dritter ) of any of the Third-Party Beneficiaries ( echte Drittbegünstigte ) vis-à-vis any of the Third-Party-Beneficiaries to indemnify and hold harmless the Offeree and/or any of the Third-Party Beneficiaries ( Freistellung ) from and against any and all liabilities (whether known or unknown, present or future, actual or contingent, founded or unfounded), damages, losses and out-of-pocket costs and expenses (e.g. court and advisors fees) which relate to the assertion by a company of the Uniwheels Group or a shareholder of the Company based on the covenants undertaken in § 7(2)(g) of the Irrevocable and the compliance therewith.

§ 2 Guarantee Undertakings of the Offeror vis- à -vis the Offeree and for

the Third-Party Benefit of the Third-Party Beneficiaries

 

(1) The Offeror hereby guarantees by way of an independent guarantee undertaking ( verschuldensunabh ä ngiges selbst ä ndiges Garantieversprechen ) within the meaning of § 311(1) of the German Civil Code ( B ü rgerliches Gesetzbuch ) vis- à -vis the Offeree and for the third-party benefit within the meaning of § 328(1) of the German Civil Code ( echter Vertrag zu Gunsten Dritter ) of any of the Third-Party Beneficiaries ( echte Drittbeg ü nstigte ) vis- à -vis any of the Third-Party Beneficiaries that the following statements contained in this § 2(1) of this Agreement are accurate at the date hereof and at the Settlement Date:

 

  (a) The Offeror has been duly established and validly exists.

 

6


  (b) The Offeror has the unrestricted right, power, authority and capacity to execute and consummate this Agreement. The execution and consummation of this Agreement by the Offeror do not violate the articles of association or other corporate documents, as the case may be, or any other legal obligation of the Offeror.

 

  (c) No insolvency or similar proceedings have been, or have been threatened to be, opened or applied for regarding the assets of the Offeror.

 

  (d) This Agreement constitutes legal, valid and binding obligations of the Offeror enforceable in accordance with its terms.

 

(2) The Offeror hereby guarantees by way of an independent guarantee undertaking ( verschuldensunabh ä ngiges selbst ä ndiges Garantieversprechen ) within the meaning of § 311(1) of the German Civil Code ( B ü rgerliches Gesetzbuch ), to the extent legally permissible, vis- à -vis the Offeree and for the third-party benefit within the meaning of § 328(1) of the German Civil Code ( echter Vertrag zu Gunsten Dritter ) of any of the Third-Party Beneficiaries ( echte Drittbeg ü nstigte ) vis- à -vis any of the Third-Party Beneficiaries that the Uniwheels Group will not assert and/or enforce any claims, rights or other remedies against the Offeree and/or any Third-Party Beneficiary which might be raised by a company of the Uniwheels Group and arise out of or in connection with:

 

  (a) the Trademark Relationship; and/or

 

  (b) the Service Relationship; and/or

 

  (c) the Additional and Former Relationships; and/or

 

  (d) the Reorganization

except for any claim, right or other remedy which is based on any action or omission of the Offeree and/or any Third-Party Beneficiary occurring after signing of this Agreement.

 

7


(3) The Offeror hereby guarantees ( garantiert ) vis-à-vis the Offeree and for the third-party benefit within the meaning of § 328(1) of the German Civil Code ( echter Vertrag zu Gunsten Dritter ) of any of the Third-Party Beneficiaries ( echte Drittbegünstigte ) vis-à-vis any of the Third-Party Beneficiaries the complete and punctual performance of any and all obligations of the Uniwheels Group vis-à-vis the Offeree and/or any Third-Party Beneficiary arising out of or in connection with:

 

  (a) the Trademark Relationship; and/or

 

  (b) the Service Relationship; and/or

 

  (c) the Additional and Former Relationships; and/or

 

  (d) the Reorganization

except for any obligation which is based on any action or omission Offeree and/or any Third-Party Beneficiary occurring after signing of this Agreement.

 

(4) In the event of (i) an inaccuracy of any of the guarantee undertakings by the Offeror in § 2(1) of this Agreement and/or (ii) a breach of any of the guarantee undertakings of the Offeror in § 2(2) through § 2(3) of this Agreement, in each case irrespective of any responsibility ( Verantwortlichkeit ) on the Offeror’s part, the Offeror shall put the Offeree and/or any of the Third-Party Beneficiaries, as the case may be, in the same position it/they would be in had the guarantee undertaking(s) been accurate or were the guarantee undertaking(s) not breached, either by providing for such position in kind ( Naturalrestitution ), or, at the election of the Offeree and/or any Third-Party Beneficiary, as the case may be, by paying to the Offeree and/or any of the Third-Party Beneficiaries, as the case may be, an amount necessary to hold harmless ( schadlos stellen ) the Offeree and/or any of the Third-Party Beneficiaries, as the case may be, against all damages which it would not have suffered if the respective guarantee undertaking(s) had been accurate or were the guarantee undertaking(s) not breached ( Schadensersatz in Geld ). Unless provided otherwise herein, §§ 249 et seqq. of the German Civil Code ( B ü rgerliches Gesetzbuch ) shall apply. Any damage or loss shall be indemnified only once, whether incurred by the Offeree and/or any of the Third Party Beneficiaries and/or whether or not such damage or loss gives rise or may give rise to more than one claim (no “double dip”).

 

8


§ 3 Guarantee Undertakings, Waiver and Release of the Guarantor vis- à -vis the Offeree

and for the Third-Party Benefit of the Third-Party Beneficiaries

 

(1) The Guarantor hereby guarantees by way of an independent guarantee undertaking ( verschuldensunabh ä ngiges selbst ä ndiges Garantieversprechen ) within the meaning of § 311(1) of the German Civil Code ( B ü rgerliches Gesetzbuch ) vis- à -vis the Offeree and for the third-party benefit within the meaning of § 328(1) of the German Civil Code ( echter Vertrag zu Gunsten Dritter ) of any of the Third-Party Beneficiaries ( echte Drittbeg ü nstigte ) vis- à -vis any of the Third-Party Beneficiaries that the following statements contained in this § 3(1) of this Agreement are accurate at the date hereof and at the Settlement Date:

 

  (a) The Guarantor has been duly established and validly exists.

 

  (b) The Guarantor has the unrestricted right, power, authority and capacity to execute and consummate this Agreement. The execution and consummation of this Agreement by the Guarantor do not violate the articles of association or other corporate documents, as the case may be, or any other legal obligation of the Guarantor.

 

  (c) No insolvency or similar proceedings have been, or have been threatened to be, opened or applied for regarding the assets of the Guarantor.

 

  (d) This Agreement constitutes legal, valid and binding obligations of the Guarantor enforceable in accordance with its terms.

 

(2) The Guarantor hereby guarantees ( garantiert ) vis- à -vis the Offeree and for the third-party benefit within the meaning of § 328(1) of the German Civil Code ( echter Vertrag zu Gunsten Dritter ) of any of the Third-Party Beneficiaries ( echte Drittbeg ü nstigte ) vis- à -vis any of the Third-Party Beneficiaries the complete and punctual performance of any and all obligations of the Offeror out of or in connection with this Agreement vis- à -vis the Offeree and/or any of the Third-Party Beneficiaries.

 

(3) § 2(4) of this Agreement shall apply mutatis mutandis in respect of § 3(1) of this Agreement.

 

(4)

To the extent legally permissible, the Guarantor hereby irrevocably waives and releases ( verzichtet auf und erl ä sst ) (“ Waiver ”) any and all potential known and

 

9


  unknown rights and claims and other remedies (whether present or future, actual or contingent) of the Guarantor against the Offeree and/or any of the Third-Party Beneficiaries, regardless on which legal basis they are made, arising out of or in connection with the Irrevocable, the Transactions and the Contract Initiation; any and all potential known and unknown rights and claims and other remedies (whether present or future, actual or contingent) of the Guarantor against the Offeree and/or any of the Third-Party Beneficiaries, regardless on which legal basis they are made, arising out of or in connection with the Irrevocable, the Transactions and the Contract Initiation shall be deemed paid, discharged and settled ( abgegolten und erledigt ). In case of any of the Third-Party Beneficiaries, which are no party to this Agreement, the above Waiver, if and to the extent it constitutes an in rem agreement ( Verfügungsvertrag ), shall be an undertaking of the Guarantor to the third-party benefit within the meaning of § 328(1) of the German Civil Code ( echter Vertrag zu Gunsten Dritter ) of any of the Third-Party Beneficiaries ( echte Drittbegünstigte ) vis-à-vis any of the Third-Party Beneficiaries with the same content to cease and desist and a covenant not to sue ( pactum de non petendo ).

§ 4 Indemnification Undertakings of the Offeree vis- à -vis the Offeror and

for the third-party benefit of the companies of the Uniwheels Group

Except for the items set forth in Exhibit § 4 , the Offeree hereby undertakes, to the extent legally permissible, vis-à-vis the Offeror to indemnify and hold harmless the Offeror and, as third-party beneficiaries echte Drittbegünstigte ) in the meaning of § 328(1) of the German Civil Code ( echter Vertrag zu Gunsten Dritter ) any of the companies of the Uniwheels Group, from and against any and all liabilities (whether known or unknown, present or future, actual or contingent), damages, losses and out-of-pocket costs and expenses (e.g. court and advisors fees) which are asserted by the Offeree and/or any Third-Party Beneficiary against a company of the Uniwheels Group arising out of or in connection with:

 

(1) the Trademark Relationship; and/or

 

(2) the Service Relationship; and/or

 

(3) the Additional and Former Relationships; and/or

 

(4) the Reorganization; and/or

 

(5) any receivable outstanding at the Settlement Date under loans granted to any company of the Uniwheels Group by the Offeree and/or any of the Third-Party Beneficiaries,

 

10


except for such arising out of or in connection with any services or other performances ( Leistungen ) duly rendered, or based on other actions or omissions duly occurring, in the ordinary course of business after signing of this Agreement.

§ 5 Guarantee Undertakings of the Offeree vis- à -vis the Offeror and for

the third-party benefit of the companies of the Uniwheels Group

 

(1) Except for the items set forth in Exhibit § 4, the Offeree hereby guarantees by way of an independent guarantee undertaking ( verschuldensunabh ä ngiges selbst ä ndiges Garantieversprechen ) within the meaning of § 311(1) of the German Civil Code ( B ü rgerliches Gesetzbuch ) vis- à -vis the Offeror and for the third-party benefit within the meaning of § 328(1) of the German Civil Code ( echter Vertrag zu Gunsten Dritter ) of any of the companies of the Uniwheels Group ( echte Drittbeg ü nstigte ) that neither the Offeree nor any Third-Party Beneficiary will assert and/or enforce any claims, rights or other remedies against the Offeror and/or any company of the Uniwheels Group which might be raised by the Offeree or a Third-Party Beneficiary and arise out of or in connection with:

 

  (a) the Trademark Relationship; and/or

 

  (b) the Service Relationship; and/or

 

  (c) the Additional and Former Relationships; and/or

 

  (d) the Reorganization; and/or

 

  (e) any receivable outstanding at the Settlement Date under loans granted to any company of the Uniwheels Group by the Offeree and/or any of the Third-Party Beneficiaries.

except for such arising out of or in connetion with any services or other performances ( Leistungen ) duly rendered, or based on other actions or omissions duly occurring, in the ordinary course of business after signing of this Agreement.

 

(2) Each of the Third-Party Beneficiaries has declared as of the date hereof, except as set out in such declaration, that he or she does not have any actual or contingent, present or future claim against the Offeror under § 1 of this Agreement. These declarations are attached hereto as Annex § 5 .

 

11


(3) In the event of an inaccuracy or breach of a guarantee undertaking by the Offeree given in § 5 of this Agreement, irrespective of any responsibility ( Verantwortlichkeit ) on the Offeree’s part, the Offeree shall put the Offeror and/or the respective company of the Uniwheels Group in the same position it would be in had the guarantee undertaking been accurate or unbreached, either by providing for such position in kind ( Naturalrestitution ), or, at the election of the Offeror, by paying to the Offeror or the respective company of the Uniwheels Group an amount necessary to hold harmless ( schadlos stellen ) the Offeror or the respective company of the Uniwheels Group against all damages which it would not have suffered if the respective guarantee undertaking had been accurate or were the guarantee undertaking not breached ( Schadensersatz in Geld ). Unless provided otherwise herein, §§ 249 et seqq. of the German Civil Code ( Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch ) shall apply.

§ 6 Condition Precedent

The effectiveness of § 1(1), § 2(2) and § 2(3), § 4 and § 5 of this Agreement shall be conditioned dependent on ( aufschiebende Bedingung ) the occurrence of the Settlement Date.

§ 7 Confidentiality

Each Party shall keep confidential and not disclose to any third party, other than any Member Third-Party Offeror Group, except for the Uniwheels Group, and any Member Third-Party Offeree Group, the content of this Agreement and any business and trade secrets and other confidential information regarding the other Party disclosed to it in connection with this Agreement or its consummation, except as expressly agreed upon with the other Party. Any press releases and other public communication in connection with this Agreement shall require the prior consent of the respective other Party. Notwithstanding the above, each Party may disclose any information as required in order to comply with applicable law, the rules and regulations of any stock exchange or an enforceable order of a court or public authority; provided, however, that the relevant Party shall, to the extent legally permissible and practicable, notify the other Party thereof in advance and seek to agree with it upon the content of the information. These confidentiality obligations shall also be for the third-party benefit within the meaning of § 328(1) of the German Civil Code ( echter Vertrag zu Gunsten Dritter ) of the Third-Party Beneficiaries ( echte Drittbegünstigte ) vis-à-vis any Third-Party Beneficiary.

 

12


§ 8 Notices

All notices, requests and other communication in connection with this Agreement shall be made in writing in the English language and shall be delivered personally or sent by registered mail ( Einschreiben ), telefax, via E-mail transmitted pdf copies of originals, or courier, to the addresses below or to such other addresses as may be specified by any Party to the other Parties in the same manner:

 

(1) If to the Offeree,

 

  (a) to: Mrs. Beata Olejnik, Uniwheels Holding (Malta) Ltd., 24 Regent House, Bisazza Street, Sliema SLM 1641, Malta

E-Mail: olejnik@mt.uniwheels.com

Telefax-No. +356 21346996

 

  (b) with a copy to: Mr. Ralf Schmid, c/o Uniwheels Holding (Malta) Ltd., 24 Regent House, Bisazza Street, Sliema SLM 1641, Malta

E-Mail: rs@mt.uniwheels.com

Telefax-No. +356 21346996

 

(2) If to the Offeror,

 

  (a) to: Andreas Grundhöfer

c/o Intertrust (Deutschland) GmbH,

Grüneburgweg 58-62,

60322 Frankfurt am Main,

Germany

 

  (b) with a copy to:

Donald J. Stebbins, Chief Executive Officer

Superior Industries International Inc.

26600 Telegraph Road,

Suite 400, Southfield, Michigan 48033, USA

Telefax-No. + 1 248-352 6989

Bruce Toth,

Winston & Strawn LLP

35 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60601-9703, USA

Telefax-No. +1 312 558 5700

 

13


Dr. Hartmut Krause,

Allen & Overy LLP

Haus am OpernTurm

Bockenheimer Landstraße 2

60306 Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Telefax-No. +49 69 2648 5800

 

(3) If to the Guarantor,

 

  (a) to: Donald J. Stebbins, Chief Executive Officer

Superior Industries International Inc.

26600 Telegraph Road,

Suite 400, Southfield, Michigan 48033, USA

Telefax-No. + 1 248-352 6989

 

  (b) with a copy to:

Bruce Toth,

Winston & Strawn LLP

35 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60601-9703, USA

Telefax-No. +1 312 558 5700

Dr. Hartmut Krause,

Allen & Overy LLP

Haus am OpernTurm

Bockenheimer Landstraße 2

60306 Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Telefax-No. +49 69 2648 5800

or to such other recipients or addresses which may be notified by any Party to the other Parties in the future in writing. The requirement to provide copies to certain parties shall be for convenience purposes only and failure to send such copy shall not affect the validity of service of any notice.

The Offeree hereby irrevocably appoints

Dr. Heino Rück

SZA Schilling, Zutt & Anschütz Rechtsanwalts AG

Otto-Beck-Straße 11

68165 Mannheim, Germany

Telefax-No. +49 621 4257 296

and

 

14


Offeror and Guarantor hereby irrevocably appoint

Dr. Hartmut Krause

Allen & Overy LLP

Haus am OpernTurm

Bockenheimer Landstraße 2

60306 Frankfurt am Main

Germany

Telefax-No. +49 69 2648 5800

in each case as authorized recipient ( Empfangsbevollmächtigter ) and process agent ( Zustellungsbevollmächtigter ) for the receipt of any declarations of will and/or any other declarations and the services of process to be effected in any arbitration proceedings or proceedings before ordinary courts of law under or in connection with this Agreement.

§ 9 Costs; Taxes

 

(1) Each Party shall bear its own costs, including advisor’s fees, arising in connection with the preparation, negotiation, execution and implementation of this Agreement or the fulfillment of the obligations stipulated herein.

 

(2) As a precaution: (i) Any stamp duties, stock exchange taxes, value added taxes and transfer taxes (in particular, German real estate transfer tax ( Grunderwerbsteuer )) arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be borne by the Offeror.

§ 10 Miscellaneous

 

(1) Notwithstanding any and all other obligations arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, the Parties herewith agree that the Third-Party Beneficiary 1 shall not have any claims under this Agreement if and to the extent any company of the Uniwheels Group asserts specific performance in respect of a transfer of IP-Rights against the Third-Party Beneficiary 1 under an express stipulation agreed upon in the Reorganisation.

 

(2) All Exhibits to this Agreement constitute a part of this Agreement. This Agreement and the Exhibits shall comprise the entire agreement between the Parties concerning the subject matter hereof. The defined terms used herein are set forth in Exhibit § 10 and shall have the meaning ascribed to them therein. Any prior oral or written agreements or letters of intent that relate to the subject matter hereof shall be superseded by this Agreement.

 

15


(3) Any claims against the Offeree, the Offeror and/or the Guarantor out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be time-barred ( verjährt ) with the expiration of ten (10) years as of the Signing Date.

 

(4) This Agreement shall not grant any rights to, and is not intended to operate for the benefit of, any third parties other than the Parties to this Agreement and the Third-Party Beneficiaries.

 

(5) Any amendments to this Agreement (including amendments to this paragraph) shall be valid only if made in writing, unless another form is required by mandatory law; § 127(2) of the German Civil Code ( Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch ) shall apply.

 

(6) All words used in this Agreement will be construed to be of such gender or number as the circumstances require. The words “ including ” and “ in particular ” shall not limit the preceding words or terms.

 

(7) Wherever English terms are included herein with respect to which German terms have been inserted in brackets and/or italics either immediately after the English term or elsewhere herein, the respective German terms alone rather than the English terms shall be decisive for the interpretation of such term in this Agreement.

 

(8) No Party shall be entitled to assign any rights or claims under this Agreement without the prior written approval of the other Parties.

 

(9) Except as explicitly provided for herein, no Party shall be entitled to any set-off ( Aufrechnung ) or retention ( Zurückbehaltung ) with respect to any rights or claims under this Agreement unless the right or claim of the Party claiming a right of set-off or retention has been acknowledged in writing by the other Party or has been confirmed by a final judicial decision ( rechtskräftig festgestellt ).

 

(10)

In the event that one or more individual provisions of this Agreement are entirely or partially invalid or unenforceable, or become so in the future, or if this Agreement contains gaps, the validity and effectiveness of the remaining provisions of this Agreement remain unaffected. In the place of the invalid, unenforceable, or missing provision(s), this Agreement shall be deemed to contain such other provision or provisions that are valid and enforceable and correspond to the provision(s) that the Parties would have agreed to, giving consideration to the economic purpose of this Agreement, had they known at the signing of this Agreement about the invalidity,

 

16


  unenforceability or absence of the provision(s) contained herein. Each Party undertakes to confirm the applicability of such substitute provision in the form required, which shall be at least in written form.

 

(11) The Parties agree that this Agreement will be concluded by means of telecommunication ( telekommunikative Ü bermittlung ) attached as an electronic photocopy (pdf., tif., etc.) to E-mail as follows: the signatory for the Guarantor shall initial, sign and send the signed and initialed Agreement (including the Exhibits) to the Offeror, the signatory for the Offeror shall also initial, sign and send the signed and initialed Agreement (including the Exhibits) to the Offeree, the Offeree shall sign the signature page of the Agreement only, which bears the signatures of the signatories for the Guarantor and the Offeree, and send the signed signature page to the Guarantor and Offeror. This Agreement shall be considered concluded once the Guarantor and the Offeror have received ( ist ihnen zugegangen ) the signature page signed by the signatory of the Offeree. For the avoidance of doubt, each Party herewith confirms that the dispatch ( Abgabe ) and receipt ( Zugang ) of any declaration of will ( Willenserkl ä rung ) in order to conclude this Agreement are valid on March 23, 2017 (CET) irrespective of any regular business hours at the places of dispatch and receipt.

 

(12) For documentation purposes only, the Guarantor and the Offeror shall confirm receipt by E-Mail immediately upon receipt of the signature page as set out above from the Offeree.

 

(13) Further, for documentation purposes only, the Offeree shall send the Agreement (including the Exhibits), which bears the initials and signatures of the signatories for the Guarantor and the Offeree, initialed and signed by it, to the Guarantor and the Offeror by means of telecommunication ( telekommunikative Übermittlung ) attached as an electronic photocopy (pdf., tif., etc.) to E-mail.

 

(14) In addition, for documentation purposes only, the signatory for the Guarantor will initial, sign and send (by courier) nine originals of the Agreement (including the Exhibits) without undue delay to the Offeror, the signatory of which will initial, sign and send (by courier) these originals to the Offeree, the signatory of which will initial, sign and send (by courier) one original to the Guarantor and one to the Offeror. For the avoidance of doubt, the originals shall bear the date March 23, 2017 being the date of the conclusion of this Agreement.

 

17


§ 11 Governing Law and Arbitration

 

(1) This Agreement and any dispute arising out of, or in connection with it (including non-contractual disputes) shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany excluding the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) and without regard to the conflict-of-laws principles.

 

(2) All disputes arising out of or in connection with the present Agreement (including non-contractual disputes) shall be submitted to the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce and shall be finally settled under the Rules of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce by three arbitrators appointed in accordance with the said Rules. The place of arbitration is Zurich, Switzerland. The language of the arbitration is English. For the avoidance of doubt, any of the Third-Party Beneficiaries shall be entitled to invoke this arbitration clause ( ist berechtigt, sich auf die Schiedsklausel zu berufen ) in accordance with the judicature of the Swiss Federal Supreme Court ( Rechtsprechung des Schweizerischen Bundesgerichts ).

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

18


UNIWHEELS HOLDING (MALTA) LTD.

Meggen, Switzerland, 23 March 2017,              (CET)

 

Through:  

                /s/ Beata Olejnik

  Name:   Beata Olejnik
  Function:   Managing Director

SUPERIOR INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL GERMANY AG

Frankfurt am Main, Germany, 23 March 2017

 

Through:  

                /s/ Dr. Hartmut Krause

  Name:   Dr. Hartmut Krause
  Function:   By Power of Attorney dated 21 March 2017

SUPERIOR INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL INC.

Southfield MI, United States of America, 23 March 2017

 

Through:  

                /s/ Donald J. Stebbins

  Name:   Donald J. Stebbins
  Function:   Chief Executive Officer

***

 

19


EXHIBIT § 10

 

Defined Term

  

Definition or Reference

Agreement    Agreement regarding Guarantee and Indemnification Undertakings also for the Third-Party Benefit
Irrevocable    as defined in Preamble A.
Trademark Relationship    as defined in Preamble B.a.
Service Relationship    as defined in Preamble B.b.
Additional and Former Relationship    as defined in Preamble B.c.
Reorganization    as defined in Preamble C.
Waiver    as defined in § 3(4)

Unless otherwise specified in this Agreement, the defined terms used in the Agreement regarding mutual Irrevocable Undertakings shall also apply to this Agreement

Exhibit 10.2

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

 

INVESTMENT AGREEMENT

by and among

SUPERIOR INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.

and

THE INVESTOR LISTED ON THE SIGNATURE PAGES HERETO

Dated as of March 22, 2017

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  
ARTICLE I  
Definitions  

SECTION 1.01. Definition s

     3  
ARTICLE II  
Purchase and Sale  

SECTION 2.01. Purchase and Sale

     8  

SECTION 2.02. Closing

     9  
ARTICLE III  
Representations and Warranties of the Company  

SECTION 3.01. Organization; Standing

     9  

SECTION 3.02. Capitalization

     10  

SECTION 3.03. Authority; Noncontravention; Voting Requirements

     11  

SECTION 3.04. Governmental Approvals

     12  

SECTION 3.05. Company SEC Documents; Undisclosed Liabilities

     13  

SECTION 3.06. No Broker

     14  

SECTION 3.07. Listing and Maintenance Requirements

     14  

SECTION 3.08. Investment Company Act

     14  

SECTION 3.09. No Rights Agreement

     14  

SECTION 3.10. Illegal Payments; FCPA Violations

     14  

SECTION 3.11. Economic Sanctions

     15  

SECTION 3.12. Compliance with Money Laundering Laws

     15  

SECTION 3.13. Tender Documents

     15  
ARTICLE IV  
Representations and Warranties of the Investor  

SECTION 4.01. Organization and Authority

     16  

SECTION 4.02. Authorization; Enforceability

     16  

SECTION 4.03. No Conflict

     16  

SECTION 4.04. Government Filings

     16  

SECTION 4.05. Purchase for Investment

     17  

SECTION 4.06. No Other Company Representations or Warranties

     17  

SECTION 4.07. Arm’s Length Transaction

     17  

SECTION 4.08. Private Placement Consideration

     18  

SECTION 4.09. No Broker

     18  

SECTION 4.10. Financial Capability

     18  


ARTICLE V  
Additional Agreements  

SECTION 5.01. Conduct of the Business

     18  

SECTION 5.02. Public Announcements

     20  

SECTION 5.03. Access to Information; Confidentiality Agreement

     21  

SECTION 5.04. Reasonable Best Efforts

     21  

SECTION 5.05. Corporate Action

     21  

SECTION 5.06. Adjustment of Conversion Price

     21  

SECTION 5.07. NYSE Listing of Shares

     22  

SECTION 5.08. Use of Proceeds

     22  

SECTION 5.09. Expenses

     22  

SECTION 5.10. Investor Rights Agreement; Board Composition

     22  

SECTION 5.11. Anti-takeover Laws

     22  

SECTION 5.12. Notification of Certain Matters

     23  

SECTION 5.13. Debt Financing

     23  

SECTION 5.14. Tax Treatment

     23  
ARTICLE VI  
Effectiveness and Conditions to Closing  

SECTION 6.01. Effectiveness

     23  

SECTION 6.02. Conditions to the Obligations of the Company and the Investor

     24  
ARTICLE VII  
Termination; Survival  

SECTION 7.01. Termination

     24  

SECTION 7.02. Effects of Termination

     24  

SECTION 7.03. Survival

     24  

SECTION 7.04. Limitation on Damages

     25  

SECTION 7.05. Non-Recourse

     25  
ARTICLE VIII  
Miscellaneous  

SECTION 8.01. Notices

     25  

SECTION 8.02. Amendments, Waivers, etc.

     26  

SECTION 8.03. Counterparts and Facsimile

     26  

SECTION 8.04. Further Assurances

     27  


SECTION 8.05. Governing Law; Specific Enforcement; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial

     27  

SECTION 8.06. Interpretation

     28  

SECTION 8.07. Severability

     28  

SECTION 8.08. No Third-Party Beneficiaries

     28  

SECTION 8.09. Assignment

     29  

SECTION 8.10. Acknowledgment of Securities Laws

     29  

SECTION 8.11. Entire Agreement

     29  

Exhibits

 

Form of Certificate of Designations

   Exhibit A

Form of Investor Rights Agreement

   Exhibit B

Tender Documents

   Exhibit C

Proposed Subordinated Notes Terms

   Exhibit D


INVESTMENT AGREEMENT, dated as of March 22, 2017 (this “ Agreement ”), among Superior Industries International, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and the investor named on the signature pages hereto (the “ Investor ”).

WHEREAS, the Company has obtained a commitment from the owner (the “ Significant Holder ”) of approximately 61% of the outstanding stock of Uniwheels AG, a stock corporation under German law (the “ Target ”), evidenced by an irrevocable undertaking agreement (the “ Undertaking Agreement ”), to tender such shares in the second step of the Offer (as defined below). In connection with the Undertaking Agreement, the Company has proposed to enter into a customary business combination agreement with the Target (the “ Combination Agreement ”). In the second step, and in connection herewith, the Company will undertake a tender offer (the “ Offer ” and all of the documents, schedules and exhibits related thereto as are required to effect the Offer, as each may be amended, modified, supplemented or waived from time to time, the “ Tender Documents ”), pursuant to which, the Company shall offer to purchase all (but not less than 75% of) the outstanding shares of the Target and shall purchase, upon the consummation of the Offer, the shares of the Significant Holder along with all other shares tendered of the Target pursuant to the Tender Documents (the “ Tender Effectiveness ”). Subsequent to the Tender Effectiveness in the third step, the Company shall acquire any remaining shares of the Target utilizing one or more of the following: (1) a subsequent tender offer and/or acquisitions of remaining shares of the Target through market purchases or otherwise until at least 90% of the shares of the Target are tendered and/or acquired (including all shares previously tendered in the Offer) and/or (2) a delisting of the Target from the Warsaw stock exchange and a subsequent upstream merger squeeze-out process under applicable German law.

WHEREAS, at or before the commencement of the Offer, the Company will obtain for its account a letter of credit denominated in Polish zlotys in an aggregate amount equal to PLN 2,853,384,000 (the “ Tender Letter of Credit ”) to be issued by Citibank, N.A. (“ Tender Issuing Bank ”) in favor of Dom Maklerski Banku Handlowego S.A. pursuant to an Agreement for Standby Letter of Credit and related fee letter and reimbursement agreement (the “ Reimbursement Agreement ”), each dated March 22, 2017 and entered into between the Tender Issuing Bank and the Company as applicant; provided that the obligations of the Company under the Reimbursement Agreement shall be secured by all right, title and interest of the Company under the Senior Facilities, the Senior Bridge Facilities and this Agreement, and all proceeds thereof and such liens shall be granted and perfected, in each case on the date of execution of the Reimbursement Agreement.

WHEREAS, the Company will obtain up to $550 million in senior secured credit facilities, consisting of a $150 million senior secured revolving credit facility (the “ Revolving Facility ”) and a $400 million senior secured term loan facility (the “ Term Facility ” and, together with the Revolving Facility, the “ Senior Facilities ”), having the terms set forth in the Credit Agreement, dated the date hereof (the “ Credit Agreement ”), by and among the Company, Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent, collateral agent and issuing bank, the other lenders party thereto and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch and RBC Capital Markets, as joint lead arrangers and joint lead bookrunners.


WHEREAS, the Company will (i) issue an aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes (the “ Senior Notes ”) or any other debt securities issued pursuant to an offering by the Company or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries undertaken to finance the Acquisition (the “ Securities ”), generating up to €240 million in gross proceeds in a Rule 144A offering or other private placement, or (ii) to the extent the Company does not receive such amount of gross proceeds of Senior Notes or the Securities on or prior to the Closing Date (as defined herein), borrow up to €240 million (minus the amount of gross proceeds from any Senior Notes or Securities issuance on or prior to the Closing Date) of senior unsecured increasing rate loans under a new senior unsecured credit facility (the “ Senior Bridge Facility ”, the Senior Bridge Facility together with the Senior Facilities, the “ Facilities ”) and which may, under their terms, be converted to term loans (“ Senior Unsecured Term Loans ”) or exchanged for debt securities. The financing transactions referred to in this paragraph and the immediately preceding paragraph hereof shall be referred to herein as the “ Debt Financing .”

WHEREAS, substantially concurrently with the Tender Effectiveness, the Company desires to issue, sell and deliver to the Investor, and the Investor desires to purchase and acquire from the Company, pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, the number of shares of the Company’s Series A Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Series A Preferred Stock ”), set forth herein having the powers, preferences and rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions, as set forth in the form of Certificate of Designations of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “ Certificate of Designations ”) and, to the extent necessary, a number of shares of the Company’s Series B Perpetual Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Series B Preferred Stock ” and, together with the Series A Preferred Stock, the “ Preferred Stock ”), set forth herein having the powers, preferences and rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions, as set forth in the Certificate of Designations; provided that in no event shall the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock (on an as-converted basis) be in excess of 19.99% of the outstanding shares of the Company’s Common Stock at the time of Closing (and, for the avoidance of doubt, to the extent that the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock (on an as-converted basis) exceeds 19.99% of the outstanding shares of the Company’s Common Stock at the time of Closing, such number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be reduced to that number of whole shares that constitutes less than 19.99% of the outstanding shares of the Company’s Common Stock at the time of Closing and any such reduction shall result in a commensurate increase in the number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock to be issued at the Closing); provided, further , that if at the time of the Closing the waiting period under the Hart-Scott Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, with respect to the purchase of the shares of the Preferred Stock has not expired or been earlier terminated or approval of the purchase of the shares of the Preferred Stock by the Federal Economic Competition Commission of Mexico has not been received, then the Investor shall purchase and acquire from the Company an aggregate of 33,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock for a purchase price per share equal to $1,000 and an aggregate purchase price of $33 million and the Investor

 

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shall purchase and acquire from the Company the Subordinated Notes (as defined herein), and the Company shall issue, sell and deliver to the Investor $117 million in aggregate principal amount of Subordinated Notes at a purchase price equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of Subordinated Notes.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

Definitions

SECTION 1.01. Definitions . (a) As used in this Agreement (including the Recitals hereto), the following terms shall have the following meanings:

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with, such specified Person; provided that the Corporation and its Subsidiaries shall not be deemed to be Affiliates of any Holder or any of their Affiliates. For the purposes of this definition, “ control ”, when used with respect to any specified Person, means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “ controlling ” and “ controlled ” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

Alternative Closing ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(b) .

Anticorruption Laws ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section  3.10 .

Balance Sheet Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.05(c) .

Bankruptcy and Equity Exception ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.03(a) .

Board ” means the board of directors of the Company.

Business Day ” means any day except a Saturday, a Sunday or other day on which the SEC or banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to be closed.

Bylaws ” means the Bylaws of the Company, as may be amended and restated from time to time.

Capitalization Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.02(a) .

Certificate of Designations ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

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Certificate of Incorporation ” means the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as may be amended and restated from time to time.

Closing ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(a) .

Closing Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(a) .

Code ” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Combination Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals to this Agreement.

Common Stock ” means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company.

Company Charter Documents ” means the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws.

Company Plan ” means each “employee benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA, whether or not subject to ERISA) and each other plan, program, contract, arrangement, agreement, or policy relating to stock options, stock purchases, other equity-based compensation, bonus, incentive, deferred compensation, employment, severance, retention, change in control, termination, fringe benefits, disability, medical, life, paid time off, relocation or other benefits or compensation, in each case sponsored, maintained or contributed to or required to be contributed to by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or with respect to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has any Liabilities.

Company Preferred Stock ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.02(a) .

Company SEC Documents ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.05(a) .

Company Securities ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.02(b) .

Company Stock Plan ” means the Superior Industries International, Inc. Amended and Restated 2008 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.

Contract ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.03(b) .

Conversion Shares ” means the Common Stock issuable upon the conversion or exchange of the Preferred Shares, including any increase in the stated value of the Preferred Shares pursuant to the issuance of dividends in accordance with the Certificate of Designations.

 

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Debt Financing ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals to this Agreement.

DGCL ” means the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Security Income Act of 1974, as amended.

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

Facilities ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals to this Agreement.

FCPA ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section  3.10 .

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, consistently applied.

Government Official ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section  3.10 .

Governmental Entity ” means any federal, state or local, domestic or foreign governmental or regulatory (including any stock exchange) authority, agency, court, commission or other entity or self-regulatory organization.

Investor Rights Agreement ” means the investor rights agreement between the Company and the Investor in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B .

Law ” means any statute, law, ordinance, treaty, rule, code, regulatory or other binding directive issued, promulgated or enforced by any Governmental Entity.

Liabilities ” means, collectively, all obligations, liabilities and commitments of any nature, whether known or unknown, express or implied, primary or secondary, direct or indirect, liquidated, absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise and whether due or to become due.

Liens ” means any pledges, liens, charges, mortgages, encumbrances or security interests of any kind or nature.

Material Adverse Effect ” means any circumstance, development, effect, change, event, occurrence or state of facts that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on (1) the business, results of operations, assets, Liabilities or financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or (2) the ability of the Company and its Subsidiaries to timely consummate the Transactions or to perform their respective material obligations under the Related Agreements.

 

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Money Laundering Laws ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section  3.12 .

Non-Recourse Party ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section  7.05 .

NYSE ” means the New York Stock Exchange and its successors.

Offer ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals to this Agreement.

Option ” means an unexercised option to purchase shares of Common Stock granted under a Company Stock Plan or otherwise.

Outside Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section  5.09 .

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

Preferred Shares ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(a) .

Preferred Stock ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals to this Agreement.

Purchase ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(a) .

Purchase Price ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(a) .

Related Agreements ” means the Certificate of Designations, the Investor Rights Agreement and any other agreements between or among the Company, the Investor and any of their respective Affiliates entered into to give effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Representative ” means, with respect to any Person, the directors, officers, employees, investment bankers, financial advisors, attorneys, accountants or other advisors, agents or representatives of such Person.

Revolving Facility ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals to this Agreement.

SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SEC Reports ” means all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be filed by the Company under the Exchange Act, including pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) thereof, including the exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein.

Securities ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

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

Senior Bridge Facility ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals to this Agreement.

Senior Facilities ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals to this Agreement.

Senior Notes ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals to this Agreement.

Series A Preferred Stock ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals to this Agreement.

Series B Preferred Stock ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals to this Agreement.

Significant Holder ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals to this Agreement.

Subordinated Notes ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(b) .

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, another Person, an amount of the voting securities, other voting rights or voting partnership interests of which is sufficient to elect at least a majority of its board of directors or other governing body (or, if there are no such voting interests, more than 50% of the equity interests of which) is owned directly or indirectly by such first Person.

Target ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals to this Agreement.

Tender Documents ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals to this Agreement.

Tender Effectiveness ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals to this Agreement.

Term Facility ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals to this Agreement.

Transaction Documents ” means this Agreement and the Related Agreements.

Transactions ” means the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Related Agreements.

 

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Undertaking Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals to this Agreement.

ARTICLE II

Purchase and Sale

SECTION 2.01. Purchase and Sale . (a) On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, subject to Section 2.01(b) , the Investor shall purchase and acquire from the Company an aggregate of the lesser of (i) 150,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock and (ii) a number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock that equals (on an as-converted basis) 19.99% of the outstanding shares of the Company’s Common Stock at the time of Closing and, to the extent the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock purchased by the Investor is less than 150,000, an aggregate number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock equal to the difference between 150,000 and the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock purchased by the Investor (the “ Preferred Shares ”), and the Company shall issue, sell and deliver to the Investor, such number of Preferred Shares, for a purchase price per Preferred Share equal to $1,000; provided that in no event shall the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock (on an as-converted basis) be in excess of 19.99% of the outstanding shares of the Company’s stock at the time of Closing (and, for the avoidance of doubt, to the extent that the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock (on an as-converted basis) exceeds 19.99% of the outstanding shares of the Company’s Common Stock at the time of Closing, such number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be reduced to that number of whole shares that constitutes less than 19.99% of the outstanding shares of the Company’s Common Stock at the time of Closing and any such reduction shall result in a commensurate increase in the number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock to be issued at the Closing). The aggregate purchase price of the Preferred Shares shall be up to $150,000,000 (the “ Purchase Price ”). The purchase of the Preferred Shares pursuant to this Section  2.01 is referred to as the “ Purchase ”.

(b) Alternative Closing . If at the time of the Closing the waiting period under the Hart-Scott Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, with respect to the purchase of the Preferred Shares has not expired or been earlier terminated or approval of the purchase of the Preferred Shares by the Federal Economic Competition Commission of Mexico has not been received, the Closing shall occur as provided for herein and subject to the terms and conditions provided for herein, provided that, upon the Closing the Investor shall purchase and acquire from the Company an aggregate of 33,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock for a purchase price per share equal to $1,000 and an aggregate purchase price of $33,000,000 and the Investor shall purchase and acquire from the Company $117,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of subordinated PIK notes (with such amounts to be adjusted as required to correspond to changes in the applicable exchange rate between Mexican pesos and U.S. dollars between the date hereof and the Closing), on the terms and conditions set forth in the Proposed Subordinated Notes Terms attached as Exhibit D hereto (the “ Subordinated Notes ”), and the Company shall issue, sell and deliver to the Investor $117,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of Subordinated Notes at a purchase price equal to 100% of the

 

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aggregate principal amount of Subordinated Notes (the “ Alternative Closing ”). In the event that the Alternative Closing shall occur (i) all references to the “ Purchase Price ,” “ Purchase ” and “ Preferred Shares ” shall be deemed modified to give effect to this paragraph and (ii) the Investor Rights Agreement shall be modified as agreed by the parties thereto to give effect to this paragraph.

SECTION 2.02. Closing . (a) The closing of the purchase by the Investor of the Preferred Shares (the “ Closing ”) shall take place at the offices of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, 601 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10022, on the date the conditions set forth in Section  6.02 are satisfied, or at such other place, time and date as shall be agreed between the Company and the Investor (the “ Closing Date ”). The Closing shall be deemed to occur and be effective as of 12:01 a.m., New York City time, on the Closing Date.

(b) At the Closing, to effect the purchase and sale of the Preferred Shares, (i) the Investor shall pay to the Company, by wire transfer to a bank account designated in writing by the Company at least two Business Days prior to the Closing Date, in immediately available funds, the Purchase Price for the Preferred Shares, (ii) the Company shall deliver to the Investor evidence of the Preferred Shares in book entry, (iii) the Company shall duly adopt and caused to be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware the Certificate of Designations and any related filings, forms or applications, (iv) each of the Company and the Investor shall execute and deliver to the other the Investor Rights Agreement, (v) the Company shall take all actions reasonably necessary to implement the provisions of Section 1(a)(ii) of the Investor Rights Agreement and to cause the Board, effective as of the Closing, to be composed as set forth therein and (vi) the Company shall perform in all material respects all of its obligations hereunder required to be performed by it at or prior to the Closing, to the extent not complied with prior to the Closing.

ARTICLE III

Representations and Warranties of the Company

Except as set forth in the Company SEC Documents the Company represents and warrants to the Investor as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent made only as of a specified date, in which case such representation and warranty is made as of such date) that:

SECTION 3.01. Organization; Standing . (a) The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware and has all requisite corporate power and corporate authority necessary to carry on its business as it is now being conducted except (other than with respect to the Company’s due organization and valid existence) as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company is duly licensed or qualified to do business and is in good standing (where such concept is recognized under applicable Law) in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted by it or the character or location of the properties and assets owned or leased by it makes such licensing, qualification or good standing necessary, except where the

 

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failure to be so licensed, qualified or in good standing, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. True and complete copies of the Company Charter Documents (as amended to the date hereof) are included in the Company SEC Documents.

(b) Each of the Company’s Subsidiaries is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing (where such concept is recognized under applicable Law) under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, except where the failure to be so organized, existing or in good standing, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each of the Company’s Subsidiaries is duly licensed, qualified to do business and in good standing (where such concept is recognized under applicable Law) in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted by it or the character or location of the properties and assets owned or leased by it makes such licensing, qualification or good standing necessary, except where the failure to be so licensed, qualified or in good standing, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.02. Capitalization . (a) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 100,000,000 shares of Common Stock and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (“ Company Preferred Stock ”), of which any shares of Series A Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, and any shares of Series B Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, to be issued to the Investor pursuant to this Agreement will be authorized as of the Closing Date. At the close of business on March 31, 2017, 2017 (the “ Capitalization Date ”), (i) 24,898,375 shares of Common Stock were issued and outstanding, (ii) 1,449,048 shares of Common Stock were held by the Company in its treasury, (iii) 2,084,800 shares of Common Stock were reserved and available for issuance pursuant to the Company Stock Plan, (iv) 231,625 shares of Common Stock were subject to outstanding Options, and (iv) no shares of Company Preferred Stock were issued or outstanding. Since the Capitalization Date through the date hereof, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has (A) issued any Company Securities or incurred any obligation to make any payments based on the price or value of any Company Securities or dividends paid thereon, other than in connection with the vesting, settlement or exercise of the Options referred to above that were outstanding as of the Capitalization Date or as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, or (B) established a record date for, declared, set aside for payment or paid any dividend on, or made any other distribution in respect of, any shares of the Company’s capital stock.

(b) Except as described in Section  3.02(a) , as of the Capitalization Date, there were no (i) outstanding shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, the Company, (ii) outstanding securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, the Company, (iii) outstanding options, warrants, stock appreciation rights, phantom stock rights, rights or other commitments or agreements to acquire from the Company or any Subsidiary, or that obligate the Company or any Subsidiary to issue, any capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests (or voting debt) in, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, the Company, or

 

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(iv) obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary to grant, extend or enter into any subscription, warrant, right, convertible or exchangeable security or other similar agreement or commitment relating to any capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, the Company (the items in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) being referred to collectively as “ Company Securities ”). Except with respect to the Company Stock Plans, there are no outstanding agreements of any kind which obligate the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any Company Securities, or obligate the Company to grant, extend or enter into any such agreements relating to any Company Securities, including any agreements granting any preemptive rights, subscription rights, anti-dilutive rights, rights of first refusal or similar rights with respect to any Company Securities. None of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company is a party to any stockholders’ agreement, voting trust agreement, registration rights agreement or other similar agreement or understanding relating to any Company Securities or any other agreement relating to the disposition, voting or dividends with respect to any Company Securities. All outstanding shares of Common Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive rights. The Preferred Shares and the Conversion Shares will be, when issued, duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and issued in compliance with all applicable federal and state securities Laws, and such shares will not be issued in violation of any purchase option, call option, preemptive right, resale right, subscription right, right of first refusal or similar right, and will be free and clear of all Liens, except restrictions imposed by the Securities Act and any applicable state securities Laws. The Preferred Shares and the Conversion Shares, if and when issued, will have the terms and conditions and entitle the holders thereof to the rights set forth in the Company Charter Documents, as amended by the Certificate of Designations. The shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Shares have been duly reserved for issuance.

(c) All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, each material Subsidiary of the Company (except for directors’ qualifying shares or the like) are owned directly or indirectly, beneficially and of record, by the Company free and clear of all Liens. Each outstanding share of capital stock of each material Subsidiary of the Company, which is held, directly or indirectly, by the Company, is duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive rights, and, except as set forth in the Transaction Documents, there are no subscriptions, options, warrants, rights, calls, contracts or other commitments, understandings, restrictions or arrangements relating to the issuance, acquisition, redemption, repurchase or sale of any shares of capital stock or other equity or voting interests of any material Subsidiary of the Company, including any right of conversion or exchange under any outstanding security, instrument or agreement, any agreements granting any preemptive rights, subscription rights, anti-dilutive rights, rights of first refusal or similar rights with respect to any securities of any Subsidiary of the Company.

SECTION 3.03. Authority; Noncontravention ; Voting Requirements . (a) The Company has all necessary corporate power and corporate authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Related Agreements and to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder and to consummate the Transactions. The execution, delivery

 

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and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the Related Agreements, and the consummation by it of the Transactions, have been duly authorized and approved by the Board, and, except for filing the Certificate of Designations with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware pursuant to the DGCL, no other corporate action on the part of the Company is necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the Related Agreements and the consummation by it of the Transactions. This Agreement has been, and the Related Agreements will be on the Closing Date, duly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery hereof and thereof by the Investor, this Agreement constitutes, and the Related Agreements will on the Closing Date constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except that such enforceability (i) may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other similar Laws of general application affecting or relating to the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (ii) is subject to general principles of equity, whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity (the “ Bankruptcy and Equity Exception ”).

(b) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor any of the Related Agreements by the Company, nor the consummation by the Company of the Transactions, nor performance or compliance by the Company with any of the terms or provisions hereof or thereof, will (i) conflict with or violate any provision of (A) the Company Charter Documents or (B) any similar organizational documents of any of the Company’s Subsidiaries or (ii) assuming that the authorizations, consents and approvals referred to in Section  3.04 are obtained prior to the Closing Date and the filings referred to in Section  3.04 are made, (x) violate or constitute a default (or constitute an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a violation or default) under any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any material loan or credit agreement, debenture, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, lease, sublease, license, contract or other agreement, arrangement or understanding (each, a “ Contract ”) to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or accelerate any obligations or rights under or give a right of termination of (whether or not with notice, lapse of time or both) any such Contract, (y) violate any Law, judgment, writ or injunction of any Governmental Entity applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (z) result in the creation of any Lien on any properties or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except, in the case of clause (ii) , as, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.04. Governmental Approvals . Except for (a) the filing of the Certificate of Designations with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware pursuant to the DGCL, (b) the approval of the Conversion Shares for listing on NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance, and (c) the filing with the SEC of such current reports and other documents, if any, required to be filed with the SEC under the Exchange Act or Securities Act in connection with the Transactions, no consent or approval of, or filing, license, permit or authorization, declaration or registration with, any Governmental Entity or any stock market or stock exchange on which shares of Common Stock are listed for trading are necessary for the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Related Agreements by the Company, the performance by the Company of its obligations

 

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hereunder and thereunder and the consummation by the Company of the Transactions, other than such consents, approvals, filings, licenses, permits, authorizations, declarations or registrations the failure of which to obtain, make or give, would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.05. Company SEC Documents; Undisclosed Liabilities . (a) The Company has filed with the SEC, on a timely basis, all required reports, schedules, forms and other documents by the Company with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act or the Exchange Act since January 1, 2014 (collectively, the “ Company SEC Documents ”). As of their respective SEC filing date, the Company SEC Documents complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, applicable to such Company SEC Documents, and none of the Company SEC Documents as of such respective dates (or, if amended prior to the date hereof, the date of the filing of such amendment, with respect to the disclosures that are amended) contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, or will have omitted, to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Each of the certifications and statements relating to the Company SEC Documents required by: (A) Rule 13a-14 or Rule 15d-14 under the Exchange Act or (B) 18 U.S.C. §1350 (Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act) is accurate and complete, and complies as to form and content with all applicable Laws.

(b) The consolidated financial statements of the Company (including all related notes or schedules) included or incorporated by reference in the Company SEC Documents (i) complied, as of their respective dates of filing with the SEC, in all material respects with the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, (ii) present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and the consolidated results of their operations and cash flows for the periods covered thereby (subject, in the case of unaudited quarterly financial statements, to normal year-end adjustments), and(iii) have been prepared in all material respects in accordance with GAAP (except, in the case of unaudited quarterly financial statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q of the SEC or other rules and regulations of the SEC) applied on a consistent basis during the periods covered thereby (except (A) as may be indicated in the notes thereto or (B) as permitted by Regulation S-X).

(c) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any liabilities of any nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) that would be required under GAAP, as in effect on the date hereof, to be reflected on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company (including the notes thereto) except liabilities (i) reflected or reserved against in the balance sheet (or the notes thereto) of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of December 25, 2016 (the “ Balance Sheet Date ”) included in the Company SEC Documents, (ii) incurred after the Balance Sheet Date in the ordinary course of business, (iii) as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise incurred in connection with the Transactions or (iv) as, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(d) The Company has established and maintains, and at all times since December 11, 2014 has maintained, disclosure controls and procedures and a system of internal controls over financial reporting (as such terms are defined in paragraphs (e) and (f), respectively, of Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act) as required by Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act. Since January 1, 2014, neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, has identified or been made aware of any “significant deficiency” or “material weakness” (as defined by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board) in the design or operation of the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting which would reasonably be expected to adversely affect in any material respect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data, in each case which has not been subsequently remediated. The Company is, and has been at all times since January 1, 2014, in compliance in all material respects with the applicable listing requirements and corporate governance rules and regulations of NYSE, and has not received any notice asserting any non-compliance with the listing requirements of NYSE.

SECTION 3.06. No Broker . Except for fees payable to Evercore Partners Inc. (which fees are payable by the Company), no agent, broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other firm or Person is or will be entitled to any broker’s, finder’s, financial advisor’s or any other commission or similar fee, or the reimbursement of expenses in connection therewith, in connection with any of the Transactions based upon arrangements made by, or on behalf of, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

SECTION 3.07. Listing and Maintenance Requirements . The Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and listed on NYSE, and the Company has taken no action designed to (or which, to the knowledge of the Company, is reasonably likely to) have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act or delisting the Common Stock from NYSE, nor has the Company received, as of the date hereof, any notification that the SEC or NYSE is contemplating terminating such registration or listing.

SECTION 3.08. Investment Company Act . The Company is not, and immediately after receipt of payment for the Preferred Shares will not be, an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

SECTION 3.09. No Rights Agreement . The Company is not party to a stockholder rights agreement, “poison pill” or similar antitakeover agreement or plan and no takeover statutes currently in effect in any jurisdiction in which the Company operates are applicable.

SECTION 3.10. Illegal Payments; FCPA Violations . During the past five (5) years, none of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has: (i) in violation of any Anticorruption Law, paid, caused to be paid, agreed to pay, or offered, directly or indirectly, in connection with the business of the Company, any payment or gift given to any person acting in an official capacity for any Governmental Entity, to any political party or official thereof, or to any candidate for

 

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political office (each, a “ Government Official ”) with the purpose of (w) influencing any act or decision of such Government Official in his official capacity; (x) inducing such Government Official to perform or omit to perform any activity related to his legal duties; (y) securing any improper advantage; or (z) inducing such Government Official to influence or affect any act or decision of any Governmental Entity, in each case, in order to assist the Company or its Affiliates in obtaining or retaining business for or with, or in directing business to, the Company or its Affiliates; (ii) made any illegal contribution to any political party or candidate; (iii) intentionally established or maintained any unrecorded fund or asset or made any false entries on any books or records for any purpose; (iv) taken any action that would violate the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (the “ FCPA ”), the UK Bribery Act 2010 or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption law under any applicable jurisdictions (collectively, “ Anticorruption Laws ”); or (v) paid, caused to be paid, agreed to pay, or offered, directly or indirectly, in connection with the business of the Company, any bribe, kickback or other similar payment or gift to any supplier or customer in violation of an Anticorruption Law. The Company has not received any notice alleging any such violations or conducted any internal investigation with respect to any actual, potential or alleged violation of Anticorruption Laws.

SECTION 3.11. Economic Sanctions . The Company and its Subsidiaries are not in contravention of and, during the past five (5) years, have not engaged in any conduct sanctionable under U.S. economic sanctions laws, including laws administered and enforced by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, 31 C.F.R. Part V, the Iran Sanctions Act, the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability and Divestment Act, the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act, the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act of 2012, and any executive order issued pursuant to any of the foregoing.

SECTION 3.12. Compliance with Money Laundering Laws . The operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries are and, during the past five years, have been conducted at all times in material compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any Governmental Entity (collectively, the “ Money Laundering Laws ”) and no Action by or before any Governmental Entity involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

SECTION 3.13. Tender Documents . Attached hereto as Exhibit C is a true, accurate and complete form of the Tender Documents, as agreed by the parties thereto as of the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

 

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ARTICLE IV

Representations and Warranties of the Investor

The Investor represents and warrants to the Company:

SECTION 4.01. Organization and Authority . The Investor is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of organization and has all requisite limited partnership power and authority to carry on its business as presently conducted.

SECTION 4.02. Authorization; Enforceability . The Investor has all requisite corporate, limited liability company or other power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Investor Rights Agreement and to consummate the Transactions. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Investor Rights Agreement by the Investor and the consummation of the Transactions, and compliance with the provisions of this Agreement and the Investor Rights Agreement, by the Investor have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Investor. This Agreement has been and, as of the Closing Date, the Investor Rights Agreement will be, duly executed and delivered by the Investor and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery hereof and thereof by the Company, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Investor, enforceable against the Investor in accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforceability, to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception.

SECTION 4.03. No Conflict . The execution and delivery by the Investor of this Agreement and, as of the Closing Date, the Investor Rights Agreement do not and will not, and the consummation of the Transactions and compliance with the provisions of this Agreement and the Investor Rights Agreement will not, conflict with, or result in any violation or breach of, or default (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or give rise to a right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation or to the loss of a benefit under, or result in the creation of any right or benefit on the part of any third party under, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of the Investor under (i) the organizational or governing documents of the Investor or (ii) assuming that the authorizations, consents and approvals referred to in Section  4.04 are obtained prior to the Closing Date and the filings referred to in Section  4.04 are made, (A) any term, condition or provision of any Contract to which the Investor or any of its Affiliates is a party or by which any of its properties or assets are bound and that is material to the business of the Investor and its Affiliates, taken as a whole, (B) any Law that is material to the Investor and its Affiliates, taken as a whole, or (C) any judgment, permit, concession, grant or franchise, in each case, applicable to the Investor or any of its Affiliates or any of its properties or assets, other than, in the case of clause (ii) above, any such conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults, rights, losses or Liens that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Investor’s ability to consummate the Transactions.

SECTION 4.04. Government Filings . Except for the filing by the Company of the Certificate of Designations with the Secretary of State of the State of

 

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Delaware pursuant to the DGCL, no consent or approval of, or filing, license, permit or authorization, declaration or registration with, any Governmental Entity is necessary for the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents by the Investor, the performance by the Investor of its obligations hereunder and thereunder and the consummation by the Investor of the Transactions, other than such other consents, approvals, filings, licenses, permits, authorizations, declarations or registrations that, if not obtained, made or given, would not, individually or in the aggregate, be material to the Investor’s ability to consummate the Transactions.

SECTION 4.05. Purchase for Investment . The Investor acknowledges that the Preferred Shares will not have been registered under the Securities Act or under any state or other applicable securities laws. The Investor (a) acknowledges that it is acquiring the Preferred Shares (and the Conversion Shares) pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act solely for investment and for the Investor’s own account, not as nominee or agent, and with no present intention or view to distribute any of the Preferred Shares (or the Conversion Shares) to any Person in violation of the Securities Act, (b) will not sell or otherwise dispose of any of the Preferred Shares or the Conversion Shares, except in compliance with the registration requirements or exemption provisions of the Securities Act and any other applicable state securities laws, (c) is knowledgeable, sophisticated and experienced in financial and business matters, has previously invested in securities similar to the Preferred Shares and the Conversion Shares, fully understands the limitations on transfer and the restrictions on sales of such Preferred Shares and Conversion Shares and is able to bear the economic risk of its investment and afford the complete loss of such investment and (d) is an “accredited investor” (as such term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act).

SECTION 4.06. No Other Company Representations or Warranties . Except for the representations and warranties expressly set forth in Article III and such representations and warranties set forth in the other Transaction Documents, the Investor hereby acknowledges that neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor any other Person, has made or is making any other express or implied representation or warranty with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective businesses, operations, assets, liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects, including with respect to any information provided or made available to the Investor or any of its Representatives or any information developed by the Investor or any of its Representatives.

SECTION 4.07. Arm s Length Transaction . The Investor is acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length contractual counterparty to the Company with respect to the Transactions. Additionally, without limiting the representations and warranties of the Company in Article III, the Investor (a) is not relying on the Company for any legal, tax, investment, accounting or regulatory advice, (b) has consulted with its own advisors concerning such matters and (c) shall be responsible for making its own independent investigation and appraisal of the Transactions.

 

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SECTION 4.08. Private Placement Consideration . The Investor understands and acknowledges that: (a) its representations and warranties contained herein are being relied upon by the Company as a basis for availing itself of such exemption and other exemptions under the securities Laws of all applicable states and for other purposes, (b) no U.S. state or federal agency has made any finding or determination as to the fairness of the terms of the sale of the Preferred Shares or any recommendation or endorsement thereof and (c) the Preferred Shares are “restricted securities” under the Securities Act inasmuch as they are being acquired from the Company in a transaction not involving a public offering and that under applicable securities Laws such Preferred Shares (and the Conversion Shares) may be resold without registration under the Securities Act only in certain limited circumstances.

SECTION 4.09. No Broker . No agent, broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other firm or Person is or will be entitled to any broker’s, finder’s, financial advisor’s or any other commission or similar fee, or the reimbursement of expenses in connection therewith, in connection with any of the Transactions based upon arrangements made by, or on behalf of, the Investor or any of its Affiliates or any of their respective officers, directors, employees or agents.

SECTION 4.10. Financial Capability . The Investor currently has capital commitments sufficient to, and on each Closing Date will have available funds necessary to, consummate each Closing on the terms and conditions contemplated by this Agreement.

ARTICLE V

Additional Agreements

SECTION 5.01. Conduct of the Business . (a) Except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents, as required by applicable Law, from the date hereof to the Closing, unless the Investor otherwise consents thereto in writing (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld), the Company and its Subsidiaries shall conduct their respective businesses in all material respects in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and shall use commercially reasonable efforts consistent with past practice to preserve the relationships of the Company and its Subsidiaries with their respective material customers, material suppliers, employees, consultants, contractors and others having material relationships with the Company and such Subsidiaries and maintain the business operations, organization and goodwill of the Company.

(b) Without limiting the generality of Section 5.01(a) , except as otherwise expressly required by this Agreement, or, solely with respect to clause (v)  below, as required by applicable Law, from the date hereof to the

 

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Closing, unless the Investor otherwise consents thereto in writing, the Company shall not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries not to, directly or indirectly:

(i) establish a record date for, declare, set aside for payment or make payment in respect of, any dividend or other distribution upon any shares of capital stock of the Company, other than the Company’s regular quarterly cash dividend on the Common Stock of up to $0.18 per share of Common Stock per quarter with record and payment dates consistent with the quarterly record and payment dates in 2016;

(ii) redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire any of the Company’s capital stock or other equity or voting interests, or any rights, warrants or options to acquire any shares of its capital stock or other equity or voting interests of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other than repurchases of capital stock in the ordinary course of business pursuant to any Company Plan (or agreement thereunder) in effect as of the date hereof;

(iii) amend the Company Charter Documents (other than filing the Certificate of Designations as provided hereunder), the committee charter of the Compensation Committee of the Board or any corporate governance policy of the Company pertaining to members of the Board, in each case in a manner that would affect the Investor in an adverse manner as a holder of the Preferred Shares;

(iv) authorize, issue, split, combine, subdivide or reclassify any capital stock, or securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into capital stock, or other equity or voting interests of the Company other than (A) the authorization and issuance of the Preferred Shares in accordance with this Agreement and the Certificate of Designations and any Conversion Shares and (B) issuances of capital stock, or securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into capital stock, of the Company in the ordinary course of business pursuant to any Company Plan (or agreement thereunder) in effect as of the date hereof;

(v) change any of the methods of accounting, accounting practices or policies in any material respect of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other than such changes as required by GAAP or a Governmental Entity;

(vi) merge or consolidate the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with any Person;

(vii) (A) file, or consent by answer or otherwise to the filing against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of, a petition for relief or reorganization or arrangement or any other petition in bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar Law of any jurisdiction, (B) make an assignment for the benefit of the creditors of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (C) consent to the appointment of a custodian, receiver, trustee or other officer with similar powers with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or with respect to any substantial part of its or their property, (D) dissolve, liquidate or wind up the Company or (E) take any corporate action for the purpose of any of the foregoing;

 

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(viii) (A) acquire, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, any business or Person, by merger or consolidation, purchase of assets, properties, claims or rights or equity interests, or by any other manner, for an aggregate purchase price (when taken together with all such acquisitions) in excess of $100 million, other than the acquisition of the Target;

(ix) take any action that causes, or would reasonably be expected to cause, the Common Stock to cease to be eligible for listing on NYSE; or

(x) agree, authorize, resolve or recommend, whether in writing or otherwise, to do, or take any action reasonably likely to lead to or result in, any of the foregoing.

SECTION 5.02. Public Announcements . The Company and the Investor agree that the initial public announcement by the parties or any of their Affiliates of the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be in such form or forms as shall be mutually agreed by the Company and the Investor. Subject to each party’s disclosure obligations imposed by Law or the rules of any stock exchange upon which its securities are listed or any similar organization (in which case the party required to make the communication, release or announcement shall allow the other party reasonable time to comment thereon in advance of such release or public disclosure), neither the Company nor the Investor will make (a) any public news release or other public disclosure or (b) any other written widespread communication or general disclosure to any employees, suppliers, consultants, contractors or other persons with whom such party has material relationships, in each case with respect to the Transaction Documents or the transactions contemplated thereby, without receiving the other’s consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) to such communication or the communication plan with respect thereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Investor and its Affiliates shall be entitled to communicate in the ordinary course and in a non-public manner with their respective investors and financing sources relating to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby, in each case subject to customary confidentiality obligations between the Investor and such other Persons.

 

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SECTION 5.03. Access to Information; Confidentiality Agreement . Subject to applicable Law and any confidentiality arrangements in favor of any third party, from the date hereof until the Closing, the Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, afford the Investor and its Representatives reasonable access upon reasonable advance request by the Investor and during normal business hours during the period prior to the earlier of the Closing and the termination of this Agreement to (i) all their respective properties, assets, books, records, agreements, permits, documents, information, officers and employees (in each case, excluding, without limiting the foregoing, information and materials protected by any attorney-client or other similar doctrine or privilege or by data privacy Laws) and (ii) such additional financial and operating data and other information regarding the Company (or copies thereof) as the Investor may from time to time reasonably request; provided that (x) such access shall not unreasonably disrupt the operations of the Company or its Subsidiaries and (y) the Company shall not be required to disclose any privileged information of the Company.

SECTION 5.04. Reasonable Best Efforts .

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, each of the Company and the Investor shall, and shall cause its Affiliates to, use reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, and assist and cooperate with the other parties hereto in doing, all things necessary, proper or advisable to ensure that the conditions set forth in Article  VI are satisfied, and to consummate the Transactions as promptly as practicable, including, using reasonable best efforts to contest (i) any Action brought, or threatened to be brought, by any Governmental Entity seeking to enjoin, restrain, prevent, prohibit or make illegal the consummation of any of the Transactions or to impose any terms or conditions in connection with the Transactions and (ii) any judgment that enjoins, restrains, prevents, prohibits or makes illegal the consummation of any of the Transactions or imposes any terms or conditions in connection with the Transactions. Each party hereto shall execute and deliver after the Closing such further certificates, agreements and other documents and take such other actions as the other party or parties may reasonably request to consummate or implement the Transactions or to evidence such events or matters.

SECTION 5.05. Corporate Action . At any time that any Preferred Shares are outstanding, the Company shall from time to time take all lawful action within its control to cause the authorized capital stock of the Company to include a sufficient number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock to satisfy the conversion requirements of all of the Preferred Shares then outstanding.

SECTION 5.06. Adjustment of Conversion Price or Conversion Shares . If any occurrence since the date of this Agreement until the Closing Date would have resulted in an adjustment to the Conversion Price or the number of Conversion Shares (each as defined in the Certificate of Designations) pursuant to the Certificate of Designations if the Preferred Shares had been issued and outstanding since the date of this Agreement, the Company shall adjust the Conversion Price or the number of Conversion Shares, effective as of the Closing, in the same manner as would have been required by the Certificate of Designations if the Preferred Shares had been issued and outstanding since the date of this Agreement.

 

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SECTION 5.07. NYSE Listing of Shares . To the extent the Company has not done so prior to the date of this Agreement, the Company shall promptly apply to cause the Conversion Shares to be approved for listing on NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance. At or prior to the Closing, the Company shall take all lawful action within its control to cause shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Shares at the Conversion Price (as defined in the Certificate of Designations) specified in the Certificate of Designations (after giving effect to any adjustment thereto in accordance with Section  5.06 hereof) to have been approved for listing on NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance.

SECTION 5.08. Use of Proceeds . The Company shall use the proceeds from the issuance and sale of the Preferred Shares (a) to fund the consummation of the Offer and (b) to pay any costs, fees and expenses incurred by it in connection with the Transactions.

SECTION 5.09. Expenses . Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all costs and expenses, including fees and disbursements of counsel, financial advisors and accountants, incurred in connection with this Agreement and the Transactions shall be paid by the party incurring such costs and expenses, whether or not the Closing shall have occurred; provided that the Company shall, at the earliest of (i) the Closing and (ii) 11:59 p.m., New York City time, September 30, 2017 (the “ Outside Date ”); (including in the event that Closing shall not have occurred, including as a result of the termination of this Agreement), reimburse the Investor for its and its Affiliates’ reasonable and documented out-of-pocket third-party costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Transactions (including travel expenses and the fees and expenses of consultants, legal counsel, accountants and financial advisors in connection therewith); provided further that the maximum amount of such costs and expenses to be reimbursed by the Company shall not exceed $500,000 in the aggregate.

SECTION 5.10. Investor Rights Agreement; Board Composition .

(a) At the Closing, the Company and the Investor shall enter into, execute and deliver to each other the Investor Rights Agreement.

(b) At the Closing, the Company shall take all actions reasonably necessary to implement the provisions of Section 1(a)(ii) of the Investor Rights Agreement and to cause the Board, effective as of the Closing, to be composed as set forth therein.

SECTION 5.11. Anti-takeover Laws . The Company shall ensure that the Transactions shall not have the effect of causing Section 203 of the DGCL any relevant corporate takeover statute or other similar statute or Laws to be applicable to the Transactions and, to the extent there is such a statute, to take all actions required to exempt the Transactions from such statutes or Laws.

 

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SECTION 5.12. Notification of Certain Matters . Notwithstanding anything else herein to the contrary, the Company and Investor shall give prompt written notice to the other of (a) any notice or other communication from any Person alleging that any consent, waiver or approval from, or notification requirement to, such Person is or may be required in connection with the Transactions and (b) all effects, changes, events and occurrences arising subsequent to the date of this Agreement which could reasonably be expected to result in any breach of a representation or warranty or covenant of the Company in this Agreement that would, if occurring or continuing on the Closing Date, cause any of the conditions set forth in Article VI not to be satisfied.

SECTION 5.13. Debt Financing . At or prior to the Closing, the Company shall consummate the Debt Financing and the funding thereof in accordance with the terms thereof and of the Credit Agreement.

SECTION 5.14. Tax Treatment . Absent a change in Law or a contrary determination (as defined in Section 1313(a) of the Code), unless otherwise required by applicable Law (as reasonably determined by a party hereto), the parties (a) agree not to treat the Preferred Shares (based on their terms as set forth in the Certificate of Designations, as in effect on the date hereof) as “preferred stock” within the meaning of Section 305 of the Code or as described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.305-5 (each as in effect on the date hereof) for United States federal income tax and withholding tax purposes and (ii) shall not take any position for such tax purposes inconsistent with such treatment.

ARTICLE VI

Effectiveness and Conditions to Closing

SECTION 6.01. Effectiveness . This Agreement will be effective and enforceable in accordance with its terms upon receipt by the parties of an executed counterpart of this Agreement by each party hereto and the satisfaction of each of the following conditions (the “ Effective Date ”):

(a) the Investor’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals, facsimiles or copies in .pdf format (followed promptly by originals):

 

  (i) a certificate of good standing with respect to the Company from the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware; and

 

  (ii) a certificate of an authorized officer of the Company certifying that the condition set forth in Section 6.01(b) has been satisfied; and

(b) the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Article  III hereof shall be true and correct (without giving effect to any limitation or qualification as to “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” set forth in such representations and warranties) as of the Effective Date (except to the extent that any such representation or warranty speaks to an earlier date, in which case such representation or warranty shall so be true and correct as of such earlier date), except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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SECTION 6.02. Conditions to the Obligations of the Company and the Investor . The obligations of the Company and the Investor to effect the Transactions are subject to the satisfaction on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions:

(a) all conditions in Section 6.01 shall have been satisfied; and

(b) the Tender Effectiveness shall have occurred.

ARTICLE VII

Termination; Survival

SECTION 7.01. Termination . In the event that (i) the Closing does not occur on or before the Outside Date or (ii) the Tender Letter of Credit has been terminated (for reasons other the the Tender Effectiveness and the funding of the commitments under the Senior Facilities and the Senior Bridge Facilities (or the issuance of any Senior Notes in lieu thereof)), then this Agreement and each party’s obligations hereunder shall automatically terminate unless the Investor shall, in its discretion, agree in writing to an extension.

SECTION 7.02. Effects of Termination . In the event of the termination of this Agreement as provided for in Section  7.01 , this Agreement shall forthwith become wholly void and of no further force and effect without any liability or obligation on the part of the Company or the Investor, except that the Confidentiality Agreement and the provisions of Section  5.09 , this Section  7.02 and Article  VIII (other than Section  8.04 ) shall survive any termination of this Agreement; provided further that the termination of this Agreement shall not relieve any party hereto from any liability for any intentional breach by a party of the terms and provisions of this Agreement.

SECTION 7.03. Survival . All of the covenants or other agreements of the parties contained in this Agreement shall survive until fully performed or fulfilled, unless and to the extent that non-compliance with such covenants or agreements is waived in writing by the party entitled to such performance. The representations and warranties made herein shall survive for twelve (12) months following the Closing Date and shall then expire; provided that nothing herein shall relieve any party of liability for any inaccuracy or breach of such representation or warranty to the extent that any good faith allegation of such inaccuracy or breach is made in writing prior to such expiration by a Person entitled to make such claim pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement; and provided further that all representations and warranties contained in this Agreement shall survive until the resolution of a pending claim in the event a claim surrounding such representation or warranty has been brought before the expiry thereto pursuant to this provision. For the avoidance of doubt, claims may be made with respect to the breach of any representation, warranty or covenant until the applicable survival period therefor as described above expires.

 

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SECTION 7.04. Limitation on Damages . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, except in the case of fraud or intentional and willful breach, no party shall have any liability to the other in excess of the Purchase Price, and no party shall be liable for any speculative, special or punitive damages with respect to this Agreement.

SECTION 7.05. Non-Recourse . This Agreement may only be enforced against, and any claims or causes of action that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Agreement, or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement may only be made against the entities that are expressly identified as parties hereto, including entities that become parties hereto after the date hereof or that agree in writing for the benefit of the Company to be bound by the terms of this Agreement applicable to the Company, and, subject only to the specific contractual provisions hereof, no former, current or future equityholders, controlling persons, directors, officers, employees, agents or Affiliates of any party hereto or any former, current or future equityholder, controlling person, director, officer, employee, general or limited partner, member, manager, advisor, agent or Affiliate of any of the foregoing (each, a “ Non-Recourse Party ”) shall have any liability for any obligations or liabilities of the parties to this Agreement or for any claim (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) based on, in respect of, or by reason of, the transactions contemplated hereby or in respect of any representations made or alleged to be made in connection herewith. Without limiting the rights of any party against the other parties hereto, in no event shall any party or any of its Affiliates seek to enforce this Agreement against, make any claims for breach of this Agreement against, or seek to recover monetary damages from, any Non-Recourse Party.

ARTICLE VIII

Miscellaneous

SECTION 8.01. Notices . All notices, requests, permissions, waivers or other communications required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or sent by facsimile sent, postage prepaid, by registered, certified or express mail or overnight courier service and shall be deemed given when so delivered by hand, by facsimile (which is confirmed), or if mailed, three days after mailing (one Business Day in the case of express mail or overnight courier service) to the parties at the following addresses or facsimiles (or at such other address or facsimile for a party as shall be specified by like notice):

(a) If to the Company:

Superior Industries International, Inc.

26600 Telegraph Road, Suite 400

Southfield, Michigan 48033

Attn: Kerry A. Shiba

Fax: (248) 352-6989

Email: kshiba@supind.com

 

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with a copy to (which copy alone shall not constitute notice):

Winston & Strawn LLP

35 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60601-9703

Attn: Bruce A. Toth, Esq.

Fax: (312) 558-5700

Email: btoth@winston.com

(b) If to the Investor:

301 Commerce Street

Suite 3300

Fort Worth, TX 76102

Attention:        Office of General Counsel

                c/o Mark Robilotti

Facsimile:       (817) 871-4001

with a copy to (which copy alone shall not constitute notice):

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

601 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10022

Attention:        Richard Aftanas

Facsimile:       (212) 446-4900

SECTION 8.02. Amendments, Waivers, etc. This Agreement may be amended or waived if, and only if, such amendment or waiver is in writing and signed by the party against whom such amendment or waiver shall be enforced. The failure of any party hereto to exercise any right, power or remedy provided under this Agreement or otherwise available in respect hereof at law or in equity, or to insist upon compliance by any other party hereto with its obligations hereunder, shall not constitute a waiver by such party of its right to exercise any such other right, power or remedy or to demand such compliance.

SECTION 8.03. Counterparts and Facsimile . This Agreement may be executed in two or more identical counterparts (including by facsimile or electronic transmission), each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument, and, subject to Section 6.01, shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties hereto and delivered (by facsimile, electronic transmission or otherwise) to the other party.

 

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SECTION 8.04. Further Assurances . Each party hereto shall execute and deliver after the Closing such further certificates, agreements and other documents and take such other actions as any other party hereto may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and to consummate or implement the Transactions.

SECTION 8.05. Governing Law; Specific Enforcement; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial . (a) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware applicable to agreements made and to be performed entirely within such state, without regard to the conflicts of law principles of such state.

(b) The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties hereto shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches or threatened breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement in any court of competent jurisdiction, in each case without proof of damages or otherwise (and each party hereto hereby waives any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in connection with such remedy), this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity. The parties hereto agree not to assert that a remedy of specific enforcement is unenforceable, invalid, contrary to law or inequitable for any reason, nor to assert that a remedy of monetary damages would provide an adequate remedy.

(c) Each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware (or, if the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware declines to accept jurisdiction, any state or federal court within the State of Delaware), for the purposes of any Action or other proceeding arising out of this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder, and irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue of any such Action or proceeding in any such court, and further irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such Action or proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Each party hereto agrees that service of any process, summons, notice or document by registered mail to such party’s respective address set forth in Section  8.01 shall be effective service of process for any such Action or proceeding.

(d) EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY ACTION, CLAIM OR OTHER PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY HERETO (i) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF ANY ACTION, CLAIM OR OTHER PROCEEDING, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (ii) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT

 

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AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION  8.05(d) .

SECTION 8.06. Interpretation . When a reference is made in this Agreement to an Article or Section, such reference shall be to an Article or Section of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Whenever the words “include”, “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”. The words “hereof”, “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The words “date hereof” shall refer to the date of this Agreement. The word “or” shall not be exclusive. The word “extent” in the phrase “to the extent” shall mean the degree to which a subject or other thing extends, and shall not simply mean “if”. The words “made available to the Investor” and words of similar import refer to documents delivered in person or electronically to the Investor prior to the date hereof. All references to “$” mean the lawful currency of the United States of America. The definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms and to the masculine as well as to the feminine and neuter genders of such term. Except as specifically stated herein, any agreement, instrument or statute defined or referred to herein or in any agreement or instrument that is referred to herein means such agreement, instrument or statute as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented, including (in the case of agreements or instruments) by waiver or consent and (in the case of statutes) by succession of comparable successor statutes and references to all attachments thereto and instruments incorporated therein. Except as otherwise specified herein, references to a Person are also to its successors and permitted assigns. Each of the parties hereto has participated in the drafting and negotiation of this Agreement. If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement must be construed as if it is drafted by all the parties and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of authorship of any of the provisions of this Agreement.

SECTION 8.07. Severability . If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced because of any Law or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the Transactions is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party hereto. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the Transactions be consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.

SECTION 8.08. No Third-Party Beneficiaries . Except as provided in Section  7.05 or Section 5.03(c) , this Agreement is for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and their permitted assigns and nothing expressed or referred to in this Agreement will be

 

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construed to give any Person, other than the parties to this Agreement and such permitted assigns, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or with respect to this Agreement or any provision of this Agreement, whether as third party beneficiary or otherwise.

SECTION 8.09. Assignment . Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the parties hereto (whether by operation of Law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other parties, except that the Investors may assign their respective rights under this Agreement and the Related Agreements, in whole or in part, to any of their respective Affiliates without the prior written consent of the Company; provided that such Investor will remain liable for all of its obligations under this Agreement; provided further that the Company may grant a security interest in all of its right, title and interest in and to this Agreement in favor of the Tender Issuing Bank pursuant to the Reimbursement Agreement as collateral security for its obligations thereunder.

SECTION 8.10. Acknowledgment of Securities Laws . The Investor hereby acknowledges that it is aware, and that it will advise its Affiliates and Representatives who are provided material non-public information concerning the Company or its securities, that the United States securities Laws prohibit any Person who has received from an issuer material, non-public information from purchasing or selling securities of such issuer or from communication of such information to any other Person under circumstances in which it is reasonably foreseeable that such Person is likely to purchase or sell such securities.

SECTION 8.11. Entire Agreement . This Agreement (including the Exhibits hereto), together with the other Transaction Documents, constitutes the entire agreement, and supersedes all other prior agreements, understandings, representations and warranties, both written and oral, between the parties, with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Investment Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

SUPERIOR INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    By  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

[ Signature page to Investment Agreement ]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Investment Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

INVESTOR:

 

[                    ]

    By  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

[ Signature page to Investment Agreement ]


EXHIBIT A

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS


CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS, PREFERENCES AND RIGHTS

OF

SERIES A PERPETUAL CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK

AND

SERIES B PERPETUAL CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK

OF

SUPERIOR INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.

(Pursuant to Section 151 of the

Delaware General Corporation Law)

Superior Industries International, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “ Corporation ”), hereby certifies that, pursuant to authority vested in the Board of Directors of the Corporation by Article Four of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (the “ Certificate of Incorporation ”), the following resolutions were adopted on [●], 2017 by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “ Board ”) pursuant to Section 151 of the Delaware General Corporation Law:

“RESOLVED that, pursuant to authority vested in the Board of Directors of the Corporation by Article Four of the Certificate of Incorporation, out of the total authorized number of 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, there shall be designated a series of [●] shares which shall be issued in and constitute a single series to be known as the Series A Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock (the “ Series A Preferred Stock ” and a series of [●] shares which shall be issued in and constitute a single series to be known as the Series B Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock (the “ Series B Preferred Stock ” and, together with the Series A Preferred Stock, the “ Preferred Stock ”). The shares of Preferred Stock shall have the voting powers, designations, preferences and other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, set forth below:

1.     Certain Definitions .

As used in this Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of Series A Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock and Series B Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock of Superior Industries International, Inc. (the “ Certification of Designations ”), the following terms shall have the respective meanings set forth below:

Affiliate ”, means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with, such specified Person; provided that the Corporation and its subsidiaries shall not be deemed to be Affiliates of any Holder or any of their Affiliates. For the purposes of this definition, “ control ”, when used with respect to any specified Person, means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “ controlling ” and “ controlled ” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.


Approved Stock Plan ” means any employee benefit plan, equity incentive plan or other issuance, employment agreement or option grant or similar agreement which has been approved by the Board, pursuant to which the Corporation’s securities may be issued to any employee, consultant, officer or director for services provided to the Corporation. For the avoidance of doubt, Approved Stock Plan shall include all shares reserved for issuance pursuant to such Approved Stock Plan, and any increases to such share reserve that occur automatically or by stockholder approval on or after the Closing Date.

Bloomberg ” means Bloomberg Financial Markets and its successors.

Board ” means the board of directors of the Corporation.

Business Day ” means any day except a Saturday, a Sunday or other day on which the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to be closed.

Closing Date ” means the date of the initial closing of the purchase and sale of Preferred Stock pursuant to Section [2.02] of the Investment Agreement.

Closing Price ” of the Common Stock on any date of determination means the closing sale price or, if no closing sale price is reported, the last reported sale price, of shares of Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on such date. If the Common Stock is not traded on the New York Stock Exchange on any date of determination, the Closing Price of the Common Stock on such date of determination means the closing sale price as reported in the composite transactions for the principal United States securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Common Stock is so listed or quoted, or, if no closing sale price is reported, the last reported sale price on the principal United States securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Common Stock is so listed or quoted, or if the Common Stock is not so listed or quoted on a United States securities exchange or automated quotation system, the last quoted bid price for the Common Stock in the over-the-counter market as reported by OTC Market Group, Inc. or any similar organization, or, if that bid price is not available, the market price of the Common Stock on that date as determined by an Independent Financial Advisor retained by the Corporation for such purpose.

Common Stock ” means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation, including the stock into which the Preferred Stock is convertible, and any securities into which the Common Stock may be reclassified.

Common Stock Equivalents ” means any securities of the Corporation or its subsidiaries which would entitle the holder thereof to acquire at any time Common Stock, including, without limitation, any debt, preferred stock, rights, options, warrants or other instrument that is at any time convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or otherwise entitles the holder thereof to receive, Common Stock.

Conversion Price ” means $28.162, subject to adjustment as provided herein.

 

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Conversion Rate ” means, as of any date, the rate determined by dividing the Stated Value by the Conversion Price in effect on such date.

Conversion Shares ” means the shares of Common Stock into which the Preferred Stock is convertible.

Convertible Securities ” means any stock or securities (other than Options) directly or indirectly convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock.

Current Market Price ” means, for each share of Common Stock as of any applicable record date for any issuance, distribution, dividend or other action, the arithmetic average of the VWAP per share of Common Stock for each of the thirty (30) consecutive full Trading Days ending on the Trading Day before the record date with respect to such issuance, distribution, dividend or other action, as the case may be, appropriately adjusted to take into account the occurrence during such period of any event described in Section  9 .

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Excluded Securities ” means: (i) capital stock, Options or Convertible Securities issued to directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Corporation in connection with their service as directors of the Corporation, their employment by the Corporation or their retention as consultants by the Corporation pursuant to an Approved Stock Plan in existence on the date immediately preceding the Closing Date, (ii) shares of Common Stock issued upon the conversion or exercise of Options or Convertible Securities that were issued and outstanding on the date immediately preceding the Closing Date, provided such securities are not amended after the Closing Date to increase the number of shares of Common Stock issuable thereunder or to lower the exercise or conversion price thereof, (iii) securities issued pursuant to the Investment Agreement and securities issued upon the exercise or conversion of those securities or in respect of any dividends on such securities and (iv) shares of Common Stock issued or issuable by reason of a dividend, stock split or other distribution on shares of Common Stock (but only to the extent that such a dividend, split or distribution results in an adjustment in the Conversion Price pursuant to the other provisions of this Certificate of Designations).

Fair Market Value ” means: (i) with respect to any asset constituting cash or cash equivalents, the amount of such cash or cash equivalents, and (ii) with respect to any security or other property (other than cash or cash equivalents), the fair market value of such security or other property, as determined by board of directors of the Corporation or an authorized committee thereof, in each case acting in good faith, (x) after consultation with an Independent Financial Advisor, as to any security or other property with a Fair Market Value of less than $10,000,000, or (y) after receipt of a valuation opinion from an Independent Financial Advisor in all other cases.

Holder ” or “ Holders ” means the holder or holders of the Preferred Stock.

Independent Financial Advisor ” means an accounting, appraisal, investment banking firm or consultant of nationally recognized standing; provided , however , that such firm or consultant is not an Affiliate of the Corporation and is reasonably acceptable to the Required Holders.

 

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Investment Agreement ” means that certain investment agreement, dated on or about March [22], 2017, by and among the Corporation and the investor party thereto.

Investor Rights Agreement ” means that certain investor rights agreement, dated on or about [●], 2017, by and among the Corporation and the investor(s) party thereto.

Junior Securities ” means the Common Stock and all other Common Stock Equivalents of the Corporation other than Parity Stock or those securities which are explicitly senior to the Preferred Stock in dividend rights or liquidation preference.

Liquidation Preference ” means an amount per share equal to the greater of (i) the Stated Value plus any accrued and unpaid dividends and (ii) such amount as would have been payable had all shares of Preferred Stock been converted into Common Stock immediately prior to a Liquidation.

Options ” means any rights, warrants or options to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock or Convertible Securities.

Option Value ” means the value of an Option based on the Black and Scholes Option Pricing model obtained from the “OV” function on Bloomberg determined as of the day prior to the public announcement of the applicable Option for pricing purposes and reflecting (i) a risk-free interest rate corresponding to the U.S. Treasury rate for a period equal to the remaining term of the applicable Option as of the applicable date of determination, (ii) an expected volatility equal to the greater of (a) 100% and (b) the 100-day volatility obtained from the “HVT” function on Bloomberg as of the day immediately following the public announcement of the issuance of the applicable Option, (iii) the underlying price per share used in such calculation shall be the highest Weighted Average Price of the Common Stock on any Trading Day during the period beginning on the day prior to the execution of definitive documentation relating to the issuance of the applicable Option and ending on the day of the public announcement of such issuance and (iv) a 360-day annualization factor.

“Parity Stock” means any class or series of Capital Stock hereafter authorized that expressly ranks on a parity basis with the Preferred Stock as to dividend rights, rights of redemption and rights on the distribution of assets on any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation. “Parity Stock” shall include the Series B Preferred Stock and any rights, options or warrants exercisable or exchangeable for or convertible into Parity Stock.

Person ” means an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, an association, joint stock company, an estate, a trust, an unincorporated organization, any other entity and a government or any department or agency thereof.

Principal Market ” means the New York Stock Exchange.

 

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Redemption Right Event ” means the occurrence of any of the following events: (i) a “person” or “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, other than the Corporation, files a Schedule TO or any schedule, form or report under the Exchange Act disclosing that such person or group has become the direct or indirect “beneficial owner,” as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, of Common Stock representing more than 50% of the voting securities of the Corporation or the Corporation otherwise becomes aware of such ownership; (ii) the consummation of (a) any recapitalization, reclassification or change of the Common Stock (other than a change only in par value, from par value to no par value or from no par value to par value, or changes resulting from a subdivision or combination of Common Stock) as a result of which the Common Stock would be converted into, or exchanged for, or represent solely the right to receive, cash, stock, other securities, other property or assets or (b) any share exchange, consolidation or merger of the Corporation pursuant to which the Common Stock will be converted into, or exchanged for, or represent solely the right to receive, cash, stock, other securities, other property or assets; (iii) the Corporation sells all or substantially all of its assets; (iv) the stockholders of the Corporation approve or the Corporation otherwise adopts any plan or proposal for the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation; or (v) the Common Stock ceases to be listed on any of the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Global Select Market or the NASDAQ Global Market (or any of their respective successors) or another U.S. national securities exchange.

Redemption Value ” means a price per share of Preferred Stock equal to (a) for any redemption occurring prior to [●] 1 , the product of the Stated Value and 1.75 and (b) for any redemption occurring on or after [●] 2 , the greater of (x) the product of the Stated Value and 2.00 and (y) an amount equal to the number of shares of Common Stock such share of Preferred Stock is convertible into at the time of such redemption multiplied by the Current Market Price.

Required Holders ” means, as of any date, the holders of at least a majority of the Preferred Stock outstanding as of such date.

Stated Value ” means $1,000.00 per share, plus the sum of any Preferred Dividends paid in the form of an increase in the Stated Value of such share, plus the sum of all accumulated and unpaid Preferred Dividends and Participating Dividends.

Stockholder Approval ” means all approvals, if any, of the stockholders of the Corporation required for the removal of the Conversion Cap in compliance with the Rule 312.03 of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual or any successor rule.

Trading Day ” means any day on which the Common Stock are traded on the Principal Market, or, if the Principal Market is not the principal trading market for the Common Stock, then on the principal securities exchange or securities market on which the Common Stock are then traded; provided that “ Trading Day ” shall not include any day on which the Common Stock are scheduled to trade on such exchange or market for less than 4.5 hours or any day that the Common Stock are suspended from trading during the final hour of trading on such exchange or market (or if such exchange or market does not designate in advance the closing time of trading on such exchange or market, then during the hour ending at 4:00:00 p.m., New York time).

 

 

1   NTD: To be 18 month anniversary of issuance.
2   NTD: To be 18 month anniversary of issuance.

 

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VWAP ” per share of Common Stock on any Trading Day means the per share volume-weighted average price as displayed under the heading Bloomberg VWAP on Bloomberg (or, if Bloomberg ceases to publish such price, any successor service reasonably chosen by the Corporation) page “[●]” (or its equivalent successor if such page is not available) in respect of the period from the open of trading on the relevant Trading Day until the close of trading on such Trading Day (or if such volume-weighted average price is unavailable, the market price of one share of Common Stock on such Trading Day determined, using a volume-weighted average method, by an Independent Financial Advisor retained by the Corporation for such purpose).

2.     Dividends .

(a)    From and after the Closing Date, each Holder of Preferred Stock, in preference and priority to the holders of all other classes or series of stock, shall be entitled to receive, with respect to each share, or fraction of a share, of Preferred Stock then outstanding and held by such Holder, dividends accruing on a daily basis, commencing from the date of issuance of such share of Preferred Stock, at the rate of nine percent (9%) per annum of the Stated Value per whole share (or proportion thereof with respect to fractional shares) of such series of Preferred Stock (plus any accrued and unpaid dividends) (the “ Preferred Dividends ”); provided that each Holder of Series B Preferred Stock, in preference and priority to the holders of all other classes or series of stock, shall be entitled to receive, with respect to each share, or fraction of a share, of Series B Preferred Stock then outstanding and held by such Holder, dividends accruing on a daily basis, commencing from the date of issuance of such share of Series B Preferred Stock, at the rate of eleven percent (11%) per annum if Stockholder Approval is not obtained on or prior to the date that is 120 days after the Closing Date. The Preferred Dividends shall be cumulative, whether or not earned or declared, shall compound quarterly and shall be paid quarterly in arrears on the last day of March, June, September and December in each year, commencing [●], 2017. For the avoidance of doubt, dividends shall accrue daily on the Stated Value of each share of Preferred Stock as such Stated Value is increased by any payment of Preferred Dividends pursuant to the immediately succeeding sentence. The Preferred Dividends shall be paid, at the option of the Corporation, in the form of cash or an increase in the Stated Value of the Preferred Stock, or any combination thereof.

(b)    In the event that the Corporation shall at any time pay a dividend on or make a distribution in respect of the Common Stock in cash or any other class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, the Corporation shall, at the same time and on the same terms, pay or distribute to each Holder a dividend (or distribution) equal to the dividend that would have been payable to such Holder if the shares, or fraction of a share, of Preferred Stock held by such Holder had been converted into Common Stock on the date of determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive such dividend or distribution (the “ Participating Dividends ”).

(c)    Except as otherwise provided herein, if at any time the Corporation pays less than the total amount of dividends then accumulated with respect to the Preferred Stock, such payment shall be distributed pro rata among the Holders entitled thereto based upon the Stated Value on all shares of Preferred Stock held by each such Holder.

 

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3.     Liquidation . Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary (a “ Liquidation ”), after the satisfaction in full of the debts of the Corporation, the Holders of the Preferred Stock shall receive from the net assets of the Corporation, before any distribution or payment shall be made to the holders of any Junior Securities, and if the assets of the Corporation shall be insufficient to pay in full such amounts, then the entire assets to be distributed to the Holders shall be ratably distributed among the Holders in accordance with the respective amounts that would be payable on such shares if all amounts payable thereon were paid in full, the greater of (a) the Liquidation Preference multiplied by the number of shares of Preferred Stock held by such Holders and (b) the per share amount of all cash, securities and other property (such securities or other property having a value equal to its fair market value as reasonably determined by the Board) that would be distributed in respect of the Common Stock such Holder would have received had it converted such Preferred Stock immediately prior to the date fixed for such Liquidation. The Corporation shall mail written notice of any such Liquidation not less than 45 days prior to the payment date stated therein, to each Holder. For the avoidance of doubt, subsections (i) , (ii) , (iii) and (v)  of the definition of Redemption Right Event shall not be deemed a Liquidation.

4.     Right of the Holders to Convert .

(a)    At any time from and after the Closing Date, each Holder shall have the right, at such Holder’s option, subject to the conversion procedures set forth in Section 8(a) , to convert each share of such Holder’s Preferred Stock at any time into that number of shares of Common Stock (or, in the case of Series B Preferred Stock, into that number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock and then converted into that number of shares of Common Stock) determined by dividing (i) the sum of (x) the Stated Value of such share of Preferred Stock and (y) any accrued and unpaid dividends by (ii) the Conversion Price. The right of conversion may be exercised as to all or any portion of such Holder’s Preferred Stock from time to time;  provided  that, in each case, no right of conversion may be exercised by a Holder in respect of fewer than [1,000] shares of Preferred Stock (unless such conversion relates to all shares of Preferred Stock held by such Holder). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, prior to the receipt of any applicable Stockholder Approval, the Preferred Stock shall not, under any circumstances, be convertible into more than 19.99% of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Closing Date (subject to proportionate adjustment as described herein) in connection with such conversion (such limitation, the “ Conversion Cap ”).

(b)    Any shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion of Preferred Stock (i) shall be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, (ii) shall rank pari passu with the other shares of Common Stock outstanding from time to time and (iii) shall be approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange if shares of Common Stock generally are so listed (or another U.S. national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed).

5.     Mandatory Conversion by the Corporation .

(a)    The Corporation shall have the right, at its option, to cause all, but not less than all, of the outstanding shares of the Preferred Stock to be converted into consideration equal to the consideration the Holder would have received upon a conversion effected pursuant to

 

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Section  4 if, for the period of 30 consecutive Trading Days ending on the Trading Day preceding the date on which the Corporation sends a Notice of Mandatory Conversion, the VWAP of the Common Stock exceeds a 200% premium of the Conversion Price of the Preferred Stock (collectively, a “ Mandatory Conversion ”).

(b)    In order to effect a Mandatory Conversion, the Corporation shall send, by overnight courier, to the Holders as they appear in the records of the Corporation a notice of such conversion (such notice, a “ Notice of Mandatory Conversion ”). The Conversion Date for such Mandatory Conversion shall be a date selected by the Corporation and shall be no less than ten (10) Business Days and no greater than twenty (20) Business Days after the date on which the Corporation provides such Notice of Mandatory Conversion. In addition to any information required by applicable law or regulation, the Notice of Mandatory Conversion shall state, as appropriate:

(i)    the Conversion Date for the Mandatory Conversion; and

(ii)    the Conversion Price as in effect on the date of the Notice of Mandatory Conversion and the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued upon conversion of each share of Preferred Stock.

(c)    Any shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion of Preferred Stock (i) shall be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, (ii) shall rank pari passu with the other shares of Common Stock outstanding from time to time and (iii) shall be approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange if shares of Common Stock generally are so listed (or another U.S. national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed).

(d)    Subject to and in accordance with the provisions of this Section 5, immediately following receipt of the Stockholder Approval (the date thereof, the “ Automatic Conversion Date ”), each share of Series B Preferred Stock or corresponding fraction thereof will automatically convert into one share of Series A Preferred Stock or corresponding fraction thereof (the “ Automatic Conversion ”).

(e)    The Corporation shall notify the Holders of Series B Preferred Stock of the Automatic Conversion promptly following the Automatic Conversion Date, but in no event more than two Business Days thereafter, by delivery of written notice to such Holders and shall update the Register, effective as of the Automatic Conversion Date, to reflect the shares of Series A Preferred Stock held by such Holders as a result of the Automatic Conversion and shall, as promptly as practicable, but in no event more than two Business Days thereafter, issue and deliver or cause to be issued and delivered to each such Holder one or more certificates representing the number of validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable shares of Series A Preferred Stock to which such Holder shall be entitled.

6.     Redemption at Option of the Corporation. The Corporation may, at its option, redeem, in whole at any time all shares of Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, by delivery of written notice to each Holder (the “ Corporation Redemption Notice ”) at least thirty (30) days prior to the proposed date of redemption (the “ Corporation Redemption Date ”) set forth in the Corporation Redemption Notice, at a redemption price to paid in cash for each share of Preferred Stock redeemed equal to the then applicable Redemption Value.

 

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7.     Redemption at Option of Holder .

(a)    Upon the occurrence of any Redemption Right Event or on or after [●] 3 , any Holder may, upon notice to the Corporation, require that the Corporation redeem all or part of the shares of Preferred Stock at the time held by such Holder, by delivery of written notice to the Corporation (the “ Redemption Request ”) at least thirty (30) days prior to the proposed date of redemption (the “ Redemption Date ”) set forth in the Redemption Request, at a redemption price to paid in cash for each share of Preferred Stock redeemed equal to the then applicable Redemption Value.

(b)    Promptly following receipt of a Redemption Request under Section 7(a) and no later than twenty (20) days prior to a Redemption Date contemplated thereby, the Corporation shall mail a notice of optional redemption by first-class mail, postage prepaid to each Holder (other than the Holder(s) who submitted the applicable Redemption Request), which notice shall state the applicable Redemption Date and the applicable Redemption Value. Any Holder may then, in its sole discretion, exercise its redemption right (without waiver of any other redemption rights herein) with respect to all or any portion of the shares of Preferred Stock (the “ Redemption Securities ”) beneficially owned by such Holder by delivery to the Corporation of a written notice no less than five (5) days prior to the applicable Redemption Date stating (x) that such Holder is exercising the right of redemption described herein and (y) the number of shares of the Redemption Securities with respect to which such Holder is exercising its redemption right.

(c)    Upon a Redemption pursuant to Section  6 or this Section  7 , the Corporation shall pay the applicable Redemption Value in cash on the later of (i) the Corporation Redemption Date or Redemption Date, as applicable and (ii) upon the receipt of surrender of the certificates, if any, representing the shares of Preferred Stock to be redeemed (properly endorsed or assigned for transfer, if the Corporation shall so reasonably require, and letters of transmittal and instructions therefor on reasonable terms as are included in the notice sent by the Corporation); provided that if such certificates are lost, stolen or destroyed, the Corporation may require the applicable Holder to execute an agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation to indemnify the Corporation from any loss incurred by it in connection therewith, prior to paying such Redemption Value.

(d)    Shares of Preferred Stock to be redeemed on the Corporation Redemption Date or Redemption Date, as the case may be, will from and after the Corporation Redemption Date or Redemption Date, no longer be deemed to be outstanding; and all powers, designations, preferences and other rights of the holder thereof as a holder of shares of Preferred Stock (except the right to receive from the Corporation the applicable Redemption Value) shall cease and terminate with respect to such shares; provided that in the event that a share of Preferred Stock is not redeemed due to a default in payment by the Corporation or because the Corporation is

 

3  

NTD: To be date that is 91st day following the maturity date for the acquisition financing

 

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otherwise unable to pay the applicable Redemption Value in cash in full, such share of Preferred Stock will remain outstanding and will be entitled to all of the powers, designations, preferences and other rights as provided herein.

(e)    Any redemption of shares of Preferred Stock pursuant to Section  6 or Section  7 (such redemption, the “ Redemption ”) shall be payable out of any cash legally available therefor. At the time of the Redemption, the Corporation shall take all actions required or permitted under Delaware law to permit the Redemption and to make funds legally available for such Redemption. To the extent that the Corporation has insufficient funds to redeem all of the shares of Preferred Stock upon the Redemption, the Corporation shall use available funds to redeem a pro rata portion of such shares of Preferred Stock, to the extent permissible under Delaware law.

8.     Conversion Procedures and Effect of Conversion .

(a)     Conversion Procedure . A Holder must do each of the following in order to convert shares of Preferred Stock pursuant to this  Section 8(a) : (i) in the case of a conversion pursuant to  Section 4(a) , complete and manually sign the conversion notice in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “ Conversion Notice ”) (which Conversion Notice may be conditioned on the completion of a Redemption Right Event or other corporate transaction as specified in such Conversion Notice), and deliver such notice to the Corporation; (ii) deliver to the Corporation the certificate or certificates (if any) representing the shares of Preferred Stock to be converted; (iii) if required, furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents; and (iv) if required, pay any stock transfer, documentary, stamp or similar taxes not payable by the Corporation pursuant to Section 14 . The foregoing clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv) shall be the only conditions applicable to the Holders in respect of the issuance of shares of Common Stock to the Holders in the event of a Mandatory Conversion pursuant to  Section 5 .

The “ Conversion Date ” means (A) with respect to conversion of any shares of Preferred Stock at the option of any Holder pursuant to  Section 4(a) , the date on which such Holder complies with the procedures in this Section 8(a) , (B) with respect to a Mandatory Conversion pursuant to Section 5(a) , the Mandatory Conversion Date and (C) with respect to an Automatic Conversion pursuant to Section 5(d) , the Automatic Conversion Date.

(b)     Effect of Conversion.  Effective immediately prior to the close of business on the Conversion Date applicable to any shares of Preferred Stock, Preferred Dividends and Participatory Dividends thereon shall no longer accrue or be declared on any such shares of Preferred Stock, and on conversion, such shares of Preferred Stock shall cease to be outstanding.

(c)     Record Holder of Underlying Securities as of Conversion Date.  The Person or Persons entitled to receive the Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock, as applicable, issuable upon conversion of Preferred Stock on a Conversion Date shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder(s) of such shares of Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock, as applicable, as of the close of business on such Conversion Date. As promptly as practicable on or after the Conversion Date and compliance by the applicable Holder with the relevant procedures contained in Section 8(a)  (and in any event no later than three (3) Trading Days thereafter), the Corporation shall issue the number of whole shares of Common Stock or

 

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Series A Preferred Stock, as applicable, issuable upon conversion. Such delivery of shares of Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock, as applicable, shall be made, at the option of the Corporation, in certificated form or by book-entry. Any such certificate or certificates shall be delivered by the Corporation to the appropriate Holder on a book-entry basis or by mailing certificates evidencing the shares to the Holders at their respective addresses as set forth in the Conversion Notice (in the case of a conversion pursuant to Section 4(a) ) or in the records of the Corporation (in the case of a Mandatory Conversion or Automatic Conversion). In the event that a Holder shall not by written notice designate the name in which shares of Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock, as applicable, to be delivered upon conversion of shares of Preferred Stock should be registered, or the manner in which such shares should be delivered, the Corporation shall be entitled to register and deliver such shares in the name of the Holder and in the manner shown on the records of the Corporation.

(d)     No Fractional Shares . No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued upon conversion of the Preferred Stock into Common Stock. In the event a fractional share of Common Stock would be issued on conversion, the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued shall be rounded down to the nearest whole share.

9.     Adjustment of Conversion Price . The Conversion Price and the number of Conversion Shares shall be adjusted from time to time as follows:

(a)    If and whenever on or after the Closing Date, the Corporation issues or sells, or in accordance with this Section  9 is deemed to have issued or sold, any shares of Common Stock (including the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock owned or held by or for the account of the Corporation, but excluding shares of Common Stock deemed to have been issued by the Corporation in connection with any Excluded Securities (the “ Additional Shares ”) for a consideration per share (the “ New Issuance Price ”) less than a price (the “ Applicable Price ”) equal to the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to such issue or sale or deemed issuance or sale (the foregoing a “ Dilutive Issuance ”), then immediately after such Dilutive Issuance, the Conversion Price then in effect shall be reduced to a price determined as follows:

 

Adjusted Conversion Price   =   

(A × B) + D

  
     A+C   

where

“A” equals the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding, including the Additional Shares deemed to be issued hereunder, immediately preceding the Dilutive Issuance;

“B” equals the Conversion Price in effect immediately preceding such Dilutive Issuance;

“C” equals the number of Additional Shares issued or deemed issued hereunder as a result of the Dilutive Issuance; and

“D” equals the aggregate consideration, if any, received or deemed to be received by the Corporation upon such Dilutive Issuance.

 

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For purposes of determining the adjusted Conversion Price under this Section 9(a) , the following shall be applicable:

(i)     Issuance of Options . If the Corporation in any manner grants any Options and the lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the exercise of any such Option or upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of any such Option is less than the Applicable Price, then such share of Common Stock shall be deemed to be outstanding and to have been issued and sold by the Corporation at the time of the granting or sale of such Option for such price per share. For purposes of this Section 9(a)( i ) , the “lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon exercise of such Options or upon conversion, exercise or exchange of such Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of any such Option” shall be equal to the sum of the lowest amounts of consideration (if any) received or receivable by the Corporation with respect to any one share of Common Stock upon the granting or sale of the Option, upon exercise of the Option and upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Security issuable upon exercise of such Option less any consideration paid or payable by the Corporation with respect to such one share of Common Stock upon the granting or sale of such Option, upon exercise of such Option and upon conversion exercise or exchange of any Convertible Security issuable upon exercise of such Option. No further adjustment of the Conversion Price or number of Conversion Shares shall be made upon the actual issuance of such shares of Common Stock or of such Convertible Securities upon the exercise of such Options or upon the actual issuance of such shares of Common Stock upon conversion, exercise or exchange of such Convertible Securities.

(ii)     Issuance of Convertible Securities . If the Corporation in any manner issues or sells any Convertible Securities and the lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the conversion, exercise or exchange thereof is less than the Applicable Price, then such share of Common Stock shall be deemed to be outstanding and to have been issued and sold by the Corporation at the time of the issuance or sale of such Convertible Securities for such price per share. For the purposes of this Section 9(a)(ii) , the “lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the conversion, exercise or exchange thereof” shall be equal to the sum of the lowest amounts of consideration (if any) received or receivable by the Corporation with respect to one share of Common Stock upon the issuance or sale of the Convertible Security and upon conversion, exercise or exchange of such Convertible Security less any consideration paid or payable by the Corporation with respect to such one share of Common Stock upon the issuance or sale of such Convertible Security and upon conversion, exercise or exchange of such Convertible Security. No further adjustment of the Conversion Price or number of Conversion Shares shall be made upon the actual issuance of such shares of Common Stock upon conversion, exercise or exchange of such Convertible Securities, and if any such issue or sale of such Convertible Securities is made upon exercise of any Options for which adjustment of the Preferred Stock has been or is to be made pursuant to other provisions of this Section 9(a) , no further adjustment of the Conversion Price or number of Conversion Shares shall be made by reason of such issue or sale.

 

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(iii)     Change in Option Price or Rate of Conversion . If the purchase price provided for in any Options, the additional consideration, if any, payable upon the issue, conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Securities, or the rate at which any Convertible Securities are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock increases or decreases at any time, the Conversion Price and the number of Conversion Shares in effect at the time of such increase or decrease shall be adjusted to the Conversion Price and the number of Conversion Shares which would have been in effect at such time had such Options or Convertible Securities provided for such increased or decreased purchase price, additional consideration or increased or decreased conversion rate, as the case may be, at the time initially granted, issued or sold. For purposes of this Section 9(a)(iii) , if the terms of any Option or Convertible Security that was outstanding as of the Closing Date are increased or decreased in the manner described in the immediately preceding sentence, then such Option or Convertible Security and the shares of Common Stock deemed issuable upon exercise, conversion or exchange thereof shall be deemed to have been issued as of the date of such increase or decrease. No adjustment pursuant to this Section 9(a) shall be made if such adjustment would result in an increase of the Conversion Price then in effect or a decrease in the number of Conversion Shares.

(iv)     Calculation of Consideration Received . In case any Option is issued in connection with the issue or sale of other securities of the Corporation, together comprising one integrated transaction, (A) the Options will be deemed to have been issued for the Option Value of such Options and (B) the other securities issued or sold in such integrated transaction shall be deemed to have been issued for the difference of (x) the aggregate consideration received by the Corporation less any consideration paid or payable by the Corporation pursuant to the terms of such other securities of the Corporation, less (y) the Option Value. If any shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities are issued or sold or deemed to have been issued or sold for cash, the consideration received therefor will be deemed to be the net amount received by the Corporation therefor. If any shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities are issued or sold for a consideration other than cash, the amount of such consideration received by the Corporation will be the fair value of such consideration, except where such consideration consists of securities, in which case the amount of consideration received by the Corporation will be the Closing Price of such security on the date of receipt. If any shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities are issued to the owners of the non-surviving entity in connection with any merger in which the Corporation is the surviving entity, the amount of consideration therefor will be deemed to be the fair value of such portion of the net assets and business of the non-surviving entity as is attributable to such shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities, as the case may be. The fair value of any consideration other than cash or securities will be determined jointly by the Corporation and the Required Holders of the applicable series of Preferred Stock.

 

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If such parties are unable to reach agreement within ten (10) days after the occurrence of an event requiring valuation (the “ Valuation Event ”), the fair value of such consideration will be determined within five (5) Trading Days after the tenth (10th) day following the Valuation Event by an independent, reputable appraiser jointly selected by the Corporation and the Required Holders of the applicable series of Preferred Stock. The determination of such appraiser shall be final and binding upon all parties absent manifest error and the fees and expenses of such appraiser shall be borne by the Corporation.

(v)     Record Date . If the Corporation takes a record of the holders of shares of Common Stock for the purpose of entitling them (A) to receive a dividend or other distribution payable in shares of Common Stock, Options or in Convertible Securities or (B) to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities, then such record date will be deemed to be the date of the issue or sale of the shares of Common Stock deemed to have been issued or sold upon the declaration of such dividend or the making of such other distribution or the date of the granting of such right of subscription or purchase, as the case may be.

(vi)     Successive Adjustments . After an adjustment to the Conversion Price under this Section  9 , any subsequent event requiring an adjustment under this Section  9 shall cause an adjustment to each such Conversion Price as so adjusted.

(b)    If the Corporation at any time on or after the Closing Date subdivides (by any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, scheme, arrangement or otherwise) one or more classes of its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a greater number of shares, the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to such subdivision will be proportionately reduced and the number of Conversion Shares will be proportionately increased. If the Corporation at any time on or after the Closing Date combines (by any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, scheme, arrangement or otherwise) one or more classes of its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to such combination will be proportionately increased and the number of Conversion Shares will be proportionately decreased. Any adjustment under this Section 9(b) shall become effective at the close of business on the date the subdivision or combination becomes effective.

(c)    If and whenever on or after the Closing Date, the Corporation shall, by dividend or otherwise, distribute to all or substantially all holders of its Common Stock (other than cash in lieu of fractional shares), cash, shares of any class of capital stock, evidences of its indebtedness, assets, other property or securities, but excluding (A) dividends or distributions referred to in Section  9(a) above (any of such shares of capital stock, indebtedness, assets or property that are not so excluded are hereinafter called the “ Distributed Property ”), then, in each such case, the Conversion Price shall be adjusted based on the following formula:

Adjusted Conversion Price = B × [(C - FMV) / C]

 

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where

“B” equals the Conversion Price in effect immediately preceding the dividend or distribution of such Distributed Property;

“C” equal the Current Market Price as of the record date for such dividend or distribution; and

“FMV” equals the Fair Market Value of the portion of Distributed Property (or, with respect to dividends or distributions paid exclusively in cash, the amount in cash) distributed with respect to each outstanding share of Common Stock on the Record Date for such dividend or distribution.

If any such event is declared but does not occur, the Conversion Price shall be readjusted, effective as of the date on which the Board announces that such event shall not occur, to the Conversion Price that would then be in effect if such event had not been declared.

(d)    If any event occurs of the type contemplated by the provisions of this Section  9 but not expressly provided for by such provisions (including, without limitation, the granting of stock appreciation rights or phantom stock rights), then the Board will make an appropriate adjustment in the Conversion Price and the number of Conversion Shares so as to protect the rights of the Holder; provided that no such adjustment pursuant to this Section 9(c) will increase or decrease the Conversion Price or increase or decrease the number of Conversion Shares as otherwise determined pursuant to this Section  9 or to the extent the Holders participate in a dividend or distribution event pursuant to Section 2(b) .

(e)     Adjustment for Merger or Reorganization, Etc. If there shall occur any reorganization, recapitalization, consolidation or merger involving the Corporation in which the Common Stock is converted into or exchanged for securities, cash or other property (excluding a merger solely for the purpose of changing the Corporation’s jurisdiction of incorporation), then, following any such reorganization, recapitalization, consolidation or merger, in each case pursuant to which shares of Common Stock would be converted into or exchanged for, or would constitute solely the right to receive, cash, securities or other property, each share of Preferred Stock shall be convertible into the kind and amount of securities, cash or other property which a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock of the Corporation issuable upon conversion of one share of Preferred Stock immediately prior to such reorganization, recapitalization, consolidation or merger would have been entitled to receive pursuant to such transaction; and, in such case, appropriate adjustment (as determined in good faith by the Board) shall be made in the application of the provisions in this Section  9 set forth with respect to the rights and interest thereafter of the Holders, to the end that the provisions set forth in this Section  9 (including provisions with respect to changes in and other adjustments of the Conversion Price) shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to any shares of stock or other property thereafter deliverable upon the conversion of the Preferred Stock. In the event holders of Common Stock have the opportunity to elect the form of consideration to be received in any transaction described by this Section  9 , the Corporation shall make adequate provision whereby the Holders shall have a reasonable opportunity to determine the form of consideration

 

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into which all of the Preferred Stock, treated as a single class, shall be convertible from and after the effective date of such transaction. The determination: (i) will be made by Holders representing a plurality of shares of Preferred Stock participating in such determination, (ii) will be subject to any limitations to which all of the holders of Common Stock are subject, including, but not limited to, pro rata reductions applicable to any portion of the consideration payable in such transaction and (iii) will be conducted in such a manner as to be completed by the date which is the earlier of: (1) the deadline for elections to be made by holders of Common Stock, and (2) two Trading Days prior to the anticipated effective date of such transaction.

10.     Purchase Rights . In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Section  9 above, if at any time the Corporation grants, issues or sells any Options, Convertible Securities or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to the record holders of any class of Common Stock (the “ Purchase Rights ”), then the Holder will be entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the Holder could have acquired if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete conversion of the Holder’s Preferred Stock (without regard to any limitations on the conversion thereof) immediately before the date on which a record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such Purchase Rights.

11.     Notices . Upon any adjustment of the Conversion Price or the number of Conversion Shares, then, and in each such case the Corporation shall give written notice thereof by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to each Holder of Preferred Stock at the address of such Holder as shown on the books of the Corporation, which notice shall state the Conversion Price resulting from such adjustment, setting forth in reasonable detail the method of calculation and the facts upon which such calculation is based. In addition, in case at any time:

(1)    the Corporation shall declare any dividend upon its Common Stock payable in cash or stock or make any other distribution to the holders of its Common Stock;

(2)    the Corporation shall offer for subscription pro rata to the holders of its Common Stock any additional shares of such stock of any class or other rights;

(3)    there shall be any capital reorganization or reclassification of the capital stock of the Corporation, or a consolidation or merger of the Corporation with, or a sale of all or substantially all its assets to, another corporation;

(4)    there shall be a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation; or

(5)    there shall be any Redemption Right Event;

then, in any one or more of said cases, the Corporation shall give, by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to each Holder at the address of such Holder as shown on the books of the

 

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Corporation, (a) at least fifteen (15) days prior written notice of the date on which the books of the Corporation shall close or a record shall be taken for such dividend, distribution or subscription rights or for determining rights to vote in respect of any such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, Redemption Right Event, dissolution, liquidation or winding up, and (b) in the case of any such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, Redemption Right Event, dissolution, liquidation or winding up, at least fifteen (15) days prior written notice of the date when the same shall take place. Such notice in accordance with the foregoing clause (a) shall also specify, in the case of any such dividend, distribution or subscription rights, the date on which the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled thereto, and such notice in accordance with the foregoing clause (b) shall also specify the date on which the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to exchange their Common Stock for securities or other property deliverable upon such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, Redemption Right Event, dissolution, liquidation or winding up, as the case may be.

12.     Stock to be Reserved . The Corporation will at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued Common Stock solely for the purpose of issuance upon the conversion of the Preferred Stock as herein provided, such number of shares of Common Stock as shall then be issuable upon the conversion of all outstanding shares or fractions of shares of Preferred Stock. All shares of Common Stock which shall be so issued shall be duly and validly issued and fully paid and nonassessable and free from all liens, duties and charges arising out of or by reason of the issue thereof (including, without limitation, in respect of taxes), shall be approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange (or any other national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed) and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Corporation covenants that it will from time to time take all such action as may be requisite to assure that the par value per share of the Common Stock is at all times equal to or less than the effective Conversion Price. The Corporation will take all such action within its control as may be necessary on its part to assure that all such shares of Common Stock may be so issued without violation of any applicable law or regulation, or of any requirements of any national securities exchange upon which the Common Stock of the Corporation may be listed. The Corporation will not take any action which results in any adjustment of the Conversion Price if after such action the total number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding and thereafter issuable upon exercise of all Options and conversion of Convertible Securities, including upon conversion of the Preferred Stock, would exceed the total number of shares of such class of Common Stock then authorized by the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation.

13.     Effect of Reacquisition of Shares Upon Redemption, Repurchase, Conversion or Otherwise . Shares of Preferred Stock that have been issued and reacquired in any manner, whether by redemption, repurchase or otherwise or upon any conversion of shares of Preferred Stock to Common Stock, shall thereupon be retired and shall have the status of authorized and unissued shares of preferred stock of the Corporation undesignated as to series, and may be redesignated as any series of preferred stock of the Corporation and reissued.

14.     Issue Taxes and Fees . The issuance of certificates, if any, for shares of Common Stock upon conversion of the Preferred Stock shall be made without charge to the holders thereof for any (a) issuance tax, stamp tax, transfer tax, duty or charge in respect thereof, provided that the Corporation shall not be required to pay any tax, duty or charge which may be payable in

 

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respect of any transfer involved in the issuance and delivery of any certificate in a name other than that of the holder of the Preferred Stock which is being converted or (b) fees (including fees of the transfer agent or The Depository Trust Company).

15.     Closing of Books . The Corporation will at no time close its transfer books against the transfer of any Preferred Stock or of any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the conversion of any shares of Preferred Stock in any manner which interferes with the timely conversion of such Preferred Stock; provided , however , nothing herein shall be construed to prevent the Corporation from setting record dates for the holders of its securities.

16.     Voting . In addition to any class voting rights provided by law and this Certificate of Designation, the Holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall have the right to vote together with the holders of Common Stock as a single class on any matter on which the holders of Common Stock are entitled to vote (including the election of directors). With respect to the voting rights of the Holders of the Series A Preferred Stock, each Holder of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to cast one vote for each share of Common Stock that would be issuable to such Holder upon the conversion of all the shares of Series A Preferred Stock held by such Holder on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at a conversion rate the numerator of which is the Stated Value (as adjusted for any subdivision by any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, scheme, arrangement or otherwise, as contemplated in Section  9 hereof, occurring prior to such record date) and the denominator of which is the Conversion Price. The Holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation, except as otherwise provided herein or as required by applicable law.

17.     Certain Restrictions .

(a)    In addition to any other vote of the Holders required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, without the prior consent of the Required Holders of the applicable series of Preferred Stock, given in person or by proxy, either in writing or at a special meeting called for that purpose, at which meeting the holders of the shares of such Preferred Stock shall vote together as a class, the Corporation will not:

(i)    (x) authorize, create, designate, establish or issue (whether by merger or otherwise) (A) an increased number of shares of such series of Preferred Stock, or (B) any other class or series of capital stock ranking senior to or on parity with such series of Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation or (y) reclassify any shares of Common Stock into shares having any preference or priority as to dividends or upon liquidation superior to or on parity with any such preference or priority of such series of Preferred Stock;

(ii)    amend, restate, alter or repeal any of the rights, powers or preferences of such series of Preferred Stock;

(iii)    amend, restate, alter or repeal the Certificate of Incorporation in a manner which would adversely affect a Holder’s ability to, as applicable, (A) transfer its shares of such series of Preferred Stock or Common Stock to any person, (B) convert its shares of Series A Preferred Stock into Common Stock, or (C) convert its shares of Series B Preferred Stock into shares of Series A Preferred Stock; or

 

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(iv)    agree to do any of the foregoing.

(b)    The Corporation will not, directly or indirectly, declare or pay any dividend or distribution on, or directly or indirectly purchase, redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire or permit any subsidiary of the Corporation to redeem, repurchase or acquire, any Junior Securities, other than any Participating Dividends actually paid upon all outstanding Preferred Stock, without the consent of the holders of at least a majority of the then-outstanding Series A Preferred Stock to the making of such dividend or distribution.

18.     Corporate Opportunities . Notwithstanding anything contained in this Certificate of Designations, each Holder may freely offer to any other Person or effect on behalf of itself or any other Person any other investment or business opportunity or prospective economic advantage (which may include investments or activities relating to competitors of the Corporation), including those competitive with the business of the Corporation, or other transactions in which the Corporation, its subsidiaries, any Holder or any other stockholder of the Corporation may have an interest or expectancy, including as a result of any fiduciary duties applicable to such Person, in each case without any prior notification or approval of the Corporation or its Board or stockholders.

19.     No Impairment . The Corporation will not, through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, scheme or arrangement, dissolution, issue or sale of securities or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms to be observed or performed hereunder by the Corporation but will at all time in good faith assist in the carrying out of all the provisions herein and in the taking of all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order to protect the conversion rights and liquidation preferences granted hereunder of the Holders against impairment. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Corporation (i) shall not increase the par value of any shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, receivable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock above the Conversion Price then in effect, (ii) shall take all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Corporation may validly and legally issue fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, upon conversion of the Preferred Stock, and (iii) shall, so long as any shares or fraction of a share of Preferred stock remain outstanding, take all action necessary to reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, solely for the purpose of effecting the conversion of the Preferred Stock, 100% of the number of shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock then outstanding (without regard to any limitations on conversion).

20.     No Waiver . Except as otherwise modified or provided for herein, the Holders shall also be entitled to, and shall not be deemed to have waived, any other applicable rights granted to such Holders under the Delaware General Corporation Law.

21.     Amendment; Waiver . Any term of the Preferred Stock may be amended or waived (including the adjustment provisions included in Section  9 hereof) upon the written consent of the Corporation and the Holders of at least 66% of the Preferred Stock then outstanding.

 

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22.     Action By Holders . Any action or consent to be taken or given by the holders of the Preferred Stock may be given either at a meeting of the Holders of the Preferred Stock called and held for such purpose or by written consent.

23.     Fractional Shares . Preferred Stock may be issued in fractions of a share that shall entitle each Holder, in proportion to such Holder’s fractional shares, to exercise voting rights, receive dividends, participate in distributions and to have the benefit of all other rights of holders of Preferred Stock, including all conversion and redemption rights.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights this [●] day of [●], 2017.

 

SUPERIOR INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

[ Signature Page to Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights ]


EXHIBIT B

FORM OF INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT


Superior Industries International, Inc.

INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This Investor Rights Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is made as of [●], 2017 (the “ Effective Date ”), between Superior Industries International, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and TPG Growth III Sidewall, L.P. (the “ Investor ”).

WHEREAS, the Investor and the Company have entered into that certain Investment Agreement, dated as of March 22, 2017 (the “ Investment Agreement ”), pursuant to which Investor has agreed to purchase, subject to the satisfaction and/or waiver of the conditions set forth therein, up to an aggregate of [●] shares of Series A Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock and up to [●] shares of Series B Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock, each par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (collectively, the “Preferred Stock”); and

WHEREAS , it is a condition precedent to Investor’s obligation to purchase such Preferred Stock that the Company enter into this Agreement with the Investor to provide for certain rights and obligations of the Parties following the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Investment Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement hereby agree as follows:

Section 1.     Board of Directors .

(a)    Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, from and after the Effective Date and for so long as the Investor Amount is at least 50%:

(i)    the Investor shall have the right, but not the obligation, to designate one person to be appointed or nominated, as the case may be, for election to the Board (including any successor, each, a “ Nominee ”) by giving written notice to the Company on or before the time such information is reasonably requested by the Board or the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee for inclusion in a proxy statement for a meeting of stockholders provided to the Investor, together with all information about the Nominee as shall reasonably requested by the Board or the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in order to make the determination referred to in Section 1(a)(iv) ; provided , however, the initial Nominee shall be appointed as set forth in Section 1(a)(ii) . 1

(ii)    The Company and the Board shall take all necessary and desirable actions such that, as of the Effective Date, [                    ] shall be appointed as a Director.

 

 

1   NTD: Bylaws to be amended prior to closing, if necessary, to note that inconsistent terms in section on stockholder nominations of directors are subject to the terms of this agreement.


(iii)    The Company will, as promptly as practicable, use its best efforts to take all necessary and desirable actions (including, without limitation, calling special meetings of the Board and the stockholders and recommending, supporting and soliciting proxies) so that an Investor Director serves on the Board at all times, subject to the Investor having designated a Nominee and providing the information set forth in Section 1(a)(i) .

(iv)    The Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, use its best efforts to promptly take all actions necessary to ensure that: (i) the Nominee is included in the Board’s slate of nominees to the stockholders of the Company for each election of Directors; and (ii) the Nominee is included in the proxy statement prepared by management of the Company in connection with soliciting proxies for every meeting of the stockholders of the Company called with respect to the election of members of the Board, and at every adjournment or postponement thereof, and on every action or approval by written consent of the stockholders of the Company or the Board with respect to the election of members of the Board. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Investor shall not be entitled to designate any Nominee pursuant to Section 1.1(a)(i) to the Board if the Board or the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee reasonably determines that (i) the election of such Nominee to the Board would cause the Company to not be in compliance with applicable law (but, if the compliance relates to the lack of independence of the proposed Nominee, only, after first increasing the size of the Board and appointing any necessary independent Directors to fill such newly created vacancies) or (ii) such Nominee has been involved in any of the events enumerated in Item 2(d) or (e) of Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act or Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act (to the extent material to his or her ability or integrity to serve as a Director) or is subject to any order, decree or judgment of any Governmental Entity prohibiting service as a director of any public company. In any such case described in clauses (i) or (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence, upon receipt of written notice from the Company stating the reason for such determination, which notice shall not be given more than three (3) days after receipt by the Company of notice of the designation of the Nominee and receipt of the information regarding such Nominee referenced in Section 1(a)(i) , the Investor shall withdraw the designation of such proposed Nominee and be permitted to designate a replacement therefor (which replacement Nominee will also be subject to the requirements of this Section 1(a)(iv) . Subject to applicable NYSE listing standards (or other applicable requirements of any relevant stock exchange on which the Company’s equity securities are listed) or applicable law, in no event shall any Nominee’s actual or potential lack of independence resulting from its relationship with the Investor and the Investor’s Affiliates be considered to disqualify such Nominee from being a member of the Board pursuant to this Section 1(a). If requested by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Investor shall consult with the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee regarding its potential Nominee prior to designating any Nominee pursuant to Section 1(a)(i) and shall provide to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee such information about the Nominee as shall be reasonably requested by the Nominating and Governance Committee, including information of the type that the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee requests from the other directors of the Company.

 

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(v)    If a vacancy occurs because of the death, disability, disqualification, resignation, or removal of an Investor Director or for any other reason, the Investor shall be entitled to designate such person’s successor, and the Company will, as promptly as practicable following such designation, use its best efforts to take all necessary and desirable actions, to the fullest extent permitted by law, within its control such that such vacancy shall be filled with such successor Nominee.

(vi)    If a Nominee is not elected because of such Nominee’s death, disability, disqualification, withdrawal as a nominee or for any other reason, the Investor shall be entitled to designate promptly another Nominee and the Company will take all necessary and desirable actions within its control such that the director position for which such Nominee was nominated shall not be filled pending such designation or the size of the Board shall be increased by one and such vacancy shall be filled with such successor Nominee as promptly as practicable following such designation.

(vii)    As promptly as reasonably practicable following the request of any Investor Director, the Company shall enter into an indemnification agreement with such Investor Director, in the form entered into with the other members of the Board. The Company shall pay the reasonable, documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Investor Director in connection with his or her services provided to or on behalf of the Company, including attending meetings or events attended explicitly on behalf of the Company at the Company’s request; provided that such payments shall be consistent with the Company’s policy for paying such expenses of other directors of the Company.

(viii)    The Company shall (i) purchase directors’ and officers’ liability insurance in an amount determined by the Board to be reasonable and customary and (ii) for so long as an Investor Director serves as a Director of the Company, maintain such coverage with respect to such Director; provided that upon removal or resignation of such Director for any reason, the Company shall take all actions reasonably necessary to extend such directors’ and officers’ liability insurance coverage for a period of not less than six (6) years from any such event in respect of any act or omission occurring at or prior to such event.

(ix)    For so long as any Investor Director serves as a Director of the Company, the Company shall not amend, alter or repeal any right to indemnification or exculpation covering or benefiting any Director nominated pursuant to this Agreement as and to the extent consistent with applicable law, including but not limited to Article Six of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company and Article X of the Bylaws (whether such right is contained in the Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws or another document) (except to the extent such amendment or alteration permits the Company to provide broader indemnification or exculpation rights on a retroactive basis than permitted prior thereto).

(x)    The Investor Director shall recuse himself or herself from any decisions of the Board in accordance with applicable law.

 

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(xi)    Upon the Investor Amount being less than 50%, the Investor shall cause any Investor Director to tender his or her resignation from the Board.

(b)    Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, from and after the Effective Date and for so long as the Investor Amount is at least 10%, but less than 50%, the Investor may designate one Board observer (a “ Board Observer ”) to attend and participate in all meetings of the Board in a non-voting capacity. In connection therewith, the Company shall simultaneously give such Board Observer copies of all notices, consents, minutes and other materials, financial or otherwise, which the Company provides to the Board, provided, however , that if the Board Observer does not, upon the request of the Company, before attending any meetings of the Board, execute and deliver to the Company an agreement to abide by all Company policies applicable to members of the Board and a confidentiality agreement reasonably acceptable to the Company, the Board Observer may be excluded from access to any material or meeting or portion thereof if the Board determines in good faith that such exclusion is reasonably necessary to protect highly confidential proprietary information of the Company or confidential proprietary information of third parties that the Company is required to hold in confidence, or for other similar reasons. The Investor may recall the Board Observer and designate a replacement Board Observer at any time.

Section 2.     Information and Access . Following the Effective Date until the Investor Amount is no longer at least 10%, the Company agrees to provide the Investor with all information that would be provided to the Investor Director if the Investor had a right to an Investor Director pursuant to Section 1 hereof, including the following:

(a)    within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, (i) an audited, consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal year and (ii) audited, consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, cash flows and changes in shareholders’ equity of the Company and its subsidiaries for such fiscal year;  provided  that this requirement shall be deemed to have been satisfied if on or prior to such date the Company files its annual report on Form 10-K for the applicable fiscal year with the SEC;

(b)    within 45 days after the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year of the Company, (i) an unaudited, consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal quarter and (ii) consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income and cash flows of the Company and its subsidiaries for such fiscal quarter;  provided  that this requirement shall be deemed to have been satisfied if on or prior to such date the Company files its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the applicable fiscal quarter with the SEC; and

(c)    access, to the extent requested by the Investor, to the offices and the properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, including its and their books and records, all upon reasonable notice and at such times and as often as the Investor may reasonably request;  provided  that any access pursuant to this Section 2(c)  shall be conducted in a manner as not to interfere unreasonably with the conduct of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries;

 

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provided  that , the Company shall not be obligated to provide such access or materials to the Investor to the extent the Company determines, in its reasonable judgment, that doing so would (A) materially violate any applicable law, judgment or contract or obligation of confidentiality owing to a third party, (B) jeopardize the protection of an attorney-client privilege, attorney work product protection or other similar legal privilege, (C) be materially adverse to the interests of the Company or any of its subsidiaries in any pending or threatened demand, action, suit, countersuit, arbitration, inquiry, proceeding or investigation by or before any Governmental Entity or any arbitration or mediation tribunal, or (D) expose the Company to risk of liability for disclosure of personal information;  provided that, in each case, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide the maximum access such that clauses (A) through (D) do not apply. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this  Section 2 , the Investor shall have the right to waive its right to receive information and/or access under this  Section 2  for such period of time as the Investor may specify and, upon receipt of written notice of such waiver, the Company agrees to no longer provide the Investor with information and/or access for the duration of the period so specified.

Section 3.     Registration Rights .

(a)     Shelf Registration .

(i)     Filing . The Company shall file prior to the one year anniversary of the Effective Date, a Registration Statement for a Shelf Registration on Form S-3 (the “ Form S-3 Shelf ”) or, if the Company is ineligible to use a Form S-3 Shelf, a Registration Statement for a Shelf Registration on Form S-1 (the “ Form S-1 Shelf, ” and together with the Form S-3 Shelf (and any Subsequent Shelf Registration), the “ Shelf ”) covering the resale of the Registrable Securities on a delayed or continuous basis. The Company shall use reasonable best efforts to cause the Shelf to become effective by the one year anniversary of the Effective Date. The Shelf shall provide for the resale of Registrable Securities from time to time, and pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to, and requested by, the Investor. The Company shall maintain the Shelf in accordance with the terms hereof, and shall prepare and file with the SEC such amendments, including post-effective amendments, and supplements as may be necessary to keep such Shelf effective and in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act until such time as there are no longer any Registrable Securities. In the event the Company files a Form S-1 Shelf, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to convert the Form S-1 Shelf (and any Subsequent Shelf Registration) to a Form S-3 Shelf as soon as practicable after the Company is eligible to use Form S-3.

(ii)     Subsequent Shelf Registration . If any Shelf ceases to be effective under the Securities Act for any reason at any time while Registrable Securities are still outstanding, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to as promptly as is reasonably practicable cause such Shelf to again become effective under the Securities Act (including obtaining the prompt withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such Shelf), and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to as promptly as is reasonably practicable amend such Shelf in a manner reasonably expected to result in the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such Shelf or file an additional registration statement as a Shelf Registration (a “ Subsequent Shelf Registration ”)

 

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registering the resale from time to time by the Investor thereof of all securities that are Registrable Securities as of the time of such filing. If a Subsequent Shelf Registration is filed, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to (i) cause such Subsequent Shelf Registration to become effective under the Securities Act as promptly as is reasonably practicable after the filing thereof (it being agreed that the Subsequent Shelf Registration shall be an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement if the Company is a Well-Known Seasoned Issuer) and (ii) keep such Subsequent Shelf Registration continuously effective and usable until there are no longer any Registrable Securities. Any such Subsequent Shelf Registration shall be on Form S-3 to the extent that the Company is eligible to use such form. Otherwise, such Subsequent Shelf Registration shall be on another appropriate form and shall provide for the registration of such Registrable Securities for resale by the Investor in accordance with any reasonable method of distribution elected by the Investor.

(iii)     Requests for Underwritten Shelf Takedowns . At any time and from time to time after the Shelf has been declared effective by the SEC, the Investor may request to sell all or any portion of its Registrable Securities in an underwritten offering that is registered pursuant to the Shelf (each, an “ Underwritten Shelf Takedown ”); provided that the Company shall only be obligated to effect an Underwritten Shelf Takedown if such offering shall include either (x) securities with a total offering price (including piggyback shares and before deduction of underwriting discounts) reasonably expected to exceed, in the aggregate, $50 million or (y) all remaining Registrable Securities. All requests for Underwritten Shelf Takedowns shall be made by giving written notice to the Company (the “ Demand Shelf Takedown Notice ”). Each Demand Shelf Takedown Notice shall specify the approximate number of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in the Underwritten Shelf Takedown and the expected price range (net of underwriting discounts and commissions) of such Underwritten Shelf Takedown. The Investor shall have the right to select the investment banker(s) and manager(s) to administer the offering (which shall consist of one or more reputable nationally recognized investment banks), subject to the Company’s prior approval which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

(b)     Demand Registration .

(i)     Requests for Registration . At any time after the Effective Date, the Investor may request (i) registration under the Securities Act of all or any portion of the Registrable Securities on Form S-3 or any similar short-form registration (a “ Short-Form Registration ”), if available, and (ii) registration under the Securities Act of all or any portion of the Registrable Securities held by such Requesting Holder on Form S-1 or similar long-form registration (a “ Long-Form Registration ”) if Short-Form Registration is not available (any registration under this Section 3(b) , a “ Demand Registration ”); provided, that the Company shall only be obligated to effect an Underwritten Shelf Takedown if such offering shall include either (x) securities with a total offering price (including piggyback shares and before deduction of underwriting discounts) reasonably expected to exceed, in the aggregate, $50 million or (y) all remaining Registrable Securities. The Investor may request that any offering conducted under a Long-Form Registration or a Short-Form Registration be underwritten. All

 

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requests for Demand Registrations shall be made by giving written notice to the Company (the “ Demand Registration Notice ”). Each Demand Registration Notice shall specify (i) whether such Demand Registration shall be an underwritten offering, (ii) the approximate number of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in the Demand Registration and (iii) the expected price range (net of underwriting discounts and commissions) of such Demand Registration. The Investor shall have the right to select the investment banker(s) and manager(s) to administer the offering (which shall consist of one or more reputable nationally recognized investment banks), subject to the approval of the Company, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

(ii)     Demand Registration Effectiveness . A registration shall not count as one of the permitted Demand Registrations until both (i) it has become effective (unless such Demand Registration has not become effective due solely to the fault of the Investor) and (ii) the Investor is able to register and sell pursuant to such registration at least 80% of the Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration either at the time of the registration or within 90 days thereafter; provided that a Demand Registration which is withdrawn at the sole request of the Investor will count as a Demand Registration unless the Company is reimbursed by the Investor for all reasonable, documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Company in connection with such registration, including reasonable attorney and accounting fees.

(iii)     Short-Form Registrations . Demand Registrations shall be Short-Form Registrations whenever the Company is permitted to use an applicable short form. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to make Short-Form Registrations on Form S-3 (or any successor form) available for the sale of Registrable Securities.

(iv)     Restrictions on Demand Registrations . The Investor shall be entitled to request up to three Demand Registrations. In addition, the Company shall not be obligated to effect more than two Demand Registrations in any twelve-month period.

(c)     Piggyback Takedowns . Whenever the Company proposes to register any of its securities, including a registration pursuant to any registration rights agreement between Company and holders of its securities (a “ Piggyback Registration ”), or proposes to offer any of its securities pursuant to a registration statement in an underwritten offering under the Securities Act (together with a Piggyback Registration, a “ Piggyback Takedown ”), the Company shall give prompt written notice to the Investor of its intention to effect such Piggyback Takedown. In the case of a Piggyback Takedown that is an underwritten offering under a shelf registration statement, such notice shall be given not less than ten Business Days prior to the expected date of commencement of marketing efforts for such Piggyback Takedown. In the case of a Piggyback Takedown that is an underwritten offering under a registration statement that is not a shelf registration statement, such notice shall be given not less than ten Business Days prior to the expected date of filing of such registration statement. The Company shall, subject to the provisions of Section 3(d) below, include in such Piggyback Takedown, as applicable, all Registrable Securities requested to be included by the Investor within five Business Days after sending the Company’s notice. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein: (i) the Company may determine not to proceed with any Piggyback Takedown upon written notice to the Investor; provided, however , that nothing in this clause (i) shall impair the right of the

 

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Investor to request that such registration be effected pursuant to Section  3(a) or 3(b) ; and (ii) the Investor may withdraw its request for inclusion by giving written notice to the Company of its intention to withdraw that registration; provided, however , that the withdrawal shall be irrevocable and after making the withdrawal, the Investor shall no longer have any right to include its Registrable Securities in that Piggyback Takedown. If any Piggyback Takedown is an underwritten offering, the Company will have the sole right to select the investment banker(s) and manager(s), acceptable to the Investor, for the offering.

(d)     Priority .

(i)     Priority on Primary Offerings and Offerings Initiated by Holders of Other Registration Rights . If the Company determines, and if ratified in writing, after consultation with the managing underwriter in any underwritten Piggyback Takedown that was not initiated by the Investor pursuant to this Agreement, that less than all of the Registrable Securities requested to be included in such underwritten offering can be sold in an orderly manner within a price range acceptable to the Company or the holders of the Company’s securities demanding such Piggyback Takedown pursuant to registration rights granted to other holders of the Company’s securities, as applicable, then the Company shall include in such underwritten Piggyback Registration the number which can be so sold in the following order of priority:

(A) first , the securities the Company and/or the holders of the Company’s securities demanding such Piggyback Takedown pursuant to registration rights granted to such holders propose to sell;

(B) second , the Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Piggyback Registration by the Investor; and

(C) third , other securities requested to be included in such underwritten Piggyback Takedown.

(ii)     Priority on Offerings Initiated by the Investor . In any underwritten offering initiated by the Investor pursuant to this Agreement if the Investor determines, after consultation with the Company and the managing underwriter in such offering, that less than all of the securities of the Company requested to be included in such underwritten offering, other than Registrable Securities, can be sold in an orderly manner within a price range acceptable to the Investor, then the Company shall include in such underwritten offering the number which can be so sold in the following order of priority:

(A) first , the Registrable Securities requested to be included in accordance with this Agreement by the Investor;

(B) second , the securities the Company and the holders entitled to participate in such Piggyback Takedown pursuant to registration rights granted to other holders of the Company’s securities, pro rata on the basis of the number of shares of Common Stock owned by such holders; and

 

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(C) third , other securities requested to be included in such underwritten offering.

(e)     Company Undertakings . Whenever Registrable Securities are registered or sold pursuant to this Agreement, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect the registration and the sale of such Registrable Securities as soon as reasonably practicable in accordance with the intended method of disposition thereof and pursuant thereto the Company shall as expeditiously as possible:

(i)    before filing a Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto, at the Company’s expense, furnish to the Investor copies of all such documents, other than documents that are incorporated by reference, proposed to be filed and such other documents reasonably requested by the Investor, which documents shall be subject to the review and comment of the counsel to the Investor;

(ii)    notify the Investor of the effectiveness of each Registration Statement and prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for a period ending on the date on which all Registrable Securities have been sold under such Registration Statement or have otherwise ceased to be Registrable Securities, and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement during such period in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the sellers thereof set forth in such Registration Statement;

(iii)    furnish to the Investor, and the managing underwriters, without charge, such number of copies of the applicable Registration Statement, each amendment and supplement thereto, the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary Prospectus, final Prospectus, and any other Prospectus (including any Prospectus filed under Rule 424, Rule 430A or Rule 430B promulgated under the Securities Act and any “ issuer free writing prospectus ” as such term is defined under Rule 433 promulgated under the Securities Act)), all exhibits and other documents filed therewith and such other documents as such seller or such managing underwriters may reasonably request including in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such seller, and upon request, a copy of any and all transmittal letters or other correspondence to or received from, the SEC or any other Governmental Entity relating to such offer;

(iv)    use its commercially reasonable efforts (x) to register or qualify such Registrable Securities under such other securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any seller reasonably requests, (y) to keep such registration or qualification in effect for so long as such Registration Statement remains in effect, and (z) to do any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable the Investor to consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities owned by it ( provided that the Company shall not be required to (A) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this subsection, (B) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction or (C) consent to general service of process in any such jurisdiction);

 

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(v)    notify the Investor and its counsel and the managing underwriters: (x) at any time when a Prospectus relating to the applicable Registration Statement is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, (A) upon discovery that, or upon the happening of any event as a result of which, such Registration Statement, or the Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus relating to such Registration Statement, or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits any fact necessary to make the statements in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus relating thereto not misleading or otherwise requires the making of any changes in such Registration Statement, Prospectus, Free Writing Prospectus or document, and, at the request of the Investor, the Company shall promptly prepare a supplement or amendment to such Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus, furnish a reasonable number of copies of such supplement or amendment to the Investor its counsel and the managing underwriters and file such supplement or amendment with the SEC so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus as so amended or supplemented shall not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (B) as soon as the Company becomes aware of any comments or inquiries by the SEC or any requests by the SEC or any Federal or state Governmental Entity for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or related Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus covering Registrable Securities or for additional information relating thereto, (C) as soon as the Company becomes aware of the issuance or threatened issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending or threatening to suspend the effectiveness of a Registration Statement covering the Registrable Securities or (D) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any Registrable Security for sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; (y) when each Registration Statement or any amendment thereto has been filed with the SEC and when each Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or any post-effective amendment thereto has become effective; and (z) if at any time the Company has reason to believe that the representations and warranties of the Company contained in any agreement contemplated by Section 3(e)(viii) below relating to any applicable offering cease to be true and correct.

(vi)    use its best efforts to cause all such Registrable Securities (x) to be listed on the NYSE (or such other national securities exchange on which shares of the Common Stock are then listed), (y) if the Common Stock is not then listed on the NYSE, to, as promptly as practicable, and in no event later than the date that is six months following the Effective Date, be listed on the NYSE or another national securities exchange, and (z) to be registered with or approved by such other Governmental Entities or authorities as may be necessary to enable the Investor to consummate the disposition of the Registrable Securities;

 

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(vii)    provide and cause to be maintained a transfer agent and registrar for all such Registrable Securities from and after the effective date of the applicable Registration Statement;

(viii)    enter into and perform under such customary agreements (including underwriting agreements in customary form, including customary representations and warranties and provisions with respect to indemnification and contribution) and take all such other actions as the Investor or the underwriters, if any, reasonably request in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities (including effecting a stock split, a combination of shares, or other recapitalization) and provide reasonable cooperation, including causing appropriate officers to attend and participate in “ road shows ” and analyst or investor presentations and such other selling or other informational meetings organized by the underwriters, if any, to the extent reasonably requested by the lead or managing underwriters, with all out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the Company or such officers in connection with such attendance and participation to be paid by the Company;

(ix)    for a reasonable period prior to the filing of any Registration Statement or the commencement of marketing efforts for a Shelf Takedown, as applicable, pursuant to this Agreement, make available for inspection and copying by the Investor and its counsel, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such Registration Statement or Shelf Takedown, as applicable, and any other attorney, accountant or other agent retained by the Investor or underwriter, all financial and other records and pertinent corporate documents of the Company, and cause the Company’s officers, directors, employees and independent accountants to supply all information and participate in any due diligence sessions reasonably requested by the Investor, underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with such Registration Statement or Shelf Takedown, as applicable, provided that recipients of such financial and other records and pertinent corporate documents agree in writing to keep the confidentiality thereof pursuant to a written agreement reasonably acceptable to the Company and the applicable underwriter (which shall contain customary exceptions thereto);

(x)    permit the Investor and its counsel, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to a Registration Statement, and any other attorney, accountant or other agent retained by the Investor or underwriter, to participate (including, but not limited to, reviewing, commenting on and attending all meetings) in the preparation of such Registration Statement and any Prospectus supplements relating to a Shelf Takedown, if applicable;

(xi)    in the event of the issuance or threatened issuance of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement, or of any order suspending or preventing the use of any related Prospectus or suspending the qualification of any security included in such Registration Statement for sale in any jurisdiction, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts promptly to (x) prevent the issuance of any such stop order, and in the event of such issuance, to obtain the withdrawal of such order and (y) obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending or preventing the use of any related Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus or suspending qualification of any Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement for sale in any jurisdiction at the earliest practicable date;

 

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(xii)    obtain and furnish to the Investor a signed counterpart of (w) a customary cold comfort and bring down letter from the Company’s independent public accountants, (x) a customary legal opinion of counsel to the Company addressed to the relevant underwriters and/or the Investor, in each case in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by such letters as the managing underwriters and/or the Investor reasonably request, (y) a negative assurances letter of counsel to the Company in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by such letters as the managing underwriters and/or the Investor, and (z) customary certificates executed by authorized officers of the Company as may be requested by the Investor or any underwriter of such Registrable Securities included in such Shelf Takedown;

(xiii)    with respect to each Free Writing Prospectus or other materials to be included in the Disclosure Package, ensure that no Registrable Securities be sold “ by means of ” (as defined in Rule 159A(b) promulgated under the Securities Act) such Free Writing Prospectus or other materials without the prior written consent of the Investor, which Free Writing Prospectuses or other materials shall be subject to the review of its counsel;

(xiv)    provide or maintain a CUSIP number for the Registrable Securities prior to the effective date of the first Registration Statement including Registrable Securities;

(xv)    promptly notify in writing the Investor, the sales or placement agent, if any, therefor and the managing underwriters of the securities being sold, (x) when such Registration Statement or related Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus or any Prospectus amendment or supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to any such Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective and (y) of any written comments by the SEC and by the blue sky or securities commissioner or regulator of any state with respect thereto;

(xvi)    (v) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to each Registration Statement as (A) reasonably requested by the Investor (to the extent such request related to information relating to it) or (B) may be necessary to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act, including post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective for the applicable time period required hereunder, and if applicable, file any Registration Statements pursuant to Rule 462(b) promulgated under the Securities Act; (w) cause the related Prospectus to be supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any similar provisions then in force) promulgated under the Securities Act; (x) comply with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and any applicable securities exchange or other recognized trading market with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement during such period in accordance with

 

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the intended methods of disposition by the sellers thereof set forth in such Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented; (y) provide additional information related to each Registration Statement as requested by, and obtain any required approval necessary from, the SEC or any Federal or state Governmental Entity; and (z) respond promptly to any comments received from the SEC and request acceleration of effectiveness promptly after it learns that the SEC will not review the Registration Statement or after it has satisfied comments received from the SEC;

(xvii)    cooperate with the Investor and each underwriter participating in the disposition of such Registrable Securities and underwriters’ counsel in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA, including using commercially reasonable efforts to obtain FINRA’s pre-clearance and pre-approval of the Registration Statement and applicable Prospectus upon filing with the SEC;

(xviii)    within the deadlines specified by the Securities Act, make all required filing fee payments in respect of any Registration Statement or Prospectus used under this Agreement (and any offering covered thereby);

(xix)    if requested by the Investor or the managing underwriters, promptly include in a Prospectus supplement or amendment such information as the Investor or managing underwriters may reasonably request, including in order to permit the intended method of distribution of such securities, and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or such amendment as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company has received such request;

(xx)    in the case of certificated Registrable Securities, cooperate with the Investor and the managing underwriters to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates (not bearing any legends) representing Registrable Securities to be sold after receiving written representations from the Investor that the Registrable Securities represented by the certificates so delivered by the Investor will be transferred in accordance with the Registration Statement, and enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the Investor or managing underwriters may reasonably request at least two Business Days prior to any sale of Registrable Securities; and

(xxi)    use its commercially reasonable efforts to take all other actions necessary to effect the registration and sale of the Registrable Securities contemplated hereby.

(f)     Registration Expenses . All Registration Expenses shall be borne by the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, subject to the proviso in Section 3(b)(ii) , all Registration Expenses in connection with any registration initiated as a Demand Registration shall be borne by the Company regardless of whether or not such registration has become effective and whether or not such registration has counted as one of the permitted Long-Form Registrations pursuant to Section 3(b) . All Selling Expenses relating to Registrable Securities registered shall be borne by the Investor.

 

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(g)     Indemnification and Contribution .

(i)     Indemnification by the Company . The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Investor and its Affiliates, directors, officers, employees, members, managers and agents and each Person who controls the Investor within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any losses, claims, expenses, damages and liabilities or whatever kind (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating, preparing or defending same and the cost of enforcing any right to indemnification hereunder) (collectively, “ Losses ”) to which they or any of them may become subject insofar as such Losses (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (x) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a Registration Statement as originally filed or in any amendment thereof, or the Disclosure Package, or any preliminary, final or summary Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus included in any such Registration Statement, or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (y) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any other federal law, any state or foreign securities law, or any rule or regulation promulgated under of the foregoing laws, relating to the offer or sale of the Registrable Securities, and in any such case, the Company agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating, preparing or defending any such Loss, claim, damage, liability, action or investigation (whether or not the indemnified party is a party to any proceeding); provided, however , that the Company will not be liable in any case to the extent that any such Loss arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written information relating to the Investor furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Investor specifically for inclusion therein, including any notice and questionnaire. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have.

(ii)     Indemnification by the Investor . The Investor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each of its Affiliates, directors, employees, members, managers and agents and each Person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any and all Losses to which they or any of them may become subject insofar as such Losses arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a Registration Statement as originally filed or in any amendment thereof, or in the Disclosure Package or any Investor Free Writing Prospectus, preliminary, final or summary Prospectus included in any such Registration Statement, or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, to the extent, but only to the extent, that any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission is contained in any written information relating to the Investor furnished to the Company by or on behalf the

 

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Investor specifically for inclusion therein; provided, however , that the total amount to be indemnified by the Investor pursuant to this Section  3(h)(ii) shall be limited to the net proceeds (after deducting underwriters’ discounts and commissions) received by such the Investor in the offering to which such Registration Statement or Prospectus relates; provided further that the Investor shall not be liable in any case to the extent that prior to the filing of any such Registration Statement or Disclosure Package, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, it has furnished in writing to the Company, information expressly for use in, and within a reasonable period of time prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or Disclosure Package, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto which corrected or made not misleading information previously provided to the Company. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Investor may otherwise have.

(iii)     Notification . If any Person shall be entitled to indemnification under this Section 3(h) (each, an “ Indemnified Party ”), such Indemnified Party shall give prompt notice to the party required to provide indemnification (each, an “ Indemnifying Party ”) of any claim or of the commencement of any proceeding as to which indemnity is sought. The Indemnifying Party shall have the right, exercisable by giving written notice to the Indemnified Party as promptly as reasonably practicable after the receipt of written notice from such Indemnified Party of such claim or proceeding, to assume, at the Indemnifying Party’s expense, the defense of any such claim or litigation, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party and, after notice from the Indemnifying Party to such Indemnified Party of its election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnifying Party will not (so long as it shall continue to have the right to defend, contest, litigate and settle the matter in question in accordance with this Section 3(h)(iii )) be liable to such Indemnified Party hereunder for any legal expenses and other expenses subsequently incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with the defense thereof; provided, however , that an Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such claim or litigation, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party unless the Indemnifying Party shall have failed within a reasonable period of time to assume such defense and the Indemnified Party is or would reasonably be expected to be materially prejudiced by such delay. The failure of any Indemnified Party to give notice as provided herein shall relieve an Indemnifying Party of its obligations under this Section 3(h) only to the extent that the failure to give such notice is materially prejudicial or harmful to such Indemnifying Party’s ability to defend such action. No Indemnifying Party, in the defense of any such claim or litigation, shall, except with the prior written consent of each Indemnified Party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such Indemnified Party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation. The indemnity agreements contained in this Section 3(h) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any claim, loss, damage, liability or action if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of the Indemnifying Party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. The indemnification set forth in this Section 3(h) shall be in addition to any other indemnification rights or agreements that an Indemnified Party may have. An Indemnifying Party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim will not be obligated to pay the

 

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fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such Indemnifying Party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any Indemnified Party a conflict of interest may exist between such Indemnified Party and any other Indemnified Parties with respect to such claim.

(iv)     Contribution . If the indemnification provided for in this Section 3(h) is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to an Indemnified Party, other than pursuant to its terms, with respect to any Losses or action referred to therein, then, subject to the limitations contained in this Section 3(h) , the Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party hereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such Losses or action in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party, on the one hand, and the Indemnified Party, on the other, in connection with the actions, statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses or action, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Indemnifying Party, on the one hand, and the Indemnified Party, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, has been made (or omitted) by, or relates to information supplied by such Indemnifying Party or such Indemnified Party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent any such action, statement or omission. The Company and the Investor agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 3(h)(iv) was determined solely upon pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding sentence of this Section 3(h)(iv) . Notwithstanding the foregoing, the amount the Investor will be obligated to contribute pursuant to this Section 3(h)(iv) will be limited to an amount equal to the net proceeds received by the Investor in respect of the Registrable Securities sold pursuant to the registration statement which gives rise to such obligation to contribute. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

(h)     Rule 144 . With a view to making available to the Investor the benefits of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, the Company covenants that it will (x) make available information necessary to comply with Rule 144, if available with respect to resales of the Registrable Securities under the Securities Act, at all times, and (y) take such further action as the Investor may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable it to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (if available with respect to resales of the Registrable Securities), as such rule may be amended from time to time. Upon the reasonable request of the Investor, the Company will deliver to it a written statement as to whether it has complied with such information requirements, and, if not, the specific reasons for non-compliance.

 

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Section 4.     Preemptive Rights .

(a)    For the purposes of this  Section 4 , “ Excluded Issuance ” shall mean (i) the issuance of shares of any Equity Securities (including upon exercise of options) to directors, officers, employees, consultants or other agents of the Company as approved by the Board in connection with their employment or performance of services, (ii) the issuance of any Equity Securities in connection with any “business combination” (as defined in the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC) or otherwise in connection with bona fide acquisitions of securities or substantially all of the assets of another Person, business unit, division or business, in each case, to the sellers in such transaction as consideration thereof, (iii) the issuance of any securities pursuant to the conversion, redemption or exchange of Preferred Stock issued to the Investor and (iv) the issuance of any shares of a subsidiary of the Company to the Company or a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.

(b)    For so long as the Investor Amount is at least 50%, if the Company proposes to issue Equity Securities of any kind, other than in an Excluded Issuance, then the Company shall:

(i)    give written notice to the Investor no less than five (5) Business Days prior to the closing of such issuance or, if the Company reasonably expects such issuance to be completed in less than five (5) Business Days, such shorter period (which shall be as given as promptly as commercially practicable but in any event not less than three (3) Business Days prior to such closing), setting forth in reasonable detail (A) the designation and all of the material terms and provisions of the securities proposed to be issued (the “ Proposed Securities ”), including, to the extent applicable, the voting powers, preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof and interest rate and maturity, (B) the price and other terms of the proposed sale of such securities and (C) the amount of such securities proposed to be issued;  provided that, following the delivery of such notice, the Company shall deliver to the Investor any such information the Investor may reasonably request in order to evaluate the proposed issuance, except that, in connection with a public offering, the Company shall not be required to deliver any information that has not been or will not be provided or otherwise made available to the proposed purchasers of the Proposed Securities; and

(ii)    offer to issue and sell to the Investor, on such terms as the Proposed Securities are issued and upon full payment by the Investor, a portion of the Proposed Securities equal to a percentage determined by dividing: (x) the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned, on an as-converted basis, by the Investor, by (y) the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the issuance of the Proposed Securities, on an as-converted basis.

(c)    The Investor will have the option exercisable by written notice to the Company, to accept the Company’s offer and commit to purchase any or all of the Equity Securities offered to be sold, which notice must be given on or prior to the Business Day immediately prior to the date of the closing of the issuance of such Equity Securities (or, if notice of all such terms has not been given prior to the Business Day immediately prior to the such

 

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closing date, at any time prior to such closing date) (the failure of the Investor to respond within such time period shall be deemed a waiver of its rights under this  Section 4  with respect to the applicable issuance of Equity Securities). Such notice to the Company shall constitute a binding commitment by the Investor to purchase the amount of Equity Securities so specified at the price and other terms set forth in the Company’s notice to the Investor. The closing of the exercise of such subscription right shall take place simultaneously with the closing of the sale of the Proposed Securities giving rise to such subscription right;  provided,  however, that the closing of any purchase by the Investor may be extended beyond the closing of the sale of the Proposed Securities giving rise to such preemptive right to the extent necessary to (i) obtain required approvals from any Governmental Entity or (ii) permit the Investor to receive proceeds from calling capital pursuant to commitments made by its (or its Affiliated investment funds’) limited partners. Upon the expiration of the offering period described above, the Company will be free to sell such Proposed Securities that the Investor has not elected to purchase during the 120 days following such expiration on terms and conditions no more favorable to the purchasers thereof than those offered to the Investor in the notice delivered in accordance with this  Section 4 . Any Proposed Securities offered or sold by the Company after such 120-day period must be reoffered to issue or sell to the Investor pursuant to this  Section 4 .

(d)    The election by the Investor not to exercise its subscription rights under this Section 4  in any one instance shall not affect its right as to any subsequent proposed issuance.

(e)    If the proposed issuance by the Company of securities which gave rise to the exercise by the Investor of its preemptive rights pursuant to this Section  4 shall be terminated or abandoned by the Company without the issuance of any securities, then the purchase rights of the Investor pursuant to this Section  4 shall also terminate as to such proposed issuance by the Company (but not any subsequent or future issuance), and any funds in respect thereof paid to the Company by the Investor in respect thereof shall be refunded in full.

(f)    In the case of an issuance subject to this  Section 4  for consideration in whole or in part other than cash, including securities acquired in exchange therefor (other than securities by their terms so exchangeable), the consideration other than cash shall be deemed to be the fair market value thereof as reasonably determined in good faith by the Board.

Section 5.     Transfer Restrictions .

(a)    During the period commencing on the Effective Date and continuing until the calendar date that is one year following the Effective Date, the Investor shall not Transfer any Preferred Stock or any securities into which Preferred Stock is convertible into, redeemable for or exchangeable for Preferred Stock, including Common Stock, whether now owned or hereinafter acquired, owned directly by the Investor or with respect to which the Investor has beneficial ownership within the rules and regulations of the SEC (collectively, the “ Restricted Shares ”), except in the event the Company otherwise agrees by written consent or pursuant to a Transfer permitted by Section 5(b) . Following the expiration of the one-year period referenced in the preceding sentence, and notwithstanding the provisions of Section 5(b) , the Investor may not Transfer any Preferred Stock or any securities into which Preferred Stock is convertible into, redeemable for or exchangeable for Preferred Stock, including Common Stock, to (i) any Competitor or (ii) any Person that would, to the Investor’s knowledge, hold 25% or more of the Common Stock (on an as-converted basis) as a result of such transfer.

 

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(b)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Section  5 , the Investor may Transfer Restricted Shares (i) as a bona fide gift; (ii) to any trust or entity wholly owned by one or more trusts for the direct or indirect benefit of (A) the Investor or its stockholders, partners, members or beneficiaries or (B) of any individual related to the stockholders, partners, members or beneficiaries of the Investor, by blood, marriage or adoption and not more remote than first cousin; (iii) to any wholly-owned subsidiary of the Investor, or to the Affiliates, stockholders, partners, members or beneficiaries of the Investor; or (iv) pursuant to any take-over bid, offer, acquisition, sale or merger involving the Company involving all or substantially all of the Common Stock; provided that in each case such distributees or transferees agree to be bound by the terms and restrictions set forth in this Agreement.

(c)    In connection with any Shelf Takedown, the Company shall not effect any public sale or distribution of its Equity Securities, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for such securities (except pursuant to registrations on Form S-8 or Form S-4 under the Securities Act), and shall cause its officers and directors not to Transfer any Equity Securities, except in the event the underwriters managing the Demand Registration or Shelf Takedown consent to such shorter period, during the seven days prior to and the 90-day period beginning on the date of pricing of such Demand Registration or Shelf Takedown or such other period provided in the underwriting, placement or similar agreement executed in connection with such Demand Registration or Shelf Takedown.

Section 6.     Additional Agreements .

(a)    For so long as the Investor Amount is at least 50%, the Company shall not adopt any plan of liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company or file any voluntary petition for bankruptcy, receivership or similar proceedings unless holders of at least a majority the outstanding Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class, consent thereto.

(b)    The Company agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to hold a special meeting of the Company’s stockholders to approve (i) the conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock into Series A Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock or (ii) the issuance of additional shares of Series A Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock pursuant to the Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of such series, as applicable, within 120 days following the Effective Date and the proxy statement related to such special meeting will include the Board’s recommendation that the stockholders of the Company vote in favor of such proposal. If the stockholders of the Company do not approve such conversion, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to obtain stockholder approval at the next annual meeting of stockholders and each subsequent annual meeting thereafter.

(c)    At all times while the Investor Amount is greater than 10%, without the prior approval of the Company, or as otherwise expressly permitted by this Agreement, the Investor shall not, directly or indirectly, and shall cause its Affiliates not to acquire, offer to acquire, agree to acquire or make a public proposal to acquire, by purchase or otherwise, any Equity Securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, any securities convertible into or

 

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exchangeable for any Equity Securities of the Company, or any right to vote or to direct the voting of any Equity Securities of the Company; provided  that the restrictions in this clause (i)  shall not apply to (x) purchases or acquisitions permitted by Section 5(b) , (y) acquisitions of Equity Securities of the Company issued in connection with stock dividends, stock splits, recapitalizations or similar transactions (including any Equity Securities issued as a dividend, coupon or other distribution on shares of the Preferred Stock) and (z) issuances by the Company of Equity Securities of the Company or options, warrants or other rights to acquire Equity Securities of the Company (or the exercise thereof) to any Director, as compensation for his or her membership on the Board.

Section 7.     Definitions .

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such first Person.

Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Automatic Shelf Registration Statement ” means an “automatic shelf registration statement” as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act.

Beneficially Own ” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Board ” means the board of directors of the Company.

Board Observer ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1(b) .

Business Day ” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, legal holiday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by applicable law to close.

Bylaws ” means the Company’s Bylaws, as in effect on the date hereof, as the same may be amended from time to time.

Certificate of Incorporation ” means the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as in effect on the date hereof, as the same may be amended from time to time.

Common Stock ” means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company.

Company ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Competitor ” means any Person engaged primarily in the business of designing and manufacturing wheels for sale to automobile and light truck original equipment manufacturers.

 

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control ” (including the terms “ controlling ,” “ controlled by ” and “ under common control with ”) means, unless otherwise noted, the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting shares, by contract, or otherwise.

Demand Registration ” has the meaning specified in Section 3(b)(i) .

Demand Registration Notice ” has the meaning specified in Section 3(b)(i) .

Demand Shelf Takedown Notice ” has the meaning specified in Section 3(a)(iii) .

Disclosure Package ” means, with respect to any offering of securities, (i) the preliminary Prospectus, (ii) the price to the public and the number of securities included in the offering; (iii) each Free Writing Prospectus and (iv) all other information that is deemed, under Rule 159 promulgated under the Securities Act, to have been conveyed to purchasers of securities at the time of sale of such securities (including a contract of sale).

Director ” means a member of the Board until such individual’s death, disability, disqualification, resignation, or removal.

Effective Date ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Equity Security ” means (a) any Common Stock, preferred stock or other Voting Stock, (b) any securities of the Company convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock, preferred stock or other Voting Stock or (c) any options, rights or warrants (or any similar securities) issued by the Company to acquire Common Stock, preferred stock or other Voting Stock.

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

FINRA ” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

Form S-1 Shelf ” has the meaning specified in Section 3(a)(i) .

Form S-3 Shelf ” has the meaning specified in Section 3(a)(i) .

Free Writing Prospectus ” means any “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act.

Governmental Entity ” means any federal, state, provincial, local or foreign governmental, administrative or regulatory (including any stock exchange) authority, agency, court, instrumentality, binding arbitration body, commission or other entity or self-regulatory organization.

Indemnified Party ” has the meaning specified in Section 3(g)(iii) .

Indemnifying Party ” has the meaning specified in Section 3(g)(iii) .

 

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Investment Agreement ” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.

Investor ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Investor Amount ” means: (i) while the Preferred Stock is outstanding, the percentage of shares of the outstanding Preferred Stock issued on the Effective Date held by the Investor and its Affiliates, which shall include any other equity securities of the Company issued to the Investor upon the exchange, redemption or conversion of its shares of Preferred Stock, counted as if such shares of other equity securities were shares of Preferred Stock calculated based on the exchange, redemption or conversion rate, as applicable; and (ii) if no Preferred Stock is outstanding, the percentage of shares of Common Stock held by the Investor and its Affiliates.

Investor Director ” means an individual elected to the Board that has been nominated by the Investor pursuant to this Agreement.

Investor Free Writing Prospectus ” means each Free Writing Prospectus prepared by or on behalf of the Investor or used or referred to by the Investor in connection with the offering of Registrable Securities.

Long-Form Registration ” has the meaning specified in Section 3(b)(i) .

Losses ” has the meaning specified in Section 3(g)(i) .

NYSE ” means the New York Stock Exchange.

Nominee ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1(a)(i) .

Person ” means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization and a Governmental Entity or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof.

Piggyback Registration ” has the meaning specified in Section 3(c) .

Piggyback Takedown ” has the meaning specified in Section 3(c) .

Preferred Stock ” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.

Proposed Securities ” has the meaning specified in Section 4(b)(i) .

Prospectus ” means the prospectus used in connection with a Registration Statement.

Registrable Securities ” means at any time any shares of Preferred Stock, Common Stock, or any other securities of the Company for which Preferred Stock may be converted, redeemed or exchanged, held or beneficially owned the Investor or its transferees in accordance with Section  8 ; provided , however , that as to any Registrable Securities, such

 

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securities shall cease to constitute Registrable Securities upon the earliest to occur of: (x) the date on which such securities are disposed of pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act; (y) the date on which such securities are disposed of pursuant to Rule 144 (or any successor provision) promulgated under the Securities Act; and (z) the date on which such securities cease to be outstanding.

Registration Expenses ” means all expenses (other than underwriting discounts and commissions) arising from or incident to the registration of Registrable Securities in compliance with this Agreement, including:

(i)    stock exchange, SEC, FINRA and other registration and filing fees,

(ii)    all fees and expenses incurred in connection with complying with any securities or blue sky laws (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel in connection with blue sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities),

(iii)    all printing, messenger and delivery expenses,

(iv)    the fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Company and of its independent public accountants and any other accounting and legal fees, charges and expenses incurred by the Company (including any expenses arising from any special audits or “ comfort letters ” required in connection with or incident to any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to a registration),

(v)    the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities on NASDAQ (or any other national securities exchange),

(vi)    the fees and expenses incurred in connection with any “ road show ” for underwritten offerings, including travel expenses, and

(vii)    reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Investor, including, for the avoidance of doubt, any expenses of counsel Investor in connection with the filing or amendment of any Registration Statement, Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus hereunder;

provided that in no instance shall Registration Expenses include Selling Expenses.

Registration Statement ” means any registration statement filed hereunder or in connection with a Piggyback Takedown.

Restricted Shares ” has the meaning specified in Section 5(a) .

Rule 144 ” means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act and any successor provision.

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

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.

 

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Selling Expenses ” means the underwriting fees, discounts, selling commissions and stock transfer taxes applicable to all Registrable Securities registered by the Investor and legal expenses not included within the definition of Registration Expenses.

Shelf ” has the meaning specified in Section 3(a)(i) .

Shelf Registration ” means a registration of securities pursuant to a registration statement filed with the SEC in accordance with and pursuant to Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule then in effect).

Shelf Takedown ” means either an Underwritten Shelf Takedown or a Piggyback Takedown.

Short-Form Registration ” has the meaning specified in Section 3(b)(i) .

Subsequent Shelf Registration ” has the meaning specified in Section 3(a)(ii) .

Transfer ” means any sale, transfer, assignment or other disposition of (whether with or without consideration and whether voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law) of Common Stock.

Underwritten Shelf Takedown ” has the meaning specified in Section 3(a)(iii) .

Voting Stock ” means any securities of the Company having the right to vote generally in any election of Directors.

Well-Known Seasoned Issuer ” means a “ well-known seasoned issuer ” as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act and which (i) is a “ well-known seasoned issuer ” under paragraph (1)(i)(A) of such definition or (ii) is a “ well-known seasoned issuer ” under paragraph (1)(i)(B) of such definition and is also eligible to register a primary offering of its securities relying on General Instruction I.B.1 of Form S-3 or Form F-3 under the Securities Act.

Section 8.     Assignment; Benefit of Parties; Transfer . The rights of the Investor hereunder may be transferred, assigned, or otherwise conveyed on a pro rata basis in connection with any transfer, assignment, or other conveyance of Registrable Securities to any transferee or assignee (other than a transfer pursuant to a registration statement or under Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act); provided that all of the following additional conditions are satisfied with respect to any transfer, assignment or conveyance of rights hereunder: (a) such transfer or assignment is effected in accordance with applicable securities laws; (b) such transferee or assignee agrees in writing to become subject to the terms of this Agreement by executing a joinder or similar document; and (c) the Company is given written notice by such Person of such transfer or assignment, stating the name and address of the transferee or assignee, identifying the Registrable Securities with respect to which such rights are being transferred or assigned. Any transfer, assignment or other conveyance of the rights of the Investor in breach of this Agreement shall be void and of no effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors, legal representatives and assignees for the uses and purposes set forth and referred to herein. Nothing herein contained shall confer or is intended to confer on any third party or entity that is not a party to this Agreement any rights under this Agreement.

 

24


Section 9.     Remedies . The Company and the Investor shall be entitled to enforce their rights under this Agreement specifically, to recover damages by reason of any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights existing in their favor. The parties hereto agree and acknowledge that a breach of this Agreement would cause irreparable harm and money damages would not be an adequate remedy for any such breach and that, in addition to other rights and remedies hereunder, the Company and the Investor shall be entitled to specific performance and/or injunctive or other equitable relief (without posting a bond or other security) from any court of law or equity of competent jurisdiction in order to enforce or prevent any violation of the provisions of this Agreement.

Section 10.     Notices . Any notice provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be either personally delivered, or mailed first class mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) or sent by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid) to the Company and the Investor at the addresses set forth below. Notices shall be deemed to have been given hereunder when delivered personally, three days after deposit in the U.S. mail and one day after deposit with a reputable overnight courier service.

If, to the Company, to:

Superior Industries International, Inc.

26600 Telegraph Road, Suite 400

Southfield, Michigan 48033

Telephone: (248) 234-7042

Facsimile: (248) 352-6989

Email: kshiba@supind.com

Attention: Kerry A. Shiba

With a copy to (which copy alone shall not constitute notice):

Winston & Strawn LLP

35 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60601-9703

Telephone: (312) 558-5723

Facsimile: (312) 558-5700

Email: btoth@winston.com

Attention: Bruce A. Toth, Esq.

If, to the Investor, to:

TPG Growth III Sidewall, L.P.

301 Commerce Street

Suite 3300

Fort Worth, TX 76102

Facsimile:      (817) 871-4001

Email:             officeofgeneralcounsel@tpg.com

      mrobilotti@tpg.com

Attention:      Office of General Counsel

     c/o Mark Robilotti

 

25


Section 11.     No Strict Construction . The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties hereto to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any party.

Section 12.     No Third-Party Beneficiaries . Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended or shall be construed to confer upon, or give to, any person or entity other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns any remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement or any terms, covenants or conditions hereof, and all of the terms, covenants, conditions, promises and agreements contained in this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

Section 13.     Further Assurances . Each of the parties hereby agrees that it will hereafter execute and deliver any further document, agreement, instruments of assignment, transfer or conveyance as may be necessary or desirable to effectuate the purposes hereof.

Section 14.     Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, and may be delivered by means of facsimile or electronic transmission in portable document format, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and shall be binding upon the party who executed the same, but all of such counterparts shall constitute the same agreement.

Section 15.     Governing Law . All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of this Agreement and the exhibits and schedules hereto shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York.

Section 16.     Mutual Waiver of Jury Trial . The parties hereto hereby irrevocably waive any and all rights to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or related to this Agreement. Any action or proceeding whatsoever between the parties hereto relating to this Agreement shall be tried in a court of competent jurisdiction by a judge sitting without a jury.

Section 17.     Complete Agreement; Inconsistent Agreements . This Agreement represents the complete agreement between the parties hereto as to all matters covered hereby, and supersedes any prior agreements or understandings between the parties.

Section 18.     Severability . In the event any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby (it being understood that the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not in and of itself affect the validity of such provision in any other jurisdiction). The parties shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

 

26


Section 19.     Amendment and Waiver . Except as otherwise provided herein, no modification, amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective against the Company or the Investor unless such modification is approved in writing by the Company and the Investor. The failure of any party to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement shall in no way be construed as a waiver of such provisions and shall not affect the right of such party thereafter to enforce each and every provision of this Agreement in accordance with its terms.

Section 20.     Termination . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if the Investor Amount ceases to be equal to or greater than 10%, then this Agreement shall expire and terminate automatically; provided, however , that Sections 1(a)(vii) , 1(a)(viii) , 3 (for so long as any Registrable Securities remain), 5(c) , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 and 19 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

 

27


IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the day and year first above written.

 

Company:
SUPERIOR INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:


Investor:
[                                           ]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:


EXHIBIT C

TENDER DOCUMENTS


EXHIBIT D

PROPOSED SUBORDINATED NOTES TERMS


Exhibit A

FORM OF

NOTICE OF CONVERSION

(TO BE EXECUTED BY THE REGISTERED HOLDER IN ORDER TO CONVERT SHARES

OF

SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK)

The undersigned hereby elects to convert the number of shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“ Preferred Stock ”), of Superior Industries International, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”), indicated below into shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“ Common Stock ”), of the Corporation according to the conditions hereof, as of the date written below. If shares of Common Stock are to be issued in the name of a Person other than the undersigned, the undersigned will pay all transfer taxes payable with respect thereto and is delivering herewith such certificates and opinions as may be required by the Corporation. No fee will be charged to the Holders for any conversion, except as described in the Corporation’s Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights classifying the Preferred Stock (the “Certificate of Designations”).

Conversion calculations:

 

Date to Effect Conversion:   

 

Number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock owned prior to Conversion:   

 

Number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be Converted:   

 

Applicable Conversion Rate:   

 

Number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock subsequent to Conversion:   

 

Address for Delivery:   
  

 

  

 

OR   
DWAC Instruction:   
Broker No.:   

 

Account No.   

 

Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the respective meaning assigned thereto in the Certificate of Designations.

 

[HOLDER]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

Exhibit 10.3

Execution

 

 

 

$550,000,000

CREDIT AGREEMENT

Dated as of March 22, 2017

among

SUPERIOR INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.,

as the Borrower,

CITIBANK, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and Issuing Bank,

and

THE OTHER LENDERS PARTY HERETO

 

 

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.,

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

RBC CAPITAL MARKETS 1 and

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES, INC.,

as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Lead Bookrunners

 

 

 

 

1   RBC Capital Markets is the brand name for the capital markets activities of Royal Bank of Canada and its affiliates.


Table of Contents

 

         Page  
  Article I Definitions and Accounting Terms   

SECTION 1.01

  Defined Terms      1  

SECTION 1.02

  Other Interpretive Provisions      81  

SECTION 1.03

  Accounting Terms      82  

SECTION 1.04

  Rounding      82  

SECTION 1.05

  References to Agreements, Laws, etc      82  

SECTION 1.06

  Times of Day and Timing of Payment and Performance      82  

SECTION 1.07

  Pro Forma and Other Calculations      82  

SECTION 1.08

  Available Amount Transaction      85  

SECTION 1.09

  Guaranties of Hedging Obligations      85  

SECTION 1.10

  Currency Equivalents Generally      85  

SECTION 1.11

  Letters of Credit      86  
 

Article II The Commitments and Borrowings

  

SECTION 2.01

  The Loans      86  

SECTION 2.02

  Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans      87  

SECTION 2.03

  Letters of Credit      89  

SECTION 2.04

  [Reserved]      97  

SECTION 2.05

  Prepayments      97  

SECTION 2.06

  Termination or Reduction of Commitments      107  

SECTION 2.07

  Repayment of Loans      108  

SECTION 2.08

  Interest      108  

SECTION 2.09

  Fees      109  

SECTION 2.10

  Computation of Interest and Fees      109  

SECTION 2.11

  Evidence of Indebtedness      109  

SECTION 2.12

  Payments Generally      110  

SECTION 2.13

  Sharing of Payments      111  

SECTION 2.14

  Incremental Facilities      112  

SECTION 2.15

  Refinancing Amendments      118  

SECTION 2.16

  Extensions of Loans      119  

SECTION 2.17

  Defaulting Lenders      123  

SECTION 2.18

  Loan Repricing Protection      124  
 

Article III Taxes, Increased Costs Protection and Illegality

  

SECTION 3.01

  Taxes      124  

SECTION 3.02

  Illegality      127  

SECTION 3.03

  Inability to Determine Rates      128  

SECTION 3.04

  Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy; Reserves on      128  

SECTION 3.05

  Funding Losses      129  

SECTION 3.06

  Matters Applicable to All Requests for Compensation      130  

SECTION 3.07

  Replacement of Lenders under Certain Circumstances      130  

SECTION 3.08

  Survival      132  
  Article IV Conditions Precedent   

SECTION 4.01

  Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness      132  

SECTION 4.02

  Conditions to Credit Extensions on the Closing Date      134  

SECTION 4.03

  Conditions to Credit Extensions after the Closing Date      134  
 

Article V Representations and Warranties

  

SECTION 5.01

  Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws      135  

SECTION 5.02

  Authorization; No Contravention      135  

 

i


SECTION 5.03

  Governmental Authorization      136  

SECTION 5.04

  Binding Effect      136  

SECTION 5.05

  Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect      136  

SECTION 5.06

  Litigation      137  

SECTION 5.07

  Labor Matters      137  

SECTION 5.08

  Ownership of Property; Liens      137  

SECTION 5.09

  Environmental Matters      137  

SECTION 5.10

  Taxes      137  

SECTION 5.11

  ERISA Compliance      137  

SECTION 5.12

  Subsidiaries      138  

SECTION 5.13

  Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act      138  

SECTION 5.14

  Disclosure      138  

SECTION 5.15

  Intellectual Property; Licenses, etc      138  

SECTION 5.16

  Solvency      139  

SECTION 5.17

  USA PATRIOT Act; Anti-Corruption Compliance; Sanctions      139  

SECTION 5.18

  Collateral Documents      139  
 

Article VI Affirmative Covenants

  

SECTION 6.01

  Financial Statements      139  

SECTION 6.02

  Certificates; Other Information      141  

SECTION 6.03

  Notices      142  

SECTION 6.04

  Payment of Taxes      143  

SECTION 6.05

  Preservation of Existence, etc      143  

SECTION 6.06

  Maintenance of Properties      143  

SECTION 6.07

  Maintenance of Insurance      143  

SECTION 6.08

  Compliance with Laws      144  

SECTION 6.09

  Books and Records      144  

SECTION 6.10

  Inspection Rights      144  

SECTION 6.11

  Covenant to Guarantee Obligations and Give Security      144  

SECTION 6.12

  Compliance with Environmental Laws      147  

SECTION 6.13

  Further Assurances and Post-Closing Covenant      147  

SECTION 6.14

  Use of Proceeds      148  

SECTION 6.15

  Maintenance of Ratings      148  

SECTION 6.16

  Tender Documents; Etc      148  

SECTION 6.17

  Anti-Corruption Compliance      148  

SECTION 6.18

  Controlled Account      148  
 

Article VII Negative Covenants

  

SECTION 7.01

  Liens      149  

SECTION 7.02

  Indebtedness      149  

SECTION 7.03

  Fundamental Changes      158  

SECTION 7.04

  Asset Sales      160  

SECTION 7.05

  Restricted Payments      161  

SECTION 7.06

  Change in Nature of Business      168  

SECTION 7.07

  Transactions with Affiliates      168  

SECTION 7.08

  Burdensome Agreements      171  

SECTION 7.09

  Accounting Changes      174  

SECTION 7.10

  Modification of Terms of Subordinated Indebtedness      174  

SECTION 7.11

  [Reserved]      174  

SECTION 7.12

  Financial Covenant      174  

SECTION 7.13

  Controlled Account      174  

SECTION 7.14

  Equity Contribution      175  

 

ii


 

Article VIII Events of Default and Remedies

  

SECTION 8.01

  Events of Default      175  

SECTION 8.02

  Remedies upon Event of Default      177  

SECTION 8.03

  Application of Funds      177  

SECTION 8.04

  Right to Cure      178  
 

Article IX Administrative Agent and Other Agents

  

SECTION 9.01

  Appointment and Authorization of the Administrative Agent      179  

SECTION 9.02

  Rights as a Lender      180  

SECTION 9.03

  Exculpatory Provisions      180  

SECTION 9.04

  Lack of Reliance on the Administrative Agent      181  

SECTION 9.05

  Certain Rights of the Administrative Agent      181  

SECTION 9.06

  Reliance by the Administrative Agent      181  

SECTION 9.07

  Delegation of Duties      182  

SECTION 9.08

  Indemnification      182  

SECTION 9.09

  The Administrative Agent in Its Individual Capacity      182  

SECTION 9.10

  [Reserved]      183  

SECTION 9.11

  Resignation by the Administrative Agent      183  

SECTION 9.12

  Collateral Matters      184  

SECTION 9.13

  [Reserved]      184  

SECTION 9.14

  Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim      185  

SECTION 9.15

  Appointment of Supplemental Administrative Agents      186  

SECTION 9.16

  Intercreditor Agreements      186  

SECTION 9.17

  Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements      187  

SECTION 9.18

  Withholding Tax      187  
 

Article X Miscellaneous

  

SECTION 10.01

  Amendments, etc      187  

SECTION 10.02

  Notices and Other Communications; Facsimile Copies      192  

SECTION 10.03

  No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies      193  

SECTION 10.04

  Costs and Expenses      194  

SECTION 10.05

  Indemnification by the Borrower      194  

SECTION 10.06

  Marshaling; Payments Set Aside      195  

SECTION 10.07

  Successors and Assigns      195  

SECTION 10.08

  Resignation of Issuing Bank      202  

SECTION 10.09

  Confidentiality      202  

SECTION 10.10

  Setoff      203  

SECTION 10.11

  Interest Rate Limitation      204  

SECTION 10.12

  Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness      204  

SECTION 10.13

  Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents      204  

SECTION 10.14

  Survival of Representations and Warranties      204  

SECTION 10.15

  Severability      204  

SECTION 10.16

  GOVERNING LAW      205  

SECTION 10.17

  WAIVER OF RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY      205  

SECTION 10.18

  Binding Effect      205  

SECTION 10.19

  Lender Action      206  

SECTION 10.20

  Use of Name, Logo, etc      206  

SECTION 10.21

  USA PATRIOT Act      206  

SECTION 10.22

  Service of Process      206  

SECTION 10.23

  No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility      206  

SECTION 10.24

  Release of Collateral and Guarantee Obligations; Subordination of Liens      207  

SECTION 10.25

  Entire Agreement      207  

SECTION 10.26

  Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions      207  

 

iii


SCHEDULES

 

  
1.01(1)    Closing Date Guarantors
1.01(2)    Mortgaged Properties
1.01(3)    Hedge Banks
2.01    Commitments
4.01(1)(c)    Certain Collateral Documents
5.12    Subsidiaries and Other Equity Investments
6.13(2)    Post-Closing Matters
7.01    Existing Liens
7.02    Existing Indebtedness
7.05    Existing Investments
10.02    Administrative Agent’s Office, Certain Addresses for Notices
EXHIBITS   
   Form of
A    Committed Loan Notice
B-1    Term Note
B-2    Revolving Note
C    Compliance Certificate
D-1    Assignment and Assumption
D-2    Affiliated Lender Assignment and Assumption
E    Guaranty
F    Security Agreement
G-1    Equal Priority Intercreditor Agreement
G-2    Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement
H    United States Tax Compliance Certificates
I    Solvency Certificate
J    Discount Range Prepayment Notice
K    Discount Range Prepayment Offer
L    Solicited Discounted Prepayment Notice
M    Acceptance and Prepayment Notice
N    Specified Discount Prepayment Notice
O    Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer
P    Specified Discount Prepayment Response
Q    Intercompany Note
R    Letter of Credit Report

 

 

iv


CREDIT AGREEMENT

This CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is entered into as of March 22, 2017 by and among SUPERIOR INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “ Borrower ”), CITIBANK, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, including any successor thereto, the “ Administrative Agent ”) under the Loan Documents, as collateral agent (in such capacity, including any successor thereto, the “ Collateral Agent ”) under the Loan Documents and as an Issuing Bank, and each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “ Lenders ” and individually, a “ Lender ”).

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS

The Borrower intends to acquire (the “ Closing Date Acquisition ”), directly or indirectly, Uniwheels AG, a stock corporation under German law (the “ Target ”), by way of a tender offer for not less than 75% of the shares of the Target (the “ Offer ”) with support of the Significant Holder (as defined herein).

In connection therewith, the Borrower has requested that (a) substantially simultaneously with the consummation of the Offer, the Lenders extend credit to the Borrower in the form of $400.0 million of Closing Date Term Loans and $150.0 million of Revolving Commitments on the Closing Date as secured credit facilities and (b) from time to time on and after the Closing Date, the Lenders lend to the Borrower and the Issuing Banks issue Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrower, each to provide working capital for, and for other general corporate purposes of, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, pursuant to the Revolving Commitments hereunder and pursuant to the terms of, and subject to the conditions set forth in, this Agreement.

On the Effective Date, the Borrower will enter into the Bridge Loan Agreement (as defined herein) pursuant to which the lenders thereunder have agreed to make the Bridge Loans (as defined herein) to the Borrower on the Closing Date in an aggregate amount of €240.0 million.

The proceeds of the Closing Date Term Loans and the Closing Date Revolving Borrowings, together with the proceeds of the Bridge Loans, the Equity Contribution and cash on hand, will be used on the Closing Date, (i) to fund the Closing Date Refinancing and (ii) to pay (A) the Transaction Consideration, (B) the Transaction Expenses and (C) amounts required for working capital.

The applicable Lenders have indicated their willingness to lend, and the applicable Issuing Banks 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 (including the introductory paragraph hereof and the preliminary statements hereto), the following terms have the meanings set forth below:

Acceptable Discount ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(1)(e)(I).

Acceptable Prepayment Amount ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(1)(e)(J).

Acceptance and Prepayment Notice ” means a notice of the Borrower’s acceptance of the Acceptable Discount in substantially the form of Exhibit M .

Acceptance Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(1)(e)(I).


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

(1) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated 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, amalgamating or consolidating with or into, or becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of, such specified Person, and

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

AcquisitionCo ” means Blitz F17-641 AG, having its registered office in Frankfurt am Main registered with the commercial register of the local court in Frankfurt am Main under docket number HRB 107708.

Additional Lender ” means, at any time, any bank, other financial institution or institutional lender or investor that, in any case, is not an existing Lender and that agrees to provide any portion of any (a) Incremental Loan in accordance with Section 2.14, (b) Other Loans pursuant to a Refinancing Amendment in accordance with Section 2.15 or (c) Replacement Loans pursuant to Section 10.01; provided that each Additional Lender shall be subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, in each case solely to the extent that any such consent would be required from the Administrative Agent under Section 10.07(b)(iii)(B) for an assignment of Loans to such Additional Lender, and in the case of Incremental Revolving Commitments and Other Revolving Commitments and the Issuing Bank, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, in each case solely to the extent such consent would be required for any assignment to such Additional Lender under Section 10.07(b)(iii).

Administrative Agent ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

Administrative Agent’s Office ” means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, 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 a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.

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

Affiliate Transaction ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.07.

Affiliated Lender ” means, at any time, any Lender that is an Investor or an Affiliate of an Investor (other than (a) the Borrower or any Subsidiary, (b) any Debt Fund Affiliate or (c) any natural person) at such time.

Affiliated Lender Assignment and Assumption ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(h)(vi).

Affiliated Lender Cap ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(h)(iv).

Agent Parties ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.02(4).

 

2


Agent-Related Distress Event ” means, with respect to the Administrative Agent or any other Person that directly or indirectly controls the Administrative Agent (each, a “ Distressed Person ”), (a) that such Distressed Person is or becomes subject to a voluntary or involuntary case under any Debtor Relief Law, (b) a custodian, conservator, receiver, or similar official is appointed for such Distressed Person or any substantial part of such Distressed Person’s assets, or (c) such Distressed Person is subject to a forced liquidation, 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 an Agent-Related Distress Event shall not be deemed to have occurred solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any Equity Interests in the Administrative Agent or any Person that directly or indirectly controls the Administrative Agent by a Governmental Authority or an instrumentality thereof so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide the Administrative Agent with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit the Administrative Agent (or such Governmental Authority or instrumentality) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with the Administrative Agent.

Agent-Related Persons ” means the Agents, together with their respective Affiliates, and the officers, directors, employees, agents, attorney-in-fact, partners, trustees and advisors of such Persons and of such Persons’ Affiliates.

Agents ” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Supplemental Administrative Agents (if any).

Aggregate Commitments ” means the Commitments of all the Lenders.

Agreement ” means this Credit Agreement, as amended, restated, amended and restated, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.

Agreement for Standby Letter of Credit ” means the Agreement for Standby Letter of Credit, dated as of the Effective Date, among the Tender Issuing Bank and the Borrower as Applicant.

AHYDO Payment ” means any mandatory prepayment or redemption pursuant to the terms of any Indebtedness that is intended or designed to cause such Indebtedness not to be treated as an “applicable high yield discount obligation” within the meaning of Section 163(i) of the Code.

All-In Yield ” means, as to any Indebtedness, the yield thereof, whether in the form of interest rate, margin, OID, upfront fees, a LIBO Rate floor or Base Rate floor (with such increased amount being determined in the manner described in the final proviso of this definition), or otherwise, in each case, incurred or payable by the Borrower ratably to all lenders of such Indebtedness; 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 incurrence of the applicable Indebtedness); provided , further , that “All-In Yield” shall not include arrangement fees, structuring fees, commitment fees, underwriting fees, success fees, advisory fees, ticking fees, consent or amendment fees and any similar fees (regardless of how such fees are computed and whether shared or paid, in whole or in part, with or to any or all lenders) and any other fees not generally paid ratably to all lenders of such Indebtedness; provided further that, with respect to any Loans of an applicable Class that includes a LIBO Rate floor or Base Rate floor, (1) to the extent that the reference rate on the date that the All-In Yield is being calculated is less than such floor, the amount of such difference shall be deemed added to the Applicable Rate for such Loans of such Class for the purpose of calculating the All-In Yield and (2) to the extent that the reference rate on the date that the All-In Yield is being calculated is greater than such floor, then the floor shall be disregarded in calculating the All-In Yield.

Alternative Currency ” shall mean Euros.

Alternative Currency Loan ” shall mean a Loan denominated in an Alternative Currency, which shall include each Revolving Loan denominated in Euros.

Applicable Discount ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(1)(e)(I).

 

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Applicable Percentage ” means, in respect of the Revolving Facility, with respect to any Revolving Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Revolving Facility represented by such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Commitments at such time, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.17. If the commitment of each Revolving Lender to make Revolving Loans and the obligation of the Issuing Banks to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02, or if the Revolving Commitments have otherwise expired in full, then the Applicable Percentage of each Revolving Lender in respect of the Revolving Facility shall be determined based on the Applicable Percentage of such Revolving Lender in respect of the Revolving Facility most recently in effect, giving effect to any subsequent assignments.

Applicable Rate ” means a percentage per annum equal to:

(a) with respect to Closing Date Term Loans, (i) 3.50% for LIBO Rate Loans and (ii) 2.50% for Base Rate Loans.

(b) with respect to Revolving Loans and unused Revolving Commitments under the Closing Date Revolving Facility and Letter of Credit fees (i) until delivery of financial statements for the first full fiscal quarter ending after the Closing Date pursuant to Section 6.01, (A) 3.50% for LIBO Rate Loans and Letter of Credit fees, (B) 2.50% for Base Rate Loans and (C) 0.50% for the Commitment Fee Rate for unused Revolving Commitments and (ii) thereafter, the following percentages per annum, based upon the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as specified in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.02(1):

 

Pricing
Level

   First Lien Net
Leverage Ratio
  

LIBO Rate

and Letter of Credit Fees

   Base
Rate
  Commitment
Fee Rate

1

   >1.50 to 1.00    3.50%    2.50%   0.50%

2

   <1.50 to 1.00 and >1.25 to 1.00    3.25%    2.25%   0.375%

3

   <1.25 to 1.00    3.00%    2.00%   0.25%

Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the 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(1); provided that, at the option of the Required Facility Lenders under the Closing Date Revolving Facility, “Pricing Level 1” (as set forth above) shall apply as of (x) 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) or (y) the first Business Day after an Event of Default under Section 8.01(1) 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).

Appropriate Lender ” means, at any time, (a) with respect to Loans of any Class, the Lenders of such Class and (b) with respect to Letters of Credit, (i) the relevant Issuing Banks and (ii) the relevant Revolving Lenders.

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.

Arrangers ” means Citigroup Global Markets Inc., JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., RBC Capital Markets and Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc., each in its capacity as a joint lead arranger under this Agreement.

Asset Sale ” means:

(1) the sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions of property or assets of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (each referred to in this definition as a “ disposition ”); or

 

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(2) the issuance or sale of Equity Interests (other than Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries issued in compliance with Section 7.02 and directors’ qualifying shares or shares or interests required to be held by foreign nationals or other third parties to the extent required by applicable Law) of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than to the Borrower or another Restricted Subsidiary), whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions;

in each case, other than:

(a) any disposition of:

(i) Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities,

(ii) obsolete, damaged or worn out property or assets in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice or any disposition of inventory or goods (or other assets) held for sale or no longer used or useful in the ordinary course,

(iii) assets no longer economically practicable or commercially reasonable to maintain (as determined in good faith by the management of the Borrower),

(iv) improvements made to leased real property to landlords pursuant to customary terms of leases entered into in the ordinary course of business and

(v) assets for purposes of charitable contributions or similar gifts to the extent such assets are not material to the ability of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to conduct its business in the ordinary course;

(b) the disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Borrower in a manner permitted pursuant to Section 7.03 (other than Section 7.03(6) or Section 7.03(7));

(c) any disposition in connection with the making of any Restricted Payment that is permitted to be made, and is made, under Section 7.05, any Permitted Investment or any acquisition otherwise permitted under this Agreement;

(d) any disposition of property or assets or issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary with an aggregate fair market value for any individual transaction or series of related transactions of less than $5.0 million;

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

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

(g) (i) the lease, assignment or sublease, license or sublicense of any real or personal property in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice and (ii) the exercise of termination rights with respect to any lease, sublease, license or sublicense or other agreement;

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

(i) foreclosures, condemnation, expropriation, eminent domain or any similar action (including for the avoidance of doubt, any Casualty Event) with respect to assets or the granting of Liens not prohibited by this Agreement;

 

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(j) sales of accounts receivable, or participations therein, or Securitization Assets or related assets in connection with any Qualified Securitization Facility, sales of receivables in connection with Receivables Financing Transactions or the disposition of an account receivable in connection with the collection or compromise thereof in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice or in bankruptcy or similar proceedings;

(k) any financing transaction with respect to property built or acquired by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary after the Closing Date, including asset securitizations permitted hereunder;

(l) the sale, lease, assignment, license, sublease or discount of inventory, equipment, accounts receivable, notes receivable or other current assets in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice or the conversion of accounts receivable to notes receivable or other dispositions of accounts receivable in connection with the collection thereof in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(m) the licensing or sublicensing of intellectual property or other general intangibles in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(n) 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 or consistent with industry practice;

(o) the unwinding of any Hedging Obligations;

(p) 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;

(q) the lapse, abandonment or other disposition of intellectual property rights in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice, which in the reasonable good faith determination of the Borrower, are not material to the conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole;

(r) the granting of a Lien that is permitted under Section 7.01;

(s) the issuance of directors’ qualifying shares and shares of Capital Stock of Foreign Subsidiaries issued to foreign nationals as required by applicable Law;

(t) the disposition of any assets (including Equity Interests) (i) acquired in a transaction permitted hereunder, which assets are not used or useful in the principal business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries or (ii) made in connection with the approval of any applicable antitrust authority or otherwise necessary or advisable in the good faith determination of the Borrower to consummate any acquisition permitted hereunder;

(u) dispositions of property to the extent that such property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property;

(v) dispositions of property in connection with any Sale-Leaseback Transaction;

(w) [reserved]; and

(x) the sales of property or assets for an aggregate fair market value since the date of this Agreement not to exceed $50.0 million.

 

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Assignee Group ” means two or more Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates of one another or two or more Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor.

Assignment and Assumption ” means an Assignment and Assumption substantially in the form of Exhibit D-1 or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

Attorney Costs ” means all reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of any law firm or other external legal counsel, to the extent documented in reasonable detail and invoiced.

Attributable Indebtedness ” means, on any date, in respect of any Capitalized Lease Obligation of any Person, the amount thereof that would appear as a liability 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 engaged 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(1)(e); 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.

Auto-Extension Letter of Credit ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(2)(c).

Available Incremental Amount ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(4).

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.

Bankruptcy Code ” has the meaning specified in Section 8.02.

Base Rate ” means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum (subject solely in the case of the Term Facility to a floor of 2.00% per annum) equal to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1%, (b) the rate of interest in effect for such day as announced from time to time by the Administrative Agent as its “prime rate” and (c) the LIBO Rate on such day for an Interest Period of one (1) month plus 1.00% (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day); provided that, if the Base Rate determined based on the foregoing is less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement. The “prime rate” is a rate set by the Administrative Agent based upon various factors including the Administrative Agent’s costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above or below such announced rate. Any change in such rate announced by the Administrative Agent shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the announcement of such change.

Base Rate Loan ” means a Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate.

Basket ” means any amount, threshold or other value permitted or prescribed with respect to any Lien, Indebtedness, Asset Sale, Investment, Restricted Payment, transaction value, judgment or other amount under any provision in Articles V, VI, VII or VIII and the definitions related thereto.

Big Boy Letter ” means a letter from a Lender acknowledging that (1) an assignee may have information regarding the Borrower and any Subsidiary of the Borrower, their ability to perform the Obligations or any other material information that has not previously been disclosed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders (“ Excluded Information ”), (2) the Excluded Information may not be available to such Lender, (3) such Lender has

 

7


independently and without reliance on any other party made its own analysis and determined to assign Term Loans to such assignee pursuant to Section 10.07(h) or (l) notwithstanding its lack of knowledge of the Excluded Information and (4) such Lender waives and releases any claims it may have against the Administrative Agent, such assignee, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries of the Borrower with respect to the nondisclosure of the Excluded Information; or otherwise in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such assignee, the Administrative Agent and assigning Lender.

Board of Directors ” means, for any Person, the board of directors or other governing body of such Person or, if such Person does not have such a board of directors or other governing body and is owned or managed by a single entity, the Board of Directors of such entity, or, in either case, any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such Board of Directors. Unless otherwise provided, “Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Borrower.

Borrower ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement. Upon the consummation of any transaction permitted by Section 7.03(4), “Borrower” shall mean the Successor Borrower.

Borrower Annual Financial Statements ” means the audited consolidated balance sheets and related audited consolidated statements of operations, members’ equity (deficit) and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2015.

Borrower Materials ” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

Borrower Offer of Specified Discount Prepayment ” means any offer by any Borrower Party to make a voluntary prepayment of Loans at a specified discount to par pursuant to Section 2.05(1)(e)(B).

Borrower Parties ” means the collective reference to the Borrower and each Subsidiary of the Borrower and “ Borrower Party ” means any of them.

Borrower Quarterly Financial Statements ” means the unaudited consolidated balance sheets and related unaudited consolidated statements of income, cash flows and members’ equity (deficit) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2016, June 30, 2016, September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2016.

Borrower Solicitation of Discount Range Prepayment Offers ” means the solicitation by any Borrower Party of offers for, and the corresponding acceptance by a Lender of, a voluntary prepayment of Loans at a specified range of discounts to par pursuant to Section 2.05(1)(e)(E).

Borrower Solicitation of Discounted Prepayment Offers ” means the solicitation by any Borrower Party of offers for, and the subsequent acceptance, if any, by a Lender of, a voluntary prepayment of Loans at a discount to par pursuant to Section 2.05(1)(e)(H).

Borrowing ” means a borrowing consisting of Loans of the same Class and Type made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of LIBO Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period.

Bridge Loan Agreement ” means that certain Bridge Credit Agreement, dated as of the Effective Date, among the Borrower and the lenders named therein, and Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent, as amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

Bridge Loans ” means the €240 million senior unsecured increasing rate loans borrowed by the Borrower under the Bridge Loan Agreement; provided that if at any time after the Closing Date the Bridge Loans have been refinanced with the proceeds of any Senior Notes, “Bridge Loans” shall mean the Senior Notes (and, to the extent not so refinanced in full, the Bridge Loans).

Broker-Dealer Regulated Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is registered as a broker-dealer under the Exchange Act or any other applicable Laws requiring such registration.

 

8


Business Day ” means any day that is not a Legal Holiday and, (i) with respect to any interest rate settings as to a LIBO Rate Loan denominated in Dollars, any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in respect of any such LIBO Rate Loan, or any other dealings to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such LIBO Rate Loan, any day on which dealings in deposits in Dollars are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank eurodollar market and (ii) with respect to any interest rate settings as to a LIBO Rate Loan denominated in Euros, any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments of any such LIBO Rate Loan denominated in Euros, or any other dealings in Euros to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such LIBO Rate Loan, shall mean a TARGET Day.

Canadian Dollars ” means the lawful currency of Canada.

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 Lease Obligations) by the Borrower and the 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 the Restricted Subsidiaries.

Capital Stock ” means:

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

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

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

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

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 all obligations of any Person that are or would have been treated as operating leases for purposes of GAAP prior to the issuance by the Financial Accounting Standards Board on February 25, 2016 of an Accounting Standards Update (the “ ASU ”) shall continue to be accounted for as operating leases for purposes of all financial definitions and calculations for purpose of this Agreement (whether or not such operating lease obligations were in effect on such date) notwithstanding the fact that such obligations are required in accordance with the ASU (on a prospective or retroactive basis or otherwise) to be treated as Capitalized Lease Obligations in the financial statements to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01.

Captive Insurance Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is subject to regulation as an insurance company (or any Subsidiary thereof).

Cash Collateral ” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Cash Collateralize.”

Cash Collateral Account ” means an account held at, and subject to the sole dominion and control of, the Collateral Agent.

Cash Collateralize ” means, in respect of an Obligation, to provide and pledge cash or Cash Equivalents in Dollars as collateral, at a location and pursuant to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent or the relevant Issuing Bank with respect to any Letter of Credit, as applicable (and “ Cash Collateralization ” has a corresponding meaning). “ Cash Collateral ” has a meaning correlative to the foregoing and shall include the proceeds of such cash collateral and other credit support.

 

9


Cash Equivalents ” means:

(1) Dollars;

(2) (a) Euros, Yen, Canadian Dollars, Sterling, Polish Zloty, Mexican Pesos or any national currency of any Participating Member State;

(b) in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary or any jurisdiction in which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary conducts business, such local currencies held by it from time to time in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(3) readily marketable direct obligations 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 36 months or less from the date of acquisition;

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

(5) repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (3) and (4) above or clauses (7) and (8) below 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 is rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency selected by the Borrower) and in each case maturing within 36 months after the date of acquisition thereof;

(7) marketable short-term money market and similar liquid 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 is rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency selected by the Borrower);

(8) securities issued or directly and fully and unconditionally guaranteed by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority of any such state, commonwealth or territory or any public instrumentality thereof having maturities of not more than 36 months from the date of acquisition thereof;

(9) readily marketable direct obligations issued or directly and fully and unconditionally guaranteed 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 is rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency selected by the Borrower) with maturities of 36 months or less from the date of acquisition;

(10) Indebtedness or Preferred Stock issued by Persons with a rating of “A” or higher from S&P or “A2” or higher from Moody’s (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P is rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency selected by the Borrower) with maturities of 36 months or less from the date of acquisition;

 

10


(11) Investments with average maturities of 36 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 is rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency selected by the Borrower);

(12) investment funds investing substantially all of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (1) through (11) above; and

(13) solely with respect to any Captive Insurance Subsidiary, any investment that the Captive Insurance Subsidiary is not prohibited to make in accordance with applicable Law.

In the case of Investments by any Foreign Subsidiary or Investments made in a country outside the United States of America, Cash Equivalents will also include (i) investments of the type and maturity described in clauses (1) through (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 (ii) other short-term investments utilized by Foreign 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 will include amounts denominated in currencies other than those set forth in clauses (1) and (2) above, provided that such amounts, except amounts used to pay non-Dollar denominated obligations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business, are converted into any currency listed in clause (1) or (2) above as promptly as practicable and in any event within ten (10) Business Days following the receipt of such amounts.

Cash Management Agreement ” means any agreement entered into from time to time by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with cash management services for collections, other Cash Management Services and for operating, payroll and trust accounts of such Person, including automatic clearing house services, controlled disbursement services, electronic funds transfer services, information reporting services, lockbox services, stop payment services and wire transfer services.

Cash Management Bank ” means any Person that is an Agent, a Lender or an Arranger or an Affiliate of an Agent or Lender or Arranger on the Effective Date or at the time it entered into a Secured Cash Management Agreement, whether or not such Person subsequently ceases to be an Agent, a Lender or an Affiliate of an Agent or Lender.

Cash Management Obligations ” means obligations owed by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to any Cash Management Bank in connection with, or in respect of, any Cash Management Services.

Cash Management Services ” means (a) commercial credit cards, merchant card services, purchase or debit cards, including non-card e-payables services, (b) treasury management services (including controlled disbursement, overdraft, automatic clearing house fund transfer services, return items and interstate depository network services), (c) foreign exchange, netting and currency management services and (d) any other demand deposit or operating account relationships or other cash management services, including under any Cash Management Agreements.

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.

CFC ” means a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of Section 957(a) of the Code.

CFC Holdco ” means a Domestic Subsidiary that is treated as a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes substantially all of whose assets consists (directly or indirectly through disregarded entities) of the Capital Stock or indebtedness of one or more Subsidiaries that are CFCs.

 

11


Change in Law ” means the occurrence, after the Effective Date, of any of the following: (a) the adoption of any law, rule, regulation or treaty (excluding the taking effect after the Effective Date of a law, rule, regulation or treaty adopted prior to the Effective Date), (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority. It is understood and agreed that (i) the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Public Law 111-203, H.R. 4173), all Laws relating thereto and all interpretations and applications thereof and (ii) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall, for the purpose of this Agreement, be deemed to be adopted subsequent to the Effective Date.

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

(1) (a) any Person (other than a Permitted Holder) or (b) Persons (other than one or more Permitted Holders) constituting a “group” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), becoming the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13(d)-3 and 13(d)-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of Equity Interests of the Borrower representing more than thirty-five percent (35%) of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Borrower and the percentage of aggregate ordinary voting power so held is greater than the percentage of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the Equity Interests of the Borrower beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate by the Permitted Holders (it being understood and agreed that for purposes of measuring beneficial ownership held by any Person that is not a Permitted Holder, Equity Interests held by any Permitted Holder will be excluded); or

(2) any “Change of Control” (or any comparable term) in any document pertaining to the Bridge Loans or any Refinancing Indebtedness thereof, in each case with an aggregate outstanding principal amount in excess of the Threshold Amount;

unless, in the case of clause (1) above, the Permitted Holders have, at such time, directly or indirectly, the right or the ability by voting power, contract or otherwise to elect or designate for election at least a majority of the board of directors of the Borrower.

Class ” (a) when used with respect to Lenders, refers to whether such Lenders have Loans or Commitments with respect to a particular Class of Loans or Commitments, (b) when used with respect to Commitments, refers to whether such Commitments are Closing Date Term Loan Commitments, Revolving Commitments, Incremental Revolving Commitments, Other Revolving Commitments, Incremental Term Commitments, Commitments in respect of any Class of Replacement Loans, Extended Revolving Commitments of a given Extension Series or Other Term Loan Commitments of a given Class of Other Loans, in each case not designated part of another existing Class and (c) when used with respect to Loans or a Borrowing, refers to whether such Loans, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Closing Date Term Loans, Revolving Loans under the Closing Date Revolving Facility, Incremental Term Loans, Incremental Revolving Loans, Other Revolving Loans, Replacement Loans, Extended Term Loans, Loans made pursuant to Extended Revolving Commitments, or Other Term Loans, in each case not designated part of another existing Class. 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 identical terms and conditions shall be construed to be in the same Class.

Closing Date ” means the first date on which all the conditions precedent in Section 4.02 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 10.01, and the Closing Date Term Loans are made to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01(1).

Closing Date Acquisition ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement; for the avoidance of doubt, the Closing Date Acquisition shall include (i) the acquisition of any minority Equity Interests in the Target following the Closing Date, whether by way of a “squeeze out” process or otherwise and (ii) the execution and delivery of the Domination Agreement.

 

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Closing Date First Lien Net Leverage Ratio ” means 1.80 to 1.00.

Closing Date Loans ” means the Closing Date Term Loans and any Closing Date Revolving Borrowing.

Closing Date Refinancing ” means the repayment of (i) all outstanding Indebtedness under the Existing Credit Agreement (it being understood that letters of credit may remain outstanding to the extent collateralized or backstopped on the Closing Date) and (ii) certain outstanding Indebtedness of the Target to be mutually agreed by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent being repaid in connection with the Tender Effectiveness and, in each case, the termination of all commitments, guarantees and security interests in respect of such Indebtedness.

Closing Date Revolving Borrowing ” means one or more Borrowings of Revolving Loans on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 2.01(2) in accordance with the requirements specified or referred to in Section 6.14; provided , that, without limitation, Letters of Credit may be issued on the Closing Date to backstop or replace letters of credit outstanding on the Closing Date (other than any letter of credit issued in connection with the Offer) (including deemed issuances of Letters of Credit under this Agreement resulting from an existing issuer of letters of credit outstanding on the Closing Date agreeing to become an Issuing Bank under this Agreement).

Closing Date Revolving Facility ” means the Revolving Facility made available by the Revolving Lenders as of the Closing Date.

Closing Date Secured Net Leverage Ratio ” means 1.80 to 1.00.

Closing Date Term Loan Commitment ” means, as to each Term Lender, its obligation to make a Closing Date Term Loan to the Borrower in an aggregate amount not to exceed the amount specified opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01 under the caption “Closing Date Term Loan Commitment” or in the Assignment and Assumption (or Affiliated Lender 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 pursuant to Section 2.14, 2.15 or 2.16). The initial aggregate amount of the Closing Date Term Loan Commitments is $400.0 million.

Closing Date Term Loans ” means the Term Loans made by the Term Lenders on the Closing Date to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01(1).

Closing Date Total Net Leverage Ratio ” means 2.95 to 1.00.

Code ” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Collateral ” means all the “Collateral” (or equivalent term) as defined in any Collateral Document and the Mortgaged Properties, if any.

Collateral Agent ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

Collateral and Guarantee Requirement ” means, at any time (from and after the Closing Date), the requirement that:

(1) the Collateral Agent shall have received each Collateral Document required to be delivered (a) on the Effective Date pursuant to Section 4.01(1)(c) or (b) pursuant to the Security Agreement or Section 6.11 or 6.13 at such time required by the Security Agreement or by such Sections to be delivered, in each case, duly executed by each Loan Party that is party thereto;

 

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(2) except to the extent otherwise provided hereunder or under any Collateral Document, all Obligations shall have been unconditionally guaranteed by (a) the Borrower (other than in respect of its own Obligations) and each Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that is a wholly owned Material Subsidiary (other than any Excluded Subsidiary), which as of the Effective Date shall include those that are listed on Schedule 1.01(1) hereto and (b) any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that Guarantees (or is the borrower or issuer of) (i) any Subordinated Indebtedness, (ii) the Bridge Loans, (iii) any Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt or (iv) any Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness (the Persons in the preceding clauses (a) through (b) collectively, the “ Guarantors ”);

(3) except to the extent otherwise provided hereunder or under any Collateral Document, the Obligations and the Guaranty shall have been secured by a perfected security interest, subject only to Liens permitted by Section 7.01, in

(a) all Equity Interests of each direct, wholly owned Material Domestic Subsidiary (other than any CFC Holdco) that is directly owned by any Loan Party and

(b) 65% of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of each class of each (i) wholly owned Material Domestic Subsidiary that is (a) a CFC Holdco and (b) directly owned by a Loan Party and (ii) wholly owned Material Foreign Subsidiary that is directly owned by a Loan Party;

(4) except to the extent otherwise provided hereunder or under any Collateral Document, including subject to Liens permitted by Section 7.01, and in each case subject to exceptions and limitations otherwise set forth in this Agreement and the Collateral Documents, the Obligations and the Guaranty shall have been secured by a security interest in substantially all tangible and intangible personal property of the Borrower and each Guarantor (including accounts other than Securitization Assets), inventory, equipment, investment property, contract rights, applications and registrations of intellectual property filed in the United States, other general intangibles, and proceeds of the foregoing (in each case, other than Excluded Assets), in each case,

(a) that has been perfected (to the extent such security interest may be perfected) by

(i) delivering certificated securities and instruments, in which a security interest can be perfected by physical control, in each case to the extent required hereunder or the Security Agreement;

(ii) filing financing statements under the Uniform Commercial Code of any applicable jurisdiction,

(iii) making any necessary filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or United States Copyright Office or

(iv) filings in the applicable real estate records with respect to Mortgaged Properties (or any fixtures related to Mortgaged Properties) to the extent required by the Collateral Documents and

(b) with the priority required by the Collateral Documents; provided that any such security interests in the Collateral shall be subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements to the extent applicable; and

(5) the Collateral Agent shall have received counterparts of a Mortgage, together with the other deliverables described in Section 6.11(2)(b), with respect to each Material Real Property listed on Schedule 1.01(2) to the extent required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.11 or Section 6.13 (the “ Mortgaged Properties ”) duly executed and delivered by the record owner of such property within the time periods set forth in said Sections; provided that to the extent any Mortgaged Property is located in a jurisdiction which imposes mortgage recording taxes, intangibles tax, documentary tax or similar recording fees or taxes, (a) the relevant Mortgage shall not secure an amount in excess of the fair market value of the Mortgaged Property subject thereto and (b) the relevant Mortgage shall not secure the Indebtedness in respect of Letters of Credit or the Revolving Facility to the extent those jurisdictions impose such aforementioned taxes on paydowns or re-advances applicable to such Indebtedness unless it is feasible to limit recovery to a capped amount that would not be subject to re-borrowing.

 

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The foregoing definition shall not require, and the Loan Documents shall not contain any requirements as to, the creation, perfection or maintenance of pledges of, or security interests in, Mortgages on, or the obtaining of Mortgage Policies, surveys, abstracts or appraisals or taking other actions with respect to, any Excluded Assets.

The Collateral Agent may grant extensions of time for the creation, perfection or maintenance of security interests in, or the execution or delivery of any Mortgage and the obtaining of title insurance, surveys or Opinions of Counsel with respect to, particular assets (including extensions beyond the Closing Date for the creation, perfection or maintenance of security interests in the assets of the Loan Parties on such date) where it reasonably determines, in consultation with the Borrower, that creation, perfection or maintenance cannot be accomplished without undue effort or expense by the time or times at which it would otherwise be required by this Agreement or the Collateral Documents.

No actions required by the Laws of any non-U.S. jurisdiction shall be required in order to create any security interests in any assets or to perfect or make enforceable such security interests in any assets (including any intellectual property registered or applied for in any non-U.S. jurisdiction) (it being understood that there shall be no security agreements or pledge agreements governed under the Laws of any non-U.S. jurisdiction). No perfection through control agreements or perfection by “control” shall be required with respect to any assets (other than (x) the Controlled Account, in respect of the Excess Closing Date Cash and (y) in respect of any promissory note in excess of $5.0 million, Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor that is owing to any Loan Party (which may be evidenced by the Intercompany Note and pledged to the Collateral Agent) and certificated Equity Interests of the wholly owned Restricted Subsidiaries that are Material Subsidiaries otherwise required to be pledged pursuant to the Collateral Documents to the extent required under clause (3) above). There shall be no (x) Guaranties governed under the laws of any non-U.S. jurisdiction, (y) requirement to obtain any landlord waivers, estoppels or collateral access letters or (z) requirement to perfect a security interest in any letter of credit rights, other than by the filing of a UCC financing statement.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, with respect to the requirements set forth in Section 4.01(1)(c)(i), each certificate required to be delivered pursuant to Section 4.01(1)(c)(i) on the Effective Date by any Loan Party will not constitute conditions precedent to the effectiveness of this Agreement on the Effective Date or the obligation of each Lender to make a Credit Extension hereunder on the Closing Date and that the only action with respect to the perfection of the Collateral that shall constitute conditions precedent to the effectiveness of this Agreement on the Effective Date shall be the delivery of the UCC-1 financing statements required pursuant to Section 4.01(1)(c)(ii); provided that the Borrower will use commercially reasonable efforts to effect the delivery of each certificate required to be delivered pursuant to Section 4.01(1)(c)(i) (and transfer powers with respect thereto) on or prior to the Closing Date without undue burden or expense; provided further that each of the Borrower and its wholly owned Material Domestic Subsidiaries (other than Excluded Subsidiaries) will execute and/or deliver any such document(s) that is not delivered and take any perfection action that is not taken on the Effective Date or on the Closing Date within 90 days after the Closing Date (or such later date as agreed to by the Administrative Agent).

Collateral Documents ” means, collectively, the Security Agreement, the Intellectual Property Security Agreements, the Mortgages (if any), each of the collateral assignments, security agreements, pledge agreements or other similar agreements delivered to the Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent or the Lenders pursuant to Sections 4.01(1)(c), 6.11 or 6.13 and each of the other agreements, instruments or documents that creates or purports to create a Lien in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

Commitment ” means a Revolving Commitment, Incremental Revolving Commitment, Closing Date Term Loan Commitment, Incremental Term Commitment, Other Revolving Commitment, Other Term Loan Commitment, Extended Revolving Commitment of a given Extension Series, or any commitment in respect of Replacement Loans, as the context may require.

 

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Commitment Letter ” means the Commitment Letter, dated as of the Effective Date, among the Arrangers and the Borrower.

Commitment Fee Rate ” means a percentage per annum equal to the Applicable Rate set forth in the “Commitment Fee Rate” column of the chart in the definition of “Applicable Rate.”

Committed Loan Notice ” means a notice of (1) a Borrowing with respect to a given Class of Loans, (2) a conversion of Loans of a given Class from one Type to the other or (3) a continuation of LIBO Rate Loans of a given Class, pursuant to Section 2.02(1), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A , or such other form as may be approved by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower), appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.

Commodity Exchange Act ” means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. §1 et. seq.), as amended from time to time and any successor statute.

Compensation Period ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.12(3)(b).

Compliance Certificate ” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C and which certificate shall in any event be a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower:

(1) certifying as to whether a Default has occurred and is continuing and, if applicable, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto (in each case, other than any Default with respect to which the Administrative Agent has otherwise obtained notice in accordance with Section 6.03(1)),

(2) in the case of financial statements delivered under Section 6.01(1), setting forth reasonably detailed calculations of (i), Excess Cash Flow for each fiscal year commencing with the financial statements for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018 and (ii) the Net Proceeds received during the applicable period (after the Closing Date in the case of the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017) by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of any Asset Sale or Casualty Event subject to prepayment pursuant to Section 2.05(2)(b)(i) and the portion of such Net Proceeds that has been invested or is intended to be reinvested in accordance with Section 2.05(2)(b)(ii),

(3) commencing with the certificate delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(1) for the first full fiscal quarter ending after the Closing Date, (x) if on the last day of the relevant fiscal quarter there are outstanding Revolving Loans and Letters of Credit (excluding (i) undrawn Letters of Credit in an aggregate amount of up to $20.0 million and (ii) Letters of Credit (whether drawn or undrawn) to the extent Cash Collateralized or backstopped on terms reasonably acceptable to the applicable Issuing Bank) in an aggregate principal amount exceeding 35% of the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Commitments under all outstanding Revolving Facilities (including any Incremental Revolving Facilities), setting forth a calculation of the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recent Test Period, or (y) if the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recent Test Period would result in a change in the applicable “Pricing Level” as set forth in the definition of “Applicable Rate,” setting forth a calculation of such First Lien Net Leverage Ratio.

Consolidated Current Assets ” means, as at any date of determination, the total assets of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis that may properly be classified as current assets in conformity with GAAP, excluding cash and Cash Equivalents, amounts related to current or deferred taxes based on income or profits, assets held for sale, loans (permitted) to third parties, pension assets, deferred bank fees, derivative financial instruments and any assets in respect of Hedge Agreements, and excluding the effects of adjustments pursuant to GAAP resulting from the application of recapitalization accounting or purchase accounting, as the case may be, in relation to the Transactions or any consummated acquisition.

 

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Consolidated Current Liabilities ” means, as at any date of determination, the total liabilities of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis that may properly be classified as current liabilities in conformity with GAAP, excluding (A) the current portion of any Funded Debt, (B) the current portion of interest, (C) accruals for current or deferred taxes based on income or profits, (D) accruals of any costs or expenses related to restructuring reserves or severance, (E) Revolving Loans and L/C Obligations under this Agreement or any other revolving loans and letter of credit obligations under any other revolving credit facility, (F) the current portion of any Capitalized Lease Obligation, (G) deferred revenue arising from cash receipts that are earmarked for specific projects, (H) liabilities in respect of unpaid earn-outs, (I) the current portion of any other long-term liabilities, (J) accrued litigation settlement costs and (K) any liabilities in respect of Hedge Agreements, and, furthermore, excluding the effects of adjustments pursuant to GAAP resulting from the application of recapitalization accounting or purchase accounting, as the case may be, in relation to the Transactions or any consummated acquisition.

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

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

(1) increased (without duplication) by the following, in each case (other than clauses (h) and (l)) to the extent deducted (and not added back) in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period:

(a) total interest expense and, to the extent not reflected in such total interest expense, any losses on Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments entered into for the purpose of hedging interest rate risk, net of interest income and gains on such Hedging Obligations or such derivative instruments, and bank and letter of credit fees, letter of guarantee and bankers’ acceptance fees and costs of surety bonds in connection with financing activities, together with items excluded from the definition of “Consolidated Interest Expense” pursuant to the definition thereof; plus

(b) provision for taxes based on income, profits, revenue or capital, including federal, foreign and state income, franchise, excise, value added and similar taxes, property taxes and similar taxes, and foreign withholding taxes paid or accrued during such period (including any future taxes or other levies that replace or are intended to be in lieu of taxes, and any penalties and interest related to taxes or arising from tax examinations) and the net tax expense associated with any adjustments made pursuant to the definition of “Consolidated Net Income,”; plus

(c) Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense for such period; plus

(d) 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, (i) the Borrower may determine not to add back such non-cash charge in the current period and (ii) to the extent the Borrower does decide to add back such non-cash charge, the cash payment in respect thereof, with the exception of any cash payments related to the settlement of deferred compensation balances awarded prior to the Closing Date, 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

(e) minority interest expense, the amount of any non-controlling interest consisting of income attributable to non-controlling interests of third parties in any non-wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary, excluding cash distributions in respect thereof, and the amount of any reductions in arriving at Consolidated Net Income resulting from the application of Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 810, Consolidation ; plus

 

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(f) (i) the amount of board of director fees and (ii) the amount of payments made to optionholders of such Person in connection with, or as a result of, any distribution being made to equityholders of such Person, which payments are being made to compensate such optionholders as though they were equityholders at the time of, and entitled to share in, such distribution, in each case to the extent permitted hereunder; plus

(g) 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

(h) cash receipts (or any netting arrangements resulting in reduced cash expenditures) not representing Consolidated EBITDA or Consolidated Net Income in any prior 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

(i) any costs or expenses incurred pursuant to any management equity plan, stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan, agreement or any stock subscription or shareholder agreement, to the extent that such costs or expenses are funded with cash proceeds contributed to the capital of such Person or net cash proceeds of an issuance of Equity Interests of such Person (other than Disqualified Stock); plus

(j) any net pension or other post-employment benefit costs representing amortization of unrecognized prior service costs, actuarial losses, including amortization of such amounts arising in prior periods, amortization of the unrecognized net obligation (and loss or cost) existing at the date of initial application of FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 715—Compensation—Retirement Benefits , and any other items of a similar nature, plus

(k) [reserved]; plus

(l) (x) the amount of “run-rate” cost savings, synergies and operating expense reductions related to restructurings, cost savings initiatives or other initiatives that are projected by the Borrower in good faith to result from actions either taken or with respect to which substantial steps have been taken or are expected to be taken (in the good faith determination of the Borrower) within 24 months after the end of such period (or, with respect to cost savings, synergies and operating expense reductions related to the Transactions, within 36 months after the Closing Date or, to the extent identified in the Quality of Earnings Analysis of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP dated February 25, 2017 or otherwise identified to the Arrangers, undertaken or implemented prior to the Closing Date) (which cost savings, synergies or operating expense reductions shall be calculated on a pro forma basis as though such cost savings, synergies or operating expense reductions had been realized on the first day of such period), net of the amount of actual benefits realized from such actions during such period (it is understood and agreed that “run-rate” means the full recurring benefit that is associated with any action taken or with respect to which substantial steps have been taken or are expected to be taken, whether prior to or following the Closing Date) (which adjustments may be incremental to (but not duplicative of) pro forma cost savings, synergies or operating expense reduction adjustments made pursuant to Section 1.07); provided that such cost savings, synergies and operating expenses are reasonably identifiable and factually supportable; and (y) add-backs of the type identified in the Quality of Earnings Analysis of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP dated February 25, 2017; plus

(m) [reserved]; plus

(n) any payments in the nature of compensation or expense reimbursement made to independent board members; plus

 

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(o) internal software development costs that are expensed during the period but could have been capitalized in accordance with GAAP; plus

(p) any loss from discontinued operations (but if such operations are classified as discontinued due to the fact that they are subject to an agreement to dispose of such operations, only when and to the extent such operations are actually disposed of); and

(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 for such period (excluding any non-cash gain to the extent it represents the reversal of an accrual or reserve for a potential cash item that reduced Consolidated Net Income or Consolidated EBITDA in any prior period other than any such accrual or reserve that has been added back to Consolidated Net Income in calculating Consolidated EBITDA in accordance with this definition),

(b) the amount of any non-controlling interest consisting of loss attributable to non-controlling interests of third parties in any non-wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary added to (and not deducted from) Consolidated Net Income in such period, and

(c) any net income from discontinued operations (but if such operations are classified as discontinued due to the fact that they are subject to an agreement to dispose of such operations, only when and to the extent such operations are actually disposed of).

For the avoidance of doubt, Consolidated EBITDA shall be calculated, including pro forma adjustments, in accordance with Section 1.07.

Consolidated First Lien Secured Debt ” means, as of any date of determination, subject to the definition of “Designated Revolving Commitments,” the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, consisting only of Indebtedness for borrowed money, Capitalized Lease Obligations and purchase money Indebtedness, in each case secured by a first priority lien on the assets of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided, Consolidated First Lien Secured Debt will not include Non-Recourse Indebtedness, undrawn amounts under revolving credit facilities and Indebtedness in respect of any (1) letter of credit, bank guarantees and performance or similar bonds, except to the extent of obligations in respect of drawn standby letters of credit which have not been reimbursed within three (3) Business Days and (2) Hedging Obligations. The 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 Dollar-equivalent principal amount of such Indebtedness.

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

(a) cash interest expense (including that attributable to Capitalized Lease Obligations), net of cash interest income, with respect to Indebtedness of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, other than Non-Recourse Indebtedness, including commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and net cash costs under hedging agreements (other than in connection with the early termination thereof); plus

(b) non-cash interest expense resulting solely from (a) the amortization of original issue discount from the issuance of Indebtedness of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries at less than par (excluding the Bridge Loans and any Indebtedness borrowed under the Facilities in connection with the Transactions and any Non-Recourse Indebtedness), plus (b) pay-in-kind interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries payable pursuant to the terms of the agreements governing Indebtedness for borrowed money;

 

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excluding, in each case:

(i) amortization of deferred financing costs, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses and any other amounts of non-cash interest other than referred to in clauses (2)(a) and (2)(b) above (including as a result of the effects of acquisition method accounting or pushdown accounting),

(ii) interest expense attributable to the movement of the mark-to-market valuation of obligations under Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments, including pursuant to FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging ,

(iii) costs associated with incurring or terminating Hedging Obligations and cash costs associated with breakage in respect of hedging agreements for interest rates,

(iv) commissions, discounts, yield, make-whole premium and other fees and charges (including any interest expense) incurred in connection with any Non-Recourse Indebtedness,

(v) “additional interest” owing pursuant to a registration rights agreement with respect to any securities,

(vi) any payments with respect to make-whole premiums or other breakage costs of any Indebtedness, including any Indebtedness issued in connection with the Transactions,

(vii) penalties and interest relating to taxes,

(viii) accretion or accrual of discounted liabilities not constituting Indebtedness,

(ix) [reserved],

(x) any expense resulting from the discounting of Indebtedness in connection with the application of recapitalization or purchase accounting,

(xi) any interest expense attributable to the exercise of appraisal rights and the settlement of any claims or actions (whether actual, contingent or potential) with respect thereto in connection with the Transactions, any acquisition or Investment and

(xii) annual agency fees paid to any administrative agents and collateral agents with respect to any secured or unsecured loans, debt facilities, debentures, bonds, commercial paper facilities or other forms of Indebtedness (including any security or collateral trust arrangements related thereto), including the Facilities and the Bridge Loans.

For purposes of this definition, interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation will 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 net income (loss) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, excluding (and excluding the effect of), without duplication,

 

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(1) extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual gains, losses, fees, costs, charges or expenses (including relating to any strategic initiatives and accruals and reserves in connection with such gains, losses, charges or expenses); restructuring costs, charges, accruals or reserves (including restructuring and integration costs related to acquisitions and adjustments to existing reserves, and in each case, whether or not classified as such under GAAP); costs and expenses related to any reconstruction, decommissioning, recommissioning or reconfiguration of facilities and fixed assets for alternative uses; Public Company Costs; costs and expenses related to the integration, consolidation, opening, pre-opening and closing of facilities and fixed assets; severance and relocation costs and expenses, one-time compensation costs and expenses, consulting fees, signing, retention or completion bonuses, and executive recruiting costs; costs and expenses incurred in connection with strategic initiatives; transition costs and duplicative running costs; costs and expenses incurred in connection with non-ordinary course product and intellectual property development; costs incurred in connection with acquisitions (or purchases of assets) prior to or after the Closing Date (including integration costs); business optimization expenses (including costs and expenses relating to business optimization programs, new systems design, retention charges, system establishment costs and implementation costs and project start-up costs), accruals and reserves; operating expenses attributable to the implementation of cost-savings initiatives; curtailments and modifications to pension and post-employment employee benefit plans (including any settlement of pension liabilities and charges resulting from changes in estimates, valuations and judgments);

(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 whether effected through a cumulative effect adjustment or a retroactive application, in each case in accordance with GAAP;

(3) Transaction Expenses;

(4) any gain (loss) on asset sales, disposals or abandonments (other than asset sales, disposals or abandonments in the ordinary course of business);

(5) the Net Income for such period of any Person that is an Unrestricted Subsidiary and, solely for the purpose of determining the amount available for Restricted Payments under clause (3)(a) of Section 7.05(a), the Net Income for such period of any Person that is not a Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting; provided that the Consolidated Net Income of a Person will be increased by the amount of dividends or distributions or other payments that are actually paid in cash or Cash Equivalents (or to the extent converted into cash or Cash Equivalents) to such Person or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period;

(6) solely for the purpose of determining the amount available for Restricted Payments under clause (3)(a) of Section 7.05(a), the Net Income for such period of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Guarantor) to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of its Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (which has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by the operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders, unless such restriction with respect to the payment of dividends or similar distributions has been legally waived (or the Borrower reasonably believes such restriction could be waived and is using commercially reasonable efforts to pursue such waiver); provided that Consolidated Net Income of a Person will be increased by the amount of dividends or other distributions or other payments actually paid in cash or Cash Equivalents (or to the extent converted into cash or Cash Equivalents), or the amount that could have been paid in cash or Cash Equivalents without violating any such restriction or requiring any such approval, to such Person or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period, to the extent not already included therein;

(7) effects of adjustments (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries) related to the application of recapitalization accounting or purchase accounting (including in the inventory, property and equipment, software, goodwill, intangible assets, in process research and development, deferred revenue and debt line items);

(8) income (loss) from the early extinguishment or conversion of (a) Indebtedness, (b) Hedging Obligations or (c) other derivative instruments;

 

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(9) any impairment charge or asset write-off or write-down in each case, pursuant to GAAP, and the amortization of intangibles arising pursuant to GAAP;

(10) (a) any equity based or non-cash compensation charge or expense, including any such charge or expense arising from grants of stock appreciation, equity incentive programs or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock or other rights to, and any cash charges associated with the rollover, acceleration or payout of, Equity Interests by management of such Person or of a Restricted Subsidiary, (b) noncash compensation expense resulting from the application of Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation or Accounting Standards Codification Topic 505-50, Equity-Based Payments to Non-Employees , and (c) any income (loss) attributable to deferred compensation plans or trusts;

(11) any fees, expenses or charges incurred during such period, or any amortization thereof for such period, in connection with any acquisition, Investment, Asset Sale, disposition, incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness (including such fees, expenses or charges related to the offering and issuance of the Bridge Loans and the syndication and incurrence of any Facilities), issuance of Equity Interests (including by any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower), recapitalization, refinancing transaction or amendment or modification of any debt instrument (including any amendment or other modification of the Bridge Loans and other securities and any Facilities) and including, in each case, any such transaction whether consummated on, after or prior to the Closing Date and any such transaction undertaken but not completed, and any charges or nonrecurring 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 Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 805, Business Combinations );

(12) accruals and reserves that are established or adjusted in connection with the Transactions, an Investment or an acquisition that are required to be established or adjusted as a result of the Transactions, such Investment or such acquisition, in each case in accordance with GAAP;

(13) any expenses, charges or losses to the extent covered by insurance that are, directly or indirectly, reimbursed or reimbursable by a third party, and any expenses, charges or losses 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;

(14) any non-cash gain (loss) attributable to the mark to market movement in the valuation of Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments pursuant to FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 815— Derivatives and Hedging or mark to market movement of other financial instruments pursuant to FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 825— Financial Instruments ;

(15) any net unrealized gain or loss (after any offset) resulting in such period from currency transaction or translation gains or losses including those related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness (including any net loss or gain resulting from (a) Hedging Obligations for currency exchange risk and (b) resulting from intercompany indebtedness) and any other foreign currency transaction or translation gains and losses, to the extent such gain or losses are non-cash items;

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

(17) any non-cash rent expense;

(18) [reserved];

(19) any non-cash expenses, accruals or reserves related to adjustments to historical tax exposures; and

 

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(20) earn-out and contingent consideration obligations (including to the extent accounted for as bonuses or otherwise) and adjustments thereof and purchase price adjustments.

In addition, to the extent not already included in the Consolidated Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, Consolidated Net Income will include the amount of proceeds received or receivable from business interruption insurance, the amount of any expenses or charges incurred by such Person or its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period that are, directly or indirectly, reimbursed or reimbursable by a third party, and amounts 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 hereunder.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the purpose of Section 7.05(a) (other than clause (3)(d) of Section 7.05(a)), there will be excluded from Consolidated Net Income any income arising from any sale or other disposition of Restricted Investments made by such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, any repurchases and redemptions of Restricted Investments from such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, any repayments of loans and advances which constitute Restricted Investments by such Person or any Restricted Subsidiary, 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 clause (3)(d) of Section 7.05(a).

Consolidated Secured Debt ” means, as of any date of determination, subject to the definition of “Designated Revolving Commitments,” the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, consisting only of Indebtedness for borrowed money, Capitalized Lease Obligations and purchase money Indebtedness, in each case secured by a lien on the assets of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided, Consolidated Secured Debt will not include Non-Recourse Indebtedness, undrawn amounts under revolving credit facilities and Indebtedness in respect of any (1) letter of credit, bank guarantees and performance or similar bonds, except to the extent of obligations in respect of drawn standby letters of credit which have not been reimbursed within three (3) Business Days and (2) Hedging Obligations. The 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 Dollar-equivalent principal amount of such Indebtedness.

Consolidated Senior Debt ” means all Consolidated Total Debt other than Subordinated Indebtedness.

Consolidated Total Debt ” means, as of any date of determination, subject to the definition of “Designated Revolving Commitments,” the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, consisting only of Indebtedness for borrowed money, Capitalized Lease Obligations and purchase money Indebtedness; provided, Consolidated Total Debt will not include Non-Recourse Indebtedness, undrawn amounts under revolving credit facilities and Indebtedness in respect of any (1) letter of credit, bank guarantees and performance or similar bonds, except to the extent of obligations in respect of drawn standby letters of credit which have not been reimbursed within three (3) Business Days and (2) Hedging Obligations. The 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 Dollar-equivalent principal amount of such Indebtedness.

Consolidated Working Capital ” means, as at any date of determination, the excess of Consolidated Current Assets over Consolidated Current Liabilities.

Contingent Obligations ” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing any leases, dividends or other monetary obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness (“ primary obligations ”) of any other Person (the “ primary obligor ”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent:

 

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

(2) to advance or supply funds:

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

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

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

Contract Consideration ” has the meaning specified in clause (2)(k) of 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.

Controlled Account ” means a restricted deposit account of the Borrower to be maintained with the Administrative Agent into which shall be deposited, on the Closing Date, the Excess Closing Date Cash.

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 Borrower or other companies.

Corrective Extension Amendment ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.16(6).

Credit Agreement Refinanced Debt ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness.”

Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness ” means (a) Permitted Equal Priority Refinancing Debt, (b) Permitted Junior Priority Refinancing Debt or (c) Permitted Unsecured Refinancing Debt; provided that, in each case, such Indebtedness is issued, incurred or otherwise obtained (including by means of the extension or renewal of existing Indebtedness) to Refinance, in whole or in part, existing Loans (or, if applicable, unused Commitments) or any then-existing Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness (“ Credit Agreement Refinanced Debt ”); provided , further , that (i) the terms of any such Indebtedness (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, interest rates (including through fixed interest rates), interest margins, rate floors, fees, funding discounts, original issue discounts and prepayment or redemption premiums and terms) shall either, at the option of the Borrower, (A) reflect market terms and conditions (taken as a whole) at the time of incurrence of such Indebtedness (as determined by the Borrower in good faith) or (B) if otherwise not consistent with the terms of such Credit Agreement Refinanced Debt, not be materially more restrictive to the Borrower (as determined by the Borrower in good faith), when taken as a whole, than the terms of such Credit Agreement Refinanced Debt, except in the case of clauses (A) and (B) to the extent necessary to provide for (1) covenants and other terms applicable to any period after the Latest Maturity Date of the Loans in effect immediately prior to such Refinancing or (2) subject to the immediately succeeding proviso, a Previously Absent Financial Maintenance Covenant; provided that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if any such terms of such Indebtedness contain a Previously Absent Financial Maintenance Covenant that is in effect prior to the applicable Latest Maturity Date, such Previously Absent Financial Maintenance Covenant shall be included for the benefit of each Facility; provided further , that if (x) such Indebtedness that includes a Previously Absent Financial Maintenance Covenant consists of a revolving credit facility (whether or not the documentation therefor includes any other facilities) and (y) the applicable Previously Absent Financial Maintenance Covenant is included only for the benefit of such revolving credit facility, the

 

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Previously Absent Financial Maintenance Covenant shall not be required to be included in this Agreement for the benefit of any Term Facility hereunder, (ii) any such Indebtedness shall have a maturity date that is no earlier than the Credit Agreement Refinanced Debt and a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than that of the Credit Agreement Refinanced Debt as of the date of determination, (iii) except to the extent otherwise permitted under this Agreement (subject to a dollar for dollar usage of any other basket set forth in Section 7.02, if applicable), such Indebtedness shall not have a greater principal amount (or shall not have a greater accreted value, if applicable) than the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Credit Agreement Refinanced Debt plus accrued interest, fees and premiums (including tender premium) and penalties (if any) thereon and fees, expenses, original issue discount and upfront fees incurred in connection with such Refinancing, (iv) such Credit Agreement Refinanced Debt shall be repaid, defeased or satisfied and discharged, and all accrued interest, fees and premiums (if any) in connection therewith shall be paid, within five (5) Business Days after the date such Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness is issued, incurred or obtained with the Net Proceeds received from the incurrence or issuance of such Indebtedness and (v) any mandatory prepayments of (I) any Permitted Junior Priority Refinancing Debt or Permitted Unsecured Refinancing Debt may not be made and to the extent required hereunder or pursuant to the terms of any Permitted Equal Priority Refinancing Debt, first made or offered to the holders of the Term Loans constituting First Lien Obligations and any such Permitted Equal Priority Refinancing Debt, and (II) any Permitted Equal Priority Refinancing Debt in respect of events described in Section 2.05(2)(a), (b) and (d)(i), shall be made on a pro rata basis, less than a pro rata basis or greater than a pro rata basis (but not greater than a pro rata basis as compared to any Class of Term Loans unless the Credit Agreement Refinanced Debt was so entitled to participate on a greater than a pro rata basis) with each Class of Term Loans constituting First Lien Obligations under Section 2.05(2)(a), (b) and (d)(i), provided , further , that “Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness” may be incurred in the form of a bridge or other interim credit facility intended to be Refinanced with long-term indebtedness (and such bridge or other interim credit facility shall be deemed to satisfy clause (ii) of the second proviso in this definition so long as (x) such credit facility includes customary “rollover” provisions and (y) assuming such credit facility were to be extended pursuant to such “rollover” provisions, such extended credit facility would comply with clause (ii) above) and in which case, on or prior to the first anniversary of the incurrence of such “bridge” or other interim credit facility, clause (v) of the preceding proviso in this definition shall not prohibit the inclusion of customary terms for “bridge” facilities, including customary mandatory prepayment, repurchase or redemption provisions.

Credit Extension ” means each of the following: (i) a Borrowing and (ii) an L/C Credit Extension.

Cure Amount ” has the meaning specified in Section 8.04(1).

Cure Expiration Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 8.04(1)(a).

Debt Fund Affiliate ” means any Affiliate of an Investor that is a bona fide diversified debt fund that is not (a) a natural person or (b) the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower.

Debt Representative ” means, with respect to any series of Indebtedness, 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.

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.

Declined Proceeds ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(2)(g).

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.

 

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Default Rate ” means an interest rate equal to (a) the Base Rate plus (b) the Applicable Rate applicable to Base Rate Loans that are Revolving Loans plus (c) 2.00% per annum; provided that with respect to the outstanding principal amount of any Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan (giving effect to Section 2.02(3)) plus 2.00% per annum, in each case, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

Defaulting Lender ” means, subject to Section 2.17(2), any Lender that (a) has refused (which refusal may be given verbally or in writing and has not been retracted) or failed to perform any of its funding obligations hereunder, including in respect of its Loans or participations in respect of L/C Obligations, within one Business Day of the date required to be funded by it hereunder, (b) has failed to pay over to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within one Business Day of the date when due, unless the subject of a good faith dispute, (c) 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 hereunder or generally under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit, (d) has failed, within three (3) Business Days after request by the Administrative Agent, to confirm in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that it will comply with its funding obligations, or (e) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, either (i) admitted in writing that it is insolvent or (ii) become subject to a Lender-Related Distress Event. Any determination by the Administrative Agent as to whether a Lender is a Defaulting Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

Designated Non-Cash Consideration ” means the fair market value of non-cash consideration received by the Borrower 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, less the amount of cash or 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 Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary 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 Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries) and is so designated as Designated Preferred Stock, pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate, on or promptly after the issuance date thereof, the cash proceeds of which are excluded from the calculation set forth in clause (3) of Section 7.05(a).

Designated Revolving Commitments ” means any commitments to make loans or extend credit on a revolving basis to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary by any Person other than the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that have been designated in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent as “Designated Revolving Commitments” until such time as the Borrower subsequently delivers an Officer’s Certificate to the Administrative Agent to the effect that such commitments will no longer constitute “Designated Revolving Commitments”; provided that, during such time, except for purposes of determining actual compliance with the Financial Covenant, such Designated Revolving Commitments will be deemed an incurrence of Indebtedness on such date and will be deemed outstanding for purposes of calculating the Interest Coverage Ratio, Total Net Leverage Ratio, First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, Secured Net Leverage Ratio and the availability of any Baskets hereunder.

Discharge ” means, with respect to any Indebtedness, the repayment, prepayment, repurchase (including pursuant to an offer to purchase), redemption, defeasance or other discharge of such Indebtedness, in any such case in whole or in part.

Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05(1)(e)(C).

Discount Range ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05(1)(e)(E).

Discount Range Prepayment Amount ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05(1)(e)(E).

 

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Discount Range Prepayment Notice ” means a written notice of a Borrower Solicitation of Discount Range Prepayment Offers made pursuant to Section 2.05(1)(e)(E) substantially in the form of Exhibit J .

Discount Range Prepayment Offer ” means the written offer by a Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit K , 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 assigned to such term in Section 2.05(1)(e)(E).

Discount Range Proration ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05(1)(e)(G).

Discounted Prepayment Determination Date ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05(1)(e)(J).

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(1)(e)(B), Section 2.05(1)(e)(E) or Section 2.05(1)(e)(H), respectively, unless a shorter period is agreed to between the Borrower and the Auction Agent.

Discounted Term Loan Prepayment ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05(1)(e)(A).

disposition ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Asset Sale.”

Disqualified Institution ” means (a) any competitor of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries identified in writing by or on behalf of the Borrower to (i) the Arrangers on or prior to the Effective Date or (ii) the Administrative Agent from time to time after the Effective Date, (b) those particular banks, financial institutions, other institutional lenders and other Persons identified by the Borrower to the Arrangers on or prior to March 22, 2017 (or related funds of any such Persons) and (c) any Affiliate of the entities described in the preceding clauses (a) or (b) that are either (x) reasonably identifiable as such or associated on the basis of their name or (y) are identified as such in writing by or on behalf of the Borrower to (i) the Arrangers on or prior to the Effective Date or (ii) the Administrative Agent from time to time after the Effective Date (other than financial investors in competitors that are not operating companies or Affiliates of operating companies and other than bona fide diversified debt funds); provided that any Person that is a Lender and subsequently becomes a Disqualified Institution (but was not a Disqualified Institution at the time it became a Lender) shall be deemed to not be a Disqualified Institution hereunder. The identity of Disqualified Institutions may be communicated by the Administrative Agent to a Lender upon request, but will not be otherwise posted or distributed to any Person.

Disqualified Stock ” means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person which, by its terms, or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is redeemable or exchangeable, or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than (i) for any Qualified Equity Interests or (ii) solely as a result of a change of control, asset sale, casualty, condemnation or eminent domain) pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than (i) for any Qualified Equity Interests or (ii) solely as a result of a change of control, asset sale, casualty, condemnation or eminent domain), in whole or in part, in each case prior to the date 91 days after the earlier of the then Latest Maturity Date or the date the Loans are no longer outstanding and the Commitments have been terminated; provided that if such Capital Stock is issued pursuant to any plan for the benefit of future, current or former employees, directors, officers, members of management, consultants or independent contractors (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members or any permitted transferees thereof) of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, directors, officers, members of management, consultants or independent contractors (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members or any permitted transferees thereof), such Capital Stock will not constitute

 

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Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s, director’s, officer’s, management member’s, consultant’s or independent contractor’s termination, death or disability; provided further any Capital Stock held by any future, current or former employee, director, officer, member of management, consultant or independent contractor (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members or any permitted transferees thereof) of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any other entity in which the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary has an Investment and is designated in good faith as an “affiliate” by the Board of Directors (or the compensation committee thereof), in each case pursuant to any equity subscription or equity holders’ agreement, management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement will not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s, director’s, officer’s, management member’s, consultant’s or independent contractor’s termination, death or disability. For the purposes hereof, the aggregate principal amount of Disqualified Stock will be deemed to be equal to the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference and maximum fixed repurchase price, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, and the “maximum fixed repurchase price” of any Disqualified Stock that does not have a fixed repurchase price will be calculated in accordance with the terms of such Disqualified Stock as if such Disqualified Stock were purchased on any date on which the Consolidated Total Debt, Consolidated First Lien Secured Debt or Consolidated Secured Debt, as applicable, will be required to be determined pursuant to this Agreement, and if such price is based upon, or measured by, the fair market value of such Disqualified Stock, such fair market value shall be determined in good faith by the Borrower. For the avoidance of doubt, none of the Equity Interests issued in connection with the Equity Contribution (or any value or payment associated therewith) shall be included in the calculation of any financial ratio or test where Disqualified Stock may otherwise be included therein.

Distressed Person ” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of the term Lender-Related Distress Event.

Dollar ” and “ $ ” mean lawful money of the United States.

Dollar Equivalent ” shall mean, at any time, (a) with respect to any amount denominated in U.S. Dollars, such amount, and (b) with respect to any amount denominated in any currency other than U.S. Dollars, the equivalent amount thereof in Dollars as determined by the Administrative Agent or an Issuing Bank, as the case may be, at such time on the basis of the Exchange Rate (determined in respect of the most recent Revaluation Date) for the purchase of Dollars with such currency.

Domestic Subsidiary ” means any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Borrower that is organized under the Laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

Domination Agreement ” means the Domination Profit and Loss Pooling Agreement ( Beherrschungs-und Gewinnabführungsvertrag ) according to Sec. 291 of the German Stock Corporation Act (AktG) to be entered into by and between the Target and AcquisitionCo.

ECF Payment Amount ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(2)(a).

ECF Percentage ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(2)(a).

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.

 

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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 Date ” means the date on which the conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.01 hereof shall have been satisfied, which date is March 22, 2017.

Eligible Assignee ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(a).

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

EMU Legislation ” shall mean the legislative measures of the EMU for the introduction of, changeover to, or operation of the Euro in one or more member states.

Enterprise Transformative Event ” means any merger, acquisition, Investment, dissolution, liquidation, consolidation or disposition, in any such case by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that is either (a) not permitted by the terms of any Loan Document immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction or (b) if permitted by the terms of the Loan Documents immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction, would not provide the Borrower and the Borrower’s Restricted Subsidiaries with adequate flexibility under the Loan Documents for the continuation or expansion of their combined operations following such consummation, as reasonably determined by the Borrower acting in good faith.

Environment ” means ambient air, indoor air, surface water, groundwater, drinking water, soil, surface and sub-surface strata, and natural resources such as wetlands, flora and fauna.

Environmental Claim ” means any and all administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of noncompliance or violation, investigations (other than internal reports prepared by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries (a) in the ordinary course of such Person’s business or (b) as required in connection with a financing transaction or an acquisition or disposition of real estate) or proceedings with respect to any Environmental Liability or Environmental Law (hereinafter “ Claims ”), including (i) any and all Claims by governmental or regulatory authorities for enforcement, cleanup, removal, response, remedial or other actions or damages pursuant to any Environmental Law and (ii) any and all Claims by any third party seeking damages, contribution, indemnification, cost recovery, compensation or injunctive relief pursuant to any Environmental Law.

Environmental Laws ” means any and all Laws relating to pollution or the protection of the Environment or, to the extent relating to exposure to Hazardous Materials, human health.

Environmental Liability ” means any liability (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities) of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of 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 Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Materials or (e) any contract or other written agreement 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.

Equal Priority Intercreditor Agreement ” means, to the extent executed in connection with the incurrence of Indebtedness secured by Liens on the Collateral which are intended to rank equal in priority to the Liens on the Collateral securing the First Lien Obligations under this Agreement (but without regard to the control of remedies), at the option of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent acting together in good faith, either (a) an intercreditor agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit G-1 or (b) a customary intercreditor agreement in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, which agreement shall provide that the Liens on the Collateral securing such Indebtedness shall rank equal in priority to the Liens on the Collateral securing the First Lien Obligations under this Agreement (but without regard to the control of remedies), in each case with such modifications thereto as the Administrative Agent and the Borrower may agree.

 

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Equity Contribution ” means, collectively, the direct or indirect contribution to the Borrower by the Investors of an aggregate amount of not less than $150.0 million in the form of either preferred equity and/or, solely in the event that the Borrower has not received the requisite approvals by the Mexican Competition Bureau and pursuant to the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (as amended), in each case prior to the Closing Date, subordinated convertible payment-in-kind notes issued by the Borrower to the Investor (such debt, the “ Sponsor Subordinated Debt ” and, such issuance, the “ Sponsor Subordinated Debt Issuance ”), in each case on the terms and conditions set forth in the Investment Agreement (as in effect on the Effective Date, and as amended, restated or otherwise modified in a manner not materially adverse to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders).

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

Equity Offering ” means any public or private sale of common equity or Preferred Stock of the Borrower (excluding Disqualified Stock), other than:

(1) public offerings with respect to the Borrower’s common equity registered on Form S-4 or Form S-8;

(2) issuances to any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower; and

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

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 any Loan Party is treated as a single employer within the meaning of Section 414 of the Code or Section 4001 of ERISA.

ERISA Event ” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) a withdrawal by any Loan Party or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by any Loan Party or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates from a Multiemployer Plan, written notification of any Loan Party or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates concerning the imposition of withdrawal liability or written notification that a Multiemployer Plan is “insolvent” (within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA) or has been determined to be in “endangered” or “critical” status (within the meaning of Section 432 of the Code or Section 305 of ERISA); (d) the filing under Section 4041(c) of ERISA of a notice of intent to terminate a Pension Plan, the treatment of a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan amendment as a termination under Sections 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement in writing of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (e) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan, other than for the payment of PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon any Loan Party or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates; (f) an event or condition which constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (g) a failure to satisfy the minimum funding standard (within the meaning of Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code) with respect to a Pension Plan, whether or not waived; (h) the application for a minimum funding waiver under Section 302(c) of ERISA with respect to a Pension Plan; (i) the imposition of a lien under Section 303(k) of ERISA or Section 430(k) of the Code with respect to any Pension Plan; (j) a determination that any Pension Plan is in “at risk” status (within the meaning of Section 303 of ERISA or Section 430 of the Code); or (k) the occurrence of a nonexempt prohibited transaction with respect to any Pension Plan maintained or contributed to by any Loan Party or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates (within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA) which could result in liability to any Loan Party.

 

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Escrowed Proceeds ” means the proceeds from the offering of any debt securities or other Indebtedness paid into an escrow account with an independent escrow agent on the date of the applicable offering or incurrence pursuant to escrow arrangements that permit the release of amounts on deposit in such escrow account upon satisfaction of certain conditions or the occurrence of certain events. The term “Escrowed Proceeds” shall include any interest earned on the amounts held in escrow.

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.

EU Treaty ” shall mean the Treaty on European Union.

Euro ” or “ euro ” or “ ” shall mean the single currency of the Participating Member States introduced in accordance with the provisions of Article 109(i)4 of the EU Treaty.

Event of Default ” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01.

Excess Cash Flow ” means, for any period, an amount equal to the excess of:

(1) the sum, without duplication, of:

(a) Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower for such period,

(b) an amount equal to the amount of all non-cash charges (including depreciation and amortization) for such period to the extent deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, but excluding any such non-cash charges representing an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period and excluding amortization of a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period,

(c) decreases in Consolidated Working Capital (except as a result of the reclassification of items from short-term to long-term or vice versa) and, without duplication, decreases in long-term accounts receivable and increases in the long-term portion of deferred revenue (except as a result of the reclassification of items from short-term to long-term or vice versa), in each case, for such period (other than any such decreases or increases, as applicable, arising from acquisitions or Asset Sales outside the ordinary course of assets by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period or the application of recapitalization or purchase accounting),

(d) [reserved];

(e) the amount deducted as tax expense in determining Consolidated Net Income to the extent in excess of cash taxes paid in such period and

(f) net cash receipts in respect of Hedge Agreements during such fiscal year to the extent not otherwise included in such Consolidated Net Income; over

(2) the sum, without duplication, of:

(a) an amount equal to the amount of all non-cash credits (including, to the extent constituting non-cash credits, amortization of deferred revenue acquired as a result of the Closing Date Acquisition or any Permitted Acquisition or other investment permitted hereunder) included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income (but excluding any non-cash credit to the extent representing the reversal of an accrual or reserve described in clause (1)(b) above) and cash losses, charges (including any reserves or accruals for potential cash charges in any future period), expenses, costs and fees excluded by virtue of the definition of “Consolidated Net Income,”

 

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(b) [reserved],

(c) the aggregate amount of all principal payments of Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (including (i) the principal component of payments in respect of Capitalized Lease Obligations, (ii) all scheduled principal repayments of Loans, the Bridge Loans, Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt and Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness (or any Indebtedness representing Refinancing Indebtedness of any of the foregoing in accordance with the corresponding provisions of the governing documentation thereof), in each case to the extent such payments are permitted hereunder and actually made and (iii) the amount of any scheduled repayment of Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.07 and mandatory prepayment of Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.05(2)(b), any mandatory Discharge of the Bridge Loans (or any Indebtedness representing Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof in accordance with the corresponding provisions of the governing documentation thereof) and any mandatory Discharge of Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt or Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness (or any Indebtedness representing Refinancing Indebtedness of any of the foregoing in accordance with the corresponding provisions of the governing documentation thereof) pursuant to the corresponding provisions of the governing documentation thereof, in each case, to the extent required due to an Asset Sale or Casualty Event that resulted in an increase to Consolidated Net Income for such period and not in excess of the amount of such increase, but excluding (x) all other prepayments of Term Loans, (y) all prepayments of Revolving Loans and all prepayments in respect of any other revolving credit facility, except to the extent there is an equivalent permanent reduction in commitments thereunder and (z) payments on any Subordinated Indebtedness, except in each case to the extent permitted to be paid pursuant to Section 7.05) made during such period, and other than Investments in the Borrower or any Subsidiaries, in each case, except to the extent financed with the proceeds of Funded Debt (other than any Indebtedness under any revolving credit facilities) of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (unless such Indebtedness has been repaid),

(d) [Reserved];

(e) increases in Consolidated Working Capital (except as a result of the reclassification of items from short-term to long-term or vice versa) and, without duplication, increases in long-term accounts receivable and decreases in the long-term portion of deferred revenue (except as a result of the reclassification of items from short-term to long-term or vice versa), in each case, for such period (other than any such increases or decreases, as applicable, arising from acquisitions or Asset Sales outside the ordinary course by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period or the application of recapitalization or purchase accounting),

(f) cash payments by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period in respect of long-term liabilities of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness) to the extent such payments are not expensed during such period or are not deducted in calculating Consolidated Net Income,

(g) without duplication of amounts deducted pursuant to clause (k) below in prior fiscal years, the amount of cash consideration paid by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (on a consolidated basis) in connection with investments made during such period (including Permitted Acquisitions, investments constituting Permitted Investments and investments made pursuant to Section 7.05, but other than Investments in cash and Cash Equivalents), except to the extent such investments were financed with the proceeds of Funded Debt (other than any Indebtedness under any revolving credit facilities) of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (unless such Indebtedness has been repaid),

 

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(h) the amount of Restricted Payments paid in cash during such period (other than Restricted Payments made pursuant to Section 7.05(b)(10) and Section 7.05(b)(15), except to the extent such Restricted Payments were financed with the proceeds of Funded Debt (other than any Indebtedness under any revolving credit facilities) of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (unless such Indebtedness has been repaid),

(i) the aggregate amount of expenditures (including expenditures for the payment of financing fees) paid in cash during such period to the extent that such expenditures are not expensed during such period or are not deducted in calculating Consolidated Net Income, except to the extent such expenditures were financed with the proceeds of Funded Debt (other than any Indebtedness under any revolving credit facilities) of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (unless such Indebtedness has been repaid),

(j) the aggregate amount of any premium, make-whole or penalty payments actually paid in cash by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period that are made in connection with any prepayment or redemption of Indebtedness to the extent (x) such premium, make-whole or penalty payments were not expensed during such period or are not deducted in calculating Consolidated Net Income and (y) such prepayments or redemptions reduced Excess Cash Flow pursuant to clause (2)(c) above or reduced the mandatory prepayment required by Section 2.05(2)(a),

(k) without duplication of amounts deducted from Excess Cash Flow in other periods, and at the option of the Borrower, (1) the aggregate consideration required to be paid in cash by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to binding contracts (the “ Contract Consideration ”) entered into prior to or during such period and (2) any planned cash expenditures by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (the “ Planned Expenditures ”), in the case of each of the preceding clauses (1) and (2), relating to Permitted Acquisitions or other investments, Capital Expenditures, Restricted Payments, acquisitions of intellectual property, any scheduled payment of Indebtedness that was permitted by the terms of this Agreement to be incurred and paid or permitted tax distributions, in each case, to be consummated or made, as applicable, during the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower following the end of such period (except to the extent financed with the proceeds of long-term Indebtedness (other than revolving Indebtedness)); provided that to the extent that the aggregate amount of internally generated cash flow actually utilized to finance such Permitted Acquisitions or other investments, Capital Expenditures, Restricted Payments, acquisitions of intellectual property, permitted scheduled payments of Indebtedness that were permitted by the terms of this Agreement to be incurred and paid or permitted tax distributions during such following period of four consecutive fiscal quarters is less than the Contract Consideration and Planned Expenditures, 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,

(l) the amount of cash taxes (including penalties and interest) paid or tax reserves set aside or payable (without duplication) in such period to the extent they exceed the amount of tax expense deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period,

(m) cash expenditures in respect of Hedging Obligations during such fiscal year to the extent not deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income,

(n) any fees, expenses or charges incurred during such period (including the Transaction Expenses), or any amortization thereof for such period, in connection with any acquisition, investment, disposition, incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness, issuance of Equity Interests, refinancing transaction or amendment or modification of any debt instrument (including any amendment or other modification of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, the Bridge Loan Agreement, any Senior Notes Indenture and related documents) and including, in each case, any such transaction consummated 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, and

 

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(o) at the option of the Borrower, any amounts in respect of investments (including Permitted Acquisitions, Investments constituting Permitted Investments and Investments made pursuant to Section 7.05) and Restricted Payments (including related earnouts and similar payments) which could have been deducted pursuant to clauses (g) or (h) above if made in such period, but which are made after the end of such period and prior to the date upon which a mandatory prepayment for such period would be required under Section 2.05(2)(a) (which amounts, if so deducted in accordance with this clause (o), shall not affect the calculation of Excess Cash Flow in any future period).

Excess Closing Date Cash ” means an amount equal to the aggregate amount of proceeds of the Closing Date Term Loans that are not used on the Closing Date for the payment of the Transaction Consideration, the Transaction Expenses and the Closing Date Refinancing or otherwise reserved to satisfy Transaction Expenses within 60 days following the Closing Date.

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

Exchange Rate ” means on any day with respect to any currency other than U.S. Dollars, the rate at which such currency may be exchanged into U.S. Dollars, as set forth at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such day on the Reuters “FXFIX” Page for such currency; in the event that such rate does not appear on any Reuters “FXFIX” Page, the Exchange Rate shall be determined by reference to such other publicly available service for displaying exchange rates as may be agreed upon by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, or, in the absence of such agreement, such Exchange Rate shall instead be the arithmetic average of the spot rates of exchange of the Administrative Agent in the market where its foreign currency exchange operations in respect of such currency are then being conducted, at or about 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on such date for the purchase of U.S. Dollars for delivery two Business Days later.

Excluded Assets ” means (i) any fee-owned real property (other than Material Real Property) and any leasehold interest in real property, (ii) motor vehicles and other assets subject to certificates of title, except to the extent a security interest therein can be perfected by the filing of a UCC financing statement, (iii) all commercial tort claims that are not expected to result in a judgment or settlement payment in excess of $5.0 million (as determined by the Borrower in good faith), (iv) any governmental or regulatory licenses, authorizations, certificates, charters, franchises, approvals and consents (whether Federal, State, Provincial or otherwise) to the extent a security interest therein is prohibited or restricted thereby or requires any consent or authorization from a Governmental Authority not obtained (without any requirement to obtain such consent or authorization other than any approval or other authorization of any Governmental Authority otherwise required to be obtained pursuant to any Tender Document) other than to the extent such prohibition or restriction is ineffective under the UCC or other applicable Law notwithstanding such prohibition and other than proceeds and receivables thereof, the assignment of which is expressly deemed effective under the UCC, (v) assets to the extent the pledge thereof or grant of security interests therein (x) is prohibited or restricted by any applicable Law, rule or regulation (other than proceeds and receivables thereof, the assignment of which is expressly deemed effective under the UCC or other applicable Law notwithstanding such prohibition), (y) would cause the destruction, invalidation or abandonment of such asset under applicable Law (solely with respect to any intellectual property), or (z) requires any consent, approval, license or other authorization of any third party (other than the Borrower or its Subsidiaries) pursuant to a contract binding on such asset ( provided that such requirement existed on the Effective Date or at the time of the acquisition of such asset and was not incurred in contemplation thereof (other than in the case of capital leases and purchase money financings)) or Governmental Authority not obtained (without any requirement to obtain such consent, approval, license or other authorization after giving effect to the anti-assignment provisions of the UCC, (vi) margin stock and Equity Interests in any Person other than the Borrower and wholly owned Restricted Subsidiaries, (vii) Equity Interests in Immaterial Subsidiaries and Excluded Subsidiaries (other than first tier Foreign Subsidiaries and first tier CFC Holdcos that are Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that in the case of any first tier Foreign Subsidiary or first tier CFC Holdco, the pledge of the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary shall be subject to clause (viii) below), (viii) Equity Interests in excess of 65% of the total issued and outstanding Equity Interests of a Foreign Subsidiary or CFC

 

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Holdco, (ix) any lease, license or agreement (not otherwise subject to clause (iv) above) or any property that is subject to a purchase money security interest or similar arrangement, in each case permitted by this Agreement, to the extent that a grant of a security interest therein (x) would violate or invalidate such lease, license or agreement or purchase money security interest or similar arrangement or create a right of termination in favor of any other party thereto (other than the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries) after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of the UCC or other applicable Law or (y) would require governmental or regulatory approval, consent or authorization not obtained (without any requirement to obtain such approval, consent or authorization), other than proceeds and receivables thereof, the assignment of which is expressly deemed effective under the UCC or other applicable Law notwithstanding such prohibition), (x) letter of credit rights, except to the extent the security interest therein is accomplished by the filing of a UCC financing statement, (xi) any intent-to-use trademark applications filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, pursuant to Section 1(b) of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. Section 1051, prior to the accepted filing of a “Statement of Use” and issuance of a “Certificate of Registration” pursuant to Section 1(d) of the Lanham Act or an accepted filing of an “Amendment to Allege Use” whereby such intent-to-use trademark application is converted to a “use in commerce” application pursuant to Section 1(c) of the Lanham Act, (xii) assets where the burden or cost (including any adverse tax consequences) of obtaining a security interest therein or perfection thereof exceeds the practical benefit to the Lenders afforded thereby as reasonably determined between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, (xiii) any assets to the extent a security interest in such assets or perfection thereof would result in material adverse tax consequences to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary as reasonably determined by the Borrower in good faith, in consultation with the Administrative Agent, (xiv) any assets located in or governed by any non-U.S. jurisdiction law or regulation (other than (x) equity interests and intercompany debt of Foreign Subsidiaries and certain disregarded entities otherwise required to be pledged pursuant to the Collateral Documents and (y) assets that can be perfected by the filing of a UCC financing statement), including any intellectual property located in a non-U.S. jurisdiction, (xv) any “Collateral” under and as defined in the Agreement for Standby Letter of Credit granted to the Tender Issuing Bank as security for the obligations of the Borrower thereunder; provided that such exclusion shall only apply until the later of (x) the termination, undrawn, of the Tender Letter of Credit and (y) if the Tender Letter of Credit is drawn upon, the repayment in full of all “Obligations” under and as defined in the Agreement for Standby Letter of Credit in accordance with the terms thereof, including any reimbursement obligations and all commissions, fees (including under the L/C Fee Letter), expenses, interest (including any interest accruing after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy, whether or not a claim for post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding) and additional costs thereunder, other than contingent indemnification obligations not then due and payable and (xvi) cash and Cash Equivalents (except to the extent constituting identifiable proceeds of Collateral which is perfected by the filing of a UCC financing statement), deposit, securities, commodities and other accounts, securities entitlements and related assets held in such account except, in each case, to the extent a security interest therein is perfected by filing of a UCC financing statement and other than any Cash Collateral, Cash Collateral Account or other cash or assets deposited with a Secured Party as Collateral.

Excluded Contribution ” means net cash proceeds or the fair market value of marketable securities or the fair market value of Qualified Proceeds received by the Borrower from:

(1) contributions to its common equity capital;

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

(2) the sale (other than to a Restricted 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 Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock and Designated Preferred Stock) of the Borrower;

in each case, designated as Excluded Contributions pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate and that are excluded from the calculation set forth in clause (3) of Section 7.05(a); provided that Excluded Contributions shall not include Cure Amounts.

Excluded Proceeds ” means, with respect to any Asset Sale or Casualty Event, the sum of, (1) any Net Proceeds therefrom that constitute Declined Proceeds and (2) any Net Proceeds therefrom that otherwise are waived by the Required Facility Lenders from the requirement to be applied to prepay the applicable Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.05(2)(b).

 

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Excluded Subsidiaries ” means all of the following and “ Excluded Subsidiary ” means any of them:

(1) any Subsidiary that is not a direct, wholly owned Subsidiary of the Borrower or a Guarantor,

(2) any Foreign Subsidiary,

(3) any CFC Holdco,

(4) any Domestic Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary of any CFC,

(5) any Subsidiary (including any regulated entity that is subject to net worth or net capital or similar capital and surplus restrictions) that is prohibited or restricted by applicable Law or by Contractual Obligation (including in respect of assumed Indebtedness permitted hereunder) existing on the Effective Date (or, with respect to any Subsidiary acquired by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary after the Effective Date (and so long as such Contractual Obligation was not incurred in contemplation of such acquisition), on the date such Subsidiary is so acquired) from providing a Guaranty (including any Broker-Dealer Regulated Subsidiary) or if such Guaranty would require governmental (including regulatory) or third party (other than any Loan Party or their respective Subsidiaries) consent, approval, license or authorization (other than any governmental approval required to be obtained under the Tender Documents) unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been obtained,

(6) any special purpose vehicle (or similar entity) or any Securitization Subsidiary,

(7) any Captive Insurance Subsidiary or not-for-profit Subsidiary,

(8) any Subsidiary that is not a Material Subsidiary,

(9) any Subsidiary with respect to which, in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, the burden or cost (including any adverse tax consequences) of providing the Guaranty will outweigh the benefits to be obtained by the Lenders therefrom, and

(10) any Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Excluded Swap Obligation ” means, with respect to any Loan Party, (a) any obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract, or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of Section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act (each such obligation, a “ Swap Obligation ”), if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the guarantee of such Loan Party of, or the grant by such Loan Party of a security interest to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation, or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) (i) by virtue of such Loan Party’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder (determined after giving effect to Section 3.02 of the Guaranty and any other “keepwell, support or other agreement” for the benefit of such Loan Party for all purposes of Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act) at the time the guarantee of such Loan Party, or a grant by such Loan Party of a security interest, becomes 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 Loan Party 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 Loan Party 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 Loan Party as specified in any agreement between the relevant Loan Parties and hedge 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 swaps for which such guarantee or security interest becomes excluded in accordance with the first sentence of this definition.

 

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Excluded Taxes ” means, with respect to each Agent and each Lender,

(1) any tax imposed on (or measured by) such Agent or Lender’s net income or profits (or franchise or net worth tax in lieu of such tax on net income or profits) imposed by a jurisdiction as a result of such Agent or Lender being organized under the laws of or having its principal office or applicable Lending Office located in such jurisdiction or as a result of any other present or former connection between such Agent or Lender and the jurisdiction (including as a result of such Agent or Lender carrying on a trade or business, having a permanent establishment or being a resident for tax purposes in such jurisdiction), other than a connection arising solely from such Agent or Lender having executed, delivered, enforced, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to, or sold or assigned an interest in, any Loan or Loan Document,

(2) any branch profits tax under Section 884(a) of the Code, or any similar tax, imposed by any jurisdiction described in clause (1),

(3) other than with respect to and to the extent that any Lender becomes a party hereto pursuant to the Borrower’s request under Section 3.07, any U.S. federal tax that is withheld or required to be withheld on amounts payable to or for the account of a Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to a Law in effect on the date such Lender (i) acquires such interest in the applicable Commitment or, if such Lender did not fund the applicable Loan pursuant to a prior Commitment, on the date such Lender acquires the applicable interest in such Loan (or where the Lender is a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, pursuant to a Law in effect on the later of the date on which such Lender acquires such interest or the date on which the affected partner becomes a partner of such Lender), or (ii) designates a new Lending Office (or where the Lender is a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, pursuant to a Law in effect on the later of the date on which the Lender designates a new Lending Office or, if applicable, the date on which the affected partner designates a new Lending Office) except, in the case of a Lender or partner that designates a new Lending Office or is an assignee, to the extent that such Lender or partner (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 from a Loan Party with respect to such U.S. federal tax pursuant to Section 3.01,

(4) any withholding tax attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with Section 3.01(3),

(5) any tax imposed under FATCA,

(6) any U.S. federal backup withholding under Section 3406 of the Code, and

(7) any interest, additions to taxes and penalties with respect to any taxes described in clauses (1) through (6) of this definition.

Existing Credit Agreement ” means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of December 19, 2014, by and among the Borrower, the banks, financial institutions and other investors from time to time parties thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as administrative agent, as amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

Existing Revolving Class ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.16(2).

Existing Term Loan Class ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.16(1).

Extended Revolving Commitments ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.16(2).

 

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Extended Term Loans ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.16(1).

Extending Lender ” means an Extending Revolving Lender or an Extending Term Lender, as the case may be.

Extending Revolving Lender ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.16(3).

Extending Term Lender ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.16(3).

Extension ” means the establishment of an Extension Series by amending a Loan pursuant to Section 2.16 and the applicable Extension Amendment.

Extension Amendment ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.16(4).

Extension Election ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.16(3).

Extension Minimum Condition ” means a condition to consummating any Extension that a minimum amount (to be determined and specified in the relevant Extension Request, in the Borrower’s sole discretion) of any or all applicable Classes be submitted for Extension.

Extension Request ” means any Term Loan Extension Request or any Revolving Extension Request, as the case may be.

Extension Series ” means any Term Loan Extension Series or a Revolving Extension Series, as the case may be.

Facilities ” means the Closing Date Term Loans, the Revolving Facility, a given Extension Series of Extended Revolving Commitments, a given Class of Other Term Loans, a given Extension Series of Extended Term Loans, a given Class of Incremental Term Loans, a given Class of Incremental Revolving Commitments, any Other Revolving Loan (or Commitment) or a given Class of Replacement Loans, as the context may require, and “ Facility ” means any of them.

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

FATCA ” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code as in effect on the Effective Date or any amended or successor version thereof that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with (and, in each case, any current or future regulations promulgated thereunder or official interpretations thereof), any applicable intergovernmental agreement entered into in respect thereof, and any provision of law or administrative guidance implementing or interpreting such provisions, including any agreements entered into pursuant to any such intergovernmental agreement or Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code as of the Effective Date (or any amended or successor version described above).

FCPA ” has the meaning specified in Section 5.17.

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, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank on the Business Day next succeeding such day; 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 on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%) of the quotations for the day for such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three depository institutions of recognized standing selected by it.

 

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Fee Letter ” means the Fee Letter, dated as of the Effective Date, among the Arrangers and the Borrower.

Financial Covenant ” means the covenant specified in Section 7.12(1).

Financial Covenant Cross Default ” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01(2).

Financial Covenant Event of Default ” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01(2).

Financial Officer ” means, with respect to a Person, the chief financial officer, accounting officer, treasurer, controller or other senior financial or accounting officer of such Person, as appropriate.

First Lien Net Leverage Ratio ” means, with respect to any Test Period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated First Lien Secured Debt outstanding as of the last day of such Test Period, minus, the aggregate amount of cash and Cash Equivalents of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on such date (other than cash in the Controlled Account) that (x) would not appear as “restricted” on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries or (y) are restricted in favor of the Facilities (which may also secure other Indebtedness secured by a pari passu or junior Lien on the Collateral along with the Facilities) to (b) Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such Test Period, in each case on a pro forma basis with such pro forma adjustments as are appropriate and consistent with Section 1.07.

First Lien Obligations ” means the Obligations, the Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt and the Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness, in each case, that are, or purported to be, secured by the Collateral on an equal priority basis (but without regard to the control of remedies) with liens on the Collateral securing the Closing Date Term Loans. For the avoidance of doubt, “First Lien Obligations” shall include the Closing Date Term Loans.

Flood Insurance Laws ” means, collectively, (i) National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 (which comprehensively revised the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 and the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973) as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto, (ii) the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto and (iii) the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto.

floor ” means, with respect to any reference rate of interest, any fixed minimum amount specified for such rate.

Foreign Asset Sale ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(2)(h).

Foreign Casualty Event ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(2)(h).

Foreign Lender ” means a Lender that is not a United States person within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

Foreign Plan ” means any employee benefit plan, program or agreement maintained or contributed to by, or entered into with, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower with respect to employees employed outside the United States (other than benefit plans, programs or agreements that are mandated by applicable Laws).

Foreign Subsidiary ” means any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

Fronting Exposure ” means, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender, with respect to an Issuing Bank, such Defaulting Lender’s Applicable Percentage 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.

 

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Fund ” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is primarily engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its activities.

Funded Debt ” means all Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for borrowed money that matures more than one year from the date of its creation or matures within one year from such date that is renewable or extendable, at the option of such Person, to a date more than one year from such date or arises under a revolving credit or similar agreement that obligates the lender or lenders to extend credit during a period of more than one year from such date, including Indebtedness in respect of the Loans.

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, as in effect from time to time. At any time after the Effective Date, the Borrower may elect to apply IFRS accounting principles in lieu of GAAP and, upon any such election, references herein to GAAP will thereafter be construed to mean IFRS (except as otherwise provided in this Agreement); provided , however , that any such election, once made, will be irrevocable; provided further that any calculation or determination in this Agreement that requires the application of GAAP for periods that include fiscal quarters ended prior to the Borrower’s election to apply IFRS will remain as previously calculated or determined in accordance with GAAP. The Borrower will give notice of any such election made in accordance with this definition to the Administrative Agent. Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein the amount of any Indebtedness under GAAP with respect to Capitalized Lease Obligations and Attributable Indebtedness shall be determined in accordance with the definition of Capitalized Lease Obligations and Attributable Indebtedness, respectively.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at any time any change occurs after the Effective Date in GAAP (or IFRS) or in the application thereof on the computation of any financial ratio or financial requirement, or compliance with any covenant, set forth in any Loan Document, and the Borrower shall so request (regardless of whether any such request is given before or after such change), the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower will negotiate in good faith to amend (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders) such ratio, requirement or covenant to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (or IFRS); provided further that until so amended, (a) such ratio, requirement or covenant shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP (or IFRS) prior to such change therein and (b) the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement which include a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP (or IFRS).

Governmental Authority ” means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state, local, or otherwise, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

Governmental Authorizations ” means all permits, authorizations, certificates, waivers, concessions, exemptions, orders and other and approvals issued by or obtained from a Governmental Authority by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, and in effect as of the date of the Agreement.

Granting Lender ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(g).

guarantee ” means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice), 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.

 

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Guarantee ” means, as to any Person, without duplication, (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person 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 Effective Date or entered into in connection with the Transaction or 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.

Guarantor ” has the meaning specified in clause (2) of the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement.” For avoidance of doubt, the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, cause any Restricted Subsidiary that is not required to be a Guarantor to Guarantee the Obligations by causing such Restricted Subsidiary to execute a joinder to the Guaranty (substantially in the form provided therein or as the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and such Guarantor may otherwise agree), and any such Restricted Subsidiary shall be a Guarantor hereunder for all purposes; provided that (i) in the case of any Restricted Subsidiary organized in a foreign jurisdiction, the Administrative Agent shall be reasonably satisfied with the jurisdiction of organization of such Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) the Administrative Agent shall have received at least two (2) Business Days prior to the effectiveness of such joinder all documentation and other information in respect of such Guarantor required under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act.

Guaranty ” means (a) the Guaranty substantially in the form of Exhibit E made by each Guarantor, (b) each other guaranty and guaranty supplement delivered pursuant to Section 6.11 and (c) each other guaranty and guaranty supplement delivered by any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to the second sentence of the definition of “Guarantor.”

Hazardous Materials ” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes, and all other substances, wastes, pollutants and contaminants and chemicals in any form, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas and infectious or medical wastes, to the extent any of the foregoing are regulated pursuant to, or can form the basis for liability under, any Environmental Law.

Hedge Agreement ” 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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Hedge Bank ” means any Person party to a Secured Hedge Agreement that is an Agent, a Lender, an Arranger, any person set forth on Schedule 1.01(3) or an Affiliate of any of the foregoing on the Effective Date or at the time it enters into such Secured Hedge Agreement, in its capacity as a party thereto, whether or not such Person subsequently ceases to be an Agent, a Lender, an Arranger or an Affiliate of any of the foregoing.

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

Honor Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(3)(a).

Identified Participating Lenders ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(1)(e)(G).

Identified Qualifying Lenders ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(1)(e)(J).

IFRS ” means international financial reporting standards and interpretations issued by the International Accounting Standards Board or any successor thereto (or the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants or any successor to either such Board, or the SEC, as the case may be), as in effect from time to time.

Immaterial Subsidiary ” means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Material Subsidiary.

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, in each case, 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.

Incremental Amendment ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(6).

Incremental Amounts ” has the meaning specified in clause (1) of the definition of Refinancing Indebtedness.

Incremental Commitments ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(1).

Incremental Facility Closing Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(4).

Incremental Lenders ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(3).

Incremental Loan ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(2).

Incremental Loan Request ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(1).

Incremental Revolving Commitments ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(1).

Incremental Revolving Facility ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(1).

Incremental Revolving Lender ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(3).

Incremental Revolving Loan ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(2).

Incremental Term Commitments ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(1).

Incremental Term Lender ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(3).

 

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Incremental Term Loan ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(2).

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

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

(a) in respect of borrowed money;

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

(c) representing the deferred and unpaid balance of the purchase price of any property (including Capitalized Lease Obligations) due more than twelve months after such property is acquired, except (i) any such balance that constitutes an obligation in respect of a commercial letter of credit, a trade payable or similar obligation to a trade creditor, in each case accrued in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice, (ii) any earn-out obligations until such obligation is reflected as a liability on the balance sheet (excluding any footnotes thereto) of such Person in accordance with GAAP and is not paid within 60 days after becoming due and payable and (iii) accruals for payroll and other liabilities accrued in the ordinary course of business; or

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

if and to the extent that any of the foregoing Indebtedness (other than obligations in respect of 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;

(2) to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation by such Person to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, on the obligations of the type referred to in clause (1) of this definition 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 or consistent with industry practice; and

(3) to the extent not otherwise included, the obligations of the type referred to in clause (1) of this definition 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 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 other Person; provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness will be deemed not to include:

(i) Contingent Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice,

(ii) reimbursement obligations under commercial letters of credit ( provided that unreimbursed amounts under commercial letters of credit will be counted as Indebtedness three (3) Business Days after such amount is drawn),

(iii) obligations under or in respect of Qualified Securitization Facilities,

(iv) accrued expenses,

(v) deferred or prepaid revenues, and

 

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(vi) asset retirement obligations and obligations in respect of reclamation and workers compensation (including pensions and retiree medical care);

provided further that Indebtedness will be calculated without giving effect to the effects of Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 815, Derivatives and Hedging , and related interpretations to the extent such effects would otherwise increase or decrease an amount of Indebtedness for any purpose under this Agreement as a result of accounting for any embedded derivatives created by the terms of such Indebtedness.

Indemnified Liabilities ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.05.

Indemnitees ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.05.

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

Information ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.09.

Intellectual Property Security Agreements ” has the meaning specified in the Security Agreement.

Intercompany Note ” means the Intercompany Note, dated as of the Effective Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit Q executed by the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower party thereto.

Intercreditor Agreement ” means any Equal Priority Intercreditor Agreement(s), Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement(s) or Junior Lien Equal Priority Intercreditor Agreement that may be executed from time to time.

Interest Coverage Ratio ” means, with respect to any Test Period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such Test Period to (b) Consolidated Interest Expense of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such Test Period, in each case on a pro forma basis with such pro forma adjustments as are appropriate and consistent with Section 1.07.

Interest Payment Date ” means, (a) as to any Loan of any Class other than a Base Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the applicable Maturity Date of the Loans of such Class; provided that if any Interest Period for a LIBO 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 of any Class, the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and the applicable Maturity Date of the Loans of such Class.

Interest Period ” means, as to each LIBO Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such LIBO Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a LIBO Rate Loan and ending on the date one, two, three or six months thereafter, or to the extent consented to by each applicable Lender, twelve months, as selected by the Borrower in its Committed Loan Notice; provided that:

(1) 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 immediately preceding Business Day;

(2) any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and

(3) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the applicable Maturity Date for the Class of Loans of which such LIBO Rate Loan is a part.

 

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Investment Agreement ” means, collectively, (i) the Investment Agreement between TPG Growth III Sidewall, L.P. and the Borrower dated as of the Effective Date and (ii) the Certificate of Designations as defined and referred to therein, in each case, as amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time in a manner not materially adverse to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders.

Investment Grade Rating ” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s or BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, or an equivalent rating by any other Rating Agency selected by the Borrower.

Investment Grade Securities ” means:

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

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

(3) investments in any fund that invests substantially all of its assets in investments of the type described in clauses (1) and (2) of this definition which fund may also hold immaterial amounts of cash pending investment or distribution; and

(4) 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, credit card and debit card receivables, trade credit, advances to customers, commission, travel and similar advances to employees, directors, officers, members of management, consultants and independent contractors, in each case made in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities issued by any other Person. For purposes of the definitions of “Permitted Investments” and “Unrestricted Subsidiary” and Section 7.05,

(1) “Investments” will include the portion (proportionate to the Borrower’s Equity Interest in such Subsidiary) of the fair market value of the net assets of a Subsidiary of the Borrower at the time that such Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary and for so long as such Subsidiary constitutes an Unrestricted Subsidiary; and

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

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

Investor ” means TPG Capital, L.P. and any of its Affiliates and/or any funds or partnership managed or advised by any of TPG Capital, L.P. or any of its Affiliates but not including, however, any portfolio company of any of the foregoing.

IP Rights ” has the meaning specified in Section 5.15.

IRS ” means Internal Revenue Service of the United States.

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).

 

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Issuing Bank ” means Citibank N.A., JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Royal Bank of Canada and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, in each case, in its capacity as an issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder and solely with respect to its L/C Commitment, together with its permitted successors and assigns and any other Revolving Lender that becomes an Issuing Bank in accordance with Section 2.03(12); provided that each such Issuing Bank shall have a commitment with respect to the L/C Commitment that is proportionate with its pro rata share of the L/C Sublimit and shall issue standby letters of credit based on its pro rata share of the L/C Commitment in an aggregate amount at any time outstanding up to its pro rata share of the L/C Commitment; provided that no Issuing Bank shall be required to issue any Letters of Credit other than standby Letters of Credit.

Issuing Bank Document ” means with respect to any Letter of Credit, the L/C Application, and any other document, agreement and instrument entered into by any Issuing Bank and the Borrower (or any of its Subsidiaries) or in favor of such Issuing Bank and relating to such Letter of Credit.

Junior Lien Debt ” has the meaning specified in clause (39) of the definition of Permitted Liens.

Junior Lien Equal Priority Intercreditor Agreement ” means, to the extent executed in connection with the incurrence of Indebtedness secured by Liens on the Collateral which are intended to rank junior in priority to the Liens on the Collateral securing the First Lien Obligations under this Agreement and junior or equal in priority to Liens on the Collateral securing Junior Lien Debt, at the option of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent acting together in good faith, a customary intercreditor agreement in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, which agreement shall provide that the Liens on the Collateral securing such Indebtedness shall rank equal in priority or junior to the Liens on the Collateral securing Junior Lien Debt permitted under this Agreement and shall rank junior in priority to the Liens on the Collateral securing First Lien Obligations under this Agreement, in each case with such modifications thereto as the Administrative Agent and the Borrower may agree.

Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement ” means, to the extent executed in connection with the incurrence of Indebtedness secured by Liens on the Collateral which are intended to rank junior in priority to the Liens on the Collateral securing the First Lien Obligations under this Agreement, at the option of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent acting together in good faith, either (a) an intercreditor agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit G-2 or (b) a customary intercreditor agreement in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, which agreement shall provide that the Liens on the Collateral securing such Indebtedness shall rank junior to the Lien on the Collateral securing the First Lien Obligations under this Agreement, in each case with such modifications thereto as the Administrative Agent and the Borrower may agree.

Junior Secured Condition ” means, as of any date of determination, that the Secured Net Leverage Ratio for the Test Period most recently ended, on a pro forma basis, does not exceed the sum of (i) the Closing Date Secured Net Leverage Ratio plus (ii) 0.75.

L/C Advance ” means, with respect to each Revolving Lender, such Lender’s funding of its participation in any L/C Borrowing in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.

L/C Application ” means an application and agreement for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit in the form from time to time in use by the relevant Issuing Bank.

L/C Borrowing ” means an extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any Letter of Credit which has not been reimbursed prior to the Honor Date or refinanced as a Revolving Borrowing.

L/C Commitment ” means, with respect to any Person, the amount set forth opposite the name of such Person on Schedule 2.01 under the caption “L/C Commitment.”

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.

 

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L/C Expiration Date ” means the day that is five (5) Business Days prior to the scheduled Maturity Date then in effect for the applicable Revolving Facility (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day).

L/C Fee Letter ” means the Letter of Credit Fee Letter, dated as of the Effective Date, among the Tender Issuing Bank and the Borrower.

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 the stated amount thereof in effect at such time. 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.

L/C Sublimit ” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $50.0 million and (b) the aggregate amount of the Revolving Commitments. The L/C Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Revolving Facility.

Latest Maturity Date ” means, at any date of determination, the latest maturity or expiration date applicable to any Loan or Commitment hereunder at such time, including the latest maturity or expiration date of any Incremental Loan, any Incremental Revolving Commitment, any Other Loan, any Other Revolving Commitments, any Replacement Loan, any Extended Term Loan or any Extended Revolving Commitment, in each case as extended in accordance with this Agreement from time to time.

Laws ” means, collectively, all international, foreign, federal, state and local laws (including common law), statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities and executive orders, 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.

Legal Holiday ” means Saturday, 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.

Lender ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement and, as context requires (including for purposes of the definition of “Secured Parties”), includes any Issuing Bank and its successors and assigns as permitted hereunder, each of which is referred to herein as a “Lender.” For the avoidance of doubt, each Additional Lender is a Lender to the extent any such Person has executed and delivered a Refinancing Amendment, an Incremental Amendment or an amendment in respect of Replacement Loans, as the case may be, and to the extent such Refinancing Amendment, Incremental Amendment or amendment in respect of Replacement Loans shall have become effective in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof, and each Extending Lender shall continue to be a Lender. As of the Effective Date, Schedule 2.01 sets forth the name of each Lender. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Disqualified Institution that purports to become a Lender hereunder (notwithstanding the provisions of this Agreement that prohibit Disqualified Institutions from becoming Lenders) without the Borrower’s written consent shall be entitled to any of the rights or privileges enjoyed by the other Lenders with respect to voting, information and lender meetings; provided that the Loans of any such Disqualified Institution shall not be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders if the action in question affects such Disqualified Institution in a disproportionately adverse manner than its effect on the other Lenders; provided, further, that if any assignment or participation is made to any Disqualified Institution without the Borrower’s prior written consent in violation of clause (v) of Section 10.07(b) the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to the applicable Disqualified Institution and the Administrative Agent, (A) terminate any Revolving Commitment of such Disqualified Institution and repay all obligations of the Borrower owing to such Disqualified Institution in connection with such Revolving Commitment, (B) in the case of outstanding Term Loans held by Disqualified Institutions, purchase or prepay such Term Loan by paying the lesser of (x) the principal amount thereof and (y) the amount that such Disqualified Institution paid to acquire such Term Loans, in each case plus accrued interest, accrued fees and all other amounts (other than principal amounts) payable

 

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to it hereunder and/or (C) require such Disqualified Institution to assign, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 10.07), all of its interest, rights and obligations under this Agreement to one or more Eligible Assignees at the lesser of (x) the principal amount thereof and (y) the amount that such Disqualified Institution paid to acquire such interests, rights and obligations, in each case plus accrued interest, accrued fees and all other amounts (other than principal amounts) payable to it hereunder.

Lender-Related Distress Event ” means, with respect to any Lender or any direct or indirect parent company of such Lender (each, a “ Distressed Person ”), (a) that such Distressed Person is or becomes subject to a voluntary or involuntary case under any Debtor Relief Law, (b) a custodian, conservator, receiver, or similar official is appointed for such Distressed Person or any substantial part of such Distressed Person’s assets, (c) such Distressed Person is subject to a forced liquidation, 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 or (d) that such Distressed Person becomes the subject of a Bail-in Action; 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 direct or indirect parent company of a 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 States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority or instrumentality) 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 letter of credit issued hereunder. A Letter of Credit may be a commercial letter of credit or a standby letter of credit; provided , however , that any commercial letter of credit issued hereunder shall provide solely for cash payment upon presentation of a sight draft.

LIBO Rate ” shall mean, for any Credit Extensions denominated in Dollars or Euros:

(a) for any Interest Period, the rate per annum equal to the London Interbank Offered Rate (“ LIBOR ”) or a comparable or successor rate, which rate is approved by the Administrative Agent, as published on the applicable Bloomberg 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, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, for U.S. Dollar or Euro deposits, as applicable (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period; and

(b) for any interest calculation with respect to a Base Rate Loan on any date, the rate per annum equal to LIBOR, at or about 11:00 a.m., London time determined two Business Days prior to such date for U.S. Dollar deposits with a term of one month commencing that day; or

provided, in each case, that to the extent a comparable or successor rate is approved by the Administrative Agent in connection herewith, the approved rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided, further that to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, such approved rate shall be applied in a manner as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, (i) the LIBO Rate with respect to Initial Term Loans shall not at any time be less than 1.00% per annum and (ii) the LIBO Rate with respect to Revolving Loans shall not at any time be less than 0% per annum.

LIBOR ” has the meaning specified in the definition of “LIBO Rate.”

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

 

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Limited Condition Transactions ” means any (1) Permitted Acquisition or other investment permitted hereunder by the Borrower or one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries whose consummation is not conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third-party financing and (2) any redemption, repurchase, defeasance, satisfaction and discharge or repayment of Indebtedness requiring irrevocable notice in advance of such redemption, repurchase, defeasance, satisfaction and discharge or repayment.

Loan ” means an extension of credit under Article II by a Lender (x) to the Borrower in the form of a Term Loan or (y) to the Borrower in the form of a Revolving Loan.

Loan Documents ” means, collectively, (a) this Agreement, (b) the Notes, (c) any Refinancing Amendment, Incremental Amendment, Extension Amendment or amendment in respect of Replacement Loans, (d) the Guaranty, (e) the Collateral Documents, (f) the Intercreditor Agreements and (g) each L/C Application.

Loan Increase ” means a Term Loan Increase or Revolving Commitment Increase.

Loan Parties ” means, collectively, (a) the Borrower and (b) each Guarantor.

Margin Stock ” has the meaning set forth in Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the United States Federal Reserve System, or any successor thereto.

Market Capitalization ” means an amount equal to (i) the total number of issued and outstanding shares of common Equity Interests of the Borrower on the date of the declaration of a Restricted Payment permitted pursuant to Section 7.05(b)(8) 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.

Material Adverse Effect ” means any event, circumstance or condition that has had a materially adverse effect on (a) the business, operations, assets or financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Loan Parties (taken as a whole) to perform their payment obligations under the Loan Documents or (c) the rights and remedies of the Lenders, the Collateral Agent or the Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents.

Material Domestic Subsidiary ” means any Domestic Subsidiary that is a Material Subsidiary.

Material Foreign Subsidiary ” means any Foreign Subsidiary that is a Material Subsidiary.

Material Real Property ” means any fee-owned real property located in the United States and owned by any Loan Party with a fair market value in excess of $10.0 million, on the Effective Date (if owned by a Loan Party on the Effective Date) or at the time of acquisition (if acquired by a Loan Party after the Effective Date); provided that for the avoidance of doubt, Material Real Property will not include any Excluded Assets (excluding for this purpose clause (i) of the definition of “Excluded Assets”).

Material Subsidiary ” means, as of the Effective Date and thereafter at any date of determination, each Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower (a) whose Total Assets at the last day of the most recent Test Period (when taken together with the Total Assets of the Restricted Subsidiaries of such Subsidiary at the last day of the most recent Test Period) were equal to or greater than 5.0% of Total Assets of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries at such date or (b) whose gross revenues for such Test Period (when taken together with the gross revenues of the Restricted Subsidiaries of such Subsidiary for such Test Period) were equal to or greater than 5.0% of the consolidated gross revenues of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such Test Period, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that if at any time and from time to time after the date which is 30 days after the Effective Date (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its

 

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reasonable discretion), Domestic Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors solely because they do not meet the thresholds set forth in the preceding clause (a) or (b) when combined with Foreign Subsidiaries and CFC Holdcos the equity interests of which are Excluded Assets solely because they do not meet the thresholds set forth in the preceding clause (a) or (b) comprise in the aggregate more than (when taken together with the Total Assets of the Restricted Subsidiaries of such Subsidiaries at the last day of the most recent Test Period) 7.5% of Total Assets of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of the last day of the most recent Test Period or more than (when taken together with the gross revenues of the Restricted Subsidiaries of such Subsidiaries for such Test Period) 7.5% of the consolidated gross revenues of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such Test Period, then the Borrower shall, not later than sixty (60) days after the date by which financial statements for such Test Period were required to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion), (i) designate in writing to the Administrative Agent one or more Restricted Subsidiaries as “Material Subsidiaries” to the extent required such that the foregoing condition ceases to be true and (ii) comply with the provisions of Section 6.11 with respect to any such Subsidiaries (to the extent applicable). At all times prior to the delivery of the aforementioned financial statements, such determinations shall be made by the Borrower in good faith based on the financial statements most recently delivered to the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 4.01(2) and Section 6.01(1).

Maturity Date ” means (i) with respect to the Closing Date Term Loans that have not been extended pursuant to Section 2.16, the seventh anniversary of the Closing Date (the “ Original Term Loan Maturity Date ”), (ii) with respect to the Closing Date Revolving Facility, to the extent not extended pursuant to Section 2.16, the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date (the “ Original Revolving Facility Maturity Date ”), (iii) with respect to any Class of Extended Term Loans or Extended Revolving Commitments, the final maturity date as specified in the applicable Extension Amendment, (iv) with respect to any Other Term Loans or Other Revolving Commitments, the final maturity date as specified in the applicable Refinancing Amendment, (v) with respect to any Class of Replacement Loans, the final maturity date as specified in the applicable amendment to this Agreement in respect of such Replacement Loans and (vi) with respect to any Incremental Loans or Incremental Revolving Commitments, the final maturity date as specified in the applicable Incremental Amendment; provided , in each case, that if such day is not a Business Day, the applicable Maturity Date shall be the Business Day immediately succeeding such day.

Maximum Rate ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.11.

Mexican Pesos ” means the lawful currency of the United Mexican States.

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

Mortgage Policies ” has the meaning specified in Section 6.11(2)(b)(ii).

Mortgaged Properties ” has the meaning specified in paragraph (5) of the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement.”

Mortgages ” means collectively, the deeds of trust, trust deeds, hypothecs, deeds to secure debt and mortgages made by the Loan Parties in favor or for the benefit of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, including such modifications as may be required by local laws, pursuant to Section 6.13(2) and any other deeds of trust, trust deeds, hypothecs, deeds to secure debt or mortgages executed and delivered pursuant to Section 6.11.

Multiemployer Plan ” means any multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA and subject to Title IV of ERISA, to which any Loan Party or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the preceding five plan years, has made or been obligated to make contributions.

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.

 

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Net Proceeds ” means:

(1) with respect to any Asset Sale or any Casualty Event, the aggregate cash and Cash Equivalents received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of any Asset Sale or Casualty Event, including any cash and Cash Equivalents received upon the sale or other disposition of any Designated Non-Cash Consideration received in any Asset Sale, net of the costs relating to such Asset Sale or Casualty Event 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, brokerage and sales commissions, title insurance premiums, related search and recording charges, survey costs and mortgage recording tax paid in connection therewith, all dividends, distributions or other payments required to be made to minority interest holders in Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of any such Asset Sale or Casualty Event by a Restricted Subsidiary, the amount of any purchase price or similar adjustment claimed by any Person to be owed by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, until such time as such claim will have been settled or otherwise finally resolved, or paid or payable by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, in either case in respect of such Asset Sale or Casualty Event, any relocation expenses incurred as a result thereof, costs and expenses in connection with unwinding any Hedging Obligation in connection therewith, other fees and expenses, 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 Agreement, amounts required to be applied to the repayment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on Indebtedness (other than the First Lien Obligations and Indebtedness secured by Liens that are expressly subordinated to the Liens securing the Obligations) secured by a Lien on such assets and required to be paid as a result of such transaction and any deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary as a reserve in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities associated with the asset disposed of in such transaction and retained by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary 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; provided that (a) no net cash proceeds calculated in accordance with the foregoing realized in a single transaction or series of related transactions shall constitute Net Proceeds unless such net cash proceeds shall exceed $5.0 million and (b) no such net cash proceeds shall constitute Net Proceeds under this clause (1) in any fiscal year until the aggregate amount of all such net cash proceeds in such fiscal year shall exceed $20.0 million (and thereafter only net cash proceeds in excess of such amount shall constitute Net Proceeds under this clause (1)); and

(2) with respect to the incurrence or issuance of any Indebtedness by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, any Permitted Equity Issuance by the Borrower or any contribution to the common equity capital of the Borrower, the excess, if any, of (i) the sum of the cash and Cash Equivalents received in connection with such incurrence or issuance over (ii) all taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be payable, and all fees (including investment banking fees, attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, underwriting fees and discounts), commissions, costs and other out-of-pocket expenses and other customary expenses incurred, in each case by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such incurrence or issuance.

Non-Consenting Lender ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.07.

Non-Defaulting Lender ” means, at any time, a Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender.

Non-Excluded Taxes ” means all Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document.

Non-Extension Notice Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(2)(c).

Non-Recourse Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness that is non-recourse to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries.

Note ” means a Term Note or Revolving Note, as the context may require.

 

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Notice of Intent to Cure ” has the meaning specified in Section 8.04.

Obligations ” means all

(1) advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Loan Party 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, fees and other amounts that accrue after the commencement by or against any Loan Party of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest, fees and other amounts are allowed claims in such proceeding,

(2) obligations (other than Excluded Swap Obligations) of any Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary arising under any Secured Hedge Agreement and

(3) Cash Management Obligations under each Secured Cash Management Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Obligations of the Loan Parties under the Loan Documents (and any of their Subsidiaries to the extent they have obligations under the Loan Documents) include the obligation (including guarantee obligations) to pay principal, interest, reimbursement obligations, charges, expenses, fees (including Letter of Credit fees), Attorney Costs, indemnities and other amounts payable by any Loan Party under any Loan Document.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) unless otherwise agreed to by the Borrower and any applicable Hedge Bank or Cash Management Bank, the obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary under any Secured Hedge Agreement and under any Secured Cash Management 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 and (b) any release of Collateral or Guarantors effected in the manner permitted by this Agreement and any other Loan Document shall not require the consent of the holders of Hedging Obligations under Secured Hedge Agreements or of the holders of Cash Management Obligations under Secured Cash Management Agreements.

OFAC ” has the meaning specified in Section 5.17.

Offer ” has the meaning specified in the Preliminary Statement of this Agreement.

Offered Amount ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(1)(e)(H).

Offered Discount ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(1)(e)(H).

Officer’s Certificate ” means a certificate signed on behalf of a Person by a Responsible Officer of such Person.

OID ” means original issue discount.

Opinion of Counsel ” means a written opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent. Counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent.

ordinary course of business ” means activity conducted in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower and any Restricted Subsidiary.

Organizational Documents ” means

(1) 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);

 

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(2) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement; and

(3) 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.

Original Revolving Facility Maturity Date ” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Maturity Date.”

Original Term Loan Maturity Date ” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Maturity Date.”

Other Applicable ECF ” means Excess Cash Flow or a comparable measure as determined in accordance with the documentation governing Other Applicable Indebtedness.

Other Applicable Indebtedness ” means Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt, Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness or any other Indebtedness, in each case secured on a pari passu basis with the Obligations, together with Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of any of the foregoing that is secured on a pari passu basis with the Obligations.

Other Applicable Net Proceeds ” means Net Proceeds or a comparable measure as determined in accordance with the documentation governing Other Applicable Indebtedness.

Other Commitments ” means Other Revolving Commitments and/or Other Term Loan Commitments.

Other Loans ” means one or more Classes of Other Revolving Loans and/or Other Term Loans that result from a Refinancing Amendment.

Other Revolving Commitments ” means one or more Classes of Revolving Commitments hereunder that result from a Refinancing Amendment.

Other Revolving Loans ” means one or more Classes of Revolving Loans that result from a Refinancing Amendment.

Other Taxes ” means all present or future stamp or documentary Taxes, intangible, recording, filing, excise (that is not based on net income), property or similar Taxes arising from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document.

Other Term Loan Commitments ” means one or more Classes of Term Loan commitments hereunder that result from a Refinancing Amendment.

Other Term Loans ” means one or more Classes of Term Loans that result from a Refinancing Amendment.

Outstanding Amount ” means (a) with respect to the Term Loans and Revolving Loans on any date, the outstanding principal amount thereof (or the Dollar Equivalent thereof, if an Alternative Currency Loan) after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Term Loans and Revolving Loans (including any refinancing of outstanding Unreimbursed Amounts under Letters of Credit or L/C Credit Extensions as a Revolving Borrowing), as the case may be, occurring on such date; and (b) with respect to any L/C Obligations on any date, the outstanding principal amount thereof on such date after giving effect to any related L/C Credit

 

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Extension occurring on such date and any other changes thereto as of such date, including as a result of any reimbursements of outstanding Unreimbursed Amounts under related Letters of Credit (including any refinancing of outstanding Unreimbursed Amounts under related Letters of Credit or related L/C Credit Extensions as a Revolving Borrowing) or any reductions in the maximum amount available for drawing under related Letters of Credit taking effect on such date.

Overnight Rate ” means, for any day, the greater of (a) the Federal Funds Rate and (b) an overnight rate determined by the Administrative Agent or an Issuing Bank, as applicable, in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

Pari Passu Lien Debt ” has the meaning specified in clause (39) of the definition of “Permitted Liens.”

Participant ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(d).

Participant Register ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(e).

Participating Dividends ” has the meaning specified in the Investment Agreement.

Participating Lender ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(1)(e)(F).

Participating Member State ” shall mean each state as described in any EMU Legislation.

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 of their respective ERISA Affiliates or to which any Loan Party or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates 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 in the preceding five plan years.

Perfection Certificate ” has the meaning specified in the Security Agreement.

Permitted Acquisition ” has the meaning specified in clause (3) of the definition of “Permitted Investments.”

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 or Cash Equivalents between the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and another Person; provided that any cash or Cash Equivalents received in connection with a Permitted Asset Swap that constitutes an Asset Sale must be applied in accordance with Section 2.05(2)(b)(i).

Permitted Equal Priority Refinancing Debt ” means any secured Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower and/or any Guarantor in the form of one or more series of senior secured notes, bonds or debentures or first lien secured loans (and, if applicable, any Registered Equivalent Notes issued in exchange therefor); provided that (i) such Indebtedness is secured by Liens on all or a portion of the Collateral on a basis that is equal in priority to the Liens on the Collateral securing the First Lien Obligations under this Agreement (but without regard to the control of remedies) and is not secured by any property or assets other than the Collateral, (ii) such Indebtedness satisfies the applicable requirements set forth in the provisos to the definition of “Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness,” (iii) such Indebtedness is not at any time guaranteed by any Person other than the Guarantors and (iv) the applicable Loan Parties, the holders of such Indebtedness (or their Debt Representative) and the Administrative Agent and/or Collateral Agent shall be party to an Intercreditor Agreement providing that the Liens on the Collateral securing such obligations shall rank equal in priority to the Liens on the Collateral securing the First Lien Obligations under this Agreement (but without regard to the control of remedies).

 

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Permitted Equity Issuance ” means any sale or issuance of any Qualified Equity Interests of the Borrower.

Permitted Holder ” means any of the Investors.

Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt ” means Indebtedness issued, incurred or otherwise obtained by the Borrower and/or any Guarantor in respect of one or more series of senior unsecured notes, senior secured first lien or junior lien notes or subordinated notes (in each case issued in a public offering, Rule 144A or other private placement or bridge financing in lieu of the foregoing (and any Registered Equivalent Notes issued in exchange therefor)), first lien or junior lien loans, unsecured or subordinated loans or secured or unsecured mezzanine Indebtedness that, in each case, if secured, will be secured by Liens on the Collateral on an equal priority (but without regard to the control of remedies) or junior priority basis with the Liens on Collateral securing the First Lien Obligations under this Agreement, and that are issued or made in lieu of Incremental Commitments; provided that:

(i) the terms of any such Indebtedness (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, interest rates (including through fixed interest rates), interest margins, rate floors, fees, funding discounts, original issue discounts and prepayment or redemption premiums and terms) shall either, at the option of the Borrower, (A) reflect market terms and conditions (taken as a whole) at the time of incurrence of such Indebtedness (as determined by the Borrower in good faith) or (B) if otherwise not consistent with the terms of the Closing Date Term Loans, not be materially more restrictive to the Borrower (as determined by the Borrower in good faith), when taken as a whole, than the terms of the Closing Date Term Loans, except in the case of clauses (A) and (B) to the extent necessary to provide for (1) covenants and other terms applicable to any period after the Latest Maturity Date of the Closing Date Term Loans or (2) subject to the immediately succeeding proviso, a Previously Absent Financial Maintenance Covenant; provided that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if any such terms of such Indebtedness contain a Previously Absent Financial Maintenance Covenant that is in effect prior to the applicable Latest Maturity Date of the Term Facility or the Revolving Facility, as the case may be, such Previously Absent Financial Maintenance Covenant shall be included for the benefit of such Term Facility or Revolving Facility, as the case may be;

(ii) the aggregate principal amount of all Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt shall not exceed the Available Incremental Amount at the time of incurrence (it being understood that for purposes of this clause (ii), references in Section 2.14(4)(c)(B) (other than the first proviso thereto) to Incremental Loans or Incremental Revolving Commitments shall be deemed to be references to Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt);

(iii) such Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt shall not be subject to any Guarantee by any Person other than a Loan Party;

(iv) in the case of Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt that is secured, the obligations in respect thereof shall not be secured by any Lien on any asset of any Person other than any asset constituting Collateral;

(v) if such Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt is secured, such Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt shall be subject to the applicable Intercreditor Agreement(s);

(vi) such Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt (a) shall not mature earlier than the Original Term Loan Maturity Date and (b) shall have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity not shorter than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Closing Date Term Loans on the date of incurrence of such Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt; provided that the effects of any amortization or prepayments made on the Closing Date Term Loans prior to the date of such incurrence will be disregarded;

 

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(vii) any mandatory prepayments of (I) any Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt that comprises junior lien or unsecured notes or loans may not be made unless (except to the extent that prepayments of such debt are not prohibited hereunder and to the extent required hereunder or pursuant to the terms of any Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt that is secured on a pari passu basis with the First Lien Obligations under this Agreement) first made or offered to the holders of the Term Loans constituting First Lien Obligations and any such Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt that is secured on a pari passu basis with the First Lien Obligations under this Agreement, and (II) any Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt that is secured on a pari passu basis with the First Lien Obligations under this Agreement in respect of events described in Section 2.05(2)(a), (b) and (d)(i) shall be made on a pro rata basis, less than a pro rata basis or greater than a pro rata basis (but not greater than a pro rata basis as compared to any Class of Term Loans constituting First Lien Obligations with an earlier maturity date) with the Term Loans constituting First Lien Obligations; and

(viii) in the case of Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt consisting of syndicated term loans secured by a Lien on the Collateral ranking pari passu with the First Lien Obligations under this Agreement, the All-In Yield of the Closing Date Term Loans shall be subject to the adjustment in the manner set forth in the proviso to Section 2.14(5)(c), determined for purposes of this clause (viii) as if the Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt were Incremental Term Loans (to the extent then applicable);

provided , further , that “Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt” may be incurred in the form of a bridge or other interim credit facility intended to be refinanced or replaced with long term indebtedness (so long as such credit facility includes customary “rollover provisions” that satisfy the requirements of clause (vi) above following such rollover), in which case, on or prior to the first anniversary of the incurrence of such “bridge” or other credit facility, clause (vi) of the first proviso in this definition shall not prohibit the inclusion of customary terms for “bridge” facilities, including customary mandatory prepayment, repurchase or redemption provisions.

Permitted Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness permitted to be incurred in accordance with Section 7.02.

Permitted Investments ” means:

(1) any Investment in the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(2) any Investment(s) in Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities and Investments that were Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities when made;

(3) (a) any Investment by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in any Person that is engaged (directly or through entities that will be Restricted Subsidiaries) in a Similar Business, or in a business unit, line of business or division of such Person, 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 assets constituting a business unit, a line of business or a division of such Person, to, or is liquidated into, the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary (a “ Permitted Acquisition ”); provided that immediately after giving pro forma effect to any such Investment, no Event of Default will have occurred and be continuing; and

(b) any Investment held by such Person described in the preceding clause (a); provided that such Investment was not acquired by such Person in contemplation of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation, transfer or conveyance;

(4) any Investment in securities or other assets not constituting Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities and received in connection with an Asset Sale made in accordance with Section 7.04 or any other disposition of assets not constituting an Asset Sale;

 

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(5) any Investment existing on the Effective Date or made pursuant to binding commitments in effect on the Effective Date, in each of the foregoing cases with respect to any such Investment or binding commitment in effect on the Effective Date in excess of $5.0 million, as set forth on Schedule 7.05 , or an Investment consisting of any extension, modification, replacement, renewal or reinvestment of any Investment or binding commitment existing on the Effective Date; provided that the amount of any such Investment or binding commitment may be increased only (a) as required by the terms of such Investment or binding commitment as in existence on the Effective 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 (b) as otherwise permitted hereunder;

(6) any Investment acquired by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary:

(a) in exchange for any other Investment, accounts receivable or indorsements for collection or deposit held by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with or as a result of a bankruptcy, workout, reorganization or recapitalization of, or settlement of delinquent accounts and disputes with or judgments against, the issuer of such other Investment or accounts receivable (including any trade creditor or customer);

(b) in satisfaction of judgments against other Persons;

(c) as a result of a foreclosure by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default; or

(d) as a result of the settlement, compromise or resolution of (i) litigation, arbitration or other disputes or (ii) obligations of trade creditors or customers that were incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, including pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of any trade creditor or customer;

(7) Hedging Obligations permitted under Section 7.02(b)(10);

(8) any Investment in a Similar Business taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (8) that are at that time outstanding not to exceed (as of the date such Investment is made) the greater of (a) $75.0 million and (b) 37.5% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries determined at the time of making of such Investment for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a pro forma basis);

(9) Investments the payment for which consists of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Borrower; provided that such Equity Interests will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under clause (3) of Section 7.05(a);

(10) (a) guarantees of Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.02, performance guarantees and Contingent Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice, and (b) the creation of Liens on the assets of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in compliance with Section 7.01;

(11) any transaction to the extent it constitutes an Investment that is permitted by and made in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.07(b) (except transactions described in clauses (2), (5), (6), (7), (9), (14), (15), (22) or (25) of such Section);

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

(13) Investments, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (13) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed (as of the date such Investment is made) the greater of (i) $50.0 million and (ii) 25% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries determined at the time of making of such Investment for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a pro forma basis);

 

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(14) 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 Facility (including distributions or payments of Securitization Fees) or any repurchase obligation in connection therewith (including the contribution or lending of Cash Equivalents to Subsidiaries to finance the purchase of such assets from the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or to otherwise fund required reserves);

(15) loans and advances to, or guarantees of Indebtedness of, officers, directors, employees, consultants, independent contractors and members of management not in excess of $10.0 million outstanding at any one time, in the aggregate;

(16) loans and advances to employees, directors, officers, members of management, independent contractors and consultants for business-related travel expenses, moving expenses, payroll advances and other similar expenses or payroll expenses, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or consistent with industry practice or to future, present and former employees, directors, officers, members of management, independent contractors and consultants (and their Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) to fund such Person’s purchase of Equity Interests of the Borrower;

(17) advances, loans or extensions of trade credit or prepayments to suppliers or loans or advances made to distributors, in each case, in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or consistent with industry practice by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(18) 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 industry practice;

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

(20) Investments made in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice in connection with obtaining, maintaining or renewing client contracts and loans or advances made to distributors;

(21) 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 industry practice;

(22) the purchase or other acquisition of any Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent not otherwise prohibited hereunder;

(23) Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries or joint ventures, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (23) that are at that time outstanding, without giving effect to the sale of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or joint venture to the extent the proceeds of such sale do not consist of, or have not been subsequently sold or transferred for, Cash Equivalents or marketable securities, not to exceed (as of the date such Investment is made) the greater of (i) $40.0 million and (ii) 20% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries determined at the time of making of such Investment for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a pro forma basis);

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

 

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(25) any Investment by any Captive Insurance Subsidiary in connection with its provision of insurance to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, which Investment is made in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice of such Captive Insurance Subsidiary, or by reason of applicable Law, rule, regulation or order, or that is required or approved by any regulatory authority having jurisdiction over such Captive Insurance Subsidiary or its business, as applicable;

(26) Investments made as part of, to effect or resulting from the Transactions (including the Closing Date Acquisition);

(27) Investments of assets relating to non-qualified deferred payment plans in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(28) intercompany current liabilities owed to Unrestricted Subsidiaries or joint ventures incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice in connection with the cash management operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;

(29) acquisitions of obligations of one or more directors, officers or other employees or consultants or independent contractors of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower in connection with such director’s, officer’s, employee’s consultant’s or independent contractor’s acquisition of Equity Interests of the Borrower or any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower, to the extent no cash is actually advanced by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to such directors, officers, employees, consultants or independent contractors in connection with the acquisition of any such obligations;

(30) Investments constituting promissory notes or other non-cash proceeds of dispositions of assets to the extent permitted under Section 7.04;

(31) Investments resulting from pledges and deposits permitted pursuant to the definition of “Permitted Liens”;

(32) loans and advances to any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower in lieu of 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 in cash to such parent in accordance with Section 7.05 at such time, such Investment being treated for purposes of the applicable clause of Section 7.05, including any limitations, as if a Restricted Payment were made pursuant to such applicable clause;

(33) any other Investments if on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such Investment, the Total Net Leverage Ratio would be equal to or less than the Closing Date Total Net Leverage Ratio minus 0.75 to 1.00 as of the last day of the Test Period most recently ended;

(34) [reserved]; and

(35) any Investment made by any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party to the extent that such Investment is financed with the proceeds received by such Restricted Subsidiary from an Investment in such Restricted Subsidiary permitted under this Agreement.

Permitted Junior Priority Refinancing Debt ” means secured Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower and/or any Guarantor in the form of one or more series of junior lien secured notes, bonds or debentures or junior lien secured loans (and, if applicable, any Registered Equivalent Notes issued in exchange therefor); provided that (i) such Indebtedness is secured by a Lien on all or a portion of the Collateral on a junior priority basis to the Liens on Collateral securing the First Lien Obligations under this Agreement and is not secured by any property or assets other than the Collateral, (ii) such Indebtedness satisfies the applicable requirements set forth in the provisos in the definition of “Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness,” (iii) the holders of such Indebtedness (or their Debt Representative) and the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent shall be party to an Intercreditor Agreement providing that the Liens on Collateral securing such obligations shall rank junior to the Liens on Collateral securing the First Lien Obligations under this Agreement, and (iv) such Indebtedness is not at any time guaranteed by any Person other than the Guarantors.

 

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Permitted Liens ” means, with respect to any Person:

(1) Liens created pursuant to any Loan Document;

(2) Liens, pledges or deposits made in connection with:

(a) workers’ compensation laws, unemployment insurance, health, disability or employee benefits or other social security laws or similar legislation or regulations,

(b) insurance-related obligations (including 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, bank guarantees or similar documents or instruments for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing property, casualty or liability insurance or otherwise supporting the payment of items set forth in the foregoing clause (a) or

(c) bids, tenders, contracts, statutory obligations, surety, indemnity, warranty, release, appeal or similar bonds, or with regard to other regulatory requirements, completion guarantees, stay, customs and appeal bonds, performance bonds, bankers’ acceptance facilities, and other obligations of like nature (including those to secure health, safety and environmental obligations) (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, Cash Equivalents or U.S. government bonds to secure surety or appeal bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as security for the payment of rent, contested taxes or import duties and obligations in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar instruments that have been posted to support the same, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(3) Liens imposed by law, such as landlords’, carriers’, warehousemen’s, materialmen’s, repairmen’s, construction, mechanics’ or other similar Liens, or landlord Liens specifically created by contract (a) for sums not yet overdue for a period of more than sixty (60) days or, if more than sixty (60) days overdue, are unfiled and no other action has been taken to enforce such Liens or (b) being contested in good faith by appropriate actions or other Liens arising out of or securing judgments or awards against such Person with respect to which such Person will then be proceeding with an appeal or other proceedings for review if such Liens are adequately bonded or adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of such Person in accordance with GAAP;

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

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

(6) survey exceptions, encumbrances, ground leases, easements, restrictions, protrusions, encroachments 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 or 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 that were not incurred in connection with Indebtedness and that do not in the aggregate materially impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person and exceptions on Mortgage Policies insuring Liens granted on Mortgaged Properties;

 

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(7) Liens securing obligations in respect of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock permitted to be incurred pursuant to clause (4), (6), (13), (15), (23), (31) or (35) of Section 7.02(b) or, with respect to assumed Indebtedness not incurred in contemplation of the relevant acquisition, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock only, clause (14) of Section 7.02(b); provided that:

(a) Liens securing obligations relating to any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock permitted to be incurred pursuant to such clause (13) relate only to obligations relating to Refinancing Indebtedness that is secured by Liens on the same assets as the assets securing the Refinanced Debt (as defined in the definition of Refinancing Indebtedness), plus improvements, accessions, proceeds or dividends or distributions in respect thereof and after-acquired property, or serves to refund, refinance, extend, replace, renew or defease Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred under clause (4) or (13) of Section 7.02(b);

(b) Liens securing obligations relating to Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock permitted to be incurred pursuant to such clause (23) or (31) extend only to the assets of Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors;

(c) Liens securing obligations in respect of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock permitted to be incurred pursuant to such clause (4) extend only to the assets so purchased, replaced, leased or improved and proceeds and products thereof; provided further that individual financings of assets provided by a counterparty may be cross-collateralized to other financings of assets provided by such counterparty;

(d) [reserved]; and

(e) Liens securing obligations in respect of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock permitted to be assumed pursuant to such clause (14) are solely on acquired property or the assets of the acquired entity (other than after acquired property that is (A) affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien, (B) after acquired property subject to a Lien securing such Indebtedness, the terms of which Indebtedness require or include a pledge of after acquired property (it being understood that such requirement shall not be permitted to apply to any property to which such requirement would not have applied but for such acquisition) and (C) the proceeds and products thereof).

(8) Liens existing, or provided for under binding contracts existing, on the Effective Date on (x) any asset of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than the Target) ( provided that any such Lien securing obligations in an aggregate amount on the Effective Date in excess of $5.0 million shall be set forth on Schedule 7.01 ) and (y) on any asset of the Target, securing any obligations permitted under Section 7.02(b)(3)(y);

(9) 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;

(10) Liens on property or other assets at the time the Borrower 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 Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary ( provided that such Liens are not created or incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition, amalgamation, merger or consolidation) and any replacement, extension or renewal of any such Lien (to the extent the Indebtedness and other obligations secured by such replacement, extension or renewal Liens are permitted by this Agreement); provided that such replacement, extension or renewal Liens do not cover any property other than the property that was subject to such Liens prior to such replacement, extension or renewal;

 

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(11) Liens securing obligations in respect of Indebtedness or other obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Borrower or another Restricted Subsidiary permitted to be incurred in accordance with Section 7.02;

(12) Liens securing (x) Hedging Obligations (including any Hedging Obligations entered into by any Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary that as of the Effective Date is secured pursuant to the Existing Credit Agreement) and (y) obligations in respect of Cash Management Services;

(13) Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Person’s accounts payable or similar 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;

(14) leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses (or other agreement under which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary has granted rights to end users to access and use the Borrower’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s products, technologies or services) that do not either (a) materially interfere with the business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (b) secure any Indebtedness;

(15) Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) financing statement filings regarding operating leases, consignments or accounts entered into by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice or purported Liens evidenced by the filing of precautionary Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) financing statements or similar public filings;

(16) Liens in favor of the Borrower or any Guarantor;

(17) Liens on equipment or vehicles of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary granted in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(18) Liens on accounts receivable, Securitization Assets and related assets incurred in connection with a Qualified Securitization Facility and Liens on any receivables transferred in connection with a Receivables Financing Transaction, including Liens on such receivables resulting from precautionary UCC filings or from recharacterization or any such sale as a financing or a loan;

(19) Liens to secure any modification, refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement (or successive modification, refinancing, refunding, extensions, renewals or replacements) as a whole, or in part, of any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock secured by any Lien referred to in clauses (6), (7), (8), (9), (10) or this clause (19) of this definition; provided that: (a) such new Lien will be limited to all or part of the same property that was subject to the original Lien (plus improvements, accessions, proceeds or dividends or distributions in respect thereof and after-acquired property) and (b) the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (i) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock described under such clauses (6), (7), (8), (9), (10) or this clause (19) at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien hereunder, plus (ii) any accrued and unpaid interest on the Indebtedness, any accrued and unpaid dividends on the Preferred Stock, and any accrued and unpaid dividends on the Disqualified Stock being so refinanced, extended, replaced, refunded, renewed or defeased, plus (iii) the amount of any tender premium or penalty or premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument or documents governing such refinanced Indebtedness, Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock and any defeasance costs and any fees and expenses (including original issue discount, upfront fees or similar fees) incurred in connection with the issuance of such new Indebtedness, Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock or the extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance of such refinanced Indebtedness, Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock;

 

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(20) deposits made or other security provided to secure liability to insurance brokers, carriers, underwriters or self-insurance arrangements, including Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of the premiums with respect thereto;

(21) other Liens securing obligations in an aggregate outstanding amount not to exceed (as of the date any such Lien is incurred) the greater of (i) $60.0 million and (ii) 30% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries determined at the time of incurrence of such Lien for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a pro forma basis), which, at the election of the Borrower, shall be subject to the applicable Intercreditor Agreement(s);

(22) 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;

(23) (a) the prior rights of consignees and their lenders under consignment arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice, (b) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention or similar arrangements for the sale of goods in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice and (c) Liens arising by operation of law under Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code;

(24) Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 8.01(7);

(25) Liens (a) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-208 or 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code on items in the course of collection, (b) attaching to commodity trading accounts or other brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice and (c) in favor of banking or other institutions or other electronic payment service providers arising as a matter of law or under general terms and conditions encumbering deposits or margin deposits or other funds maintained with such institution (including the right of setoff) and that are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry;

(26) Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements permitted under this Agreement; provided that such Liens do not extend to assets other than those that are subject to such repurchase agreements;

(27) Liens that are contractual rights of setoff (a) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks or other deposit-taking financial institutions or other electronic payment service providers and not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness, (b) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or (c) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(28) Liens on cash proceeds (as defined in Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code) of assets sold that were subject to a Lien permitted hereunder;

(29) any encumbrance or restriction (including put, call arrangements, tag, drag, right of first refusal and similar rights) with respect to Capital Stock of any joint venture or similar arrangement pursuant to any joint venture or similar agreement;

(30) Liens (a) on cash advances or cash earnest money deposits in favor of the seller of any property to be acquired in an Investment permitted under this Agreement to be applied against the purchase price for such Investment and (b) consisting of a letter of intent or an agreement to sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of any property in a transaction permitted under Section 7.04;

 

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(31) the interest or title of any lessor, sublessor, licensor or sublicensor, as applicable, underground leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses under which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries are the lessee, sublessee, licensee or sublicensee, as applicable, in respect of real property on which facilities owned or leased by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries are located;

(32) Liens on assets of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party in connection with any Sale-Leaseback Transaction(s), with an aggregate fair market value at any time not in excess of $75.0 million;

(33) Liens on Capital Stock or other securities of an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(34) any interest or title of a lessor, sublessor, licensor or sublicensor or secured by a lessor’s, sublessor’s, licensor’s or sublicensor’s interest under leases or licenses entered into by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(35) deposits of cash with the owner or lessor of premises leased and operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice of the Borrower and such Subsidiary to secure the performance of the Borrower’s or such Subsidiary’s obligations under the terms of the lease for such premises;

(36) rights of set-off, banker’s liens, netting arrangements and other Liens arising by operation of law or by the terms of documents of banks or other financial institutions in relation to the maintenance or administration of deposit accounts, securities accounts, cash management arrangements or in connection with the issuance of letters of credit, bank guarantees or other similar instruments;

(37) Liens on cash and Cash Equivalents used to satisfy or discharge Indebtedness; provided that such satisfaction or discharge is permitted under this Agreement;

(38) receipt of progress payments and advances from customers in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice to the extent the same creates a Lien on the related inventory and proceeds thereof and Liens on property or assets under construction arising from progress or partial payments by a third party relating to such property or assets;

(39) Liens on all or any portion of the Collateral (but no other assets) to secure obligations in respect of (a) Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 7.02; provided that after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence of the then proposed Indebtedness (and without netting any cash received from the incurrence of such proposed Indebtedness) (or, in the case of Indebtedness under Designated Revolving Commitments, on the date such Designated Revolving Commitments are established after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence of the entire committed amount of the Indebtedness thereunder (but without netting any cash proceeds thereof), in which case such committed amount under such Designated Revolving Commitments may thereafter be borrowed and reborrowed, in whole or in part, from time to time, without further compliance with this proviso), (i) if such Indebtedness is secured on a (x)  pari passu basis with the Liens that secure the First Lien Obligations under this Agreement (“ Pari Passu Lien Debt ”), the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio would be no greater than the Closing Date First Lien Net Leverage Ratio or (y) junior basis to the Liens that secure the First Lien Obligations (“ Junior Lien Debt ”), the Junior Secured Condition is satisfied, (ii) such Liens are in each case subject the applicable Intercreditor Agreement(s) and (iii) if such Liens secure syndicated term loans that are secured on a pari passu basis with the First Lien Obligations under this Agreement, then the Borrower shall comply with the “most favored nation” pricing provisions of Section 2.14(5)(c) as if such Indebtedness were Incremental Term Loans incurred pursuant to Section 2.14 (to the extent then applicable) and (b) any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of Pari Passu Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt (but subject to the foregoing clause (iii));

 

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(40) agreements to subordinate any interest of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in any accounts receivable or other proceeds arising from inventory consigned by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(41) Liens arising pursuant to Section 107(l) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act or similar provision of any Environmental Law;

(42) Liens disclosed by the title insurance reports or policies delivered on or prior to the Effective Date and any replacement, extension or renewal of any such Lien (to the extent the Indebtedness and other obligations secured by such replacement, extension or renewal Liens are permitted by this Agreement); provided that such replacement, extension or renewal Liens do not cover any property other than the property that was subject to such Liens prior to such replacement, extension or renewal;

(43) rights reserved or vested in any Person by the terms of any lease, license, franchise, grant or permit held by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or by a statutory provision, to terminate any such lease, license, franchise, grant or permit, or to require annual or periodic payments as a condition to the continuance thereof;

(44) restrictive covenants affecting the use to which real property may be put; provided that the covenants are complied with;

(45) 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 or consistent with industry practice;

(46) zoning, building and other similar land use restrictions, including site plan agreements, development agreements and contract zoning agreements;

(47) Liens granted in favor of the lenders under the Existing Credit Agreement securing obligations thereunder, until the occurrence of the Closing Date Refinancing;

(48) Liens on all or any portion of the Collateral (but no other assets) securing (i) Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt, (ii) Permitted Equal Priority Refinancing Debt or (iii) Permitted Junior Priority Refinancing Debt, and, in each case, Liens securing any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof;

(49) Liens on the assets of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties securing Indebtedness or other obligations of such Restricted Subsidiaries or any other Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties that is permitted by Section 7.02 or otherwise not prohibited by this Agreement;

(50) Liens on assets of Restricted Subsidiaries that are Foreign Subsidiaries (i) securing Indebtedness and other obligations of such Foreign Subsidiaries or (ii) to the extent arising mandatorily under applicable Law;

(51) Liens on Escrowed Proceeds for the benefit of the related holders of debt securities or other Indebtedness (or the underwriters, trustee, escrow agent or arrangers thereof) or on cash set aside at the time of the incurrence of any Indebtedness or government securities purchased with such cash, in either case to the extent such cash or government securities prefund the payment of interest on such Indebtedness and are held in an escrow account or similar arrangement to be applied for such purpose;.

(52) Liens securing any Hedge Obligations of any Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary that are permitted hereunder; and

 

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(53) Liens in the Borrower’s right, title and interest in, to and under (i) this Agreement, (ii) the Bridge Loan Agreement, (iii) the Investment Agreement and (iv) all proceeds (as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York) of the foregoing securing obligations under the Agreement for Standby Letter of Credit and the L/C Fee Letter.

If any Liens securing obligations are incurred to refinance liens securing obligations initially incurred in reliance on a Basket measured by reference to a percentage of Consolidated EBITDA, and such refinancing would cause the percentage of Consolidated EBITDA to be exceeded if calculated based on the Consolidated EBITDA on the date of such refinancing, such percentage of Consolidated EBITDA will not be deemed to be exceeded to the extent the principal amount of such obligations secured by such newly incurred Lien does not exceed the principal amount of such obligations secured by such Liens being refinanced, plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the Indebtedness (and with respect to Indebtedness under Designated Revolving Commitments, including an amount equal to any unutilized Designated Revolving Commitments being refinanced, extended, replaced, refunded, renewed or defeased to the extent permanently terminated at the time of incurrence of such Refinancing Indebtedness), any accrued and unpaid dividends on the Preferred Stock, and any accrued and unpaid dividends on the Disqualified Stock being so refinanced, extended, replaced, refunded, renewed or defeased, plus the amount of any tender premium or penalty or premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument or documents governing such refinanced Indebtedness, Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock and any defeasance costs and any fees and expenses (including original issue discount, upfront fees or similar fees) incurred in connection with the issuance of such new Indebtedness, Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock or the extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance of such refinanced Indebtedness, Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock.

For purposes of this definition, the term “Indebtedness” will be deemed to include interest and other obligations payable on or with respect to such Indebtedness.

Permitted Ratio Debt ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.02(a).

Permitted Unsecured Refinancing Debt ” means unsecured Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower and/or the Guarantors in the form of one or more series of senior unsecured notes, bonds or debentures or unsecured loans (and, if applicable, any Registered Equivalent Notes issued in exchange therefor); provided that (i) such Indebtedness satisfies the applicable requirements set forth in the provisos in the definition of “Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness” and (ii) such Indebtedness is not at any time guaranteed by any Person other than the Guarantors.

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

Plan ” means any “employee benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA), other than a Foreign Plan, established or maintained 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 of their respective ERISA Affiliates.

Planned Expenditures ” has the meaning specified in the definition of Excess Cash Flow.

Platform ” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

Pledged Collateral ” has the meaning specified in the Security Agreement.

Polish Zloty ” means the lawful currency of Poland.

Preferred Dividends ” has the meaning specified in the Investment Agreement.

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

 

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Previously Absent Financial Maintenance Covenant ” means, at any time (x) any financial maintenance covenant that is not included in this Agreement at such time and (y) any financial maintenance covenant that is included in this Agreement at such time but with covenant levels and component definitions (to the extent relating to such financial maintenance covenant) in this Agreement that are less restrictive on the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries than those in the applicable Incremental Amendment, Refinancing Amendment, Extension Amendment or amendment in respect of Replacement Loans or any documents relating to Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness, Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt or Refinancing Indebtedness.

Private - Side Information ” means any information with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries that is not Public-Side Information.

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 (or, if the Revolving Commitments have terminated in full, Revolving Exposure) and, if applicable and without duplication, Term Loans of such Lender at such time and the denominator of which is the amount of the Aggregate Commitments (or, if the Revolving Commitments have terminated in full, Revolving Exposure) and, if applicable and without duplication, Term Loans at such time; provided that when used with respect to (i) Commitments, Loans, interest and fees under the Revolving Facility, “Pro Rata Share,” shall mean with respect to any Lender such Lender’s Applicable Percentage and (ii) Commitments, Loans and interest under any Term Facility, “Pro Rata Share,” shall mean, 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 Term Commitments and Term Loans of such Lender under such Term Facility at such time and the denominator of which is the amount of the aggregate Term Commitments and Term Loans under such Term Facility at such time.

Public Company Costs ” means the initial costs relating to establishing compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, and other expenses arising out of or incidental to the Borrower’s or its Restricted Subsidiaries’ initial establishment of compliance with the obligations of a reporting company, including costs, fees and expenses (including legal, accounting and other professional fees) relating to compliance with provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.

Public Lender ” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

Public - Side Information ” means information that does not constitute material non-public information (within the meaning of United States federal and state securities laws) with respect to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective securities.

Purchase Money Obligations ” means any Indebtedness incurred to finance or refinance the acquisition, leasing, construction or improvement of property (real or personal) or assets (other than Capital Stock), and whether acquired through the direct acquisition of such property or assets, or otherwise.

Qualified ECP Guarantor ” means, in respect of any Swap Obligation, each Loan Party that has total assets exceeding $10.0 million at the time the relevant guarantee or grant of the relevant security interest becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation or such other Person as constitutes an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act or any regulations promulgated thereunder and can cause another Person to qualify as an “eligible contract participant” at such time by entering into a keepwell under Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

Qualified Equity Interests ” means any Equity Interests that are not Disqualified Stock.

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 (1) constituting a securitization financing facility that meets the following conditions: (a) the Board of Directors will have determined in good faith that such Securitization Facility (including financing terms, covenants, termination events and other

 

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provisions) is in the aggregate economically fair and reasonable to the Borrower and the applicable Restricted Subsidiary or Securitization Subsidiary and (b) all sales or contributions of Securitization Assets and related assets to the applicable Person or Securitization Subsidiary are made at fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) or (2) constituting a Receivables Financing Transaction.

Qualifying Lender ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(1)(e)(J).

Rating Agencies ” means Moody’s and S&P, or if Moody’s or S&P (or both) does not make a rating on the relevant obligations publicly available, a nationally recognized statistical rating agency or agencies, as the case may be, selected by the Borrower that will be substituted for Moody’s or S&P (or both), as the case may be.

Receivables Financing Transaction ” means any transaction or series of transactions entered into by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to which such party consummates a “true sale” of its receivables to a non-related third party on market terms as determined in good faith by the Borrower; provided that such Receivables Financing Transaction is (i) non-recourse to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and their assets, other than any recourse solely attributable to a breach by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of representations and warranties that are customarily made by a seller in connection with a “true sale” of receivables on a non-recourse basis and (ii) consummated pursuant to customary contracts, arrangements or agreements entered into with respect to the “true sale” of receivables on market terms for similar transactions.

Refinance ” has the meaning assigned in the definition of “Refinancing Indebtedness” and “ Refinancing ” and “ Refinanced ” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

Refinanced Debt ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Refinancing Indebtedness.”

Refinancing Amendment ” means an amendment to this Agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower executed by each of (a) the Borrower, (b) the Administrative Agent and (c) each Additional Lender and Lender that agrees to provide any portion of the Other Loans or Other Commitments being incurred or provided pursuant thereto, in accordance with Section 2.15.

Refinancing Indebtedness ” means (x) Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, (y) Disqualified Stock issued by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or (z) Preferred Stock issued by any Restricted Subsidiary which, in each case, serves to extend, replace, refund, refinance, renew or defease (“ Refinance ”) any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, including any Refinancing Indebtedness, so long as:

(1) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such new Indebtedness, the amount of such new Preferred Stock or the liquidation preference of such new Disqualified Stock does not exceed (a) the principal amount of (or accreted value, if applicable) Indebtedness, the amount of Preferred Stock or the liquidation preference of Disqualified Stock being so extended, replaced, refunded, refinanced, renewed or defeased (such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, the “ Refinanced Debt ”), plus (b) any accrued and unpaid interest on, or any accrued and unpaid dividends on, such Refinanced Debt, plus (c) the amount of any tender premium or penalty or premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument or documents governing such Refinanced Debt and any defeasance costs and any fees and expenses (including original issue discount, upfront fees or similar fees) incurred in connection with the issuance of such new Indebtedness, Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock or to Refinance such Refinanced Debt (such amounts in clause (b) and (c) the “ Incremental Amounts ”);

(2) such Refinancing Indebtedness has a:

(a) Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is incurred that is not less than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the applicable Refinanced Debt; and

 

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(b) final scheduled maturity date equal to or later than the final scheduled maturity date of the Refinanced Debt (or, if earlier, the date that is 91 days after the Latest Maturity Date of the Loans);

(3) to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness Refinances (a) Subordinated Indebtedness (other than Subordinated Indebtedness assumed or acquired in an acquisition and not created in contemplation thereof), unless such Refinancing constitutes a Restricted Payment permitted by Section 7.05, such Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated to the Loans or the Guaranty thereof at least to the same extent as the applicable Refinanced Debt, (b) Junior Lien Debt, such Refinancing Indebtedness is (i) unsecured or (ii) secured by Liens that are subordinated to the Liens that secure the Loans or the Guaranty thereof, in each case at least to the same extent as the applicable Refinanced Debt or pursuant to a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, or (c) Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such Refinancing Indebtedness must be Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, respectively;

(4) such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not be guaranteed or borrowed by any Person other than a Person that is so obligated in respect of the Refinanced Debt being Refinanced; and

(5) such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not be secured by any assets or property that does not secure the Refinanced Debt being Refinanced ( plus improvements, accessions, proceeds or dividends or distributions in respect thereof and after-acquired property);

provided that Refinancing Indebtedness will not include:

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

(b) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Guarantor that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Guarantor; or

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

provided further that (x) clause (2) of this definition will not apply to any Refinancing of any Indebtedness other than Indebtedness incurred under clauses (2) and (30) of Section 7.02(b) (including any successive Refinancings thereof incurred under clause (13) of Section 7.02(b)) and any Subordinated Indebtedness (other than Subordinated Indebtedness assumed or acquired in an Investment or acquisition and not created in contemplation thereof), Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock and (y) Refinancing Indebtedness may be incurred in the form of a bridge or other interim credit facility intended to be Refinanced with long-term indebtedness (and such bridge or other interim credit facility shall be deemed to satisfy clause (2) of this definition so long as (x) such credit facility includes customary “rollover” provisions and (y) assuming such credit facility were to be extended pursuant to such “rollover” provisions, such extended credit facility would comply with clause (2) of this definition).

Refunding Capital Stock ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.05(b)(2).

Register ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(c).

Registered Equivalent Notes ” means, with respect to any notes originally issued in a Rule 144A or other private placement transaction under the Securities Act, substantially identical notes (having the same Guarantees) issued in a dollar-for-dollar exchange therefor pursuant to an exchange offer registered with the SEC.

Rejection Notice ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(2)(g).

 

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

Related Indemnified Person ” of an Indemnitee means (1) any controlling Person or controlled Affiliate of such Indemnitee, (2) the respective directors, officers, partners, employees, advisors or successors of such Indemnitee or any of its controlling Persons or controlled Affiliates and (3) the respective agents, trustees and other representatives of such Indemnitee or any of its controlling Persons or controlled Affiliates, in the case of this clause (3), acting at the instructions of such Indemnitee, controlling Person or such controlled Affiliate; provided that each reference to a controlled Affiliate or controlling Person in this definition pertains to a controlled Affiliate or controlling Person involved in the negotiation of this Agreement or the syndication of the Facilities. For purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise.

Related Person ” means, with respect to any Person, (a) any Affiliate of such Person, (b) the respective directors, officers, partners, employees, advisors, agents, trustees and other representatives of such Person or any of its Affiliates and (c) the successors and permitted assigns of such Person or any of its Affiliates.

Release ” means any release, spill, emission, discharge, deposit, disposal, leaking, pumping, pouring, dumping, emptying, injection or leaching into or migration through the Environment.

Replaced Loans ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.01.

Replacement Loans ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.01.

Reportable Event ” means, with respect to any Pension Plan, 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 (i) the prepayment, refinancing, substitution, replacement or conversion of all or a portion of the Closing Date Term Loans with the incurrence by the Borrower or any other Subsidiary of any senior secured first lien term loans under any credit facilities the primary purpose of which is to reduce the All-In Yield of such Indebtedness relative to the Closing Date Term Loans so repaid, refinanced, substituted, replaced or converted (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) and (ii) any amendment, amendment or restatement or other modification to this Agreement the primary purpose of which is to reduce the All-In Yield applicable to the Closing Date Term Loans (as determined in good faith by the Borrower), excluding, in each case, for avoidance of doubt, any such reductions in connection with (a) a Change of Control or (b) an Enterprise Transformative Event.

Request for Credit Extension ” means (a) with respect to a Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Term Loans or Revolving Loans, a Committed Loan Notice and (b) with respect to an L/C Credit Extension, a L/C Application.

Required Facility Lenders ” means, as of any date of determination, with respect to one or more Facilities, Lenders having more than 50% of the sum of (a) the Total Outstandings under such Facility or Facilities (with the aggregate amount of each Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations under such Facility or Facilities being deemed “held” by such Lender for purposes of this definition) and (b) the aggregate unused Commitments under such Facility or Facilities; provided that the unused Commitments of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings under such Facility or Facilities 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 specified in Section 10.07(i) 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 unless the action in question affects such Affiliated Lender in a disproportionately adverse manner than its effect on the other Lenders; provided further , for purposes of this definition, the outstanding principal amount of Alternative Currency Loans at any time shall be determined using the Dollar Equivalent thereof at the most recent Revaluation Date.

 

 

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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 being deemed “held” by such Lender for purposes of this definition), (b) aggregate unused Term Commitments and (c) aggregate unused Revolving Commitments; provided that the unused Term Commitment and unused Revolving 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 the Loans of any Affiliated Lender shall in each case be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders unless the action in question affects such Affiliated Lender in a disproportionately adverse manner than its effect on the other Lenders; provided further , for purposes of this definition, the outstanding principal amount of Alternative Currency Loans at any time shall be determined using the Dollar Equivalent thereof at the most recent Revaluation Date.

Responsible Officer ” means, with respect to a Person, the chief executive officer, chief operating officer, president, executive vice president, chief financial officer, treasurer or assistant treasurer or other similar officer or Person performing similar functions, of such Person and, solely for purposes of notices given pursuant to Article II, any other officer or employee of the applicable Loan Party so designated by any of the foregoing officers in a notice to the Administrative Agent or any other officer or employee of the applicable Loan Party designated in or pursuant to an agreement between the applicable Loan Party and the Administrative Agent. With respect to any document delivered by a Loan Party on the Effective Date, Responsible Officer includes 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, partnership 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. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Responsible Officer” shall refer to a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.

Restricted Investment ” means any Investment other than any Permitted Investment(s).

Restricted Payment ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.05.

Restricted Subsidiary ” means, at any time, any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Borrower (including any Foreign Subsidiary) that is not then an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event will any Securitization Subsidiary be considered a Restricted Subsidiary for purposes of Section 8.01(5), (6) or (7); provided further that upon the occurrence of an Unrestricted Subsidiary ceasing to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary, such Subsidiary will be included in the definition of “Restricted Subsidiary.” Wherever the term “Restricted Subsidiary” is used herein with respect to any Subsidiary of a referenced Person that is not the Borrower, then it will be construed to mean a Person that would be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower on a pro forma basis following consummation of one or a series of related transactions involving such referenced Person and the Borrower (unless such transaction would include a designation of a Subsidiary of such Person as an Unrestricted Subsidiary on a pro forma basis in accordance with this Agreement).

Revaluation Date ” shall mean with respect to any Alternative Currency Loan, each of the following: (i) each date of Borrowing of a Loan denominated in an Alternative Currency, (ii) each date of a continuation of a Borrowing denominated in an Alternative Currency pursuant to Section 2.02, and (iii) such additional dates as the Administrative Agent shall determine or the Required Revolving Lenders shall require.

Revolving Borrowing ” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Revolving Loans of the same Type and, in the case of LIBO Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period, made by each of the Revolving Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01(2).

Revolving Commitment ” means, as to each Revolving Lender, its obligation to (1) make Revolving Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01(2) and (2) purchase participations in L/C Obligations in respect of Letters of Credit in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount

 

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specified opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01 under the caption “Revolving Commitment” 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. The aggregate Revolving Commitments of all Revolving Lenders as of the Effective Date is $150.0 million, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

Revolving Commitment Increase ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(1).

Revolving Exposure ” means, as to each Revolving Lender, the sum of the amount of the Outstanding Amount of such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Loans and its Applicable Percentage of the amount of the L/C Obligations at such time.

Revolving Extension Request ” has the meaning provided in Section 2.16(2).

Revolving Extension Series ” has the meaning provided in Section 2.16(2).

Revolving Facility ” means, at any time, the aggregate amount of the Revolving Commitments at such time.

Revolving Lender ” means, at any time, any Lender that has a Revolving Commitment at such time or, if Revolving Commitments have terminated, Revolving Exposure.

Revolving Loan ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(2) and includes Revolving Loans under the Closing Date Revolving Facility, Incremental Revolving Loans, Other Revolving Loans and Loans made pursuant to Extended Revolving Commitments.

Revolving Note ” means a promissory note of the Borrower payable to any Revolving Lender or its registered assigns, in substantially the form of Exhibit B-2 hereto, evidencing the aggregate Indebtedness of the Borrower to such Revolving Lender resulting from the Revolving Loans made by such Revolving Lender.

S&P ” means S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global Inc., and any successor to its rating agency business.

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

Same Day Funds ” means disbursements and payments in immediately available funds.

Sanctions ” has the meaning specified in Section 5.17.

SEC ” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.

Secured Cash Management Agreement ” means any Cash Management Agreement that is entered into by and between the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and a Cash Management Bank; and designated in writing by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent as a “Secured Cash Management Agreement.”

Secured Hedge Agreement ” means any Hedge Agreement (A) with respect to Hedging Obligations permitted under Section 7.02 that is (a) entered into by and between any Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary and any Hedge Bank and (b) designated in writing by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent as a “Secured Hedge Agreement” and (B) entered into by any Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary that as of the Effective Date is secured pursuant to the Existing Credit Agreement.

 

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Secured Indebtedness ” means any Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary secured by a Lien.

Secured Net Leverage Ratio ” means, with respect to any Test Period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Secured Debt outstanding as of the last day of such Test Period, minus, the aggregate amount of cash and Cash Equivalents of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on such date (other than cash in the Controlled Account) that (x) would not appear as “restricted” on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries or (y) are restricted in favor of the Facilities (which may also secure other Indebtedness secured by a pari passu or junior Lien on the Collateral along with the Facilities) to (b) Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such Test Period, in each case on a pro forma basis with such pro forma adjustments as are appropriate and consistent with Section 1.07.

Secured Parties ” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lenders, each Issuing Bank, each Hedge Bank, each Cash Management Bank, each Supplemental Administrative Agent and each co-agent or sub-agent appointed by the Administrative Agent from time to time pursuant to Section 9.01(2) or 9.07.

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

Securitization Assets ” means (a) the accounts receivable, royalty or other revenue streams and other rights to payment and other assets related thereto subject to a Qualified Securitization Facility and the proceeds thereof and (b) contract rights, lockbox accounts and records with respect to such accounts receivable and any other assets customarily transferred together with accounts receivable in a securitization financing.

Securitization Facility ” means any transaction or series of securitization financings that may be entered into by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to which the Borrower or any such Restricted Subsidiary may sell, convey or otherwise transfer, or may grant a security interest in, Securitization Assets to either (a) a Person that is not the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary or (b) a Securitization Subsidiary that in turn sells such Securitization Assets to a Person that is not the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary, or may grant a security interest in, any Securitization Assets of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

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 and expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel) 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.

Security Agreement ” means, collectively, the Pledge and Security Agreement executed by the Loan Parties and the Collateral Agent, substantially in the form of Exhibit F , together with supplements or joinders thereto executed and delivered pursuant to Section 6.11.

Senior Notes ” means any senior unsecured notes, any demand securities issued in lieu of the Bridge Loans or to refinance the Bridge Loans, or any other debt securities issued pursuant to any offering by the Borrower or any of its direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiaries in a principal amount up to €240 million (plus an amount sufficient to fund any OID on such Senior Notes, any accrued but unpaid interest on the Bridge Loans and any other fees and expenses incurred in connection therewith) in a Rule 144A or other private placement issued pursuant to the Senior Notes Indenture.

Senior Notes Indenture ” means any indenture pursuant to which the Senior Notes are issued.

Significant Holder ” means Ralf Schmid, the indirect owner, as of the Effective Date, of approximately 61% of the outstanding shares of stock of the Target.

 

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

Similar Business ” means (1) any business conducted or proposed to be conducted by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary on the Effective Date or (2) any business or other activities that are reasonably similar, ancillary, incidental, complementary or related to (including non-core incidental businesses acquired in connection with any Permitted Investment), or a reasonable extension, development or expansion of, the businesses that the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries conduct or propose to conduct on the Effective Date.

Solicited Discount Proration ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(1)(e)(J).

Solicited Discounted Prepayment Amount ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(1)(e)(H).

Solicited Discounted Prepayment Notice ” means a written notice of the Borrower of Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers made pursuant to Section 2.05(1)(e)(H) substantially in the form of Exhibit L .

Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer ” means the written offer by each Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit O , submitted following the Administrative Agent’s receipt of a Solicited Discounted Prepayment Notice.

Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(1)(e)(H).

Solvent ” and “ Solvency ” mean, with respect to any Person on any date of determination, that on such date:

(1) the fair value of the assets of such Person exceeds its debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise,

(2) the present fair saleable value of the property of such Person is greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of its debts and other liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured,

(3) such Person is able to pay its debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such liabilities become absolute and matured and

(4) such Person is not engaged in, and is not about to engage in, business for which it has 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 specified in Section 10.07(g).

Specified Discount ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(1)(e)(B).

Specified Discount Prepayment Amount ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(1)(e)(B).

Specified Discount Prepayment Notice ” means a written notice of the Borrower’s Offer of Specified Discount Prepayment made pursuant to Section 2.05(1)(e)(B) substantially in the form of Exhibit N .

Specified Discount Prepayment Response ” means the written response by each Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit P , to a Specified Discount Prepayment Notice.

 

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Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(1)(e)(B).

Specified Discount Proration ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(1)(e)(D).

Specified Representations ” means those representations and warranties made in Sections 5.01(1) (with respect to the organizational existence of the Loan Parties only), 5.01(2)(b), 5.02(1), 5.02(2)(a), 5.04, 5.13, 5.16, the last sentence of 5.17 (as related only to the use of proceeds of the Facilities on the Closing Date not violating the USA PATRIOT Act or Sanctions) and 5.18.

Specified Transaction ” means:

(1) solely for the purposes of determining the applicable cash balance, any contribution of capital, including as a result of an Equity Offering, to the Borrower, in each case, in connection with an acquisition or Investment,

(2) any designation of operations or assets of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary as discontinued operations (as defined under GAAP),

(3) any Investment that results in a Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary,

(4) any designation of a Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary in compliance with this Agreement,

(5) any purchase or other acquisition of a business of any Person, of assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division of any Person,

(6) any Asset Sale (without regard to any de minimis thresholds set forth therein) (a) that results in a Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Subsidiary of the Borrower or (b) of a business, business unit, line of business or division of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary, in each case whether by merger, amalgamation, consolidation or otherwise,

(7) any operational changes identified by the Borrower that have been made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during the Test Period,

(8) any borrowing of Incremental Loans or Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt (or establishment of Incremental Commitments), or

(9) any Restricted Payment or other transaction that by the terms of this Agreement requires a financial ratio to be calculated on a pro forma basis.

Sponsor Subordinated Debt ” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Equity Contribution”.

Sponsor Subordinated Debt Issuance ” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Equity Contribution”.

Sterling ” means the lawful currency of the United Kingdom.

Submitted Amount ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(1)(e)(E).

Submitted Discount ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(1)(e)(E).

 

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Subordinated Indebtedness ” means the Sponsor Subordinated Debt (if any) and any other Indebtedness of any Loan Party that by its terms is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations of such Loan Party arising under the Loans or the Guaranty.

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person:

(1) 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, members of management 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

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

(a) 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

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

Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower.

Successor Borrower ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.03(4).

Supplemental Administrative Agent ” and “ Supplemental Administrative Agents ” have the meanings specified in Section 9.15(1).

Swap Obligation ” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Excluded Swap Obligation.”

Target ” has the meaning specified in the Preliminary Statement of this Agreement.

TARGET Day ” shall mean any day on which the Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross Settlement Express Transfer (TARGET2) payment system which utilizes a single shared platform and which was launched on 19 November 2007 (or, if such payment system ceases to be operative, such other payment system (if any) reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent to be a suitable replacement) is open for the settlement of payments in Euro.

Tax ” means any present or future tax, levy, impost, duty, assessment, charge, fee, deduction or withholding (including backup withholding) of any nature and whatever called, imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax and penalties applicable thereto.

Tax Indemnitee ” as defined in Section 3.01(5).

Tender Documents ” means all of the documents, schedules and exhibits related to the Offer as are required to effect the Offer as in effect on the Effective Date, as each may be amended, modified, supplemented or waived from time to time in accordance with Section 6.16.

 

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Tender Effectiveness ” means the Borrower having received acceptance from holders representing at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the shares in the Target in respect of the Borrower’s Offer made in accordance with the terms of the Tender Documents, as confirmed by Dom Maklerski Banku Handlowego S.A. as tender agent for the Offer following expiration of the Offer’s subscription period.

Tender Issuing Bank ” means Citibank, N.A.

Tender Letter of Credit ” means that certain letter of credit issued for the account of AcquisitionCo, at or before the commencement of the Offer, to be issued by the Tender Issuing Bank in favor of Dom Maklerski Banku Handlowego S.A. pursuant to the Agreement for Standby Letter of Credit and the L/C Fee Letter.

Term Borrowing ” means a Borrowing of any Term Loans.

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 this Agreement 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, (iv) an Extension Amendment or (v) an amendment in respect of Replacement Loans. The initial amount of each Term Lender’s Term Commitment is specified on Schedule 2.01 under the caption “Closing Date Term Loan Commitment” or, otherwise, in the Assignment and Assumption (or Affiliated Lender Assignment and Assumption), Incremental Amendment, Refinancing Amendment, Extension Amendment or amendment in respect of Replacement Loans pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Commitment, as the case may be.

Term Facility ” means any Facility consisting of Term Loans of a single Class and/or Term Commitments with respect to such Class of Term Loans.

Term Lender ” means, at any time, any Lender that has a Term Commitment or a Term Loan at such time.

Term Loan ” means any Closing Date Term Loan, Incremental Term Loan, Other Term Loan, Extended Term Loan or Replacement Loan, as the context may require.

Term Loan Extension Request ” has the meaning provided in Section 2.16(1).

Term Loan Extension Series ” has the meaning provided in Section 2.16(1).

Term Loan Increase ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(1).

Term Note ” means a promissory note of the Borrower payable to any Term Lender or its registered assigns, in substantially the form of Exhibit B-1 hereto, evidencing the aggregate Indebtedness of the Borrower to such Term Lender resulting from the Term Loans made by such Term Lender.

Termination Conditions ” means (1) the termination of the Loan Documents in accordance with Section 2.01(3) or (2) (a) the payment in full in cash of the Obligations (other than (i) contingent indemnification obligations not then due and (ii) Obligations under Secured Hedge Agreements and Secured Cash Management Agreements) and (b) the termination of the Commitments and the termination or expiration of all Letters of Credit under this Agreement (unless the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations related thereto has been Cash Collateralized on terms reasonably acceptable to the applicable Issuing Bank, backstopped by a letter of credit reasonably satisfactory to the applicable Issuing Bank or deemed reissued under another agreement reasonably acceptable to the applicable Issuing Bank).

Test Period ” in effect at any time means the most recent period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower ended on or prior to such time (taken as one accounting period) in respect of which, subject to Section 1.07(1), financial statements for each quarter or fiscal year in such period have been or are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(1) or (2), as applicable; provided that, prior to the first date that financial

 

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statements have been or are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(1) or (2), the Test Period in effect shall be the period of four consecutive full fiscal quarters of the Borrower ended prior to the Closing Date for which financial statements would have been required to be delivered hereunder had the Closing Date occurred prior to the end of such period.

Threshold Amount ” means $40.0 million.

Total Assets ” means, at any time, the total assets of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, as shown on the then most recent balance sheet of the Borrower or such other Person as may be available (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) (and, in the case of any determination relating to any Specified Transaction, on a pro forma basis including any property or assets being acquired in connection therewith).

Total Net Leverage Ratio ” means, with respect to any Test Period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Debt outstanding as of the last day of such Test Period ( plus , solely for the purposes of testing the Total Net Leverage Ratio under Sections 2.14(4)(c)(B)(z)(I), 7.02(a)(C)(II) (including any incurrence of Indebtedness pursuant to other Sections of this Agreement that reference the test contained in such Section) and 7.02(b)(14)(z), the aggregate liquidation preference of (i) all Disqualified Stock of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP and (ii) all Preferred Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent held by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary), in each case, outstanding on the last day of such Test Period), minus, the aggregate amount of cash and Cash Equivalents of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on such date (other than cash in the Controlled Account) that (x) would not appear as “restricted” on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries or (y) restricted in favor of the Facilities (which may also secure other Indebtedness secured by a pari passu or junior Lien on the Collateral along with the Facilities) to (b) Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such Test Period, in each case on a pro forma basis with such pro forma adjustments as are appropriate and consistent with Section 1.07.

Total Senior Net Leverage Ratio ” means, with respect to any Test Period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Senior Debt outstanding as of the last day of such Test Period, minus , the aggregate amount of cash and Cash Equivalents of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on such date (other than cash in the Controlled Account) that (x) would not appear as “restricted” on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries or (y) restricted in favor of the Facilities (which may also secure other Indebtedness secured by a pari passu or junior Lien on the Collateral along with the Facilities) to (b) Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such Test Period, in each case on a pro forma basis with such pro forma adjustments as are appropriate and consistent with Section 1.07.

Total Outstandings ” means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans and L/C Obligations.

Transaction Consideration ” means an amount equal to the total funds required to consummate the Offer as contemplated by the Undertaking Agreement and the Tender Documents.

Transaction Expenses ” means any fees, expenses, costs or charges incurred or paid by the Investors, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with the Transactions, including any expenses in connection with hedging transactions, payments to officers, employees and directors as change of control payments, severance payments, special or retention bonuses and charges for repurchase or rollover of, or modifications to, stock options or restricted stock.

Transactions ” means, collectively, the transactions contemplated by the Undertaking Agreement and the Tender Documents (as amended through the Effective Date) and transactions related or incidental to, or in connection with, such transactions, the funding of the Closing Date Loans and the Bridge Loans, the consummation of the Equity Contribution and Closing Date Refinancing and the payment of the Transaction Expenses.

Treasury Capital Stock ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.05(b)(2)(a).

 

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Type ” means, with respect to a Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a LIBO Rate Loan.

UCP ” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, International Chamber of Commerce (“ICC”) Publication No. 600 (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance).

Undertaking Agreement ” means the Agreement Regarding Irrevocable Undertakings among Uniwheels Holding (Malta) Ltd., the Significant Holder and AcquisitionCo, dated on or about the Effective Date, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.

Uniform Commercial Code ” or “ UCC ” 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 or the Uniform Commercial Code or any successor provision thereof (or similar code or statute) of another jurisdiction, to the extent it may be required to apply to the perfection or priority of any Lien on or otherwise with regard to any item or items of Collateral.

United States ” and “ U.S .” mean the United States of America.

United States Tax Compliance Certificate ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(3)(b)(iii).

Unreimbursed Amount ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(3)(a).

Unrestricted Subsidiary ” means:

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

(2) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

The Borrower may designate:

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

(i) such designation shall be deemed an Investment;

(ii) each of (i) the Subsidiary to be so designated and (ii) 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 Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than Equity Interests in an Unrestricted Subsidiary); and

(iii) immediately after giving effect to such designation, no Event of Default will have occurred and be continuing; and

(b) any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that:

(i) immediately after giving effect to such designation, no Event of Default will have occurred and be continuing; and

 

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(ii) the Borrower (A) could incur at least $1.00 of additional Permitted Ratio Debt pursuant to clause (C)(I) of the definition thereof or (B) the Interest Coverage Ratio after giving effect to any such designation would be no less than the Interest Coverage Ratio immediately prior to giving effect to such designation;

Any such designation by the Borrower will be notified by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent by promptly filing with the Administrative Agent an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions. The designation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary shall constitute the incurrence at the time of designation of any Indebtedness and Liens of such Subsidiary existing at such time.

U.S. Lender ” means any Lender that is not a Foreign Lender.

USA PATRIOT Act ” means The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (Title III of Public Law No. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), as amended or modified from time to time.

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

(1) the sum of the products of the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twenty-fifth) from the date of determination to the date of each successive scheduled principal payment of such Indebtedness or redemption or similar payment with respect to such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, multiplied by the amount of such payment, by

(2) the sum of all such payments;

provided that for purposes of determining the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any Indebtedness that is being Refinanced (the “ Applicable Indebtedness ”), the effects of any amortization or prepayments made on such Applicable Indebtedness prior to the date of the applicable Refinancing will be disregarded.

wholly owned ” means, with respect to any Subsidiary of any Person, a Subsidiary of such Person one hundred percent (100%) of the outstanding Equity Interests of which (other than (x) directors’ qualifying shares and (y) shares of Capital Stock of Foreign Subsidiaries issued to foreign nationals as required by applicable Law) is at the time owned by such Person or by one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

Withdrawal Liability ” means the liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.

Withholding U.S. Branch ” means a U.S. branch of a non-U.S. bank treated as a U.S. person for purposes of Treasury Regulations Section 1.1441-1 and described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.1441-1T(b)(2)(iv) that agrees, on IRS Form W-8IMY or such other form prescribed by the Treasury or the IRS, to accept responsibility for all U.S. federal income tax withholding and information reporting with respect to payments made to the Administrative Agent for the account of Lenders by or on behalf of any Loan Party under the Loan Documents.

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 ” means the lawful currency of Japan.

 

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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:

(1) The meanings of defined terms are equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.

(2) 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.

(3) References in this Agreement to the Preliminary Statements, the introductory paragraph, an Exhibit, a Schedule, an Article, a Section, an Annex, a clause or a subclause refer (a) to the Preliminary Statements, the introductory paragraph, or appropriate Exhibit or Schedule to, or Article, Section, clause or subclause in this Agreement, as the case may be, or (b) to the extent such references are not present in this Agreement, to the Loan Document in which such reference appears, in each case as such Exhibit, Schedule, Article, Section, Annex, clause or subclause may be amended or supplemented from time to time.

(4) The term “including” is by way of example and not limitation.

(5) 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.

(6) 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.”

(7) 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.

(8) The word “or” is not intended to be exclusive unless expressly indicated otherwise.

(9) [Reserved.]

(10) For purposes of determining compliance with any Section of Article VII, in the event that any Lien, Investment, Indebtedness, Asset Sale, Restricted Payment, Affiliate Transaction, Contractual Obligation or prepayment of Indebtedness meets the criteria of one or more of the categories of transactions permitted pursuant to any clause of such Sections, such transaction (or portion thereof) at any time, shall be permitted under one or more of such clauses as determined by the Borrower in its sole discretion at such time. For purposes of determining compliance with the incurrence of any Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness or Refinancing Indebtedness that restricts the amount of such Indebtedness relative to the amount of Credit Agreement Refinanced Debt or Refinanced Debt, respectively, the Borrower and Restricted Subsidiaries may incur an incremental principal amount of Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness or Refinancing Indebtedness in such refinancing to the extent that the excess portion of the Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness or Refinancing Indebtedness would otherwise be permitted to be incurred in accordance with this Agreement. For purposes of determining compliance with the incurrence of any Indebtedness under Designated Revolving Commitments in reliance on compliance with any ratio, if on the date such Designated Revolving Commitments are established, the applicable ratio is satisfied after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence of the entire committed amount of then proposed Indebtedness thereunder, then such committed amount under such Designated Revolving Commitments may thereafter be borrowed and reborrowed, in whole or in part, from time to time, without further compliance with any ratio.

(11) For purposes hereof, unless otherwise specifically indicated, the term “consolidated” with respect to any Person refers to such Person consolidated with its Restricted Subsidiaries and excludes from such consolidation any Unrestricted Subsidiary as if such Unrestricted Subsidiary were not an Affiliate of such Person.

 

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SECTION 1.03 Accounting Terms . 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, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein. Unless the context indicates otherwise, any reference to a “fiscal year” or a “fiscal quarter” shall refer to a fiscal year ending December 31 or fiscal quarter ending March 31, June 30, September 30 or December 31 of the Borrower. Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made, without giving effect to any election under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 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.

SECTION 1.04 Rounding . Any financial ratios 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).

SECTION 1.05 References to Agreements, Laws, etc . Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (1) references to Organizational 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 not prohibited by any Loan Document; and (2) 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 and Timing of Payment and Performance . Unless otherwise specified, (1) all references herein to times of day shall be references to New York time (daylight or standard, as applicable) and (2) 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 1.07 Pro Forma and Other Calculations .

(1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, financial ratios and tests, including the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Secured Net Leverage Ratio, the Total Net Leverage Ratio and the Interest Coverage Ratio shall be calculated in the manner prescribed by this Section 1.07; provided that notwithstanding anything to the contrary in clauses (2), (3), (4) or (5) of this Section 1.07 when calculating the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, Total Senior Net Leverage Ratio or Total Net Leverage Ratio, as applicable, for purposes of (a) the definition of “Applicable Rate,” (b) Section 2.05(2)(a) and (c) the Financial Covenant (other than for the purpose of determining pro forma compliance with the Financial Covenant), the events described in this Section 1.07 that occurred subsequent to the end of the applicable Test Period shall not be given pro forma effect; provided however that voluntary prepayments made pursuant to Section 2.05(1) during any fiscal year (without duplication of any prepayments in such fiscal year that reduced the amount of Excess Cash Flow required to be repaid pursuant to Section 2.05(2)(a) for any prior fiscal year) shall be given pro forma effect after such fiscal year-end and prior to the time any mandatory prepayment pursuant to Section 2.05(2)(a) is due for purposes of calculating the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio for purposes of determining the ECF Percentage for such mandatory prepayment, if any. In addition, whenever a financial ratio or test is to be calculated on a pro forma basis, the reference to “Test Period” for purposes of calculating such financial ratio or test shall be deemed to be a reference to, and shall be based on, the most recently ended Test Period for which internal financial statements of the Borrower are available (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) (it being understood that for purposes of (x) determining pro forma compliance with the Financial Covenant, if no Test Period with an applicable level cited in the Financial Covenant has passed, the applicable level shall be the level for the first Test Period cited in the Financial Covenant with an indicated level and (y) determining actual compliance (and not pro forma compliance) with the Financial Covenant, the reference to “Test Period” shall be deemed to be a reference to, and shall be based on, the most recently ended Test Period for which financial statements have been or are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(1) or (2)).

 

 

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(2) For purposes of calculating any financial ratio or test (or Consolidated EBITDA or Total Assets), Specified Transactions (and, subject to clause (4) below, the incurrence or repayment of any Indebtedness in connection therewith) that have been made (a) during the applicable Test Period or (b) subsequent to such Test Period and prior to or simultaneously with the event for which the calculation of any such ratio is made shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Specified Transactions (and any increase or decrease in Consolidated EBITDA and the component financial definitions used therein attributable to any Specified Transaction) had occurred on the first day of the applicable Test Period (or, in the case of Total Assets, on the last day of the applicable Test Period). If since the beginning of any applicable Test Period any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such Test Period shall have made any Specified Transaction that would have required adjustment pursuant to this Section 1.07, then such financial ratio or test (or Consolidated EBITDA or Total Assets) shall be calculated to give pro forma effect thereto in accordance with this Section 1.07.

(3) Whenever pro forma effect is to be given to a Specified Transaction, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a Financial Officer of the Borrower and may include, for the avoidance of doubt, the amount of “run-rate” cost savings, operating expense reductions and synergies projected by the Borrower in good faith to result from or relating to any Specified Transaction (including the Transactions and, for the avoidance of doubt, acquisitions occurring prior to the Closing Date) which is being given pro forma effect that have been realized or are expected to be realized and for which the actions necessary to realize such cost savings, operating expense reductions and synergies are taken, committed to be taken or with respect to which substantial steps have been taken or are expected to be taken (in the good faith determination of the Borrower) (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 and as if such cost savings, operating expense reductions and synergies were realized during the entirety of such period and “run-rate” means the full recurring benefit for a period that is associated with any action taken, committed to be taken or with respect to which substantial steps have been taken or are expected to be taken (including any savings expected to result from the elimination of a public target’s compliance costs with public company requirements), whether prior to or following the Effective Date, net of the amount of actual benefits realized during such period from such actions, and any such adjustments shall be included in the initial pro forma calculations of such financial ratios or tests and during any subsequent Test Period in which the effects thereof are expected to be realized) relating to such Specified Transaction; provided that (a) such amounts are reasonably identifiable and factually supportable in the good faith judgment of the Borrower, (b) such actions are taken, committed to be taken or with respect to which substantial steps have been taken or are expected to be taken no later than twenty-four (24) months after the date of such Specified Transaction (or actions undertaken or implemented prior to the consummation of such Specified Transaction); provided further that, with respect to the Transactions, such period shall be thirty-six (36) months, and (c) no amounts shall be added to the extent duplicative of any amounts that are otherwise added back in computing Consolidated EBITDA (or any other components thereof), whether through a pro forma adjustment or otherwise, with respect to such period.

(4) In the event that (a) the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary incurs (including by assumption or guarantees), issues or repays (including by redemption, repurchase, repayment, retirement, discharge, defeasance or extinguishment) any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness incurred or repaid under any revolving credit facility or line of credit unless such Indebtedness has been permanently repaid and not replaced), (b) the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary issues, repurchases or redeems Disqualified Stock, (c) any Restricted Subsidiary issues, repurchases or redeems Preferred Stock or (d) the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary establishes or eliminates any Designated Revolving Commitments, in each case included in the calculations of any financial ratio or test, (i) during the applicable Test Period or (ii) subsequent to the end of the applicable Test Period and prior to or simultaneously with the event for which the calculation of any such ratio is made, then such financial ratio or test shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, issuance, repayment or redemption of Indebtedness, issuance, repurchase or redemption of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, or establishment or elimination of any Designated Revolving Commitments, in each case to the extent required, as if the same had occurred on the last day of the applicable Test Period (except in the case of the Interest Coverage Ratio (or similar ratio), in which case such incurrence, issuance, repayment or redemption of Indebtedness, issuance, repurchase or

 

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redemption of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, or establishment or elimination of any Designated Revolving Commitments, in each case will be given effect, as if the same had occurred on the first day of the applicable Test Period) and, in the case of Indebtedness for all purposes as if such Indebtedness in the full amount of any undrawn Designated Revolving Commitments had been incurred thereunder throughout such period; provided , however , that at the election of the Borrower, the pro forma calculation will not give effect to any Indebtedness incurred on such determination date pursuant to the provisions described in Section 7.02(c).

(5) 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 date of the event for which the calculation of the Interest Coverage Ratio is made had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any interest hedging arrangements applicable to such Indebtedness). Interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by a Financial Officer of the Borrower to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP. 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 determined to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as the Borrower or applicable Restricted Subsidiary may designate.

(6) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 1.07 or in any classification under GAAP of any Person, business, assets or operations in respect of which a definitive agreement for the disposition thereof has been entered into, no pro forma effect shall be given to any discontinued operations (and the Consolidated EBITDA attributable to any such Person, business, assets or operations shall not be excluded for any purposes hereunder) until such disposition shall have been consummated.

(7) Any determination of Total Assets shall be made by reference to the last day of the Test Period most recently ended for which internal financial statements of the Borrower are available (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) on or prior to the relevant date of determination.

(8) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any Loan Document to the contrary, when (a) calculating any applicable ratio, Consolidated Net Income or Consolidated EBITDA in connection with the incurrence of Indebtedness, the issuance of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, the creation of Liens, the making of any Asset Sale, the making of an Investment, the making of a Restricted Payment, the designation of a Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary or the repayment of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, (b) determining compliance with any provision of this Agreement which requires that no Default or Event of Default has occurred, is continuing or would result therefrom, (c) determining compliance with any provision of this Agreement which requires compliance with any representations and warranties set forth herein or (d) determining the satisfaction of all other conditions precedent to the incurrence of Indebtedness, the issuance of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, the creation of Liens, the making of any Asset Sale, the making of an Investment, the making of a Restricted Payment, the designation of a Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary or the repayment of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, in each case in connection with a Limited Condition Transaction, the date of determination of such ratio or other provisions, determination of whether any Default or Event of Default has occurred, is continuing or would result therefrom, determination of compliance with any representations or warranties (in the case of Specified Representations, subject to Section 2.14) or the satisfaction of any other conditions shall, at the option of the Borrower (the Borrower’s election to exercise such option in connection with any Limited Condition Transaction, an “ LCT Election ,” which LCT Election may be in respect of one or more of clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) above), be deemed to be the date the definitive agreements (or other relevant definitive documentation) for such Limited Condition Transaction are entered into (the “ LCT Test Date ”). If on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such Limited Condition Transaction and the other transactions to be entered into in connection therewith (including any incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, and the use of proceeds thereof), with such ratios and other provisions calculated as if such Limited Condition Transaction or other transactions had occurred at the beginning of the most recent Test Period ending prior to the LCT Test Date for which internal financial statements are available, the Borrower could have taken such action on the relevant LCT Test Date in compliance with the applicable ratios or other provisions, such provisions shall be deemed to have been complied with, unless an Event of Default pursuant to Section 8.01(1), or, solely with respect to the Borrower, Section 8.01(6) shall be continuing on the date such Limited Condition Transaction is consummated. For the avoidance of doubt, (i)

 

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if, following the LCT Test Date, any of such ratios or other provisions are exceeded or breached as a result of fluctuations in such ratio (including due to fluctuations in Consolidated EBITDA or other components of such ratio) or other provisions at or prior to the consummation of the relevant Limited Condition Transactions, such ratios and other provisions will not be deemed to have been exceeded or failed to have been satisfied as a result of such fluctuations solely for purposes of determining whether the Limited Condition Transaction is permitted hereunder and (ii) such ratios and compliance with such conditions shall not be tested at the time of consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction or related Specified Transactions, unless, other than if an Event of Default pursuant to Section 8.01(1), or, solely with respect to the Borrower, Section 8.01(6), shall be continuing on such date, the Borrower elects, in its sole discretion, to test such ratios and compliance with such conditions on the date such Limited Condition Transaction or related Specified Transactions is consummated. If the Borrower has made an LCT Election for any Limited Condition Transaction, then in connection with any subsequent calculation of any ratio, Basket availability or compliance with any other provision hereunder (other than actual compliance with the Financial Covenant) on or following the relevant LCT Test Date and prior to the earliest of the date on which such Limited Condition Transaction is consummated, the date that the definitive agreement for such Limited Condition Transaction is terminated or expires without consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction or the date the Borrower makes an election pursuant to clause (y) of the immediately preceding sentence, any such ratio, Basket or compliance with any other provision hereunder shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming such Limited Condition Transaction and other transactions in connection therewith (including any incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, and the use of proceeds thereof) had been consummated on the LCT Test Date; provided that for purposes of any such calculation of the Interest Coverage Ratio, Consolidated Interest Expense will be calculated using an assumed interest rate for the Indebtedness to be incurred in connection with such Limited Condition Transaction based on the indicative interest margin contained in any financing commitment documentation with respect to such Indebtedness or, if no such indicative interest margin exists, as reasonably determined by the Borrower in good faith. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any Loan Document to the contrary, if the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries (x) incurs Indebtedness, issues Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, creates Liens, makes Asset Sales, makes Investments, makes Restricted Payments, designates any Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary or repays any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock in connection with any Limited Condition Transaction under a ratio-based Basket and (y) incurs Indebtedness, issues Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, creates Liens, makes Asset Sales, Investments or Restricted Payments, designates any as a Restricted Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary or repays any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock in connection with such Limited Condition Transaction under a non-ratio-based Basket (which shall occur within five Business Days of the events in clause (x) above), then the applicable ratio will be calculated with respect to any such action under the applicable ratio-based Basket without regard to any such action under such non-ratio-based Basket made in connection with such Limited Condition Transaction.

SECTION 1.08 Available Amount Transaction . 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 specified in clause (3) of Section 7.05(a) 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, i.e., each transaction must be permitted under clause (3) of Section 7.05(a) as so calculated.

SECTION 1.09 Guaranties of Hedging Obligations . Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary in any Loan Document, no non-Qualified ECP Guarantor shall be required to guarantee or provide security for Excluded Swap Obligations, and any reference in any Loan Document with respect to such non-Qualified ECP Guarantor guaranteeing or providing security for the Obligations shall be deemed to be all Obligations other than the Excluded Swap Obligations.

SECTION 1.10 Currency Equivalents Generally .

(1) If any basket under Article VII or VIII with respect to any amount expressed in a currency other than Dollars is exceeded solely as a result of fluctuations in applicable currency exchange rates after the last time such basket was utilized, such basket will not be deemed to have been exceeded solely as a result of such fluctuations in currency exchange rates.

 

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(2) Any determinations as to the Dollar Equivalent of Revolving Loans denominated in Euros shall be made by the Administrative Agent as of the most recent Revaluation Date and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(3) For purposes of determining the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, Secured Net Leverage Ratio and the Total Net Leverage Ratio, amounts denominated in a currency other than U.S. Dollars will be converted to U.S. Dollars for the purposes of (A) testing the Financial Covenant, at the Exchange Rate as of the last day of the fiscal quarter for which such measurement is being made, and (B) calculating any First Lien Net Leverage Ratio (other than for the purposes of determining compliance with the Financial Covenant), Secured Net Leverage Ratio and the Total Net Leverage Ratio, at the Exchange Rate as of the date of calculation, and will, in the case of Indebtedness, reflect the currency translation effects, determined in accordance with GAAP, of Hedging Obligations permitted hereunder for currency exchange risks with respect to the applicable currency in effect on the date of determination of the U.S. Dollar equivalent of such Indebtedness.

(4) The Administrative Agent shall use the Exchange Rate as of each Revaluation Date for the purpose of calculating Dollar Equivalent amounts of the Revolving Loans denominated in Euros, as the case may be. Such Exchange Rates shall become effective as of such Revaluation Date and shall be the Exchange Rates employed in converting any amounts between the applicable currencies for such purposes until the next Revaluation Date to occur.

SECTION 1.11 Letters of Credit . Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the amount of the stated amount of such Letter of Credit in effect at such time after giving effect to any automatic reductions to such stated amount pursuant to the terms of the applicable Letter of Credit after the occurrence of any applicable condition (including the expiration of any applicable period); provided , however , that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any Issuing Bank 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 amount 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.

Article II

The Commitments and Borrowings

SECTION 2.01 The Loans .

(1) Term Borrowings . Subject only to the terms and conditions set forth in Section 4.02 hereof, each Term Lender severally agrees to make to the Borrower on the Closing Date the Closing Date Term Loans denominated in Dollars in an aggregate principal amount equal to such Term Lender’s Closing Date Term Loan Commitment on the Closing Date. Amounts borrowed under this Section 2.01(1) and repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. The Closing Date Term Loans may be Base Rate Loans or LIBO Rate Loans, as further provided herein.

(2) Revolving Borrowings . Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Revolving Lender severally agrees to make loans denominated in Dollars or any Alternative Currency from its applicable Lending Office (each such loan, a “ Revolving Loan ”) to the Borrower from time to time, on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date until the Maturity Date, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Commitment; provided that after giving effect to any Revolving Borrowing, the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Loans of any Lender plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations shall not exceed such Lender’s Revolving Commitment. Within the limits of each Lender’s Revolving Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01(2), prepay under Section 2.05 and reborrow under this Section 2.01(2). Revolving Loans may be Base Rate Loans or LIBO Rate Loans, as further provided herein; provided , that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, each Borrowing of Alternative Currency Loans shall be limited to LIBO Rate Loans and in no event shall any such Borrowing be converted into Base Rate Loans.

 

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(3) Termination . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, in the event that the Closing Date does not occur on or before the termination of the Tender Letter of Credit in accordance with its terms, then this Credit Agreement and the commitments and undertakings of each Agent, Lender and Issuing Bank hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including the Commitment and the obligation to provide any Credit Extension) shall automatically terminate.

SECTION 2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans .

(1) Each Term Borrowing, each Revolving Borrowing, each conversion of Term Loans or Revolving Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of LIBO Rate Loans shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice, on behalf of the Borrower, to the Administrative Agent ( provided that the notice in respect of any Permitted Acquisition or other transaction permitted under this Agreement, may be conditioned on such Permitted Acquisition or other transaction, as applicable), which may be given by: (A) telephone or (B) a Committed Loan Notice; provided that any telephonic notice by the Borrower must be confirmed immediately by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a Committed Loan Notice. Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than (a) 1:00 p.m., New York time, three (3) Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing or continuation of LIBO Rate Loans or any conversion of Base Rate Loans to LIBO Rate Loans, (b) 1:00 p.m., New York time, on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans or any conversion of LIBO Rate Loans to Base Rate Loans and (c) 1:00 p.m., New York time, four (4) Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing or continuation of any Alternative Currency Loans; provided that the notice referred to in subclause (a) above shall be delivered not later than 1:00 p.m., New York time, one (1) Business Day prior to the Closing Date in the case of the Closing Date Loans (provided that upon the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 4.02, the Borrower shall be deemed to have delivered such borrowing notice with respect to the Closing Date Loans (provided further that such deemed borrowing notice shall be without derogation of the Borrower’s obligation to provide a borrowing notice in respect of such Borrowing in accordance with the terms of this Section 2.02)). Each telephonic notice by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.02(1) 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 Sections 2.14, 2.15 and 2.16, each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of LIBO Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1.0 million (or the Dollar Equivalent thereof) or a whole multiple amount of $250,000 (or the Dollar Equivalent thereof) in excess thereof. Except as provided in Sections 2.03(3), 2.14, 2.15 and 2.16, each Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple amount of $100,000 in excess thereof. Each Committed Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify

(i) whether the Borrower is requesting a Term Borrowing, a Revolving Borrowing, a conversion of Term Loans or Revolving Loans from one Type to the other or a continuation of LIBO 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 Class and Type of Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Term Loans or Revolving Loans are to be converted,

(v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto,

(vi) the applicable currency, which shall be either U.S. Dollars or an Alternative Currency, and

(vii) wire instructions of the account(s) to which funds are to be disbursed.

If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Loan to be made in a Committed Loan Notice, then the applicable Loans shall be made as LIBO Rate Loans with an Interest Period of one (1) month. If the Borrower fails

 

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to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Loans shall be made or continued as the same Type of Loan, which if a LIBO Rate Loan, shall have a one-month Interest Period. Any such automatic continuation of LIBO Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable LIBO Rate Loans. If the Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of LIBO 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.

(2) Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount 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 continuation of LIBO Rate Loans or continuation of Loans described in Section 2.02(1). 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, in the case of Borrowing on the Closing Date, 10:00 a.m., New York time, and otherwise 3:00 p.m., New York time, on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4 for any Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (a) crediting the account(s) of the Borrower on the books of the Administrative Agent with the amount of such funds or (b) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided by the Borrower to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent; provided that if on the date the Committed Loan Notice with respect to a Borrowing under a Revolving Facility is given by the Borrower (other than with respect to the Closing Date Revolving Borrowing), there are L/C Borrowings outstanding, then the proceeds of such Borrowing shall be applied, first, to the payment in full of any such L/C Borrowing and second, to the Borrower as provided above.

(3) Except as otherwise provided herein, a LIBO Rate Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such LIBO Rate Loan, unless the Borrower pays the amount due, if any, under Section 3.05 in connection therewith. Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent at the direction of the Required Facility Lenders under the applicable Facility may require by notice to the Borrower that no Loans under such Facility may be converted to or continued as LIBO Rate Loans.

(4) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for LIBO Rate Loans upon determination of such interest rate. The determination of the LIBO Rate by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. At any time when Base Rate Loans are outstanding, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of any change in the Administrative Agent’s prime rate used in determining the Base Rate promptly following the announcement of such change.

(5) After giving effect to all Term Borrowings, all Revolving Borrowings, all conversions of Term Loans or Revolving Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Term Loans or Revolving Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than ten (10) Interest Periods in effect unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

(6) 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.

(7) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the date of any Borrowing, or, in the case of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, prior to 1:30 p.m., New York time, on the date of such Borrowing, that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such Pro Rata Share and such other applicable share available to the Administrative Agent on the date of such Borrowing in accordance with paragraph (2) above, and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower on such date a

 

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corresponding amount. If the Administrative Agent shall have so made funds available, then, to the extent that such Lender shall not have made such portion available to the Administrative Agent, each of such Lender and the Borrower severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is made available to the Borrower until the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at (a) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable at the time to the Loans comprising such Borrowing and (b) in the case of such Lender, the Overnight Rate plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in accordance with the foregoing. A certificate of the Administrative Agent submitted to any Lender with respect to any amounts owing under this Section 2.02(7) shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. If the Borrower and such Lender shall both pay all or any portion of the principal amount in respect of such Borrowing or interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such Borrowing or interest paid by the Borrower for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing. Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

SECTION 2.03 Letters of Credit .

(1) The Letter of Credit Commitments .

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (i) each Issuing Bank agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the other Revolving Lenders set forth in this Section 2.03, (A) from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date until the L/C Expiration Date, to issue Letters of Credit denominated in Dollars for the account of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary ( provided that any such Letter of Credit may be for the benefit of any Subsidiary of the Borrower) and to amend or renew Letters of Credit previously issued by it, in accordance with Section 2.03(2), and (B) to honor drawings under the Letters of Credit and (ii) the Revolving Lenders severally agree to participate in Letters of Credit issued pursuant to this Section 2.03; provided that no Issuing Bank 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 Exposure of any Revolving Lender would exceed such Lender’s Revolving Commitment, (y) the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations would exceed the L/C Sublimit or (z) the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations issued by such Issuing Bank would exceed its L/C 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.

(b) An Issuing Bank shall be under no obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if:

(i) any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain such Issuing Bank from issuing such Letter of Credit, or any Law applicable to such Issuing Bank or any directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over such Issuing Bank shall prohibit, or direct that such Issuing Bank refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon such Issuing Bank with respect to such Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which such Issuing Bank is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Effective Date, or shall impose upon such Issuing Bank any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Effective Date (for which such Issuing Bank is not otherwise compensated hereunder);

(ii) subject to Section 2.03(2)(c), the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur more than twelve months after the date of issuance or last renewal, unless (A) each Appropriate Lender has approved of such expiration date or (B) the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations in respect of such requested Letter of Credit has been Cash Collateralized or back-stopped by a letter of credit reasonably satisfactory to the applicable Issuing Bank;

 

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(iii) the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur after the L/C Expiration Date, unless (A) each Appropriate Lender has approved of such expiration date or (B) the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations in respect of such requested Letter of Credit has been Cash Collateralized or back-stopped by a letter of credit reasonably satisfactory to the applicable Issuing Bank;

(iv) the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate any policies of such Issuing Bank applicable to letters of credit generally; or

(v) any Revolving Lender is at that time a Defaulting Lender, unless such Issuing Bank has entered into arrangements, including the delivery of Cash Collateral, satisfactory to such Issuing Bank (in its sole discretion) with the Borrower or such Lender to eliminate such Issuing Bank’s actual or potential Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section 2.17(1)(d)) 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 Issuing Bank has actual or potential Fronting Exposure, as it may elect in its sole discretion.

(c) An Issuing Bank shall be under no obligation to amend any Letter of Credit if (i) such Issuing Bank would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof or (ii) the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit does not accept the proposed amendment to such Letter of Credit.

(2) Procedures for Issuance and Amendment of Letters of Credit; Auto-Extension Letters of Credit .

(a) Each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be, upon the request of the Borrower delivered to an Issuing Bank (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) in the form of a L/C Application, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Such L/C Application must be received by the relevant Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m., New York time, at least two (2) Business Days prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be, or, in each case, such later date and time as the relevant Issuing Bank 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 L/C Application shall specify in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the relevant Issuing Bank:

(i) the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day);

(ii) the amount thereof;

(iii) the expiry date thereof;

(iv) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof;

(v) the documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder;

(vi) the full text of any certificate to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; and

(vii) such other matters as the relevant Issuing Bank may reasonably request.

In the case of a request for an amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such L/C Application shall specify in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the relevant Issuing Bank:

 

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(A) the Letter of Credit to be amended;

(B) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day);

(C) the nature of the proposed amendment; and

(D) such other matters as the relevant Issuing Bank may reasonably request.

(b) Promptly after receipt of any L/C Application, the relevant Issuing Bank will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has received a copy of such L/C Application from the Borrower and, if not, such Issuing Bank will provide the Administrative Agent with a copy thereof. Upon receipt by the relevant Issuing Bank 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 Issuing Bank shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the Borrower (or, if applicable, for the benefit of any Subsidiary 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 Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the relevant Issuing Bank a risk participation in such Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the product of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the amount of such Letter of Credit.

(c) If the Borrower so requests in any applicable L/C Application, the relevant Issuing Bank 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 Issuing Bank 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 day (the “ Non-Extension Notice Date ”) in each such twelve-month period to be agreed upon by the relevant Issuing Bank and the Borrower at the time such Letter of Credit is issued. Unless otherwise agreed in such Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to the relevant Issuing Bank 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 Issuing Bank to permit the extension of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the applicable L/C Expiration Date, unless the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations in respect of such requested Letter of Credit has been Cash Collateralized or back-stopped by a letter of credit reasonably satisfactory to the applicable Issuing Bank; provided that the relevant Issuing Bank shall not permit any such extension if (i) the relevant Issuing Bank 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(1)(b) or otherwise) or (ii) it has received notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is seven (7) Business Days before the Non-Extension Notice Date from the Administrative Agent, any Revolving Lender or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.03 will not be satisfied on the applicable date of the Credit Extension.

(d) Promptly after issuance of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter of Credit, the relevant Issuing Bank will also deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.

(3) Drawings and Reimbursements; Funding of Participations .

(a) Upon receipt from the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of any notice of a drawing under such Letter of Credit, the relevant Issuing Bank shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent thereof (including the date on which such payment is to be made). Not later than 12:00 p.m. on the first Business Day immediately following any payment by an Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit with notice to the Borrower (each such date, an “ Honor Date ”), the Borrower shall reimburse, or cause to be reimbursed, such Issuing Bank, in each case, through the Administrative Agent in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing; provided that, if such reimbursement is not made on the date of drawing, the Borrower shall pay interest to the relevant Issuing Bank on such amount at the rate applicable

 

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to Base Rate Loans (without duplication of interest payable on L/C Borrowings). The relevant Issuing Bank shall notify the Borrower of the amount of the drawing promptly following the determination thereof. If the Borrower fails to so reimburse, or cause to be reimbursed, such Issuing Bank by such time, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Appropriate Lender of the Honor Date, the amount of the unreimbursed drawing (the “ Unreimbursed Amount ”), and the amount of such Appropriate Lender’s Applicable Percentage thereof. In such event, in the case of an Unreimbursed Amount under a Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Revolving 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 but subject to the requirements for the amount of the unutilized portion of the Revolving Commitments under the applicable Revolving Facility of the Appropriate Lenders and the conditions set forth in Section 4.03 (other than the delivery of a Committed Loan Notice). Any notice given by an Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.03(3)(a) 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.

(b) Each Appropriate Lender (including any Lender acting as an Issuing Bank) shall upon any notice pursuant to Section 2.03(3)(a) make funds available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the relevant Issuing Bank in Dollars at the Administrative Agent’s Office for payments in an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the Unreimbursed Amount not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in such notice by the Administrative Agent, whereupon, subject to the provisions of Section 2.03(3)(c), each Appropriate Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Revolving Loan that is a Base Rate Loan to the Borrower in such amount and, for the avoidance of doubt, the making of such Base Rate Loans in an aggregate amount equal to such Unreimbursed Amount shall satisfy the Borrower’s reimbursement obligations with respect thereof. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the relevant Issuing Bank.

(c) With respect to any Unreimbursed Amount that is not fully refinanced by a Revolving Borrowing of Base Rate Loans because the conditions set forth in Section 4.03 cannot be satisfied or for any other reason, the Borrower shall be deemed to have incurred from the relevant Issuing Bank 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 at the Default Rate. In such event, each Appropriate Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the relevant Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.03(3)(b) 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.

(d) Until each Appropriate Lender funds its Revolving Loan or L/C Advance pursuant to this Section 2.03(3) to reimburse the relevant Issuing Bank for any amount drawn under any Letter of Credit, interest in respect of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such amount shall be solely for the account of the relevant Issuing Bank.

(e) Each Revolving Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Loans or L/C Advances to reimburse an Issuing Bank for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit, as contemplated by this Section 2.03(3), shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including

(i) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the relevant Issuing Bank, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever;

(ii) the occurrence or continuance of a Default; or

(iii) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing;

 

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provided that each Revolving Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Loans pursuant to this Section 2.03(3) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.03 (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 Issuing Bank for the amount of any payment made by such Issuing Bank under any Letter of Credit, together with interest as provided herein.

(f) If any Revolving Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the relevant Issuing Bank any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03(3) by the time specified in Section 2.03(3)(b), such Issuing Bank 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 Issuing Bank at a rate per annum equal to the Overnight Rate from time to time in effect. A certificate of the relevant Issuing Bank submitted to any Revolving Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this Section 2.03(3)(f) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(4) Repayment of Participations .

(a) If, at any time after an Issuing Bank has made a payment under any Letter of Credit and has received from any Revolving Lender such Lender’s L/C Advance in respect of such payment in accordance with Section 2.03(3), the Administrative Agent receives for the account of such Issuing Bank 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 Applicable Percentage thereof (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 amount received by the Administrative Agent.

(b) If any payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of an Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.03(3)(a) or Section 2.03(3)(b) is required to be returned under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.06 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by such Issuing Bank in its discretion), each Appropriate Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Issuing Bank its Applicable Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, 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 Overnight Rate from time to time in effect. The Obligations of the Revolving Lenders under this Section 2.03(4)(b) shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

(5) Obligations Absolute . The obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the relevant Issuing Bank 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:

(a) any lack of validity or enforceability of such Letter of Credit, this Agreement, or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto;

(b) 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 Issuing Bank 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;

(c) 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;

 

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(d) any payment by the relevant Issuing Bank 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 Issuing Bank 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;

(e) 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; or

(f) 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 Issuing Bank from liability to the Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to consequential damages, claims in respect of which are waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable Law) suffered by the Borrower that are caused by acts or omissions by such Issuing Bank constituting gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of such Issuing Bank as determined in a final and non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction.

(6) Role of Issuing Banks . Each Issuing Bank shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, any note, writing, resolution, notice, statement, certificate or facsimile message, order or other document or telephone message signed, sent or made by any Person that such Issuing Bank reasonably believed to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person, and, with respect to all legal matters pertaining to this Agreement and any other Loan Document and its duties hereunder and thereunder, upon advice of counsel selected by such Issuing Bank (which may include, at the Issuing Bank’s option, counsel of the Administrative Agent or the Borrower). Each Lender and the Borrower agrees that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit, the relevant Issuing Bank 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 Issuing Banks, any Related Person of such Issuing Banks, nor any of the respective correspondents, participants or assignees of any Issuing Bank shall be liable to any Lender for

(a) any action taken or omitted in connection herewith at the request or with the approval of the Lenders, the Required Lenders or the Required Facility Lenders in respect of the Revolving Commitments, as applicable;

(b) any action taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct as determined in a final and non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction; or

(c) the due execution, effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any document or instrument related to any Letter of Credit or L/C Application.

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 from pursuing such rights and remedies as it may have against the beneficiary or transferee at law or under any other agreement. None of the Issuing Banks, any Related Persons of such Issuing Banks, nor any of the respective correspondents, participants or assignees of any Issuing Bank, shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in clauses (a) through (f) of Section 2.03(5); provided that anything in such clauses to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrower may have a claim against an Issuing Bank, and such Issuing Bank may be liable to the Borrower, to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential, damages suffered by the Borrower which the Borrower proves were caused by such Issuing Bank’s willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence or such Issuing Bank’s willful or grossly negligent, or bad faith, 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

 

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judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, each Issuing Bank may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, and no Issuing Bank 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.

Each Revolving Lender shall, ratably in accordance with its Applicable Percentage, indemnify each Issuing Bank, its Related Persons and their respective directors, officers, agents and employees (to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrower) against any cost, expense (including reasonable counsel fees and disbursements), claim, demand, action, loss or liability (except such as result from such indemnitees’ willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence or such Issuing Bank’s willful or grossly negligent, or bad faith, 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) that such indemnitees may suffer or incur in connection with this Section 2.03 or any action taken or omitted to be taken by such indemnitees hereunder.

(7) Cash Collateral . Subject to Section 2.17(1)(d), if,

(a) as of any L/C Expiration Date, any applicable Letter of Credit may for any reason remain outstanding and partially or wholly undrawn,

(b) any Event of Default occurs and is continuing and the Administrative Agent, upon the direction of the Required Facility Lenders in respect of the Revolving Facility, requires the Borrower to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations pursuant to Section 8.02 or

(c) an Event of Default set forth under Section 8.01(6) occurs and is continuing,

the Borrower will Cash Collateralize, or cause to be Cash Collateralized, the then Outstanding Amount of all relevant L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to such Outstanding Amount determined as of the date of such Event of Default or the applicable L/C Expiration Date, as the case may be), and shall do so not later than 2:00 p.m. on (i) in the case of the immediately preceding clauses (a) or (b), (x) the Business Day that the Borrower receives notice thereof, if such notice is received on such day prior to 12:00 p.m. or (y) if clause (x) above does not apply, the Business Day immediately following the day that the Borrower receives such notice and (ii) in the case of the immediately preceding clause (c), the Business Day on which an Event of Default set forth under Section 8.01(6) 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 or the applicable Issuing Bank, the Borrower will Cash Collateralize all Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section 2.17(1)(d) and any Cash Collateral provided by the Defaulting Lender). The Borrower hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Issuing Banks and the Revolving Lenders, a security interest in all such Cash Collateral. Cash Collateral shall be maintained in blocked accounts at the Administrative Agent and may be invested in readily available Cash Equivalents selected by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion. 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 Loan Parties or the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as the depository bank and on behalf of the Secured Parties) or that the total amount of such funds is less than the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all relevant L/C Obligations, the Borrower will, forthwith upon demand by the Administrative Agent, pay, or cause to be paid, to the Administrative Agent, as additional funds to be deposited and held in the deposit accounts at the Administrative Agent as aforesaid, 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 Issuing Bank. To the extent the amount of any Cash Collateral exceeds the then Outstanding Amount of such relevant L/C Obligations and so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the excess shall promptly 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(7) is cured or otherwise waived, then so long as no other Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the amount of any Cash Collateral pledged to Cash Collateralize such Letter of Credit shall promptly be refunded to the Borrower.

 

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(8) [Reserved]

(9) Letter of Credit Fees . The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of each Revolving Lender for the applicable Revolving Facility in accordance with its Applicable Percentage, a Letter of Credit fee for each Letter of Credit issued pursuant to this Agreement equal to the Applicable Rate set forth in the “LIBO Rate and Letter of Credit Fees” column of the chart in the definition of “Applicable Rate” times 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 decreases or increases periodically pursuant to the terms of such Letter of Credit); provided , however , that 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 applicable Issuing Bank 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 Applicable Percentages allocable to such Letter of Credit pursuant to Section 2.17(1)(d), with the balance of such fee, if any, payable to the applicable Issuing Bank for its own account. Such Letter of Credit fees shall be computed on a quarterly basis in arrears on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed. Such Letter of Credit fees shall be due and payable on the last Business Day 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 L/C Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. If there is any change in the Applicable Rate set forth in the “LIBO Rate and Letter of Credit Fees” column of the chart in the definition of “Applicable Rate” during any quarter, the daily maximum amount of each Letter of Credit shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect.

(10) Fronting Fee and Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to Issuing Banks . The Borrower shall pay directly to each Issuing Bank for its own account a fronting fee with respect to each Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank equal to 0.125% per annum (or such other lower amount as may be mutually agreed by the Borrower and the applicable Issuing Bank) of the 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 or decreases periodically pursuant to the terms of such Letter of Credit) or such lesser fee as may be agreed with such Issuing Bank. Such fronting fees shall be computed on a quarterly basis in arrears on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed. Such fronting fees shall be due and payable on the last Business Day 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 L/C Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. In addition, the Borrower shall pay, or cause to be paid, directly to each Issuing Bank for its own account with respect to each Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank the customary issuance, presentation, amendment and other processing fees, and other standard costs and charges, of such Issuing Bank 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.

(11) Conflict with L/C Application . Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary in this Agreement or any L/C Application, in the event of any conflict between the terms hereof and the terms of any L/C Application, the terms hereof shall control.

(12) Addition of an Issuing Bank . There may be one or more Issuing Banks under this Agreement from time to time. After the Effective Date, a Revolving Lender reasonably acceptable to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent may become an additional Issuing Bank hereunder pursuant to a written agreement among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and such Revolving Lender. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Revolving Lenders of any such additional Issuing Bank.

(13) Provisions Related to Extended Revolving Commitments . If the L/C Expiration Date in respect of any Class of Revolving Commitments occurs prior to the expiry date of any Letter of Credit, then (a) if consented to by the Issuing Bank which issued such Letter of Credit, if one or more other Classes of Revolving Commitments in respect of which the L/C 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

 

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purposes of the obligations of the Revolving Lenders to purchase participations therein and to make Revolving Loans and payments in respect thereof pursuant to Sections 2.03(3) and (4)) under (and ratably participated in by Revolving Lenders pursuant to) the Revolving Commitments in respect of such non-terminating Classes up to an aggregate amount not to exceed the aggregate principal amount of the unutilized Revolving Commitments thereunder at such time (it being understood that no partial face amount of any Letter of Credit may be so reallocated) and (b) to the extent not reallocated pursuant to immediately preceding clause (a) and unless provisions reasonably satisfactory to the applicable Issuing Bank for the treatment of such Letter of Credit as a letter of credit under a successor credit facility have been agreed upon, the Borrower shall, on or prior to the applicable Maturity Date, cause all such Letters of Credit to be replaced and returned to the applicable Issuing Bank undrawn and marked “cancelled” or to the extent that the Borrower is unable to so replace and return any Letter(s) of Credit, such Letter(s) of Credit shall be backstopped by a “back to back” letter of credit reasonably satisfactory to the applicable Issuing Bank or the Borrower shall Cash Collateralize any such Letter of Credit in accordance with Section 2.03(7).

(14) Letter of Credit Reports . For so long as any Letter of Credit issued by an Issuing Bank that is not the Administrative Agent is outstanding, such Issuing Bank shall deliver to the Administrative Agent on the last Business Day of each calendar month, and on each date that an L/C Credit Extension occurs with respect to any such Letter of Credit, a report in the form of Exhibit R , appropriately completed with the information for every outstanding Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank.

(15) 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 Subsidiary of the Borrower, the Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse, or cause to be reimbursed, the applicable Issuing Bank 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 any Subsidiary inures to the benefit of the Borrower, and that the Borrower’s businesses derives substantial benefits from the businesses of each Subsidiary.

(16) Applicability of ISP and UCP . Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the relevant Issuing Bank and the Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued, (i) the rules of the ISP shall apply to each standby Letter of Credit, and (ii) the rules of the UCP shall apply to each commercial Letter of Credit.

SECTION 2.04 [ Reserved ].

SECTION 2.05 Prepayments .

(1) Optional .

(a) The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay any Class or Classes of Term Loans and any Class or Classes of Revolving Loans in whole or in part without premium (except as set forth in Section 2.18) or penalty; provided that

(i) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than (A) 1:00 p.m., New York time, three (3) Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of LIBO Rate Loans and (B) 12:00 p.m., New York time, on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Loans;

(ii) any prepayment of LIBO Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1.0 million (or the Dollar Equivalent thereof) or a whole multiple of $250,000 (or the Dollar Equivalent thereof) in excess thereof or, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding; and

(iii) any prepayment of Base Rate Loans shall be in a 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.

 

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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 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 LIBO Rate Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest thereon, 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(1), the Borrower may in its sole discretion select the Borrowing or Borrowings (and the order of maturity of principal payments) to be repaid, and such payment shall be paid to the Appropriate Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares.

(b) [Reserved]

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Borrower may rescind (or delay the date of prepayment identified in) any notice of prepayment under Section 2.05(1)(a) by written notice to the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 p.m., New York time, on such prepayment date if such prepayment would have resulted from a refinancing of all or a portion of the applicable Facility or other conditional event, which refinancing or other conditional event shall not be consummated or shall otherwise be delayed.

(d) Voluntary prepayments of any Class of Term Loans permitted hereunder shall be applied to the remaining scheduled installments of principal thereof in a manner determined at the discretion of the Borrower and specified in the notice of prepayment (and absent such direction, in direct order of maturity). Each prepayment in respect of any Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05 may be applied to any Class of Term Loans as directed by the Borrower. For the avoidance of doubt, the Borrower may (i) prepay Term Loans of an Existing Term Loan Class pursuant to this Section 2.05 without any requirement to prepay Extended Term Loans that were converted or exchanged from such Existing Term Loan Class and (ii) prepay Extended Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05 without any requirement to prepay Term Loans of an Existing Term Loan Class that were converted or exchanged for such Extended Term Loans. In the event that the Borrower does not specify the order in which to apply prepayments to reduce scheduled installments of principal or as between Classes of Term Loans, the Borrower shall be deemed to have elected that such proceeds be applied to reduce the scheduled installments of principal in direct order of maturity on a pro rata basis among Term Loan Classes.

(e) Notwithstanding anything in any Loan Document to the contrary, so long as (x) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (y) no proceeds of Revolving Loans are used for this purpose, any Borrower Party may (i) purchase outstanding Term Loans on a non-pro rata basis through open market purchases or (ii) prepay the outstanding Term Loans (which Term Loans shall, for the avoidance of doubt, be automatically and permanently canceled immediately upon such purchase or prepayment), which in the case of clause (ii) only shall be prepaid without premium or penalty on the following basis:

(A) Any Borrower Party shall have the right to make a voluntary prepayment of 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(1)(e) and without premium or penalty.

(B) Any Borrower 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 (or such shorter period as agreed by the Auction Agent) in the form of a Specified Discount Prepayment Notice; provided that (I) any such offer shall be made available, at the sole discretion of the applicable Borrower Party, to (x) each Term Lender or (y) each Term Lender with respect to any Class of Term Loans on an individual Class basis, (II) any such offer shall specify the aggregate principal amount offered to be prepaid (the “ Specified Discount Prepayment Amount ”) with respect to each applicable Class, the Class or Classes 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 or Specified Discount Prepayment

 

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Amounts may be offered with respect to different Classes 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(1)(e)(B)), (III) the Specified Discount Prepayment Amount shall be in an aggregate amount not less than $5.0 million and whole increments of $1.0 million 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., New York time, on the third Business Day after the date of delivery of such notice to such Lenders (the “ Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date ”).

(C) 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 Classes 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.

(D) If there is at least one Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender, the relevant Borrower Party will make a prepayment of outstanding Term Loans pursuant to paragraph (B) to each Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender in accordance with the respective outstanding amount and Classes of Term Loans specified in such Lender’s Specified Discount Prepayment Response given pursuant to subsection (C) 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 Borrower 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 (3) Business Days following the Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date, notify (I) the relevant Borrower 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 Classes to be prepaid, (II) each Term Lender of the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date, and the aggregate principal amount and the Classes 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 any, and confirmation of the principal amount, Class 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 applicable Borrower 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 applicable Borrower Party shall be due and payable by such Borrower Party on the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date in accordance with subsection (L) below (subject to subsection (P) below).

(E) Any Borrower Party may from time to time solicit Discount Range Prepayment Offers by providing the Auction Agent with five (5) Business Days’ notice (or such shorter period as agreed by the Auction Agent) in the form of a Discount Range Prepayment Notice; provided that (I) any such solicitation shall be extended, at the sole discretion of such Borrower Party, to (x) each Term Lender or (y) each Term Lender with respect to any Class of Term Loans on an individual Class basis, (II) any such notice shall specify the maximum aggregate principal amount of the relevant Term Loans (the “ Discount Range Prepayment Amount ”), the Class or Classes 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 Class of Term Loans willing to be prepaid by such Borrower Party (it being understood that different Discount Ranges or Discount Range Prepayment Amounts may be offered with respect to different Classes of Term Loans and, in such event, each such offer will be treated as a separate

 

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offer pursuant to the terms of this Section 2.05(1)(e)(E)), (III) the Discount Range Prepayment Amount shall be in an aggregate amount not less than $5.0 million and whole increments of $1.0 million in excess thereof and (IV) unless rescinded, each such solicitation by the applicable Borrower 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 Term Lender to the Auction Agent (or its delegate) by no later than 5:00 p.m., New York time, 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 Class or Classes and the maximum aggregate principal amount and Classes 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.

(F) 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 Borrower 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 subsection (E). The relevant Borrower Party agrees to accept on the Discount Range Prepayment Response Date all Discount Range Prepayment Offers received by the 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 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 subsection (G)) at the Applicable Discount (each such Term Lender, a “ Participating Lender ”).

(G) If there is at least one Participating Lender, the relevant Borrower Party will prepay the respective outstanding Term Loans of each Participating Lender in the aggregate principal amount and of the Classes 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 Borrower 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 Borrower Party of the respective Term Lenders’ responses to such solicitation, the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date, the Applicable Discount, the aggregate principal amount of the Discounted Term Loan Prepayment and the Classes to be prepaid, (II) each Term Lender of the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date, the Applicable Discount and the aggregate principal amount and Classes of Term Loans to be prepaid at the Applicable Discount on such date, (III) each Participating Lender of the aggregate principal amount and Classes 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 Borrower Party and Term Lenders shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes absent manifest error. The payment amount specified in such notice to the applicable Borrower Party shall be due and payable by such Borrower Party on the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date in accordance with subsection (F) below (subject to subsection (J) below).

 

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(H) Any Borrower 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 (or such later notice specified therein); provided that (I) any such solicitation shall be extended, at the sole discretion of such Borrower Party, to (x) each Term Lender or (y) each Lender with respect to any Class of Term Loans on an individual Class basis, (II) any such notice shall specify the maximum aggregate amount of the Term Loans (the “ Solicited Discounted Prepayment Amount ”) and the Class or Classes of Term Loans the applicable Borrower Party is willing to prepay at a discount (it being understood that different Solicited Discounted Prepayment Amounts may be offered with respect to different Classes 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(1)(e)(H)), (III) the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Amount shall be in an aggregate amount not less than $5.0 million and whole increments of $1.0 million in excess thereof and (IV) unless rescinded, each such solicitation by the applicable Borrower 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., New York time, 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 Classes 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.

(I) The Auction Agent shall promptly provide the relevant Borrower Party with a copy of all Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers received on or before the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date. Such Borrower Party shall review all such Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers and select the smallest of the Offered Discounts specified by the relevant responding Term Lenders in the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers that is acceptable to the applicable Borrower Party (the “ Acceptable Discount ”), if any. If the applicable Borrower 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 Borrower 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 applicable Borrower 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 applicable Borrower Party by the Acceptance Date, such Borrower Party shall be deemed to have rejected all Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers.

(J) Based upon the Acceptable Discount and the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers received by the Auction Agent by the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date, within three (3) Business Days after receipt of an Acceptance and Prepayment Notice (the “ Discounted Prepayment Determination Date ”), the Auction Agent will determine (with the consent of such Borrower Party and subject to rounding requirements of the Auction Agent made in its sole reasonable discretion) the aggregate principal amount and the Classes of Term Loans (the “ Acceptable Prepayment Amount ”) to be prepaid by the relevant Borrower Party at the Acceptable Discount in accordance with this Section 2.05(1)(e)(J). If the applicable Borrower Party elects to accept any Acceptable Discount, then such Borrower Party agrees to accept all Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers received by the 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

 

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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 applicable Borrower Party will prepay outstanding Term Loans pursuant to this subsection (J) to each Qualifying Lender in the aggregate principal amount and of the Classes 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 Borrower 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 Borrower Party of the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date and Acceptable Prepayment Amount comprising the Discounted Term Loan Prepayment and the Classes 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 Classes to be prepaid to be prepaid at the Applicable Discount on such date, (III) each Qualifying Lender of the aggregate principal amount and the Classes 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 Borrower Party and Term Lenders shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes absent manifest error. The payment amount specified in such notice to such Borrower Party shall be due and payable by such Borrower Party on the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date in accordance with subsection (L) below (subject to subsection (P) below).

(K) In connection with any Discounted Term Loan Prepayment, the Borrower Parties and the Term Lenders acknowledge and agree that the Auction Agent may require, as a condition to the applicable Discounted Term Loan Prepayment, the payment of customary fees and expenses from a Borrower Party to such Auction Agent for its own account in connection therewith.

(L) If any Term Loan is prepaid in accordance with subsections (B) through (H) above, a Borrower Party shall prepay such Term Loans on the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date. The relevant Borrower 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 12:00 p.m., New York time, on the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date and all such prepayments shall be applied to the relevant Class(es) of Term Loans and Lenders as specified by the applicable Borrower Party in the applicable offer. 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(1)(e) shall be paid to the Discount Prepayment Accepting Lenders, Participating Lenders, or Qualifying Lenders, as applicable, and shall be applied to the relevant Term Loans of such Lenders in accordance with their respective applicable share as calculated by the Auction Agent in accordance with this Section 2.05(1)(e) and, if the Administrative Agent is not the Auction Agent, the Administrative Agent shall be fully protected in relying on such calculations of the Auction Agent. The aggregate principal amount of the Classes and installments of the relevant Term Loans outstanding shall be deemed reduced by the full par value of the aggregate principal amount of the Classes 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(1)(e), the relevant Borrower Party shall make a customary representation to the assigning or assignee Term Lenders, as applicable, that it does not possess material non-public information with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries that either (1) has not been disclosed to the Term Lenders generally (other than Term Lenders that have elected not to receive such information) or (2) if not disclosed to the Term Lenders, would reasonably be expected to have a material effect on, or otherwise be material to (A) a Term Lender’s decision to participate in any such Discounted Term Loan Prepayment or (B) the market price of such Term Loans, or shall make a statement that such representation cannot be made.

 

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(M) 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(1)(e), established by the Auction Agent acting in its reasonable discretion and as reasonably agreed by the applicable Borrower Party.

(N) Notwithstanding anything in any Loan Document to the contrary, for purposes of this Section 2.05(1)(e), 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 succeeding Business Day.

(O) Each of the Borrower 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(1)(e) 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(1)(e) as well as activities of the Auction Agent.

(P) Each Borrower 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, Discount Range Prepayment Response Date or Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date (and if such offer is revoked pursuant to the preceding clauses, any failure by such Borrower Party to make any prepayment to a Lender, as applicable, pursuant to this Section 2.05(1)(e) shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default under Section 8.01 or otherwise).

(2) Mandatory .

(a) Within five (5) Business Days after financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(1) and the related Compliance Certificate has been delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(1), commencing with the delivery of financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, the Borrower shall, subject to clauses (g) and (h) of this Section 2.05(2), prepay, or cause to be prepaid, an aggregate principal amount of Term Loans (the “ ECF Payment Amount ”) equal to 50% (such percentage as it may be reduced as described below, the “ ECF Percentage ”) of Excess Cash Flow, if any, for the fiscal year covered by such financial statements minus the sum of (x) all voluntary prepayments of

(i) Term Loans made pursuant to Sections 2.05(1)(a) and 2.05(1)(e) (in an amount, in the case of prepayments pursuant to Section 2.05(1)(e), equal to the discounted amount actually paid in respect of the principal amount of such Term Loans and only to the extent that such Loans have been cancelled),

(ii) Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness and Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt, in each case to the extent secured in whole or in part on a pari passu basis with the First Lien Obligations under this Agreement (but without regard to the control of remedies), and

(iii) Revolving Loans and loans under any other revolving facility that is secured, in whole or in part, on a pari passu basis with the First Lien Obligations under this Agreement (but without regard to the control of remedies) (in each case of this clause (iii) (and with respect to any revolving facility under clause (ii) above), to the extent accompanied by a permanent reduction in the corresponding Revolving Commitments or other revolving commitments), plus

 

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(y) the aggregate amount of Investments, Capital Expenditures, acquisitions of intellectual property and any Restricted Payments made in respect of (i) regular cash dividends accrued or paid on the common Equity Interests of the Borrower and (ii) scheduled cash dividends accrued or paid in respect of the Equity Interests issued in connection with the Equity Contribution;

in the case of each of the immediately preceding clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv), made during such fiscal year (without duplication of any prepayments in such fiscal year that reduced the amount of Excess Cash Flow required to be repaid pursuant to this Section 2.05(2)(a) for any prior fiscal year) or after the fiscal year-end but prior to the date a prepayment pursuant to this Section 2.05(2)(a) is required to be made in respect of such fiscal year and in each case to the extent such payments or prepayments are not funded with the proceeds of Funded Debt (other than any Indebtedness under a Revolving Facility or any other revolving credit facilities); provided that (w) a prepayment of Term Loans pursuant to this 2.05(2)(a) in respect of any fiscal year shall only be required in the amount (if any) by which the ECF Payment Amount for such fiscal year exceeds $5.0 million, (x) the ECF Percentage shall be 25% if the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as of the end of the fiscal year covered by such financial statements was less than or equal to the Closing Date First Lien Net Leverage Ratio minus 0.50 and greater than the Closing Date First Lien Net Leverage Ratio minus 1.00 and (y) the ECF Percentage shall be 0% if the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as of the end of the fiscal year covered by such financial statements was less than or equal to the Closing Date First Lien Net Leverage Ratio minus 1.00; provided further that:

(A) if at the time that any such prepayment would be required, the Borrower (or any Restricted Subsidiary) is required to Discharge Other Applicable Indebtedness with Other Applicable ECF pursuant to the terms of the documentation governing such Indebtedness, then the Borrower (or any Restricted Subsidiary) may apply such portion of Excess Cash Flow otherwise required to repay the Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(2)(a) on a pro rata basis (determined on the basis of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans and Other Applicable Indebtedness requiring such Discharge at such time) 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(2)(a) shall be reduced accordingly ( provided that the portion of such Excess Cash Flow allocated to the Other Applicable Indebtedness shall not exceed the amount of such Other Applicable ECF required to be allocated to the Other Applicable Indebtedness pursuant to the terms thereof and the remaining amount, if any, of such portion of Excess Cash Flow shall be allocated to the Term Loans to the extent required in accordance with the terms of this Section 2.05(2)(a)); and

(B) to the extent the lenders or holders of Other Applicable Indebtedness decline to have such Indebtedness repurchased or prepaid with such portion of Excess Cash Flow, 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 to the extent required in accordance with the terms of this Section 2.05(2)(a).

(b) (i) If (x) the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary makes an Asset Sale or (y) any Casualty Event occurs, which results in the realization or receipt by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary of Net Proceeds, the Borrower shall prepay, or cause to be prepaid, on or prior to the date which is ten (10) Business Days after the date of the realization or receipt by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary of such Net Proceeds, subject to clause (ii) of this Section 2.05(2)(b) and clauses (2)(g) and (h) of this Section 2.05, an aggregate principal amount of Term Loans equal to 100% (unless such percentage is reduced as set out in Section 2.05(2)(b)(iii) below) of all Net Proceeds realized or received; provided that no prepayment shall be required pursuant to this Section 2.05(2)(b)(i) with respect to such portion of such Net Proceeds that the Borrower shall have, on or prior to such date, given written notice to the Administrative Agent of its intent to reinvest (or entered into a binding commitment to reinvest) in accordance with Section 2.05(2)(b)(ii); provided further that

(A) if at the time that any such prepayment would be required, the Borrower (or any Restricted Subsidiary) is required to Discharge any Other Applicable Indebtedness with Other Applicable Net Proceeds pursuant to the terms of the documentation governing such Indebtedness, then the Borrower (or any Restricted Subsidiary) may apply such Net Proceeds otherwise required to repay the Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(2)(b)(i) on a pro rata basis (determined on the basis of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans and Other Applicable Indebtedness requiring such

 

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Discharge at such time), 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(2)(b)(i) shall be reduced accordingly ( provided that the portion of such Net Proceeds allocated to the Other Applicable Indebtedness shall not exceed the amount of such Other Applicable Net Proceeds required to be allocated to the Other Applicable Indebtedness pursuant to the terms thereof and the remaining amount, if any, of such portion of Net Proceeds shall be allocated to the Term Loans to the extent required in accordance with the terms of this Section 2.05(2)(b)(i));

(B) to the extent the holders of Other Applicable Indebtedness decline to have such Indebtedness repurchased or prepaid with such portion of such Net Proceeds, 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 to the extent required in accordance with the terms of this Section 2.05(2)(b)(i).

(ii) With respect to any Net Proceeds realized or received with respect to any Asset Sale or any Casualty Event, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, at its option, may reinvest all or any portion of such Net Proceeds in assets useful for their business within (x) eighteen (18) months following receipt of such Net Proceeds or (y) if the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary enters into a legally binding commitment to reinvest such Net Proceeds within eighteen (18) months following receipt thereof, within the later of (A) eighteen (18) months following receipt thereof and (B) one hundred eighty (180) days of the date of such legally binding commitment; provided that if any Net Proceeds are no longer intended to be or cannot be so reinvested at any time after such reinvestment election, and subject to clauses (g) and (h) of this Section 2.05(2), an amount equal to any such Net Proceeds shall be applied within five (5) Business Days after the Borrower reasonably determines that such Net Proceeds are no longer intended to be or cannot be so reinvested to the prepayment of the Term Loans as set forth in this Section 2.05.

(iii) The percentage of Net Proceeds to be prepaid in connection with an Asset Sale or Casualty Event shall be 100% if the Total Net Leverage Ratio for the four fiscal quarter most recently ended was in excess of the Closing Date Total Net Leverage Ratio minus 0.50 and shall be reduced to (x) 50% if the Total Net Leverage Ratio for such period was less than or equal to the Closing Date Total Net Leverage Ratio minus 0.50 and greater than the Closing Date Total Net Leverage Ratio minus 1.00, (y) to 25% if the Total Net Leverage Ratio for such period was less than or equal to the Closing Date Total Net Leverage Ratio minus 1.00 and greater than the Closing Date Total Net Leverage Ratio minus 1.50 and (z) 0% if the Total Net Leverage Ratio for such period was less than or equal to the Closing Date Total Net Leverage Ratio minus 1.50.

(c) [Reserved].

(d) If the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary incurs or issues any Indebtedness (i) not expressly permitted to be incurred or issued pursuant to Section 7.02 or (ii) that constitutes Other Loans or Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness, in each case, incurred or issued to refinance any Class (or Classes) of Term Loans resulting in Net Proceeds (as opposed to such Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness or Other Loans arising out of an exchange of existing Term Loans for such Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness or Other Loans), the Borrower shall prepay, or cause to be prepaid, an aggregate principal amount of Term Loans of any Class or Classes (in each case, as directed by the Borrower) 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.

(e) Except as otherwise set forth in any Refinancing Amendment, Extension Amendment or Incremental Amendment, each prepayment of Term Loans required by Sections 2.05(2)(a), (b) and (d)(i) shall be allocated to any Class of Term Loans outstanding as directed by the Borrower, shall be applied pro rata to Term Lenders within such Class of Term Loans, based upon the outstanding principal amounts owing to each such Term Lender under such Class of Term Loans and shall be applied to reduce such remaining scheduled installments of principal within such Class of Term Loans in direct order of maturity; provided that

 

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(x) such prepayments may not be directed to a later maturing Class of Term Loans without at least a pro rata repayment of any earlier maturing Classes of Term Loans (except that any Class of Incremental Term Loans, Other Term Loans, Extended Term Loans or Replacement Loans may specify that one or more other Classes of later maturing Term Loans may be prepaid prior to such Class of earlier maturing Term Loans), and

(y) in the event that there are two or more outstanding Classes of Term Loans with the same Maturity Date, such prepayments may not be directed to any such Class of Term Loans without at least a pro rata repayment of any Classes of Term Loans maturing on the same date (except that any Class of Incremental Term Loans, Other Term Loans, Extended Term Loans or Replacement Loans may specify that one or more other Classes of Term Loans with the same Maturity Date may be prepaid prior to such Class of Term Loans maturing on the same date), and

(z) each prepayment of Term Loans required by Section 2.05(2)(d)(ii) shall be allocated to any Class or Classes of Term Loans being refinanced as directed by the Borrower and shall be applied pro rata to Term Lenders within each such Class, based upon the outstanding principal amounts owing to each such Term Lender under each such Class of Term Loans.

(f) If for any reason the aggregate Outstanding Amount of Revolving Loans and L/C Obligations at any time exceeds the aggregate Revolving Commitments then in effect, the Borrower shall promptly prepay Revolving Loans 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(2)(f) unless after the prepayment in full of the Revolving Loans such aggregate Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations exceeds the aggregate Revolving Commitments then in effect.

(g) The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent in writing of any mandatory prepayment of Term Loans required to be made pursuant to clauses (a) through (d) of this Section 2.05(2) at least three (3) Business Days prior to the date of such prepayment ( provided that, in the case of clause (b) or (d) of this Section 2.05(2), the Borrower may rescind (or delay the date of prepayment identified in) such notice if such prepayment would have resulted from a refinancing of all or any portion of the applicable Facility or other conditional event, which refinancing or other conditional event shall not be consummated or shall otherwise be delayed). Each such notice shall specify the date of such prepayment and provide a reasonably detailed calculation of the aggregate amount of such prepayment to be made by the Borrower. 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. Each Term Lender may reject all or a portion of its Pro Rata Share of any mandatory prepayment (such declined amounts, the “ Declined Proceeds ”) of Term Loans required to be made pursuant to clauses (a), (b) and (d)(i) of this Section 2.05(2) by providing written notice (each, a “ Rejection Notice ”) to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower no later than 5:00 p.m., New York time, one (1) Business Day after the date of such Lender’s receipt of notice from the Administrative Agent regarding such prepayment. Each Rejection Notice from a given Lender shall specify the principal amount of the mandatory repayment of Term Loans to be rejected by such Lender. If a Term Lender fails to deliver a Rejection Notice to the Administrative Agent within the time frame specified above or such Rejection Notice fails to specify the principal amount of the Term Loans to be rejected, any such failure will be deemed an acceptance of the total amount of such mandatory prepayment of Term Loans. Any Declined Proceeds remaining shall be retained by the Borrower (or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary) and may be applied by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary in any manner not prohibited by this Agreement.

(h) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 2.05(2), (A) to the extent that any or all of the Net Proceeds of any Asset Sale by a Foreign Subsidiary giving rise to a prepayment event pursuant to Section 2.05(2)(b) (a “ Foreign Asset Sale ”), the Net Proceeds of any Casualty Event from a Foreign Subsidiary (a “ Foreign Casualty Event ”) or all or a portion of Excess Cash Flow are prohibited or delayed by applicable local law from being repatriated to the United States, an amount equal to 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(2) so long, but only so long, as the applicable local law

 

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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 is permitted under the applicable local law, an amount equal to such Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow permitted to be repatriated will be promptly (and in any event not later than two (2) Business Days after any such repatriation) applied (net of additional taxes that are or would be payable or reserved against as a result thereof) to the repayment of the Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(2) to the extent otherwise provided herein and (B) to the extent that the Borrower has determined in good faith that repatriation of any of or all the Net Proceeds of any Foreign Asset Sale or Foreign Casualty Event or Excess Cash Flow would have a material adverse tax consequence (taking into account any foreign tax credit or benefit actually realized in connection with such repatriation) with respect to such Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow, an amount equal to the 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(2).

(i) All prepayments under this Section 2.05 (other than prepayments of Base Rate Revolving Loans that are not made in connection with the termination or permanent reduction of Revolving Commitments) shall be accompanied by all accrued interest thereon, together with, in the case of any such prepayment of a LIBO Rate Loan on a date prior to the last day of an Interest Period therefor, any amounts owing in respect of such LIBO Rate Loan pursuant to Section 3.05.

(j) If as a result of changes in currency exchange rates, on any Revaluation Date, the aggregate amount of Revolving Exposure exceeds the aggregate Revolving Commitment by more than $100,000, the Borrower shall, in each case within five Business Days after being notified thereof by the Administrative Agent, repay Revolving Loans in an aggregate amount such that the aggregate Revolving Exposure does no longer exceed the aggregate Revolving Commitments.

(k) The Borrower shall prepay the Term Loans with 100% of the Excess Closing Date Cash that remains in the Controlled Account on the first anniversary of the Closing Date (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion).

Notwithstanding any of the other provisions of this Section 2.05, so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, if any prepayment of LIBO Rate Loans is required to be made under this Section 2.05 prior to the last day of the Interest Period therefor, in lieu of making any payment pursuant to this Section 2.05 in respect of any such LIBO Rate Loan prior to the last day of the Interest Period therefor, the Borrower may, in its discretion, deposit an amount sufficient to make any such prepayment otherwise required to be made thereunder together with accrued interest to the last day of such Interest Period 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. 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 the relevant provisions of this Section 2.05. Such deposit shall be deemed to be a prepayment of such Loans by the Borrower for all purposes under this Agreement.

SECTION 2.06 Termination or Reduction of Commitments .

(1) Optional . The Borrower may, upon written notice by the Borrower 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

(a) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent three (3) Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction,

(b) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $5.0 million or any whole multiple of $1.0 million in excess thereof or, if less, the entire amount thereof and

 

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(c) if, after giving effect to any reduction of the Commitments, the L/C Sublimit exceeds the amount of the Revolving Facility, the L/C Sublimit shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such excess.

Except as provided above, the amount of any such Revolving Commitment reduction shall not be applied to the L/C Sublimit unless otherwise specified by the Borrower. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower may rescind or postpone any notice of termination of any Commitments if such termination would have resulted from a refinancing of all of the applicable Facility or other conditional event, which refinancing or other conditional event shall not be consummated or shall otherwise be delayed.

(2) Mandatory . The Closing Date Term Loan Commitment of each Term Lender on the Closing Date shall be automatically and permanently reduced to $0 upon the making of such Lender’s Closing Date Term Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01(1). The Revolving Commitment of each Revolving Lender shall automatically and permanently terminate on the Maturity Date for the applicable Revolving Facility.

(3) 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 L/C 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 on a pro rata basis (determined on the basis of the aggregate Commitments under such Class) (other than the termination of the Commitment of any Lender as provided in Section 3.07). Any commitment fees accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Revolving Commitments shall be paid on the effective date of such termination.

SECTION 2.07 Repayment of Loans .

(1) Term Loans . The Borrower shall repay to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the Appropriate Lenders (a) on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the last Business Day of the first full fiscal quarter ended after the Closing Date, an aggregate principal amount equal to 0.25% of the aggregate principal amount of all Closing Date 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 (b) on the Maturity Date for the Closing Date Term Loans, the aggregate principal amount of all Closing Date Term Loans outstanding on such date. In connection with any Incremental Term Loans that constitute part of the same Class as the Closing Date Term Loans, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall be permitted to adjust the rate of prepayment in respect of such Class such that the Term Lenders holding Closing Date Term Loans comprising part of such Class continue to receive a payment that is not less than the same Dollar amount that such Term Lenders would have received absent the incurrence of such Incremental Term Loans.

(2) Revolving Loans . The Borrower shall repay to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the Appropriate Lenders on the Maturity Date for the applicable Revolving Facility the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Loans under such Facility outstanding on such date.

SECTION 2.08 Interest .

(1) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.08(2), (a) each LIBO Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period, plus the Applicable Rate and (b) each Base Rate 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.

(2) During the continuance of a Default under Section 8.01(1), the Borrower shall pay interest on past due amounts 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 past due amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable upon demand.

 

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(3) 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 .

(1) Commitment Fee . The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender under each Revolving Facility in accordance with its Applicable Percentage, a commitment fee equal to the applicable Commitment Fee Rate times the actual daily amount by which the aggregate Revolving Commitments exceed the sum of (a) the Outstanding Amount of Revolving Loans and (b) the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations; provided that any commitment fee accrued with respect to any of the Commitments of a Defaulting Lender under such Revolving Facility 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 under any Revolving Facility of a Defaulting Lender so long as such Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender. The commitment fee on each Revolving Commitment shall accrue at all times from the Closing Date (or date of initial effectiveness, as applicable) (and for the avoidance of doubt, the commitment fee on the Revolving Commitment under the Closing Date Revolving Facility shall accrue from the Closing Date) until the Maturity Date for the applicable Revolving Commitment, 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 of March, June, September and December, commencing with the last Business Day of June 30, 2017, and on the Maturity Date for such Revolving Facility. The commitment fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears, and if there is any change in the Commitment Fee Rate during any quarter, the actual daily amount shall be computed and multiplied by the Commitment Fee Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Commitment Fee Rate was in effect.

(2) 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 shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 days or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed. All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a 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(1), bear interest for one 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 .

(1) 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, as set forth in the Register, 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 and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.

 

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(2) In addition to the accounts and records referred to in Section 2.11(1), 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. 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.

(3) Entries made in good faith by the Administrative Agent in the Register pursuant to Sections 2.11(1) and (2), and by each Lender in its account or accounts pursuant to Sections 2.11(1) and (2), 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 .

(1) All payments to be made by the Borrower hereunder shall be made in Dollars without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, 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 payment and in Same Day Funds not later than 2:00 p.m., New York time, on the date specified herein. 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 Lending Office. Any payments under this Agreement that are made later than 2:00 p.m., New York time, shall be deemed to have been made on the next succeeding Business Day (but the Administrative Agent may extend such deadline for purposes of computing interest and fees (but not beyond the end of such day) in its sole discretion whether or not such payments are in process).

(2) Except as otherwise expressly 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.

(3) Unless the Borrower or any Lender has notified the Administrative Agent, prior to the date, or in the case of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, prior to 1:00 p.m., New York time, on the date of such Borrowing, any payment is required to be made by it to the Administrative Agent hereunder (in the case of the Borrower, for the account of any Lender or an Issuing Bank hereunder or, in the case of the Lenders, for the account of any Issuing Bank or the Borrower 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:

(a) if the Borrower failed to make such payment, each Lender or Issuing Bank shall forthwith on demand repay to the Administrative Agent the portion of such assumed payment that was made available to such Lender or Issuing Bank 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 or Issuing Bank to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds at the Overnight Rate from time to time in effect; and

 

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(b) if any Lender failed to make such payment, 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 Overnight Rate from time to time in effect. 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 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, or cause such amount to be paid, 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(3) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

(c) If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender as provided in 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 Section 4.03 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.

(d) The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Loans and to fund participations in Letters of Credit are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan or fund any 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.

(e) 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.

(f) 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 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 8.03 (or otherwise expressly set forth herein). 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, 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 (i) the Outstanding Amount of all Loans outstanding at such time and (ii) 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 . Other than as expressly provided elsewhere herein, if any Lender of any Class shall obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on account of the Loans of such Class made by it or the participations in L/C Obligations held by it (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 (1) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (2) purchase from the other Lenders such participations in the Loans of such Class made by them or such subparticipations in the participations in L/C Obligations 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 any principal of or interest on such Loans of such Class 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

 

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with an amount equal to such paying Lender’s ratable share (according to the proportion of (a) the amount of such paying Lender’s required repayment to (b) 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 the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of this Section 2.13 shall not be construed to apply to (i) 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 (ii) 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 pursuant to this Section 2.13 may, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, exercise all its rights of payment (including the right of setoff, but subject to Section 10.10) 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. For purposes of clause (3) of the definition of Excluded Taxes, any participation acquired by a Lender pursuant to this Section 2.13 shall be treated as having been acquired on the earlier date(s) on which the applicable interest(s) in the Commitment(s) or Loan(s) to which such participation relates were acquired by such Lender.

SECTION 2.14 Incremental Facilities .

(1) Incremental Loan Request . The Borrower may at any time and 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 of the same Class as any outstanding 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 Commitments (a “ Revolving Commitment Increase ”) or the establishment of one or more new revolving credit commitments (each an “ Incremental Revolving Facility ”; and, collectively with any Revolving Commitment Increases, the “ Incremental Revolving Commitments ” and any Incremental Revolving Commitments, collectively with any Incremental Term Commitments, the “ Incremental Commitments ”), whereupon the Administrative Agent shall promptly deliver a copy to each of the Lenders. Each Incremental Loan Request from the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.14 shall set forth the requested amount and proposed terms of the relevant Incremental Term Commitments or Incremental Revolving Commitments.

(2) Incremental Loans . Any Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Revolving Commitments effected through the establishment of one or more new term loans or new revolving credit commitments, as applicable, made on an Incremental Facility Closing Date (other than a Loan Increase) shall be designated a separate Class of Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Revolving Commitments, as applicable, 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 (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 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 Lender of such Class shall make its Commitment available to the Borrower (when borrowed, an “ Incremental Revolving Loan ” and collectively with any Incremental Term Loan, an “ Incremental Loan ”) in an amount equal to its Incremental Revolving Commitment of such Class and (ii) each Incremental Revolving Lender of such Class shall become a Lender hereunder with respect to the Incremental Revolving Commitment of such Class and the Incremental Revolving Loans of such Class made pursuant thereto.

 

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(3) Incremental Lenders . Incremental Term Loans may be made, and Incremental Revolving Commitments may be provided, by any existing Lender (but no existing Lender will have an obligation to make any Incremental Commitment (or Incremental Loan), nor will the Borrower have any obligation to approach any existing Lenders to provide any Incremental Commitment (or Incremental Loan)) or by any Additional Lender (each such existing Lender or Additional Lender providing such Loan or Commitment, an “ Incremental Term Lender ” or “ Incremental Revolving Lender ,” as applicable, and, collectively, the “ Incremental Lenders ”); provided that (i) the Administrative Agent or, in the case of any Incremental Revolving Commitments only, each Issuing Bank, shall have consented (in each case, not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) to such Additional Lender’s making such Incremental Term Loans or providing such Incremental Revolving Commitments to the extent such consent, if any, would be required under Section 10.07(b) for an assignment of Loans or Revolving Commitments, as applicable, to such 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(h) 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 Commitments.

(4) Effectiveness of Incremental Amendment . The effectiveness of any Incremental Amendment and the availability of any initial credit extensions thereunder shall be subject to the satisfaction on the date thereof (the “ Incremental Facility Closing Date ”) of each of the following conditions:

(a) (x) no Event of Default shall exist after giving effect to such Incremental Commitments; provided that, with respect to any Incremental Amendment the primary purpose of which is to finance an acquisition or other Investment permitted by this Agreement that is not conditioned upon obtaining third-party financing, the requirement pursuant to this clause (4)(a)(x) shall be that no Event of Default under Section 8.01(1) or Section 8.01(6) shall exist after giving effect to such Incremental Commitments, and (y) the representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in Article V or any other Loan Document shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Incremental Amendment ( provided that, to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, they shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date; provided , further , that, any representation and warranty that is qualified as to “materiality,” “Material Adverse Effect” or similar language shall be true and correct (after giving effect to any qualification therein) in all respects on such respective dates); provided that, in connection with an acquisition or other Investment permitted hereunder that is not conditioned upon obtaining third-party financing, the conditions in the proviso to clause (x) and in clause (y) shall only be required to the extent requested by the Persons holding more than 50% of the applicable Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Term Commitments or Incremental Revolving Loans and Incremental Revolving Commitments, as the case may be ( provided, further, that, in the case of any such acquisition or other Investment with a purchase price in excess of $20.0 million, the conditions contained in the proviso to clause (x) with respect to no Event of Default under Section 8.01(1) or Section 8.01(6) and in clause (y) with respect to Specified Representations, in each case, shall be required whether or not requested by such Persons, unless waived in accordance with Section 10.01);

(b) each Incremental Term Commitment shall be in an aggregate principal amount that is not less than $5.0 million ( provided that such amount may be less than $5.0 million if such amount represents all remaining availability under the limit set forth in clause (c) of this Section 2.14(4)) and each Incremental Revolving Commitment shall be in an aggregate principal amount that is not less than $5.0 million ( provided that such amount may be less than $5.0 million if such amount represents all remaining availability under the limit set forth in clause (c) of Section 2.14(4));

(c) the aggregate principal amount of Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Revolving Commitments shall not, together with the aggregate principal amount of Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt, exceed the sum of:

(A) (1) the greater of (i) $200.0 million and (ii) 100% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a pro forma basis) plus (2) the aggregate amount of (x) voluntary prepayments of Term Loans (including Incremental Term Loans) and Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt (other than Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt consisting of revolving credit facilities) (including purchases of the Loans or Permitted

 

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Incremental Equivalent Debt by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries at or below par, in which case the amount of voluntary prepayments of such Loans or Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt shall be deemed not to exceed the actual purchase price of such Loans or Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt below par), in the case of prepayments of Incremental Term Loans or Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt, only to the extent such Incremental Term Loans or Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt was secured on a pari passu basis with the First Lien Obligations under this Agreement and incurred in reliance on clause (A)(1) above and (y) voluntary permanent commitment reductions in respect of Incremental Revolving Commitments or Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt consisting of revolving credit commitments, in each case, to the extent such Incremental Revolving Commitments or Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt was secured on a pari passu basis with the First Lien Obligations under this Agreement and incurred in reliance on clause (A)(1) above, other than, in each case under clauses (x) and (y), from proceeds of long-term Indebtedness (other than revolving Indebtedness), plus

(B) an unlimited amount, so long as in the case of this clause (B) only,

(x) in the case of Incremental Loans or Incremental Revolving Commitments secured by Liens on all or a portion of the Collateral on a basis that is equal in priority to the Liens on the Collateral securing the First Lien Obligations under this Agreement (but without regard to the control of remedies), the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio for the Test Period most recently ended calculated on a pro forma basis after giving effect to any such incurrence, does not exceed the Closing Date First Lien Net Leverage Ratio (in the case of an incurrence of Incremental Revolving Commitments, assuming such Incremental Revolving Commitments are fully drawn and calculating the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio without netting the cash proceeds from such Incremental Loans then proposed to be incurred),

(y) in the case of Incremental Loans or Incremental Revolving Commitments secured by Liens on all or a portion of the Collateral on a basis that is junior in priority to the Liens on the Collateral securing the First Lien Obligations under this Agreement, the Junior Secured Condition is satisfied (in the case of an incurrence of Incremental Revolving Commitments, assuming such Incremental Revolving Commitments are fully drawn and calculating the Secured Net Leverage Ratio without netting the cash proceeds from such Incremental Loans then proposed to be incurred), and

(z) in the case of Incremental Loans or Incremental Revolving Commitments that are unsecured, either (i) the Total Net Leverage Ratio for the Test Period most recently ended calculated on a pro forma basis after giving effect to any such incurrence, does not exceed the Closing Date Total Net Leverage Ratio or (ii) to the extent such Incremental Loans or Incremental Revolving Commitments are incurred in connection with an acquisition or other Investment permitted under this Agreement, the Total Net Leverage Ratio for the Test Period most recently ended calculated on a pro forma basis after giving effect to any such incurrence would be no greater than the Total Net Leverage Ratio immediately prior to giving effect to such incurrence of Incremental Loans or establishment of Incremental Revolving Commitments or (x) after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness would be permitted to be incurred pursuant to the Interest Coverage Ratio test set forth in clause (C)(I) of Section 7.02(a) or the Total Net Leverage Test set forth in clause (C)(II) of Section 7.02(a) or (y) to the extent such Incremental Loans or Incremental Revolving Commitments are incurred in connection with an acquisition or other Investment permitted under this Agreement, the Interest Coverage Ratio after giving effect to any such incurrence would be no less than the Interest Coverage Ratio immediately prior to giving effect to such incurrence of Incremental Loans or establishment of Incremental Revolving Commitments;

 

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provided that any calculation of the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Secured Net Leverage Ratio, the Interest Coverage Ratio or the Total Net Leverage Ratio shall be calculated in accordance with Section 1.07 (assuming in the case of any Incremental Revolving Commitments, a full drawing of such Revolving Commitments) and including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom, as if the additional Indebtedness incurred pursuant to clause (B) had been incurred and the application of the proceeds therefrom has occurred at the beginning of such Test Period, but without netting the cash proceeds from such additional Indebtedness; provided , however , that if amounts incurred under clause (B) are incurred concurrently with, or in a single transaction or series of related transactions with, the incurrence of Incremental Loans or Incremental Commitments and/or Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt (in each case, including any unused commitments obtained) in reliance on clause (A) above, the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Secured Net Leverage Ratio, the Total Net Leverage Ratio or the Interest Coverage Ratio shall be calculated without giving effect to such amounts incurred (or commitments obtained) in reliance on the foregoing clause (A); provided further , for the avoidance of doubt, to the extent the proceeds of any Incremental Loans are being utilized to repay Indebtedness (including any repayment, repurchase or refinancing of Indebtedness for which an irrevocable notice of repayment (or similar notice of repayment) has been delivered), such calculations shall give pro forma effect to such repayments (the amount available under clauses (A) and (B), the “ Available Incremental Amount ”). The Borrower may elect to use clause (B) of the Available Incremental Amount regardless of whether the Borrower has capacity under clause (A) of the Available Incremental Amount. Further, the Borrower may elect to use clause (B) of the Available Incremental Amount prior to using clause (A) of the Available Incremental Amount, and if both clause (B) and clause (A) of the Available Incremental Amount are available and the Borrower does not make an election, then the Borrower will be deemed to have elected to use clause (B) of the Available Incremental Amount. In addition, any Indebtedness originally designated as incurred pursuant to clause (A) of the Available Incremental Amount shall be reclassified, as the Borrower may elect from time to time, as incurred under clause (B) of the Available Incremental Amount if the Borrower would meet the applicable leverage or coverage-based incurrence test at such time on a pro forma basis.

(5) Required Terms . The terms, provisions and documentation of the Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Term Commitments or the Incremental Revolving Loans and Incremental Revolving Commitments, as the case may be, of any Class and any Loan Increase 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 Closing Date Term Loans or Closing Date Revolving Facility, as applicable, existing on the Incremental Facility Closing Date, shall either, at the option of the Borrower, (A) reflect market terms and conditions (taken as a whole) at the time of incurrence of such Indebtedness (as determined by the Borrower in good faith), (B) be not materially more restrictive to the Borrower (as determined by the Borrower in good faith), when taken as a whole, than the terms of the Closing Date Term Loans or Closing Date Revolving Facility, as applicable, except in the case of clauses (A) and (B) to the extent necessary to provide for (x) covenants and other terms applicable to any period after the Latest Maturity Date in effect immediately prior to the incurrence of the Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Term Commitments or the Incremental Revolving Loans and Incremental Revolving Commitments, as the case may be, or (y) subject to the immediately succeeding proviso, a Previously Absent Financial Maintenance Covenant; provided that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (i) if any such terms of any Incremental Revolving Loans and Incremental Revolving Commitments contain a Previously Absent Financial Maintenance Covenant that is in effect prior to the applicable Latest Maturity Date of the Revolving Facility, such Previously Absent Financial Maintenance Covenant shall be included for the benefit of the Revolving Facility and (ii) if any such terms of any Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Term Commitments contain a Previously Absent Financial Maintenance Covenant that is in effect prior to the applicable Latest Maturity Date of the Term Loan Facility, such Previously Absent Financial Maintenance Covenant shall be included for the benefit of the Term Loan Facility or (C) if neither clause (A) or (B) are satisfied, such terms, provisions and documentation shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; provided , further , that in the case of a Term Loan Increase or a Revolving Commitment Increase, the terms, provisions and documentation of such Term Loan Increase or a Revolving Commitment Increase shall be identical (other than with respect to upfront fees, OID or similar fees, it being understood that, if required to consummate such Loan Increase transaction, the interest rate margins and rate floors may be increased, any call protection provision may be made more favorable to the applicable existing Lenders and additional upfront or similar fees may be payable to the lenders providing the Loan Increase) to the applicable Term Loans or Revolving Commitments being increased, in each case, as existing on the Incremental Facility Closing Date. In any event:

 

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(a) the Incremental Term Loans:

(i) shall rank equal in priority in right of payment with the First Lien Obligations under this Agreement and (y) shall either (1) rank equal (but without regard to the control of remedies) or junior in priority of right of security with the First Lien Obligations under this Agreement (subject to an Intercreditor Agreement(s) reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower) or (2) be unsecured, in each case as applicable pursuant to clause (4)(c) above; provided that any such Incremental Term Loans that rank junior in priority of right of security with the First Lien Obligations under this Agreement or that are unsecured shall be incurred as Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt,

(ii) shall not mature earlier than the Original Term Loan Maturity Date,

(iii) shall have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity not shorter than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Closing Date Term Loans on the date of incurrence of such Incremental Term Loans; provided that the effects of any amortization or prepayments made on the Closing Date Term Loans prior to the date of such incurrence will be disregarded,

(iv) subject to clause (5)(a)(iii) above and clause (5)(c) below, respectively, shall have amortization and an Applicable Rate determined by the Borrower and the applicable Incremental Term Lenders,

(v) may participate on a pro rata basis, less than a pro rata basis or greater than a pro rata basis in any mandatory prepayments of Term Loans hereunder (except that, unless otherwise permitted under this Agreement, such Incremental Term Loans may not participate on a greater than a pro rata basis as compared to any earlier maturing Class of Term Loans constituting First Lien Obligations in any mandatory prepayments under Section 2.05(2)(a), (b) and (d)(i)), as specified in the applicable Incremental Amendment,

(vi) shall be denominated in a currency as determined by the Borrower and the applicable Incremental Term Lenders, subject to the consent of the Administrative Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), and

(vii) shall not at any time be guaranteed by any Subsidiary of the Borrower other than Subsidiaries that are Guarantors.

(b) the Incremental Revolving Commitments and Incremental Revolving Loans:

(i) shall rank equal in priority in right of payment with the First Lien Obligations under this Agreement and (y) shall either (1) rank equal (but without regard to the control of remedies) or junior in priority of right of security with the First Lien Obligations under this Agreement or (2) be unsecured, in each case as applicable pursuant to clause (4)(c) above provided that any such Incremental Revolving Commitments and Incremental Revolving Loans that rank junior in priority of right of security with the First Lien Obligations under this Agreement or that are unsecured shall be incurred as Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt,

(ii) shall not mature earlier than the Original Revolving Facility Maturity Date, and shall not be subject to amortization,

(iii) shall provide that the borrowing and repayment (except for (1) payments of interest and fees at different rates on Incremental Revolving Commitments (and related outstanding Incremental Revolving Loans), (2) repayments required upon the Maturity Date of any Revolving Commitments, (3) repayments made in connection with any refinancing of Revolving Commitments and (4) repayment made in connection with a permanent repayment and termination of Commitments (subject to clause (v) below)) of Revolving Loans with respect to Incremental Revolving Commitments after the associated Incremental Facility Closing Date shall be made on a pro rata basis with all other outstanding Revolving Commitments existing on such Incremental Facility Closing Date,

 

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(iv) subject to the provisions of Section 2.03(13) in connection with Letters of Credit which mature or expire after a Maturity Date at any time Incremental Revolving Commitments with a later Maturity Date are outstanding, shall provide that all Letters of Credit shall be participated on a pro rata basis by each Lender with a Revolving Commitment in accordance with its percentage of the Revolving Commitments existing on the Incremental Facility Closing Date (and except as provided in Section 2.03(13), without giving effect to changes thereto on an earlier Maturity Date with respect to Letters of Credit theretofore incurred or issued),

(v) shall provide that the permanent repayment of Revolving Loans with respect to, and termination of, Incremental Revolving Commitments after the associated Incremental Facility Closing Date may be made on a pro rata basis or less than a pro rata basis (but not a greater than pro rata basis) with all other Revolving Commitments existing on such Incremental Facility Closing Date, except that the Borrower shall be permitted to permanently repay and terminate Commitments in respect of any such Class of Revolving Loans on a greater than pro rata basis as compared to any other Class of Revolving Loans with a later Maturity Date than such Class or in connection with any refinancing thereof,

(vi) shall provide that assignments and participations of Incremental Revolving Commitments and Incremental Revolving Loans shall be governed by the same assignment and participation provisions applicable to Revolving Commitments and Revolving Loans existing on the Incremental Facility Closing Date,

(vii) shall provide that any Incremental Revolving Commitments may constitute a separate Class or Classes, as the case may be, of Commitments from the Classes constituting the applicable Revolving Commitments prior to the Incremental Facility Closing Date; provided at no time shall there be Revolving Commitments hereunder (including Incremental Revolving Commitments and any original Revolving Commitments) which have more than four (4) different Maturity Dates unless otherwise agreed to by the Administrative Agent,

(viii) shall have an Applicable Rate determined by the Borrower and the applicable Incremental Revolving Lenders,

(ix) shall be denominated in a currency as determined by the Borrower and the applicable Incremental Revolving Lenders, subject to the consent of the Administrative Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), and

(x) shall not at any time be guaranteed by any Subsidiary of the Borrower other than Subsidiaries that are Guarantors.

(c) the amortization schedule applicable to any Incremental Term Loans and the All-In Yield applicable to the Incremental Term Loans of each Class shall be determined by the Borrower and the applicable Incremental Term Lenders and shall be set forth in each applicable Incremental Amendment; provided , however , that with respect to any syndicated Incremental Term Loans made under Incremental Term Commitments incurred on or prior to the first anniversary of the Closing Date pursuant to clause (B) of the Available Incremental Amount that rank equal in priority of right of security with the First Lien Obligations under this Agreement (but without regard to the control of remedies) and that mature within one (1) year following the Original Term Loan Maturity Date, the All-In Yield applicable to such Incremental Term Loans shall not 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 Closing Date Term Loans, plus 75 basis points per annum unless the Applicable Rate (together with, as provided in the proviso below, the LIBO Rate or Base Rate floor) with respect to the Closing Date Term Loans is increased so as to cause the then applicable All-In Yield under this Agreement on the Closing Date Term Loans to equal the All-In Yield then applicable to the Incremental Term Loans, minus 75 basis points per annum; provided

 

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that any increase in All-In Yield on the Closing Date Term Loans due to the application of a LIBO Rate or Base Rate floor on any Incremental Term Loan shall be effected solely through an increase in (or implementation of, as applicable) the LIBO Rate or Base Rate floor applicable to such Closing Date Term Loans.

(6) Incremental Amendment . Commitments in respect of Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Revolving Commitments shall become Commitments (or in the case of an Incremental Revolving Commitment to be provided by an existing Revolving Lender, an increase in such Lender’s applicable Revolving 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, each Incremental Lender providing such Incremental 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. In connection with any Incremental Amendment, the Borrower shall, if reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, deliver customary 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 Incremental Loans are provided with the benefit of the applicable Loan Documents. The Borrower will use the proceeds (if any) of the Incremental Loans for any purpose not prohibited by this Agreement. No Lender shall be obligated to provide any Incremental Commitments or Incremental Loans unless it so agrees.

(7) Reallocation of Revolving Exposure . Upon any Incremental Facility Closing Date on which Incremental Revolving Commitments are effected through an increase in the Revolving Commitments with respect to any existing Revolving Facility pursuant to this Section 2.14, (a) each of the Revolving Lenders under such Facility shall assign to each of the Incremental Revolving Lenders, and each of the Incremental Revolving Lenders shall purchase from each of the Revolving Lenders, at the principal amount thereof, such interests in the Revolving 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 Loans will be held by existing Revolving Lenders and Incremental Revolving Lenders ratably in accordance with their Revolving Commitments after giving effect to the addition of such Incremental Revolving Commitments to the Revolving Commitments, (b) each Incremental Revolving Commitment shall be deemed for all purposes a Revolving Commitment and each Loan made thereunder shall be deemed, for all purposes, a Revolving Loan and (c) each Incremental Revolving Lender shall become a Lender with respect to the Incremental Revolving Commitments and all matters relating thereto. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereby agree that the minimum borrowing and prepayment requirements in Section 2.02 and 2.05(1) of this Agreement shall not apply to the transactions effected pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence

(8) This Section 2.14 shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.12, 2.13 or 10.01 to the contrary.

SECTION 2.15 Refinancing Amendments .

(1) At any time after the Closing Date, the Borrower may obtain, from any Lender or any Additional Lender (it being understood that (i) no Lender shall be required to provide any Other Loan without its consent, (ii) Affiliated Lenders may not provide Other Revolving Commitments and (iii) Other Term Loans provided by Affiliated Lenders shall be subject to the limitations set forth in Section 10.07(h)), Other Loans to refinance all or any portion of the applicable Class or Classes of Loans then outstanding under this Agreement which will be made pursuant to Other Term Loan Commitments, in the case of Other Term Loans, and pursuant to Other Revolving Commitments, in the case of Other Revolving Loans, in each case pursuant to a Refinancing Amendment; provided that such Other Loans and Other Revolving Commitments (i) shall rank equal in priority in right of payment with the other Loans and Commitments hereunder, (ii) shall be unsecured or rank pari passu (without regard to the control of remedies) or junior in right of security with any First Lien Obligations under this Agreement and, if secured on a junior basis, shall be subject to an applicable Intercreditor Agreement(s), (iii) if secured, shall not be secured by any property or assets of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary other than the Collateral, (iv) shall not at any time be guaranteed by any Subsidiary of the Borrower other than Subsidiaries that are Guarantors, (v)(A) shall have interest rates (including through fixed interest rates), interest margins, rate floors, upfront fees, funding discounts, original issue discounts and prepayment terms and premiums as may be agreed by

 

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the Borrower and the Lenders thereof and/or (B) may provide for additional fees and/or premiums payable to the Lenders providing such Other Loans in addition to any of the items contemplated by the preceding clause (A), in each case, to the extent provided in the applicable Refinancing Amendment, (vi) may have optional prepayment terms (including call protection and prepayment terms and premiums) as may be agreed between the Borrower and the Lenders thereof, (vii) will have a final maturity date no earlier than, and, in the case of Other Term Loans, will have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than, the Term Loans or Revolving Commitments being refinanced and (viii) will have such other terms and conditions (other than as provided in foregoing clauses (ii) through (vii)) that either, at the option of the Borrower, (1) reflect market terms and conditions (taken as a whole) at the time of incurrence of such Other Loans or Other Revolving Commitments (as determined by the Borrower in good faith) or (2) if otherwise not consistent with the terms of such Class of Loans or Commitments being refinanced, not be materially more restrictive to the Borrower (as determined by the Borrower in good faith), when taken as a whole, than the terms of such Class of Loans or Commitments being refinanced, except in the case of clauses (1) and (2) to the extent necessary to provide for (x) covenants and other terms applicable to any period after the Latest Maturity Date of the Loans in effect immediately prior to such refinancing or (y) subject to the immediately succeeding proviso, a Previously Absent Financial Maintenance Covenant; provided that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (I) if any such terms of the Other Term Loans contain a Previously Absent Financial Maintenance Covenant that is in effect prior to the applicable Latest Maturity Date, such Previously Absent Financial Maintenance Covenant shall be included for the benefit of each Facility and (II) if any such terms of the Other Revolving Commitments contain a Previously Absent Financial Maintenance Covenant, such Previously Absent Financial Maintenance Covenant shall be included for the benefit of each Class of Revolving Commitments. Any Other Term Loans may participate on a pro rata basis, less than a pro rata basis or greater than a pro rata basis in any mandatory prepayments of Term Loans hereunder (except that, unless otherwise permitted under this Agreement or unless the Class of Term Loans being refinanced was so entitled to participate on a greater than a pro rata basis in such mandatory prepayments, such Other Term Loans may not participate on a greater than a pro rata basis as compared to any earlier maturing Class of Term Loans constituting First Lien Obligations in any mandatory prepayments under Section 2.05(2)(a), (b) and (d)(i)), as specified in the applicable Refinancing Amendment. All Other Revolving Commitments shall provide that all borrowings under the applicable Revolving Commitments and repayments thereunder shall be made on a pro rata basis (except for (1) payments of interest and fees at different rates on Other Revolving Commitments (and related outstanding Other Revolving Loans), (2) repayments required upon the Maturity Date of the Revolving Commitments, (3) repayments made in connection with any refinancing of Revolving Commitments and (4) repayment made in connection with a permanent repayment and termination of Commitments). In connection with any Refinancing Amendment, the Borrower shall, if reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, deliver customary 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 Other Loans or Other Revolving Commitments are provided with the benefit of the applicable Loan Documents.

(2) Each Class of Other Commitments and Other Loans incurred under this Section 2.15 shall be in an aggregate principal amount that is not less than $5.0 million. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender as to the effectiveness of each Refinancing Amendment. Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that, upon the effectiveness of any Refinancing Amendment, this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent (but only to the extent) necessary to reflect the existence and terms of the Other Commitments and Other Loans incurred pursuant thereto (including any amendments necessary to treat the Other Loans and/or Other Commitments as Loans and Commitments). Any Refinancing Amendment may, without the consent of any other Lenders, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.15.

(3) This Section 2.15 shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.12, 2.13 or 10.01 to the contrary.

SECTION 2.16 Extensions of Loans .

(1) 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 any Class (each, an “ Existing Term Loan Class ”) be converted or exchanged to extend the scheduled Maturity Date(s) of any payment of principal with respect to all or a portion of

 

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any principal amount of such Term Loans (any such Term Loans which have been so extended, “ Extended Term Loans ”) and to provide for other terms consistent with this Section 2.16. Prior to entering into any Extension Amendment with respect to any Extended Term Loans, the Borrower shall provide written notice to the Administrative Agent (who shall provide a copy of such notice to each of the Lenders under the applicable Existing Term Loan Class, with such request offered equally to all such Lenders of such Existing Term Loan Class) (each, a “ Term Loan Extension Request ”) setting forth the proposed terms of the Extended Term Loans to be established, which terms shall be identical in all material respects to the Term Loans of the Existing Term Loan Class from which they are to be extended except that (i) the scheduled final maturity date shall be extended and all or any of the scheduled amortization payments, if any, of all or a portion of any principal amount of such Extended Term Loans may be delayed to later dates than the scheduled amortization, if any, of principal of the Term Loans of such Existing Term Loan Class (with any such delay resulting in a corresponding adjustment to the scheduled amortization payments reflected in the Extension Amendment, the Incremental Amendment, the Refinancing Amendment or any other amendment, as the case may be, with respect to the Existing Term Loan Class from which such Extended Term Loans were extended), (ii)(A) the interest rates (including through fixed interest rates), interest margins, rate floors, upfront fees, funding discounts, original issue discounts and voluntary prepayment terms and premiums with respect to the Extended Term Loans may be different than those for the Term Loans of such Existing Term Loan Class and/or (B) additional fees and/or premiums may be payable to the Lenders providing such Extended Term Loans in addition to any of the items contemplated by the preceding clause (A), in each case, to the extent provided in the applicable Extension Amendment, (iii) the Extended Term Loans may have optional prepayment terms (including call protection and prepayment terms and premiums) as may be agreed between the Borrower and the Lenders thereof, (iv) any Extended Term Loans may participate on a pro rata basis, less than a pro rata basis or greater than a pro rata basis in any mandatory prepayments of Term Loans hereunder (except that, unless otherwise permitted under this Agreement, such Extended Term Loans may not participate on a greater than pro rata basis as compared to any earlier maturing Class of Term Loans in any mandatory prepayments under Section 2.05(2)(a), (b) and (d)(i)), in each case as specified in the respective Term Loan Extension Request and (v) the Extension Amendment may provide for (x) other covenants and terms that apply to any period after the Latest Maturity Date in respect of Term Loans that is in effect immediately prior to the establishment of such Extended Term Loans and (y) subject to the immediately succeeding proviso, a Previously Absent Financial Maintenance Covenant; provided that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if any such terms of such Extended Term Loans contain a Previously Absent Financial Maintenance Covenant that is in effect prior to the applicable Latest Maturity Date, such Previously Absent Financial Maintenance Covenant shall be included for the benefit of each Facility. No Lender shall have any obligation to agree to have any of its Term Loans of any Existing Term Loan Class converted into Extended Term Loans pursuant to any Term Loan Extension Request. Any Extended Term Loans extended 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 and shall constitute a separate Class of Loans from the Existing Term Loan Class from which they were extended; provided that any Extended Term Loans amended from an Existing Term Loan Class 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 Class.

(2) Extension of Revolving Commitments . The Borrower may at any time and from time to time request that all or a portion of the Revolving Commitments of any Class (each, an “ Existing Revolving Class ”) be converted or exchanged to extend the scheduled Maturity Date(s) of any payment of principal with respect to all or a portion of any principal amount of such Revolving Commitments (any such Revolving Commitments which have been so extended, “ Extended Revolving Commitments ”) and to provide for other terms consistent with this Section 2.16. Prior to entering into any Extension Amendment with respect to any Extended Revolving Commitments, the Borrower shall provide written notice to the Administrative Agent (who shall provide a copy of such notice to each of the Lenders under the applicable Existing Revolving Class, with such request offered equally to all such Lenders of such Existing Revolving Class) (each, a “ Revolving Extension Request ”) setting forth the proposed terms of the Extended Revolving Commitments to be established, which terms shall be identical in all material respects to the Revolving Commitments of the Existing Revolving Class from which they are to be extended except that (i) the scheduled final maturity date shall be extended to a later date than the scheduled final maturity date of the Revolving Commitments of such Existing Revolving Class; provided , however , that at no time shall there be Classes of Revolving Commitments hereunder (including Extended Revolving Commitments) which have more than four (4) different Maturity Dates (unless otherwise consented to by the Administrative Agent), (ii)(A) the interest rates (including through fixed interest rates), interest margins, rate floors, upfront fees, funding

 

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discounts, original issue discounts and voluntary prepayment terms and premiums with respect to the Extended Revolving Commitments may be different than those for the Revolving Commitments of such Existing Revolving Class and/or (B) additional fees and/or premiums may be payable to the Lenders providing such Extended Revolving Commitments in addition to any of the items contemplated by the preceding clause (A), in each case, to the extent provided in the applicable Extension Amendment, (iii) all borrowings under the applicable Revolving Commitments (i.e., the Existing Revolving Class and the Extended Revolving Commitments of the applicable Revolving 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 Commitments (and related outstanding Extended Revolving Loans), (II) repayments required upon the Maturity Date of the non-extending Revolving Commitments, (III) repayments made in connection with any refinancing of Revolving Commitments and (IV) repayments made in connection with a permanent repayment and termination of Commitments), and (iv) the Extension Amendment may provide for (x) other covenants and terms that apply to any period after the Latest Maturity Date in respect of Revolving Commitments that is in effect immediately prior to the establishment of such Extended Revolving Commitments and (y) subject to the immediately succeeding proviso, a Previously Absent Financial Maintenance Covenant; provided that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if any such terms of such Extended Revolving Commitments contain a Previously Absent Financial Maintenance Covenant that is in effect prior to the applicable Latest Maturity Date, such Previously Absent Financial Maintenance Covenant shall be included for the benefit of each Class of Revolving Commitments. No Lender shall have any obligation to agree to have any of its Revolving Commitments of any Existing Revolving Class converted into Extended Revolving Commitments pursuant to any Revolving Extension Request. Any Extended Revolving Commitments extended pursuant to any Revolving Extension Request shall be designated a series (each, a “ Revolving Extension Series ”) of Extended Revolving Commitments for all purposes of this Agreement and shall constitute a separate Class of Revolving Commitments from the Existing Revolving Class from which they were extended; provided that any Extended Revolving Commitments amended from an Existing Revolving Class may, to the extent provided in the applicable Extension Amendment, be designated as an increase in any previously established Revolving Extension Series with respect to such Existing Revolving Class.

(3) Extension Request . The Borrower shall provide the applicable Extension Request to the Administrative Agent at least five (5) Business Days (or such shorter period as the Administrative Agent may determine in its sole discretion) prior to the date on which Lenders under the applicable Existing Term Loan Class or Existing Revolving Class, as applicable, are requested to respond. Any Lender holding a Term Loan under an Existing Term Loan Class (each, an “ Extending Term Lender ”) wishing to have all or a portion of its Term Loans of an Existing Term Loan Class or Existing Term Loan Classes, as applicable, subject to such Extension Request converted or exchanged into Extended Term Loans, and any Revolving Lender with a Revolving Commitment under an Existing Revolving Class (each, an “ Extending Revolving Lender ”) wishing to have all or a portion of its Revolving Commitments of an Existing Revolving Class or Existing Revolving Classes, as applicable, subject to such Extension Request converted or exchanged into Extended Revolving 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 or Revolving Commitments, as applicable, which it has elected to convert or exchange into Extended Term Loans or Extended Revolving Commitments, as applicable. In the event that the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans and/or Revolving Commitments, as applicable, subject to Extension Elections exceeds the amount of Extended Term Loans and/or Extended Revolving Commitments, respectively, requested pursuant to the Extension Request, Term Loans and/or Revolving Commitments, as applicable, subject to Extension Elections shall be converted or exchanged into Extended Term Loans and/or Revolving Commitments, respectively, on a pro rata basis (subject to such rounding requirements as may be established by the Administrative Agent) based on the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans or Revolving Commitments, as applicable, included in each such Extension Election or as may be otherwise agreed to in the applicable Extension Amendment.

(4) Extension Amendment . Extended Term Loans and Extended Revolving Commitments shall be established pursuant to an amendment (each, an “ Extension Amendment ”) to this Agreement (which, notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in Section 10.01, shall not require the consent of any Lender other than the Extending Lenders with respect to the Extended Term Loans and/or Extended Revolving Commitments established thereby, as the case may be) executed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Extending Lenders, it being understood that such Extension Amendment shall not require the consent of any Lender other than (A) the Extending Lenders with respect to the Extended Term Loans or Extended Revolving Commitments, as applicable, established thereby and (B) with respect to any extension of the Revolving Commitments that results in

 

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an extension of Issuing Bank’s obligations with respect to Letters of Credit, the consent of such Issuing Bank. Each request for an Extension Series of Extended Term Loans or Extended Revolving Commitments proposed to be incurred under this Section 2.16 shall be in an aggregate principal amount that is not less than $5.0 million (it being understood that the actual principal amount thereof provided by the applicable Lenders may be lower than such minimum amount), and the Borrower may condition the effectiveness of any Extension Amendment on an Extension Minimum Condition, which may be waived by the Borrower in its sole discretion. In addition to any terms and changes required or permitted by Sections 2.16(1) and (2), each of the parties hereto 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 necessary to (i) in respect of each Extension Amendment in respect of Extended Term Loans, amend the scheduled amortization payments pursuant to Section 2.07 or the applicable Incremental Amendment, Extension Amendment, Refinancing Amendment or other amendment, as the case may be, with respect to the Existing Term Loan Class from which the Extended Term Loans were exchanged to reduce each scheduled repayment amount for the Existing Term Loan Class in the same proportion as the amount of Term Loans of the Existing Term Loan Class is to be reduced pursuant to such Extension Amendment (it being understood that the amount of any repayment amount payable with respect to any individual Term Loan of such Existing Term Loan Class that is not an Extended Term Loan shall not be reduced as a result thereof); (ii) reflect the existence and terms of the Extended Term Loans or Extended Revolving Commitments, as applicable, incurred pursuant thereto; (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 and (iv) 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 Lenders hereby expressly authorize the Administrative Agent to enter into any such Extension Amendment. In connection with any Extension Amendment, the Borrower shall, if reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, deliver customary 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 Extended Term Loans and/or Extended Revolving Commitments are provided with the benefit of the applicable Loan Documents.

(5) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, on any date on which any Existing Term Loan Class and/or Existing Revolving Class is converted or exchanged to extend the related scheduled maturity date(s) in accordance with paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Section 2.16, in the case of the existing Term Loans or Revolving Commitments, as applicable, of each Extending Lender, the aggregate principal amount of such existing Loans shall be deemed reduced by an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Extended Term Loans and/or Extended Revolving Commitments, respectively, so converted or exchanged by such Lender on such date, and the Extended Term Loans and/or Extended Revolving Commitments shall be established as a separate Class of Loans, except as otherwise provided under Sections 2.16(1) and (2). Subject to the provisions of Section 2.03(13) in connection with Letters of Credit which mature or expire after a Maturity Date at any time Extended Revolving Commitments with a later Maturity Date are outstanding, all Letters of Credit shall be participated on a pro rata basis by each Lender with a Revolving Commitment in accordance with its percentage of the Revolving Commitments existing on the date of the Extension of such Extended Revolving Commitments (and except as provided in Section 2.03(13), without giving effect to changes thereto on an earlier Maturity Date with respect to Letters of Credit theretofore incurred or issued).

(6) In the event that the Administrative Agent determines in its sole discretion that the allocation of Extended Term Loans and/or Extended Revolving Commitments of a given Extension Series to a given Lender was incorrectly determined as a result of manifest administrative error in the receipt and processing of an Extension Election timely submitted by such Lender in accordance with the procedures set forth in the applicable Extension Amendment, then the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and such affected Lender may (and hereby are authorized to), in their sole discretion and without the consent of any other Lender, enter into an amendment to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (each, a “ Corrective Extension Amendment ”) within 15 days following the effective date of such Extension Amendment, as the case may be, which Corrective Extension Amendment shall (i) provide for the conversion or exchange and extension of Term Loans under the Existing Term Loan Class, or of Revolving Commitments under the Existing Revolving Class, in either case, in such amount as is required to cause such Lender to hold Extended Term Loans or Extended Revolving Commitments, as applicable, of the applicable Extension Series into which such other Term Loans or Revolving Commitments were initially converted or exchanged, as the case may be, in the amount such Lender would have held had such administrative error not occurred and had such Lender received the minimum allocation of the applicable Loans or Commitments to which it

 

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was entitled under the terms of such Extension Amendment, in the absence of such error, (ii) be subject to the satisfaction of such conditions as the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and such Extending Term Lender or Extending Revolving Lender, as applicable, may agree, and (iii) effect such other amendments of the type (with appropriate reference and nomenclature changes) described in the penultimate sentence of Section 2.16(4).

(7) No conversion or exchange of Loans or Commitments pursuant to any Extension Amendment in accordance with this Section 2.16 shall constitute a voluntary or mandatory payment or prepayment for purposes of this Agreement

(8) This Section 2.16 shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.12, 2.13 or 10.01 to the contrary.

SECTION 2.17 Defaulting Lenders .

(1) 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:

(a) Waivers and Amendments . That Defaulting Lender’s right to approve or disapprove of any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement shall be restricted as set forth in Section 10.01.

(b) 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 the relevant Issuing Banks hereunder; third, if so determined by the Administrative Agent or requested by the relevant Issuing Banks, to be held as Cash Collateral for future funding obligations of that Defaulting Lender of any participation in any Letter of Credit; fourth, as the Borrower may request (so long as no 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 or the relevant Issuing Banks as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender or the relevant Issuing Banks 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 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 (i) 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 (ii) such Loans or L/C Borrowings were made at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.03 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(1)(b) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by that Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

(c) Certain Fees . That Defaulting Lender (i) shall not be entitled to receive any commitment fee pursuant to Section 2.09(1) 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 (ii) shall be limited in its right to receive Letter of Credit fees as provided in Section 2.03(9).

 

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(d) Reallocation of Applicable Percentages 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 pursuant to Section 2.03, the “Applicable Percentage” of each Non-Defaulting Lender’s Revolving 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 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 shall not exceed the positive difference, if any, of (1) the Revolving Commitment of that Non-Defaulting Lender minus (2) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Loans of that Non-Defaulting Lender.

(2) Defaulting Lender Cure . If the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Banks 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 Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Letters of Credit to be held on a pro rata basis by the Lenders in accordance with their Applicable Percentages (without giving effect to Section 2.17(1)(d)), 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; 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 having been a Defaulting Lender.

SECTION 2.18 Loan Repricing Protection . In the event that, on or prior to the six month anniversary of the Closing Date, the Borrower (a) makes any prepayment of Closing Date Term Loans in connection with any Repricing Transaction or (b) effects any amendment of this Agreement resulting in a Repricing Transaction, the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable account of each applicable Lender, (i) in the case of clause (a), a prepayment premium of 1.00% of the aggregate principal amount of the Closing Date Term Loans being prepaid and (ii) in the case of clause (b), a payment equal to 1.00% of the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Closing Date Term Loans outstanding immediately prior to such amendment that is subject to such Repricing Transaction.

Article III

Taxes, Increased Costs Protection and Illegality

SECTION 3.01 Taxes .

(1) Except as required by applicable Law, all payments by or on account of any Loan Party to or for the account of any Agent or any Lender under any Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction or withholding for any Taxes.

(2) If any Loan Party or any other applicable withholding agent is required by applicable Law to make any deduction or withholding on account of any Taxes from any sum paid or payable by or on account of any Loan Party to or for the account of any Lender or Agent under any of the Loan Documents:

(a) the applicable Loan Party shall notify the Administrative Agent of any such requirement or any change in any such requirement as soon as such Loan Party becomes aware of it;

 

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(b) the applicable Loan Party or other applicable withholding agent shall make such deduction or withholding and pay to the relevant Governmental Authority any such Tax before the date on which penalties attach thereto, such payment to be made (if the liability to pay is imposed on any Loan Party) for such Loan Party’s account or (if that liability is imposed on the Lender or Agent) on behalf of and in the name of the Lender or Agent (as applicable);

(c) if the Tax in question is a Non-Excluded Tax or Other Tax, the sum payable to such Lender or Agent (as applicable) shall be increased by such Loan Party to the extent necessary to ensure that, after the making of any required deduction or withholding for Non-Excluded Taxes or Other Taxes (including any deductions or withholdings for Non-Excluded Taxes or Other Taxes attributable to any payments required to be made under this Section 3.01), such Lender (or, in the case of any payment made to the Administrative Agent for its own account, the Administrative Agent) receives on the due date a net sum equal to what it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been required or made; and

(d) within thirty days after paying any sum from which it is required by Law to make any deduction or withholding, and within thirty days after the due date of payment of any Tax which it is required by clause (b) above to pay (or, in each case, as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter), the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent evidence reasonably satisfactory to the other affected parties of such deduction or withholding and of the remittance thereof to the relevant Governmental Authority.

(3) Status of Lender . 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 Laws or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent 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 any Loan Document. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Each such Lender shall, whenever a lapse in time or change in circumstances renders any such documentation (including any specific documentation required below in this Section 3.01(3)) obsolete, expired 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 Borrower or the Administrative Agent) or promptly notify the Borrower and Administrative Agent of its legal ineligibility to do so.

Without limiting the foregoing:

(a) Each U.S. Lender 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 copies of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding.

(b) Each Foreign Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or before the date on which it becomes a party to this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent) whichever of the following is applicable:

(i) two properly completed and duly signed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (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,

(ii) two properly completed and duly signed copies of IRS Form W-8ECI (or any successor forms),

 

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(iii) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 871(h) or Section 881(c) of the Code, (A) two properly completed and duly signed certificates substantially in the form of Exhibit H (any such certificate, a “ United States Tax Compliance Certificate ”) and (B) two properly completed and duly signed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or any successor forms),

(iv) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner (for example, where such Foreign Lender is a partnership or a participating Lender), IRS Form W-8IMY (or any successor forms) of such Foreign Lender, accompanied by an IRS Form W-8ECI, Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, United States Tax Compliance Certificate, Form W-9, Form W-8IMY and any other required information (or any successor forms) from each beneficial owner that would be required under this Section 3.01(3) if such beneficial owner were a Lender, as applicable ( provided that, if a Lender is a partnership (and not a participating Lender) and if one or more beneficial owners are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, the United States Tax Compliance Certificate may be provided by such Foreign Lender on behalf of such beneficial owner(s)), or

(v) two properly completed and duly signed copies of any other documentation prescribed by applicable U.S. federal income tax laws (including the Treasury Regulations) as a basis for claiming a complete exemption from, or a reduction in, U.S. federal withholding tax on any payments to such Lender under the Loan Documents.

(c) If a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Sections 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 complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount, if any, to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this paragraph (c), the term “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

For the avoidance of doubt, if a Lender is an entity disregarded from its owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes, references to the foregoing documentation are intended to refer to documentation with respect to such Lender’s owner and, as applicable, such Lender.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 3.01(3), a Lender shall not be required to deliver any documentation that such Lender is not legally eligible to deliver. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to deliver to the Loan Parties and to any successor Administrative Agent any documentation provided by such Lender to the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 3.01(3).

(4) Without duplication of other amounts payable by the Borrower pursuant to Section 3.01(2), the Borrower shall pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

(5) The Loan Parties shall, jointly and severally, indemnify a Lender or the Administrative Agent (each a “ Tax Indemnitee ”), within 10 days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Non-Excluded Taxes paid or payable by such Tax Indemnitee on or attributable to any payment under or with respect to any Loan Document, and any Other Taxes payable by such Tax Indemnitee (including Non-Excluded Taxes or Other Taxes imposed on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 3.01) (other than any penalties determined by a final and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Tax Indemnitee), whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the Governmental Authority; provided that if the Borrower reasonably believes that such Taxes were not correctly or legally asserted, such Tax Indemnitee will use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrower to obtain a refund of such Taxes (which shall be repaid to the Borrower in accordance with Section 3.01(6)) so long as such efforts would not, in the sole determination of such Tax Indemnitee, result in any

 

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additional out-of-pocket costs or expenses not reimbursed by such Loan Party or be otherwise materially disadvantageous to such Tax Indemnitee. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability prepared in good faith and delivered by the Tax Indemnitee or by the Administrative Agent on behalf of another Tax Indemnitee, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(6) If and to the extent that a Tax Indemnitee, in its sole discretion (exercised in good faith), determines that it has received a refund (whether received in cash or applied as a credit against any other cash Taxes payable) of any Non-Excluded Taxes or Other Taxes in respect of which it has received indemnification payments or additional amounts under this Section 3.01, then such Tax Indemnitee shall pay to the relevant Loan Party the amount of such refund, net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the Tax Indemnitee (including any Taxes imposed with respect to such refund), and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund), provided that the Loan Party, upon the request of the Tax Indemnitee, agrees to repay the amount paid over by the Tax Indemnitee ( plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Tax Indemnitee to the extent the Tax Indemnitee is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 3.01(6), in no event will the Tax Indemnitee be required to pay any amount to a Loan Party pursuant to this Section 3.01(6) the payment of which would place the Tax Indemnitee in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the Tax Indemnitee would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. This subsection shall not be construed to require a Tax Indemnitee to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to any Loan Party or any other Person.

(7) On or before the date the Administrative Agent becomes a party to this Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall deliver to the Borrower whichever of the following is applicable: (i) if the Administrative Agent is a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code, two executed original copies of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Administrative Agent is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding or (ii) if the Administrative Agent is not a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code, (A) with respect to payments received for its own account, two executed original copies of IRS Form W-8ECI and (ii) with respect to payments received on account of any Lender, two executed original copies of IRS Form W-8IMY (together with all required accompanying documentation) certifying that the Administrative Agent is a Withholding U.S. branch. At any time thereafter, the Administrative Agent shall provide updated documentation previously provided (or a successor form thereto) when any documentation previously delivered has expired or become obsolete or invalid or otherwise upon the reasonable request of the Borrower. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 3.01(7), the Administrative Agent shall not be required to provide any documentation that the Administrative Agent is not legally eligible to deliver as a result of a Change in Law after the Closing Date.

(8) The agreements in this Section 3.01 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

(9) For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Section 3.01, the term “Lender” includes any Issuing Bank.

SECTION 3.02 Illegality . If any Lender reasonably determines that any Change in Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for such Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to the LIBO Rate, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the LIBO Rate, or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, Dollars in the London interbank market, then, on written notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, (1) any obligation of such Lender to make or continue LIBO Rate Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to LIBO Rate Loans shall be suspended, and (2) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender making or maintaining Base Rate Loans the interest rate on which is determined by reference to the LIBO Rate component of the Base Rate, the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the LIBO Rate component of the Base Rate, in each case 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, (a) the Borrower may revoke any

 

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pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of LIBO Rate Loans and shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all LIBO Rate Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans (the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the LIBO Rate component of the Base Rate), either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such LIBO Rate Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such LIBO Rate Loans and (b) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon the LIBO Rate component of the Base Rate with respect to any Base Rate Loans, the Administrative Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute the Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to the LIBO Rate component thereof until the Administrative Agent is advised in writing by such Lender that it is no longer illegal for such Lender to determine or charge interest rates based upon the LIBO Rate. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.

SECTION 3.03 Inability to Determine Rates . If the Administrative Agent (in the case of clause (1) or (2) below) or the Required Lenders (in the case of clause (3) below) reasonably determine that for any reason in connection with any request for a LIBO Rate Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof that

(1) Dollar deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank eurodollar market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such LIBO Rate Loan,

(2) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the LIBO Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed LIBO Rate Loan or in connection with an existing or proposed Base Rate Loan, or

(3) the LIBO Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed LIBO Rate Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan,

the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Borrower and each Lender. Thereafter, (i) the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain LIBO Rate Loans shall be suspended, and (ii) in the event of a determination described in the preceding sentence with respect to the LIBO Rate component of the Base Rate, the utilization of the LIBO Rate component in determining the Base Rate shall be suspended, in each case 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 LIBO Rate Loans or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein.

SECTION 3.04 Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy; Reserves on LIBO Rate Loans .

(1) Increased Costs Generally . If any Change in Law shall:

(a) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender;

(b) subject any Lender to any Tax of any kind whatsoever with respect to this Agreement or any LIBO Rate Loan made by it, or change the basis of taxation of payments to such Lender in respect thereof (except for Non-Excluded Taxes or Other Taxes covered by Section 3.01 and any Excluded Taxes); or

(c) impose on any Lender or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or LIBO Rate Loans made by such Lender that is not otherwise accounted for in the definition of “LIBO Rate” or this clause (1);

 

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and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender or Issuing Bank of making or maintaining any Loan or issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit the interest on which is determined by reference to the LIBO Rate (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan or Letter of Credit), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or Issuing Bank (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, from time to time within fifteen (15) days after demand by such Lender or Issuing Bank setting forth in reasonable detail such increased costs (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent), the Borrower will pay to such Lender or Issuing Bank such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or Issuing Bank for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered; provided that such amounts shall only be payable by the Borrower to the applicable Lender or Issuing Bank under this Section 3.04(1) so long as it is such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s general policy or practice to demand compensation in similar circumstances under comparable provisions of other financing agreements.

(2) Capital Requirements . If any Lender reasonably determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s holding company, if any, regarding capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by it, or participations in or issuance of Letters of Credit by such Lender, to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender’s holding company, as the case may be, could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity requirements), 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), the Borrower will pay to such Lender additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered; provided that such amounts shall only be payable by the Borrower to the applicable Lender under this Section 3.04(2) so long as it is such Lender’s general policy or practice to demand compensation in similar circumstances under comparable provisions of other financing agreements.

(3) Certificates for Reimbursement . A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in subsection (1) or (2) of this Section 3.04 and delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within fifteen (15) days after receipt thereof.

SECTION 3.05 Funding Losses . Upon written demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, which demand shall set forth in reasonable detail the basis for requesting such amount, the Borrower shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense (excluding loss of anticipated profits or margin) actually incurred by it as a result of:

(1) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any LIBO Rate Loan on a day prior to the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration, or otherwise);

(2) 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 LIBO Rate Loan on the date or in the amount notified by the Borrower; or

(3) any assignment of a LIBO Rate Loan on a day prior to the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 3.07; including any loss or expense (excluding loss of anticipated profits or margin) actually incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such LIBO Rate Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Lender may make any demand under this Section 3.05 with respect to the “floor” specified in the proviso to the definition of “LIBO Rate.”

 

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SECTION 3.06 Matters Applicable to All Requests for Compensation .

(1) Designation of a Different Lending Office . If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different Lending Office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the good faith judgment of such Lender such designation or assignment (a) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.04, as the case may be, in the future, or eliminate the need for the notice pursuant to Section 3.02, as applicable, and (b) in each case, would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender in any material economic, legal or regulatory respect.

(2) Suspension of Lender Obligations . 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 LIBO Rate Loans from one Interest Period to another Interest Period, or to convert Base Rate Loans into LIBO 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(3) shall be applicable); provided that such suspension shall not affect the right of such Lender to receive the compensation so requested.

(3) Conversion of LIBO Rate Loans . If any Lender gives notice to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) that the circumstances specified in Section 3.02, 3.03 or 3.04 hereof that gave rise to the conversion of such Lender’s LIBO Rate Loans no longer exist (which such Lender agrees to do promptly upon such circumstances ceasing to exist) at a time when LIBO Rate Loans made by other Lenders, as applicable, are outstanding, 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 LIBO Rate Loans to the extent necessary so that, after giving effect thereto, all Loans of a given Class held by the Lenders of such Class holding LIBO Rate Loans and by such Lender are held pro rata (as to principal amounts, interest rate basis, and Interest Periods) in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares.

(4) Delay in Requests . Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of Sections 3.01 or 3.04 shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of Section 3.01 or 3.04 for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than one hundred and eighty (180) days prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of the event giving rise to such claim and of such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the circumstance giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 180-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).

SECTION 3.07 Replacement of Lenders under Certain Circumstances . If (1) any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04 or ceases to make LIBO Rate Loans as a result of any condition described in Section 3.02 or Section 3.04, (2) the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.04, (3) any Lender is a Non-Consenting Lender, (4) any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender or (5) any other circumstance exists hereunder that gives the Borrower the right to replace a Lender as a party hereto, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent,

(a) require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 10.07), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement (or, with respect to clause (3) above, all of its interests, rights and obligations with respect to the Class of Loans or Commitments that is the subject of the related consent, waiver, or amendment, as applicable) and the related Loan Documents to one or more Eligible Assignees that shall assume such obligations (any of which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:

(i) the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee specified in Section 10.07(b)(iv);

 

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(ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the applicable outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 3.05 and, in the case of a Repricing Transaction, any “prepayment premium” pursuant to Section 2.18 that would otherwise be owed in connection therewith) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);

(iii) such Lender being replaced pursuant to this Section 3.07 shall (i) execute and deliver an Assignment and Assumption with respect to all, or a portion, as applicable, of such Lender’s Commitment and outstanding Loans and participations in L/C Obligations and (ii) deliver any Notes evidencing such Loans to the Borrower or Administrative Agent (or a lost or destroyed note indemnity in lieu thereof); provided that the failure of any such Lender to execute an Assignment and Assumption or deliver such Notes shall not render such sale and purchase (and the corresponding assignment) invalid and such assignment shall be recorded in the Register and the Notes shall be deemed to be canceled upon such failure;

(iv) the Eligible Assignee 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 and confidentiality provisions under this Agreement, which shall survive as to such assigning Lender;

(v) 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, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter;

(vi) such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws;

(vii) any Lender that acts as an Issuing Bank may not be replaced hereunder at any time when it has any Letter of Credit outstanding hereunder unless arrangements reasonably satisfactory to such Issuing Bank (including the furnishing of a back-up standby letter of credit in form and substance, and issued by an issuer, reasonably satisfactory to such Issuing Bank or the depositing of Cash Collateral into a Cash Collateral Account in amounts and pursuant to arrangements reasonably satisfactory to such Issuing Bank) have been made with respect to each such outstanding Letter of Credit; and

(viii) the Lender that acts as Administrative Agent cannot be replaced in its capacity as Administrative Agent other than in accordance with Section 9.11, or

(b) terminate the Commitment of such Lender or Issuing Bank, as the case may be, and (A) in the case of a Lender (other than an Issuing Bank), 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 (including in the case of a Repricing Transaction, any “prepayment premium” pursuant to Section 2.18 that would otherwise be owed in connection therewith) and (B) in the case of an Issuing Bank, repay all Obligations of the Borrower owing to such Issuing Bank relating to the Loans and participations held by such Issuing Bank as of such termination date and Cash Collateralize, cancel or backstop, or provide for the deemed reissuance under another facility, on terms satisfactory to such Issuing Bank any Letters of Credit issued by it; provided that in the case of any such termination of the Commitment of a Non-Consenting Lender such termination shall be sufficient (together with all other consenting Lenders) to cause the adoption of the applicable consent, waiver or amendment of the Loan Documents and such termination shall, with respect to clause (3) above, be in respect of all of its interests, rights and obligations with respect to the Class of Loans or Commitments that is the subject of the related consent, waiver and amendment.

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, all affected Lenders or all the

 

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Lenders or all affected Lenders with respect to a certain Class or Classes of the Loans/Commitments and (iii) the Required Lenders or Required Facility 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 .”

A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

SECTION 3.08 Survival . All of the Borrower’s obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, repayment of all other Obligations hereunder and resignation of the Administrative Agent.

Article IV

Conditions Precedent

SECTION 4.01 Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness . This Agreement will be effective and enforceable in accordance with its terms upon the satisfaction of each of the following conditions:

(1) The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals, facsimiles or copies in .pdf format (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party (other than in the case of clause (1)(c)(ii) and (1)(e) below):

(a) [reserved];

(b) executed counterparts of this Agreement and the Guaranty by each intended party hereto and thereto;

(c) each Collateral Document set forth on Schedule 4.01(1)(c) required to be executed on the Effective Date as indicated on such schedule, duly executed by each Loan Party that is party thereto, together with:

(i) subject to Section 6.13(2), certificates, if any, representing the Pledged Collateral that is certificated equity of the Loan Parties’ Material Domestic Subsidiaries accompanied by undated stock powers executed in blank; and

(ii) all UCC-1 financing statements in the appropriate jurisdiction or jurisdictions for each Loan Party that the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent may deem reasonably necessary to satisfy the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement shall have been provided for, and arrangements for the filing thereof in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent shall have been made (it being understood that such UCC-1 financing statements will be filed on the Effective Date);

(d) certificates of good standing from the secretary of state of the state of organization of each Loan Party (to the extent such concept exists in such jurisdiction), customary certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates or other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party certifying true and complete copies of the Organizational Documents attached thereto and 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 Effective Date;

(e) a customary legal opinion from Winston & Strawn LLP, counsel to the Loan Parties;

 

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(f) a certificate of a Responsible Officer certifying that the conditions set forth in Section 4.01(4) has been satisfied; and

(g) a solvency certificate from a Financial Officer of the Borrower (after giving effect to the Transactions) substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit I ;

provided , however , that with respect to the requirements set forth in clause (1)(c)(i) above, each certificate required to be delivered pursuant to clause (1)(c)(i), above, on the Effective Date by any Loan Party will not constitute conditions precedent to the effectiveness of this Agreement on the Effective Date or the obligation of each Lender to make a Credit Extension hereunder on the Closing Date and that the only action with respect to the perfection of the Collateral that shall constitute conditions precedent to the effectiveness of this Agreement on the Effective Date shall be the delivery of the UCC-1 financing statements required pursuant to clause (1)(c)(ii), above; provided that the Borrower will use commercially reasonable efforts to effect the delivery of each certificate required to be delivered pursuant to clause (1)(c)(i) above (and transfer powers with respect thereto) on or prior to the Closing Date without undue burden or expense; provided further that each of the Borrower and its wholly owned Material Domestic Subsidiaries (other than Excluded Subsidiaries) will execute and/or deliver any such document(s) that is not delivered and take any perfection action that is not taken on the Effective Date or on the Closing Date within 90 days after the Closing Date (or such later date as agreed to by the Administrative Agent).

(2) The Administrative Agent shall have received copies of (a) audited consolidated balance sheets and related audited consolidated statements of operations, members’ equity (deficit) and cash flows of the Target and its subsidiaries for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2015 and, to the extent the Target has made such financial statements available to the Borrower (or otherwise publicly available), each subsequent fiscal year ended at least 90 days prior to the Effective Date, (b) unaudited consolidated balance sheets and the related unaudited consolidated statements of income, cash flows and members’ equity (deficit) of the Target and its subsidiaries for each subsequent fiscal quarter (other than the fourth fiscal quarter of the Target’s fiscal year) ended at least 45 days prior to the Effective Date, (c) audited consolidated balance sheets and related audited consolidated statements of income, changes in members’ deficit and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2015 and each subsequent fiscal year ended at least 90 days prior to the Effective Date and (d) unaudited consolidated balance sheets and the related unaudited consolidated statements of income and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for each subsequent fiscal quarter (other than the fourth fiscal quarter of the Borrower’s fiscal year) ended at least 45 days prior to the Effective Date. For the avoidance of doubt, it is agreed that all Target financial statements required to be delivered pursuant to this clause (2) shall be prepared in accordance with IFRS.

(3) The Administrative Agent shall have received at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Effective Date all documentation and other information in respect of 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 reasonably requested in writing by it at least five (5) Business Days prior to the Effective Date.

(4) The Specified Representations shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Effective Date; provided that to the extent such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, they shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date.

(5) The Bridge Loan Agreement shall have been executed and delivered by the parties thereto.

(6) The Undertaking Agreement and the agreement regarding guarantee and indemnification undertakings, in each case, including all schedules and exhibits thereto, the Tender Documents and all other related documentation shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Arrangers and shall (if necessary) have been executed and delivered by the parties thereto.

 

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(7) The Investment Agreement (including the conditions precedent set forth therein) and all of the definitive documentation related thereto shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Arrangers and shall have been executed and delivered by the parties thereto.

(8) The amendment to the Existing Credit Agreement, permitting the Transactions in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent shall have been executed and delivered by the parties thereto.

(9) The Tender Documents shall have been, or, substantially concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, the Bridge Loan Agreement and the Investment Agreement, shall be submitted to the Polish Financial Supervision Authority.

Without limiting the generality of the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 9.03, 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 Effective Date specifying its objection thereto.

SECTION 4.02 Conditions to Credit Extensions on the Closing Date . The obligation of each Lender to make a Credit Extension hereunder on the Closing Date is subject solely to satisfaction (or waiver) of the following conditions precedent:

Prior to or substantially concurrently with the initial Borrowing on the Closing Date,

(a) all conditions under Section 4.01 shall have been satisfied; and

(b) the Tender Effectiveness shall have occurred or shall occur substantially contemporaneously with the initial Borrowing.

SECTION 4.03 Conditions to Credit Extensions after the Closing Date . 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, a continuation of LIBO Rate Loans or a Borrowing pursuant to any Incremental Amendment) after the Closing Date is subject to the following conditions precedent:

(1) The representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in Article V or any other Loan Document shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Credit Extension ; provided that to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, they shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date; provided further that, any representation and warranty that is qualified as to “materiality,” “Material Adverse Effect” or similar language shall be true and correct (after giving effect to any qualification therein) in all respects on such respective dates.

(2) No Default shall exist, or would result from such proposed Credit Extension or from the application of the proceeds therefrom.

(3) The Administrative Agent or the relevant Issuing Bank (as applicable) shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.

(4) Each Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Loans to the other Type, a continuation of LIBO Rate Loans o or a Borrowing pursuant to an Incremental Amendment) submitted by the Borrower after the Closing Date shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Sections 4.03(1) and 4.03(2) have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.

 

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In addition, solely to the extent the Borrower has delivered to the Administrative Agent a Notice of Intent to Cure pursuant to Section 8.04, no request for a Credit Extension shall be honored after delivery of such notice until the applicable Cure Amount specified in such notice is actually received by the Borrower. For the avoidance of doubt, the preceding sentence shall have no effect on the continuation or conversion of any Loans outstanding.

Article V

Representations and Warranties

The Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders on the Effective Date and at the time of each Credit Extension (in the case of a Credit Extension made pursuant to Section 2.14, solely to the extent required to be true and correct for such Credit Extension pursuant to Section 2.14):

SECTION 5.01 Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws . Each Loan Party and each of its respective Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Material Subsidiary:

(1) is a Person duly organized or formed, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization (to the extent such concept exists in such jurisdiction),

(2) has all corporate or other organizational power and authority to (a) own or lease its assets and carry on its business as currently conducted and (b) in the case of the Loan Parties, execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party,

(3) is duly qualified and in good standing (to the extent such concept exists) under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business as currently conducted requires such qualification,

(4) is in compliance with all applicable Laws orders, writs, injunctions and orders; and

(5) has all requisite governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to operate its business as currently conducted;

except in each case referred to in the preceding clauses (2)(a), (3), (4) or (5), to the extent that failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.02 Authorization; No Contravention .

(1) The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is a party have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action.

(2) None of the execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is a party will:

(a) contravene the terms of any of such Person’s Organizational Documents;

(b) result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien upon any of the property or assets of such Person or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (other than as permitted by Section 7.01) under (i) any Contractual Obligation to which such Loan Party is a party or affecting such Loan Party or the properties of such Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Loan Party or its property is subject; or

(c) violate any applicable Law;

 

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except with respect to any breach, contravention or violation (but not creation of Liens) referred to in the preceding clauses (b) and (c), to the extent that such breach, contravention or violation would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.03 Governmental Authorization . No material approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority is necessary or required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except for:

(1) filings and registrations necessary to perfect the Liens on the Collateral granted by the Loan Parties in favor of the Secured Parties,

(2) the approvals, consents, exemptions, authorizations, actions, notices and filings that 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 in full force and effect pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement); and

(3) those approvals, consents, exemptions, authorizations or other actions, notices or filings, the failure of which to obtain or make would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, 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 party hereto or thereto, as applicable. Each Loan Document constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of each Loan Party that is party thereto, enforceable against each such Loan Party in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, by general principles of equity and principles of good faith and fair dealing generally applicable to entities such as the Loan Parties.

SECTION 5.05 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect .

(1) The Borrower Annual Financial Statements and the Borrower Quarterly Financial Statements fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date(s) thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the periods covered thereby, (i) except as otherwise expressly noted therein and (ii) subject, in the case of the Borrower Quarterly Financial Statements, to changes resulting from normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

(2) Since the date of effectiveness of this Agreement, there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(3) The forecasts of consolidated balance sheets and statements of income of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for each fiscal year ending after the Closing Date until the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date, copies of which have been furnished to the Administrative Agent prior to the Closing Date, when taken as a whole, have been prepared in good faith on the basis of the assumptions stated therein, which assumptions were believed to be reasonable at the time made and at the time the forecasts are delivered, it being understood that:

(a) no forecasts are to be viewed as facts,

(b) all forecasts are subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of the Loan Parties or the Investors,

(c) no assurance can be given that any particular forecasts will be realized and

(d) actual results may differ and such differences may be material.

 

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SECTION 5.06 Litigation . There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, overtly threatened in writing, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.07 Labor Matters . Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect: (1) there are no strikes or other labor disputes against the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened in writing and (2) hours worked by and payment made based on hours worked to employees of each of the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries have not been in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 or any other applicable Laws dealing with wage and hour matters.

SECTION 5.08 Ownership of Property; Liens . Each Loan Party and each of its respective Restricted Subsidiaries has good and valid record title in fee simple 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 for Liens permitted by Section 7.01 (and, prior to the Closing Date, liens under the Existing Credit Agreement) and except where the failure to have such title or other interest would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.09 Environmental Matters . Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect: (a) each Loan Party and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries and their respective operations and properties is in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws; (b) each Loan Party and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries has obtained and maintained all Environmental Permits required to conduct their operations; (c) none of the Loan Parties or any of their respective Restricted Subsidiaries is subject to any pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened Environmental Claim in writing or Environmental Liability; (d) none of the Loan Parties or any of their respective Restricted Subsidiaries or predecessors has treated, stored, transported or Released Hazardous Materials at or from any currently or formerly owned, leased or operated real estate or facility except for such actions that were in compliance with Environmental Law; and (e) to the knowledge of any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary, there are no occurrences, facts, circumstances or conditions which could reasonably be expected to give rise to an Environmental Claim.

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 Loan Party and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries has timely filed all Tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have timely paid all Taxes (including satisfying its withholding tax obligations) levied or imposed on their properties, income or assets (whether or not shown in a Tax return), except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate actions diligently taken and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP.

There is no proposed Tax assessment, deficiency or other claim against any Loan Party or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries except (i) those being actively contested by a Loan Party or such Restricted Subsidiary in good faith and by appropriate actions diligently taken and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP or (ii) those which would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.11 ERISA Compliance .

(1) Except as would not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, each Plan is in compliance with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other federal or state Laws.

(2) (i) No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur and (ii) none of the Loan Parties or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates 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(2), as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(3) Except where noncompliance or the incurrence of an obligation would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (a) each Foreign Plan has been maintained in compliance with its terms and with the requirements of any and all applicable Laws, and (b) none of the Borrower or any Subsidiary has incurred any obligation in connection with the termination of or withdrawal from any Foreign Plan.

SECTION 5.12 Subsidiaries .

(1) Subject to the occurrence of the Closing Date Refinancing, all Equity Interests that constitute Collateral owned by the Borrower or any Guarantor in any of their respective Subsidiaries are owned free and clear of all Liens of any person except (a) those Liens created under the Collateral Documents and (b) any nonconsensual Lien that is permitted under Section 7.01.

(2) As of the Effective Date, Schedule 5.12 sets forth:

(a) the name and jurisdiction of organization of each Subsidiary, and

(b) the ownership interests of the Borrower and any Subsidiary of the Borrower in each Subsidiary, including the percentage of such ownership.

SECTION 5.13 Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act .

(a) As of the Effective Date, none of the Collateral is Margin Stock. No Loan Party is engaged nor will it engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock, and no proceeds of any Borrowings will be used for any purpose that violates Regulation U.

(b) No Loan Party is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

SECTION 5.14 Disclosure . As of the Effective Date, none of the written information and written data heretofore or contemporaneously furnished in writing by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Guarantor to any Agent or any Lender on or prior to the Effective Date in connection with the Transactions, when taken as a whole, contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make such written information and written data taken as a whole, in the light of the circumstances under which it was delivered, not materially misleading (after giving effect to all modifications and supplements to such written information and written data, in each case, furnished after the date on which such written information or such written data was originally delivered and prior to the Effective Date); it being understood that for purposes of this Section 5.14, such written information and written data shall not include any projections, pro forma financial information, financial estimates, forecasts and forward-looking information or information of a general economic or general industry nature.

SECTION 5.15 Intellectual Property; Licenses, etc . The Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to, or a valid license or right to use, all patents, patent rights, trademarks, servicemarks, trade names, copyrights, technology, software, know-how, database rights and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “ IP Rights ”) that to the knowledge of the Borrower are reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses as currently conducted, except where the failure to have any such rights, either individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Borrower, the operation of the respective businesses of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower as currently conducted does not infringe upon, dilute, misappropriate or violate any IP Rights held by any Person except for such infringements, dilutions, misappropriations or violations, individually or in the aggregate, that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No claim or litigation regarding any IP Rights is pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened in writing against any Loan Party or Subsidiary, that, either individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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SECTION 5.16 Solvency . On the Effective Date (or, with respect to the making of such representation on or after the Closing Date, the Closing Date), before and after giving effect to the Transactions on a pro forma basis, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are Solvent.

SECTION 5.17 USA PATRIOT Act; Anti-Corruption Compliance; Sanctions . To the extent applicable, each of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries are in compliance, in all material respects, with (i) the USA PATRIOT Act, (ii) the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (the “ FCPA ”) and (iii) the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, and each of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 C.F.R. Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) and any other applicable enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto. Neither the Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary nor any director or officer, nor, to the knowledge of the Borrower, employee or agent of the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, is currently the subject of any U.S. sanctions administered by (a) the U.S. government, including those administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“ OFAC ”) or the U.S. Department of State, or (b) the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European Union member state or Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom (“ Sanctions ”). No proceeds of the Loans will be used by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary directly or indirectly, in violation of Sanctions, the USA PATRIOT Act or the FCPA or for the purpose of financing activities of or with any Person, or in any country or territory, that, at the time of such financing, is the subject of any Sanctions, or in any manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions applicable to any party hereto.

SECTION 5.18 Collateral Documents . Except as otherwise contemplated hereby or under any other Loan Documents and subject to limitations set forth in the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and the effectiveness of the Collateral Documents pursuant to their terms, the provisions of the Collateral Documents, together with such filings and other actions required to be taken hereby or by the applicable Collateral Documents (including the delivery to the Collateral Agent of any Pledged Collateral required to be delivered pursuant hereto or the applicable Collateral Documents), are effective to create in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties a legal, valid, perfected and enforceable first priority Lien (subject to Liens permitted by Section 7.01) on all right, title and interest of the respective Loan Parties in the Collateral described therein.

Notwithstanding anything herein (including this Section 5.18) or in any other Loan Document to the contrary, no Loan Party makes any representation or warranty as to (A) the effects of perfection or non-perfection, the priority or the enforceability of any pledge of or security interest in any Equity Interests of any Foreign Subsidiary, or as to the rights and remedies of the Agents or any Lender with respect thereto, under foreign Law, (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, (C) on the Closing Date and until required pursuant to Section 6.13 or 4.01, the pledge or creation of any security interest, or the effects of perfection or non-perfection, the priority or enforceability of any pledge or security interest to the extent not required on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 4.01 or (D) any Excluded Assets.

Article VI

Affirmative Covenants

Effective as of the Effective Date and for so long thereafter as the Termination Conditions have not been satisfied, the Borrower shall and (except in the case of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.01, 6.02 and 6.03) shall cause each of the Restricted Subsidiaries to:

SECTION 6.01 Financial Statements . Deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution by the Administrative Agent to each Lender (subject to the limitations on distribution of any such information to Public Lenders as described in Section 6.02) each of the following:

(1) within ninety (90) days (or the last date on which the Borrower is required to file its 10-K for the applicable fiscal year (including any grace periods or extensions permitted by the SEC), if later) after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year, and the related consolidated statements of income and cash

 

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flows for such fiscal year, together with related notes thereto and management’s discussion and analysis describing results of operations in the form customarily prepared by management of the Borrower, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, in reasonable detail and all prepared in accordance with GAAP, audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of an independent registered public accounting firm of nationally recognized standing or another accounting firm reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, which report and opinion (a) will be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and (b) will not be subject to any qualification as to the scope of such audit (but may contain a “going concern” or like qualification that is due to (i) the impending maturity of the Facilities, the Bridge Loans, the Senior Notes or any permitted refinancings thereof, (ii) any anticipated inability to satisfy the Financial Covenant or (iii) except in the case of the Revolving Facility, an actual Default of the Financial Covenant);

(2) within forty-five (45) days (or the last date on which the Borrower is required to file its 10-Q for the applicable fiscal quarter (including any grace periods or extensions permitted by the SEC), if later) after the end of each of the first three (3) fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower commencing with March 31, 2017, a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter, and the related (a) consolidated statement of income for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the fiscal year then ended and (b) consolidated statement of cash flows for the portion of the fiscal year then ended, setting forth, in each case of the preceding clauses (a) and (b), in comparative form the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year ( provided that no such comparative information will be required if such comparative data would be for a date or period prior to March 31, 2017), accompanied by an Officer’s Certificate stating that such financial statements fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes, together with management’s discussion and analysis describing results of operations in the form customarily prepared by management of the Borrower;

(3) [reserved];

(4) simultaneously with the delivery of each set of consolidated financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(1) and 6.01(2), the related unaudited (it being understood that such information may be audited at the option of the Borrower) consolidating financial statements reflecting the adjustments necessary to eliminate the accounts of Unrestricted Subsidiaries (if any) from such consolidated financial statements; and

(5) annually, upon request of the Administrative Agent, at a time mutually agreed with the Administrative Agent that is promptly after the delivery of the information required pursuant to Section 6.01(1) above, commencing with the delivery of information with respect to the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017, to participate in a conference call for Lenders to discuss the financial position and results of operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the most recently ended fiscal year for which financial statements have been delivered; provided that if the Borrower holds conference calls on a quarterly basis for the benefit of any of its securityholders, the Lenders shall be permitted to participate in such quarterly conference calls; provided , further , that if the Borrower is holding a conference call open to the public to discuss the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the most recently ended fiscal period for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Sections 6.01(1) or 6.01(2) above, the Borrower will not be required to hold a second, separate call for the Lenders so long as the Lenders are provided access to such initial conference call and the ability to ask questions thereon.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations referred to in Sections 6.01(1) and 6.01(2) may be satisfied with respect to financial information of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries by furnishing the Borrower’s Form 10-K or 10-Q, as applicable, filed with the SEC (and the public filing of such report with the SEC shall constitute delivery under this Section 6.01); provided that with respect to the preceding clause, to the extent such information is in lieu of information required to be provided under Section 6.01(1) (it being understood that such information may be audited at the option of the Borrower), such materials are accompanied by a report and opinion

 

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of an independent registered public accounting firm of nationally recognized standing or another accounting firm reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, which report and opinion (a) will be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and (b) will not be subject to any qualification as to the scope of such audit (but may contain a “going concern” or like qualification that is due to (i) the impending maturity of the Facilities, the Bridge Loans, the Senior Notes or any permitted refinancings thereof, (ii) any anticipated inability to satisfy the Financial Covenant or (iii) except in the case of the Revolving Facility, an actual Default of the Financial Covenant).

Any financial statements required to be delivered pursuant to Sections 6.01(1) or 6.01(2) shall not be required to contain all purchase accounting adjustments relating to the Transactions or any other transaction(s) permitted hereunder to the extent it is not practicable to include any such adjustments in such financial statements.

SECTION 6.02 Certificates; Other Information . Deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution by the Administrative Agent to each Lender (subject to the limitations on distribution of any such information to Public Lenders as described in this Section 6.02):

(1) no later than five (5) days after the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(1) and (2) (commencing with such delivery for the fiscal quarter in which the Closing Date occurs), a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by a Financial Officer of the Borrower;

(2) promptly after the same are publicly available, copies of all 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 or with any national securities exchange, as the case may be (other than amendments to any registration statement (to the extent such registration statement, in the form it became effective, is delivered to the Administrative Agent), 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 to any other clause of this Section 6.02;

(3) promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any notices of default to any holder of any class or series of debt securities of any Loan Party having an aggregate outstanding principal amount greater than the Threshold Amount or pursuant to the terms of the Bridge Loan Agreement or any Senior Notes Indenture so long as the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereunder is greater than the Threshold Amount (in each case, other than in connection with any board observer rights) and not otherwise required to be furnished to the Administrative Agent pursuant to any other clause of this Section 6.02;

(4) together with the delivery of the Compliance Certificate with respect to the financial statements referred to in Section 6.01(1), (a) a report setting forth the information required by Section 1(a) of the Perfection Certificate (or confirming that there has been no change in such information since the later of the Closing Date or the last report delivered pursuant to this clause (a)) and (b) a list of each Subsidiary of the Borrower that identifies each Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary as of the date of delivery of such list or a confirmation that there is no change in such information since the later of the Closing Date and the last such list; and

(5) promptly, but subject to the limitations set forth in Section 6.10 and Section 10.09, such additional information regarding the business and financial affairs of any Loan Party or any Material Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent may from time to time on its own behalf or on behalf of any Lender reasonably request in writing from time to time.

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01 or Section 6.02(2) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (a) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto, on the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 10.02 hereto (or as such address may be updated from time to time in accordance with Section 10.02); or (b) 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

 

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Administrative Agent, the Borrower will deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent for further distribution by the Administrative Agent to each Lender (subject to the limitations on distribution of any such information to Public Lenders as described in this Section 6.02) 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 or link and, upon the Administrative Agent’s request, provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents. 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.

The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent will make available to the Lenders and the Issuing Banks materials or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, the “ Borrower Materials ”) by posting the Borrower Materials on Intralinks, SyndTrak, ClearPar or another similar electronic system (the “ Platform ”) and (b) certain of the Lenders may have personnel who do not wish to receive any information with respect to the Borrower, its Subsidiaries or their respective securities that is not Public-Side Information, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such Person’s securities (each, a “ Public Lender ”). The Borrower hereby agrees that (i) at the Administrative Agent’s request, all Borrower Materials that are to be made available to Public Lenders will be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, means that the word “PUBLIC” will appear prominently on the first page thereof; (ii) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Borrower will be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks to treat such Borrower Materials as containing only Public-Side Information ( provided , however , that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they will be treated as set forth in Section 10.09); (iii) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” and, except to the extent the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent to the contrary, any Borrower Materials provided pursuant to Section 6.01(1), 6.01(2) or 6.02(1) are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated as “Public Side Information”; and (iv) the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers shall be entitled to treat Borrower Materials that are not specifically identified as “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated as “Public Side Information.” Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall be under no obligation to mark the Borrower Materials “PUBLIC.”

Anything to the contrary notwithstanding, nothing in this Agreement will require the Borrower or any Subsidiary to disclose, permit the inspection, examination or making copies or abstracts of, or discussion of, any document, information or other matter, or provide information (i) that constitutes non-financial trade secrets or non-financial proprietary information, (ii) in respect of which disclosure is prohibited by Law or binding agreement or (iii) that is subject to attorney-client or similar privilege or constitutes attorney work product; provided that in the event that the Borrower does not provide information that otherwise would be required to be provided hereunder in reliance on the exclusions in this paragraph relating to violation of any obligation of confidentiality, the Borrower shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide notice to the Administrative Agent promptly upon obtaining knowledge that such information is being withheld (but solely if providing such notice would not violate such obligation of confidentiality).

SECTION 6.03 Notices . Promptly after a Responsible Officer obtains actual knowledge thereof, notify the Administrative Agent of:

(1) the occurrence of any Default; and

(2) (a) any dispute, litigation, investigation or proceeding between any Loan Party and any arbitrator or Governmental Authority, (b) the filing or commencement of, or any material development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, including pursuant to any applicable Environmental Laws or in respect of IP Rights, the occurrence of any violation by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries of, or liability under, any Environmental Law or Environmental Permit, or (c) the occurrence of any ERISA Event that, in any such case referred to in clauses (a), (b) or (c) of this Section 6.03(2), has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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Each notice pursuant to this Section 6.03 shall be accompanied by a written statement of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower (a) that such notice is being delivered pursuant to Section 6.03(1) or (2) (as applicable) and (b) 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 Taxes . Timely pay, discharge or otherwise satisfy, as the same shall become due and payable, all of 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, to the extent (1) any such Tax is being contested in good faith and by appropriate actions for which appropriate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP or (2) the failure to pay or discharge the same would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 6.05 Preservation of Existence, etc .

(1) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization; and

(2) take all reasonable action to obtain, preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its rights, licenses, permits, privileges, franchises, and IP Rights material to the conduct of its business,

except in the case of clause (1) or (2) to the extent (other than with respect to the preservation of the existence of the Borrower) that failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect or pursuant to any merger, consolidation, liquidation, dissolution or disposition permitted by Article VII.

SECTION 6.06 Maintenance of Properties . Except if the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and equipment used in the operation of its business in good working order, repair and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted and casualty or condemnation excepted and any repairs and replacements that are the obligation of the owner or landlord of any property leased by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries excepted.

SECTION 6.07 Maintenance of Insurance .

(1) Maintain with insurance companies that the Borrower believes (in the good faith judgment of its management) are financially sound and reputable at the time the relevant coverage is placed or renewed or with a Captive Insurance Subsidiary, insurance with respect to the Borrower’s and the Restricted Subsidiaries’ properties and business against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by Persons engaged in the same or similar business, 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, and will furnish to the Lenders, upon written request from the Administrative Agent, information presented in reasonable detail as to the insurance so carried ; provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event will the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary be required to obtain or maintain insurance that is more restrictive than its normal course of practice. Subject to Section 6.13(2), each such policy of insurance will, as appropriate, (i) name the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, as an additional insured thereunder as its interests may appear or (ii) in the case of each casualty insurance policy, contain an additional loss payable clause or endorsement that names the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, as the additional loss payee thereunder.

(2) If any improved portion of any Mortgaged Property is at any time located in an area identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (or any successor agency) as a special flood hazard area with respect to which flood insurance has been made available under the Flood Insurance Laws, then the Borrower will, or will cause each Loan Party to (a) maintain, or cause to be maintained, flood insurance in an amount and otherwise sufficient to comply with all applicable rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to the Flood Insurance Laws and (b) deliver to the Collateral Agent evidence of such compliance in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent; provided that to the extent that the requirements of this Section 6.07 are not satisfied on the Effective Date, the Borrower may satisfy such requirements in accordance with the Collateral and

 

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Guarantee Requirement and Section 6.11(2)(b) but in no event later than ten (10) days prior to the recording of the Mortgages and the delivery of the other real estate items required to be delivered pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and Section 6.11(2)(b).

SECTION 6.08 Compliance with Laws . Comply in all respects with the requirements of all Laws and comply with the USA PATRIOT Act, Sanctions and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or to its business or property, except if the failure to comply therewith would not reasonably be expected individually or in the aggregate to have 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 shall be made of all material financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be (it being understood and agreed that certain Foreign Subsidiaries may maintain individual books and records in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in their respective countries of organization and that such maintenance shall not constitute a breach of the representations, warranties or covenants hereunder).

SECTION 6.10 I nspection 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 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 (2) times during any calendar year absent the existence of an Event of Default 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 of its 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 shall give the Borrower the opportunity to participate in any discussions with the Borrower’s independent public accountants. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 6.10 is subject to the last paragraph of Section 6.02.

SECTION 6.11 Covenant to Guarantee Obligations and Give Security . At the Borrower’s expense, subject to the provisions of the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and any applicable limitation in any Collateral Document, take all action necessary or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent to ensure that the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement continues to be satisfied, including:

(1) (x) upon (i) the formation or acquisition of any new direct or indirect wholly owned Material Domestic Subsidiary (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) by any Loan Party, (ii) the designation of any existing direct or indirect wholly owned Material Domestic Subsidiary (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) as a Restricted Subsidiary, (iii) any Subsidiary (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) becoming a wholly owned Material Domestic Subsidiary or (iv) an Excluded Subsidiary that is a wholly owned Material Domestic Subsidiary ceasing to be an Excluded Subsidiary but continuing as a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower, (y) upon the acquisition of any material assets by the Borrower or any Guarantor or (z) with respect to any Subsidiary at the time it becomes a Loan Party, for any material assets held by such Subsidiary (in each case, other than assets constituting Collateral under a Collateral Document that becomes subject to the Lien created by such Collateral Document upon acquisition thereof (without limitation of the obligations to perfect such Lien)):

(a) within sixty (60) days (or such greater number of days specified below) after such formation, acquisition or designation or, in each case, such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion, cause each such Material Domestic Subsidiary that is required to become a Guarantor under the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement to execute the Guaranty (or a joinder thereto) and other documentation the Administrative Agent may reasonably request from time to time in order to carry out more effectively the purposes of the Guaranty and the Collateral Documents and

 

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(A) within sixty (60) days (or within one hundred and twenty (120) days in the case of documents listed in Section 6.11(2)(b)) after such formation, acquisition or designation, cause each such Material Domestic Subsidiary that is required to become a Guarantor pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement to duly execute and deliver to the Collateral Agent, Mortgages and the other items listed in Section 6.11(2)(b), mutatis mutandis , with respect to any Material Real Property, supplements to the Security Agreement, a counterpart signature page to the Intercompany Note, Intellectual Property Security Agreements and other security agreements and documents (if applicable), as reasonably requested by and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent (consistent with the Security Agreement, Intellectual Property Security Agreements and other Collateral Documents in effect on the Closing Date as amended and in effect from time to time), in each case granting and perfecting Liens required by the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement;

(B) within sixty (60) days after such formation, acquisition or designation, cause each such Material Domestic Subsidiary that is required to become a Guarantor pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement to deliver any and all certificates representing Equity Interests (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 and, if applicable, a joinder to the Intercompany Note substantially in the form of Annex I thereto with respect to the intercompany Indebtedness held by such Material Domestic Subsidiary and required to be pledged pursuant to the Collateral Documents;

(C) within sixty (60) days (or within one hundred and twenty (120) days in the case of documents listed in Section 6.11(2)(b)) after such formation, acquisition or designation, take and cause (i) the applicable Material Domestic Subsidiary that is required to become a Guarantor pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and (ii) to the extent applicable, each direct or indirect parent of such applicable Material Domestic Subsidiary, in each case, to take customary action(s) (including the recording of Mortgages, the filing of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements and delivery of stock and membership interest certificates to the extent certificated) as may be necessary in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent to vest in the Collateral Agent (or in any representative of the Collateral Agent designated by it) valid and perfected (subject to Liens permitted by Section 7.01) Liens required by the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, enforceable against all third parties in accordance with their terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by Debtor Relief Laws and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in equity or at law); and

(D) within sixty (60) days (or one hundred and twenty (120) days in the case of documents described in Section 6.11(2)(b)) after the reasonable request therefor by the Administrative Agent (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion), deliver to the Administrative Agent a signed copy of a customary Opinion of Counsel, 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(1) as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request;

provided that actions relating to Liens on real property are governed by Section 6.11(2) and not this Section 6.11(1).

(2) Material Real Property .

(a) Notice .

 

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(i) Within sixty (60) days (or such longer period as the Collateral Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion), after the formation, acquisition or designation of a Material Domestic Subsidiary that is required to become a Guarantor under the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, the Borrower will, or will cause such Material Domestic Subsidiary to, furnish to the Collateral Agent a description of any Material Real Property (other than any Excluded Asset(s)) owned by such Material Domestic Subsidiary.

(ii) Within sixty (60) days (or such longer period as the Collateral Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion), after the acquisition of any Material Real Property (other than any Excluded Asset(s)) by a Loan Party, after the Closing Date, the Borrower will, or will cause such Loan Party to, furnish to the Collateral Agent a description of any such Material Real Property.

(b) Mortgages . The Borrower will, or will cause the applicable Loan Party to, provide the Collateral Agent with a Mortgage with respect to any Material Real Property that is the subject of a notice delivered pursuant to Section 6.11(2)(a), within one hundred and twenty (120) days of the acquisition, formation or designation of such Material Domestic Subsidiary or the acquisition of such Material Real Property (or such longer period as the Collateral Agent may agree in its sole discretion), together with:

(i) evidence that counterparts of the Mortgages have been duly executed, acknowledged and delivered and are in form suitable for filing or recording in all filing or recording offices that the Collateral Agent may deem reasonably necessary or desirable in order to create, except to the extent otherwise provided hereunder, including subject to Liens permitted by Section 7.01, a valid and subsisting perfected Lien on such Material Real Property in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties and that all filing and recording taxes and fees have been paid or otherwise provided for in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent;

(ii) fully paid American Land Title Association Lender’s Extended Coverage title insurance policies or the equivalent or other form available in each applicable jurisdiction (the “ Mortgage Policies ”) in form and substance, with endorsements available in the applicable jurisdiction without surveys (it being agreed that zoning reports from a nationally recognized zoning company shall be acceptable in lieu of zoning endorsements to title policies in any jurisdiction where there is a material difference in the cost of zoning reports and zoning endorsements) and in amounts, reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent (not to exceed the fair market value of the real properties covered thereby), issued, coinsured and reinsured by title insurers reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent, insuring the Mortgages to be valid subsisting Liens on the property described therein, subject only to Liens permitted by Section 7.01 or such other Liens reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent that do not have a material adverse impact on the use or value of the Mortgaged Properties, and providing for such other affirmative insurance and such coinsurance and direct access reinsurance as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request and is available in the applicable jurisdiction;

(iii) customary Opinions of Counsel for the applicable Loan Parties in states in which such Material Real Properties are located, with respect to the enforceability and perfection of the Mortgage(s) and any related fixture filings and the due authorization, execution and delivery of the Mortgages, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent;

(iv) American Land Title/American Congress on Surveying and Mapping surveys (or, if reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent, zip or express maps) for each Material Real Property or existing surveys together with no change affidavits, in each case certified to the Collateral Agent if deemed necessary by the Collateral Agent in its reasonable discretion, sufficient for the title insurance company issuing a Mortgage Policy to remove the standard survey exception and issue standard survey related endorsements and otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent;

 

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(v) a completed “Life-of-Loan” Federal Emergency Management Agency standard flood hazard determination with respect to each Material Real Property containing improved land addressed to the Collateral Agent and otherwise in compliance with the Flood Insurance Laws, and if any such Material Real Property is located in an area determined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (or any successor agency) to be a special flood hazard area, the Borrower’s duly executed acknowledgement of receipt of written notification from the Collateral Agent about special flood hazard area status and flood disaster assistance and evidence that the Borrower or applicable Loan Party has obtained flood insurance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent that is in compliance with all applicable requirements of the Flood Insurance Laws; and

(vi) as promptly as practicable after the reasonable request therefor by the Collateral Agent, environmental assessment reports and reliance letters (if any) that have been prepared in connection with such acquisition, designation or formation of any Material Domestic Subsidiary or acquisition of any Material Real Property; provided that there shall be no obligation to deliver to the Collateral Agent any environmental assessment report whose disclosure to the Collateral Agent would require the consent of a Person other than the Borrower or one of its Subsidiaries, where, despite the commercially reasonable efforts of the Borrower to obtain such consent, such consent cannot be obtained.

The Collateral Agent may grant extensions of time for the creation and perfection of Mortgage Liens in or the obtaining of title insurance, legal opinions or other deliverables with respect to particular Material Real Property where it determines that such action cannot be accomplished by the time periods set forth in this Agreement or the Collateral Documents.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, with respect to the requirements set forth in Section 4.01(1)(c)(i), each certificate required to be delivered pursuant to Section 4.01(1)(c)(i) on the Effective Date by any Loan Party will not constitute conditions precedent to the effectiveness of this Agreement on the Effective Date or the obligation of each Lender to make a Credit Extension hereunder on the Closing Date and that the only action with respect to the perfection of the Collateral that shall constitute conditions precedent to the effectiveness of this Agreement on the Effective Date shall be the delivery of the UCC-1 financing statements required pursuant to Section 4.01(1)(c)(ii); provided that the Borrower will use commercially reasonable efforts to effect the delivery of each certificate required to be delivered pursuant to Section 4.01(1)(c)(i) (and transfer powers with respect thereto) on or prior to the Closing Date without undue burden or expense; provided further that each of the Borrower and its wholly owned Material Domestic Subsidiaries (other than Excluded Subsidiaries) will execute and/or deliver any such document(s) that is not delivered and take any perfection action that is not taken on the Effective Date or on the Closing Date within 90 days after the Closing Date (or such later date as agreed to by the Administrative Agent).

SECTION 6.12 Compliance with Environmental Laws . Except, in each case, to the extent that the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, (1) comply, and take all reasonable actions to cause any lessees and other Persons operating or occupying its properties to comply, with all applicable Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits (including any cleanup, removal or remedial obligations) and (2) obtain and renew all Environmental Permits required to conduct its operations or in connection with its properties.

SECTION 6.13 F urther Assurances and Post-Closing Covenant .

(1) Subject to the provisions of the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and any applicable limitations in any Collateral Document and in each case at the expense of the Borrower, promptly upon reasonable request from time to time by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent or as may be required by applicable Laws (a) correct any material defect or error that may be discovered in the execution, acknowledgment, filing or recordation of any Collateral Document or other document or instrument relating to any Collateral, and (b) 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 or Collateral Agent may reasonable request from time to time in order to carry out more effectively the purposes of the Collateral Documents and to satisfy the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement.

 

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(2) As promptly as practicable, and in any event no later than ninety (90) days after the Closing Date or such later date as the Administrative Agent reasonably agrees to in writing, including to reasonably accommodate circumstances unforeseen on the Closing Date, (a) deliver the documents or take the actions required pursuant to sub clauses (i) through (vi) of Section 6.11(2)(b) hereof with respect to any Material Real Properties listed in Schedule 1.01(2) and (b) deliver the documents or take the actions specified in Schedule 6.13(2) , in each case except to the extent otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent pursuant to its authority as set forth in the definition of the term “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement.”

SECTION 6.14 Use of Proceeds . The proceeds of (a) the Closing Date Term Loans, together with the proceeds of the Equity Contribution, the Bridge Loans and any Revolving Loans drawn on the Closing Date (to the extent permitted under this Agreement) and cash on hand, will be used (i) to fund the Closing Date Refinancing, together with any premiums and accrued and unpaid interest thereon and any fees and expenses with respect thereto, (ii) to pay the Transaction Consideration, and (iii) to pay the Transaction Expenses, and (b) any Revolving Loans will be used (i) on the Closing Date, solely (A) to fund working capital needs and (B) in an amount not to exceed $30.0 million, to pay the Transaction Consideration and Transaction Expenses and to fund any OID with respect to the Closing Date Term Loans; provided that such cap shall not apply to any Transaction Expenses to replace, backstop or cash collateralize letters of credit, letters of guarantee or banker acceptances outstanding on the Closing Date and (ii) after the Closing Date, for working capital and general corporate purposes and for any other purpose not prohibited by the Loan Documents. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Excess Closing Date Cash on the Closing Date shall be deposited into the Controlled Account.

SECTION 6.15 Maintenance of Ratings . Use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain (1) a public corporate credit rating (but not any specific rating) from S&P and a public corporate family rating (but not any specific rating) from Moody’s, in each case in respect of the Borrower, and (2) a public rating (but not any specific rating) in respect of the Term Facility as of the Closing Date from each of S&P and Moody’s.

SECTION 6.16 Tender Documents; Etc . The Tender Documents, the Undertaking Agreement and the Investment Agreement shall not be amended or waived, and no consents shall be given with respect thereto, by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in a manner materially adverse to the Lenders without the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) (it being understood that (a) any increase or decrease in the Transaction Consideration of less than 10% shall not be materially adverse to the Lenders (so long as any such increase is funded by an increase to the Equity Contribution (or is otherwise funded by an issuance of common Equity Interests of the Borrower) and any such decrease results in the pro rata reduction to the Equity Contribution, the Term Loans and the Bridge Loans (provided that any such decrease in respect of the Bridge Loans shall be allocated to instead reduce the Term Loans)), (b) any increase or decrease in the number of days in the Offer’s subscription period that does not extend the subscription period beyond seventy (70) days and does not require the Borrower to settle a purchase of less than 75% of the shares in the Target shall not be materially adverse to the Lenders and (c) any decrease in the tender condition to less than 75% of the shares in the Target shall be materially adverse to the Lenders).

SECTION 6.17 Anti-Corruption Compliance . Comply in all material respects with the requirements of the FCPA and implement and maintain policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance with the FCPA.

SECTION 6.18 Controlled Account . Enter into a control agreement in respect of the Controlled Account in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the Closing Date (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree).

Article VII

Negative Covenants

Effective as of the Effective Date and for so long thereafter as the Termination Conditions are not satisfied:

 

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SECTION 7.01 Liens . The Borrower shall not, nor shall the Borrower permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create, incur or assume any Lien (except any Permitted Lien(s)) that secures obligations under any Indebtedness or any related guarantee of Indebtedness on any asset or property of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, or any income or profits therefrom.

The expansion of Liens by virtue of accretion or amortization of original issue discount, the payment of dividends in the form of Indebtedness, and increases in the amount of Indebtedness outstanding solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Liens for purposes of this Section 7.01.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.01, (A) a Lien need not be incurred solely by reference to one category of Permitted Liens described in the definition thereof, but is permitted to be incurred in part under any combination thereof and of any other available exemption and (B) in the event that a Lien (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of one or more of the categories of Permitted Liens, the Borrower will, in its sole discretion, be entitled to divide, classify or reclassify, in whole or in part, any such Lien (or any portion thereof) among one or more of such categories or clauses in any manner.

SECTION 7.02 Indebtedness .

(a) The Borrower shall not, nor shall the Borrower permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly:

(i) 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), or

(ii) issue any shares of Disqualified Stock or permit any Restricted Subsidiary to issue any shares of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock;

provided that the Borrower 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 issue shares of Preferred Stock, in each case, if (any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred or issued pursuant to following clauses (A), (B) and (C), “ Permitted Ratio Debt ”):

(A) with respect to Indebtedness secured on a pari passu basis with the First Lien Obligations, the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio for the Test Period preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred (or, in the case of Indebtedness under Designated Revolving Commitments, on the date such Designated Revolving Commitments are established after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence of the entire committed amount of Indebtedness thereunder, in which case such committed amount under such Designated Revolving Commitments may thereafter be borrowed and reborrowed, in whole or in part, from time to time, without further compliance with this proviso) (without netting any cash received from the incurrence of such Indebtedness proposed to be incurred) would be no greater than the Closing Date First Lien Net Leverage Ratio;

(B) with respect to Indebtedness secured by Liens on a basis that is junior in priority to the First Lien Obligations, the Junior Secured Condition is satisfied for the Test Period preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred (or, in the case of Indebtedness under Designated Revolving Commitments, on the date such Designated Revolving Commitments are established after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence of the entire committed amount of Indebtedness thereunder, in which case such committed amount under such Designated Revolving Commitments may thereafter be borrowed and reborrowed, in whole or in part, from time to time, without further compliance with this proviso) (without netting any cash received from the incurrence of such Indebtedness proposed to be incurred); or

 

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(C) with respect to unsecured Indebtedness, any other Indebtedness not included in clause (A) or (B) above, or any Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, either (I) the Interest Coverage Ratio for the Test Period preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued (or, in the case of Indebtedness under Designated Revolving Commitments, on the date such Designated Revolving Commitments are established after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence of the entire committed amount of Indebtedness thereunder, in which case such committed amount under such Designated Revolving Commitments may thereafter be borrowed and reborrowed, in whole or in part, from time to time, without further compliance with this proviso) would be at least 2.00 to 1.00 or (II) the Total Net Leverage Ratio for the Test Period preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued (or, in the case of Indebtedness under Designated Revolving Commitments, on the date such Designated Revolving Commitments are established after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence of the entire committed amount of Indebtedness thereunder, in which case such committed amount under such Designated Revolving Commitments may thereafter be borrowed and reborrowed, in whole or in part, from time to time, without further compliance with this proviso) (without netting any cash received from the incurrence of such Indebtedness proposed to be incurred) would be no greater than the Closing Date Total Net Leverage Ratio,

in each case, 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 Test Period;

provided further that (A) Restricted Subsidiaries of the Borrower that are not Guarantors may not incur Indebtedness or issue Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock under this Section 7.02(a) if, after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence or issuance (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness, liquidation preference of Disqualified Stock and amount of Preferred Stock of such Restricted Subsidiaries incurred or issued pursuant to this Section 7.02(a), together with any principal amounts incurred or issued by such Restricted Subsidiaries under Section 7.02(b)(14)(a), Section 7.02(b)(23) and Section 7.02(b)(31) and Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of any of the foregoing (excluding any Incremental Amounts), in each case then outstanding, would exceed (as of the date such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued, incurred or otherwise obtained) the greater of (I) $100.0 million and (II) 50% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a pro forma basis), (B) Permitted Ratio Debt (x) shall not mature earlier than the Original Term Loan Maturity Date and (y) shall have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity not shorter than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Closing Date Term Loans on the date of incurrence of such Permitted Ratio Debt and (C) if any such Indebtedness is incurred on or prior to the first anniversary of the Closing Date, matures within one year of the Original Term Loan Maturity Date and consists of syndicated term loans secured on a pari passu basis with the First Lien Obligations under this Agreement, then the Borrower shall comply with the “most favored nation” pricing provisions of Section 2.14(5)(c) as if such Indebtedness were Incremental Term Loans incurred pursuant to Section 2.14 (to the extent then applicable).

(b) The provisions of Section 7.02(a) will not apply to:

(1) Indebtedness under the Loan Documents (including Incremental Loans, Other Loans, Extended Term Loans, Loans made pursuant to Extended Revolving Commitments and Replacement Loans);

(2) the incurrence by the Borrower of the Bridge Loans, the Senior Notes, the Permanent Notes (as defined in the Bridge Loan Agreement) and/or the Senior Exchange Notes (as defined in the Bridge Loan Agreement) and the Guarantee thereof by any Guarantor;

(3) the incurrence of Indebtedness (x) by the Borrower and any Restricted Subsidiary (other than the Target) in existence on the Effective Date (excluding Indebtedness described in the preceding clauses (1) and (2)); provided that any such item of Indebtedness (other than any Indebtedness of the Target outstanding as on the Effective Date) with an aggregate outstanding principal amount on the Effective Date in excess of $5.0 million shall be set forth on Schedule 7.02 and (y) by the Target in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed €20.0 million;

 

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(4) the incurrence of Attributable Indebtedness and Indebtedness (including Capitalized Lease Obligations and Purchase Money Obligations) and Disqualified Stock incurred or issued by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and Preferred Stock issued by any Restricted Subsidiary, to finance the purchase, lease, expansion, construction, installation, replacement, repair or improvement of property (real or personal), equipment or other assets, including assets that are used or useful in a Similar Business, whether through the direct purchase of assets or the Capital Stock of any Person owning such assets in an aggregate principal amount, together with any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof (excluding any Incremental Amounts) and all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred or issued and outstanding under this clause (4), at such time not to exceed (as of the date such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued, incurred or otherwise obtained) the greater of (I) $60.0 million and (II) 30% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a pro forma basis);

(5) Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (a) constituting reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit, bank guarantees, banker’s acceptances, warehouse receipts, or similar instruments issued or entered into, or relating to obligations or liabilities incurred, in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice, including in respect of workers’ compensation claims, performance, completion or surety bonds, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance, unemployment insurance or other social security legislation or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement-type obligations regarding workers’ compensation claims, performance, completion or surety bonds, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance or (b) as an account party in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar instruments in favor of suppliers, trade creditors or other Persons issued or incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(6) the incurrence of Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price, earnouts or similar obligations, in each case, incurred or assumed in connection with the acquisition or 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;

(7) the incurrence of Indebtedness by the Borrower and owing to a Restricted Subsidiary or the issuance of Disqualified Stock of the Borrower to a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any such Indebtedness for borrowed money owing to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Loans to the extent permitted by applicable law and it does not result in adverse tax consequences; provided further that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event that results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock (except to the Borrower or another Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock constituting a Permitted Lien) will be deemed, in each case, to be an incurrence of such Indebtedness (to the extent such Indebtedness is then outstanding) or issuance of such Disqualified Stock (to the extent such Disqualified Stock is then outstanding) not permitted by this clause (7);

(8) the incurrence of Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary to the Borrower or another Restricted Subsidiary to the extent permitted by Section 7.05; provided that any such Indebtedness for borrowed money incurred by a Guarantor and owing to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Guaranty of the Loans of such Guarantor to the extent permitted by applicable law and it does not result in adverse tax consequences; 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 such subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Indebtedness constituting a Permitted Lien) will 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 (8);

 

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(9) the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event that results in any such Restricted Subsidiary that holds such Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such shares of Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock (except to the Borrower or another Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock constituting a Permitted Lien) will be deemed, in each case, to be an issuance of such shares of Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock (to the extent such Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock is then outstanding) not permitted by this clause (9);

(10) the incurrence of Hedging Obligations (excluding Hedging Obligations entered into for speculative purposes) including, without limitation, Hedging Obligations entered into under the Existing Credit Agreement;

(11) the incurrence of obligations in respect of self-insurance and obligations in respect of performance, bid, appeal and surety bonds and performance, banker’s acceptance facilities and completion guarantees and similar obligations provided by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary 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 industry practice, including those incurred to secure health, safety and environmental obligations;

(12) the incurrence of:

(a) Indebtedness or issuance of Disqualified Stock of the Borrower and the incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference up to 100.0% of the net cash proceeds received by the Borrower since the Closing Date from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Borrower or contributions to the capital of the Borrower, including through consolidation, amalgamation or merger (in each case, other than proceeds of Disqualified Stock or any exercise of the cure right set forth in Section 8.04 and other than proceeds received from the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary) as determined in accordance with clauses (3)(b) and (3)(c) of Section 7.05(a) to the extent such net cash proceeds or cash have not been applied pursuant to such clauses to make Restricted Payments pursuant to Section 7.05(a) or to make Permitted Investments (other than Permitted Investments specified in clause (1), (2) or (3) of the definition thereof); and

(b) Indebtedness or issuance of Disqualified Stock of the Borrower and the incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference that, when aggregated with the principal amount and liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock then outstanding and incurred or issued, as applicable, pursuant to this clause (12)(b), together with any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof (excluding any Incremental Amounts), does not exceed (as of the date such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued, incurred or otherwise obtained) (i) the greater of (I) $60.0 million and (II) 30% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a pro forma basis ) plus , without duplication, (ii) in the event of any extension, replacement, refinancing, renewal or defeasance of any such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, an amount equal to (x) any accrued and unpaid interest on the Indebtedness, any accrued and unpaid dividends on the Preferred Stock, and any accrued and unpaid dividends on the Disqualified Stock being so refinanced, extended, replaced, refunded, renewed or defeased plus (y) the amount of any tender premium or penalty or premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument or documents governing such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock and any defeasance costs and any fees and expenses (including original issue discount, upfront fees or similar fees) incurred in connection with the issuance of such new Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock or the extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance of such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock;

 

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(13) the incurrence or issuance by the Borrower of Refinancing Indebtedness or the incurrence or issuance by a Restricted Subsidiary of Refinancing Indebtedness that serves to Refinance any Indebtedness (including any Designated Revolving Commitments) permitted under Section 7.02(a) and clauses (b)(2), (3) and (12)(a) above, this clause (13) and clauses (14) and (30)(b), or any successive Refinancing Indebtedness with respect to any of the foregoing;

(14) the incurrence or issuance of:

(a) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Borrower or Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary, incurred or issued to finance an acquisition or investment (or other purchase of assets) or that is assumed by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such acquisition or investment (or other purchase of assets), or

(b) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of Persons that are acquired by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or merged into, amalgamated or consolidated with the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of this Agreement,

in the case of the preceding clauses (a) and (b), in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference, together with any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof (excluding any Incremental Amounts), not to exceed (A) the greater of $60.0 million and 30% of Consolidated EBITDA plus (B) an unlimited amount so long as in the case of this clause (B) only, either:

(x) after giving pro forma effect to such acquisition, investment amalgamation, consolidation or merger and such incurrence, assumption or issuance of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof, the Borrower would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Interest Coverage Ratio test set forth in clause (C)(I) of Section 7.02(a) or the Total Net Leverage Ratio test set forth in clause (C)(II) of Section 7.02(a);

(y) after giving pro forma effect to such acquisition, investment, amalgamation, consolidation or merger and such incurrence, assumption or issuance of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof, the Interest Coverage Ratio of the Borrower for the Test Period preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or assumed or such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued (or, in the case of Indebtedness under Designated Revolving Commitments, on the date such Designated Revolving Commitments are established after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence or assumption of the entire committed amount of Indebtedness thereunder, in which case such committed amount under such Designated Revolving Commitments may thereafter be borrowed and reborrowed, in whole or in part, from time to time, without further compliance with this proviso) is greater than or equal to the Interest Coverage Ratio immediately prior to giving effect to such incurrence or assumption of Indebtedness or issuance of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock; or

(z) after giving pro forma effect to such acquisition, investment, amalgamation, consolidation or merger and such incurrence, assumption or issuance of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof, the Total Net Leverage Ratio of the Borrower for the Test Period preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or assumed or such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued (or, in the case of Indebtedness under Designated Revolving Commitments, on the date such Designated Revolving Commitments are established after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence or assumption of the entire committed amount of Indebtedness thereunder, in which case such committed amount under such Designated Revolving Commitments may thereafter be borrowed and reborrowed, in whole or in part, from time to time, without further compliance with this proviso) (without netting any cash received from the incurrence or assumption of such Indebtedness proposed to be incurred or assumed) would be no greater than the Total Net Leverage Ratio immediately prior to giving effect to such incurrence or assumption of Indebtedness or issuance of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock;

 

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provided that with respect to Indebtedness incurred or assumed pursuant to clause (14)(a), (A) Restricted Subsidiaries of the Borrower that are not Guarantors may not incur or assume Indebtedness or issue Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock under clause (14)(a) if, after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption or issuance (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness, liquidation preference of Disqualified Stock and amount of Preferred Stock of such Restricted Subsidiaries incurred, assumed or issued pursuant to clause (14)(a), together with any principal amounts incurred, assumed or issued by such Restricted Subsidiaries under Section 7.02(a), Section 7.02(b)(23) and Section 7.02(b)(31) and any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of any of the foregoing (excluding any Incremental Amounts), in each case then outstanding, would exceed (as of the date such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued, incurred, assumed or otherwise obtained) the greater of (I) $100.0 million and (II) 50% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a pro forma basis), (B) such Indebtedness (x) shall not mature earlier than the Original Term Loan Maturity Date and (y) shall have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity not shorter than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Closing Date Term Loans on the date of incurrence or assumption of such Indebtedness (C) if Indebtedness consists of syndicated term loans secured on a pari passu basis with the First Lien Obligations under this Agreement, then the Borrower shall comply with the “most favored nation” pricing provisions of Section 2.14(5)(c) as if such Indebtedness were Incremental Term Loans incurred pursuant to Section 2.14 (to the extent then applicable).

(15) the incurrence of Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(16) the incurrence of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary supported by letters of credit or bank guarantees issued in connection herewith, any Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness or Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt, in each case, in a principal amount not in excess of the stated amount of such letters of credit or bank guarantees;

(17) (a) the incurrence of any guarantee by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other obligations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary so long as the incurrence of such Indebtedness or other obligations incurred by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary is permitted by this Agreement, or (b) any co-issuance by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of any Indebtedness or other obligations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary so long as the incurrence of such Indebtedness or other obligations by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary is permitted by this Agreement;

(18) the incurrence of Indebtedness issued by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to future, present or former employees, directors, officers, members of management, consultants and independent contractors thereof, their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members and permitted transferees thereof, in each case to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of the Borrower to the extent described in Section 7.05(b)(4);

(19) customer deposits and advance payments received in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice from customers for goods and services purchased in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(20) the incurrence of (a) Indebtedness owed to banks and other financial institutions incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice in connection with ordinary banking arrangements to manage cash balances of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries and (b) Indebtedness in respect of Cash Management Services, including Cash Management Obligations;

 

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

(22) the incurrence of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary 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 or consistent with industry practice;

(23) the incurrence of Indebtedness or issuance of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock by Restricted Subsidiaries of the Borrower that are not Guarantors; provided that the amount of such Indebtedness proposed to be incurred or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock proposed to be issued at such time shall be limited to an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference that, when aggregated with the principal amount and liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock then outstanding and incurred or issued, as applicable, pursuant to this clause (23) at any time when this proviso applies, together with any principal amounts incurred, assumed or issued by such Restricted Subsidiaries under Section 7.02(a), Section 7.02(b)(14)(a) and Section 7.02(b)(31) and any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of any of the foregoing (excluding any Incremental Amounts), does not exceed the greater of (I) $100.0 million and (II) 50% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a pro forma basis);

(24) the incurrence of Indebtedness by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary undertaken in connection with cash management (including netting services, automatic clearinghouse arrangements, overdraft protections, employee credit card programs and related or similar services or activities) with respect to the Borrower, any Subsidiaries or any joint venture in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice, including with respect to financial accommodations of the type described in the definition of Cash Management Services;

(25) Qualified Securitization Facilities and, to the extent constituting Indebtedness, Receivables Financing Transactions;

(26) guarantees incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice in respect of obligations to suppliers, customers, franchisees, lessors, licensees, sub-licensees and distribution partners and guarantees required by Governmental Authorities in the ordinary course of business;

(27) the incurrence of Indebtedness attributable to (but not incurred to finance) the exercise of appraisal rights or the settlement of any claims or actions (whether actual, contingent or potential) with respect to the Transactions or any other acquisition (by merger, consolidation or amalgamation or otherwise) in accordance with the terms hereof;

(28) the incurrence of Indebtedness representing deferred compensation to employees of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, including Indebtedness consisting of obligations under deferred compensation or any other similar arrangements incurred in connection with the Transactions, any investment or any acquisition (by merger, consolidation or amalgamation or otherwise) permitted under this Agreement;

(29) the incurrence of Indebtedness arising out of any Sale-Leaseback Transaction incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(30) (a) Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness and (b) Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt;

 

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(31) the incurrence of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock by Restricted Subsidiaries of the Borrower that are not Guarantors to fund working capital requirements in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference that, when aggregated with the principal amount and liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock then outstanding and incurred or issued, as applicable, pursuant to this clause (31), together with any principal amounts incurred, assumed or issued by such Restricted Subsidiaries under Section 7.02(a), Section 7.02(b)(14)(a) and Section 7.02(b)(23) and any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof (excluding any Incremental Amounts), does not exceed (as of the date such Indebtedness is issued, incurred or otherwise obtained) the greater of (I) $100.0 million and (II) 50.0% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a pro forma basis);

(32) any Preferred Stock issued pursuant to the Investment Agreement

(33) any Indebtedness in respect of the Tender Letter of Credit, including under the Agreement for Standby Letter of Credit and the L/C Fee Letter with respect thereto;

(34) all premiums (if any), interest (including post-petition interest), fees, expenses, charges and additional or contingent interest on obligations described in clauses (1) through (33) above;

(35) Indebtedness under a bilateral Polish Zloty facility in an amount not to exceed €20.0 million; and

(36) Indebtedness under the Existing Credit Agreement, until the occurrence of the Closing Date Refinancing.

(c) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.02:

(1) in the event that an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) at any time, whether at the time of incurrence or upon the application of all or a portion of the proceeds thereof or subsequently, meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of permitted Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock described in clauses (1) through (36) above or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to Section 7.02(a), the Borrower, in its sole discretion, may divide and classify and may subsequently re-divide and reclassify, such item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or a portion thereof) in such of the above clauses or under Section 7.02(a) as determined by the Borrower at such time; provided that all Indebtedness (x) incurred hereunder on the Closing Date and (y) represented by the Bridge Loans and related Guarantees on the Closing Date will, at all times, be treated as incurred on the Closing Date under Section 7.02(b)(1) and (2), respectively, and may not be reclassified;

(2) the Borrower is entitled to divide and classify an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock in more than one of the types of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock described in Section 7.02(a) and (b), subject to the proviso to the preceding clause (1) of this Section 7.02(c);

(3) the principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding under any clause of this Section 7.02 will be determined after giving effect to the application of proceeds of any such Indebtedness to refinance any such other Indebtedness;

(4) in the event an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) is incurred or issued pursuant to Section 7.02(b) (other than Section 7.02(b)(14) or Section 7.02(b)(30)(b) (but, in the case of Section 7.02(b)(30)(b), solely with respect to Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt incurred in reliance upon a ratio test)) on the same date that an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) is incurred or issued under Section 7.02(a), 7.02(b)(14) or Section 7.02(b)(30)(b) (but, in the case of Section 7.02(b)(30)(b), solely with respect to Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt

 

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incurred in reliance upon a ratio test), then the Interest Coverage Ratio, or applicable leverage ratio, will be calculated with respect to such incurrence or issuance under Section 7.02(a), 7.02(b)(14) or Section 7.02(b)(30)(b) (but, in the case of Section 7.02(b)(30)(b), solely with respect to Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt incurred in reliance upon a ratio test) without regard to any incurrence or issuance under Section 7.02(b) (other than with respect to any incurrence under Section 7.02(b)(14) or Section 7.02(b)(30)(b) (but, in the case of Section 7.02(b)(30)(b), solely with respect to Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt incurred in reliance upon a ratio test)); provided that unless the Borrower elects otherwise, the incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock will be deemed incurred or issued first under Section 7.02(a), 7.02(b)(14) or Section 7.02(b)(30)(b) (but, in the case of Section 7.02(b)(30)(b), solely with respect to Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt incurred in reliance upon a ratio test) to the extent permitted with the balance incurred under Section 7.02(b) (other than pursuant to Section 7.02(b)(14) or Section 7.02(b)(30)(b) (but, in the case of Section 7.02(b)(30)(b), solely with respect to Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt incurred in reliance upon a ratio test)); and

(5) guarantees of, or obligations in respect of letters of credit relating to, Indebtedness that are otherwise included in the determination of a particular amount of Indebtedness will not be included in the determination of such amount of Indebtedness; provided that the incurrence of the Indebtedness represented by such guarantee or letter of credit, as the case may be, was incurred in compliance with this Section 7.02.

The 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 and increases in the amount of Indebtedness outstanding solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies, in each case, will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock for purposes of this Section 7.02. Any Indebtedness incurred, or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued, to refinance Indebtedness incurred, or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued, pursuant to clauses (2), (3), (4), (12), (13), (14), (23), (30), (31) and (32) of Section 7.02(b) will be permitted to include additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred to pay (I) any accrued and unpaid interest on the Indebtedness, any accrued and unpaid dividends on the Preferred Stock, and any accrued and unpaid dividends on the Disqualified Stock being so refinanced, extended, replaced, refunded, renewed or defeased and (II) the amount of any tender premium or penalty or premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument or documents governing such refinanced Indebtedness, Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock and any defeasance costs and any fees and expenses (including original issue discount, upfront fees or similar fees) incurred in connection with the issuance of such new Indebtedness, Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock or the extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance of such refinanced Indebtedness, Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock (and with respect to Indebtedness under Designated Revolving Commitments, including an amount equal to any unutilized Designated Revolving Commitments being refinanced, extended, replaced, refunded, renewed or defeased to the extent permanently terminated at the time of incurrence of such Refinancing Indebtedness).

For purposes of determining compliance with any Dollar denominated restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness or issuance of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, the Dollar equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness or liquidation preference of Disqualified Stock or amount of Preferred Stock denominated in a foreign currency will be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock was incurred or issued (or, in the case of revolving credit debt, the date such Indebtedness was first committed or first incurred (whichever yields the lower Dollar equivalent)); provided that if such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued to Refinance other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable Dollar denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such Dollar denominated restriction will be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock does not exceed (i) the principal amount of such Indebtedness, the liquidation preference of such Disqualified Stock or the amount of such Preferred Stock (as applicable) being refinanced, extended, replaced, refunded, renewed or defeased plus (ii) any accrued and unpaid interest on the Indebtedness, any accrued and unpaid dividends on the Preferred Stock, and any accrued and unpaid dividends on the Disqualified Stock being so refinanced, extended,

 

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replaced, refunded, renewed or defeased, plus (iii) the amount of any tender premium or penalty or premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument or documents governing such refinanced Indebtedness, Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock and any defeasance costs and any fees and expenses (including original issue discount, upfront fees or similar fees) incurred in connection with the issuance of such new Indebtedness, Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock or the extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance of such refinanced Indebtedness, Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock (and with respect to Indebtedness under Designated Revolving Commitments, including an amount equal to any unutilized Designated Revolving Commitments being refinanced, extended, replaced, refunded, renewed or defeased to the extent permanently terminated at the time of incurrence of such Refinancing Indebtedness).

The principal amount of any Indebtedness incurred or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued to refinance other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, if incurred or issued in a different currency from the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, being refinanced, will be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such respective Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing. The principal amount of any non-interest bearing Indebtedness or other discount security constituting Indebtedness at any date will be the principal amount thereof that would be shown on a balance sheet of the Borrower dated such date prepared in accordance with GAAP.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.02, if any Indebtedness is incurred, or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued, in reliance on a Basket measured by reference to a percentage Consolidated EBITDA, and any refinancing thereof would cause the percentage of Consolidated EBITDA to be exceeded if calculated based on the Consolidated EBITDA on the date of such refinancing, such percentage of Consolidated EBITDA will not be deemed to be exceeded to the extent the principal amount of such newly incurred Indebtedness, the liquidation preference of such newly issued Disqualified Stock or the amount of such newly issued Preferred Stock does not exceed the sum of (i) the principal amount of such Indebtedness, the liquidation preference of such Disqualified Stock or the amount of such Preferred Stock being refinanced, extended, replaced, refunded, renewed or defeased, plus (ii) any accrued and unpaid interest on the Indebtedness, any accrued and unpaid dividends on the Preferred Stock, and any accrued and unpaid dividends on the Disqualified Stock being so refinanced, extended, replaced, refunded, renewed or defeased, plus (iii) the amount of any tender premium or penalty or premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument or documents governing such refinanced Indebtedness, Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock and any defeasance costs and any fees and expenses (including original issue discount, upfront fees or similar fees) incurred in connection with the issuance of such new Indebtedness, Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock or the extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance of such refinanced Indebtedness, Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock (and with respect to Indebtedness under Designated Revolving Commitments, including an amount equal to any unutilized Designated Revolving Commitments being refinanced, extended, replaced, refunded, renewed or defeased to the extent permanently terminated at the time of incurrence of such Refinancing Indebtedness).

SECTION 7.03 Fundamental Changes . The Borrower shall not, nor shall the Borrower permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into or wind up into another Person, or liquidate or dissolve 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 (other than as part of the Transactions), except that:

(1) any Restricted Subsidiary may merge or consolidate with the Borrower (including a merger, the purpose of which is to reorganize the Borrower into a new jurisdiction); provided that

(a) the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving Person, and

(b) such merger or consolidation does not result in the Borrower ceasing to be organized under the Laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

(2) (a) any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party may merge or consolidate with or into any other Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party; (b) any Restricted Subsidiary may merge or consolidate with or into any other Restricted Subsidiary that is a Loan Party; provided that a Loan Party

 

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shall be the continuing or surviving Person; (c) any merger the sole purpose of which is to reincorporate or reorganize a Loan Party in another jurisdiction in the United States will be permitted; and (d) any Restricted Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve or change its legal form if the Borrower determines in good faith that such action is in the best interests of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders;

provided that in the case of clause (d), the Person who receives the assets of such dissolving or liquidated Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor shall be a Loan Party or such disposition shall otherwise be permitted under Section 7.05 or the definition of “Permitted Investments”;

(3) any Restricted Subsidiary may dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to the Borrower or another Restricted Subsidiary;

(4) so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, the Borrower may merge or consolidate with (or dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to) any other Person; provided that (a) the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving corporation or (b) if the Person formed by or surviving any such merger or consolidation is not the Borrower (or, in connection with a disposition of all or substantially all of the Borrower’s assets, is the transferee of such assets) (any such Person, a “ Successor Borrower ”):

(i) the Successor Borrower will:

(A) be an entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia,

(B) 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 and the Borrower and

(C) deliver to the Administrative Agent (I) an Officer’s Certificate stating that such merger or consolidation or other transaction and such supplement to this Agreement or any Loan Document (as applicable) comply with this Agreement and (II) an Opinion of Counsel including customary organization, due execution, no conflicts and enforceability opinions to the extent reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent;

(ii) substantially contemporaneously with such transaction (or at a later date as agreed by the Administrative Agent),

(A) each Guarantor, unless it is the other party to such merger or consolidation, will by a supplement to the Guaranty (or in another form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower) reaffirm its Guaranty of the Obligations (including the Successor Borrower’s obligations under this Agreement),

(B) each Loan Party, unless it is the other party to such merger or consolidation, will, by a supplement to the Security Agreement (or in another form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent), confirm its grant or pledge thereunder,

(C) if reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, each mortgagor of a Mortgaged Property, unless it is the other party to such merger or consolidation, will, by an amendment to or restatement of the applicable Mortgage (or other instrument reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and the Borrower), confirm that its obligations thereunder shall apply to the Successor Borrower’s obligations under this Agreement;

 

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(iii) after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, the Borrower would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Permitted Ratio Debt pursuant to clause (C)(I) of the definition thereof; and

(iv) to the extent reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent shall have received at least two (2) Business Days prior to the consummation of such transaction all documentation and other information in respect of the Successor Borrower required under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act;

provided further that if the foregoing are satisfied, the Successor Borrower will succeed to, and be substituted for, the Borrower under this Agreement;

(5) [reserved];

(6) any Restricted Subsidiary may merge or consolidate with (or dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to) any other Person in order to effect a Permitted Investment or other investment permitted pursuant to Section 7.05; provided that solely in the case of a merger or consolidation involving a Loan Party, no Event of Default exists or would result therefrom; provided further that the continuing or surviving Person will be (a) the Borrower or (b) a Restricted Subsidiary, in each case, which together with each of its Restricted Subsidiaries, will have complied with the applicable requirements of Section 6.11;

(7) a merger, dissolution, liquidation, consolidation or disposition, the purpose of which is to effect a disposition permitted pursuant to Section 7.04 or a disposition that does not constitute any Asset Sale (other than a transaction described in clause (b) of the definition of Asset Sale);

(8) the Borrower and any Restricted Subsidiary may (a) convert into a corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company or trust organized or existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of the Borrower or the laws of a jurisdiction in the United States and (b) change its name; and

(9) the Loan Parties and the Restricted Subsidiaries may consummate the Transactions.

SECTION 7.04 Asset Sales . The Borrower shall not, nor shall the Borrower permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, consummate any Asset Sale unless:

(1) the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration (including by way of relief from, or by any other Person assuming responsibility for, any liabilities, contingent or otherwise in connection with such Asset Sale) at least equal to the fair market value (measured at the time of contractually agreeing to such Asset Sale) of the assets sold or otherwise disposed of and

(2) except in the case of a Permitted Asset Swap, with respect to any Asset Sale pursuant to this Section 7.04 for a purchase price in excess of $10.0 million, at least 75.0% of the consideration for such Asset Sale, together with all other Asset Sales since the Closing Date (on a cumulative basis), received by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents; provided that each of the following will be deemed to be cash or Cash Equivalents for purposes of this clause (2):

(a) any liabilities (as shown on the Borrower’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet or in the footnotes thereto or if incurred or accrued subsequent to the date of such balance sheet, such liabilities that would have been reflected on the Borrower’s or a Restricted Subsidiary’s consolidated balance sheet or in the footnotes thereto if such incurrence or accrual had taken place on or prior to the date of such balance sheet, as determined in good faith

 

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by the Borrower) of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations, that are (i) assumed by the transferee of any such assets (or a third party in connection with such transfer) or (ii) otherwise cancelled or terminated in connection with the transaction with such transferee (other than intercompany debt owed to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary);

(b) any securities, notes or other obligations or assets received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee or in connection with such Asset Sale (including earnouts and similar obligations) that are converted by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary into cash or Cash Equivalents, or by their terms are required to be satisfied for cash or Cash Equivalents (to the extent of the cash or Cash Equivalents received) within 180 days following the closing of such Asset Sale;

(c) any Designated Non-Cash Consideration received by the Borrower or any 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) $20.0 million and (ii) 10% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a pro forma basis), with the fair market value of each item of Designated Non-Cash Consideration being measured, at the Borrower’s option, either at the time of contractually agreeing to such Asset Sale or at the time received and, in either case, without giving effect to any subsequent change(s) in value; or

(d) Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary that ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such Asset Sale (other than intercompany debt owed to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary), to the extent that the Borrower and each other Restricted Subsidiary are released from any guarantee of payment of the principal amount of such Indebtedness in connection with such Asset Sale.

To the extent any Collateral is disposed of as expressly permitted by this Section 7.04 to any Person other than a Loan Party, such Collateral shall automatically be sold free and clear of the Liens created by the Loan Documents, and, if requested by the Administrative Agent, upon the certification by the Borrower that such disposition is permitted by this Agreement, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent shall be authorized to take any actions deemed appropriate in order to effect the foregoing.

SECTION 7.05 Restricted Payments .

(a) The Borrower shall not, nor shall the Borrower permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly:

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

(i) dividends, payments or distributions payable solely in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Borrower or in options, warrants or other rights to purchase such Equity Interests; or

(ii) dividends, payments or 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 Borrower 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 or such other amount to which it is entitled pursuant to the terms of such Equity Interest;

 

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(B) purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of the Borrower, including in connection with any merger, amalgamation or consolidation, in each case held by Persons other than the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary;

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

(i) Indebtedness permitted under clauses (7), (8) and (9) of Section 7.02(b); or

(ii) the payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, acquisition or retirement for value 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 such payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, acquisition or retirement; or

(D) make any Restricted Investment;

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

(1) in the case of a Restricted Payment described in clauses (A) and (B) above utilizing clause 3(a) or (g) below, no Event of Default will have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof;

(2) [reserved];

(3) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments (including the fair market value of any non-cash amount) made by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Closing Date (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by 7.05(b) other than clause (1) thereof), is less than the sum of (without duplication):

(a) 50.0% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for the period (taken as one accounting period) commencing on the first day of the fiscal quarter in which the Closing Date occurs (which, prior to the consummation of the Transactions, shall be calculated on a pro forma basis giving effect to the Transactions as of the first day of the fiscal quarter in which the Closing Date occurs) to the end of the most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements of the Borrower are available (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) preceding such Restricted Payment or, in the case such Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, minus 100.0% of such deficit; plus

(b) 100.0% of the aggregate net cash proceeds and the fair market value of marketable securities or other property received by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries since the Closing Date (other than net cash proceeds to the extent such net cash proceeds have been used to incur Indebtedness or issue Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 7.02(b)(12)(a)) from the issue or sale of:

 

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

(I) Equity Interests to any future, present or former employees, directors, officers, members of management, consultants or independent contractors (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or any permitted transferees thereof) of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries after the Closing Date to the extent such amounts have been applied to Restricted Payments made in accordance with Section 7.05(b)(4); and

(II) Designated Preferred Stock; or

(ii) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, that has been converted into or exchanged for Equity Interests of the Borrower;

provided that this clause (b) will not include the proceeds from (v) any exercise of the cure right set forth in Section 8.04, (w) Refunding Capital Stock (as defined below) applied in accordance with Section 7.05(b)(2) below, (x) Equity Interests or convertible debt securities of the Borrower sold to a Restricted Subsidiary, (y) Disqualified Stock or debt securities that have been converted into Disqualified Stock or (z) Excluded Contributions; plus

(c) 100.0% of the aggregate amount of cash, Cash Equivalents and the fair market value of marketable securities or other property contributed to the capital of the Borrower following the Closing Date (including the fair market value of any Indebtedness contributed to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries for cancellation) or that becomes part of the capital of the Borrower through consolidation, amalgamation or merger following the Closing Date, in each case not involving cash consideration payable by the Borrower (other than (v) the Equity Contribution, (w) net cash proceeds of any exercise of the cure right set forth in Section 8.04, (x) net cash proceeds to the extent such net cash proceeds have been used to incur Indebtedness or issue Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 7.02(b)(12)(a), (y) cash, Cash Equivalents and marketable securities or other property that are contributed by a Restricted Subsidiary or (z) Excluded Contributions); plus

(d) 100.0% of the aggregate amount received in cash and the fair market value of marketable securities or other property received by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary by means of:

(i) the sale or other disposition (other than to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary) of, or other returns on investments from, Restricted Investments made by the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries (including cash distributions and cash interest received in respect of Restricted Investments) and repurchases and redemptions of such Restricted Investments from the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary) and repayments of loans or advances, and releases of guarantees, which constitute Restricted Investments made by the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case after the Closing Date (excluding any Excluded Contributions made pursuant to clause (2) of the definition thereof);

(ii) the sale (other than to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary) of Equity Interests of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or a distribution from an Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than, in each case, to the extent the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary constituted a Permitted Investment, but including such cash or fair market value to the extent exceeding the amount of such Permitted Investment) or a dividend from an Unrestricted Subsidiary after the Closing Date (excluding any Excluded Contributions made pursuant to clause (2) of the definition thereof); or

(iii) any returns, profits, distributions and similar amounts received on account of any Permitted Investment subject to a dollar-denominated or ratio based basket (to the extent in excess of the original amount of the Investment); plus

 

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(e) 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 Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary or the transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary after the Closing Date, the fair market value 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 constituted a Permitted Investment, but, to the extent exceeding the amount of such Permitted Investment, including such excess amounts of cash or fair market value; plus

(f) 100% of the aggregate amount of any Excluded Proceeds (except to the extent utilized to repurchase, redeem, defease, acquire, or retire for value any Subordinated Indebtedness pursuant to clause (b)(13) below); plus

(g) the greater of (i) $60.0 million and (ii) 30% of the Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a pro forma basis).

(b) The provisions of Section 7.05(a) will not prohibit:

(1) 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 Section 7.05;

(2) (a) the redemption, repurchase, defeasance, discharge, retirement or other acquisition of (i) any Equity Interests of the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary, including any accrued and unpaid dividends thereon (“ Treasury Capital Stock ”) or (ii) Subordinated Indebtedness, in each case, made (x) in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of, a sale or issuance (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) of Equity Interests of the Borrower (in each case, other than Disqualified Stock) (“ Refunding Capital Stock ”) and (y) within 120 days of such sale or issuance, (b) the declaration and payment of dividends on Treasury Capital Stock out of the proceeds of a sale or issuance (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower or to an employee stock ownership plan or any trust established by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary) of Refunding Capital Stock made within 120 days of such sale or issuance, and (c) if, immediately prior to the retirement of Treasury Capital Stock, the declaration and payment of dividends thereon by the Borrower was permitted under clause (6)(a) or (b) of this Section 7.05(b), the declaration and payment of dividends on the Refunding Capital Stock in an aggregate amount per annum 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;

(3) the principal payment on, defeasance, redemption, repurchase, exchange or other acquisition or retirement of:

(a) Subordinated Indebtedness of the Borrower or a Guarantor made (i) by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the sale, issuance or incurrence of, new Subordinated Indebtedness of the Borrower or a Guarantor or Disqualified Stock of the Borrower or a Guarantor and (ii) within 120 days of such sale, issuance or incurrence,

(b) Disqualified Stock of the Borrower or a Guarantor made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the sale, issuance or incurrence of Disqualified Stock or Subordinated Indebtedness of the Borrower or a Guarantor, made within 120 days of such sale, issuance or incurrence,

 

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(c) Disqualified Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the sale or issuance of, Disqualified Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor, made within 120 days of such sale or issuance, that, in each case, is Refinancing Indebtedness incurred or issued, as applicable, in compliance with Section 7.02 and

(d) any Subordinated Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock that constitutes Acquired Indebtedness;

(4) a Restricted Payment to pay for the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) (including related stock appreciation rights or similar securities) of the Borrower held by any future, present or former employee, director, officer, member of management, consultant or independent contractor (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members or any permitted transferees thereof) of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement, or any equity subscription or equity holder agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any principal and interest payable on any notes issued by the Borrower in connection with any such repurchase, retirement or other acquisition), including any Equity Interests rolled over by management of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the Transactions; provided that the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made under this clause (4) does not exceed $15.0 million in any fiscal year with unused amounts in any calendar year being carried over to the next two succeeding calendar years; provided further that each of the amounts in any calendar year under this clause (4) 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 Borrower to any future, present or former employees, directors, officers, members of management, consultants or independent contractors (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or any permitted transferees thereof) of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that occurs after the Closing 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 (3) of Section 7.05(a); plus

(b) the amount of any cash bonuses otherwise payable to members of management, employees, directors, consultants or independent contractors (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members or any permitted transferees thereof) of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that are foregone in exchange for the receipt of Equity Interests of the Borrower pursuant to any compensation arrangement, including any deferred compensation plan; plus

(c) the cash proceeds of life insurance policies received by the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Closing Date; minus

(d) the amount of any Restricted Payments previously made with the cash proceeds described in clauses (a), (b) and (c) of this clause (4);

provided that the Borrower may elect to apply all or any portion of the aggregate increase contemplated by clauses (a), (b) and (c) above in any calendar year; provided further that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary from any future, present or former employees, directors, officers, members of management, consultants or independent contractors (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members or any permitted transferees thereof) of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of the Borrower will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this Section 7.05 or any other provision of this Agreement;

 

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(5) the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or any class or series of Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary issued in accordance with Section 7.02;

(6) (a) the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock issued by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary after the Closing Date; (b) the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions to the Borrower, the proceeds of which will be used to fund the payment of dividends or distributions to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock issued by the Borrower after the Closing Date; provided that the amount of dividends and distributions paid pursuant to this clause (b) will not exceed the aggregate amount of cash actually contributed to the Borrower 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 (2) of this Section 7.05(b);

provided that in the case of each of clauses (a), (b) and (c) of this clause (6), for the most recently ended Test Period 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 Borrower would have had an Interest Coverage Ratio of at least 2.00 to 1.00;

(7) (a) payments made or expected to be made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of withholding or similar taxes payable by any future, present or former employee, director, officer, member of management, consultant or independent contractor (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members or permitted transferees) of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, (b) any repurchases or withholdings of Equity Interests in connection with the exercise of stock options, warrants or similar rights if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of, or withholding obligations with respect to, such options, warrants or similar rights or required withholding or similar taxes and (c) loans or advances to officers, directors, employees, managers, consultants and independent contractors of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such Person’s purchase of Equity Interests of the Borrower; provided that no cash is actually advanced pursuant to this clause (c) other than to pay taxes due in connection with such purchase, unless immediately repaid;

(8) the declaration and payment of dividends on the Borrower’s common equity in an aggregate amount per annum not to exceed 6.0% of Market Capitalization;

(9) Restricted Payments in an amount that does not exceed the aggregate amount of Excluded Contributions;

(10) Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount taken together with all other Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (10) not to exceed (as of the date any such Restricted Payment is made) the greater of (a) $20.0 million and (b) 10% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a pro forma basis); provided that if this clause (10) is utilized to make a Restricted Investment, the amount deemed to be utilized under this clause (10) will be the amount of such Restricted Investment at any time outstanding (with the fair market value of such Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value, but subject to adjustment as set forth in the definition of “Investment”); provided further that at the time of, and after giving effect to, any Restricted Payment pursuant to this clause (10), no Event of Default or payment Default will have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof;

(11) distributions or payments of Securitization Fees;

(12) any Restricted Payment made in connection with the Transactions and the fees and expenses related thereto or owed to any Affiliate(s) including any payments to holders of Equity Interests of the Target in connection with, or as a result of, (x) their exercise of appraisal rights or the settlement of any claims or actions (whether actual, contingent or potential) related to the Transactions or (y) the acquisition of any minority Equity Interests in the Target following the Closing Date, whether by way of a “squeeze out” process or otherwise;

 

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(13) the repurchase, redemption, defeasance, acquisition or retirement for value of any Subordinated Indebtedness from Excluded Proceeds (except to the extent utilized to make Restricted Payments pursuant to clause (f) of Section 7.05(a));

(14) [reserved]

(15) the distribution, by dividend or otherwise, or other transfer or disposition of shares of Capital Stock of, Equity Interests in, or Indebtedness owed to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary by, Unrestricted Subsidiaries (other than Unrestricted Subsidiaries, substantially all the assets of which are cash and Cash Equivalents);

(16) [reserved];

(17) (a) Restricted Payments described in clauses (A) and (B) of the definition thereof contained in Section 7.05(a); provided that after giving pro forma effect thereto and the application of the net proceeds therefrom, the Total Net Leverage Ratio for the Test Period immediately preceding such Restricted Payment would be no greater than the Closing Date Total Net Leverage Ratio minus 0.75 to 1.00 and (b) Restricted Payments described in clauses (C) and (D) of the definition thereof contained in Section 7.05(a); provided that after giving pro forma effect thereto and the application of the net proceeds therefrom, the Total Net Leverage Ratio for the Test Period immediately preceding such Restricted Payment would be no greater than Closing Date Total Net Leverage Ratio minus 0.75 to 1.00;

(18) payments made for the benefit of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent such payments could have been made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary because such payments (a) would not otherwise be Restricted Payments and (b) would be permitted by Section 7.07;

(19) payments and distributions to dissenting stockholders of Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to applicable law, pursuant to or in connection with a consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of any Restricted Subsidiary that complies with the terms of this Agreement or any other transaction that complies with the terms of this Agreement;

(20) [reserved];

(21) [reserved];

(22) [reserved];

(23) the refinancing of any Subordinated Indebtedness with the Net Proceeds of, or in exchange for, any Refinancing Indebtedness;

(24) dividends (including all Preferred Dividends and Participating Dividends) required to be made in accordance with the terms of the Investment Agreement (irrespective of whether made in cash or kind) in respect of the Preferred Stock issued pursuant thereto, other than in connection with any optional or mandatory redemption of such Preferred Stock exercised under the terms of the Investment Agreement; and

(25) payments or distributions to minority shareholders of Target after the Closing Date pursuant to, or in connection with, or in contemplation of, the Domination Agreement;

 

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provided that at the time of, and after giving effect to, any Restricted Payment pursuant to clause (17) in respect of Restricted Payments described in clauses (A), (B) or (C) of the definition thereof, no Event of Default will have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof. For purposes of clauses (7) and (14) above, taxes will include all interest and penalties with respect thereto and all additions thereto.

(c) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.05, in the event that any Restricted Payment or Investment (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Restricted Payments described in Section 7.05(a), clauses (1) through (25) of Section 7.05(b) or one or more of the clauses contained in the definition of “Permitted Investments,” the Borrower will be entitled to divide or classify (or later divide, classify or reclassify), in whole or in part, in its sole discretion, such Restricted Payment or Investment (or any portion thereof) among Section 7.05(a), such clauses (1) through (25) of Section 7.05(b) or one or more clauses contained in the definition of “Permitted Investments,” in any manner.

The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) will be the fair market value on the date the Restricted Payment is made, or at the Borrower’s election, the date a commitment is made to make such Restricted Payment, of the assets or securities proposed to be transferred or issued by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment.

For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 7.05 will not restrict the making of any AHYDO Payment with respect to, and required by the terms of, any Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary permitted to be incurred under this Agreement.

SECTION 7.06 Change in Nature of Business . The Borrower shall not, nor shall the Borrower permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, 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(es) or any other activities that are reasonably similar, ancillary, incidental, complementary or related to, or a reasonable extension, development or expansion of, the business conducted or proposed to be conducted by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on the Closing Date.

SECTION 7.07 Transactions with Affiliates .

(a) The Borrower shall not, nor shall the Borrower permit any Restricted Subsidiary 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 Borrower (each of the foregoing, an “ Affiliate Transaction ”) involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $25.0 million, unless (A) such Affiliate Transaction is on terms, taken as a whole, that are not materially less favorable to the Borrower or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained at such time in a comparable transaction by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary with a Person other than an Affiliate of the Borrower on an arm’s-length basis or, if in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors no comparable transaction is available with which to compare such Affiliate Transaction, such Affiliate Transaction is otherwise fair to the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view, and (B) the Borrower delivers to the Administrative Agent with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions requiring aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $100.0 million, a resolution adopted by the majority of the Board of Directors approving such Affiliate Transaction and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with clause (A) above.

(b) The foregoing restriction will not apply to the following:

(1) transactions between or among the Borrower and one or more Restricted Subsidiaries or between or among Restricted Subsidiaries or, in any case, any entity that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction;

(2) (a) Restricted Payments permitted by Section 7.05 (including any transaction specifically excluded from the definition of the term “Restricted Payments,” including pursuant to the exceptions contained in the definition thereof and the parenthetical exclusions of such definition, but excluding any Restricted Payment permitted by Section 7.05(14)(g)), (b) any Permitted Investment(s) or any acquisition otherwise permitted hereunder and (c) Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.02;

 

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(3) (a) [reserved], (b) the payment of indemnification and similar amounts to, and reimbursement of expenses to, the Investors and their officers, directors, employees and Affiliates, in each case, approved by, or pursuant to arrangements approved by, the Board of Directors, (c) payments, loans, advances or guarantees (or cancellation of loans, advances or guarantees) to future, present or former employees, officers, directors, managers, consultants or independent contractors or guarantees in respect thereof for bona fide business purposes or in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice, (d) any subscription agreement or similar agreement pertaining to the repurchase of Equity Interests pursuant to put/call rights or similar rights with current, former or future officers, directors, employees, managers, consultants and independent contractors of the Borrower or any Subsidiary; and (e) any payment of compensation or other employee compensation, benefit plan or arrangement, any health, disability or similar insurance plan which covers current, former or future officers, directors, employees, managers, consultants and independent contractors of the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

(4) the payment of fees and compensation paid to, and indemnities and reimbursements and employment and severance arrangements provided to, or on behalf of or for the benefit of, present, future or former employees, directors, officers, members of management, consultants or independent contractors (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members or any permitted transferees thereof) of the Borrower;

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

(6) the existence of, or the performance by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of its obligations under the terms of, any agreement as in effect as of the Effective Date, 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 to the Lenders, when taken as a whole, as compared to the applicable agreement as in effect on the Effective Date);

(7) the existence of, or the performance by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of its obligations under the terms of, any equity holders agreement or the equivalent (including any registration rights agreement or purchase agreement related thereto) to which it is a party as of the Effective Date and any amendment thereto and, similar agreements or arrangements that it may enter into thereafter; provided that the existence of, or the performance by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of obligations under any future amendment to any such existing agreement or arrangement or under any similar agreement or arrangement entered into after the Effective Date will only be permitted by this clause (7) to the extent that the terms of any such amendment or new agreement or arrangement are not otherwise materially disadvantageous in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors to the Lenders, when taken as a whole, as compared to the original agreement or arrangement in effect on the Effective Date;

(8) the Transactions and the payment of all fees and expenses related to the Transactions, including Transaction Expenses;

(9) transactions with customers, clients, suppliers, contractors, joint venture partners or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, or transactions otherwise relating to the purchase or sale of goods or services, in each case in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Agreement that are fair to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, in the reasonable determination of the Board of Directors or the senior management of the Borrower, 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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(10) the issuance, sale or transfer of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Borrower to any Person and the granting and performing of customary rights (including registration rights) in connection therewith, and any contribution to the capital of the Borrower;

(11) sales of accounts receivable, or participations therein, or Securitization Assets or related assets in connection with any Qualified Securitization Facility and any other transaction effected in connection with a Qualified Securitization Facility or a financing related thereto;

(12) payments by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary made for any financial advisory, consulting, 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, or made pursuant to arrangements approved by, a majority of the Board of Directors in good faith;

(13) payments with respect to Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and other Equity Interests (and cancellation of any thereof) of the Borrower and any Restricted Subsidiary and Preferred Stock (and cancellation of any thereof) of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to any future, current or former employee, director, officer, member of management, consultant or independent contractor (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or permitted transferees) of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or any equity subscription or equity holder agreement that are, in each case, approved by the Borrower in good faith; and any employment agreements, severance arrangements, 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, members of management, consultants or independent contractors (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or any permitted transferees thereof) that are, in each case, approved by the Borrower in good faith;

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

(15) payments to or from, and transactions with, any joint venture or Unrestricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice, industry practice or industry norms (including, any cash management activities related thereto);

(16) payments by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries pursuant to tax sharing agreements among the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;

(17) any lease entered into between the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, as lessee and any Affiliate of the Borrower, as lessor, and any transaction(s) pursuant to that lease, which lease is approved by the Board of Directors or senior management of the Borrower in good faith;

(18) intellectual property licenses in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(19) the payment of reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses relating to registration rights and indemnities provided to equity holders of the Borrower pursuant to any equity holders agreement or registration rights agreement entered into on or after the Effective Date;

 

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(20) transactions permitted by, and complying with, Section 7.03 solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Borrower in a new jurisdiction;

(21) transactions undertaken in good faith (as determined by the Board of Directors or certified by senior management of the Borrower in an Officer’s Certificate) for the purposes of improving the consolidated tax efficiency of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries and not for the purpose of circumventing Articles VI and VII of this Agreement; so long as such transactions, when taken as a whole, do not result in a material adverse effect on the Liens on the Collateral granted by the Loan Parties in favor of the Secured Parties, when taken as a whole, in each case, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors or certified by senior management of the Borrower in an Officer’s Certificate;

(22) (a) transactions with a Person that is an Affiliate of the Borrower (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary) solely because the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary owns Equity Interests in such Person and (b) transactions with any Person that is an Affiliate solely because a director or officer of such Person is a director or officer of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(23) (a) pledges and other transfers of Equity Interests in Unrestricted Subsidiaries and (b) any transactions with an Affiliate in which the consideration paid consists solely of Equity Interests of the Borrower;

(24) the sale, issuance or transfer of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Borrower;

(25) investments by any Investor in securities or Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Guarantor;

(26) payments in respect of (a) the Obligations (or any Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness), (b) the Bridge Loans or (c) other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries held by Affiliates; provided that such Obligations were acquired by an Affiliate of the Borrower in compliance herewith; and

(27) transactions undertaken in the ordinary course of business pursuant to membership in a purchasing consortium.

SECTION 7.08 Burdensome Agreements .

(a) The Borrower shall not, nor shall the Borrower permit any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor (or, solely in the case of clause (4), that is a Guarantor) to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction (other than this Agreement or any other Loan Document) on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor (or, solely in the case of clause (4), that is a Guarantor) to:

(1) (a) pay dividends or make any other distributions to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary 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 Borrower or to any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor;

(2) make loans or advances to the Borrower or to any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor;

(3) sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to the Borrower or to any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor; or

 

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(4) with respect to the Borrower or any Guarantor, (a) Guaranty the Obligations or (b) create, incur or cause to exist or become effective Liens on property of such Person for the benefit of the Lenders with respect to the Obligations under the Loan Documents to the extent such Lien is required to be given to the Secured Parties pursuant to the Loan Documents;

provided that any dividend or liquidation priority between or among classes or series of Capital Stock, and the subordination of any obligation (including the application of any remedy bars thereto) to any other obligation will not be deemed to constitute such an encumbrance or restriction.

(b) Section 7.08(a) will not apply to any encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

(1) encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Closing Date, including pursuant to the Loan Documents and any Hedge Agreements, Hedging Obligations and the related documentation;

(2) the Existing Credit Agreement, Bridge Loan Agreement, any Senior Notes Indenture, any Senior Notes and the guarantees thereof; provided that, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any Loan Document to the contrary, until the occurrence of the Closing Date Refinancing, all of the terms and conditions of the Existing Credit Agreement, and the performance thereof by the Borrower and any Restricted Subsidiary, is expressly permitted hereunder and no such term or condition or performance shall constitute a Default or an Event of Default hereunder;

(3) Purchase Money Obligations and Capitalized Lease Obligations that impose restrictions of the nature discussed in clauses (3) and 4(b) above on the property so acquired;

(4) applicable Law or any applicable rule, regulation or order;

(5) any agreement or other instrument of a Person, or relating to Indebtedness or Equity Interests of a Person, acquired by or merged, amalgamated or consolidated with and into the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary that is designated as a Restricted Subsidiary, or any other transaction entered into in connection with any such acquisition, merger, consolidation or amalgamation in existence at the time of such acquisition or at the time it merges, amalgamates or consolidates with or into the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary that is designated as a Restricted Subsidiary 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 or designated and its Subsidiaries or the property or assets so acquired or designated;

(6) contracts or agreements for the sale or disposition of assets, including any restrictions with respect to a Subsidiary of the Borrower pursuant to an agreement that has been entered into for the sale or disposition of any of the Capital Stock or assets of such Subsidiary;

(7) [reserved];

(8) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice or arising in connection with any Liens permitted by Section 7.01;

(9) provisions in agreements governing Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors permitted to be incurred subsequent to the Closing Date pursuant to Section 7.02;

(10) provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements (including equity holder agreements) relating to such joint venture or its members or entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(11) customary provisions contained in leases, sub-leases, licenses, sub-licenses, Equity Interests or similar agreements, including with respect to intellectual property and other agreements;

(12) restrictions created in connection with any Qualified Securitization Facility or Receivables Financing Transaction that, in the good faith determination of the Board of Directors of the Borrower, are necessary or advisable to effect such Qualified Securitization Facility or Receivables Financing Transaction;

(13) restrictions or conditions contained in any trading, netting, operating, construction, service, supply, purchase, sale or other agreement to which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary is a party entered into in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice; provided that such agreement prohibits the encumbrance of solely the property or assets of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary that are 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 Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary or the assets or property of another Restricted Subsidiary;

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

(15) customary provisions restricting assignment of any agreement;

(16) restrictions arising in connection with cash or other deposits permitted under Section 7.01;

(17) any other agreement or instrument governing any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, or Preferred Stock permitted to be incurred or issued pursuant to Section 7.02 entered into after the Closing Date that contains encumbrances and restrictions that either (i) are no more restrictive in any material respect, taken as a whole, with respect to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary than (A) the restrictions contained in the Loan Document and the Bridge Loan Agreement as of the Closing Date or (B) those encumbrances and other restrictions that are in effect on the Closing Date with respect to the Borrower or that Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to agreements in effect on the Closing Date, (ii) are not materially more disadvantageous, taken as a whole, to the Lenders than is customary in comparable financings for similarly situated issuers or (iii) will not materially impair the Borrower’s ability to make payments on the Obligations when due, in each case in the good faith judgment of the Borrower;

(18) (i) under terms of Indebtedness and Liens in respect of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 7.02(b)(4) and any permitted refinancing in respect of the foregoing and (ii) agreements entered into in connection with any Sale-Leaseback Transaction entered into in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(19) customary restrictions and conditions contained in documents relating to any Lien so long as (i) such Lien is a Permitted Lien and such restrictions or conditions relate only to the specific asset subject to such Lien and (ii) such restrictions and conditions are not created for the purpose of avoiding the restrictions imposed by this Section 7.08;

(20) any encumbrance or restriction with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary that was previously an Unrestricted Subsidiary which encumbrance or restriction exists pursuant to or by reason of an agreement that such Subsidiary is a party to or entered into before the date on which such Subsidiary became a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such agreement was not entered into in anticipation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary becoming a Restricted Subsidiary and any such encumbrance or restriction does not extend to any assets or property of the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary other than the assets and property of such Restricted Subsidiary;

(21) any encumbrances or restrictions imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (a) through (t) above; provided that such amendments,

 

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modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the good faith judgment of the Borrower, no more restrictive in any material respect with respect to such encumbrance and other restrictions, taken as a whole, than those prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing;

(22) any encumbrance or restriction existing under, by reason of or with respect to Refinancing Indebtedness; provided that the encumbrances and restrictions contained in the agreements governing that Refinancing Indebtedness are, in the good faith judgment of the Borrower, not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained in the agreements governing the Indebtedness being refinanced; and

(23) applicable law or any applicable rule, regulation or order in any jurisdiction where Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of Foreign Subsidiaries permitted to be incurred or issued pursuant to Section 7.02 is incurred.

SECTION 7.09 Accounting Changes . The Borrower shall not, nor shall the Borrower permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, make any change in 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.

SECTION 7.10 Modification of Terms of Subordinated Indebtedness . The Borrower shall not, nor shall the Borrower permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, amend, modify or change in any manner materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders, as determined in good faith by the Borrower, any term or condition of any Subordinated Indebtedness having an aggregate outstanding principal amount greater than the Threshold Amount (other than as a result of any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) without the consent of the Administrative Agent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

SECTION 7.11 [Reserved] .

SECTION 7.12 Financial Covenant . The Borrower and each of the Restricted Subsidiaries covenant and agree that:

(1) If on the last day of any Test Period (commencing with the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2017) there are outstanding Revolving Loans and Letters of Credit (excluding (a) undrawn Letters of Credit in an amount not to exceed $20.0 million and (b) Letters of Credit to the extent Cash Collateralized or backstopped (whether drawn or undrawn) on terms reasonably acceptable to the applicable Issuing Bank) in an aggregate principal amount exceeding 35% of the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Commitments under all outstanding Revolving Facilities (including any Incremental Revolving Facilities), permit the Total Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of such Test Period to be greater than 4.50 to 1.00 (such compliance to be determined on the basis of the financial information most recently delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.01(1) and Section 6.01(2) for such Test Period) (the “ Financial Covenant ”).

(2) The provisions of this Section 7.12 are for the benefit of the Revolving Lenders only and the Required Facility Lenders in respect of the Revolving Facility may amend, waive or otherwise modify this Section 7.12 or the defined terms used in this Section 7.12 (solely in respect of the use of such defined terms in this Section 7.12) or waive any Default or Event of Default resulting from a breach of this Section 7.12 without the consent of any Lenders other than the Required Facility Lenders in respect of the Revolving Facility.

SECTION 7.13 Controlled Account . The Borrower shall not use any funds held in the Controlled Account for any purpose other than purchasing any remaining equity interests in the Target, prepaying the Loans pursuant to Section 2.05(2)(j) hereof and paying any Transaction Expenses incurred in connection therewith.

 

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SECTION 7.14 Equity Contribution . The Borrower shall not fail to receive the Equity Contribution in full on the Closing Date.

Article VIII

Events of Default and Remedies

SECTION 8.01 Events of Default . Effective on and after the Closing Date (including with respect to events that occurred between the Effective Date and the Closing Date), each of the events referred to in clauses (1) through (11) of this Section 8.01 shall constitute an “ Event of Default ”:

(1) Non-Payment . The Borrower fails to pay (a) when and as required to be paid herein, any amount of principal of any Loan or (b) 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

(2) Specific Covenants . The Borrower or any Guarantor fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of the second proviso to Section 4.01(1), Section 6.03(1), 6.05(1) (solely with respect to the Borrower, other than in a transaction permitted under Section 7.03 or 7.04) or Article VII; provided that the Borrower’s failure to comply with the Financial Covenant or the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Revolving Facility only pursuant to Section 6.01(1) (a “ Financial Covenant Event of Default ”) shall not constitute an Event of Default with respect to any Term Loans or Term Commitments unless and until the Required Facility Lenders for the Revolving Facilities have actually terminated the Revolving Commitments and declared all Obligations with respect to the Revolving Facility to be immediately due and payable pursuant to Section 8.02 as a result of such failure to comply (and such declaration has not been rescinded as of the applicable date) (the occurrence of such termination and declaration by the Required Facility Lenders for the Revolving Facilities, a “ Financial Covenant Cross Default ”); provided further that any Financial Covenant Event of Default is subject to cure pursuant to Section 8.04; or

(3) Other Defaults . The Borrower or any Guarantor fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in Section 8.01(1) or (2) above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for thirty (30) days after receipt by the Borrower of written notice thereof from the Administrative Agent; or

(4) Representations and Warranties . Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by any Loan Party herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document required to be delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be untrue in any material respect when made or deemed made; or

(5) Cross-Default . The Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (a) fails to make any payment beyond the applicable grace period, if any, whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise, in respect of any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness hereunder) having an aggregate outstanding principal amount (individually or in the aggregate with all other Indebtedness as to which such a failure shall exist) 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 Hedging Obligations, termination events or equivalent events pursuant to the terms of such Hedging Obligations and not as a result of any default thereunder by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary), 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 all of such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity; provided that (A) such failure is unremedied and is not waived by the holders of such Indebtedness prior to any termination of the Commitments or acceleration of the Loans pursuant to Section 8.02 and (B) this clause (5)(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

 

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(6) Insolvency Proceedings, etc . The Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant 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

(7) Judgments . There is entered against the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, a final non-appealable judgment and order for the payment of money in an aggregate amount exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not paid or covered by insurance or indemnities as to which the insurer or indemnity has been notified of such judgment or order and the applicable insurance company or indemnity has not denied coverage thereof) 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

(8) ERISA . (a) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan, (b) the Borrower or any Guarantor or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates 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, or (c) with respect to a Foreign Plan, a termination, withdrawal or noncompliance with applicable Law or plan terms occurs, except, with respect to each of the foregoing clauses of this Section 8.01(8), as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect; or

(9) Invalidity of Loan Documents . Any material provision of the Loan Documents, taken as a whole, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason (other than (a) as expressly permitted by a Loan Document (including as a result of a transaction permitted under Section 7.03 or 7.04), (b) as a result of acts or omissions by an Agent or any Lender or (c) due to the satisfaction in full of the Termination Conditions) ceases to be in full force and effect; or any Loan Party contests in writing the validity or enforceability of the Loan Documents, taken as a whole (other than as a result of the satisfaction of the Termination Conditions), or any Loan Party denies in writing that it has any or further liability or obligation under the Loan Documents, taken as a whole (other than (i) as expressly permitted by a Loan Document (including as a result of a transaction permitted under Section 7.03 or 7.04) or (ii) as a result of the satisfaction of the Termination Conditions), or purports in writing to revoke or rescind the Loan Documents, taken as a whole, prior to the satisfaction of the Termination Conditions; or

(10) Collateral Documents . Any Collateral Document with respect to a material portion of the Collateral after delivery thereof pursuant to Section 4.01, 6.11, 6.13 or pursuant to the provisions of any Collateral Document for any reason (other than pursuant to the terms hereof or thereof including as a result of a transaction not prohibited under this Agreement) ceases to create, or any Lien purported to be created by any Collateral Document with respect to a material portion of the Collateral shall be asserted in writing by any Loan Party (prior to the satisfaction of the Termination Conditions) not to be, a valid and perfected Lien with the priority required by such Collateral Document (or other security purported to be created on the applicable Collateral) on, and security interest in, any material portion of the Collateral purported to be covered thereby, subject to Liens permitted under Section 7.01, except to the extent that any such loss of perfection or priority results from the failure of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent to maintain possession of Collateral actually delivered to it and pledged under the Collateral Documents, to

 

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file Uniform Commercial Code amendments relating to a Loan Party’s change of name or jurisdiction of formation (solely to the extent that the Borrower provides the Collateral Agent written notice thereof in accordance with the Security Agreement, and the Collateral Agent and the Borrower have agreed that the Collateral Agent will be responsible for filing such amendments) or continuation statements and 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

(11) Change of Control . There occurs any Change of Control.

SECTION 8.02 Remedies upon Event of Default . Subject to Section 8.04, if any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent may, at any time after the Closing Date, with the consent of the Required Lenders and shall, at the request of the Required Lenders, take any or all of the following actions:

(1) declare the Commitments of each Lender and any obligation of the Issuing Banks to make L/C Credit Extensions to be terminated, whereupon such Commitments and obligation will be terminated;

(2) declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable under any 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;

(3) require that the Borrower Cash Collateralize the then outstanding Letters of Credit (in an amount equal to the then Outstanding Amount thereof); and

(4) 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 (a) upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under Title 11 of the United States Code entitled “Bankruptcy,” as now or hereafter in effect, or any successor thereto (the “ Bankruptcy Code ”), the Commitments of each Lender and any obligation of the Issuing Banks to issue Letters of Credit, will automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid will automatically become due and payable, and the obligation of the Borrower to Cash Collateralize the Letters of Credit as aforesaid will automatically become effective, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender and (b) notwithstanding anything to the contrary, if the only Events of Default then having occurred and continuing are pursuant to a Financial Covenant Event of Default, then, unless a Financial Covenant Cross Default has occurred and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall only take the actions set forth in this Section 8.02 at the request (or with the consent) of the Required Facility Lenders under the Revolving Facilities (as opposed to the Required Lenders) and only with respect to the Revolving Commitments, Revolving Loans, Letters of Credit and Obligations under the Revolving Facilities.

SECTION 8.03 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 as set forth in the first clause (a) of the proviso to Section 8.02), subject to any Intercreditor Agreement then in effect, any amounts received on account of the Obligations will be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:

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 and the Collateral Agent in their capacities as such;

Second , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities 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 Lenders, ratably among them in proportion to the amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;

 

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Third , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans and L/C Borrowings, ratably among the Lenders 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), the Obligations under Secured Hedge Agreements and Cash Management Obligations under Secured Cash Management 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 Loan Parties 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(3), amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to clause Fourth above will 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 will be applied to the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above and, if no Obligations remain outstanding, will be paid to the Borrower.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, amounts received from any Loan Party shall not be applied to any Excluded Swap Obligation of such Loan Party.

SECTION 8.04 Right to Cure .

(1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 8.01 or Section 8.02, but subject to Sections 8.04(2) and (3), for the purpose of determining whether an Event of Default under the Financial Covenant has occurred, the Borrower may on one or more occasions designate any portion of the Net Proceeds from any Permitted Equity Issuance or of any contribution to the common equity capital of the Borrower (or from any other contribution to capital or sale or issuance of any other Equity Interests on terms reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) (the “ Cure Amount ”) as an increase to Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower for the applicable fiscal quarter; provided that

(a) such amounts to be designated are actually received by the Borrower (i) on and after the first Business Day of the applicable fiscal quarter and (ii) on and prior to the tenth (10th) Business Day after the date on which financial statements are required to be delivered with respect to such applicable fiscal quarter (the “ Cure Expiration Date ”),

(b) such amounts to be designated do not exceed the maximum aggregate amount necessary to cure any Event of Default under the Financial Covenant as of such date and

(c) the Borrower will have provided notice to the Administrative Agent on the date such amounts are designated as a “Cure Amount” (it being understood that to the extent such notice is provided in advance of delivery of a Compliance Certificate for the applicable period, the amount of such Net Proceeds that is designated as the Cure Amount may be lower than specified in such notice to the extent that the amount necessary to cure any Event of Default under the Financial Covenant is less than the full amount of such originally designated amount).

The Cure Amount used to calculate Consolidated EBITDA for one fiscal quarter will be used and included when calculating Consolidated EBITDA for each Test Period that includes such fiscal quarter. The parties hereby acknowledge that this Section 8.04(1) may not be relied on for purposes of calculating any financial ratios

 

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other than as applicable to the Financial Covenant (and may not be included for purposes of determining pricing, mandatory prepayments and the availability or amount permitted pursuant to any covenant under Article VII) and may not result in any adjustment to any amounts (including the amount of Indebtedness) or increase in cash with respect to the fiscal quarter with respect to which such Cure Amount was received other than the amount of the Consolidated EBITDA referred to in the immediately preceding sentence, except to the extent such proceeds are actually applied to prepay Indebtedness under the Facilities. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 8.01 and Section 8.02, (A) upon designation of the Cure Amount by the Borrower in an amount necessary to cure any Event of Default under the Financial Covenant, the Financial Covenant will be deemed satisfied and complied with as of the end of the relevant fiscal quarter with the same effect as though there had been no failure to comply with the Financial Covenant and any Event of Default under the Financial Covenant (and any other Default as a result thereof) will be deemed not to have occurred for purposes of the Loan Documents and (B) from and after the date that the Borrower delivers a written notices to the Administrative Agent that it intends to exercise its cure right under this Section 8.04 (a “ Notice of Intent to Cure ”) neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender may exercise any rights or remedies under Section 8.02 (or under any other Loan Document) on the basis of any actual or purported Event of Default under the Financial Covenant (and any other Default as a result thereof) until and unless the Cure Expiration Date has occurred without the Cure Amount having been designated.

(2) In each period of four consecutive fiscal quarters, there shall be no more than two (2) fiscal quarters in which the cure right set forth in Section 8.04(1) is exercised.

(3) There shall be no more than five (5) fiscal quarters in which the cure rights set forth in Section 8.04(1) are exercised during the term of the Facilities; provided that , so long as the Closing Date Revolving Facility is no longer outstanding, there may be an additional fiscal quarter after the Original Revolving Facility Maturity Date in which the cure rights set forth in this Section 8.04 are exercised during the term of any Revolving Commitments.

Article IX

Administrative Agent and Other Agents

SECTION 9.01 Appointment and Authorization of the Administrative Agent .

(1) Each Lender and Issuing Bank hereby irrevocably appoints Citibank, N.A., to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article IX (other than Sections 9.07, 9.11, 9.12, 9.15 and 9.16) are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and each Issuing Bank and the Borrower shall not have rights as a third-party beneficiary of any such provision. The Administrative Agent hereby represents and warrants that it is either (i) a “U.S. person” and a “financial institution” and that it will comply with its “obligation to withhold,” each within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.1441-1(b)(2)(ii) or (ii) a Withholding U.S. Branch.

(2) The Administrative Agent shall also act as the “collateral agent” under the Loan Documents, and each of the Lenders (including in its capacities as a Lender and a potential Hedge Bank or Cash Management Bank) and the Issuing Banks hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to act as the agent of (and to hold any security interest created by the Collateral Documents for and on behalf of or in trust for) such Lender and Issuing Bank for purposes of acquiring, holding and enforcing any and all Liens on Collateral granted by any of the Loan Parties to secure any of the Obligations, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto. In this connection, the Administrative Agent, as “collateral agent” (and any co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact appointed by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.05 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 Administrative Agent), shall be entitled to the benefits of all provisions of this Article IX and Article X with respect to the Administrative Agent (including Sections 10.04 and 10.05), as though such co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact were the “collateral agent” under the Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Lenders hereby expressly

 

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authorize the Administrative Agent to execute any and all documents (including releases) with respect to the Collateral and the rights of the Secured Parties with respect thereto (including any Intercreditor Agreement), as contemplated by and in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the Collateral Documents and acknowledge and agree that any such action by any Agent shall bind the Lenders.

SECTION 9.02 Rights as a Lender . Any Lender that is also serving as an Agent (including as Administrative Agent) hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not an Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include each Lender (if any) serving as an Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Any such Person serving as an Agent and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not an Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders. The Lenders acknowledge that, pursuant to such activities, any Agent or its Affiliates may receive information regarding any Loan Party or any of its Affiliates (including information that may be subject to confidentiality obligations in favor of such Loan Party or such Affiliate) and acknowledge that no Agent shall be under any obligation to provide such information to them.

SECTION 9.03 Exculpatory Provisions . The Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities except those expressly set forth in this Agreement and in the other Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Agent (including the Administrative Agent):

(1) shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the use of the term “agent” herein and in the other Loan Documents with reference to any Agent or Arranger is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable Law and 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;

(2) shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that such Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents), provided that no Agent shall be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose such Agent 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; and

(3) shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by any Person serving as an Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.

Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its Related Persons shall be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 10.01 and 8.02) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by the final and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, in connection with its duties expressly set forth herein. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, a Lender, or an Issuing Bank.

No Agent-Related Person shall be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any recital, statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other

 

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terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, or the creation, perfection or priority of any Lien purported to be created by the Collateral Documents, (v) the value or the sufficiency of any Collateral, or (vi) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent. The duties of the Administrative Agent shall be mechanical and administrative in nature; the Administrative Agent shall not have by reason of this Agreement or any other Loan Document a fiduciary relationship in respect of any Lender or the holder of any Note; and nothing in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, expressed or implied, is intended to or shall be so construed as to impose upon the Administrative Agent any obligations in respect of this Agreement or any other Loan Document except as expressly set forth herein or therein.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or any provision of any other Loan Document, each Arranger is named as such for recognition purposes only, and in its capacity as such shall have no powers, duties, responsibilities or liabilities with respect to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby; it being understood and agreed that each Arranger shall be entitled to all indemnification and reimbursement rights in favor of the Arrangers as, and to the extent, provided for under Section 10.05. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Arranger shall not, solely by reason of this Agreement or any other Loan Documents, have any fiduciary relationship in respect of any Lender or any other Person.

SECTION 9.04 Lack of Reliance on the Administrative Agent . Independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the holder of each Note, to the extent it deems appropriate, has made and shall continue to make (i) its own independent investigation of the financial condition and affairs of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with the making and the continuance of the Loans and the taking or not taking of any action in connection herewith and (ii) its own appraisal of the creditworthiness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and, except as expressly provided in this Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility, either initially or on a continuing basis, to provide any Lender or the holder of any Note with any credit or other information with respect thereto, whether coming into its possession before the making of the Loans or at any time or times thereafter. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible to any Lender or the holder of any Note for any recitals, statements, information, representations or warranties herein or in any document, certificate or other writing delivered in connection herewith or for the execution, effectiveness, genuineness, validity, enforceability, perfection, collectability, priority or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the financial condition of the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or be required to make any inquiry concerning either the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions or conditions of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or the financial condition of the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or the existence or possible existence of any Default or Event of Default.

SECTION 9.05 Certain Rights of the Administrative Agent . If the Administrative Agent requests instructions from the Required Lenders with respect to any act or action (including failure to act) in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to refrain from such act or taking such action unless and until the Administrative Agent shall have received instructions from the Required Lenders; and the Administrative Agent shall not incur liability to any Lender by reason of so refraining. Without limiting the foregoing, neither any Lender nor the holder of any Note shall have any right of action whatsoever against the Administrative Agent as a result of the Administrative Agent acting or refraining from acting hereunder or under any other Loan Document in accordance with the instructions of the Required Lenders.

SECTION 9.06 Reliance by the Administrative Agent . The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, any note, writing, resolution, notice, statement, certificate, telex, teletype or facsimile message, cablegram, radiogram, order or other document or telephone message signed, sent or made by any Person that the Administrative Agent believed to be the proper Person, and, with respect to all legal matters pertaining to this Agreement and any other Loan Document and its duties hereunder and thereunder, upon advice of counsel selected by the Administrative Agent. In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan or the issuance, extension, renewal or increase of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or Issuing Bank, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or Issuing Bank unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or Issuing Bank prior to the making of such Loan or issuances of such Letter of Credit. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

 

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SECTION 9.07 Delegation of Duties . The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Documents by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective 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 and any such sub agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 9.07 or Section 9.15, the Administrative Agent shall not delegate to any Supplemental Administrative Agent responsibility for receiving any payments under any Loan Document for the account of any Lender, which payments shall be received directly by the Administrative Agent, without prior written consent of the Borrower (not to unreasonably withheld or delayed). The Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents except to the extent that the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agents as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable judgment.

SECTION 9.08 Indemnification . Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, to the extent the Administrative Agent or any other Agent-Related Person (solely to the extent any such Agent-Related Person was performing services on behalf of the Administrative Agent) is not reimbursed and indemnified by the Borrower, the Lenders will reimburse and indemnify the Administrative Agent or any other Agent-Related Person (solely to the extent any such Agent-Related Person was performing services on behalf of the Administrative Agent) in proportion to their respective Pro Rata Shares for and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, actions, judgments, costs, expenses or disbursements of whatsoever kind or nature which may be imposed on, asserted against or incurred by the Administrative Agent or any other Agent-Related Person (solely to the extent any such Agent-Related Person was performing services on behalf of the Administrative Agent) in performing its duties hereunder or under any other Loan Document or in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any other Loan Document; provided that no Lender shall be liable for any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulting from the Administrative Agent’s or any other Agent-Related Person’s gross negligence or willful misconduct (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable decision). In the case of any investigation, litigation or proceeding giving rise to any Indemnified Liabilities, this Section 9.08 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 the Administrative Agent upon demand for its ratable share of any costs or out-of-pocket expenses (including Attorney Costs) incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or 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 is not reimbursed for such expenses by or on behalf of the Borrower, provided that such reimbursement by the Lenders shall not affect the Borrower’s continuing reimbursement obligations with respect thereto, provided further that the failure of any Lender to indemnify or reimburse the Administrative Agent shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation in respect thereof. The undertaking in this Section 9.08 shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, the payment of all other Obligations and the resignation of the Administrative Agent.

SECTION 9.09 The Administrative Agent in Its Individual Capacity . With respect to its obligation to make Loans under this Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall have the rights and powers specified herein for a “Lender” and may exercise the same rights and powers as though it were not performing the duties specified herein; and the term “Lender,” “Required Lenders” or any similar terms shall, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, include the Administrative Agent in its respective individual capacities. The Administrative Agent and its affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, and generally engage in any kind of banking, investment banking, trust or other business with, or provide debt financing, equity capital or other services (including financial advisory services) to any Loan Party or any Affiliate of any Loan Party (or any Person engaged in a similar business with any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof) as if they were not performing the duties specified herein, and may accept fees and other consideration from any Loan Party or any Affiliate of any Loan Party for services in connection with this

 

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Agreement and otherwise without having to account for the same to the Lenders. The Lenders acknowledge that, pursuant to such activities, any Agent or its Affiliates may receive information regarding any Loan Party or any of its Affiliates (including information that may be subject to confidentiality obligations in favor of such Loan Party or such Affiliate) and acknowledge that no Agent shall be under any obligation to provide such information to them.

SECTION 9.10 [Reserved ].

SECTION 9.11 Resignation by the Administrative Agent . The Administrative Agent may resign from the performance of all its respective functions and duties hereunder or under the other Loan Documents at any time by giving 30 Business Days prior written notice to the Lenders and the Borrower. If the Administrative Agent becomes subject to a Lender-Related Distress Event, then the Administrative Agent may be removed as the Administrative Agent at the reasonable request of the Required Lenders. If the Administrative Agent becomes subject to an Agent-Related Distress Event, then the Borrower may remove the Administrative Agent from such role upon 15 days’ prior written notice to the Lenders. Such resignation or removal shall take effect upon the appointment of a successor Administrative Agent as provided below.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, no successor Administrative Agent shall be appointed unless such successor Administrative Agent represents and warrants that it is (i) a “U.S. person” and a “financial institution” and that it will comply with its “obligation to withhold,” each within the meaning of U.S. Treasury Regulations Section 1.1441-1, or (ii) a Withholding U.S. Branch.

Upon any such notice of resignation by, or notice of removal of, the Administrative Agent, the Required Lenders shall appoint a successor Administrative Agent hereunder or thereunder who shall be a commercial bank or trust company reasonably acceptable to the Borrower, which acceptance shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed ( provided that the Borrower’s approval shall not be required if an Event of Default under Section 8.01(1) or, solely with respect to the Borrower, Section 8.01(6) has occurred and is continuing).

If a successor Administrative Agent shall not have been so appointed within such 30 Business Day period, the Administrative Agent, with the consent of the Borrower (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, provided that the Borrower’s consent shall not be required if an Event of Default under Section 8.01(1) or, solely with respect to the Borrower, Section 8.01(6) has occurred and is continuing), shall then appoint a successor Administrative Agent who shall serve as Administrative Agent hereunder or thereunder until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided above.

If no successor Administrative Agent has been appointed pursuant to the foregoing by the 35th Business Day after the date such notice of resignation was given by the Administrative Agent or such notice of removal was given by the Required Lenders or the Borrower, as applicable, the Administrative Agent’s resignation shall nonetheless become effective and the Required Lenders shall thereafter perform all the duties of the Administrative Agent hereunder or under any other Loan Document until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided above. The retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders or the Issuing Banks under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and except for any indemnity payments or other amounts then owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent, all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender or Issuing Bank directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above in this Section 9.11.

Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder and upon the execution and filing or recording of such financing statements, or amendments thereto, and such amendments or supplements to the Mortgages, and such other instruments or notices, as may be necessary or desirable, or as the Required Lenders may request, in order to (i) continue the perfection of the Liens granted or purported to be granted by the Collateral Documents or (ii) otherwise ensure that the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement is satisfied, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section 9.11).

 

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The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Sections 10.04 and 10.05 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Agent-Related Persons in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent.

Upon a resignation or removal of the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 9.11, the Administrative Agent (i) shall continue to be subject to Section 10.09 and (ii) shall remain indemnified to the extent provided in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the provisions of this Article IX (and the analogous provisions of the other Loan Documents) shall continue in effect for the benefit of the Administrative Agent for all of its actions and inactions while serving as the Administrative Agent.

SECTION 9.12 Collateral Matters . Each Lender (including in its capacities as a potential Cash Management Bank and a potential Hedge Bank) irrevocably authorizes and directs the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to take the actions to be taken by them as set forth in Sections 7.04 and 10.24.

Each Lender hereby agrees, and each holder of any Note by the acceptance thereof will be deemed to agree, that, except as otherwise set forth herein, any action taken by the Required Lenders or the Required Facility Lenders, as applicable, in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement or the Collateral Documents, and the exercise by the Required Lenders or the Required Facility Lenders, as applicable, of the powers set forth herein or therein, together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto, shall be authorized and binding upon all of the Lenders. The Collateral Agent is hereby authorized on behalf of all of the Lenders, without the necessity of any notice to or further consent from any Lender, from time to time, to take any action with respect to any Collateral or Collateral Documents which may be necessary to perfect and maintain perfected the security interest in and liens upon the Collateral granted pursuant to the Collateral Documents.

Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Lenders will confirm in writing the Collateral Agent’s authority to release particular types or items of Collateral pursuant to this Section 9.12. In each case as specified in this Section 9.12, Section 7.04 and Section 10.24, the applicable Agent will (and each Lender irrevocably authorizes the applicable Agent to), at the Borrower’s expense, execute and deliver to the applicable Loan Party such documents as such Loan Party 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, this Section 9.12, Section 7.04 and Section 10.24.

The Collateral Agent shall have no obligation whatsoever to the Lenders or to any other Person to assure that the Collateral exists or is owned by any Loan Party or is cared for, protected or insured or that the Liens granted to the Collateral Agent herein or pursuant hereto have been properly or sufficiently or lawfully created, perfected, protected or enforced or are entitled to any particular priority, or to exercise or to continue exercising at all or in any manner or under any duty of care, disclosure or fidelity any of the rights, authorities and powers granted or available to the Collateral Agent in this Section 9.12, Section 7.04, Section 10.24 or in any of the Collateral Documents, it being understood and agreed that in respect of the Collateral, or any act, omission or event related thereto, the Collateral Agent may act in any manner it may deem appropriate, in its sole discretion, given the Collateral Agent’s own interest in the Collateral as one of the Lenders and that the Collateral Agent shall have no duty or liability whatsoever to the Lenders, except for its gross negligence or willful misconduct (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable decision).

SECTION 9.13 [Reserved] .

 

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SECTION 9.14 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim . In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan 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) shall be 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, any Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, any Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, any Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 10.04) 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, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and Issuing Bank to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders and relevant Issuing Banks, to pay to the Administrative 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 under Sections 2.09 and 10.04.

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 or Issuing Bank any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or Issuing Bank or to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender or Issuing Bank in any such proceeding.

The Secured Parties hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at the direction of the Required Lenders, to credit bid all or any portion of the Obligations (including accepting some or all of the Collateral in satisfaction of some or all of the Obligations pursuant to a deed in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise) and in such manner purchase (either directly or through one or more acquisition vehicles) all or any portion of the Collateral (a) at any sale thereof conducted under the provisions of the Bankruptcy Code, including under Sections 363, 1123 or 1129 of the Bankruptcy Code, or any similar Laws in any other jurisdictions to which a Loan Party is subject, (b) at any other sale or foreclosure or acceptance of collateral in lieu of debt conducted by (or with the consent or at the direction of) the Administrative Agent (whether by judicial action or otherwise) in accordance with any applicable Law. In connection with any such credit bid and purchase, the Obligations owed to the Secured Parties shall be entitled to be, and shall be, credit bid on a ratable basis (with Obligations with respect to contingent or unliquidated claims receiving contingent interests in the acquired assets on a ratable basis that would vest upon the liquidation of such claims in an amount proportional to the liquidated portion of the contingent claim amount used in allocating the contingent interests) in the asset or assets so purchased (or in the Equity Interests or debt instruments of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles that are used to consummate such purchase). In connection with any such bid (i) the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to form one or more acquisition vehicles to make a bid, (ii) to adopt documents providing for the governance of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles ( provided that any actions by the Administrative Agent with respect to such acquisition vehicle or vehicles, including any disposition of the assets or Equity Interests thereof shall be governed, directly or indirectly, by the vote of the Required Lenders, irrespective of the termination of this Agreement and without giving effect to the limitations on actions by the Required Lenders contained in clauses (a) through (i) of the first proviso to Section 10.01(1) of this Agreement), (iii) the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to assign the relevant Obligations to any such acquisition vehicle pro rata by the Lenders, as a result of which each of the Lenders shall be deemed to have received a pro rata portion of any Equity Interests and/or debt instruments issued by such an acquisition vehicle on account of the assignment of the Obligations to be credit bid, all without the need for any Secured Party or acquisition vehicle to take any further action, and (iv) to the extent that Obligations that are assigned to an acquisition vehicle are not used to acquire Collateral for any reason (as a result of another bid being higher or better, because the amount of Obligations assigned to the acquisition vehicle exceeds the amount of debt credit bid by the acquisition vehicle or otherwise), such Obligations shall automatically be reassigned to the Lenders pro rata and the Equity Interests and/or debt instruments issued by any acquisition vehicle on account of the Obligations that had been assigned to the acquisition vehicle shall automatically be cancelled, without the need for any Secured Party or any acquisition vehicle to take any further action.

 

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SECTION 9.15 Appointment of Supplemental Administrative Agents .

(1) 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 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 is hereby authorized to appoint an additional individual or institution selected by the Administrative 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 Administrative Agent ” and collectively as “ Supplemental Administrative Agents ”).

(2) In the event that the Administrative Agent appoints a Supplemental Administrative 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 Administrative Agent with respect to such Collateral shall be exercisable by and vest in such Supplemental Administrative Agent to the extent, and only to the extent, necessary to enable such Supplemental Administrative 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 Administrative Agent shall run to and be enforceable by either the Administrative Agent or such Supplemental Administrative 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 Administrative Agent and all references therein to the Administrative Agent shall be deemed to be references to the Administrative Agent or such Supplemental Administrative Agent, as the context may require.

(3) Should any instrument in writing from any Loan Party be reasonably required by any Supplemental Administrative Agent so appointed by the Administrative Agent for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to him or it such rights, powers, privileges and duties, the Borrower shall, or shall cause such Loan Party to, execute, acknowledge and deliver any and all such instruments reasonably acceptable to it promptly upon request by the Administrative Agent. In case any Supplemental Administrative 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 Administrative Agent, to the extent permitted by Law, shall vest in and be exercised by the Administrative Agent until the appointment of a new Supplemental Administrative Agent.

SECTION 9.16 Intercreditor Agreements . The Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent are hereby authorized to enter into any Intercreditor Agreement to the extent contemplated by the terms hereof, and the parties hereto acknowledge that such Intercreditor Agreement is binding upon them. Each Secured Party (a) hereby agrees that it will be bound by and will take no actions contrary to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreements, (b) hereby authorizes and instructs the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent to enter into the Intercreditor Agreements and to subject the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations to the provisions thereof and (c) without any further consent of the Lenders, hereby authorizes and instructs the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to negotiate, execute and deliver on behalf of the Secured Parties any intercreditor agreement or any amendment (or amendment and restatement) to the Collateral Documents or any Intercreditor Agreement contemplated hereunder. In addition, each Secured Party hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to enter into (i) any amendments to any Intercreditor Agreements, and (ii) any other intercreditor arrangements, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii) to the extent required to give effect to the establishment of intercreditor rights and privileges as contemplated and required or permitted by this Agreement. Each Secured Party acknowledges and agrees that any of the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent (or one or more of their respective Affiliates) may (but are not obligated to) act as the “Debt Representative” or like term for the holders of Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness under the security agreements with respect thereto or any Intercreditor

 

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Agreement then in effect. Each Lender waives any conflict of interest, now contemplated or arising hereafter, in connection therewith and agrees not to assert against any Agent or any of its affiliates any claims, causes of action, damages or liabilities of whatever kind or nature relating thereto.

SECTION 9.17 Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements . Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein or in any Guaranty or any Collateral Document, no Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank that obtains the benefits of Section 8.03, any Guaranty or any Collateral by virtue of the provisions hereof or of any Guaranty or any Collateral Document shall have any right to notice of any action or to consent to, direct or object to any action hereunder or under any other Loan Document or otherwise in respect of the Collateral (including the release or impairment of any Collateral) other than in its capacity as a Lender and, in such case, only to the extent expressly provided in the Loan Documents. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article IX to the contrary, the Administrative Agent shall not be required to verify the payment of, or that other satisfactory arrangements have been made with respect to, Obligations arising under Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements unless the Administrative Agent has received written notice of such Obligations, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may request, from the applicable Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank, as the case may be.

SECTION 9.18 Withholding Tax . To the extent required by any applicable Laws, the Administrative Agent may withhold from any payment to any Lender an amount equivalent to any applicable withholding Tax. Without limiting or expanding the provisions of Section 3.01, each Lender shall indemnify and hold harmless the Administrative Agent against, and shall make payable in respect thereof within ten (10) days after demand therefor, any and all Taxes and any and all related losses, claims, liabilities and expenses (including fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent) incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent by the IRS or any other Governmental Authority as a result of the failure of the Administrative Agent to properly withhold Tax from amounts paid to or for the account of such Lender for any reason (including 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). 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 9.18. The agreements in this Section 9.18 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent, any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all other Obligations.

Article X

Miscellaneous

SECTION 10.01 Amendments, etc .

(1) 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 the Borrower or any other Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders (other than (x) with respect to any amendment or waiver contemplated in clauses (g), (h) or (i) below (in the case of clause (i), to the extent permitted by Section 2.14), which shall only require the consent of the Required Facility Lenders under the applicable Facility or Facilities, as applicable (and not the Required Lenders) and (y) with respect to any amendment or waiver contemplated in clauses (b) or (c), which shall only require the consent of the Lenders expressly set forth therein and not the Required Lenders) (or by the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders) and the Borrower or the applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and the Administrative Agent hereby agrees to acknowledge any such waiver, consent or amendment that otherwise satisfies the requirements of this Section 10.01 as promptly as possible, however, to the extent the final form of such waiver, consent or amendment has been delivered to the Administrative Agent at least one Business Day prior to the proposed effectiveness of the consents by the Lenders party thereto, the Administrative Agent shall acknowledge such waiver, consent or amendment (i) immediately, in the case of any amendment which does not require the consent of any existing Lender under this Agreement or (ii) otherwise, within two hours of the time copies of the

 

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Required Lender consents or other applicable Lender consents required by this Section 10.01 have been provided to the Administrative Agent; and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

(a) extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender (it being understood that a waiver of any condition precedent set forth in Section 4.01, 4.02 or 4.03 or the waiver of any Default, Event of 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 the amount of, any payment of principal or interest under Section 2.07 or 2.08 (other than pursuant to Section 2.08(2)) or any payment of fees or premiums hereunder or under any Loan Document with respect to payments to any Lender without the written consent of such Lender, it being understood that none of the following will constitute a postponement of any date scheduled for, or a reduction in the amount of, any payment of principal, interest, fees or premiums: (i) the waiver of (or amendment to the terms of) any mandatory prepayment of the Loans, (ii) the waiver of any Default or Event of Default, and (iii) any change to the definition of “First Lien Net Leverage Ratio,” “Secured Net Leverage Ratio,” “Total Net Leverage Ratio,” “Interest Coverage Ratio” or, in each case, in the component definitions thereof;

(c) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or Unreimbursed Amount, or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to any Lender without the written consent of such Lender, it being understood that none of the following will constitute a reduction in any rate of interest or any fees: any change to the definition of “First Lien Net Leverage Ratio,” “Secured Net Leverage Ratio,” “Total Net Leverage Ratio,” “Interest Coverage Ratio,” or, in each case, in the component definitions thereof; provided that only the consent of (A) the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend the definition of “Default Rate” and (B) the Required Lenders or, with respect to any Default Rate payable in respect of the Revolving Facility, the Required Facility Lenders under the Closing Date Revolving Facility, shall be necessary to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the Default Rate;

(d) except as contemplated by clause (C) in the second proviso immediately succeeding clause (i) of this Section 10.01(1), change any provision of this Section 10.01 or the definition of “Required Lenders” or “Required Facility Lenders,” “Pro Rata Share” 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 or Section 2.13 or 8.03, without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby;

(e) other than in a transaction permitted under Section 7.03 or Section 7.04, release all or substantially all of the aggregate value of the Collateral in any transaction or series of related transactions, without the written consent of each Lender;

(f) other than in a transaction permitted under Section 7.03 or Section 7.04, release all or substantially all of the aggregate value of the Guaranty, without the written consent of each Lender;

(g) amend, waive or otherwise modify any term or provision (including the waiver of any conditions set forth in Section 4.03 as to any Credit Extension under one or more Revolving Facilities) which directly affects Lenders under one or more Revolving Facilities and does not directly affect Lenders under any other Facilities, in each case, without the written consent of the Required Facility Lenders under such applicable Revolving Facility or Facilities with respect to Revolving Commitments (and in the case of multiple Facilities which are affected, such Required Facility Lenders shall consent together as one 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 the applicable Revolving Facility or Facilities (it being understood that any amendment to the conditions of effectiveness of Incremental Commitments set forth in Section 2.14 shall be subject to clause (i) below);

 

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(h) amend, waive or otherwise modify the Financial Covenant or any definition related thereto (solely in respect of the use of such defined terms in the Financial Covenant) or waive any Default or Event of Default resulting from a failure to perform or observe the Financial Covenant (including any waiver of a Default or Event of Default solely with respect to the Revolving Facilities pursuant to Section 6.01(1)) without the written consent of the Required Facility Lenders under the applicable Revolving Facility or Facilities with respect to Revolving Commitments (such Required Facility Lenders shall consent together as one Facility); provided , however , that the amendments, waivers and other modifications described in this clause (h) shall not require the consent of any Lenders other than the Required Facility Lenders under the applicable Revolving Facility or Facilities;

(i) amend, waive or otherwise modify any term or provision (including the availability and conditions to funding (subject to the requirements of Section 2.14) with respect to Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Revolving Commitments, but excluding the rate of interest applicable thereto which shall be subject to clause (c) above)) which directly affects Lenders of one or more Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Revolving 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 or Incremental Revolving Commitments (and in the case of multiple Facilities which are affected, such Required Facility Lenders shall consent together as one Facility); provided , however , that, to the extent permitted under Section 2.14, the waivers described in this clause (i) shall only require the consent of the Required Facility Lenders under such applicable Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Revolving Commitments;

(j) amend, waive or otherwise modify any term or provision in Section 4.01 or Section 4.02, in each case, without the written consent of each Lender;

provided that:

(I) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by each Issuing Bank in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of such Issuing Bank under this Agreement or any Issuing Bank Document relating to any Letter of Credit issued or to be issued by it; provided , however , that this Agreement may be amended to adjust the mechanics related to the issuance of Letters of Credit, including mechanical changes relating to the existence of multiple Issuing Banks, with only the written consent of the Administrative Agent, the applicable Issuing Bank and the Borrower so long as the obligations of the Revolving Lenders, if any, who have not executed such amendment, and if applicable the other Issuing Banks, if any, who have not executed such amendment, are not adversely affected thereby;

(II) [reserved]

(III) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of, or any fees or other amounts payable to, the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; and

(IV) Section 10.07(g) 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;

provided further that notwithstanding the foregoing:

(A) no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove of 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 the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Defaulting Lender (it being understood that any Commitments or Loans held or deemed held by any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for a vote of the Lenders hereunder requiring any consent of the Lenders);

 

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(B) no Lender consent is required to effect any amendment or supplement to any Intercreditor Agreement (i) that is for the purpose of adding the holders of Permitted Incremental Equivalent Debt, Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness or any other Permitted Indebtedness that is Secured Indebtedness (or a Debt Representative with respect thereto) as parties thereto, as expressly contemplated by the terms of such Intercreditor Agreement, as applicable (it being understood that any such amendment, modification 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) or (ii) that is expressly contemplated by any Intercreditor Agreement in connection with joinders and supplements; provided further that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable;

(C) this Agreement may be amended (or amended and restated) with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (i) to add one or more additional credit facilities to this Agreement and to permit the extensions of credit from time to time outstanding thereunder and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof to share ratably in the benefits of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with the Term Loans, the Revolving Loans and L/C Obligations and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof and (ii) to include appropriately the Lenders holding such credit facilities in any determination of the Required Lenders;

(D) any waiver, amendment or modification of this Agreement that by its terms affects the rights or duties under this Agreement of Lenders holding Loans or Commitments of a particular Class (but not the Lenders holding Loans or Commitments of any other Class) may be effected by an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrower and the requisite percentage in interest of the affected Class of Lenders that would be required to consent thereto under this Section 10.01 if such Class of Lenders were the only Class of Lenders hereunder at the time;

(E) any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document may be amended by an agreement in writing entered into by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (or the Collateral Agent, as applicable) to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency (including amendments, supplements or waivers to any of the Collateral Documents, guarantees, intercreditor agreements or related documents executed by any Loan Party or any other Subsidiary in connection with this Agreement if such amendment, supplement or waiver is delivered in order to cause such Collateral Documents, guarantees, intercreditor agreements or related documents to be consistent with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents) so long as, in each case, the Lenders shall have received at least five (5) Business Days’ prior written notice thereof and the Administrative Agent shall not have received, within five (5) Business Days of the date of such notice to the Lenders, a written notice from the Required Lenders stating that the Required Lenders object to such amendment; provided that the consent of the Lenders or the Required Lenders, as the case may be, shall not be required to make any such changes necessary to be made in connection with any borrowing of Incremental Loans, any borrowing of Other Loans, any Extension or any borrowing of Replacement Loans and otherwise to effect the provisions of Section 2.14, 2.15 or 2.16 or the immediately succeeding paragraph of this Section 10.01, respectively;

(F) the Borrower and the Administrative Agent may, without the input or consent of the other Lenders, (i) effect changes to any Mortgage as may be necessary or appropriate in the opinion of the Collateral Agent and (ii) effect changes to this Agreement that are necessary and appropriate to effect the offering process set forth in Section 2.05(1)(e); and

(G) any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document may be amended by the Administrative Agent without written consent of the Borrower or any other party, to (1) effect any “market flex” provisions of the Fee Letter and /or (2) if the Sponsor Subordinated Debt Issuance occurs, (x) to permit the Sponsor Subordinated Debt Issuance in accordance with the Investment Agreement and to adjust any baskets or incurrence test tied to the Closing Date Total Net Leverage Ratio as reasonably necessary to account for the Sponsor Subordinated Debt Issuance; provided that the Administrative Agent shall first consult with the Borrower to determine which adjustments, if any, are reasonably necessary and (y) to

 

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replace the Total Net Leverage Ratio test in Section 7.12 with a Total Senior Net Leverage Ratio for so long as the Sponsor Subordinated Debt has not converted into preferred equity, in each case within 1 Business Day of notice by the Arrangers to the Borrower of their intention to make such amendments.

(2) In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 10.01, this Agreement may be amended with the written consent of the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and the Lenders providing the Replacement Loans (as defined below) to permit the refinancing of all outstanding Term Loans of any Class (“ Replaced Loans ”) with replacement term loans (“ Replacement Loans ”) hereunder; provided that

(a) the aggregate principal amount of such Replacement Loans shall not exceed the aggregate principal amount of such Replaced Loans, plus accrued interest, fees, premiums (if any) and penalties thereon and reasonable fees and expenses incurred in connection with such refinancing of Replaced Loans with such Replacement Loans,

(b) the All-In Yield with respect to such Replacement Loans (or similar interest rate spread applicable to such Replacement Loans) shall not be higher than the All-In Yield for such Replaced Loans (or similar interest rate spread applicable to such Replaced Loans) immediately prior to such refinancing,

(c) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such Replacement Loans shall not be shorter than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such Replaced Loans at the time of such refinancing, and

(d) all other terms (other than with respect to pricing, interest rate margins, fees, discounts, rate floors and prepayment or redemption terms) applicable to such Replacement Loans shall either, at the option of the Borrower, (i) reflect market terms and conditions (taken as a whole) at the time of incurrence of such Replacement Loans (as determined by the Borrower in good faith) or (ii) if not otherwise consistent with the terms of such Replaced Loans, not be materially more restrictive to the Borrower (as determined by the Borrower in good faith), when taken as a whole, than the terms of such Replaced Loans, except in the case of clauses (i) and (ii) to the extent necessary to provide for (x) covenants and other terms applicable to any period after the Latest Maturity Date of the Loans in effect immediately prior to such refinancing or (y) subject to the immediately succeeding proviso, a Previously Absent Financial Maintenance Covenant; provided that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if any such terms of the Replacement Loans contain a Previously Absent Financial Maintenance Covenant that is in effect prior to the applicable Latest Maturity Date, such Previously Absent Financial Maintenance Covenant shall be included for the benefit of each Facility.

Each amendment to this Agreement providing for Replacement Loans may, without the consent of any other Lenders, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower to effect the provisions of this paragraph, and for the avoidance of doubt, this paragraph shall supersede any other provisions in this Section 10.01 to the contrary.

(3) In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 10.01,

(a) the Guaranty, the Collateral Documents and related documents executed by Loan Parties 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 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 or waiver is delivered in order (i) to comply with local Law or advice of local counsel, (ii) to cure ambiguities or defects or (iii) to cause the Guaranty, Collateral Documents or other document to be consistent with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including by adding additional parties as contemplated herein or therein) and

(b) (i) if the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall have jointly identified an obvious error (including an incorrect cross-reference) or any error or omission of a technical or immaterial nature or (ii) if the Administrative Agent shall have identified any administrative, operational or agency changes of a

 

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technical nature, in each case, in any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any exhibit, schedule or other attachment to any Loan Document), then the Administrative Agent (acting in its sole discretion) and the Borrower or any other relevant Loan Party shall be permitted to amend such provision and such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to any Loan Document. Notification of such amendment shall be made by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders promptly upon such amendment becoming effective.

SECTION 10.02 Notices and Other Communications; Facsimile Copies .

(1) General. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by facsimile as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:

(a) if to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.02; and

(b) if to any other Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire.

Notices and other communications sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices and other communications sent by facsimile shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next succeeding Business Day for the recipient). Notices and other communications delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in subsection (2) below shall be effective as provided in such subsection (2).

(2) Electronic Communication. Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender pursuant to Article II if such Lender, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

(3) Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next succeeding Business Day for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.

(4) The Platform. THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD-PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Agent-Related Persons or any Arranger (collectively, the “ Agent

 

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Parties ”) have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender, or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of Borrower Materials through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and non-appealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided , however , that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages).

(5) Change of Address. Each Loan Party and the Administrative Agent may change its address, facsimile or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by written notice to the other parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its address, facsimile or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by written notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent. In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, facsimile number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender. Furthermore, 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 Borrower Materials 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.

(6) Reliance by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Committed 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 the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Agent-Related Persons of each of them 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. All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative 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 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.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against the Loan Parties or any of them shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 8.02 for the benefit of all the Lenders; provided , however , that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (b) any Issuing Bank from exercising the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Issuing Bank, as the case may be) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (c) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 10.10 (subject to the terms of Section 2.13), or (d) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to any Loan Party under any Debtor Relief Law; and provided further that if at any time there is no Person acting as Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 8.02 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b), (c) and (d) of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 2.13, any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders.

 

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SECTION 10.04 Costs and Expenses . The Borrower agrees (a) if the Closing Date occurs and to the extent not paid or reimbursed on or prior to the Closing Date, to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers incurred in connection with the preparation, negotiation, syndication, execution, delivery and administration 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 of a single U.S. counsel and, if necessary, a single local counsel in each relevant material jurisdiction, and (b) upon presentation of a summary statement, together with any supporting documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower, to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank and the other Lenders, taken as a whole, promptly following a written demand therefor for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement 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 Attorney Costs of one counsel to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders taken as a whole (and, if necessary, one local counsel in any relevant material jurisdiction and solely in the case of a conflict of interest, one additional counsel in each relevant material jurisdiction to each group of affected Lenders similarly situated taken as a whole)). 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) Business Days following receipt by the Borrower of an invoice relating thereto setting forth such expenses in reasonable detail (other than amounts referred to in clause (a) of this Section 10.04, which shall be payable on the Closing Date to the extent invoiced at least three (3) Business Days prior thereto). 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.

SECTION 10.05 Indemnification by the Borrower . The Borrower shall indemnify and hold harmless the Agents, each Issuing Bank, each other Lender, the Arrangers and their respective Related Persons (collectively, the “ Indemnitees ”) from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (including Attorney Costs and Environmental Liabilities) to which any such Indemnitee may become subject arising out of, resulting from or in connection with (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, a single local counsel for all Indemnitees taken as a whole in each relevant material jurisdiction, and solely in the case of a conflict of interest, one additional counsel in each relevant material jurisdiction to each group of affected Indemnitees similarly situated taken as a whole) any actual or threatened claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to the Transactions or to the execution, delivery, enforcement, performance and administration of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the use, or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by any Issuing Bank 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), whether based on contract, tort or any other theory (including any investigation of, preparation for, or defense of any pending or threatened claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding), and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto (all the foregoing, collectively, the “ Indemnified Liabilities ”); provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses resulted from (x) the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or any of its Related Indemnified Persons 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 any of its Related Indemnified Persons 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 administrative agent or arranger or any similar role under any Loan Document and other than any claims arising out of any act or omission of the Borrower or any of its Affiliates (as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction). To the extent that the undertakings to indemnify and hold harmless set forth in this Section 10.05 may be unenforceable in whole or in part because they are violative of any applicable Law or public policy, the Borrower shall contribute the maximum portion that they are permitted to pay and satisfy under applicable Law to the payment and satisfaction of all

 

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Indemnified Liabilities incurred by the Indemnitees or any of them. 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 (except to the extent such damages are found in a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence of such Indemnitee), nor shall any Indemnitee or any Loan Party 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 for which such Indemnitee is otherwise entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section 10.05). 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, 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 is consummated. All amounts due under this Section 10.05 shall be paid within thirty (30) Business Days after written demand therefor. The agreements in this Section 10.05 shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations. This Section 10.05 shall not apply to Taxes, except any Taxes that represent losses or damages arising from any non-Tax claim. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Indemnitee shall be obligated to refund and return promptly any and all amounts paid by any Loan Party or any of its Affiliates under this Section 10.05 to such Indemnitee for any such fees, expenses or damages to the extent such Indemnitee is not entitled to payment of such amounts in accordance with the terms hereof as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

SECTION 10.06 Marshaling; Payments Set Aside . None of the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall be under any obligation to marshal any assets in favor of the Loan Parties or any other party or against or in payment of any or all of the Obligations. 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 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 Overnight Rate from time to time in effect.

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 registered assigns permitted hereby, except that the Borrower may not, except as permitted by Section 7.03 and the last sentence of this clause (a), assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder (including to existing Lenders and their Affiliates) except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.07(b) (such an assignee, an “ Eligible Assignee ”) and (A) in the case of any Eligible Assignee that, immediately prior to or upon giving effect to such assignment, is an Affiliated Lender, in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.07(h), (B) in the case of any Eligible Assignee that is the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower, in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.07(l), or (C) in the case of any Eligible Assignee that, immediately prior to or upon giving effect to such assignment, is a Debt Fund Affiliate, in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.07(k), (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.07(d), or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of Section 10.07(f), or (iv) to an SPC in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.07(g) (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in Section 10.07(d) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, Related Persons of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Borrower may assign its right, title and interest in, to and under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and all proceeds (as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York) of the foregoing to the Tender Issuing Bank to secure obligations under the Agreement for Standby Letter of Credit and the L/C Fee Letter.

(b) Assignments by Lenders . Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans (including for purposes of this Section 10.07(b), participations in L/C Obligations) at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

(i) Minimum Amounts.

(A) in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and

(B) in any case not described in subsection (b)(i)(A) of this Section 10.07, the aggregate amount of the Commitment or, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $1.0 million, in the case of Term Loans, and not less than $5.0 million, in the case of Revolving Loans and Revolving Commitments, unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default under Section 8.01(1) or, solely with respect to the Borrower, Section 8.01(6) has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (in the case of an assignment of Term Loans, each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided , however , that concurrent assignments to members of an Assignee Group and concurrent assignments from members of an Assignee Group to a single Eligible Assignee (or to an Eligible Assignee and members of its Assignee Group) will be treated as a single assignment for purposes of determining whether such minimum amount has been met.

(ii) Proportionate Amounts. Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans or the Commitment assigned (it being understood that assignments under separate Facilities shall not be required to be made on a pro rata basis).

(iii) Required Consents. No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by Section 10.07(b)(i)(B) and, in addition:

(A) the consent of the Borrower (in the case of an assignment of Term Loans, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (1) an Event of Default under Section 8.01(1) or, solely with respect to the Borrower, Section 8.01(6) has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if a “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date or (2) in respect of an assignment of all or a portion of the Term Loans only, such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; provided that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any assignment of all or a portion of the Term Loans unless it shall have objected thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within ten (10) Business Days after having received such request for assignment; provided further that no consent of the Borrower shall be required for an assignment of all or a portion of the Loans pursuant to Section 10.07(h), (k) or (l);

(B) the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender; provided that no consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required for an assignment of all or a portion of the Loans pursuant to Section 10.07 (h), (k) or (l); and

 

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(C) the consent of each applicable Issuing Bank at the time of such assignment (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required; provided that no consent of the applicable Issuing Bank shall be required for any assignment not related to Revolving Commitments or Revolving Exposure.

(iv) Assignment and Assumption . 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), and shall pay to the Administrative Agent a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 (which fee may be waived or reduced in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent). Other than in the case of assignments pursuant to Section 10.07(l), the Eligible Assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire and all applicable tax forms.

(v) No Assignments to Certain Persons . No such assignment shall be made (A) to the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries except as permitted under Sections 2.05(1)(e) and 10.07(l), (B) subject to Sections 10.07(h), (k) and (l) below, to any Affiliate of the Borrower, (C) to a natural person, (D) to any Disqualified Institution or (E) to any Defaulting Lender.

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 sub participations, 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 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.

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to clause (c) of this Section 10.07 (and, in the case of an Affiliated Lender or a Person that, after giving effect to such assignment, would become an Affiliated Lender, to the requirements of clause (h) of this Section 10.07), from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, other than in connection with an assignment pursuant to Section 10.07(l), (x) the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and (y) 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), but shall in any event continue to be subject to Section 10.09. 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 subsection 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(d).

(c) 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 delivered to it, each Affiliated Lender Assignment and Assumption delivered to it, each notice of cancellation of any Loans delivered by the Borrower pursuant to subsections (h) or (l) below, 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 Unreimbursed Amounts), L/C Borrowings and amounts due under Section 2.03, owing to

 

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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 its own Loans, any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. This Section 10.07(c) 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 the Term Loans or Incremental Term Loans held by Affiliated Lenders.

(d) Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person, the Borrower and its Affiliates, a Defaulting Lender or a Disqualified Institution) (each, a “ Participant ”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment or the Loans (including such Lender’s participations in L/C Obligations) 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 any other Loan Document; 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(1) (other than clauses (g),(h) and (i) thereof) that directly and adversely affects such Participant. Subject to subsection (e) of this Section 10.07, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01 (subject to the requirements of Section 3.01 (including subsections (2), (3) and (4), as applicable) as though it were a Lender; provided that any forms required to be provided under Section 3.01(3) shall be provided solely to the participating Lender), 3.04 and 3.05 (through the applicable Lender) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section 10.07. To the extent permitted by applicable Law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.10 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant shall agree to be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender.

(e) Limitations upon Participant Rights . A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 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). Each Lender that sells a participation shall (acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower) maintain a register complying with the requirements of Sections 163(f), 871(h) and 881(c)(2) of the Code and the Treasury regulations issued thereunder on which is entered the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and related interest amounts) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under this Agreement (the “ Participant Register ”). The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender and the Borrower 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; provided that no Lender shall have the obligation to disclose all or a portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of the Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent such disclosure is necessary to establish that any such commitments, loans, letters of credit or other obligations are in registered form for U.S. federal income tax purposes or such disclosure is otherwise required under Treasury Regulations Section 5f.103-1(c).

(f) Any Lender may 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 or any other central 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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(g) 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) 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 (including its obligations under Section 3.01, 3.04 or 3.05), (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 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 (which processing fee may be waived by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), 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.

(h) Any Lender may 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 or other offers to purchase or take by assignment open to all Lenders on a pro rata basis in accordance with procedures to be mutually determined by such Affiliated Lender and the Administrative Agent or (y) open market purchase on a non-pro rata basis, in each case subject to the following limitations:

(i) Affiliated Lenders will not (A) 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 or (B) make any challenge to the Administrative Agent’s or any other Lender’s attorney-client privilege on the basis of its status as a Lender;

(ii) each Affiliated Lender that purchases any Loans pursuant to clause (x) above shall represent and warrant to the selling Lender (other than any other Affiliated Lender) that it does not possess material non-public information with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries that either (1) has not been disclosed to the Lenders generally (other than Lenders that have elected not to receive such information) or (2) if not disclosed to the Lenders, would reasonably be expected to have a material effect on, or otherwise be material to (A) a Lender’s decision to participate in any such assignment or (B) the market price of such Loans, or shall make a statement that such representation cannot be made;

(iii) each Lender (other than any other Affiliated Lender) that assigns any Loans to an Affiliated Lender pursuant to clause (y) above shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower a customary Big Boy Letter (unless such Affiliated Lender is willing, in its sole discretion, to make the representation and warranty contemplated by the foregoing clause (ii));

(iv) the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans of any Class under this Agreement held by Affiliated Lenders at the time of any such purchase or assignment shall not exceed 25% of the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans of such Class outstanding at such time under this Agreement (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 Term Loans of any Class held by Affiliated Lenders exceeding the Affiliated Lender Cap, the assignment of such excess amount will be void ab initio ;

 

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(v) as a condition to each assignment pursuant to this subsection (h), the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall have been provided a notice 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 (in its capacity as such) shall waive any right to bring any action in connection with such Loans against the Administrative Agent, in its capacity as such; and

(vi) 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 D-2 hereto (an “ Affiliated Lender Assignment and Assumption ”).

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Affiliated Lender that has purchased Term Loans pursuant to this subsection (h) may, in its sole discretion, contribute, directly or indirectly, the principal amount of such Term Loans or any portion thereof, plus all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, to the Borrower for the purpose of cancelling and extinguishing such Term Loans. Upon the date of such contribution, assignment or transfer, (x) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Term Loans shall reflect such cancellation and extinguishing of the Term Loans then held by the Borrower and (y) the Borrower shall promptly provide notice to the Administrative Agent of such contribution 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.

Each Affiliated Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower promptly (and in any event within ten (10) Business Days) if it acquires any Person who is also a Lender, and each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower promptly (and in any event within ten (10) Business Days) if it becomes an Affiliated Lender. The Administrative Agent may conclusively rely upon any notice delivered pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence or pursuant to clause (v) of this subsection (h) and shall not have any liability for any losses suffered by any Person as a result of any purported assignment to or from an Affiliated Lender.

(i) Notwithstanding anything in Section 10.01 or the definition of “Required Lenders,” or “Required Facility Lenders” to the contrary, for purposes of determining whether the Required Lenders and Required Facility Lenders (in respect of a Class of Term Loans) 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, or subject to Section 10.07(j), 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, except with respect to any amendment, modification, waiver, consent or other action (x) in Section 10.01 requiring the consent of all Lenders, all Lenders directly and adversely affected or specifically such Lender, (y) that alters an Affiliated Lender’s pro rata share of any payments given to all Lenders, or (z) affects the Affiliated Lender (in its capacity as a Lender) in a manner that is disproportionate to the effect on any Lender in the same Class, the Loans held by an Affiliated Lender shall be disregarded in both the numerator and denominator in the calculation of any Lender vote (and shall be deemed to have been voted in the same percentage as all other applicable Lenders voted if necessary to give legal effect to this paragraph) (but, in any event, in connection with any amendment, modification, waiver, consent or other action, shall be entitled to any consent fee, calculated as if all of such Affiliated Lender’s Loans had voted in favor of any matter for which a consent fee or similar payment is offered).

(j) 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

 

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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 than the proposed treatment of similar Obligations held by Term Lenders that are not Affiliated Lenders.

(k) Although any Debt Fund Affiliate(s) shall be Eligible Assignees and shall not be subject to the provisions of Section 10.07(h), (i) or (j), any Lender may, 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, a Debt Fund Affiliate only through (x) Dutch auctions or other offers to purchase or take by assignment open to all Lenders on a pro rata basis in accordance with procedures of the type described in Section 2.05(1)(e) (for the avoidance of doubt, without requiring any representation as to the possession of material non-public information by such Affiliate) or (y) open market purchase on a non-pro rata basis. 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 Commitments and Revolving Loans held by Debt Fund Affiliates, in the aggregate, may not account for more than 49.9% of the Term Loans, Revolving Commitments and Revolving Loans of consenting Lenders included in determining whether the Required Lenders have consented to any action pursuant to Section 10.01.

(l) Any Lender may, so long as no 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 the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower through (x) Dutch auctions or other offers to purchase open to all Lenders on a pro rata basis in accordance with procedures of the type described in Section 2.05(1)(e) or (y) open market purchases on a non-pro rata basis; provided that:

(i) (x) if the assignee is a Subsidiary of the Borrower, upon such assignment, transfer or contribution, the applicable assignee shall automatically be deemed to have contributed or transferred the principal amount of such Term Loans, plus all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, to the Borrower; or (y) if the assignee is the Borrower (including through contribution or transfers set forth in clause (x)), (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;

(ii) each Person that purchases any Loans pursuant to clause (x) of this subsection (l) shall represent and warrant to the selling Lender (other than any Affiliated Lender) that it does not possess material non-public information with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries that either (1) has not been disclosed to the Lenders generally (other than Lenders that have elected not to receive such information) or (2) if not disclosed to the Lenders, would reasonably be expected to have a material effect on, or otherwise be material to (A) a Lender’s decision to participate in any such assignment or (B) the market price of such Loans, or shall make a statement that such representation cannot be made;

(iii) each Lender (other than an Affiliated Lender) that assigns any Loans the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower pursuant to clause (y) above shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower a customary Big Boy Letter (unless such Person is willing, in its sole discretion, to make the representation and warranty contemplated by the foregoing clause (ii)); and

 

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(iv) purchases of Term Loans pursuant to this subsection (l) may not be funded with the proceeds of Revolving Loans.

(m) 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.

(n) The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible or have any liability for, or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into, monitor or enforce, compliance with the provisions hereof relating to Disqualified Institutions. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall not (x) be obligated to ascertain, monitor or inquire as to whether any Lender or Participant or prospective Lender or Participant is a Disqualified Institution or (y) have any liability with respect to or arising out of any assignment or participation of Loans or Commitments, or disclosure of confidential information, to any Disqualified Institution.

SECTION 10.08 Resignation of Issuing Bank . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Issuing Bank may, upon thirty (30) Business Days’ notice to the Borrower and the Lenders, resign as an Issuing Bank, so long as on or prior to the expiration of such 30-Business Day period with respect to such resignation, the relevant Issuing Bank shall have identified a successor Issuing Bank reasonably acceptable to the Borrower willing to accept its appointment as successor Issuing Bank. In the event of any such resignation of an Issuing Bank, the Borrower shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders willing to accept such appointment a successor Issuing Bank hereunder; provided that no failure by the Borrower to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of the relevant Issuing Bank except as expressly provided above. If an Issuing Bank resigns as an Issuing Bank, it shall retain all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Bank hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as an Issuing Bank 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(3)).

SECTION 10.09 Confidentiality . Each of the Agents, the Arrangers, the Lenders and each Issuing Bank agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information in accordance with its customary procedures (as set forth below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates’ respective partners, directors, officers, employees, legal counsel, independent auditors, agents, trustees, advisors and representatives (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential, with such Affiliate being responsible for such Person’s compliance with this Section 10.09; provided , however , that such Agent, Arranger, Lender or Issuing Bank, as applicable, shall be principally liable to the extent this Section 10.09 is violated by one or more of its Affiliates or any of its or their respective employees, directors or officers), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners); provided , however , that each Agent, each Arranger, each Lender and each Issuing Bank agrees to notify the Borrower promptly thereof to the extent it is legally permitted to do so, (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or otherwise as required by applicable Law or regulation or as requested by a governmental authority; provided that such Agent, such Arranger, such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as applicable, agrees that it will (x) notify the Borrower as soon as practicable in the event of any such disclosure by such Person (except in connection with any request as part of a regulation examination) unless such notification is prohibited by law, rule or regulation and (y) seek confidential treatment with respect to any such disclosure, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) subject to an agreement containing provisions at least as restrictive as those of this Section 10.09, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or any Eligible Assignee (or its agent) invited to be an Additional Lender or (ii) with the prior consent of the Borrower, any actual or prospective

 

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direct or indirect counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries or any of their respective obligations; provided that such disclosure shall be made subject to the acknowledgment and acceptance by such prospective Lender, Participant or Eligible Assignee that such Information is being disseminated on a confidential basis (on substantially the terms set forth in this paragraph or as is otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Borrower, the Agents and the Arrangers, including as set forth in any confidential information memorandum or other marketing materials) in accordance with the standard syndication process of the Agents and the Arrangers or market standards for dissemination of such type of information which shall in any event require “click through” or other affirmative action on the part of the recipient to access such confidential information, (f) for purposes of establishing a “due diligence” defense, (g) on a confidential basis to (i) any rating agency in connection with rating the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or the credit facilities provided hereunder, (ii) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers or other market identifiers with respect to the credit facilities provided hereunder, or (iii) service providers to the Agents and the Lenders in connection with the administration, settlement and management of this Agreement and the credit facilities provided hereunder, (h) with the consent of the Borrower or (i) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach by any Person of this Section 10.09 or any other confidentiality provision in favor of any Loan Party, (y) becomes available to any Agent, any Arranger, any Lender, any Issuing Bank or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof, and which source is not known by such Agent, such Lender, such Issuing Bank or the applicable Affiliate to be subject to a confidentiality restriction in respect thereof in favor of the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof or (z) is independently developed by the Agents, the Lenders, the Issuing Banks, the Arrangers or their respective Affiliates, in each case, so long as not based on information obtained in a manner that would otherwise violate this Section 10.09.

For purposes of this Section 10.09, “ Information ” means all information received from any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof relating to any Loan Party or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof or their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to any Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof; it being understood that no information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof after the Effective Date shall be deemed nonconfidential on account of such information not being clearly identified at the time of delivery as being confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section 10.09 shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so in accordance with its customary procedures if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

Each Agent, each Arranger, each Lender and each Issuing Bank acknowledges that (a) the Information may include trade secrets, protected confidential information, or material non-public information concerning the Borrower or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of such information and (c) it will handle such information in accordance with applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws and to preserve its trade secret or confidential character.

The respective obligations of the Agents, the Arrangers, the Lenders and any Issuing Bank under this Section 10.09 shall survive, to the extent applicable to such Person, (x) the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement, (y) any assignment of its rights and obligations under this Agreement and (z) the resignation or removal of any Agent, and in any event no later than two years following such termination, assignment, resignation or removal.

SECTION 10.10 Setoff . If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender and each Issuing Bank is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, after obtaining the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender or such Issuing Bank to or for the credit or the account of any Loan Party against any and all of the obligations of such Loan Party then due and payable under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or such Issuing Bank, irrespective of whether or not such Lender or such Issuing Bank shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; 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

 

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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 Issuing Banks, 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. The rights of each Lender and each Issuing Bank under this Section 10.10 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender or such Issuing Bank may have. Each Lender and each Issuing Bank agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

SECTION 10.11 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 10.12 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness . This Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or other electronic imaging (including in .pdf format) means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

SECTION 10.13 Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents . The words “delivery,” “execution,” “execute,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in or related to any document to be signed in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (including without limitation Assignment and Assumptions, amendments or other modifications, Committed Loan Notices, waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, the electronic matching of assignment terms and contract formations on electronic platforms approved by the Administrative Agent, 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, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable Law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

SECTION 10.14 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 the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative 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.

SECTION 10.15 Severability . If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

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SECTION 10.16 GOVERNING LAW .

(a) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

(b) THE BORROWER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH LENDER EACH IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK CITY IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. EACH PARTY HERETO AGREES THAT THE AGENTS AND LENDERS RETAIN THE RIGHT TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR TO BRING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST ANY LOAN PARTY IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXERCISE OF ANY RIGHTS UNDER ANY COLLATERAL DOCUMENT OR THE ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT.

(c) THE BORROWER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH LENDER EACH IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (b) OF THIS SECTION 10.16. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

SECTION 10.17 WAIVER OF RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY . EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 10.17.

SECTION 10.18 Binding Effect . This Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent shall have been notified by each Lender that each such Lender has executed it and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Borrower, each Agent, each Lender, each other party hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

 

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SECTION 10.19 Lender Action . Each Lender agrees that it shall not take or institute any actions or proceedings, judicial or otherwise, for any right or remedy against any Loan Party under any of the Loan Documents or the Secured Hedge Agreements (including the exercise of any right of setoff, rights on account of any banker’s lien or similar claim or other rights of self-help), or institute any actions or proceedings, or otherwise commence any remedial procedures, with respect to any Collateral or any other property of any such Loan Party, without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent. The provision of this Section 10.19 are for the sole benefit of the Lenders and shall not afford any right to, or constitute a defense available to, any Loan Party.

SECTION 10.20 Use of Name, Logo, etc . Each Loan Party consents to the publication in the ordinary course by Administrative Agent or the Arrangers of customary advertising material relating to the financing transactions contemplated by this Agreement using such Loan Party’s name, product photographs, logo or trademark; provided that any such material shall be provided to the Borrower for its review a reasonable period of time in advance of publication. Such consent shall remain effective until revoked by such Loan Party in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers.

SECTION 10.21 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 and address of each Loan Party and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify each Loan Party in accordance with the USA PATRIOT Act. The Borrower shall, promptly following a request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide all documentation and other information that the Administrative Agent or such Lender requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act.

SECTION 10.22 Service of Process . EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 10.02. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

SECTION 10.23 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), the Borrower acknowledges and agrees that (i) (A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Agents, the Arrangers and the Lenders are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Borrower and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders, on the other hand, (B) the Borrower has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) the Borrower is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii) (A) each Agent, Arranger and Lender is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Borrower or any of its Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) none of the Agents, the Arrangers nor any Lender has any obligation to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the Agents, the Arrangers, the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower and its Affiliates, and none of the Agents, the Arrangers nor any Lender has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Borrower hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Agents, the Arrangers or any Lender with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

SECTION 10.24 Release of Collateral and Guarantee Obligations; Subordination of Liens .

(a) The Lenders and the Issuing Banks hereby irrevocably agree that the Liens granted to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent by the Loan Parties on any Collateral shall be automatically released (i) in full, as set forth in clause (b) below, (ii) upon the sale or other transfer of such Collateral (including as part of or in connection with any other sale or other transfer permitted hereunder (including any Receivables Financing Transaction)) to any Person other than another Loan Party, to the extent such sale, transfer or other disposition is made in compliance with the terms of this Agreement (and the Collateral Agent may rely conclusively on a

 

206


certificate to that effect provided to it by any Loan Party upon its reasonable request without further inquiry), (iii) to the extent such Collateral is comprised of property leased to a Loan Party by a Person that is not a Loan Party, upon termination or expiration of such lease, (iv) if the release of such Lien is approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other percentage of the Lenders whose consent may be required in accordance with Section 10.01), (v) to the extent the property constituting such Collateral is owned by any Guarantor (other than the Borrower), upon the release of such Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty (in accordance with the second succeeding sentence), (vi) as required by the Collateral Agent to effect any sale, transfer or other disposition of Collateral in connection with any exercise of remedies of the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Collateral Documents and (vii) to the extent such Collateral otherwise becomes Excluded Assets. Any such release shall not in any manner discharge, affect, or impair the Obligations or any Liens (other than those being released) upon (or obligations (other than those being released) of the Loan Parties in respect of) all interests retained by the Loan Parties, including the proceeds of any sale, all of which shall continue to constitute part of the Collateral except to the extent otherwise released in accordance with the provisions of the Loan Documents. Additionally, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks hereby irrevocably agree that the Guarantors shall be released from the Guaranties upon consummation of any transaction permitted hereunder resulting in such Subsidiary ceasing to constitute a Restricted Subsidiary, or otherwise becoming an Excluded Subsidiary. The Lenders and the Issuing Banks hereby authorize the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, as applicable, to execute and deliver any instruments, documents, consents, acknowledgements, and agreements necessary or desirable to evidence or confirm the release of any Guarantor or Collateral pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, all without the further consent or joinder of any Lender or Issuing Bank. Any representation, warranty or covenant contained in any Loan Document relating to any such released Collateral or Guarantor shall no longer be deemed to be repeated.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or any other Loan Document, when the Termination Conditions are satisfied, upon request of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall (without notice to, or vote or consent of, any Secured Party) take such actions as shall be required to release its security interest in all Collateral, and to release all obligations under any Loan Document, whether or not on the date of such release there may be any (i) Hedging Obligations in respect of any Secured Hedge Agreements, (ii) Cash Management Obligations in respect of any Secured Cash Management Agreements, (iii) contingent obligations not then due and (iv) Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations related to any Letter of Credit that has been Cash Collateralized, backstopped by a letter of credit reasonably satisfactory to the applicable Issuing Bank or deemed reissued under another agreement reasonably acceptable to the applicable Issuing Bank. Any such release of Obligations shall be deemed subject to the provision that such Obligations shall be reinstated if after such release any portion of any payment in respect of the Obligations guaranteed thereby shall be rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of the Borrower or any Guarantor, or upon or as a result of the appointment of a receiver, intervenor or conservator of, or trustee or similar officer for, the Borrower or any Guarantor or any substantial part of its property, or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, upon request of the Borrower in connection with any Liens permitted by the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall (without notice to, or vote or consent of, any Secured Party) take such actions as shall be required to subordinate the Lien on any Collateral to any Lien expressly permitted under Section 7.01 to be senior to the Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent.

SECTION 10.25 Entire Agreement . This Agreement, together with all of the other Loan Documents, the applicable provisions of the Commitment Letter and the Fee Letter referred to herein, and all certificates and documents delivered hereunder or thereunder, embodies the entire agreement of the parties and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof. In the event of any conflict between the terms of this Agreement and any other Loan Document, the Commitment Letter or the Fee Letter, the terms of this Agreement shall govern.

SECTION 10.26 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 the parties hereto, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any 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:

 

207


(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 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 entity, 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.

[THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]

 

208


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

 

SUPERIOR INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL, INC., as the Borrower
By:  

            /s/ Kerry A. Shiba

  Name:  

Kerry A. Shiba

  Title:   Executive Vice President,
    Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

 

209


CITIBANK , N.A. , as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, Issuing Bank, Revolving Lender and Term Lender

By:

 

            /s/ Akshay Kulkarni

 

Name:

Title:

 

Akshay Kulkarni

Vice President

 

210


JPMORGAN CHASE BANK , N.A. , as Issuing Bank and Revolving Lender
By:  

            /s/ Jeff Bailard

  Name:   Jeff Bailard
  Title:   Managing Director

 

211


DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH , as Issuing Bank and Revolving Lender
By:  

            /s/ Dusan Lazarov

  Name:  

Dusan Lazarov

  Title:   Director
By:  

            /s/ Peter Cucchiara

  Name:  

Peter Cucchiara

  Title:   Vice President

 

212


ROYAL BANK OF CANADA , as Issuing Bank and Revolving Lender

By:

 

            /s/ Edward D. Herko

 

Name:

 

Edward D. Herko

 

Title:

 

Authorized Signatory

 

213

Exhibit 10.4

E XECUTION V ERSION

 

 

 

€240,000,000

BRIDGE CREDIT AGREEMENT

Dated as of March 22, 2017

among

SUPERIOR INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.,

as the Borrower,

CITIBANK, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent,

and

THE OTHER LENDERS PARTY HERETO

 

 

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.,

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

RBC CAPITAL MARKETS 1 and

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES, INC.,

as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Lead Bookrunners

 

 

 

 

 

 

1   RBC Capital Markets is the brand name for the capital markets activities of Royal Bank of Canada and its affiliates.


Table of Contents

 

         Page
Article I
Definitions and Accounting Terms
SECTION 1.01       Defined Terms    1
SECTION 1.02   Other Interpretive Provisions    57
SECTION 1.03   Accounting Terms    58
SECTION 1.04   Rounding    59
SECTION 1.05   References to Agreements, Laws, etc.    59
SECTION 1.06   Times of Day and Timing of Payment and Performance    59
SECTION 1.07   Pro Forma and Other Calculations    59
SECTION 1.08   Restricted Payment Transaction    62
SECTION 1.09   Guaranties of Hedging Obligations    62
SECTION 1.10   Currency Generally    62
Article II
The Commitments and Borrowings
SECTION 2.01   The Loans    62
SECTION 2.02   Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans    62
SECTION 2.03   Prepayments    64
SECTION 2.04   Termination or Reduction of Commitments    67
SECTION 2.05   Repayment of Loans    67
SECTION 2.06   Change of Control Prepayment Offer    67
SECTION 2.07   Interest    68
SECTION 2.08   Fees    69
SECTION 2.09   Computation of Interest and Fees    69
SECTION 2.10   Evidence of Indebtedness    69
SECTION 2.11   Payments Generally    70
SECTION 2.12   Sharing of Payments    71
SECTION 2.13   Defaulting Lenders; Adjustments    72
SECTION 2.14   Conversion Fee    72
SECTION 2.15   Senior Exchange Notes    72
SECTION 2.16   Securities Demand Failure    74
Article III
Taxes, Increased Costs Protection and Illegality
SECTION 3.01   Taxes    74
SECTION 3.02   Illegality    77
SECTION 3.03   Inability to Determine Rates    77
SECTION 3.04   Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy; Reserves on LIBO Rate Loans    78
SECTION 3.05   Funding Losses    79
SECTION 3.06   Matters Applicable to All Requests for Compensation    79
SECTION 3.07   Replacement of Lenders under Certain Circumstances    79
SECTION 3.08   Survival    81

 

i


         Page
Article IV
Conditions Precedent
SECTION 4.01       Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness    81
SECTION 4.02   Conditions to Funding    82
Article V
Representations and Warranties
SECTION 5.01   Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws    83
SECTION 5.02   Authorization; No Contravention    83
SECTION 5.03   Governmental Authorization    84
SECTION 5.04   Binding Effect    84
SECTION 5.05   Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect    84
SECTION 5.06   Litigation    84
SECTION 5.07   Labor Matters    85
SECTION 5.08   Ownership of Property; Liens    85
SECTION 5.09   Environmental Matters    85
SECTION 5.10   Taxes    85
SECTION 5.11   ERISA Compliance    85
SECTION 5.12   Subsidiaries    86
SECTION 5.13   Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act    86
SECTION 5.14   Disclosure    86
SECTION 5.15   Intellectual Property; Licenses, etc.    86
SECTION 5.16   Solvency    86
SECTION 5.17   USA PATRIOT Act; Anti-Corruption Compliance; Sanctions    87
Article VI
Affirmative Covenants
SECTION 6.01   Reports and Other Information    87
SECTION 6.02   Certificates; Other Information    89
SECTION 6.03   Notices    91
SECTION 6.04   Payment of Taxes    91
SECTION 6.05   Preservation of Existence, etc.    91
SECTION 6.06   Maintenance of Properties    91
SECTION 6.07   Maintenance of Insurance    91
SECTION 6.08   Compliance with Laws    92
SECTION 6.09   Books and Records    92
SECTION 6.10   Inspection Rights    92
SECTION 6.11   Covenant to Guarantee Obligations    92
SECTION 6.12   Compliance with Environmental Laws    92
SECTION 6.13   Use of Proceeds    93
SECTION 6.14   Tender Documents; Etc.    93
SECTION 6.15   Anti-Corruption Compliance    93
Article VII
Negative Covenants
SECTION 7.01   Liens    93
SECTION 7.02   Indebtedness    94

 

ii


         Page
SECTION 7.03       Fundamental Changes    102
SECTION 7.04   Asset Sales; Prepayment Offer    104
SECTION 7.05   Restricted Payments    107
SECTION 7.06   Transactions with Affiliates    114
SECTION 7.07   Burdensome Agreements    117
SECTION 7.08   Accounting Changes    119
SECTION 7.09   Equity Contribution    119
Article VIII
Events of Default and Remedies
SECTION 8.01   Events of Default    120
SECTION 8.02   Remedies upon Event of Default    121
SECTION 8.03   Application of Funds    121
Article IX
Administrative Agent and Other Agents
SECTION 9.01   Appointment and Authorization of the Administrative Agent    122
SECTION 9.02   Rights as a Lender    122
SECTION 9.03   Exculpatory Provisions    122
SECTION 9.04   Lack of Reliance on the Administrative Agent    123
SECTION 9.05   Certain Rights of the Administrative Agent    124
SECTION 9.06   Reliance by the Administrative Agent    124
SECTION 9.07   Delegation of Duties    124
SECTION 9.08   Indemnification    124
SECTION 9.09   The Administrative Agent in Its Individual Capacity    125
SECTION 9.10   Resignation by the Administrative Agent    125
SECTION 9.11   Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim    126
SECTION 9.12   Appointment of Supplemental Administrative Agents    127
SECTION 9.13   Withholding Tax    127
Article X
Miscellaneous
SECTION 10.01   Amendments, etc.    127
SECTION 10.02   Notices and Other Communications; Facsimile Copies    129
SECTION 10.03   No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies    131
SECTION 10.04   Costs and Expenses    131
SECTION 10.05   Indemnification by the Borrower    132
SECTION 10.06   Marshaling; Payments Set Aside    132
SECTION 10.07   Successors and Assigns    133
SECTION 10.08   Confidentiality    139
SECTION 10.09   Setoff    140
SECTION 10.10   Interest Rate Limitation    140
SECTION 10.11   Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness    141
SECTION 10.12   Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents    141
SECTION 10.13   Survival of Representations and Warranties    141
SECTION 10.14   Severability    141
SECTION 10.15   GOVERNING LAW    141
SECTION 10.16   WAIVER OF RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY    142
SECTION 10.17       Binding Effect    142

 

iii


         Page
SECTION 10.18       Use of Name, Logo, etc.    142
SECTION 10.19   USA PATRIOT Act    142
SECTION 10.20   Service of Process    143
SECTION 10.21   No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility    143
SECTION 10.22   Release of Guarantee Obligations    143
SECTION 10.23   Entire Agreement    143
SECTION 10.24   Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions    143

 

iv


SCHEDULES

 

1.01(1)    Closing Date Guarantors
2.01    Closing Date Bridge Loan Commitments
2.16    Call Protection Provisions
5.12    Subsidiaries and Other Equity Investments
7.01    Existing Liens
7.02    Existing Indebtedness
7.05    Existing Investments
10.02    Administrative Agent’s Office, Certain Addresses for Notices

EXHIBITS

 

   Form of
A    Loan Notice
B    Note
C    Compliance Certificate
D-1    Assignment and Assumption
D-2    Affiliated Lender Assignment and Assumption
E    Guaranty
F    [Reserved]
G    [Reserved]
H    United States Tax Compliance Certificates
I    Solvency Certificate
J    [Reserved]
K    Form of Exchange Notice

 

 

v


BRIDGE CREDIT AGREEMENT

This BRIDGE CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is entered into as of March 22, 2017 by and among SUPERIOR INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL, INC. a Delaware corporation (the “ Borrower ”), CITIBANK, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, including any successor thereto, the “ Administrative Agent ”) under the Loan Documents and each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “ Lenders ” and individually, a “ Lender ”).

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS

The Borrower intends to acquire (the “ Closing Date Acquisition ”), directly or indirectly, Uniwheels AG, a stock corporation under German law (the “ Target ”), by way of a tender offer for not less than 75% of the shares of the Target (the “ Offer ”) with support of the Significant Holder.

In connection therewith, the Borrower intends to enter into the Credit Agreement, in which (a) substantially simultaneously with the consummation of the Offer, the lenders thereunder shall extend credit to the Borrower in the form of $400.0 million of term loans and $150.0 million of revolving commitments on the Closing Date as secured credit facilities and (b) from time to time on and after the Closing Date, the lenders thereunder shall lend to the Borrower and certain issuing banks shall issue certain letters of credit pursuant to the Credit Agreement for the account of the Borrower, each to provide working capital for, and for other general corporate purposes of, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, pursuant to the revolving commitments under the Credit Agreement and pursuant to the terms of, and subject to the conditions set forth in, the Credit Agreement.

On the date hereof, the Borrower intends to enter into this Agreement pursuant to which the Lenders have agreed to make the Bridge Loans to the Borrower on the Closing Date in an aggregate amount of up to €240.0 million.

The proceeds of such term loans and revolving commitments, together with the proceeds of the Bridge Loans, the Equity Contribution and cash on hand, will be used on the Closing Date, (i) to fund the Closing Date Refinancing and (ii) to pay (A) the Transaction Consideration, (B) the Transaction Expenses and (C) amounts required for working capital.

The Lenders have indicated their willingness to lend, 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 (including the introductory paragraph hereof and the preliminary statements hereto), the following terms have the meanings set forth below:

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

(1) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated 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, amalgamating or consolidating with or into, or becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of, such specified Person, and

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


AcquisitionCo ” means Blitz F17-641 AG, having its registered office in Frankfurt am Main registered with the commercial register of the local court in Frankfurt am Main under docket number HRB 107708.

Administrative Agent ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

Administrative Agent’s Office ” means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, 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 a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.

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

Affiliate Transaction ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.06.

Affiliated Lender ” means, at any time, any Lender that is an Investor or an Affiliate of an Investor (other than (a) the Borrower or any Subsidiary, (b) any Debt Fund Affiliate or (c) any natural person) at such time.

Affiliated Lender Assignment and Assumption ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(h)(vi).

Affiliated Lender Cap ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(h)(iv).

Agent ” means any transfer agent, paying agent or administrative agent, including the Administrative Agent.

Agent Parties ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.02(4).

Agent-Related Distress Event ” means, with respect to the Administrative Agent or any other Person that directly or indirectly controls the Administrative Agent (each, a “ Distressed Person ”), (a) that such Distressed Person is or becomes subject to a voluntary or involuntary case under any Debtor Relief Law, (b) a custodian, conservator, receiver, or similar official is appointed for such Distressed Person or any substantial part of such Distressed Person’s assets, or (c) such Distressed Person is subject to a forced liquidation, 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 an Agent-Related Distress Event shall not be deemed to have occurred solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any Equity Interests in the Administrative Agent or any Person that directly or indirectly controls the Administrative Agent by a Governmental Authority or an instrumentality thereof so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide the Administrative Agent with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit the Administrative Agent (or such Governmental Authority or instrumentality) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with the Administrative Agent.

Agent-Related Persons ” means the Agents, together with their respective Affiliates, and the officers, directors, employees, agents, attorney-in-fact, partners, trustees and advisors of such Persons and of such Persons’ Affiliates.

 

2


Agents ” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent and the Supplemental Administrative Agents (if any).

Aggregate Commitments ” means the Commitments of all the Lenders.

Agreement ” means this Bridge Credit Agreement, as amended, restated, amended and restated, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.

Agreement for Standby Letter of Credit ” means the Application for Standby Letter of Credit, dated as of the Effective Date, among the Tender Issuing Bank and the Borrower as Applicant.

AHYDO Payment ” means any mandatory prepayment or redemption pursuant to the terms of any Indebtedness that is intended or designed to cause such Indebtedness not to be treated as an “applicable high yield discount obligation” within the meaning of Section 163(i) of the Code.

All-In Yield ” means, as to any Indebtedness, the yield thereof, whether in the form of interest rate, margin, OID, upfront fees or a LIBO Rate floor (with such increased amount being determined in the manner described in the final proviso of this definition), or otherwise, in each case, incurred or payable by the Borrower ratably to all lenders of such Indebtedness; 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 incurrence of the applicable Indebtedness); provided , further , that “All-In Yield” shall not include arrangement fees, structuring fees, commitment fees, underwriting fees, success fees, advisory fees, ticking fees, consent or amendment fees and any similar fees (regardless of how such fees are computed and whether shared or paid, in whole or in part, with or to any or all lenders) and any other fees not generally paid ratably to all lenders of such Indebtedness; provided further that, with respect to any Loans of an applicable Class that includes a LIBO Rate floor, (1) to the extent that the reference rate on the date that the All-In Yield is being calculated is less than such floor, the amount of such difference shall be deemed added to the Applicable Margin for such Loans of such Class for the purpose of calculating the All-In Yield and (2) to the extent that the reference rate on the date that the All-In Yield is being calculated is greater than such floor, then the floor shall be disregarded in calculating the All-In Yield.

Applicable Indebtedness ” has the meaning assigned to it in the definition of “Weighted Average Life to Maturity.”

Applicable Margin ” means a percentage per annum equal to 6.75%; provided that the Applicable Margin for LIBO Rate Loans shall increase by 0.50% at the end of each three-month period after the Closing Date (through, but not including, the Interim Bridge Loan Maturity Date).

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.

Arrangers ” means Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., RBC Capital Markets and Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc., each in its capacity as a joint lead arranger under this Agreement.

Asset Sale ” means:

(1) the sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions of property or assets of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (each referred to in this definition as a “ disposition ”); or

(2) the issuance or sale of Equity Interests (other than Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries issued in compliance with Section 7.02 and directors’ qualifying shares or shares or interests required to be held by foreign nationals or other third parties to the extent required by applicable Law) of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than to the Borrower or another Restricted Subsidiary), whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions;

 

3


in each case, other than:

(a) any disposition of:

(i) Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities,

(ii) obsolete, damaged or worn out property or assets in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice or any disposition of inventory or goods (or other assets) held for sale or no longer used or useful in the ordinary course,

(iii) assets no longer economically practicable or commercially reasonable to maintain (as determined in good faith by the management of the Borrower),

(iv) improvements made to leased real property to landlords pursuant to customary terms of leases entered into in the ordinary course of business and

(v) assets for purposes of charitable contributions or similar gifts to the extent such assets are not material to the ability of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to conduct its business in the ordinary course;

(b) the disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in a manner permitted pursuant to Section 7.03 (other than Section 7.03(a)(2)) or any disposition that is not a Change of Control pursuant to this Agreement;

(c) any disposition in connection with the making of any Restricted Payment that is permitted to be made, and is made, under Section 7.05, any Permitted Investment or any acquisition otherwise permitted under this Agreement;

(d) any disposition of property or assets or issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary with an aggregate fair market value for any individual transaction or series of related transactions of less than $5.0 million;

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

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

(g) (i) the lease, assignment or sublease, license or sublicense of any real or personal property in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice and (ii) the exercise of termination rights with respect to any lease, sublease, license or sublicense or other agreement;

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

(i) foreclosures, condemnation, expropriation, eminent domain or any similar action (including for the avoidance of doubt, any Casualty Event) with respect to assets or the granting of Liens not prohibited by this Agreement;

(j) sales of accounts receivable, or participations therein, or Securitization Assets or related assets in connection with any Qualified Securitization Facility, sales of receivables in connection with Receivables Financing Transactions or the disposition of an account receivable in connection with the collection or compromise thereof in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice or in bankruptcy or similar proceedings;

 

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(k) any financing transaction with respect to property built or acquired by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary after the Closing Date, including asset securitizations permitted hereunder;

(l) the sale, lease, assignment, license, sublease or discount of inventory, equipment, accounts receivable, notes receivable or other current assets in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice or the conversion of accounts receivable to notes receivable or other dispositions of accounts receivable in connection with the collection thereof in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(m) the licensing or sublicensing of intellectual property or other general intangibles in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(n) 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 or consistent with industry practice;

(o) the unwinding of any Hedging Obligations;

(p) 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;

(q) the lapse, abandonment or other disposition of intellectual property rights in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice, which in the reasonable good faith determination of the Borrower, are not material to the conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole;

(r) the granting of a Lien that is permitted under Section 7.01;

(s) the issuance of directors’ qualifying shares and shares of Capital Stock of Foreign Subsidiaries issued to foreign nationals as required by applicable Law;

(t) the disposition of any assets (including Equity Interests) (i) acquired in a transaction permitted hereunder, which assets are not used or useful in the principal business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries or (ii) made in connection with the approval of any applicable antitrust authority or otherwise necessary or advisable in the good faith determination of the Borrower to consummate any acquisition permitted hereunder;

(u) dispositions of property to the extent that such property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property;

(v) dispositions of property in connection with any Sale-Leaseback Transaction; and

(w) the sales of property or assets for an aggregate fair market value since the date of this Agreement not to exceed $50.0 million.

ASU ” has the meaning assigned to it in the definition of Capitalized Lease Obligation.

Assignee Group ” means two or more Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates of one another or two or more Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor.

Assignment and Assumption ” means an Assignment and Assumption substantially in the form of Exhibit D-1 or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

Attorney Costs ” means all reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of any law firm or other external legal counsel, to the extent documented in reasonable detail and invoiced.

 

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Attributable Indebtedness ” means, on any date, in respect of any Capitalized Lease Obligation of any Person, the amount thereof that would appear as a liability on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP.

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.

Bankruptcy Code ” has the meaning specified in Section 8.02.

Basket ” means any amount, threshold or other value permitted or prescribed with respect to any Lien, Indebtedness, Asset Sale, Investment, Restricted Payment, transaction value, judgment or other amount under any provision in Articles V, VI, VII or VIII and the definitions related thereto.

Big Boy Letter ” means a letter from a Lender acknowledging that (1) an assignee may have information regarding the Borrower and any Subsidiary of the Borrower, their ability to perform the Obligations or any other material information that has not previously been disclosed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders (“ Excluded Information ”), (2) the Excluded Information may not be available to such Lender, (3) such Lender has independently and without reliance on any other party made its own analysis and determined to assign Loans to such assignee pursuant to Section 10.07(h) or (l) notwithstanding its lack of knowledge of the Excluded Information and (4) such Lender waives and releases any claims it may have against the Administrative Agent, such assignee, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries of the Borrower with respect to the nondisclosure of the Excluded Information; or otherwise in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such assignee, the Administrative Agent and assigning Lender.

Board of Directors ” means, for any Person, the board of directors or other governing body of such Person or, if such Person does not have such a board of directors or other governing body and is owned or managed by a single entity, the Board of Directors of such entity, or, in either case, any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such Board of Directors. Unless otherwise provided, “Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Borrower.

Borrower ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement. Upon the consummation of any transaction permitted by Section 7.03(a), “Borrower” shall mean the “Successor Borrower.”

Borrower Annual Financial Statements ” means the audited consolidated balance sheets and related audited consolidated statements of operations, members’ equity (deficit) and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2015.

Borrower Materials ” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

Borrower Parties ” means the collective reference to the Borrower and each Subsidiary of the Borrower and “ Borrower Party ” means any of them.

Borrower Quarterly Financial Statements ” means the unaudited consolidated balance sheets and related unaudited consolidated statements of income, cash flows and members’ equity (deficit) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2016, June 30, 2016, September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2016.

Borrowing ” means a borrowing consisting of Loans made or continued on the same date and having the same Interest Period.

 

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Broker-Dealer Regulated Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is registered as a broker-dealer under the Exchange Act or any other applicable Laws requiring such registration.

Business Day ” means any day that is not a Legal Holiday and with respect to any interest rate settings as to a LIBO Rate Loan denominated in Euros, any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments of any such LIBO Rate Loan in Euros, or any other dealings in Euros to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such LIBO Rate Loan, shall mean a TARGET Day.

Canadian Dollars ” means the lawful currency of Canada.

Capital Markets Indebtedness ” means any Indebtedness consisting of bonds, debentures, notes or other similar debt securities issued in (a)a public offering registered under the Securities Act, (b) a private placement to institutional investors that is resold in accordance with Rule 144A or Regulation S under the Securities Act, whether or not it includes registration rights entitling the holders of such debt securities to registration thereof with the SEC or (c) a private placement to institutional investors. For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Capital Markets Indebtedness” does not include any Indebtedness under commercial bank facilities, Indebtedness incurred in connection with a Sale-Leaseback Transaction, Indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower, Capitalized Lease Obligations or recourse transfer of any financial asset or any other type of Indebtedness incurred in a manner not customarily viewed as a “securities offering.”

Capital Stock ” means:

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

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

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

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

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 all obligations of any Person that are or would have been treated as operating leases for purposes of GAAP prior to the issuance by the Financial Accounting Standards Board on February 25, 2016 of an Accounting Standards Update (the “ ASU ”) shall continue to be accounted for as operating leases for purposes of all financial definitions and calculations for purpose of this Agreement (whether or not such operating lease obligations were in effect on such date) notwithstanding the fact that such obligations are required in accordance with the ASU (on a prospective or retroactive basis or otherwise) to be treated as Capitalized Lease Obligations in the financial statements to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01.

Captive Insurance Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is subject to regulation as an insurance company (or any Subsidiary thereof).

Cash Equivalents ” means:

(1) Dollars;

(2) (a) Euros, Yen, Canadian Dollars, Sterling, Polish Zloty, Mexican Pesos or any national currency of any Participating Member State;

 

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(b) in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary or any jurisdiction in which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary conducts business, such local currencies held by it from time to time in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(3) readily marketable direct obligations 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 36 months or less from the date of acquisition;

(4) certificates of deposit, time deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of three years or less from the date of acquisition, demand deposits, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding three years and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any domestic or foreign commercial bank having capital and surplus of not less than $500.0 million in the case of U.S. banks and $100.0 million (or the U.S. Dollar equivalent as of the date of determination) in the case of non-U.S. banks;

(5) repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (3) and (4) above or clauses (7) and (8) below 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 is rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency selected by the Borrower) and in each case maturing within 36 months after the date of acquisition thereof;

(7) marketable short-term money market and similar liquid 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 is rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency selected by the Borrower);

(8) securities issued or directly and fully and unconditionally guaranteed by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority of any such state, commonwealth or territory or any public instrumentality thereof having maturities of not more than 36 months from the date of acquisition thereof;

(9) readily marketable direct obligations issued or directly and fully and unconditionally guaranteed 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 is rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency selected by the Borrower) with maturities of 36 months or less from the date of acquisition;

(10) Indebtedness or Preferred Stock issued by Persons with a rating of “A” or higher from S&P or “A2” or higher from Moody’s (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P is rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency selected by the Borrower) with maturities of 36 months or less from the date of acquisition;

(11) Investments with average maturities of 36 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 is rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency selected by the Borrower);

(12) investment funds investing substantially all of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (1) through (11) above; and

(13) solely with respect to any Captive Insurance Subsidiary, any investment that the Captive Insurance Subsidiary is not prohibited to make in accordance with applicable Law.

 

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In the case of Investments by any Foreign Subsidiary or Investments made in a country outside the United States of America, Cash Equivalents will also include (i) investments of the type and maturity described in clauses (1) through (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 (ii) other short-term investments utilized by Foreign 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 will include amounts denominated in currencies other than those set forth in clauses (1) and (2) above, provided that such amounts, except amounts used to pay non-Dollar denominated obligations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business, are converted into any currency listed in clause (1) or (2) above as promptly as practicable and in any event within ten (10) Business Days following the receipt of such amounts.

Cash Management Agreement ” means any agreement entered into from time to time by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with cash management services for collections, other Cash Management Services and for operating, payroll and trust accounts of such Person, including automatic clearing house services, controlled disbursement services, electronic funds transfer services, information reporting services, lockbox services, stop payment services and wire transfer services.

Cash Management Services ” means (a) commercial credit cards, merchant card services, purchase or debit cards, including non-card e-payables services, (b) treasury management services (including controlled disbursement, overdraft, automatic clearing house fund transfer services, return items and interstate depository network services), (c) foreign exchange, netting and currency management services and (d) any other demand deposit or operating account relationships or other cash management services, including under any Cash Management Agreements.

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.

CFC ” means a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of Section 957(a) of the Code.

CFC Holdco ” means a Domestic Subsidiary that is treated as a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes substantially all of whose assets consists (directly or indirectly through disregarded entities) of the Capital Stock or indebtedness of one or more Subsidiaries that are CFCs.

Change in Law ” means the occurrence, after the Effective Date, of any of the following: (a) the adoption of any law, rule, regulation or treaty (excluding the taking effect after the Effective Date of a law, rule, regulation or treaty adopted prior to the Effective Date), (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority. It is understood and agreed that (i) the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Public Law 111-203, H.R. 4173), all Laws relating thereto and all interpretations and applications thereof and (ii) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall, for the purpose of this Agreement, be deemed to be adopted subsequent to the Effective Date.

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

(1) the sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition in one or a series of related transactions (other than by merger, consolidation, amalgamation or business combination) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person other than one or more Permitted Holders; or

 

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(2) (a) any Person (other than a Permitted Holder) or (b) Persons (other than one or more Permitted Holders) constituting a “group” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), becoming the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13(d)-3 and 13(d)-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of Equity Interests of the Borrower representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Borrower (it being understood and agreed that for purposes of measuring beneficial ownership held by any Person that is not a Permitted Holder, Equity Interests held by any Permitted Holder will be excluded), unless the Permitted Holders have, at such time, directly or indirectly, the right or the ability by voting power, contract or otherwise to elect or designate for election at least a majority of the board of directors of the Borrower.

Closing Date ” means the first date on which all the conditions precedent in Section 4.02 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 10.01 and the Interim Bridge Loans are made to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01.

Closing Date Acquisition ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement; for the avoidance of doubt, the Closing Date Acquisition shall include (i) the acquisition of any minority Equity Interests in the Target following the Closing Date, whether by way of a “squeeze out” process or otherwise and (ii) the execution and delivery of the Domination Agreement.

Closing Date Bridge Loan Commitment ” means, as to each Lender, its obligation to make an Interim Bridge Loan to the Borrower in an aggregate amount not to exceed the amount specified opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01 under the caption “Closing Date Bridge Loan Commitment” or in the Assignment and Assumption (or Affiliated Lender 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 pursuant to Section 2.14, 2.15 or 2.16). The initial aggregate amount of the Closing Date Bridge Loan Commitments is €240.0 million.

Closing Date Refinancing ” means the repayment of (i) all outstanding Indebtedness under the Existing Credit Agreement (it being understood that letters of credit may remain outstanding to the extent collateralized or backstopped on the Closing Date) and (ii) certain outstanding Indebtedness of the Target to be mutually agreed by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent being repaid in connection with the Tender Effectiveness and, in each case, the termination of all commitments, guarantees and security interests in respect of such Indebtedness.

Closing Date Total Net Leverage Ratio ” means 2.95 to 1.00.

Code ” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Commitment ” means the Closing Date Bridge Loan Commitments.

Commitment Letter ” means the Commitment Letter, dated as of March 22, 2017, among the Arrangers and the Borrower.

Commodity Exchange Act ” means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. §1 et. seq.), as amended from time to time and any successor statute.

Compensation Period ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.11(3)(b).

Compliance Certificate ” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C and which certificate shall in any event be a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower:

(1) certifying as to whether a Default has occurred and is continuing and, if applicable, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto (in each case, other than any Default with respect to which the Administrative Agent has otherwise obtained notice in accordance with Section 6.03(1)), and

 

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(2) in the case of financial statements delivered under Section 6.01(1), setting forth reasonably detailed calculations of (i) the Net Proceeds received during the applicable period (after the Closing Date in the case of the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017) by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of any Asset Sale or Casualty Event subject to prepayment pursuant to Section 2.03(2)(a)(i) and the portion of such Net Proceeds that has been invested or is intended to be reinvested in accordance with Section 2.03(2)(a)(ii).

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

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

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

(i) total interest expense and, to the extent not reflected in such total interest expense, any losses on Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments entered into for the purpose of hedging interest rate risk, net of interest income and gains on such Hedging Obligations or such derivative instruments, and bank and letter of credit fees, letter of guarantee and bankers’ acceptance fees and costs of surety bonds in connection with financing activities, together with items excluded from the definition of “Consolidated Interest Expense” pursuant to the definition thereof; plus

(ii) provision for taxes based on income, profits, revenue or capital, including federal, foreign and state income, franchise, excise, value added and similar taxes, property taxes and similar taxes, and foreign withholding taxes paid or accrued during such period (including any future taxes or other levies that replace or are intended to be in lieu of taxes, and any penalties and interest related to taxes or arising from tax examinations) and the net tax expense associated with any adjustments made pursuant to the definition of “Consolidated Net Income”; plus

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

(iv) 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 determine not to add back such non-cash charge in the current period and (B) to the extent the Borrower does decide to add back such non-cash charge, the cash payment in respect thereof, with the exception of any cash payments related to the settlement of deferred compensation balances awarded prior to the Closing Date, 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

(v) minority interest expense, the amount of any non-controlling interest consisting of income attributable to non-controlling interests of third parties in any non-wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary, excluding cash distributions in respect thereof, and the amount of any reductions in arriving at Consolidated Net Income resulting from the application of Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 810, Consolidation; plus

(vi) (a) the amount of board director fees and (b) the amount of payments made to optionholders of such Person, in connection with, or as a result of, any distribution being made to equityholders of such Person, which payments are being made to compensate such optionholders as though they were equityholders at the time of, and entitled to share in, such distribution, in each case to the extent permitted hereunder; plus

 

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(vii) 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

(viii) cash receipts (or any netting arrangements resulting in reduced cash expenditures) not representing Consolidated EBITDA or Consolidated Net Income in any prior 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

(ix) any costs or expenses incurred pursuant to any management equity plan, stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan, agreement or any stock subscription or shareholder agreement, to the extent that such costs or expenses are funded with cash proceeds contributed to the capital of such Person or net cash proceeds of an issuance of Equity Interests of such Person (other than Disqualified Stock); plus

(x) any net pension or other post-employment benefit costs representing amortization of unrecognized prior service costs, actuarial losses, including amortization of such amounts arising in prior periods, amortization of the unrecognized net obligation (and loss or cost) existing at the date of initial application of FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 715—Compensation—Retirement Benefits , and any other items of a similar nature; plus

(xi) [reserved]; plus

(xii) (a) the amount of “run rate” cost savings, synergies and operating expense reductions related to restructurings, cost savings initiatives or other initiatives that are projected by the Borrower in good faith to result from actions either taken or with respect to which substantial steps have been taken or are expected to be taken (in the good faith determination of the Borrower) within 24 months after the end of such period (or, with respect to cost savings, synergies and operating expense reductions related to the Transactions, within 36 months after the Closing Date, or, to the extent identified in the Quality of Earnings Analysis of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP dated February 25, 2017 or otherwise identified to the Arrangers, undertaken or implemented prior to the Closing Date) (which cost savings, synergies or operating expense reductions shall be calculated on a pro forma basis as though such cost savings, synergies or operating expense reductions had been realized on the first day of such period), net of the amount of actual benefits realized from such actions during such period (it is understood and agreed that “run rate” means the full recurring benefit that is associated with any action taken or with respect to which substantial steps have been taken or are expected to be taken, whether prior to or following the Closing Date) (which adjustments may be incremental to (but not duplicative of) pro forma cost savings, synergies or operating expense reduction adjustments made pursuant to Section 1.07); provided that such cost savings, synergies and operating expenses are reasonably identifiable and factually supportable; and (b) add-backs of the type identified in the Quality of Earnings Analysis of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP dated February 25, 2017; plus

(xiii) any payments in the nature of compensation or expense reimbursement made to independent board members; plus

(xiv) internal software development costs that are expensed during the period but could have been capitalized in accordance with GAAP; plus

(xv) any loss from discontinued operations (but if such operations are classified as discontinued due to the fact that they are subject to an agreement to dispose of such operations, only when and to the extent such operations are actually disposed of); and

 

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(2) 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 for such period (excluding any non-cash gain to the extent it represents the reversal of an accrual or reserve for a potential cash item that reduced Consolidated Net Income or Consolidated EBITDA in any prior period other than any such accrual or reserve that has been added back to Consolidated Net Income in calculating Consolidated EBITDA in accordance with this definition);

(ii) the amount of any non-controlling interest consisting of loss attributable to non-controlling interests of third parties in any non-wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary added to (and not deducted from) Consolidated Net Income in such period; and

(iii) any net income from discontinued operations (but if such operations are classified as discontinued due to the fact that they are subject to an agreement to dispose of such operations, only when and to the extent such operations are actually disposed of).

For the avoidance of doubt, Consolidated EBITDA shall be calculated, including pro forma adjustments, in accordance with Section 1.07.

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

(1) cash interest expense (including that attributable to Capitalized Lease Obligations), net of cash interest income, with respect to Indebtedness of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, other than Non-Recourse Indebtedness, including commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and net cash costs under hedging agreements (other than in connection with the early termination thereof); plus

(2) non-cash interest expense resulting solely from (a) the amortization of original issue discount from the issuance of Indebtedness of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries at less than par (excluding the Bridge Loans and any Indebtedness borrowed under the Senior Credit Facilities in connection with the Transactions and any Non-Recourse Indebtedness), plus (b) pay-in-kind interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries payable pursuant to the terms of the agreements governing Indebtedness for borrowed money;

excluding, in each case:

(i) amortization of deferred financing costs, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses and any other amounts of non-cash interest other than referred to in clauses (2)(a) and (2)(b) above (including as a result of the effects of acquisition method accounting or pushdown accounting),

(ii) interest expense attributable to the movement of the mark-to-market valuation of obligations under Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments, including pursuant to FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging ,

(iii) costs associated with incurring or terminating Hedging Obligations and cash costs associated with breakage in respect of hedging agreements for interest rates,

(iv) commissions, discounts, yield, make-whole premium and other fees and charges (including any interest expense) incurred in connection with any Non-Recourse Indebtedness,

(v) “additional interest” owing pursuant to a registration rights agreement with respect to any securities,

 

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(vi) any payments with respect to make-whole premiums or other breakage costs of any Indebtedness, including any Indebtedness issued in connection with the Transactions,

(vii) penalties and interest relating to taxes,

(viii) accretion or accrual of discounted liabilities not constituting Indebtedness,

(ix) [reserved],

(x) any expense resulting from the discounting of Indebtedness in connection with the application of recapitalization or purchase accounting,

(xi) any interest expense attributable to the exercise of appraisal rights and the settlement of any claims or actions (whether actual, contingent or potential) with respect thereto in connection with the Transactions, any acquisition or Investment and

(xii) annual agency fees paid to any administrative agents and collateral agents with respect to any secured or unsecured loans, debt facilities, debentures, bonds, commercial paper facilities or other forms of Indebtedness (including any security or collateral trust arrangements related thereto) under any Credit Facilities, including the Senior Credit Facilities and the Bridge Loans.

For purposes of this definition, interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation will 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 net income (loss) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, excluding (and excluding the effect of), without duplication,

(1) extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual gains, losses, fees, costs, charges or expenses (including relating to any strategic initiatives and accruals and reserves in connection with such gains, losses, charges or expenses); restructuring costs, charges, accruals or reserves (including restructuring and integration costs related to acquisitions and adjustments to existing reserves, and in each case, whether or not classified as such under GAAP); costs and expenses related to any reconstruction, decommissioning, recommissioning or reconfiguration of facilities and fixed assets for alternative uses; Public Company Costs; costs and expenses related to the integration, consolidation, opening, pre-opening and closing of facilities and fixed assets; severance and relocation costs and expenses, one-time compensation costs and expenses, consulting fees, signing, retention or completion bonuses, and executive recruiting costs; costs and expenses incurred in connection with strategic initiatives; transition costs and duplicative running costs; costs and expenses incurred in connection with non-ordinary course product and intellectual property development; costs incurred in connection with acquisitions (or purchases of assets) prior to or after the Closing Date (including integration costs); business optimization expenses (including costs and expenses relating to business optimization programs, new systems design, retention charges, system establishment costs and implementation costs and project start-up costs), accruals and reserves; operating expenses attributable to the implementation of cost-savings initiatives; curtailments and modifications to pension and post-employment employee benefit plans (including any settlement of pension liabilities and charges resulting from changes in estimates, valuations and judgments);

(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 whether effected through a cumulative effect adjustment or a retroactive application, in each case in accordance with GAAP;

(3) Transaction Expenses;

 

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(4) any gain (loss) on asset sales, disposals or abandonments (other than asset sales, disposals or abandonments in the ordinary course of business);

(5) the Net Income for such period of any Person that is an Unrestricted Subsidiary and, solely for the purpose of determining the amount available for Restricted Payments under clause (3)(A) of Section 7.05(a), the Net Income for such period of any Person that is not a Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting; provided that the Consolidated Net Income of a Person will be increased by the amount of dividends or distributions or other payments that are actually paid in cash or Cash Equivalents (or to the extent converted into cash or Cash Equivalents) to such Person or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period);

(6) solely for the purpose of determining the amount available for Restricted Payments under clause (3)(A) of Section 7.05(a), the Net Income for such period of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Guarantor) to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of its Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (which has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by the operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders, unless such restriction with respect to the payment of dividends or similar distributions has been legally waived (or the Borrower reasonably believes such restriction could be waived and is using commercially reasonable efforts to pursue such waiver); provided that Consolidated Net Income of a Person will be increased by the amount of dividends or other distributions or other payments actually paid in cash or Cash Equivalents (or to the extent converted into cash or Cash Equivalents), or the amount that could have been paid in cash or Cash Equivalents without violating any such restriction or requiring any such approval, to such Person or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period, to the extent not already included therein;

(7) effects of adjustments (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries) related to the application of recapitalization accounting or purchase accounting (including in the inventory, property and equipment, software, goodwill, intangible assets, in process research and development, deferred revenue and debt line items);

(8) income (loss) from the early extinguishment or conversion of (a) Indebtedness, (b) Hedging Obligations or (c) other derivative instruments;

(9) any impairment charge or asset write-off or write-down in each case, pursuant to GAAP, and the amortization of intangibles arising pursuant to GAAP;

(10) (a) any equity based or non-cash compensation charge or expense, including any such charge or expense arising from grants of stock appreciation, equity incentive programs or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock or other rights to, and any cash charges associated with the rollover, acceleration or payout of, Equity Interests by management of such Person or of a Restricted Subsidiary, (b) noncash compensation expense resulting from the application of Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation or Accounting Standards Codification Topic 505-50, Equity-Based Payments to Non-Employees , and (c) any income (loss) attributable to deferred compensation plans or trusts;

(11) any fees, expenses or charges incurred during such period, or any amortization thereof for such period, in connection with any acquisition, Investment, Asset Sale, disposition, incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness (including such fees, expenses or charges related to the syndication and incurrence of the Senior Credit Facilities and this Agreement), issuance of Equity Interests (including by any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower), recapitalization, refinancing transaction or amendment or modification of any debt instrument (including any amendment or other modification of securities and the Senior Credit Facilities and this Agreement) and including, in each case, any such transaction whether consummated on, after or prior to the Closing Date and any such transaction undertaken but not completed, and any charges or nonrecurring 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 Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 805, Business Combinations );

 

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(12) accruals and reserves that are established or adjusted in connection with the Transactions, an Investment or an acquisition that are required to be established or adjusted as a result of the Transactions, such Investment or such acquisition, in each case in accordance with GAAP;

(13) any expenses, charges or losses to the extent covered by insurance that are, directly or indirectly, reimbursed or reimbursable by a third party, and any expenses, charges or losses 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;

(14) any non-cash gain (loss) attributable to the mark to market movement in the valuation of Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments pursuant to FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 815— Derivatives and Hedging or mark to market movement of other financial instruments pursuant to FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 825— Financial Instruments ;

(15) any net unrealized gain or loss (after any offset) resulting in such period from currency transaction or translation gains or losses including those related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness (including any net loss or gain resulting from (a) Hedging Obligations for currency exchange risk and (b) resulting from intercompany indebtedness) and any other foreign currency transaction or translation gains and losses, to the extent such gain or losses are non-cash items;

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

(17) any non-cash rent expense;

(18) [reserved];

(19) any non-cash expenses, accruals or reserves related to adjustments to historical tax exposures; and

(20) earn-out and contingent consideration obligations (including to the extent accounted for as bonuses or otherwise) and adjustments thereof and purchase price adjustments.

In addition, to the extent not already included in the Consolidated Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, Consolidated Net Income will include the amount of proceeds received or receivable from business interruption insurance, the amount of any expenses or charges incurred by such Person or its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period that are, directly or indirectly, reimbursed or reimbursable by a third party, and amounts 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 hereunder.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the purpose of Section 7.05(a) (other than clause (3)(D) of Section 7.05(a)), there will be excluded from Consolidated Net Income any income arising from any sale or other disposition of Restricted Investments made by such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, any repurchases and redemptions of Restricted Investments from such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, any repayments of loans and advances which constitute Restricted Investments by such Person or any Restricted Subsidiary, 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 clause (3)(D) of Section 7.05(a).

Consolidated Secured Debt ” means, as of any date of determination, subject to the definition of “Designated Revolving Commitments,” the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, consisting only of Indebtedness for borrowed money, Capitalized Lease Obligations and purchase money

 

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Indebtedness, in each case secured by a lien on the assets of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that Consolidated Secured Debt will not include Non-Recourse Indebtedness, undrawn amounts under revolving credit facilities and Indebtedness in respect of any (1) letter of credit, bank guarantees and performance or similar bonds, except to the extent of obligations in respect of drawn standby letters of credit which have not been reimbursed within three (3) Business Days and (2) Hedging Obligations. The 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 Dollar-equivalent principal amount of such Indebtedness.

Consolidated Total Debt ” means, as of any date of determination, subject to the definition of “Designated Revolving Commitments,” the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, consisting only of Indebtedness for borrowed money, Capitalized Lease Obligations and purchase money Indebtedness; provided, Consolidated Total Debt will not include Non-Recourse Indebtedness, undrawn amounts under revolving credit facilities and Indebtedness in respect of any (1) letter of credit, bank guarantees and performance or similar bonds, except to the extent of obligations in respect of drawn standby letters of credit which have not been reimbursed within three (3) Business Days and (2) Hedging Obligations. The 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 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 monetary obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness (“ primary obligations ”) of any other Person (the “ primary obligor ”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent:

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

(2) to advance or supply funds:

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

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

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

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.

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 Borrower or other companies.

Conversion Fee ” is a fee equal to 2.00% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Interim Bridge Loans held by the Arrangers that are party to the Commitment Letter, in accordance with their applicable pro rata percentage of the commitments described therein, on the Interim Bridge Loan Maturity Date to the extent extendable pursuant to the terms thereof, which Conversion Fee shall be earned and payable in full on the Interim Bridge Loan Maturity Date.

 

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Convertible Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness of the Borrower (which may be guaranteed by the Guarantors) permitted to be incurred hereunder that is either (a) convertible into common equity of the Borrower (and cash in lieu of fractional shares) or cash (in an amount determined by reference to the price of such common equity) or (b) sold as units with call options, warrants or rights to purchase (or substantially equivalent derivative transactions) that are exercisable for common equity of the Borrower or cash (in an amount determined by reference to the price of such common equity).

Credit Agreement ” means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, Citibank, N.A. as collateral agent, certain issuing banks, each named therein, and the other lenders party thereto, as amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

Credit Extension ” has the meaning as such term is defined in the Credit Agreement

Credit Facilities ” means, with respect to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, one or more debt facilities, including the Senior Credit Facilities or other financing arrangements (including commercial paper facilities or indentures) providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, note issuances, letters of credit or other long-term indebtedness, including any notes, mortgages, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and other 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, extend, renew, restate, amend, modify or refinance any part of the loans, notes, other credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such exchange, replacement, refunding, supplemental, extended, renewed, restated, amended, modified 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 7.02) 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.

Debt Fund Affiliate ” means any Affiliate of an Investor that is a bona fide diversified debt fund that is not (a) a natural person or (b) the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower.

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.

Declined Excess Proceeds ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.04(d).

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.

Default Rate ” means an interest rate equal to (a) the LIBO Rate plus (b) the Applicable Margin plus (c) 2.00% per annum; provided that with respect to the outstanding principal amount of any Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Margin) otherwise applicable to such Loan (giving effect to Section 2.02(4)) plus 2.00% per annum, in each case, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

Defaulting Lender ” means any Lender that (a) has refused (which refusal may be given verbally or in writing and has not been retracted) or failed to perform any of its funding obligations hereunder, including in respect of its Loans, within one Business Day of the date required to be funded by it hereunder, (b) has failed to pay over to the Administrative Agent, any Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within one Business Day of the date when due, unless the subject of a good faith dispute, (c) 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 hereunder or generally under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit, (d) has failed, within three (3) Business Days after request by the Administrative Agent, to confirm in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that it will comply with its funding obligations, or (e) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, either (i) admitted in writing that it is insolvent or (ii) become subject to a Lender-Related Distress Event. Any determination by the Administrative Agent as to whether a Lender is a Defaulting Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

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Demand Failure Event ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Fee Letter.

Designated Non-Cash Consideration ” means the fair market value of non-cash consideration received by the Borrower 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, less the amount of cash or 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 Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary 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 Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries) and is so designated as Designated Preferred Stock, pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate, on or promptly after the issuance date thereof, the cash proceeds of which are excluded from the calculation set forth in clause (3) of Section 7.05(a).

Designated Revolving Commitments ” means any commitments to make loans or extend credit on a revolving basis to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary by any Person other than the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that have been designated in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent as “Designated Revolving Commitments” until such time as the Borrower subsequently delivers an Officer’s Certificate to the Administrative Agent to the effect that such commitments will no longer constitute “Designated Revolving Commitments”; provided that, during such time, such Designated Revolving Commitments will be deemed an incurrence of Indebtedness on such date and will be deemed outstanding for purposes of calculating the Interest Coverage Ratio, Total Net Leverage Ratio, Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio and the availability of any Baskets hereunder.

Discharge ” means, with respect to any Indebtedness, the repayment, prepayment, repurchase (including pursuant to an offer to purchase), redemption, defeasance or other discharge of such Indebtedness, in any such case in whole or in part.

disposition ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Asset Sale.”

Disqualified Institution ” means (a) any competitor of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries identified in writing by or on behalf of the Borrower to (i) the Arrangers on or prior to the Effective Date or (ii) the Administrative Agent from time to time after the Effective Date, (b) those particular banks, financial institutions, other institutional lenders and other Persons identified by the Borrower to the Arrangers on or prior to March 22, 2017 (or related funds of any such Persons) and (c) any Affiliate of the entities described in the preceding clauses (a) or (b) that are either (x) reasonably identifiable as such or associated on the basis of their name or (y) are identified as such in writing by or on behalf of the Borrower to (i) the Arrangers on or prior to the Effective Date or (ii) the Administrative Agent from time to time after the Effective Date (other than financial investors in competitors that are not operating companies or Affiliates of operating companies and other than bona fide diversified debt funds); provided that any Person that is a Lender and subsequently becomes a Disqualified Institution (but was not a Disqualified Institution at the time it became a Lender) shall be deemed to not be a Disqualified Institution hereunder. The identity of Disqualified Institutions may be communicated by the Administrative Agent to a Lender upon request, but will not be otherwise posted or distributed to any Person.

Disqualified Stock ” means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person which, by its terms, or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is redeemable or exchangeable, or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than (i) for any Qualified Equity Interests or (ii) solely as a result of a change of control, asset sale, casualty, condemnation or eminent domain) pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than (i) for any Qualified Equity Interests or (ii) solely as a result of a change of control, asset sale, casualty, condemnation or eminent domain), in whole or in part, in each case prior to the date 91 days after the earlier of the Interim Bridge Loan Maturity Date or the date the Loans are no longer outstanding and the Commitments have been terminated;

 

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provided that if such Capital Stock is issued pursuant to any plan for the benefit of future, current or former employees, directors, officers, members of management, consultants or independent contractors (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members or any permitted transferees thereof) of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, directors, officers, members of management, consultants or independent contractors (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members or any permitted transferees thereof), such Capital Stock will not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s, director’s, officer’s, management member’s, consultant’s or independent contractor’s termination, death or disability; provided further any Capital Stock held by any future, current or former employee, director, officer, member of management, consultant or independent contractor (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members or any permitted transferees thereof) of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any other entity in which the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary has an Investment and is designated in good faith as an “affiliate” by the Board of Directors (or the compensation committee thereof), in each case pursuant to any equity subscription or equity holders’ agreement, management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement will not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s, director’s, officer’s, management member’s, consultant’s or independent contractor’s termination, death or disability. For the purposes hereof, the aggregate principal amount of Disqualified Stock will be deemed to be equal to the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference and maximum fixed repurchase price, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, and the “maximum fixed repurchase price” of any Disqualified Stock that does not have a fixed repurchase price will be calculated in accordance with the terms of such Disqualified Stock as if such Disqualified Stock were purchased on any date on which the Consolidated Total Debt or Consolidated Secured Debt, as applicable, will be required to be determined pursuant to this Agreement, and if such price is based upon, or measured by, the fair market value of such Disqualified Stock, such fair market value shall be determined in good faith by the Borrower. For the avoidance of doubt, none of the Equity Interests issued in connection with the Equity Contribution (or any value or payment associated therewith) shall be included in the calculation of any financial ratio or test where Disqualified Stock may otherwise be included therein.

Distressed Person ” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of the term Lender-Related Distress Event.

Dollars ” and “ U.S. Dollar ” and “ $ ” mean lawful money of the United States.

Domestic Subsidiary ” means any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Borrower that is organized under the Laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

Domination Agreement ” means the Domination Profit and Loss Pooling Agreement (Beherrschungs-und Gewinnabführungsvertrag) according to Sec. 291 of the German Stock Corporation Act (AktG) entered into by and between the Target and AcquisitionCo.

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 Date ” means the date on which the conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.01 hereof shall have been satisfied, which date is March 22, 2017.

 

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Eligible Assignee ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(a).

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

EMU Legislation ” shall mean the legislative measures of the EMU for the introduction of, changeover to, or operation of the Euro in one or more member states.

Environment ” means ambient air, indoor air, surface water, groundwater, drinking water, soil, surface and sub-surface strata, and natural resources such as wetlands, flora and fauna.

Environmental Claim ” means any and all administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of noncompliance or violation, investigations (other than internal reports prepared by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries (a) in the ordinary course of such Person’s business or (b) as required in connection with a financing transaction or an acquisition or disposition of real estate) or proceedings with respect to any Environmental Liability or Environmental Law (hereinafter “ Claims ”), including (i) any and all Claims by governmental or regulatory authorities for enforcement, cleanup, removal, response, remedial or other actions or damages pursuant to any Environmental Law and (ii) any and all Claims by any third party seeking damages, contribution, indemnification, cost recovery, compensation or injunctive relief pursuant to any Environmental Law.

Environmental Laws ” means any and all Laws relating to pollution or the protection of the Environment or, to the extent relating to exposure to Hazardous Materials, human health.

Environmental Liability ” means any liability (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities) of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of 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 Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Materials or (e) any contract or other written agreement 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 Commitment Letter ” means the Equity Commitment Letter, dated as of March 22, 2017, among the Investor and the Borrower.

Equity Contribution ” means, collectively, the direct or indirect contribution to the Borrower by the Investors of an aggregate amount of not less than $150 million in the form of either preferred equity and/or, solely in the event that the Borrower has not received the requisite approvals by the Mexican Competition Bureau and pursuant to the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (as amended), in each case prior to the Closing Date, subordinated convertible payment-in-kind notes issued by the Borrower to the Investor (such debt, the “ Sponsor Subordinated Debt ”), in each case on the terms and conditions set forth in the Investment Agreement (as in effect on the Effective Date, and as amended, restated or otherwise modified in a manner not materially adverse to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders).

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

Equity Offering ” means any public or private sale of common equity or Preferred Stock of the Borrower (excluding Disqualified Stock), other than:

(1) public offerings with respect to the Borrower’s common equity registered on Form S-4 or Form S-8;

 

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(2) issuances to any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower; and

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

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 any Loan Party is treated as a single employer within the meaning of Section 414 of the Code or Section 4001 of ERISA.

ERISA Event ” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) a withdrawal by any Loan Party or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by any Loan Party or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates from a Multiemployer Plan, written notification of any Loan Party or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates concerning the imposition of withdrawal liability or written notification that a Multiemployer Plan is “insolvent” (within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA) or has been determined to be in “endangered” or “critical” status (within the meaning of Section 432 of the Code or Section 305 of ERISA); (d) the filing under Section 4041(c) of ERISA of a notice of intent to terminate a Pension Plan, the treatment of a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan amendment as a termination under Sections 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement in writing of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (e) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan, other than for the payment of PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon any Loan Party or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates; (f) an event or condition which constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (g) a failure to satisfy the minimum funding standard (within the meaning of Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code) with respect to a Pension Plan, whether or not waived; (h) the application for a minimum funding waiver under Section 302(c) of ERISA with respect to a Pension Plan; (i) the imposition of a lien under Section 303(k) of ERISA or Section 430(k) of the Code with respect to any Pension Plan; (j) a determination that any Pension Plan is in “at risk” status (within the meaning of Section 303 of ERISA or Section 430 of the Code); or (k) the occurrence of a nonexempt prohibited transaction with respect to any Pension Plan maintained or contributed to by any Loan Party or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates (within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA) which could result in liability to any Loan Party.

Escrowed Proceeds ” means the proceeds from the offering of any debt securities or other Indebtedness paid into an escrow account with an independent escrow agent on the date of the applicable offering or incurrence pursuant to escrow arrangements that permit the release of amounts on deposit in such escrow account upon satisfaction of certain conditions or the occurrence of certain events. The term “Escrowed Proceeds” shall include any interest earned on the amounts held in escrow.

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.

EU Treaty ” shall mean the Treaty on European Union.

Euro ” or “ euro ” or “€” shall mean the single currency of the Participating Member States introduced in accordance with the provisions of Article 109(i)4 of the EU Treaty.

Event of Default ” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01.

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

 

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Exchange Date ” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.15.

Exchange Notice ” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.15.

Excluded Assets ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Credit Agreement.

Excluded Contribution ” means net cash proceeds or the fair market value of marketable securities or the fair market value of Qualified Proceeds received by the Borrower from:

(1) contributions to its common equity capital;

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

(2) the sale (other than to a Restricted 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 Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock and Designated Preferred Stock) of the Borrower;

in each case, designated as Excluded Contributions pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate and that are excluded from the calculation set forth in clause (3) of Section 7.05(a).

Excluded Information ” has the meaning assigned to it in the definition of Big Boy Letter.

Excluded Proceeds ” means, with respect to any Asset Sale or Casualty Event, any Net Proceeds therefrom that constitute Declined Excess Proceeds.

Excluded Subsidiaries ” means all of the following and “ Excluded Subsidiary ” means any of them:

(1) any Subsidiary that is not a direct, wholly owned Subsidiary of the Borrower or a Guarantor,

(2) any Foreign Subsidiary,

(3) any CFC Holdco,

(4) any Domestic Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary of any CFC,

(5) any Subsidiary (including any regulated entity that is subject to net worth or net capital or similar capital and surplus restrictions) that is prohibited or restricted by applicable Law or by Contractual Obligation (including in respect of assumed Indebtedness permitted hereunder) existing on the Effective Date (or, with respect to any Subsidiary acquired by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary after the Effective Date (and so long as such Contractual Obligation was not incurred in contemplation of such acquisition), on the date such Subsidiary is so acquired) from providing a Guaranty (including any Broker-Dealer Regulated Subsidiary) or if such Guaranty would require governmental (including regulatory) or third party (other than any Loan Party or their respective Subsidiaries) consent, approval, license or authorization (other than any governmental approval required to be obtained under the Tender Documents), unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been obtained,

(6) any special purpose vehicle (or similar entity) or any Securitization Subsidiary,

(7) any Captive Insurance Subsidiary or not-for-profit Subsidiary,

(8) any Subsidiary that is not a Material Subsidiary,

 

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(9) any Subsidiary with respect to which, in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, the burden or cost (including any adverse tax consequences) of providing the Guaranty will outweigh the benefits to be obtained by the Lenders therefrom, and

(10) any Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided that any such Subsidiary that is an Excluded Subsidiary pursuant to clause (9) or (10) above will cease to be an Excluded Subsidiary at any time such Subsidiary guarantees Indebtedness under the Senior Credit Facilities or Capital Markets Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Guarantor.

Excluded Swap Obligation ” means, with respect to any Loan Party, (a) any obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract, or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of Section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act (each such obligation, a “ Swap Obligation ”), if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the guarantee of such Loan Party of, or the grant by such Loan Party of a security interest to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation, or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) (i) by virtue of such Loan Party’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder (determined after giving effect to Section 3.02 of the Guaranty and any other “keepwell, support or other agreement” for the benefit of such Loan Party for all purposes of Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act) at the time the guarantee of such Loan Party, or a grant by such Loan Party of a security interest, becomes 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 Loan Party 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 Loan Party 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 Loan Party as specified in any agreement between the relevant Loan Parties and hedge 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 swaps for which such guarantee or security interest becomes excluded in accordance with the first sentence of this definition.

Excluded Taxes ” means, with respect to each Agent and each Lender,

(1) any tax imposed on (or measured by) such Agent or Lender’s net income or profits (or franchise or net worth tax in lieu of such tax on net income or profits) imposed by a jurisdiction as a result of such Agent or Lender being organized under the laws of or having its principal office or applicable Lending Office located in such jurisdiction or as a result of any other present or former connection between such Agent or Lender and the jurisdiction (including as a result of such Agent or Lender carrying on a trade or business, having a permanent establishment or being a resident for tax purposes in such jurisdiction), other than a connection arising solely from such Agent or Lender having executed, delivered, enforced, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to, or sold or assigned an interest in, any Loan or Loan Document,

(2) any branch profits tax under Section 884(a) of the Code, or any similar tax, imposed by any jurisdiction described in clause (1),

(3) other than with respect to and to the extent that any Lender becomes a party hereto pursuant to the Borrower’s request under Section 3.07, any U.S. federal tax that is withheld or required to be withheld on amounts payable to or for the account of a Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to a Law in effect on the date such Lender (i) acquires such interest in the applicable Commitment or, if such Lender did not fund the applicable Loan pursuant to a prior Commitment, on the date such Lender acquires the applicable interest in such Loan (or where the Lender is a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, pursuant to a Law in effect on the later of the date on which such Lender acquires such interest or the date on which the affected partner becomes a partner of such Lender), or (ii) designates a new Lending Office (or where the Lender is a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, pursuant to a Law in effect on the later of the date on which the Lender designates a

 

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new Lending Office or, if applicable, the date on which the affected partner designates a new Lending Office) except, in the case of a Lender or partner that designates a new Lending Office or is an assignee, to the extent that such Lender or partner (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 from a Loan Party with respect to such U.S. federal tax pursuant to Section 3.01,

(4) any withholding tax attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with Section 3.01(3),

(5) any tax imposed under FATCA,

(6) any U.S. federal backup withholding under Section 3406 of the Code, and

(7) any interest, additions to taxes and penalties with respect to any taxes described in clauses (1) through (6) of this definition.

Existing Credit Agreement ” means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of December 19, 2014 by and among the Borrower, the banks, financial institutions and other investors from time to time parties thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as administrative agent, as amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

Extended Term Loan ” shall mean an extension of the Interim Bridge Loans converted into Extended Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.01.

Extended Term Loan Maturity Date ” shall mean the date which is seven years after the Interim Bridge Loan Maturity Date, or, if such date is not a Business Day, the first Business Day thereafter.

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

FATCA ” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code as in effect on the Effective Date or any amended or successor version thereof that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with (and, in each case, any current or future regulations promulgated thereunder or official interpretations thereof), any applicable intergovernmental agreement entered into in respect thereof, and any provision of law or administrative guidance implementing or interpreting such provisions, including any agreements entered into pursuant to any such intergovernmental agreement or Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code as of the Effective Date (or any amended or successor version described above).

FCPA ” has the meaning specified in Section 5.17.

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, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank on the Business Day next succeeding such day; 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 on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%) of the quotations for the day for such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three depository institutions of recognized standing selected by it.

Fee Letter ” means the Fee Letter, dated as of March 22, 2017, among the Arrangers and the Borrower, as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

Financial Officer ” means, with respect to a Person, the chief financial officer, accounting officer, treasurer, controller or other senior financial or accounting officer of such Person, as appropriate.

 

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floor ” means, with respect to any reference rate of interest, any fixed minimum amount specified for such rate.

Foreign Asset Sale ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(2)(g).

Foreign Casualty Event ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(2)(g).

Foreign Lender ” means a Lender that is not a United States person within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

Foreign Plan ” means any employee benefit plan, program or agreement maintained or contributed to by, or entered into with, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower with respect to employees employed outside the United States (other than benefit plans, programs or agreements that are mandated by applicable Laws).

Foreign Subsidiary ” means any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

Fund ” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is primarily engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its activities.

Funded Debt ” means all Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for borrowed money that matures more than one year from the date of its creation or matures within one year from such date that is renewable or extendable, at the option of such Person, to a date more than one year from such date or arises under a revolving credit or similar agreement that obligates the lender or lenders to extend credit during a period of more than one year from such date, including Indebtedness in respect of the Loans.

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, as in effect from time to time. At any time after the Effective Date, the Borrower may elect to apply IFRS accounting principles in lieu of GAAP and, upon any such election, references herein to GAAP will thereafter be construed to mean IFRS (except as otherwise provided in this Agreement); provided , however , that any such election, once made, will be irrevocable; provided further that any calculation or determination in this Agreement that requires the application of GAAP for periods that include fiscal quarters ended prior to the Borrower’s election to apply IFRS will remain as previously calculated or determined in accordance with GAAP. The Borrower will give notice of any such election made in accordance with this definition to the Administrative Agent. Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein the amount of any Indebtedness under GAAP with respect to Capitalized Lease Obligations and Attributable Indebtedness shall be determined in accordance with the definition of Capitalized Lease Obligations and Attributable Indebtedness, respectively.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at any time any change occurs after the Effective Date in GAAP (or IFRS) or in the application thereof on the computation of any financial ratio or financial requirement, or compliance with any covenant, set forth in any Loan Document, and the Borrower shall so request (regardless of whether any such request is given before or after such change), the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower will negotiate in good faith to amend (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders) such ratio, requirement or covenant to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (or IFRS); provided further that until so amended, (a) such ratio, requirement or covenant shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP (or IFRS) prior to such change therein and (b) the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement which include a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP (or IFRS).

 

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Governmental Authority ” means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state, local, or otherwise, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

Governmental Authorizations ” means all permits, authorizations, certificates, waivers, concessions, exemptions, orders and other and approvals issued by or obtained from a Governmental Authority by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, and in effect as of the date of the Agreement.

Granting Lender ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(g).

guarantee ” means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice), 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, as to any Person, without duplication, (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person 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 Effective Date or entered into in connection with the Transaction or 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.

Guarantor ” means (a) each Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that is a wholly owned Material Subsidiary (other than any Excluded Subsidiary), which as of the date hereof shall include those that are listed on Schedule 1.01(1) hereto and (b) any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that Guarantees (or is the borrower or issuer of) (A) any Subordinated Indebtedness, (B) the Senior Credit Facilities, (C) any Capital Markets Indebtedness or (D) any Refinancing Indebtedness related to the foregoing. For avoidance of doubt, the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, cause any Restricted Subsidiary that is not required to be a Guarantor to Guarantee the Obligations by causing such Restricted Subsidiary to execute a joinder to the Guaranty (substantially in the form provided therein or as the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and such Guarantor may otherwise agree), and any Restricted Subsidiary shall be a Guarantor hereunder for all purposes; provided that (i) in the case of any Restricted Subsidiary organized in a foreign jurisdiction, the Administrative Agent shall be reasonably satisfied with the jurisdiction of organization of such Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) the Administrative Agent shall have received at least two (2) Business Days prior to the effectiveness of such joinder all documentation and other information in respect of such Guarantor required under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act.

Guaranty ” means (a) the Guaranty substantially in the form of Exhibit E made by each Guarantor, (b) each other guaranty and guaranty supplement delivered pursuant to Section 6.11 and (c) each other guaranty and guaranty supplement delivered by any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to the second sentence of the definition of “Guarantor.”

 

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Hazardous Materials ” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes, and all other substances, wastes, pollutants and contaminants and chemicals in any form, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas and infectious or medical wastes, to the extent any of the foregoing are regulated pursuant to, or can form the basis for liability under, any Environmental Law.

Hedge Agreement ” 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.

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

IFRS ” means international financial reporting standards and interpretations issued by the International Accounting Standards Board or any successor thereto (or the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants or any successor to either such Board, or the SEC, as the case may be), as in effect from time to time.

Immaterial Subsidiary ” means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Material Subsidiary.

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, in each case, 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.

Incremental Amounts ” has the meaning assigned to it in the definition of “Refinancing Indebtedness.”

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

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

(a) in respect of borrowed money;

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

(c) representing the deferred and unpaid balance of the purchase price of any property (including Capitalized Lease Obligations) due more than twelve months after such property is acquired, except (i) any such balance that constitutes an obligation in respect of a commercial letter of credit, a trade payable or similar obligation to a trade creditor, in each case accrued in the

 

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ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice, (ii) any earn-out obligations until such obligation is reflected as a liability on the balance sheet (excluding any footnotes thereto) of such Person in accordance with GAAP and is not paid within 60 days after becoming due and payable and (iii) accruals for payroll and other liabilities accrued in the ordinary course of business; or

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

if and to the extent that any of the foregoing Indebtedness (other than obligations in respect of 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;

(2) to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation by such Person to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, on the obligations of the type referred to in clause (1) of this definition 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 or consistent with industry practice; and

(3) to the extent not otherwise included, the obligations of the type referred to in clause (1) of this definition 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 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 other Person; provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness will be deemed not to include:

(i) Contingent Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice,

(ii) reimbursement obligations under commercial letters of credit ( provided that unreimbursed amounts under commercial letters of credit will be counted as Indebtedness three (3) Business Days after such amount is drawn),

(iii) obligations under or in respect of Qualified Securitization Facilities,

(iv) accrued expenses,

(v) deferred or prepaid revenues, and

(vi) asset retirement obligations and obligations in respect of reclamation and workers compensation (including pensions and retiree medical care);

provided further that Indebtedness will be calculated without giving effect to the effects of Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 815, Derivatives and Hedging , and related interpretations to the extent such effects would otherwise increase or decrease an amount of Indebtedness for any purpose under this Agreement as a result of accounting for any embedded derivatives created by the terms of such Indebtedness.

Indemnified Liabilities ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.05.

Indemnitees ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.05.

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

Information ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.08.

 

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Intercreditor Agreement ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Credit Agreement.

Interest Coverage Ratio ” means, with respect to any Test Period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such Test Period to (b) Consolidated Interest Expense of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such Test Period, in each case on a pro forma basis with such pro forma adjustments as are appropriate and consistent with Section 1.07.

Interest Coverage Test ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.02.

Interest Payment Date ” means the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which the Loan is a part and, in the case of a LIBO Rate Loan with an Interest Period of more than three months’ duration, each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of three months’ duration after the first day of such Interest Period, and (c) after the Interim Bridge Loan Maturity Date, each May 15 and November 15 thereafter, commencing the first May 15 or November 15 occurring after the Interim Bridge Loan Maturity Date, and the Extended Term Loan Maturity Date.

Interest Period ” means, as to each LIBO Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such LIBO Rate Loan is disbursed or continued as a LIBO Rate Loan and ending on the date one, two, three or six months thereafter, or to the extent consented to by each applicable Lender, twelve months, as selected by the Borrower in its Loan Notice; provided that:

(1) 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 immediately preceding Business Day; and

(2) any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period.

Interim Bridge Loan ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.

Interim Bridge Loan Maturity Date ” shall mean the date which is twelve months after the Closing Date or, if such date is not a Business Day, the first Business Day thereafter.

Investment Agreement ” means the Investment Agreement between TPG Growth III Sidewall, L.P. and the Borrower dated as of the Effective Date, as amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time in a manner not materially adverse to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders.

Investment Grade Rating ” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s or BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, or an equivalent rating by any other Rating Agency selected by the Borrower.

Investment Grade Securities ” means:

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

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

(3) investments in any fund that invests substantially all of its assets in investments of the type described in clauses (1) and (2) of this definition which fund may also hold immaterial amounts of cash pending investment or distribution; and

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

 

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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, credit card and debit card receivables, trade credit, advances to customers, commission, travel and similar advances to employees, directors, officers, members of management, consultants and independent contractors, in each case made in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities issued by any other Person. For purposes of the definitions of “Permitted Investments” and “Unrestricted Subsidiary” and Section 7.05,

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

(a) the Borrower’s “Investment” in such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; minus

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

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

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

Investor ” means TPG Capital, L.P. and any of its Affiliates and/or any funds or partnership managed or advised by any of TPG Capital, L.P. or any of its Affiliates but not including, however, any portfolio company of any of the foregoing.

IP Rights ” has the meaning specified in Section 5.15.

IRS ” means Internal Revenue Service of the United States.

L/C Fee Letter ” means the Letter of Credit Fee Letter, dated as of the Effective Date, among the Tender Issuing Bank and the Borrower.

Laws ” means, collectively, all international, foreign, federal, state and local laws (including common law), statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities and executive orders, 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.

LCT Election ” has the meaning specified in Section 1.07(8).

LCT Test Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 1.07(8).

Legal Holiday ” means Saturday, 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.

 

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Lenders ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement and, as context requires, each of which is referred to herein as a “ Lender .” As of the Effective Date, Schedule 2.01 sets forth the name of each Lender. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Disqualified Institution that purports to become a Lender hereunder (notwithstanding the provisions of this Agreement that prohibit Disqualified Institutions from becoming Lenders) without the Borrower’s written consent shall be entitled to any of the rights or privileges enjoyed by the other Lenders with respect to voting, information and lender meetings; provided that the Loans of any such Disqualified Institution shall not be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders if the action in question affects such Disqualified Institution in a disproportionately adverse manner than its effect on the other Lenders; provided, further, that if any assignment or participation is made to any Disqualified Institution without the Borrower’s prior written consent in violation of clause (v) of Section 10.07(b) the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to the applicable Disqualified Institution and the Administrative Agent, (A) in the case of outstanding Bridge Loans held by Disqualified Institutions, purchase or prepay such Bridge Loan by paying the lesser of (x) the principal amount thereof and (y) the amount that such Disqualified Institution paid to acquire such Bridge Loans, in each case plus accrued interest, accrued fees and all other amounts (other than principal amounts) payable to it hereunder and/or (B) require such Disqualified Institution to assign, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 10.07), all of its interest, rights and obligations under this Agreement to one or more Eligible Assignees at the lesser of (x) the principal amount thereof and (y) the amount that such Disqualified Institution paid to acquire such interests, rights and obligations, in each case plus accrued interest, accrued fees and all other amounts (other than principal amounts) payable to it hereunder.

Lender-Related Distress Event ” means, with respect to any Lender or any direct or indirect parent company of such Lender (each, a “ Distressed Person ”), (a) that such Distressed Person is or becomes subject to a voluntary or involuntary case under any Debtor Relief Law, (b) a custodian, conservator, receiver, or similar official is appointed for such Distressed Person or any substantial part of such Distressed Person’s assets, (c) such Distressed Person is subject to a forced liquidation, 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 or (d) that such Distressed Person becomes the subject of a Bail-in Action; 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 direct or indirect parent company of a 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 States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority or instrumentality) 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.

LIBO Rate ” shall mean for any Interest Period, the rate per annum equal to the London Interbank Offered Rate (“ LIBOR ”) or a comparable or successor rate, which rate is approved by the Administrative Agent, as published on the applicable Bloomberg 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, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, for U.S. Dollar or Euro deposits, as applicable (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period;

provided that to the extent a comparable or successor rate is approved by the Administrative Agent in connection herewith, the approved rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided, further that to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, such approved rate shall be applied in a manner as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, the LIBO Rate shall not at any time be less than 1.00% per annum.

LIBO Rate Loan ” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on clause (a) of the definition of “LIBO Rate.”

LIBOR ” has the meaning specified in the definition of “LIBO Rate.”

 

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

Limited Condition Transactions ” means any (1) Permitted Acquisition or other investment permitted hereunder by the Borrower or one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries whose consummation is not conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third-party financing and (2) any redemption, repurchase, defeasance, satisfaction and discharge or repayment of Indebtedness requiring irrevocable notice in advance of such redemption, repurchase, defeasance, satisfaction and discharge or repayment.

Loan ” and collectively referred to as “ Loans ” or “ Bridge Loans ” shall mean an Interim Bridge Loan and/or an Extended Term Loan, as the context may require.

Loan Documents ” means, collectively, (a) this Agreement, (b) the Senior Exchange Notes and (c) the Guaranty.

Loan Notice ” means a notice of (1) a Borrowing or (2) a continuation of LIBO Rate Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(1), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A , or such other form as may be approved by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower), appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.

Loan Parties ” means, collectively, (a) the Borrower and (b) each Guarantor.

Margin Stock ” has the meaning set forth in Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the United States Federal Reserve System, or any successor thereto.

Market Capitalization ” means an amount equal to (i) the total number of issued and outstanding shares of common Equity Interests of the Borrower on the date of the declaration of a Restricted Payment permitted pursuant to Section 7.05(b)(viii) 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.

Material Adverse Effect ” means any event, circumstance or condition that has had a materially adverse effect on (a) the business, operations, assets or financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Loan Parties (taken as a whole) to perform their payment obligations under the Loan Documents or (c) the rights and remedies of the Lenders or the Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents.

Material Domestic Subsidiary ” means any Domestic Subsidiary that is a Material Subsidiary.

Material Foreign Subsidiary ” means any Foreign Subsidiary that is a Material Subsidiary.

Material Subsidiary ” means, as of the Effective Date and thereafter at any date of determination, each Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower (a) whose Total Assets at the last day of the most recent Test Period (when taken together with the Total Assets of the Restricted Subsidiaries of such Subsidiary at the last day of the most recent Test Period) were equal to or greater than 5.0% of Total Assets of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries at such date or (b) whose gross revenues for such Test Period (when taken together with the gross revenues of the Restricted Subsidiaries of such Subsidiary for such Test Period) were equal to or greater than 5.0% of the consolidated gross revenues of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such Test Period, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that if at any time and from time to time after the date which is 30 days after the Effective Date (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion),

 

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Domestic Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors solely because they do not meet the thresholds set forth in the preceding clause (a) or (b) when combined with Foreign Subsidiaries and CFC Holdcos the equity interests of which are Excluded Assets solely because they do not meet the thresholds set forth in the preceding clause (a) or (b) comprise in the aggregate more than (when taken together with the Total Assets of the Restricted Subsidiaries of such Subsidiaries at the last day of the most recent Test Period) 7.5% of Total Assets of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of the last day of the most recent Test Period or more than (when taken together with the gross revenues of the Restricted Subsidiaries of such Subsidiaries for such Test Period) 7.5% of the consolidated gross revenues of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such Test Period, then the Borrower shall, not later than sixty (60) days after the date by which financial statements for such Test Period were required to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion), (i) designate in writing to the Administrative Agent one or more Restricted Subsidiaries as “Material Subsidiaries” to the extent required such that the foregoing condition ceases to be true and (ii) comply with the provisions of Section 6.11 with respect to any such Subsidiaries (to the extent applicable). At all times prior to the delivery of the aforementioned financial statements, such determinations shall be made by the Borrower in good faith based on the financial statements most recently delivered to the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 4.01(2) or Section 6.01(1), as applicable.

Maximum Rate ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.10.

Mexican Pesos ” means the lawful currency of the United Mexican States.

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

Multiemployer Plan ” means any multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA and subject to Title IV of ERISA, to which any Loan Party or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the preceding five plan years, has made or been obligated to make contributions.

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:

(1) with respect to any Asset Sale or any Casualty Event, the aggregate cash and Cash Equivalents received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of any Asset Sale or Casualty Event, including any cash and Cash Equivalents received upon the sale or other disposition of any Designated Non-Cash Consideration received in any Asset Sale, net of the costs relating to such Asset Sale or Casualty Event 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, brokerage and sales commissions, title insurance premiums, related search and recording charges, survey costs and mortgage recording tax paid in connection therewith, all dividends, distributions or other payments required to be made to minority interest holders in Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of any such Asset Sale or Casualty Event by a Restricted Subsidiary, the amount of any purchase price or similar adjustment claimed by any Person to be owed by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, until such time as such claim will have been settled or otherwise finally resolved, or paid or payable by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, in either case in respect of such Asset Sale or Casualty Event, any relocation expenses incurred as a result thereof, costs and expenses in connection with unwinding any Hedging Obligation in connection therewith, other fees and expenses, 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 Agreement, amounts required to be applied to the repayment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on Indebtedness secured by a Lien on such assets and required (other than required by Section 7.04(b)(i)(1)) to be paid as a result of such transaction and any deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary as a reserve in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities associated with the asset disposed of in such transaction and retained by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary after such sale or other disposition thereof, including pension and other post-

 

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employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations associated with such transaction; provided that (a) no net cash proceeds calculated in accordance with the foregoing realized in a single transaction or series of related transactions shall constitute Net Proceeds unless such net cash proceeds shall exceed $5.0 million and (b) no such net cash proceeds shall constitute Net Proceeds under this clause (1) in any fiscal year until the aggregate amount of all such net cash proceeds in such fiscal year shall exceed $20.0 million (and thereafter only net cash proceeds in excess of such amount shall constitute Net Proceeds under this clause (1)); and

(2) with respect to the incurrence or issuance of any Indebtedness by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, any issuance of Equity Interests by the Borrower or any contribution to the common equity capital of the Borrower, the excess, if any, of (i) the sum of the cash and Cash Equivalents received in connection with such incurrence or issuance over (ii) all taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be payable, and all fees (including investment banking fees, attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, underwriting fees and discounts), commissions, costs and other out-of-pocket expenses and other customary expenses incurred, in each case by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such incurrence or issuance.

Non-Consenting Lender ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.07.

Non-Defaulting Lender ” means, at any time, a Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender.

Non-Excluded Taxes ” means all Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document.

Non-Recourse Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness that is non-recourse to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries.

Obligations ” means all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Loan Party arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan, 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, fees and other amounts that accrue after the commencement by or against any Loan Party of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest, fees and other amounts are allowed claims in such proceeding. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Obligations of the Loan Parties under the Loan Documents (and any of their Subsidiaries to the extent they have obligations under the Loan Documents) include the obligation (including guarantee obligations) to pay principal, interest, reimbursement obligations, charges, expenses, fees, Attorney Costs, indemnities and other amounts payable by any Loan Party under any Loan Document.

Offer ” has the meaning specified in the Preliminary Statements of this Agreement.

Officer’s Certificate ” means a certificate signed on behalf of a Person by a Responsible Officer of such Person.

OID ” means original issue discount.

Opinion of Counsel ” means a written opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent. Counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent.

ordinary course of business ” means activity conducted in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower and any Restricted Subsidiary.

 

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Organizational Documents ” means

(1) 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);

(2) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement; and

(3) 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 Taxes ” means all present or future stamp or documentary Taxes, intangible, recording, filing, excise (that is not based on net income), property or similar Taxes arising from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document.

Outstanding Amount ” means with respect to the Loans on any date, the outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Loans, as the case may be, occurring on such date.

Overnight Rate ” means, for any day, the greater of (a) the Federal Funds Rate and (b) an overnight rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

Participant ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(d).

Participant Register ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(e).

Participating Member State ” shall mean each state as described in any EMU Legislation.

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 of their respective ERISA Affiliates or to which any Loan Party or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates 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 in the preceding five plan years.

Permanent Notes ” means any debt securities issued to refinance the Interim Bridge Loans or pursuant to a Permanent Securities Notice and purchased or placed by the Arrangers.

Permanent Securities Notice ” means the notice contemplated by the Fee Letter, which may be given 75 days after the Closing Date and prior to the first anniversary of the Closing Date, pursuant to which the Borrower will issue and sell Permanent Notes.

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 or Cash Equivalents between the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and another Person; provided that any cash or Cash Equivalents received in connection with a Permitted Asset Swap that constitutes an Asset Sale must be applied, prior to the Interim Bridge Loan Maturity Date, in accordance with Section 2.03(2)(a)(i), and on and after the Interim Bridge Loan Maturity Date, in accordance with Section 7.04.

 

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Permitted Holder ” means any of the Investors.

Permitted Acquisition ” has the meaning specified in clause (3) of the definition of “Permitted Investments.”

Permitted Incremental Amount ” means such amount that would not result in (a) the Borrower’s Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio exceeding 1.80 to 1.00 or (b) to the extent such Indebtedness is incurred in connection with an acquisition or other Investment permitted under this Agreement, the Borrower’s Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio would be no greater than the Borrower’s Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio immediately prior to giving effect to such incurrence of Indebtedness, in each case for the Borrower’s most recently ended Test Period (or in the case of Indebtedness under Designated Revolving Commitments, on the date such Designated Revolving Commitments are established after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence of the entire committed amount of the Indebtedness thereunder, in which case such committed amount under such Designated Revolving Commitments may thereafter be borrowed and reborrowed, in whole or in part, from time to time, without further compliance with this sentence) determined on a pro forma basis, including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom, as if the additional Indebtedness had been incurred and the application of proceeds occurred on the last day of such Test Period (provided that for purposes of determining the amount that may be incurred under this definition, (I) all Indebtedness then being incurred pursuant to this definition on such date in reliance on this definition shall be deemed to be included as Consolidated Secured Debt in clause (a) of the definition of “Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio” and (II) any cash proceeds of any new Indebtedness then being incurred shall not be netted from the numerator in the Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio for purposes of calculating the Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio under this definition for purposes of determining whether such Indebtedness can be incurred).

Permitted Investments ” means:

(1) any Investment in the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (including guarantees of obligations of the Restricted Subsidiaries);

(2) any Investment(s) in Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities and Investments that were Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities when made;

(3) (a) any Investment by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in any Person that is engaged (directly or through entities that will be Restricted Subsidiaries) in a Similar Business, or in a business unit, line of business or division of such Person, 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 assets constituting a business unit, a line of business or a division of such Person, to, or is liquidated into, the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary (a “ Permitted Acquisition ”); provided that, immediately after giving pro forma effect to any such Investment, no Event of Default will have occurred and be continuing; and

(b) any Investment held by such Person described in the preceding clause (a); provided that such Investment was not acquired by such Person in contemplation of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation, transfer or conveyance;

(4) any Investment in securities or other assets not constituting Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities and received in connection with an Asset Sale made in accordance with Section 7.04 or any other disposition of assets not constituting an Asset Sale;

(5) any Investment existing on the Effective Date or made pursuant to binding commitments in effect on the Effective Date, in each of the foregoing cases with respect to any such Investment or binding commitment in effect on the Effective Date in excess of $5.0 million, as set forth on Schedule 7.05 , or an Investment consisting of any extension, modification, replacement, renewal or reinvestment of any Investment or binding commitment existing on the Effective Date; provided that the amount of any such Investment or binding commitment may be increased only (a) as required by the terms of such Investment or binding commitment as in existence on the Effective 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 (b) as otherwise permitted hereunder;

 

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(6) any Investment acquired by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary:

(a) in exchange for any other Investment, accounts receivable or indorsements for collection or deposit held by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with or as a result of a bankruptcy, workout, reorganization or recapitalization of, or settlement of delinquent accounts and disputes with or judgments against, the issuer of such other Investment or accounts receivable (including any trade creditor or customer);

(b) in satisfaction of judgments against other Persons;

(c) as a result of a foreclosure by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default; or

(d) as a result of the settlement, compromise or resolution of (i) litigation, arbitration or other disputes or (ii) obligations of trade creditors or customers that were incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, including pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of any trade creditor or customer;

(7) Hedging Obligations permitted under Section 7.02(b)(x);

(8) any Investment in a Similar Business taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (8) that are at that time outstanding not to exceed (as of the date such Investment is made) the greater of (a) $75.0 million and (b) 37.5% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries determined at the time of making of such Investment for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a pro forma basis);

(9) Investments the payment for which consists of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Borrower; provided that such Equity Interests will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under clause (3) of Section 7.05(a);

(10) (a) guarantees of Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.02, performance guarantees and Contingent Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice, and (b) the creation of Liens on the assets of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in compliance with Section 7.01;

(11) any transaction to the extent it constitutes an Investment that is permitted by and made in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.07(b) (except transactions described in clauses (ii), (v), (ix), (xv) or (xxii) of such Section);

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

(13) Investments, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (13) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed (as of the date such Investment is made) the greater of (i) $50.0 million and (ii) 25% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries determined at the time of making of such Investment for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a pro forma basis);

 

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(14) 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 Facility (including distributions or payments of Securitization Fees) or any repurchase obligation in connection therewith (including the contribution or lending of Cash Equivalents to Subsidiaries to finance the purchase of such assets from the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or to otherwise fund required reserves);

(15) loans and advances to, or guarantees of Indebtedness of, officers, directors, employees, consultants, independent contractors and members of management not in excess of $10.0 million outstanding at any one time, in the aggregate;

(16) loans and advances to employees, directors, officers, members of management, independent contractors and consultants for business-related travel expenses, moving expenses, payroll advances and other similar expenses or payroll expenses, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or consistent with industry practice or to future, present and former employees, directors, officers, members of management, independent contractors and consultants (and their Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) to fund such Person’s purchase of Equity Interests of the Borrower;

(17) advances, loans or extensions of trade credit or prepayments to suppliers or loans or advances made to distributors, in each case, in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or consistent with industry practice by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(18) 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 industry practice;

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

(20) Investments made in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice in connection with obtaining, maintaining or renewing client contracts and loans or advances made to distributors;

(21) 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 industry practice;

(22) the purchase or other acquisition of any Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent not otherwise prohibited hereunder;

(23) Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries or joint ventures, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (23) that are at that time outstanding, without giving effect to the sale of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or joint venture to the extent the proceeds of such sale do not consist of, or have not been subsequently sold or transferred for, Cash Equivalents or marketable securities, not to exceed (as of the date such Investment is made) the greater of (i) $40.0 million and (ii) 20% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries determined at the time of making of such Investment for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a pro forma basis);

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

(25) any Investment by any Captive Insurance Subsidiary in connection with its provision of insurance to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, which Investment is made in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice of such Captive Insurance Subsidiary, or by reason of applicable Law, rule, regulation or order, or that is required or approved by any regulatory authority having jurisdiction over such Captive Insurance Subsidiary or its business, as applicable;

 

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(26) Investments made as part of, to effect or resulting from the Transactions (including the Closing Date Acquisition);

(27) Investments of assets relating to non-qualified deferred payment plans in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(28) intercompany current liabilities owed to Unrestricted Subsidiaries or joint ventures incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice in connection with the cash management operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;

(29) acquisitions of obligations of one or more directors, officers or other employees or consultants or independent contractors of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower in connection with such director’s, officer’s, employee’s consultant’s or independent contractor’s acquisition of Equity Interests of the Borrower or any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower, to the extent no cash is actually advanced by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to such directors, officers, employees, consultants or independent contractors in connection with the acquisition of any such obligations;

(30) Investments constituting promissory notes or other non-cash proceeds of dispositions of assets to the extent permitted under Section 7.04;

(31) Investments resulting from pledges and deposits permitted pursuant to the definition of “Permitted Liens”;

(32) loans and advances to any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower in lieu of 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 in cash to such parent in accordance with Section 7.05 at such time, such Investment being treated for purposes of the applicable clause of Section 7.05, including any limitations, as if a Restricted Payment were made pursuant to such applicable clause;

(33) any other Investments if on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such Investment, the Total Net Leverage Ratio would be equal to or less than 0.75x below the Closing Date Total Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the Test Period most recently ended; and

(34) any Investment made by any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party to the extent that such Investment is financed with the proceeds received by such Restricted Subsidiary from an Investment in such Restricted Subsidiary permitted under this Agreement.

Prior to the Interim Bridge Loan Maturity Date, neither the Borrower nor any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall be entitled to make any Investments pursuant to clause (33) above.

Permitted Liens ” means, with respect to any Person:

(1) Liens created pursuant to any Loan Document;

(2) [reserved];

(3) Liens, pledges or deposits made in connection with (A) workers’ compensation laws, unemployment insurance, health, disability or employee benefits or other social security laws or similar legislation or regulations, (B) insurance-related obligations (including, 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, bank guarantees or similar documents or instruments for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing property, casualty or liability insurance, or otherwise supporting the

 

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payment of items set forth in the foregoing clause (A), or (C) bids, tenders, contracts, statutory obligations, surety, indemnity, warranty, release, appeal or similar bonds, or with regard to other regulatory requirements, completion guarantees, stay, customs and appeal bonds, performance bonds, bankers’ acceptance facilities, and other obligations of like nature (including those to secure health, safety and environmental obligations) (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, Cash Equivalents or U.S. government bonds to secure surety or appeal bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as security for the payment of rent, contested taxes or import duties and obligations in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar instruments that have been posted to support the same, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(4) Liens imposed by law, such as landlords’, carriers’, warehousemen’s, materialmen’s, repairmen’s, construction, mechanics’ or other similar Liens, or similar landlord Liens specifically created by contract (i) for sums not yet overdue for a period of more than sixty (60) days or, if more than sixty (60) days overdue, are unfiled and no other action has been taken to enforce such Liens or (ii) being contested in good faith by appropriate actions or other Liens arising out of or securing judgments or awards against such Person with respect to which such Person will then be proceeding with an appeal or other proceedings for review if such Liens are adequately bonded or adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of such Person in accordance with GAAP;

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

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

(7) survey exceptions, encumbrances, ground leases, easements, restrictions, protrusions, encroachments 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 or 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 that were not incurred in connection with Indebtedness and that do not in the aggregate materially impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person and exceptions on Mortgage Policies (as defined in the Senior Credit Facilities) insuring Liens granted on Mortgaged Properties (as defined in the Senior Credit Facilities);

(8) Liens securing obligations in respect of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock permitted to be incurred or issued pursuant to Sections 7.02(b)(iv), (xiii), (xv), (xxiii) or (xxxi) or, with respect to assumed Indebtedness not incurred in contemplation of the relevant acquisition, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock only, Section 7.02(b)(xiv); provided that:

(i) Liens securing obligations relating to any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock permitted to be incurred or issued pursuant to Section 7.02(b)(xiii) relate only to obligations relating to Refinancing Indebtedness that is secured by Liens on the same assets as the assets securing the Refinanced Debt (as defined in the definition of “Refinancing Indebtedness”), plus improvements, accessions, proceeds or dividends or distributions in respect thereof and after-acquired property, or serves to refund, refinance, extend, replace, renew or defease Indebtedness incurred under Sections 7.02(b)(iv) or (xiii),

 

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(ii) Liens securing obligations relating to Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 7.02(b)(xxiii) or (xxxi) extend only to the assets of Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors,

(iii) Liens securing obligations in respect of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 7.02(b)(iv) extend only to the assets so purchased, replaced, leased or improved and proceeds and products thereof; provided, further that individual financings of assets provided by a counterparty may be cross-collateralized to other financings of assets provided by such counterparty and

(iv) Liens securing obligations in respect of Indebtedness permitted to be assumed pursuant to Section 7.02(b)(xiv) are solely on acquired property or the assets of the acquired entity (other than after acquired property that is (A) affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien, (B) after acquired property subject to a Lien securing such Indebtedness, the terms of which Indebtedness require or include a pledge of after acquired property (it being understood that such requirement shall not be permitted to apply to any property to which such requirement would not have applied but for such acquisition) and (C) the proceeds and products thereof);

(9) Liens existing, or provided for under binding contracts existing, on the Effective Date on (x) any asset of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than the Target) (provided that any such Lien securing obligations in an aggregate amount on the Effective Date in excess of $5.0 million shall be set forth on Schedule 7.01 ) and (y) on any asset of the Target, securing any obligations permitted under Section 7.02(b)(iii)(y);

(10) 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;

(11) Liens on property or other assets at the time the Borrower 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 Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (provided that such Liens are not created or incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition, amalgamation, merger or consolidation) and any replacement, extension or renewal of any such Lien (to the extent the Indebtedness and other obligations secured by such replacement, extension or renewal Liens are permitted by this Agreement); provided that such replacement, extension or renewal Liens do not cover any property other than the property that was subject to such Liens prior to such replacement, extension or renewal;

(12) Liens securing obligations in respect of Indebtedness or other obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Borrower or another Restricted Subsidiary permitted to be incurred in accordance with Section 7.02;

(13) Liens securing (x) Hedging Obligations (including any Hedging Obligations entered into by any Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary that as of the Effective Date is secured pursuant to the Existing Credit Agreement) and (y) obligations in respect of Cash Management Services;

(14) Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Person’s accounts payable or similar 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;

(15) leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses (or other agreement under which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary has granted rights to end users to access and use the Borrower’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s products, technologies or services) that do not either (a) materially interfere with the business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (b) secure any Indebtedness;

 

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(16) Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) financing statement filings regarding operating leases, consignments or accounts entered into by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice or purported Liens evidenced by the filing of precautionary Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) financing statements or similar public filings;

(17) Liens in favor of the Borrower or any Guarantor;

(18) Liens on equipment or vehicles of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary granted in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(19) Liens on accounts receivable, Securitization Assets and related assets incurred in connection with a Qualified Securitization Facility and Liens on any receivables transferred in connection with a Receivables Financing Transaction, including Liens on such receivables resulting from precautionary Uniform Commercial Code filings or from recharacterization or any such sale as a financing or a loan;

(20) Liens to secure any modification, refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement (or successive modification, refinancing, refunding, extensions, renewals or replacements) as a whole, or in part, of any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock secured by any Lien referred to in clauses (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11) or this clause (20) of this definition; provided that (a) such new Lien will be limited to all or part of the same property that was subject to the original Lien (plus improvements, accessions, proceeds or dividends or distributions in respect thereof and after-acquired property) and (b) the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (i) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the Indebtedness described under clauses (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11) or this clause (20) of this definition at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien under this Agreement, plus (ii) any accrued and unpaid interest on the Indebtedness, any accrued and unpaid dividends on the Preferred Stock, and any accrued and unpaid dividends on the Disqualified Stock being so refinanced, extended, replaced, refunded, renewed or defeased plus (iii) the amount of any tender premium or penalty or premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument or documents governing such refinanced Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock and any defeasance costs and any fees and expenses (including original issue discount, upfront fees or similar fees) incurred in connection with the issuance of such new Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock or the extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance of such refinanced Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock.

(21) deposits made or other security provided to secure liability to insurance brokers, carriers, underwriters or self-insurance arrangements, including Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of the premiums with respect thereto;

(22) other Liens securing obligations in an aggregate outstanding amount not to exceed (as of the date any such Lien is incurred) the greater of (i) $60.0 million and (ii) 30% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries determined at the time of incurrence of such Lien for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a pro forma basis);

(23) 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;

(24) (i) the prior rights of consignees and their lenders under consignment arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice, (ii) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention or similar arrangements for the sale of goods in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice and (iii) Liens arising by operation of law under Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code;

(25) Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 8.01(7);

 

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(26) Liens (a) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-208 or 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code on items in the course of collection, (b) attaching to commodity trading accounts or other brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice, and (c) in favor of banking or other institutions or other electronic payment service providers arising as a matter of law or under general terms and conditions encumbering deposits or margin deposits or other funds maintained with such institution (including the right of set-off) and that are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry;

(27) Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements permitted under this Agreement; provided that such Liens do not extend to assets other than those that are subject to such repurchase agreements;

(28) Liens that are contractual rights of set-off (a) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks or other deposit-taking financial institutions or other electronic payment service providers and not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness, (b) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or (c) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(29) Liens on cash proceeds (as defined in Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code) of assets sold that were subject to a Lien permitted hereunder;

(30) any encumbrance or restriction (including put, call arrangements, tag, drag, right of first refusal and similar rights) with respect to Capital Stock of any joint venture or similar arrangement pursuant to any joint venture or similar agreement;

(31) Liens (a) on cash advances or cash earnest money deposits in favor of the seller of any property to be acquired in an Investment permitted under this Agreement to be applied against the purchase price for such Investment and (b) consisting of a letter of intent or an agreement to sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of any property in a transaction permitted under Section 7.04;

(32) the interest or title of any lessor, sublessor, licensor or sublicensor, as applicable, underground leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses under which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries are the lessee, sublessee, licensee or sublicensee, as applicable, in respect of real property on which facilities owned or leased by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries are located;

(33) Liens in connection with any Sale-Leaseback Transaction(s);

(34) Liens on Capital Stock or other securities of an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(35) any interest or title of a lessor, sublessor, licensor or sublicensor or secured by a lessor’s, sublessor’s, licensor’s or sublicensor’s interest under leases or licenses entered into by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(36) deposits of cash with the owner or lessor of premises leased and operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice of the Borrower and such Subsidiary to secure the performance of the Borrower’s or such Subsidiary’s obligations under the terms of the lease for such premises;

(37) rights of setoff, banker’s liens, netting arrangements and other Liens arising by operation of law or by the terms of documents of banks or other financial institutions in relation to the maintenance or administration of deposit accounts, securities accounts, cash management arrangements or in connection with the issuance of letters of credit, bank guarantees or other similar instruments;

 

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(38) Liens on cash and Cash Equivalents used to satisfy or discharge Indebtedness; provided that such satisfaction or discharge is permitted under this Agreement;

(39) receipt of progress payments and advances from customers in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice to the extent the same creates a Lien on the related inventory and proceeds thereof and Liens on property or assets under construction arising from progress or partial payments by a third party relating to such property or assets;

(40) agreements to subordinate any interest of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in any accounts receivable or other proceeds arising from inventory consigned by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(41) [reserved];

(42) Liens arising pursuant to Section 107(l) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act or similar provision of any Environmental Law;

(43) Liens disclosed by the title insurance reports or policies delivered on or prior to the Effective Date and any replacement, extension or renewal of any such Lien (to the extent the Indebtedness and other obligations secured by such replacement, extension or renewal Liens are permitted by this Agreement); provided that such replacement, extension or renewal Liens do not cover any property other than the property that was subject to such Liens prior to such replacement, extension or renewal;

(44) rights reserved or vested in any Person by the terms of any lease, license, franchise, grant or permit held by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or by a statutory provision, to terminate any such lease, license, franchise, grant or permit, or to require annual or periodic payments as a condition to the continuance thereof;

(45) restrictive covenants affecting the use to which real property may be put; provided that the covenants are complied with;

(46) 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 or consistent with industry practice;

(47) zoning, building and other similar land use restrictions, including, without limitation, site plan agreements, development agreements and contract zoning agreements;

(48) Liens on assets of Restricted Subsidiaries that are Foreign Subsidiaries (i) securing Indebtedness and other obligations of such Foreign Subsidiaries or (ii) to the extent arising mandatorily under applicable Law;

(49) Liens on Escrowed Proceeds for the benefit of the related holders of debt securities or other Indebtedness (or the underwriters, trustee, escrow agent or arrangers thereof) or on cash set aside at the time of the incurrence of any Indebtedness or government securities purchased with such cash, in either case to the extent such cash or government securities prefund the payment of interest on such Indebtedness and are held in an escrow account or similar arrangement to be applied for such purpose;

(50) Liens securing any Hedge Obligations of any Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary that are permitted hereunder;

(51) Liens granted in favor of the lenders under the Existing Credit Agreement, until the occurrence of the Closing Date Refinancing; and

 

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(52) Liens on the assets of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not a Guarantor securing Indebtedness or other obligations of such Restricted Subsidiaries or any other Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors that is permitted under Section 7.02(b) or otherwise not prohibited by this Agreement.

If any Liens securing obligations are incurred to refinance liens securing obligations initially incurred in reliance on a Basket measured by reference to a percentage of Consolidated EBITDA, and such refinancing would cause the percentage of Consolidated EBITDA to be exceeded if calculated based on the Consolidated EBITDA on the date of such refinancing, such percentage of Consolidated EBITDA will not be deemed to be exceeded to the extent the principal amount of such obligations secured by such newly incurred Lien does not exceed the principal amount of such obligations secured by such Liens being refinanced, plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the Indebtedness (and with respect to Indebtedness under Designated Revolving Commitments, including an amount equal to any unutilized Designated Revolving Commitments being refinanced, extended, replaced, refunded, renewed or defeased to the extent permanently terminated at the time of incurrence of such Refinancing Indebtedness), any accrued and unpaid dividends on the Preferred Stock, and any accrued and unpaid dividends on the Disqualified Stock being so refinanced, extended, replaced, refunded, renewed or defeased, plus the amount of any tender premium or penalty or premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument or documents governing such refinanced Indebtedness, Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock and any defeasance costs and any fees and expenses (including original issue discount, upfront fees or similar fees) incurred in connection with the issuance of such new Indebtedness, Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock or the extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance of such refinanced Indebtedness, Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock.

For purposes of this definition, the term “Indebtedness” will be deemed to include interest and other obligations payable on or with respect to such Indebtedness.

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

Plan ” means any “employee benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA), other than a Foreign Plan, established or maintained 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 of their respective ERISA Affiliates.

Platform ” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

Polish Zloty ” means the lawful currency of Poland.

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

Private - Side Information ” means any information with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries that is not Public-Side Information.

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, Bridge Loans of such Lender at such time and the denominator of which is the amount of the Aggregate Commitments and, if applicable and without duplication, Bridge Loans at such time.

Public Company Costs ” means the initial costs relating to establishing compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, and other expenses arising out of or incidental to the Borrower’s or its Restricted Subsidiaries’ initial establishment of compliance with the obligations of a reporting company, including costs, fees and expenses (including legal, accounting and other professional fees) relating to compliance with provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.

Public Lender ” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

 

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Public - Side Information ” means information that does not constitute material non-public information (within the meaning of United States federal and state securities laws) with respect to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective securities.

Purchase Money Obligations ” means any Indebtedness incurred to finance or refinance the acquisition, leasing, construction or improvement of property (real or personal) or assets (other than Capital Stock), and whether acquired through the direct acquisition of such property or assets, or otherwise.

Qualified ECP Guarantor ” means, in respect of any Swap Obligation, each Loan Party that has total assets exceeding $10.0 million at the time the relevant guarantee or grant of the relevant security interest becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation or such other Person as constitutes an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act or any regulations promulgated thereunder and can cause another Person to qualify as an “eligible contract participant” at such time by entering into a keepwell under Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

Qualified Equity Interests ” means any Equity Interests that are not Disqualified Stock.

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 (1) constituting a securitization financing facility that meets the following conditions: (a) the Board of Directors will have determined in good faith that such Securitization Facility (including financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions) is in the aggregate economically fair and reasonable to the Borrower and the applicable Restricted Subsidiary or Securitization Subsidiary and (b) all sales or contributions of Securitization Assets and related assets to the applicable Person or Securitization Subsidiary are made at fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) or (2) constituting a Receivables Financing Transaction.

Rating Agencies ” means Moody’s and S&P, or if Moody’s or S&P (or both) does not make a rating on the relevant obligations publicly available, a nationally recognized statistical rating agency or agencies, as the case may be, selected by the Borrower that will be substituted for Moody’s or S&P (or both), as the case may be.

Receivables Financing Transaction ” means any transaction or series of transactions entered into by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to which such party consummates a “true sale” of its receivables to a non-related third party on market terms as determined in good faith by the Borrower; provided that such Receivables Financing Transaction is (i) non-recourse to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and their assets, other than any recourse solely attributable to a breach by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of representations and warranties that are customarily made by a seller in connection with a “true sale” of receivables on a non-recourse basis and (ii) consummated pursuant to customary contracts, arrangements or agreements entered into with respect to the “true sale” of receivables on market terms for similar transactions.

Refinance ” has the meaning assigned in the definition of “Refinancing Indebtedness” and “ Refinancing ” and “ Refinanced ” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

Refinanced Debt ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Refinancing Indebtedness.”

Refinancing Indebtedness ” means (x) Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, (y) Disqualified Stock issued by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or (z) Preferred Stock issued by any Restricted Subsidiary which, in each case, serves to extend, replace, refund, refinance, renew or defease (“ Refinance ”) any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, including any Refinancing Indebtedness, so long as:

 

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(1) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such new Indebtedness, the amount of such new Preferred Stock or the liquidation preference of such new Disqualified Stock does not exceed (a) the principal amount of (or accreted value, if applicable) Indebtedness, the amount of Preferred Stock or the liquidation preference of Disqualified Stock being so extended, replaced, refunded, refinanced, renewed or defeased (such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, the “ Refinanced Debt ”), plus (b) any accrued and unpaid interest on, or any accrued and unpaid dividends on, such Refinanced Debt, plus (c) the amount of any tender premium or penalty or premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument or documents governing such Refinanced Debt and any defeasance costs and any fees and expenses (including original issue discount, upfront fees or similar fees) incurred in connection with the issuance of such new Indebtedness, Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock or to Refinance such Refinanced Debt (such amounts in clause (b) and (c) the “ Incremental Amounts ”);

(2) such Refinancing Indebtedness has a:

(a) Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is incurred that is not less than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the applicable Refinanced Debt; and

(b) final scheduled maturity date equal to or later than the final scheduled maturity date of the Refinanced Debt (or, if earlier, the date that is 91 days after the Interim Bridge Loan Maturity Date of the Loans);

(3) to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness Refinances (i) Subordinated Indebtedness (other than Subordinated Indebtedness assumed or acquired in an acquisition and not created in contemplation thereof), unless such Refinancing constitutes a Restricted Payment permitted by Section 7.05, such Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated to the Loans or the Guaranty thereof at least to the same extent as the applicable Refinanced Debt, or (ii) Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such Refinancing Indebtedness must be Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, respectively;

(4) such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not be guaranteed or borrowed by any Person other than a Person that is so obligated in respect of the Refinanced Debt being Refinanced; and

(5) such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not be secured by any assets or property that does not secure the Refinanced Debt being Refinanced ( plus improvements, accessions, proceeds or dividends or distributions in respect thereof and after-acquired property);

provided that Refinancing Indebtedness will not include:

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

(b) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Guarantor that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Guarantor; or

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

provided further that (x) clause (2) of this definition will not apply to any Refinancing of any Indebtedness other than Indebtedness incurred under clause (ii) of Section 7.02(b) (including any successive Refinancings thereof incurred under clause (xiii) of Section 7.02(b)) and any Subordinated Indebtedness (other than Subordinated Indebtedness assumed or acquired in an Investment or acquisition and not created in contemplation thereof), Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock and (y) Refinancing Indebtedness may be incurred in the form of a bridge or other interim credit facility intended to be Refinanced with long-term indebtedness (and such bridge or other interim credit facility shall be deemed to satisfy clause (2) of this definition so long as (x) such credit facility includes customary “rollover” provisions and (y) assuming such credit facility were to be extended pursuant to such “rollover” provisions, such extended credit facility would comply with clause (2) of this definition).

 

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Refunding Capital Stock ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.05(b)(ii).

Register ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(c).

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

Related Indemnified Person ” of an Indemnitee means (1) any controlling Person or controlled Affiliate of such Indemnitee, (2) the respective directors, officers, partners, employees, advisors or successors of such Indemnitee or any of its controlling Persons or controlled Affiliates and (3) the respective agents, trustees and other representatives of such Indemnitee or any of its controlling Persons or controlled Affiliates, in the case of this clause (3), acting at the instructions of such Indemnitee, controlling Person or such controlled Affiliate; provided that each reference to a controlled Affiliate or controlling Person in this definition pertains to a controlled Affiliate or controlling Person involved in the negotiation of this Agreement or the syndication of the Facilities. For purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise.

Related Person ” means, with respect to any Person, (a) any Affiliate of such Person, (b) the respective directors, officers, partners, employees, advisors, agents, trustees and other representatives of such Person or any of its Affiliates and (c) the successors and permitted assigns of such Person or any of its Affiliates.

Release ” means any release, spill, emission, discharge, deposit, disposal, leaking, pumping, pouring, dumping, emptying, injection or leaching into or migration through the Environment.

Reportable Event ” means, with respect to any Pension Plan, 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.

Required Lenders ” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having more than 50% of the sum of the Total Outstandings; provided that 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 the Loans of any Affiliated Lender shall in each case be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders unless the action in question affects such Affiliated Lender in a disproportionately adverse manner than its effect on the other Lenders.

Responsible Officer ” means, with respect to a Person, the chief executive officer, chief operating officer, president, executive vice president, chief financial officer, treasurer or assistant treasurer or other similar officer or Person performing similar functions, of such Person and, solely for purposes of notices given pursuant to Article II, any other officer or employee of the applicable Loan Party so designated by any of the foregoing officers in a notice to the Administrative Agent or any other officer or employee of the applicable Loan Party designated in or pursuant to an agreement between the applicable Loan Party and the Administrative Agent. With respect to any document delivered by a Loan Party on the Effective Date, Responsible Officer includes 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, partnership 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. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Responsible Officer” shall refer to a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.

Restricted Investment ” means any Investment other than any Permitted Investment(s).

 

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Restricted Payment ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.05.

Restricted Subsidiary ” means, at any time, any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Borrower (including any Foreign Subsidiary) that is not then an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event will any Securitization Subsidiary be considered a Restricted Subsidiary for purposes of Section 8.01(5), (6) or (7); provided further that upon the occurrence of an Unrestricted Subsidiary ceasing to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary, such Subsidiary will be included in the definition of “Restricted Subsidiary.” Wherever the term “Restricted Subsidiary” is used herein with respect to any Subsidiary of a referenced Person that is not the Borrower, then it will be construed to mean a Person that would be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower on a pro forma basis following consummation of one or a series of related transactions involving such referenced Person and the Borrower (unless such transaction would include a designation of a Subsidiary of such Person as an Unrestricted Subsidiary on a pro forma basis in accordance with this Agreement).

Rule 144A ” means Rule 144A 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-Leaseback Transaction ” means any arrangement providing for the leasing by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of any real or tangible personal property, which property has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary to a third Person in contemplation of such leasing.

Same Day Funds ” means disbursements and payments in immediately available funds.

Sanctions ” has the meaning specified in Section 5.17.

SEC ” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.

Secured Indebtedness ” means any Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary 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 (a) the accounts receivable, royalty or other revenue streams and other rights to payment and other assets related thereto subject to a Qualified Securitization Facility and the proceeds thereof and (b) contract rights, lockbox accounts and records with respect to such accounts receivable and any other assets customarily transferred together with accounts receivable in a securitization financing.

Securitization Facility ” means any transaction or series of securitization financings that may be entered into by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to which the Borrower or any such Restricted Subsidiary may sell, convey or otherwise transfer, or may grant a security interest in, Securitization Assets to either (a) a Person that is not the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary or (b) a Securitization Subsidiary that in turn sells such Securitization Assets to a Person that is not the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary, or may grant a security interest in, any Securitization Assets of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

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 and expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel) 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.

 

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Senior Credit Facilities ” means, collectively, the senior secured term loan facility and the senior secured revolving facility 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, whether or not secured, 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 (provided that such increase in borrowings is permitted under Section 7.02) 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.

Senior Exchange Notes ” means (a) the senior unsecured notes to be issued pursuant to the terms of Section 2.15 under the Senior Exchange Notes Indenture, together with interest, fees and all other amounts payable in connection therewith, and (b) any modification, replacement, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension thereof.

Senior Exchange Notes Indenture ” means an indenture containing such terms, conditions and covenants described in Annex II to Exhibit C to the Commitment Letter (with such changes as the Senior Exchange Notes Trustee or the Administrative Agent may reasonably request to effect the provisions of this Agreement and to comply with any applicable Requirement of Law, regulations or trustee procedures or policies, including such changes as are reasonably necessary to cause the Senior Exchange Notes to become eligible for deposit at the DTC, provided that no such changes shall be adverse in any material respect to the interests of the Borrower or the Lenders or would be adverse in any material respect to a holder of Senior Exchange Notes upon issuance) to be entered into in connection with the initial issuance of the Senior Exchange Notes.

Senior Exchange Notes Trustee ” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.15.

Senior Indebtedness ” means:

(1) all Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Guarantor outstanding under the Senior Credit Facilities and the Loans and any related Guaranty (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or similar proceeding or for reorganization of the Borrower 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 Closing Date or thereafter created or incurred) and all obligations of the Borrower or any Guarantor to reimburse any bank or other Person in respect of amounts paid under letters of credit, acceptances or other similar instruments;

(2) all (a) Hedging Obligations (and guarantees thereof) and (b) obligations in respect of Cash Management Services (and guarantees thereof), in the case of each of clauses (a) and (b), owing to a lender under the Senior 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 Cash Management Services, as the case may be, are permitted to be incurred under the terms of this Agreement;

(3) any other Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Guarantor permitted to be incurred under the terms of this Agreement, unless the instrument under which such Indebtedness is incurred expressly provides that it is subordinated in right of payment to the Loans or any related Guaranty; and

(4) all Obligations with respect to the items listed in the preceding clauses (1), (2) and (3);

provided that Senior Indebtedness will not include:

(a) any obligation of such Person to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;

 

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

(c) any accounts payable or other liability to trade creditors arising in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(d) 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

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

Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio ” means, with respect to any Test Period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Secured Debt outstanding on the last day of such Test Period minus the aggregate amount of cash and Cash Equivalents of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on such date that (x) would not appear as “restricted” on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries or (y) are restricted in favor of the Senior Credit Facilities (which may also secure other Indebtedness secured by a pari passu or junior Lien on the collateral securing the Senior Credit Facilities along with the Senior Credit Facilities), to (b) Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower for such Test Period, in each case on a pro forma basis with such pro forma adjustments as are appropriate and consistent with Section 1.07.

Senior Subordinated Notes ” means any Indebtedness issued to the Investors pursuant to the Investment Agreement on the Closing Date in lieu of Preferred Stock.

Significant Holder ” means Ralf Schmid, the indirect owner, as of the date hereof, of approximately 61% of the outstanding shares of stock of the Target.

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

Similar Business ” means (1) any business conducted or proposed to be conducted by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary on the Effective Date or (2) any business or other activities that are reasonably similar, ancillary, incidental, complementary or related to (including non-core incidental businesses acquired in connection with any Permitted Investment), or a reasonable extension, development or expansion of, the businesses that the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries conduct or propose to conduct on the Effective Date.

Solvent ” and “ Solvency ” mean, with respect to any Person on any date of determination, that on such date:

(1) the fair value of the assets of such Person exceeds its debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise,

(2) the present fair saleable value of the property of such Person is greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of its debts and other liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured,

(3) such Person is able to pay its debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such liabilities become absolute and matured and

(4) such Person is not engaged in, and is not about to engage in, business for which it has 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.

 

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SPC ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(g).

Specified Representations ” means those representations and warranties made in Sections 5.01(1) (with respect to the organizational existence of the Loan Parties only), 5.01(2)(b), 5.02(1), 5.02(2)(a), 5.04, 5.13, 5.16 and the last sentence of 5.17 (as related only to the use of proceeds of the Loans on the Closing Date not violating the USA PATRIOT Act or Sanctions).

Specified Transaction ” means:

(1) solely for the purposes of determining the applicable cash balance, any contribution of capital, including as a result of an Equity Offering, to the Borrower, in each case, in connection with an acquisition or Investment,

(2) any designation of operations or assets of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary as discontinued operations (as defined under GAAP),

(3) any Investment that results in a Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary,

(4) any designation of a Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary in compliance with this Agreement,

(5) any purchase or other acquisition of a business of any Person, of assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division of any Person,

(6) any Asset Sale (without regard to any de minimis thresholds set forth therein) (a) that results in a Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Subsidiary of the Borrower or (b) of a business, business unit, line of business or division of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary, in each case whether by merger, amalgamation, consolidation or otherwise,

(7) any operational changes identified by the Borrower that have been made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during the Test Period, or

(8) any Restricted Payment or other transaction that by the terms of this Agreement requires a financial ratio to be calculated on a pro forma basis.

Sponsor Subordinated Debt ” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Equity Contribution”.

Sterling ” means the lawful currency of the United Kingdom.

Subordinated Indebtedness ” means any Indebtedness of any Loan Party that by its terms is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations of such Loan Party arising under the Loans or the Guaranty.

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person:

(1) 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, members of management 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

 

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

(a) 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

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

Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower.

Successor Borrower ” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Borrower.”

Supplemental Administrative Agent ” and “ Supplemental Administrative Agents ” have the meanings specified in Section 9.12(1).

Swap Obligation ” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Excluded Swap Obligation.”

Target ” has the meaning specified in the Preliminary Statements of this Agreement.

TARGET Day ” shall mean any day on which the Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross Settlement Express Transfer (TARGET2) payment system which utilizes a single shared platform and which was launched on 19 November 2007 (or, if such payment system ceases to be operative, such other payment system (if any) reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent to be a suitable replacement) is open for the settlement of payments in Euro.

Tax ” means any present or future tax, levy, impost, duty, assessment, charge, fee, deduction or withholding (including backup withholding) of any nature and whatever called, imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax and penalties applicable thereto.

Tax Indemnitee ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(5).

Tender Documents ” means all of the documents, schedules and exhibits related to the Offer as are required to effect the Offer as in effect on the Effective Date, as each may be amended, modified, supplemented or waived from time to time, in accordance with Section 6.14.

Tender Effectiveness ” means the Borrower having received acceptance from holders representing at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the shares in the Target in respect of the Borrower’s Offer made in accordance with the terms of the Tender Documents, as confirmed by Dom Maklerski Banku Handlowego S.A. as tender agent for the Offer following expiration of the Offer’s subscription period.

Tender Issuing Bank ” means Citibank, N.A.

Tender Letter of Credit ” means that certain letter of credit issued for the account of AcquisitionCo, at or before the commencement of the Offer, to be issued by the Tender Issuing Bank in favor of Dom Maklerski Banku Handlowego S.A. pursuant to the Agreement for Standby Letter of Credit and the L/C Fee Letter.

Termination Conditions ” means, (1) the termination of the Loan Documents in accordance with the second paragraph of Section 2.01 or (2) (a) the payment in full in cash of the Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations not then due) and (b) the termination of the Commitments.

 

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Test Period ” in effect at any time means the most recent period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower ended on or prior to such time (taken as one accounting period) in respect of which, subject to Section 1.07(1), financial statements for each quarter or fiscal year in such period have been or are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(1) or (2), as applicable; provided that, prior to the first date that financial statements have been or are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(1) or (2), the Test Period in effect shall be the period of four consecutive full fiscal quarters of the Borrower ended prior to the Closing Date for which financial statements would have been required to be delivered hereunder had the Closing Date occurred prior to the end of such period.

Threshold Amount ” means $40.0 million.

Total Assets ” means, at any time, the total assets of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, as shown on the then most recent balance sheet of the Borrower or such other Person as may be available (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) (and, in the case of any determination relating to any Specified Transaction, on a pro forma basis including any property or assets being acquired in connection therewith).

Total Cap ” means 10.50% per annum until the date upon which the Equity Contribution has been approved by the Mexican Competition Bureau and the Buyer has received the requisite approvals pursuant to the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 and upon such date, the Total Cap shall decrease to 9.50%, but in each case, the Total Cap shall increase by an additional 25 basis points after August 1, 2017.

Total Net Leverage Ratio ” means, with respect to any Test Period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Debt outstanding as of the last day of such Test Period ( plus , solely for the purposes of testing the Total Net Leverage Ratio under Section 7.02(b)(xiv)(c), the aggregate liquidation preference of (i) all Disqualified Stock of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP and (ii) all Preferred Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent held by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary), in each case, outstanding on the last day of such Test Period), minus, the aggregate amount of cash and Cash Equivalents of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on such date that (x) would not appear as “restricted” on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries or (y) restricted in favor of the Facilities (which may also secure other Indebtedness secured by a pari passu or junior Lien on the collateral securing the Senior Credit Facilities along with the Senior Credit Facilities) to (b) Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such Test Period, in each case on a pro forma basis with such pro forma adjustments as are appropriate and consistent with Section 1.07.

Total Outstandings ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Credit Agreement.

Traded Securities ” means any debt or equity securities issued pursuant to a public offering or Rule 144A offering.

Transaction Consideration ” means an amount equal to the total funds required to consummate the Offer, as contemplated by the Undertaking Agreement and the Tender Documents.

Transaction Expenses ” means any fees, expenses, costs or charges incurred or paid by the Investors, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with the Transactions, including any expenses in connection with hedging transactions, if any, payments to officers, employees and directors as change of control payments, severance payments, special or retention bonuses and charges for repurchase or rollover of, or modifications to, stock options or restricted stock.

Transactions ” means, collectively, the transactions contemplated by the Undertaking Agreement and the Tender Documents (as amended through the Effective Date) and transactions related or incidental to, or in connection with, such transactions, the funding of the Loans, the entering into of the Senior Credit Facilities on the Closing Date, the consummation of the Equity Contribution and Closing Date Refinancing and the payment of the Transaction Expenses.

 

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Treasury Capital Stock ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.05(b)(ii)(a).

Undertaking Agreement ” means the Agreement Regarding Irrevocable Undertakings among Uniwheels Holding (Malta) Ltd., the Significant Holder and AcquisitionCo, dated on or about the Effective Date, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.

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 or the Uniform Commercial Code or any successor provision thereof (or similar code or statute) of another jurisdiction, to the extent it may be required to apply to the perfection or priority of any Lien on or otherwise with regard to any item or items of collateral.

United States ” and “ U.S .” each means the United States of America.

United States Tax Compliance Certificate ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(3)(b)(iii).

Unrestricted Subsidiary ” means:

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

(2) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

The Borrower may designate:

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

(i) such designation shall be deemed an Investment;

(ii) each of (i) the Subsidiary to be so designated and (ii) 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 Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than Equity Interests in an Unrestricted Subsidiary); and

(iii) immediately after giving effect to such designation, no Event of Default will have occurred and be continuing; and

(b) any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that:

(i) immediately after giving effect to such designation, no Event of Default will have occurred and be continuing; and

(ii) the Borrower (A) could incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Interest Coverage Test or (B) the Interest Coverage Ratio after giving effect to any such designation would be no less than the Interest Coverage Ratio immediately prior to giving effect to such designation.

Any such designation by the Borrower will be notified by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent by promptly filing with the Administrative Agent an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions. The designation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary shall constitute the incurrence at the time of designation of any Indebtedness and Liens of such Subsidiary existing at such time.

 

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U.S. Lender ” means any Lender that is not a Foreign Lender.

USA PATRIOT Act ” means The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (Title III of Public Law No. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), as amended or modified from time to time.

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

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

(1) the sum of the products of the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twenty-fifth) from the date of determination to the date of each successive scheduled principal payment of such Indebtedness or redemption or similar payment with respect to such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, multiplied by the amount of such payment, by

(2) the sum of all such payments;

provided that for purposes of determining the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any Indebtedness that is being Refinanced (the “ Applicable Indebtedness ”), the effects of any amortization or prepayments made on such Applicable Indebtedness prior to the date of the applicable Refinancing will be disregarded.

wholly owned ” means, with respect to any Subsidiary of any Person, a Subsidiary of such Person one hundred percent (100%) of the outstanding Equity Interests of which (other than (x) directors’ qualifying shares and (y) shares of Capital Stock of Foreign Subsidiaries issued to foreign nationals as required by applicable Law) is at the time owned by such Person or by one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

Withdrawal Liability ” means the liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.

Withholding U.S. Branch ” means a U.S. branch of a non-U.S. bank treated as a U.S. person for purposes of Treasury Regulations Section 1.1441-1 and described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.1441-1(b)(2)(iv) that agrees, on IRS Form W-8IMY or such other form prescribed by the Treasury or the IRS, to accept responsibility for all U.S. federal income tax withholding and information reporting with respect to payments made to the Administrative Agent for the account of Lenders by or on behalf of any Loan Party under the Loan Documents.

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 ” means the lawful currency of Japan.

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.

 

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(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) References in this Agreement to the Preliminary Statements, the introductory paragraph, an Exhibit, a Schedule, an Article, a Section, an Annex, a clause or a subclause refer (a) to the Preliminary Statements, the introductory paragraph, or appropriate Exhibit or Schedule to, or Article, Section, clause or subclause in this Agreement, as the case may be, or (b) to the extent such references are not present in this Agreement, to the Loan Document in which such reference appears, in each case as such Exhibit, Schedule, Article, Section, Annex, clause or subclause may be amended or supplemented from time to time.

(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.

(h) The word “or” is not intended to be exclusive unless expressly indicated otherwise.

(i) For purposes of determining compliance with any Section of Article VII, in the event that any Lien, Investment, Indebtedness, Asset Sale, Restricted Payment, Affiliate Transaction, Contractual Obligation or prepayment of Indebtedness meets the criteria of one or more of the categories of transactions permitted pursuant to any clause of such Sections, such transaction (or portion thereof) at any time, shall be permitted under one or more of such clauses as determined by the Borrower in its sole discretion at such time. For purposes of determining compliance with the incurrence of any Indebtedness under Designated Revolving Commitments in reliance on compliance with any ratio, if on the date such Designated Revolving Commitments are established, the applicable ratio is satisfied after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence of the entire committed amount of then proposed Indebtedness thereunder, then such committed amount under such Designated Revolving Commitments may thereafter be borrowed and reborrowed, in whole or in part, from time to time, without further compliance with any ratio.

(j) For purposes hereof, unless otherwise specifically indicated, the term “consolidated” with respect to any Person refers to such Person consolidated with its Restricted Subsidiaries and excludes from such consolidation any Unrestricted Subsidiary as if such Unrestricted Subsidiary were not an Affiliate of such Person.

SECTION 1.03 Accounting Terms . 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, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein. Unless the context indicates otherwise, any reference to a “fiscal year” or a “fiscal quarter” shall refer to a fiscal year ending December 31 or fiscal quarter ending March 31, June 30, September 30 or December 31 of the Borrower. Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made, without giving effect to any election under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 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.

 

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SECTION 1.04 Rounding . Any financial ratios 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).

SECTION 1.05 References to Agreements, Laws, etc . Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (1) references to Organizational 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 not prohibited by any Loan Document; and (2) 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 and Timing of Payment and Performance . Unless otherwise specified, (1) all references herein to times of day shall be references to New York time (daylight or standard, as applicable) and (2) 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 1.07 Pro Forma and Other Calculations .

(1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, financial ratios and tests, including the Secured Net Leverage Ratio, the Total Net Leverage Ratio and the Interest Coverage Ratio shall be calculated in the manner prescribed by this Section 1.07. In addition, whenever a financial ratio or test is to be calculated on a pro forma basis, the reference to “Test Period” for purposes of calculating such financial ratio or test shall be deemed to be a reference to, and shall be based on, the most recently ended Test Period for which internal financial statements of the Borrower are available (as determined in good faith by the Borrower).

(2) For purposes of calculating any financial ratio or test (or Consolidated EBITDA or Total Assets), Specified Transactions (and, subject to clause (4) below, the incurrence or repayment of any Indebtedness in connection therewith) that have been made (a) during the applicable Test Period or (b) subsequent to such Test Period and prior to or simultaneously with the event for which the calculation of any such ratio is made shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Specified Transactions (and any increase or decrease in Consolidated EBITDA and the component financial definitions used therein attributable to any Specified Transaction) had occurred on the first day of the applicable Test Period (or, in the case of Total Assets, on the last day of the applicable Test Period). If since the beginning of any applicable Test Period any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such Test Period shall have made any Specified Transaction that would have required adjustment pursuant to this Section 1.07, then such financial ratio or test (or Consolidated EBITDA or Total Assets) shall be calculated to give pro forma effect thereto in accordance with this Section 1.07.

(3) Whenever pro forma effect is to be given to a Specified Transaction, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a Financial Officer of the Borrower and may include, for the avoidance of doubt, the amount of “run-rate” cost savings, operating expense reductions and synergies projected by the Borrower in good faith to result from or relating to any Specified Transaction (including the Transactions and, for the avoidance of doubt, acquisitions occurring prior to the Closing Date) which is being given pro forma effect that have been realized or are expected to be realized and for which the actions necessary to realize such cost savings, operating expense reductions and synergies are taken, committed to be taken or with respect to which substantial steps have been taken or are expected to be taken (in the good faith determination of the Borrower) (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 and as if such cost savings, operating expense reductions and synergies were realized during the entirety of such period and “run-rate” means the full recurring benefit for a period that is associated with any action taken, committed to be taken or with respect to which substantial steps have been taken or are expected to be taken (including any savings expected to result from the elimination of a public target’s compliance costs with public company requirements), whether prior to or following the Effective Date, net of the amount of actual benefits realized during such period from such actions, and any such adjustments shall be included in the initial pro forma calculations of

 

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such financial ratios or tests and during any subsequent Test Period in which the effects thereof are expected to be realized) relating to such Specified Transaction; provided that (a) such amounts are reasonably identifiable and factually supportable in the good faith judgment of the Borrower, (b) such actions are taken, committed to be taken or with respect to which substantial steps have been taken or are expected to be taken no later than twenty-four (24) months after the date of such Specified Transaction (or actions undertaken or implemented prior to the consummation of such Specified Transaction); provided further that, with respect to the Transactions, such period shall be thirty-six (36) months, and (c) no amounts shall be added to the extent duplicative of any amounts that are otherwise added back in computing Consolidated EBITDA (or any other components thereof), whether through a pro forma adjustment or otherwise, with respect to such period.

(4) In the event that (a) the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary incurs (including by assumption or guarantees), issues or repays (including by redemption, repurchase, repayment, retirement, discharge, defeasance or extinguishment) any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness incurred or repaid under any revolving credit facility or line of credit unless such Indebtedness has been permanently repaid and not replaced), (b) the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary issues, repurchases or redeems Disqualified Stock, (c) any Restricted Subsidiary issues, repurchases or redeems Preferred Stock or (d) the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary establishes or eliminates any Designated Revolving Commitments, in each case included in the calculations of any financial ratio or test, (i) during the applicable Test Period or (ii) subsequent to the end of the applicable Test Period and prior to or simultaneously with the event for which the calculation of any such ratio is made, then such financial ratio or test shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, issuance, repayment or redemption of Indebtedness, issuance, repurchase or redemption of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, or establishment or elimination of any Designated Revolving Commitments, in each case to the extent required, as if the same had occurred on the last day of the applicable Test Period (except in the case of the Interest Coverage Ratio (or similar ratio), in which case such incurrence, issuance, repayment or redemption of Indebtedness, issuance, repurchase or redemption of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, or establishment or elimination of any Designated Revolving Commitments, in each case will be given effect, as if the same had occurred on the first day of the applicable Test Period) and, in the case of Indebtedness for all purposes as if such Indebtedness in the full amount of any undrawn Designated Revolving Commitments had been incurred thereunder throughout such period; provided , however , that at the election of the Borrower, the pro forma calculation will not give effect to any Indebtedness incurred on such determination date pursuant to the provisions described in Section 7.02(c).

(5) 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 date of the event for which the calculation of the Interest Coverage Ratio is made had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any interest hedging arrangements applicable to such Indebtedness). Interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by a Financial Officer of the Borrower to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP. 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 determined to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as the Borrower or applicable Restricted Subsidiary may designate.

(6) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 1.07 or in any classification under GAAP of any Person, business, assets or operations in respect of which a definitive agreement for the disposition thereof has been entered into, no pro forma effect shall be given to any discontinued operations (and the Consolidated EBITDA attributable to any such Person, business, assets or operations shall not be excluded for any purposes hereunder) until such disposition shall have been consummated.

(7) Any determination of Total Assets shall be made by reference to the last day of the Test Period most recently ended for which internal financial statements of the Borrower are available (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) on or prior to the relevant date of determination.

(8) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any Loan Document to the contrary, when (a) calculating any applicable ratio, Consolidated Net Income or Consolidated EBITDA in connection with the incurrence of Indebtedness, the issuance of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, the creation of Liens, the making of any Asset Sale, the making of an Investment, the making of a Restricted Payment, the designation of a Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary or the repayment of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred

 

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Stock, (b) determining compliance with any provision of this Agreement which requires that no Default or Event of Default has occurred, is continuing or would result therefrom, (c) determining compliance with any provision of this Agreement which requires compliance with any representations and warranties set forth herein or (d) determining the satisfaction of all other conditions precedent to the incurrence of Indebtedness, the issuance of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, the creation of Liens, the making of any Asset Sale, the making of an Investment, the making of a Restricted Payment, the designation of a Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary or the repayment of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, in each case in connection with a Limited Condition Transaction, the date of determination of such ratio or other provisions, determination of whether any Default or Event of Default has occurred, is continuing or would result therefrom, determination of compliance with any representations or warranties or the satisfaction of any other conditions shall, at the option of the Borrower (the Borrower’s election to exercise such option in connection with any Limited Condition Transaction, an “ LCT Election ,” which LCT Election may be in respect of one or more of clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) above), be deemed to be the date the definitive agreements (or other relevant definitive documentation) for such Limited Condition Transaction are entered into (the “ LCT Test Date ”). If on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such Limited Condition Transaction and the other transactions to be entered into in connection therewith (including any incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, and the use of proceeds thereof), with such ratios and other provisions calculated as if such Limited Condition Transaction or other transactions had occurred at the beginning of the most recent Test Period ending prior to the LCT Test Date for which internal financial statements are available, the Borrower could have taken such action on the relevant LCT Test Date in compliance with the applicable ratios or other provisions, such provisions shall be deemed to have been complied with, unless an Event of Default pursuant to Section 8.01(1), or, solely with respect to the Borrower, Section 8.01(6) shall be continuing on the date such Limited Condition Transaction is consummated. For the avoidance of doubt, (i) if, following the LCT Test Date, any of such ratios or other provisions are exceeded or breached as a result of fluctuations in such ratio (including due to fluctuations in Consolidated EBITDA or other components of such ratio) or other provisions at or prior to the consummation of the relevant Limited Condition Transactions, such ratios and other provisions will not be deemed to have been exceeded or failed to have been satisfied as a result of such fluctuations solely for purposes of determining whether the Limited Condition Transaction is permitted hereunder and (ii) such ratios and compliance with such conditions shall not be tested at the time of consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction or related Specified Transactions, unless, other than if an Event of Default pursuant to Section 8.01(1), or, solely with respect to the Borrower, Section 8.01(6), shall be continuing on such date, the Borrower elects, in its sole discretion, to test such ratios and compliance with such conditions on the date such Limited Condition Transaction or related Specified Transactions is consummated. If the Borrower has made an LCT Election for any Limited Condition Transaction, then in connection with any subsequent calculation of any ratio, Basket availability or compliance with any other provision hereunder (other than actual compliance with the Financial Covenant) on or following the relevant LCT Test Date and prior to the earliest of the date on which such Limited Condition Transaction is consummated, the date that the definitive agreement for such Limited Condition Transaction is terminated or expires without consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction or the date the Borrower makes an election pursuant to clause (y) of the immediately preceding sentence, any such ratio, Basket or compliance with any other provision hereunder shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming such Limited Condition Transaction and other transactions in connection therewith (including any incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, and the use of proceeds thereof) had been consummated on the LCT Test Date; provided that for purposes of any such calculation of the Interest Coverage Ratio, Consolidated Interest Expense will be calculated using an assumed interest rate for the Indebtedness to be incurred in connection with such Limited Condition Transaction based on the indicative interest margin contained in any financing commitment documentation with respect to such Indebtedness or, if no such indicative interest margin exists, as reasonably determined by the Borrower in good faith. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any Loan Document to the contrary, if the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries (x) incurs Indebtedness, issues Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, creates Liens, makes Asset Sales, makes Investments, makes Restricted Payments, designates any Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary or repays any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock in connection with any Limited Condition Transaction under a ratio-based Basket and (y) incurs Indebtedness, issues Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, creates Liens, makes Asset Sales, Investments or Restricted Payments, designates any as a Restricted Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary or repays any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock in connection with such Limited Condition Transaction under a non-ratio-based Basket (which shall occur within five Business Days of the events in clause (x) above), then the applicable ratio will be calculated with respect to any such action under the applicable ratio-based Basket without regard to any such action under such non-ratio-based Basket made in connection with such Limited Condition Transaction.

 

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SECTION 1.08 Restricted Payment Transaction . 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 specified in clause (3) of Section 7.05(a) 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, i.e., each transaction must be permitted under clause (3) of Section 7.05(a) as so calculated.

SECTION 1.09 Guaranties of Hedging Obligations . Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary in any Loan Document, no non-Qualified ECP Guarantor shall be required to guarantee or provide security for Excluded Swap Obligations, and any reference in any Loan Document with respect to such non-Qualified ECP Guarantor guaranteeing or providing security for the Obligations shall be deemed to be all Obligations other than the Excluded Swap Obligations.

SECTION 1.10 Currency Generally . If any basket under Article VII or VIII with respect to any amount expressed in a currency other than Dollars is exceeded solely as a result of fluctuations in applicable currency exchange rates after the last time such basket was utilized, such basket will not be deemed to have been exceeded solely as a result of such fluctuations in currency exchange rates.

For purposes of determining the Secured Net Leverage Ratio and the Total Net Leverage Ratio, the amount of Indebtedness and cash and Cash Equivalents shall reflect the currency translation effects, determined in accordance with GAAP, of Hedging Obligations permitted hereunder for currency exchange risks with respect to the applicable currency in effect on the date of determination of the Dollar equivalent of such Indebtedness.

Article II

The Commitments and Borrowings

SECTION 2.01 The Loans .

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make to the Borrower a single interim bridge term loan (each, individually, an “ Interim Bridge Loan ” and collectively, the “ I n terim Bridge Loans ”) denominated in Euros in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed such Lender’s Closing Date Bridge Loan Commitment as set forth in Schedule 2.01 attached hereto. If on the Interim Bridge Loan Maturity Date (i) the Interim Bridge Loans have not been repaid in full and (ii) no Event of Default under Section 8.01(6) has occurred and is continuing, then, on the Interim Bridge Loan Maturity Date, all of the outstanding Interim Bridge Loans shall be converted into the extended term loans (“ Extended Term Loans ”) maturing on the Extended Term Loan Maturity Date. On and after the Interim Bridge Loan Maturity Date, the outstanding principal amount of Extended Term Loans may, at each Lender’s option, be exchanged into Senior Exchange Notes in accordance with the terms set forth in Section 2.15. Amounts borrowed under Section 2.01 and repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, in the event that the Closing Date does not occur on or before the termination of the Tender Letter of Credit in accordance with its terms, then this Agreement and the commitments and undertakings of each Agent and Lender and under the other Loan Documents shall automatically terminate.

SECTION 2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans .

(1) The Borrowing and each continuation of LIBO Rate Loans shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice, on behalf of the Borrower, to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by: (A) telephone or (B) a Loan Notice; provided that any telephonic notice by the Borrower must be confirmed immediately by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a Loan Notice. Such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m., New York time; provided that the notice may be delivered not later than 1:00 p.m., New York time, two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing Date ( provided that upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 4.02, the Borrower shall be deemed to have delivered such borrowing notice ( provided further that such deemed borrowing notice shall be without derogation of the Borrower’s obligation to provide a borrowing notice in respect

 

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of such Borrowing in accordance with the terms of the Section 2.02)). A telephonic notice by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.02(1) must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Each continuation of LIBO Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of €1.0 million or a whole multiple amount of €250,000 in excess thereof. Each Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify:

(i) whether the Borrower is requesting a continuation of LIBO Rate Loans,

(ii) the requested date of the Borrowing or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day),

(iii) the principal amount of Loans to be borrowed or continued,

(iv) the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto and

(v) wire instructions of the account(s) to which funds are to be disbursed.

(2) If the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a continuation, then the applicable Loans shall be continued with a one-month Interest Period. Any such automatic continuation of LIBO Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable LIBO Rate Loans. If the Borrower requests a Borrowing of or continuation of LIBO Rate Loans in any such Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one (1) month.

(3) Following receipt of a Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement, and if no timely notice of a continuation is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic continuation of LIBO Rate Loans. In the case of each Borrowing, each 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 10:00 a.m., New York time, on the Business Day specified in the applicable Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Article IV for any Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (a) crediting the account(s) of the Borrower on the books of the Administrative Agent with the amount of such funds or (b) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided by the Borrower to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent.

(4) Except as otherwise provided herein, a LIBO Rate Loan may be continued only on the last day of an Interest Period for such LIBO Rate Loan, unless the Borrower pays the amount due, if any, under Section 3.05 in connection therewith. Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent at the direction of the Required Lenders may require by notice to the Borrower that no Loans may be continued as LIBO Rate Loans.

(5) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for LIBO Rate Loans upon determination of such interest rate. The determination of the Eurodollar Rate by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.

(6) After giving effect to all Borrowings and all continuations of Loans, there shall not be more than six (6) Interest Periods in effect unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

(7) 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.

(8) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s Pro Rata Share or

 

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other applicable share provided for under this Agreement of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such Pro Rata Share and such other applicable share available to the Administrative Agent on the date of such Borrowing in accordance with paragraph (2) above, and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower on such date a corresponding amount. If the Administrative Agent shall have so made funds available, then, to the extent that such Lender shall not have made such portion available to the Administrative Agent, each of such Lender and the Borrower severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is made available to the Borrower until the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at (a) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable at the time to the Loans comprising such Borrowing and (b) in the case of such Lender, the Overnight Rate plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in accordance with the foregoing. A certificate of the Administrative Agent submitted to any Lender with respect to any amounts owing under this Section 2.02(8) shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. If the Borrower and such Lender shall both pay all or any portion of the principal amount in respect of such Borrowing or interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such Borrowing or interest paid by the Borrower for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing. Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

SECTION 2.03 Prepayments .

(1) Optional .

(a) The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, at any time or from time to time, voluntarily prepay any Loans in whole or in part at par, without premium (except as set forth in Section 2.16) or penalty; provided that

(i) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m., New York time, three (3) Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of LIBO Rate Loans; and

(ii) any prepayment of LIBO Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of €1.0 million or a whole multiple of €250,000 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. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share 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 LIBO Rate Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest thereon, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05. In the case of each prepayment of the Loans pursuant to this Section 2.03(1), the Borrower may in its sole discretion select the Borrowing or Borrowings (and the order of maturity of principal payments) to be repaid, and such payment shall be paid to the Appropriate Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Borrower may rescind (or delay the date of prepayment identified in) any notice of prepayment under Section 2.03(1)(a) by written notice to the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 p.m., New York time, on such prepayment date if such prepayment would have resulted from a refinancing of all or a portion of the Loans or other conditional event, which refinancing or other conditional event shall not be consummated or shall otherwise be delayed.

(c) Voluntary prepayments of any Loans permitted hereunder shall be applied to the remaining scheduled installments of principal thereof in a manner determined at the discretion of the Borrower and specified in the notice of prepayment (and absent such direction, in direct order of maturity).

 

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(2) Mandatory .

(a) Prior to the Interim Bridge Loan Maturity Date, if (x) the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary makes an Asset Sale or (y) any Casualty Event occurs, which results in the realization or receipt by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary of Net Proceeds, the Borrower shall prepay, or cause to be prepaid, on or prior to the date which is ten (10) Business Days after the date of the realization or receipt by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary of such Net Proceeds, subject to Section 2.03(2)(b) and clauses (2)(e) and (f) of this Section 2.03(2), an aggregate principal amount of Interim Bridge Loans equal to 100% of all Net Proceeds realized or received; provided that no prepayment shall be required pursuant to this Section 2.03(2)(a) with respect to such portion of such Net Proceeds that the Borrower shall have, on or prior to such date, given written notice to the Administrative Agent of its intent to reinvest (or entered into a binding commitment to reinvest) in accordance with Section 2.03(2)(b); provided further that

(i) if at the time that any such prepayment would be required, the Borrower (or any Restricted Subsidiary) is required to Discharge any Other Applicable Indebtedness with Other Applicable Net Proceeds pursuant to the terms of the documentation governing such Indebtedness, then the Borrower (or any Restricted Subsidiary) may apply such Net Proceeds otherwise required to repay the Interim Bridge Loans pursuant to this Section 2.03(2)(a) on a pro rata basis (determined on the basis of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Interim Bridge Loans and Other Applicable Indebtedness requiring such Discharge at such time), to the prepayment of the Interim Bridge Loans and to the repurchase or prepayment of Other Applicable Indebtedness, and the amount of prepayment of the Interim Bridge Loans that would have otherwise been required pursuant to this Section 2.03(2)(a) shall be reduced accordingly ( provided that the portion of such Net Proceeds allocated to the Other Applicable Indebtedness shall not exceed the amount of such Other Applicable Net Proceeds required to be allocated to the Other Applicable Indebtedness pursuant to the terms thereof and the remaining amount, if any, of such portion of Net Proceeds shall be allocated to the Interim Bridge Loans to the extent required in accordance with the terms of this Section 2.03(2)(a)); and

(ii) to the extent the holders of Other Applicable Indebtedness decline to have such Indebtedness repurchased or prepaid with such portion of such Net Proceeds, 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 Interim Bridge Loans to the extent required in accordance with the terms of this Section 2.03(2)(a).

(b) With respect to any Net Proceeds realized or received with respect to any Asset Sale or any Casualty Event, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, at its option, may reinvest all or any portion of such Net Proceeds in assets useful for their business within (x) eighteen (18) months following receipt of such Net Proceeds or (y) if the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary enters into a legally binding commitment to reinvest such Net Proceeds within eighteen (18) months following receipt thereof, within the later of (A) eighteen (18) months following receipt thereof and (B) one hundred eighty (180) days of the date of such legally binding commitment; provided that if any Net Proceeds are no longer intended to be or cannot be so reinvested at any time after such reinvestment election, and subject to clauses (e) and (f) of this Section 2.03(2), an amount equal to any such Net Proceeds shall be applied within five (5) Business Days after the Borrower reasonably determines that such Net Proceeds are no longer intended to be or cannot be so reinvested to the prepayment of the Interim Bridge Loans as set forth in this Section 2.03.

(c) Prior to the Interim Bridge Loan Maturity Date, if the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary incurs or issues any Indebtedness not expressly permitted to be incurred or issued pursuant to Section 7.02, the Borrower shall prepay, or cause to be prepaid, an aggregate principal amount of Interim Bridge Loans 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. Prior to the Interim Bridge Loan Maturity Date, no later than three Business Days following the receipt of any Net Proceeds of any public issuance of Equity Interests or equity contribution to the Borrower (other than equity contributed pursuant to employee stock plans, or equity issued to fund the Transactions), the Borrower shall make prepayments of the Interim Bridge Loans in an aggregate principal amount equal to 100% of such Net Proceeds.

 

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(d) Not later than three Business Days following the receipt of any Net Proceeds from the issuance of any Permanent Notes or any sale or issuance of any other Indebtedness issued or borrowed to refinance the Interim Bridge Loans pursuant to a Permanent Securities Notice, the Borrower shall make prepayments in an aggregate principal amount equal to 100% of such Net Proceeds received by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

(e) Notwithstanding any term of this Agreement, no prepayment of Loans (except in the event Permanent Notes are issued) will be required pursuant to clauses (a) or (b) above to the extent that any such Net Proceeds are required to be applied (and are actually so applied) in prepayment of amounts outstanding under the Senior Credit Facilities.

(f) The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent in writing of any mandatory prepayment of Loans required to be made pursuant to clauses (a) through (c) of this Section 2.03(2) at least three (3) Business Days prior to the date of such prepayment ( provided that, in the case of clause (c) of this Section 2.03(2), the Borrower may rescind (or delay the date of prepayment identified in) such notice if such prepayment would have resulted from a refinancing of all or any portion of the Loans or other conditional event, which refinancing or other conditional event shall not be consummated or shall otherwise be delayed). Each such notice shall specify the date of such prepayment and provide a reasonably detailed calculation of the aggregate amount of such prepayment to be made by the Borrower. 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.

(g) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 2.03(2), (A) to the extent that any or all of the Net Proceeds of any Asset Sale by a Foreign Subsidiary giving rise to a prepayment event pursuant to Section 2.03(2)(a) (a “ Foreign Asset Sale ”) or the Net Proceeds of any Casualty Event from a Foreign Subsidiary (a “ Foreign Casualty Event ”) are prohibited or delayed by applicable local law from being repatriated to the United States, an amount equal to the portion of such Net Proceeds so affected will not be required to be applied to repay Term Loans at the times provided in this Section 2.03(2) 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 is permitted under the applicable local law, an amount equal to such Net Proceeds permitted to be repatriated will be promptly (and in any event not later than two (2) Business Days after any such repatriation) applied (net of additional taxes that are or would be payable or reserved against as a result thereof) to the repayment of the Loans pursuant to this Section 2.03(2) to the extent otherwise provided herein and (B) to the extent that the Borrower has determined in good faith that repatriation of any of or all the Net Proceeds of any Foreign Asset Sale or Foreign Casualty Event would have a material adverse tax consequence (taking into account any foreign tax credit or benefit actually realized in connection with such repatriation) with respect to such Net Proceeds, an amount equal to the Net Proceeds so affected will not be required to be applied to repay Loans at the times provided in this Section 2.03(2).

(h) All prepayments under this Section 2.03 shall be accompanied by all accrued interest thereon, together with, in the case of any such prepayment of a LIBO Rate Loan on a date prior to the last day of an Interest Period therefor, any amounts owing in respect of such LIBO Rate Loan pursuant to Section 3.05.

(i) Notwithstanding any of the other provisions of this Section 2.03, so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, if any prepayment of LIBO Rate Loans is required to be made under this Section 2.03 prior to the last day of the Interest Period therefor, in lieu of making any payment pursuant to this Section 2.03 in respect of any such LIBO Rate Loan prior to the last day of the Interest Period therefor, the Borrower may, in its discretion, deposit an amount sufficient to make any such prepayment otherwise required to be made thereunder together with accrued interest to the last day of such Interest Period 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 2.03. 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 the relevant provisions of this Section 2.03. Such deposit shall be deemed to be a prepayment of such Loans by the Borrower for all purposes under this Agreement.

 

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SECTION 2.04 Termination or Reduction of Commitments .

The Commitment of each Lender on the Closing Date shall be automatically and permanently reduced to €0 upon the making by such Lender of the Loans required by its Interim Bridge Loan Commitment to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01. If the Permanent Notes are issued on or prior to the Closing Date prior to the making of the Interim Bridge Loans, the Commitment of each Lender shall be automatically reduced pro rata on a dollar for dollar basis correspondingly.

SECTION 2.05 Repayment of Loans .

On the Extended Term Loan Maturity Date, the Borrower shall repay to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the Lenders the aggregate principal amount of all Extended Term Loans outstanding on the Extended Term Loan Maturity Date, together with accrued and unpaid interest. In the event the Interim Bridge Loans are not converted to the Extended Term Loans on the Interim Bridge Loan Maturity Date pursuant to the provisions under Section 2.01(2), the Interim Bridge Loans, together with accrued and unpaid interest shall become due and payable on the Interim Bridge Loan Maturity Date.

SECTION 2.06 Change of Control Prepayment Offer .

(1) If a Change of Control occurs, unless the Borrower has previously or concurrently electronically delivered or mailed a voluntary or mandatory repayment notice with respect to all the outstanding Loans as described under Section 2.03, the Borrower will make an offer to prepay all of the Loans pursuant to the prepayment offer described below (the “ Change of Control Prepayment Offer ”) at a price in cash (the “ Change of Control Payment ”) equal to 100.00% with respect to Interim Bridge Loans and Extended Term Loans, in each case, of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of prepayment.

Within 60 days following any Change of Control, the Borrower will send notice of such Change of Control Prepayment Offer electronically or by first-class mail, to the Administrative Agent, who shall notify each Lender (in accordance with the terms of this Agreement), with the following information:

(i) a Change of Control Prepayment Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 2.06 and all Loans properly tendered pursuant to such Change of Control Prepayment Offer will be accepted for payment by the Borrower;

(ii) the purchase price and the purchase date, which will be no earlier than 20 Business Days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed or otherwise delivered (the “ Change of Control Prepayment Date ”), subject to extension (in the case where such notice is mailed or otherwise delivered prior to the occurrence of the Change of Control) in the event that the occurrence of the Change of Control is delayed;

(iii) any Loan not properly tendered will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest;

(iv) unless the Borrower defaults in the payment of the Change of Control Payment, all Loans accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Prepayment Offer will cease to accrue interest on the Change of Control Prepayment Date;

(v) Lenders will be entitled to withdraw their tendered Loans and their election to require the Borrower to prepay such Loans; 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 Prepayment Offer, a facsimile transmission or letter or other notice setting forth the name of the Lender, the principal amount of Loans tendered for purchase, and a statement that such Lender is withdrawing its tendered Loans and its election to have such Loans prepaid;

 

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(vi) if such notice is delivered prior to the occurrence of a Change of Control, stating that the Change of Control Prepayment Offer is conditional on the occurrence of such Change of Control and describing each such condition, and, if applicable, stating that, in the Borrower’s discretion, the Change of Control Prepayment Date may be delayed until such time (including more than 60 days after the date the notice was mailed or delivered, including by electronic transmission) as any or all such conditions are satisfied (or waived by the Borrower in its sole discretion), or such purchase may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions are not satisfied (or waived by the Borrower in its sole discretion) by the Change of Control Prepayment Date, or by the Change of Control Prepayment Date as so delayed, or such notice may be rescinded at any time in the Borrower’s discretion if in the good faith judgment of the Borrower any or all of such conditions will not be satisfied. In addition, the Borrower may provide in such notice that payment of the purchase price and performance of the Borrower’s obligations with respect to such purchase may be performed by another Person; and

(vii) the other instructions, as determined by the Borrower, consistent with this Section 2.06, that a Lender must follow in order to have its Loans repurchased.

(2) On the Change of Control Prepayment Date, the Borrower will, to the extent permitted by law:

(i) accept for payment all Loans properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Prepayment Offer;

(ii) deposit with the Administrative Agent an amount equal to the aggregate Change of Control Prepayment in respect of all Loans or portions thereof validly tendered and not validly withdrawn; and

(iii) deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Administrative Agent an Officer’s Certificate stating that such Loans or portions thereof have been tendered to and purchased by the Borrower.

(3) The Borrower will not be required to make a Change of Control Prepayment Offer following a Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Prepayment Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Agreement applicable to a Change of Control Prepayment Offer made by the Borrower and purchases all Loans validly tendered and not validly withdrawn under such Change of Control Prepayment Offer.

(4) A Change of Control Prepayment Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control and conditional upon such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time of making of the Change of Control Prepayment Offer.

(5) A Change of Control Prepayment Offer may be made at the same time as consents are solicited with respect to an amendment, supplement or waiver of this Agreement and/or Guaranty (but the Change of Control Prepayment Offer may not condition tenders on the delivery of such consents).

SECTION 2.07 Interest .

(1) Prior to the date of the earlier of the occurrence of a Demand Failure Event and the Interim Bridge Loan Maturity Date, the Loans shall bear interest for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Margin; provided, however , that, subject to clause (2) below, the Loans shall never bear interest at a per annum rate exceeding the Total Cap. On and after the date of the earlier of the occurrence of a Demand Failure Event and the Interim Bridge Loan Maturity Date, and subject to clause (2) below, the Loans shall bear interest at the Total Cap.

(2) (i) If all or a portion of the principal amount of any Loan shall not be repaid or prepaid when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), all outstanding Loans (whether or not overdue) shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the rate that would otherwise be applicable thereto pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.07 plus 2% per annum and (ii) if all or a portion of any interest or other amounts

 

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payable on any Loan or other amount payable hereunder shall not be paid when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), after giving effect to any applicable grace period, such overdue amount shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the rate then applicable thereto plus 2%, in each case, with respect to clauses (i) and (ii) above, from the date of such non-payment after giving effect to any applicable grace period, until such amount is paid in full.

(3) Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable in cash in arrears on each Interest Payment Date applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein; provided that interest accruing pursuant to paragraph (2) of this Section 2.07 shall be payable from time to time on demand. 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 the Bankruptcy Code.

SECTION 2.08 Fees .

(1) The Borrower shall pay to the Arrangers and the Administrative Agent such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing (including without limitation in the Commitment Letter and in the Fee Letter) 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 Arrangers or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be).

(2) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, during such period as a Lender is a Defaulting Lender, such Defaulting Lender will not be entitled to any fees accruing during such period pursuant to clause (1) above (without prejudice to the rights of the Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders in respect of such fees).

SECTION 2.09 Computation of Interest and Fees . All computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a 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 2.11(1), bear interest for one 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 2.10 Evidence of Indebtedness .

(1) The Loans 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 non-fiduciary 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 Loans 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, as set forth in the Register, 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 and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.

(2) Entries made in good faith by the Administrative Agent in the Register pursuant to Section 2.10(1), and by each Lender in its account or accounts pursuant to Section 2.10(1), 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.

 

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SECTION 2.11 Payments Generally .

(1) All payments to be made by the Borrower hereunder shall be made in Euros without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, 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 payment and in Same Day Funds not later than 2:00 p.m., New York time, on the date specified herein. 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 Lending Office. Any payments under this Agreement that are made later than 2:00 p.m., New York time, shall be deemed to have been made on the next succeeding Business Day (but the Administrative Agent may extend such deadline for purposes of computing interest and fees (but not beyond the end of such day) in its sole discretion whether or not such payments are in process).

(2) Except as otherwise expressly 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.

(3) Unless the Borrower or any Lender has notified the Administrative Agent, prior to the date, or in the case of any Borrowing of Loans, prior to 1:00 p.m., New York time, on the date of such Borrowing, any payment is required to be made by it to the Administrative Agent hereunder (in the case of the Borrower, for the account of any Lender hereunder or, in the case of the Lenders, for the account of the Borrower 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:

(a) 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 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 Overnight Rate from time to time in effect; and

(b) if any Lender failed to make such payment, 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 Overnight Rate from time to time in effect. 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 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, or cause such amount to be paid, 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 2.11(3) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

(c) If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender as provided in this Article II, and such funds are not made available to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the Borrowing set forth in Section 4.02 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.

 

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(d) The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Loans are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan 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.

(e) 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.

(f) 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 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 8.03 (or otherwise expressly set forth herein). 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, 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 Outstanding Amount of all Loans outstanding at such time or other Obligations then owing to such Lender.

SECTION 2.12 Sharing of Payments . Other than as expressly provided elsewhere herein, if any Lender shall obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on account of the Loans made by it (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 (1) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (2) purchase from the other Lenders such participations in the Loans made by them as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender to share the excess payment in respect of any principal of or interest on 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 (a) the amount of such paying Lender’s required repayment to (b) 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 the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of this Section 2.12 shall not be construed to apply to (i) 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 (ii) 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 pursuant to this Section 2.12 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 2.12 and will in each case notify the Lenders following any such purchases or repayments. Each Lender that purchases a participation pursuant to this Section 2.12 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. For purposes of clause (3) of the definition of Excluded Taxes, any participation acquired by a Lender pursuant to this Section 2.12 shall be treated as having been acquired on the earlier date(s) on which the applicable interest(s) in the Commitment(s) or Loan(s) to which such participation relates were acquired by such Lender.

 

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SECTION 2.13 Defaulting Lenders; 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:

(a) Waivers and Amendments . That Defaulting Lender’s right to approve or disapprove of any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement shall be restricted as set forth in Section 10.01.

(b) 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, as the Borrower may request (so long as no 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; third, 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; fourth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender against that Defaulting Lender as a result of that Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; fifth, so long as no 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 (i) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans in respect of which that Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share and (ii) such Loans 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 all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of that Defaulting Lender.

SECTION 2.14 Conversion Fee .

Unless earlier paid pursuant to Section 2.16, if and to the extent any Interim Bridge Loans remain outstanding either on the Interim Bridge Loan Maturity Date or on the date of an earlier Demand Failure Event, the Borrower agrees to pay (or cause to be paid) the Conversion Fee to the Administrative Agent upon such Demand Failure Event date or the Interim Bridge Loan Maturity Date, as applicable, for the account of the Arrangers that are party to the Commitment Letter, in accordance with their applicable pro rata percentage of the commitments described therein.

SECTION 2.15 Senior Exchange Notes .

(1) On the Interim Bridge Loan Maturity Date and on the 15th calendar day of each month thereafter (or the immediately succeeding Business Day if such calendar day is not a Business Day), at the option of any Lender of an Extended Term Loan, the Extended Term Loan of such Lender may be exchanged by such Lender in whole or in part for Senior Exchange Notes having an aggregate principal amount equal to the outstanding principal amount of such Extended Term Loans. In connection with any such exchange, the applicable Lender will not, at the time of such exchange or the next Interest Payment Date, be entitled to receive accrued and unpaid interest on such Lender’s Extended Term Loans being exchanged for Senior Exchange Notes on such date; provided that the Senior Exchange Notes issued to such Lender shall accrue interest from the most recent Interest Payment Date prior to such exchange (even if such date is prior to the first issuance of Senior Exchange Notes). The terms of the Senior Exchange Notes will be set forth in the Senior Exchange Notes Indenture, and the Senior Exchange Notes shall rank pari passu in right of payment with the Extended Term Loans and any other Senior Indebtedness of the Borrower.

(i) Each exchanging Lender shall provide the Borrower and the Administrative Agent prior irrevocable written notice of such exchange (each such notice, an “ Exchange Notice ”), substantially in the form of Exhibit K , at least ten Business Days prior to the date of exchange specified in such Exchange

 

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Notice. The Exchange Notice shall specify the principal amount of the Extended Term Loans to be exchanged (which shall be, when taken together with Exchange Notices from other Lenders whose requested exchange has not yet been completed, at least €100,000,000 or, if less than €100,000,000, the entire remaining aggregate principal amount of the Extended Term Loans of such Lender), the date of exchange (the “ Exchange Date ”), which shall be a Business Day, and, subject to the terms of the Senior Exchange Notes Indenture, the name and account of the DTC participant to be credited with such notes (or, if applicable, the name of the proposed registered holder) and the amount of each Senior Exchange Note requested. If any Exchange Date would occur after a Record Date and prior to the immediately following Interest Payment Date (as defined in the Senior Exchange Notes Indenture), then the Exchange Date shall be deferred until the date of such immediately following Interest Payment Date. The Extended Term Loans exchanged for Senior Exchange Notes pursuant to this Section 2.15 shall be deemed repaid and canceled, and the Senior Exchange Notes so issued shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the provisions of the Senior Exchange Notes Indenture. The Senior Exchange Notes shall be issued in the form set forth in the Senior Exchange Notes Indenture, with such changes as the Senior Exchange Notes Trustee or the Administrative Agent may request to effect the provisions of this Agreement and the Senior Exchange Notes Indenture and to comply with any applicable Requirement of Law, regulations or trustee procedures or policies, including such changes as are reasonably necessary to cause the Senior Exchange Notes to become eligible for deposit at the DTC; provided that no such changes shall be adverse in any material respect to the interests of the Borrower or the Lenders or would be adverse in any material respect to a holder of Senior Exchange Notes upon issuance.

(ii) As more particularly provided in the Senior Exchange Notes Indenture, (A) the interest rate payable by the Borrower under the Senior Exchange Notes issued pursuant to the Senior Exchange Notes Indenture shall equal the Total Cap, (B) Senior Exchange Notes issued pursuant to the Senior Exchange Notes Indenture shall mature on the eighth anniversary of the Closing Date and (C) the Senior Exchange Notes shall be redeemable as set forth in the Senior Exchange Notes Indenture and the applicable form of Senior Exchange Notes attached thereto.

(2) Not later than five Business Days following receipt by the Borrower of the first Exchange Notice pursuant to Section 2.15(1),

(i) the Borrower shall execute and deliver, and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the trustee under the Senior Exchange Notes Indenture (which trustee shall be selected by the Borrower and shall be acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion (the “ Senior Exchange Notes Trustee ”)), to execute and deliver, the Senior Exchange Notes Indenture,

(ii) the Borrower shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Senior Exchange Notes to become eligible for deposit at DTC prior to the initial issuance thereof, including by filing with DTC an appropriately executed letter of representations, and

(iii) the Borrower shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to obtain “CUSIP” and “ISIN” numbers and ratings from each of Moody’s and S&P for the Senior Exchange Notes prior to the initial issuance thereof. Not later than five Business Days following delivery of any Exchange Notice, the Borrower shall (A) deliver a written notice to the Senior Exchange Notes Trustee, directing such Senior Exchange Notes Trustee to authenticate and deliver Senior Exchange Notes as specified in the Exchange Notice and (B) use all commercially reasonable efforts to effect delivery of such Senior Exchange Notes to the requesting Lender on the requested Exchange Date. Each Senior Exchange Note shall be recorded in book-entry form as a beneficial interest in one or more global notes deposited with the Senior Exchange Notes Trustee as custodian for DTC and credited to the account of the exchanging Lender directly or indirectly through the participant in DTC’s system specified by such Lender in the applicable Exchange Notice, unless the foregoing is not possible after the Borrower’s use of commercially reasonable efforts in which case each Senior Exchange Note shall be issued as a definitive registered note payable to the registered holder specified by the exchanging Lender in the applicable Exchange Notice.

(3) The Borrower agrees that as a condition to the effectiveness of the exchange of any Extended Term Loans for Senior Exchange Notes:

 

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(a) the Borrower shall have issued the Senior Exchange Notes pursuant to the Senior Exchange Notes Indenture substantially in the applicable form set forth therein, and the Borrower and Senior Exchange Notes Trustee shall have executed and delivered the Senior Exchange Notes Indenture; and

(b) the Borrower shall have provided to the Administrative Agent copies of resolutions of its Board of Directors approving the execution and delivery of the Senior Exchange Notes Indenture and the issuance of the Senior Exchange Notes, together with a customary certificate of the secretary of the Borrower certifying such resolutions.

(4) If the foregoing conditions set forth in Section 2.15(3) are not satisfied with respect to any exchange of the Extended Term Loans for Senior Exchange Notes, then the applicable Lenders shall retain all of their rights and remedies with respect to the Extended Term Loans subject to such exchange pursuant to this Agreement until such conditions are satisfied and such Loans are so exchanged for Senior Exchange Notes. The Borrower agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to satisfy the conditions set forth in Section 2.15(3) with respect to any exchange no later than five Business Days after its receipt of the Exchange Notice for such exchange.

(5) Nothing in this Section 2.15 shall prevent or limit the ability of the Borrower to repay or refinance the Extended Term Loans in any other manner not otherwise prohibited by this Agreement.

(6) It is understood and agreed that following any exchange of the Loans for Senior Exchange Notes, such Extended Term Loans shall be deemed to have been repaid in full.

SECTION 2.16 Securities Demand Failure .

If a Demand Failure Event shall occur and be continuing for more than five days, then, upon notice by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower: (a) the Extended Term Loans shall be modified to bear interest as provided in the last sentence of Section 2.07(2), (b) the optional prepayment provisions of the Loans shall be modified to be subject to the call protection provisions and redemption premiums that would have been applicable to the Senior Exchange Notes as set forth in Schedule 2.16 (Call Protection Provisions), and (c) the Borrower’s right to consent to any assignment pursuant to Section 10.07 shall cease to apply. The foregoing shall be the Lenders’ sole and exclusive remedy for a Demand Failure Event. In addition, upon a Demand Failure Event, the Borrower shall pay the Conversion Fee as set forth in Section 2.14.

Article III

Taxes, Increased Costs Protection and Illegality

SECTION 3.01 Taxes .

(1) Except as required by applicable Law, all payments by or on account of any Loan Party to or for the account of any Agent or any Lender under any Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction or withholding for any Taxes.

(2) If any Loan Party or any other applicable withholding agent is required by applicable Law to make any deduction or withholding on account of any Taxes from any sum paid or payable by or on account of any Loan Party to or for the account of any Lender or Agent under any of the Loan Documents:

(a) the applicable Loan Party shall notify the Administrative Agent of any such requirement or any change in any such requirement as soon as such Loan Party becomes aware of it;

(b) the applicable Loan Party or other applicable withholding agent shall make such deduction or withholding and pay to the relevant Governmental Authority any such Tax before the date on which penalties attach thereto, such payment to be made (if the liability to pay is imposed on any Loan Party) for such Loan Party’s account or (if that liability is imposed on the Lender or Agent) on behalf of and in the name of the Lender or Agent (as applicable);

 

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(c) if the Tax in question is a Non-Excluded Tax or Other Tax, the sum payable to such Lender or Agent (as applicable) shall be increased by such Loan Party to the extent necessary to ensure that, after the making of any required deduction or withholding for Non-Excluded Taxes or Other Taxes (including any deductions or withholdings for Non-Excluded Taxes or Other Taxes attributable to any payments required to be made under this Section 3.01), such Lender (or, in the case of any payment made to the Administrative Agent for its own account, the Administrative Agent) receives on the due date a net sum equal to what it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been required or made; and

(d) within thirty days after paying any sum from which it is required by Law to make any deduction or withholding, and within thirty days after the due date of payment of any Tax which it is required by clause (b) above to pay (or, in each case, as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter), the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent evidence reasonably satisfactory to the other affected parties of such deduction or withholding and of the remittance thereof to the relevant Governmental Authority.

(3) Status of Lender . 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 Laws or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent 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 any Loan Document. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Each such Lender shall, whenever a lapse in time or change in circumstances renders any such documentation (including any specific documentation required below in this Section 3.01(3)) obsolete, expired 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 Borrower or the Administrative Agent) or promptly notify the Borrower and Administrative Agent of its legal ineligibility to do so.

Without limiting the foregoing:

(a) Each U.S. Lender 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 copies of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding.

(b) Each Foreign Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or before the date on which it becomes a party to this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent) whichever of the following is applicable:

(i) two properly completed and duly signed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (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,

(ii) two properly completed and duly signed copies of IRS Form W-8ECI (or any successor forms),

(iii) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 871(h) or Section 881(c) of the Code, (A) two properly completed and duly signed certificates substantially in the form of Exhibit H (any such certificate, a “United States Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (B) two properly completed and duly signed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or any successor forms),

 

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(iv) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner (for example, where such Foreign Lender is a partnership or a participating Lender), IRS Form W-8IMY (or any successor forms) of such Foreign Lender, accompanied by an IRS Form W-8ECI, Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, United States Tax Compliance Certificate, Form W-9, Form W-8IMY and any other required information (or any successor forms) from each beneficial owner that would be required under this Section 3.01(3) if such beneficial owner were a Lender, as applicable (provided that, if a Lender is a partnership (and not a participating Lender) and if one or more beneficial owners are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, the United States Tax Compliance Certificate may be provided by such Foreign Lender on behalf of such beneficial owner(s)), or

(v) two properly completed and duly signed copies of any other documentation prescribed by applicable U.S. federal income tax laws (including the Treasury Regulations) as a basis for claiming a complete exemption from, or a reduction in, U.S. federal withholding tax on any payments to such Lender under the Loan Documents.

(c) If a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Sections 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 complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount, if any, to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this paragraph (c), the term “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

(d) For the avoidance of doubt, if a Lender is an entity disregarded from its owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes, references to the foregoing documentation are intended to refer to documentation with respect to such Lender’s owner and, as applicable, such Lender.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 3.01(3), a Lender shall not be required to deliver any documentation that such Lender is not legally eligible to deliver. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to deliver to the Loan Parties and to any successor Administrative Agent any documentation provided by such Lender to the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 3.01(3).

(4) Without duplication of other amounts payable by the Borrower pursuant to Section 3.01(2), the Borrower shall pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

(5) The Loan Parties shall, jointly and severally, indemnify a Lender or the Administrative Agent (each a “ Tax Indemnitee ”), within 10 days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Non-Excluded Taxes paid or payable by such Tax Indemnitee on or attributable to any payment under or with respect to any Loan Document, and any Other Taxes payable by such Tax Indemnitee (including Non-Excluded Taxes or Other Taxes imposed on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 3.01) (other than any penalties determined by a final and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Tax Indemnitee), whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the Governmental Authority; provided that if the Borrower reasonably believes that such Taxes were not correctly or legally asserted, such Tax Indemnitee will use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrower to obtain a refund of such Taxes (which shall be repaid to the Borrower in accordance with Section 3.01(6)) so long as such efforts would not, in the sole determination of such Tax Indemnitee, result in any additional out-of-pocket costs or expenses not reimbursed by such Loan Party or be otherwise materially disadvantageous to such Tax Indemnitee. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability prepared in good faith and delivered by the Tax Indemnitee or by the Administrative Agent on behalf of another Tax Indemnitee, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(6) If and to the extent that a Tax Indemnitee, in its sole discretion (exercised in good faith), determines that it has received a refund (whether received in cash or applied as a credit against any other cash Taxes payable) of any Non-Excluded Taxes or Other Taxes in respect of which it has received indemnification payments or

 

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additional amounts under this Section 3.01, then such Tax Indemnitee shall pay to the relevant Loan Party the amount of such refund, net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the Tax Indemnitee (including any Taxes imposed with respect to such refund), and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund), provided that the Loan Party, upon the request of the Tax Indemnitee, agrees to repay the amount paid over by the Tax Indemnitee ( plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Tax Indemnitee to the extent the Tax Indemnitee is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 3.01(6), in no event will the Tax Indemnitee be required to pay any amount to a Loan Party pursuant to this Section 3.01(6) the payment of which would place the Tax Indemnitee in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the Tax Indemnitee would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. This subsection shall not be construed to require a Tax Indemnitee to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to any Loan Party or any other Person.

(7) On or before the date the Administrative Agent becomes a party to this Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall deliver to the Borrower whichever of the following is applicable: (i) if the Administrative Agent is a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code, two executed original copies of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Administrative Agent is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding or (ii) if the Administrative Agent is not a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code, (A) with respect to payments received for its own account, two executed original copies of IRS Form W-8ECI and (ii) with respect to payments received on account of any Lender, two executed original copies of IRS Form W-8IMY (together with all required accompanying documentation) certifying that the Administrative Agent is a Withholding U.S. branch. At any time thereafter, the Administrative Agent shall provide updated documentation previously provided (or a successor form thereto) when any documentation previously delivered has expired or become obsolete or invalid or otherwise upon the reasonable request of the Borrower. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 3.01(7), the Administrative Agent shall not be required to provide any documentation that the Administrative Agent is not legally eligible to deliver as a result of a Change in Law after the Closing Date.

(8) The agreements in this Section 3.01 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

SECTION 3.02 Illegality . If any Lender reasonably determines that any Change in Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for such Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to the LIBO Rate, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the LIBO Rate, or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, Dollars in the London interbank market, then, on written notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, any obligation of such Lender to make or continue LIBO Rate Loans shall be suspended. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of or continuation of LIBO Rate Loans and shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay all LIBO Rate Loans of such Lender, either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such LIBO Rate Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such LIBO Rate Loans. Upon any such prepayment, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.

SECTION 3.03 Inability to Determine Rates . If the Administrative Agent (in the case of clause (a) or (b) below) or the Required Lenders (in the case of clause (c) below) reasonably determine that for any reason in connection with any request for a LIBO Rate Loan or a continuation thereof that

(a) Dollar deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank eurodollar market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such LIBO Rate Loan,

(b) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the LIBO Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed LIBO Rate Loan, or

 

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(c) the LIBO Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed LIBO Rate Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan,

the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Borrower and each Lender. Thereafter, the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain LIBO Rate Loans shall be suspended. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of or continuation of LIBO Rate Loans.

SECTION 3.04 Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy; Reserves on LIBO Rate Loans .

(1) Increased Costs Generally . If any Change in Law shall:

(a) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender;

(b) subject any Lender to any Tax of any kind whatsoever with respect to this Agreement or any LIBO Rate Loan made by it, or change the basis of taxation of payments to such Lender in respect thereof (except for Non-Excluded Taxes or Other Taxes covered by Section 3.01 and any Excluded Taxes); or

(c) impose on any Lender or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or LIBO Rate Loans made by such Lender that is not otherwise accounted for in the definition of “LIBO Rate” or this clause (1);

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making or maintaining any Loan the interest on which is determined by reference to the LIBO Rate (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) 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), the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered; provided that such amounts shall only be payable by the Borrower to the applicable Lender under this Section 3.04(1) so long as it is such Lender’s general policy or practice to demand compensation in similar circumstances under comparable provisions of other financing agreements.

(2) Capital Requirements; Liquidity Requirements . If any Lender reasonably determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s holding company, if any, regarding capital requirements or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by it, or participations in or issuance of Letters of Credit by such Lender, to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender’s holding company, as the case may be, could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time 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), the Borrower will pay to such Lender additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered; provided that such amounts shall only be payable by the Borrower to the applicable Lender under this Section 3.04(2) so long as it is such Lender’s general policy or practice to demand compensation in similar circumstances under comparable provisions of other financing agreements.

(3) Certificates for Reimbursement . A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in subsection (1) or (2) of this Section 3.04 and delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within fifteen (15) days after receipt thereof.

 

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SECTION 3.05 Funding Losses . Upon written demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, which demand shall set forth in reasonable detail the basis for requesting such amount, the Borrower shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense (excluding loss of anticipated profits or margin) actually incurred by it (in each case, whether or not such Lender is “match funding” any relevant LIBO Rate Loan) as a result of:

(a) any continuation, payment or prepayment of any LIBO Rate Loan on a day prior to the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration, or otherwise);

(b) any failure by the Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow or continue any LIBO Rate Loan on the date or in the amount notified by the Borrower; or

(c) any assignment of a LIBO Rate Loan on a day prior to the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 3.07; including any loss or expense (excluding loss of anticipated profits or margin) actually incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such LIBO Rate Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Lender may make any demand under this Section 3.05 with respect to the “floor” specified in the proviso to the definition of “LIBO Rate.”

SECTION 3.06 Matters Applicable to All Requests for Compensation .

(1) Designation of a Different Lending Office . If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different Lending Office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the good faith judgment of such Lender such designation or assignment (a) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.04, as the case may be, in the future, or eliminate the need for the notice pursuant to Section 3.02, as applicable, and (b) in each case, would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender in any material economic, legal or regulatory respect.

(2) Suspension of Lender Obligations . 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 LIBO Rate Loans from one Interest Period to another Interest Period until the event or condition giving rise to such request ceases to be in effect (in which case the provisions of Section 3.06(3) shall be applicable); provided that such suspension shall not affect the right of such Lender to receive the compensation so requested.

(3) Delay in Requests . Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of Sections 3.01 or 3.04 shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of Section 3.01 or 3.04 for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than one hundred and eighty (180) days prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of the event giving rise to such claim and of such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the circumstance giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 180-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).

SECTION 3.07 Replacement of Lenders under Certain Circumstances . If (1) any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04 or ceases to make LIBO Rate Loans as a result of any condition described in Section 3.02 or Section 3.04, (2) the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.04, (3) any Lender is a Non-Consenting Lender, (4) any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender or (5) any other circumstance exists hereunder that gives the Borrower the right to replace a Lender as a party hereto, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent,

 

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(a) require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 10.07), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement (or, with respect to clause (3) above, all of its interests, rights and obligations with respect to the Loans or Commitments that are the subject of the related consent, waiver, or amendment, as applicable) and the related Loan Documents to one or more Eligible Assignees that shall assume such obligations (any of which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:

(a) the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee specified in Section 10.07(b)(iv);

(b) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the applicable outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 3.05 that would otherwise be owed in connection therewith) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);

(c) such Lender being replaced pursuant to this Section 3.07 shall (i) execute and deliver an Assignment and Assumption with respect to all, or a portion, as applicable, of such Lender’s Commitment and outstanding Loans and (ii) deliver any notes evidencing such Loans to the Borrower or Administrative Agent (or a lost or destroyed note indemnity in lieu thereof); provided that the failure of any such Lender to execute an Assignment and Assumption or deliver such notes shall not render such sale and purchase (and the corresponding assignment) invalid and such assignment shall be recorded in the Register and the notes shall be deemed to be canceled upon such failure;

(d) the Eligible Assignee 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 and confidentiality provisions under this Agreement, which shall survive as to such assigning Lender;

(e) 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, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter;

(f) such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws; and

(g) the Lender that acts as Administrative Agent cannot be replaced in its capacity as Administrative Agent other than in accordance with Section 9.11, or

(b) terminate the Commitment of such Lender 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; provided that in the case of any such termination of the Commitment of a Non-Consenting Lender such termination shall be sufficient (together with all other consenting Lenders) to cause the adoption of the applicable consent, waiver or amendment of the Loan Documents and such termination shall, with respect to clause (3) above, be in respect of all of its interests, rights and obligations with respect to the Loans or Commitments that are the subject of the related consent, waiver and amendment.

 

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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, all affected Lenders or all the Lenders or all affected Lenders with respect to the Loans/Commitments and (iii) the Required Lenders 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 .”

A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

SECTION 3.08 Survival . All of the Borrower’s obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, repayment of all other Obligations hereunder and resignation of the Administrative Agent.

Article IV

Conditions Precedent

SECTION 4.01 Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness . This Agreement will be effective and enforceable in accordance with its terms upon the satisfaction of each of the following conditions precedent:

(1) The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals, facsimiles or copies in .pdf format (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party (other than in the case of clause (1)(e) below):

(a) [reserved];

(b) executed counterparts of this Agreement and the Guaranty by each intended party hereto and thereto;

(c) certificates of good standing from the secretary of state of the state of organization of each Loan Party (to the extent such concept exists in such jurisdiction), customary certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates or other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party certifying true and complete copies of the Organizational Documents attached thereto and 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 Effective Date;

(d) a customary legal opinion from Winston & Strawn LLP, counsel to the Loan Parties;

(e) a certificate of a Responsible Officer certifying that the conditions set forth in Section 4.01(4) has been satisfied; and

(f) a solvency certificate from a Financial Officer of the Borrower (after giving effect to the Transactions) substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit I .

(2) The Administrative Agent shall have received copies of (a) audited consolidated balance sheets and related audited consolidated statements of operations, members’ equity (deficit) and cash flows of the Target and its subsidiaries for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2015 and, to the extent the Target has made such financial statements available to the Borrower (or otherwise publicly available), each subsequent fiscal year ended at least 90 days prior to the Effective Date, (b) unaudited consolidated balance sheets and the related unaudited consolidated statements of income, cash flows and members’ equity (deficit) of the Target and its subsidiaries for each subsequent fiscal quarter (other than the fourth fiscal quarter of the Target’s fiscal year) ended at least 45 days prior to the Effective Date, (c) audited

 

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consolidated balance sheets and related audited consolidated statements of income, changes in members’ deficit and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2015 and each subsequent fiscal year ended at least 90 days prior to the Effective Date and (d) unaudited consolidated balance sheets and the related unaudited consolidated statements of income and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for each subsequent fiscal quarter (other than the fourth fiscal quarter of the Borrower’s fiscal year) ended at least 45 days prior to the Effective Date. For the avoidance of doubt, it is agreed that all Target financial statements required to be delivered pursuant to this clause (2) shall be prepared in accordance with IFRS.

(3) The Administrative Agent shall have received at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Effective Date all documentation and other information in respect of 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 reasonably requested in writing by it at least five (5) Business Days prior to the Effective Date.

(4) The Specified Representations shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Effective Date; provided that to the extent such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, they shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date.

(5) The Credit Agreement shall have been executed and delivered by the parties thereto.

(6) The Undertaking Agreement and the agreement regarding guarantee and indemnification undertakings, in each case, including all schedules and exhibits thereto, the Tender Documents and all other related documentation shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Arrangers and shall (if necessary) have been executed and delivered by the parties thereto.

(7) Each of the Equity Commitment Letter and the Investment Agreement (including, in each case, without limitation, the conditions precedent set forth therein) and all of the definitive documentation related thereto shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Arrangers and shall have been executed and delivered by the parties thereto.

(8) The amendment to the Existing Credit Agreement, permitting the Transactions in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent shall have been executed and delivered by the parties thereto.

(9) The Tender Documents shall have been, or substantially concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, the Bridge Loan Agreement and the Investment Agreement, shall be submitted to the Polish Financial Supervision Authority.

Without limiting the generality of the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 9.03, 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 Effective Date specifying its objection thereto.

SECTION 4.02 Conditions to Funding . The obligation of each Lender to honor any request for a Borrowing hereunder on the Closing Date is subject solely to satisfaction (or waiver) of the following conditions precedent:

(1) Prior to or substantially concurrently with the initial Borrowing on the Closing Date;

(a) all conditions under Section 4.01 shall have been satisfied; and

 

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(b) the Tender Effectiveness shall have occurred or shall occur substantially contemporaneously with the initial Borrowing.

(2) The Administrative Agent shall have received a request for a Borrowing in accordance with the requirements hereof.

Article V

Representations and Warranties

The Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, on the Effective Date:

SECTION 5.01 Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws . Each Loan Party and each of its respective Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Material Subsidiary:

(1) is a Person duly organized or formed, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization (to the extent such concept exists in such jurisdiction),

(2) has all corporate or other organizational power and authority to (a) own or lease its assets and carry on its business as currently conducted and (b) in the case of the Loan Parties, execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party,

(3) is duly qualified and in good standing (to the extent such concept exists) under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business as currently conducted requires such qualification,

(4) is in compliance with all applicable Laws orders, writs, injunctions and orders; and

(5) has all requisite governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to operate its business as currently conducted;

except in each case referred to in the preceding clauses (2)(a), (3), (4) or (5), to the extent that failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.02 Authorization; No Contravention .

(1) The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is a party have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action.

(2) None of the execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is a party will:

(a) contravene the terms of any of such Person’s Organizational Documents;

(b) result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien upon any of the property or assets of such Person or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (other than as permitted by Section 7.01) under (i) any Contractual Obligation to which such Loan Party is a party or affecting such Loan Party or the properties of such Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Loan Party or its property is subject; or

(c) violate any applicable Law;

 

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except with respect to any breach, contravention or violation (but not creation of Liens) referred to in the preceding clauses (b) and (c), to the extent that such breach, contravention or violation would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.03 Governmental Authorization . No material approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority is necessary or required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except for:

(a) the approvals, consents, exemptions, authorizations, actions, notices and filings that 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 in full force and effect pursuant to this Agreement); and

(b) those approvals, consents, exemptions, authorizations or other actions, notices or filings, the failure of which to obtain or make would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, 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 party hereto or thereto, as applicable. Each Loan Document constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of each Loan Party that is party thereto, enforceable against each such Loan Party in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, by general principles of equity and principles of good faith and fair dealing generally applicable to entities such as the Loan Parties.

SECTION 5.05 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect .

(1) The Borrower Annual Financial Statements and the Borrower Quarterly Financial Statements fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date(s) thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the periods covered thereby, (i) except as otherwise expressly noted therein and (ii) subject, in the case of the Borrower Quarterly Financial Statements, to changes resulting from normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

(2) Since the date of effectiveness of this Agreement, there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(3) The forecasts of consolidated balance sheets and statements of income of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for each fiscal year ending after the Closing Date until the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date, copies of which have been furnished to the Administrative Agent prior to the Closing Date, when taken as a whole, have been prepared in good faith on the basis of the assumptions stated therein, which assumptions were believed to be reasonable at the time made and at the time the forecasts are delivered, it being understood that:

(a) no forecasts are to be viewed as facts,

(b) all forecasts are subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of the Loan Parties or the Investors,

(c) no assurance can be given that any particular forecasts will be realized and

(d) actual results may differ and such differences may be material.

SECTION 5.06 Litigation . There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, overtly threatened in writing, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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SECTION 5.07 Labor Matters . Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect: (1) there are no strikes or other labor disputes against the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened in writing and (2) hours worked by and payment made based on hours worked to employees of each of the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries have not been in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 or any other applicable Laws dealing with wage and hour matters.

SECTION 5.08 Ownership of Property; Liens . Each Loan Party and each of its respective Restricted Subsidiaries has good and valid record title in fee simple 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 for Liens permitted by Section 7.01 (and, prior to the Closing Date, liens under the Existing Credit Agreement) and except where the failure to have such title or other interest would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.09 Environmental Matters . Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect: (a) each Loan Party and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries and their respective operations and properties is in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws; (b) each Loan Party and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries has obtained and maintained all Environmental Permits required to conduct their operations; (c) none of the Loan Parties or any of their respective Restricted Subsidiaries is subject to any pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened Environmental Claim in writing or Environmental Liability; (d) none of the Loan Parties or any of their respective Restricted Subsidiaries or predecessors has treated, stored, transported or Released Hazardous Materials at or from any currently or formerly owned, leased or operated real estate or facility except for such actions that were in compliance with Environmental Law; and (e) to the knowledge of any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary, there are no occurrences, facts, circumstances or conditions which could reasonably be expected to give rise to an Environmental Claim.

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 Loan Party and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries has timely filed all Tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have timely paid all Taxes (including satisfying its withholding tax obligations) levied or imposed on their properties, income or assets (whether or not shown in a Tax return), except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate actions diligently taken and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP.

There is no proposed Tax assessment, deficiency or other claim against any Loan Party or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries except (i) those being actively contested by a Loan Party or such Restricted Subsidiary in good faith and by appropriate actions diligently taken and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP or (ii) those which would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.11 ERISA Compliance .

(1) Except as would not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, each Plan is in compliance with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other federal or state Laws.

(2) (a) No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; and (b) none of the Loan Parties or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates 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(2), as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(3) Except where noncompliance or the incurrence of an obligation would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (a) each Foreign Plan has been maintained in compliance with its terms and with the requirements of any and all applicable Laws, and (b) none of the Borrower or any Subsidiary has incurred any obligation in connection with the termination of or withdrawal from any Foreign Plan.

SECTION 5.12 Subsidiaries .

(1) [Intentionally omitted].

(2) As of the Effective Date, Schedule 5.12 sets forth:

(a) the name and jurisdiction of organization of each Subsidiary, and

(b) the ownership interests of the Borrower and any Subsidiary of the Borrower in each Subsidiary, including the percentage of such ownership.

SECTION 5.13 Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act .

(a) No Loan Party is engaged nor will it engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock, and no proceeds of any Borrowings will be used for any purpose that violates Regulation U.

(b) No Loan Party is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

SECTION 5.14 Disclosure . As of the Effective Date, none of the written information and written data heretofore or contemporaneously furnished in writing by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Guarantor to any Agent or any Lender on or prior to the Effective Date in connection with the Transactions, when taken as a whole, contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make such written information and written data taken as a whole, in the light of the circumstances under which it was delivered, not materially misleading (after giving effect to all modifications and supplements to such written information and written data, in each case, furnished after the date on which such written information or such written data was originally delivered and prior to the Effective Date); it being understood that for purposes of this Section 5.14, such written information and written data shall not include any projections, pro forma financial information, financial estimates, forecasts and forward-looking information or information of a general economic or general industry nature.

SECTION 5.15 Intellectual Property; Licenses, etc . The Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to, or a valid license or right to use, all patents, patent rights, trademarks, servicemarks, trade names, copyrights, technology, software, know-how, database rights and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “ IP Rights ”) that to the knowledge of the Borrower are reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses as currently conducted, except where the failure to have any such rights, either individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Borrower, the operation of the respective businesses of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower as currently conducted does not infringe upon, dilute, misappropriate or violate any IP Rights held by any Person except for such infringements, dilutions, misappropriations or violations, individually or in the aggregate, that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No claim or litigation regarding any IP Rights is pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened in writing against any Loan Party or Subsidiary, that, either individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.16 Solvency . On the Effective Date, before and after giving effect to the Transactions on a pro forma basis, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are Solvent.

 

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SECTION 5.17 USA PATRIOT Act; Anti-Corruption Compliance; Sanctions . To the extent applicable, each of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries are in compliance, in all material respects, with (i) the USA PATRIOT Act, (ii) the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (the “ FCPA ”) and (iii) the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, and each of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 C.F.R. Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) and any other applicable enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto. Neither the Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary nor any director or officer, nor, to the knowledge of the Borrower, employee or agent of the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, is currently the subject of any U.S. sanctions administered by (a) the U.S. government, including those administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Treasury Department or the U.S. Department of State, or (b) the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European Union member state or Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom (“ Sanctions ”). No proceeds of the Loans will be used by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary directly or indirectly, in violation of Sanctions, the USA PATRIOT Act or the FCPA or for the purpose of financing activities of or with any Person, or in any country or territory, that, at the time of such financing, is the subject of any Sanctions, or in any manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions applicable to any party hereto.

Article VI

Affirmative Covenants

Effective as of the Effective Date and for so long thereafter as the Termination Conditions have not been satisfied, the Borrower shall and (except in the case of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.01, 6.02 and 6.03) shall cause each of the Restricted Subsidiaries to:

SECTION 6.01 Reports and Other Information . Deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution by the Administrative Agent to each Lender (subject to the limitations on distribution of any such information to Public Lenders as described in Section 6.02) each of the following:

(1) subject to the immediately succeeding proviso, within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, all annual financial statements of the Borrower substantially in the form that would be required to be contained in a filing with the SEC on Form 10-K, in accordance with the requirements of such Form 10-K as of the Effective Date, if the Borrower were required to file such form, together with a report thereon by the Borrower’s independent registered public accounting firm, and a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations;”

(2) within 45 days after the end of each of the first three (3) fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower commencing with June 30, 2017, all quarterly financial statements of the Borrower substantially in the form that would be required to be contained in a filing with the SEC on Form 10-Q (but only to the extent similar information was included in the Offering Memorandum), in accordance with the requirements of such Form 10-Q as of the Closing Date (solely with respect to the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year), if the Borrower were required to file such form, and a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations;” and

(3) promptly from time to time after the occurrence of an event required to be therein reported, such other information containing substantially the same information that would be required to be contained in filings with the SEC on Form 8-K, in accordance with the requirements of such Form 8-K as of the Closing Date, under Items: 1.03 (Bankruptcy or Receivership); 2.01 (Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets); 2.04 (Triggering Events that Accelerate or Increase a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement); 4.02 (Non-Reliance on Previously Issued Financial Statements or a Related Audit Report or Completed Interim Review); 5.01 (Changes in Control of Registrant); 5.02(a)(1) (Resignation of Director due to Disagreement with Registrant); 5.02(c)(1) (Name and Position of Newly Appointed Officer and Date of Appointment); and 5.03(b) (Changes in Fiscal Year),

if the Borrower were required to file such reports; provided , however , that

 

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(A) no such reports referenced under clause (1) or (2) above will be required to include as an exhibit or summary of terms of, any employment or compensatory arrangement agreement, plan or understanding between the Borrower (or any of its Subsidiaries) and any director, manager or executive officer, of the Borrower (or any of its Subsidiaries);

(B) in no event will such reports be required to comply with Section 302, Section 404 or Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or related Items 307 and 308 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC;

(C) in no event will such reports be required to comply with Item 302 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC;

(D) in no event will such reports be required to comply with Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC or contain separate financial statements for the Borrower, the Guarantors or other Subsidiaries the shares of which may be pledged to secure the Loans or any Guarantee that would be required under (i) Section 3-09 of Regulation S-X or (ii) Section 3-16 of Regulation S-X, respectively, promulgated by the SEC;

(E) in no event will such reports be required to comply with Regulation G under the Exchange Act or Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC with respect to any non-GAAP financial measures contained therein;

(F) no such reports referenced under clause (1) or (2) above will be required to be furnished if the Borrower determines in its good faith judgment that such event is not material to the Lenders or the business, assets, operations or financial position of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

(G) in no event will such reports be required to comply with Item 601 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC (with respect to exhibits) or, with respect to reports referenced in clause (2) above, to include as an exhibit copies of any agreements, financial statements or other items that would be required to be filed as exhibits to a current report on Form 8-K, except for agreements evidencing material Indebtedness (excluding any schedules thereto);

(H) in no event will reports delivered prior to the completion of the first fiscal year following the Closing Date be required to comply with Regulation S-X of the SEC, give pro forma effect to the Transactions, or contain all purchase accounting adjustments relating to the Transactions to the extent it is not practicable to include any such adjustments in such report;

(I) in no event will comparisons to the financial statements of the corresponding period of the prior year be required until the delivery of financial statements for a period ending in 2018 unless such comparative data is provided to lenders under the Senior Credit Facilities;

(J) trade secrets and other confidential information that is competitively sensitive in the good faith and reasonable determination of the Borrower may be excluded from any disclosures; and

(K) such information will not be required to contain any “segment reporting.”

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations referred to in Sections 6.01(1) and 6.01(2) may be satisfied with respect to financial information of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries by furnishing the Borrower’s Form 10-K or 10-Q, as applicable, filed with the SEC (and the public filing of such report with the SEC shall constitute delivery under this Section 6.01); provided that with respect to the preceding clause to the extent such information is in lieu of information required to be provided under Section 6.01(1) (it being understood that such information may be audited at the option of the Borrower), such materials are accompanied by a report and opinion of an independent registered public accounting firm of nationally recognized standing or another accounting firm reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

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(4) In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, the financial statements, information, auditors’ reports and other documents and information required to be provided pursuant to this Section 6.01 may be, rather than those of the Borrower, those of (a) any predecessor or successor of the Borrower, (b) any Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that, together with its consolidated Subsidiaries, constitutes substantially all of the assets of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries (“ Qualified Reporting Subsidiary ”) or (c) any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower; provided that, if the financial information required to be provided pursuant to clauses (1) and (2) above relates to such Qualified Reporting Subsidiary of the Borrower, such financial information will be accompanied by consolidating information (which need not be audited), which may be posted to the website of the Borrower or on Intralinks, SyndTrak, ClearPar or any comparable password protected online data system, that explains in reasonable detail (in the good faith judgment of the Borrower) the differences between the information relating to such Qualified Reporting Subsidiary, on the one hand, and the information relating to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a stand-alone basis, on the other hand.

(5) Any financial statements required to be delivered pursuant to Sections 6.01(1) or 6.01(2) shall not be required to contain all purchase accounting adjustments relating to the Transactions or any other transaction(s) permitted hereunder to the extent it is not practicable to include any such adjustments in such financial statements.

(6) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Borrower will not be deemed to have failed to comply with any of its obligations under this Section for purposes of Section 6.01(3) hereof until 180 days after the date any report is due under this Section 4.03.

(7) 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 Borrower will be deemed to have satisfied its obligations with respect thereto at such time and any Default with respect thereto will be deemed to have been cured.

(8) The Borrower shall use its commercially reasonable efforts, consistent with its judgment as to what is prudent at the time, to participate in quarterly conference calls after the delivery of the information referred to in this Section (which may be a single conference call together with investors and lenders holding other securities or Indebtedness of the Borrower and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries) to discuss operating results and related matters. The Borrower shall issue a press release which will provide the date and time of any such call and will direct Lenders to contact the investor relations office of the Borrower to obtain access to the conference call.

SECTION 6.02 Certificates; Other Information . Deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution by the Administrative Agent to each Lender (subject to the limitations on distribution of any such information to Public Lenders as described in this Section 6.02):

(1) no later than five (5) days after the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(1) and (2) (commencing with such delivery for the fiscal quarter in which the Closing Date occurs), a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by a Financial Officer of the Borrower;

(2) promptly after the same are publicly available, copies of all 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 or with any national securities exchange, as the case may be (other than amendments to any registration statement (to the extent such registration statement, in the form it became effective, is delivered to the Administrative Agent), 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 to any other clause of this Section 6.02;

(3) promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any notices of default to any holder of any class or series of debt securities of any Loan Party having an aggregate outstanding principal amount greater than the Threshold Amount (in each case, other than in connection with any board observer rights) and not otherwise required to be furnished to the Administrative Agent pursuant to any other clause of this Section 6.02;

 

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(4) together with the delivery of the Compliance Certificate with respect to the financial statements referred to in Section 6.01(1), a list of each Subsidiary of the Borrower that identifies each Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary as of the date of delivery of such list or a confirmation that there is no change in such information since the later of the Closing Date and the last such list; and

(5) promptly, but subject to the limitations set forth in Section 6.10 and Section 10.09, such additional information regarding the business and financial affairs of any Loan Party or any Material Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent may from time to time on its own behalf or on behalf of any Lender reasonably request in writing from time to time.

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01 or Section 6.02(2) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (a) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto, on the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 10.02 hereto (or as such address may be updated from time to time in accordance with Section 10.02); or (b) 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 will deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent for further distribution by the Administrative Agent to each Lender (subject to the limitations on distribution of any such information to Public Lenders as described in this Section 6.02) 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 or link and, upon the Administrative Agent’s request, provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents. 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.

The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent will make available to the Lenders materials or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, the “ Borrower Materials ”) by posting the Borrower Materials on Intralinks, SyndTrak, ClearPar or another similar electronic system (the “ Platform ”) and (b) certain of the Lenders may have personnel who do not wish to receive any information with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries or its or their respective securities that is not Public-Side Information, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such Person’s securities (each, a “ Public Lender ”). The Borrower hereby agrees that (i) at the Administrative Agent’s request, all Borrower Materials that are to be made available to Public Lenders will be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, means that the word “PUBLIC” will appear prominently on the first page thereof; (ii) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Borrower will be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as containing only Public-Side Information ( provided , however , that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they will be treated as set forth in Section 10.09); (iii) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” and, except to the extent the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent to the contrary, any Borrower Materials provided pursuant to Section 6.01(1), 6.01(2) or 6.02(1) are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated as “Public Side Information”; and (iv) the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers shall be entitled to treat Borrower Materials that are not specifically identified as “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated as “Public Side Information.” Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall be under no obligation to mark the Borrower Materials “PUBLIC.”

Anything to the contrary notwithstanding, nothing in this Agreement will require the Borrower or any Subsidiary to disclose, permit the inspection, examination or making copies or abstracts of, or discussion of, any document, information or other matter, or provide information (i) that constitutes non-financial trade secrets or non-financial proprietary information, (ii) in respect of which disclosure is prohibited by Law or binding agreement or (iii) that is subject to attorney-client or similar privilege or constitutes attorney work product; provided that in the

 

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event that the Borrower does not provide information that otherwise would be required to be provided hereunder in reliance on the exclusions in this paragraph relating to violation of any obligation of confidentiality, the Borrower shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide notice to the Administrative Agent promptly upon obtaining knowledge that such information is being withheld (but solely if providing such notice would not violate such obligation of confidentiality).

SECTION 6.03 Notices . Promptly after a Responsible Officer obtains actual knowledge thereof, notify the Administrative Agent of:

(1) the occurrence of any Default; and

(2) (a) any dispute, litigation, investigation or proceeding between any Loan Party and any arbitrator or Governmental Authority, (b) the filing or commencement of, or any material development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, including pursuant to any applicable Environmental Laws or in respect of IP Rights, the occurrence of any violation by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries of, or liability under, any Environmental Law or Environmental Permit, or (c) the occurrence of any ERISA Event that, in any such case referred to in clauses (a), (b) or (c) of this Section 6.03(2), has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(3) Each notice pursuant to this Section 6.03 shall be accompanied by a written statement of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower (a) that such notice is being delivered pursuant to Section 6.03(1) or (2) (as applicable) and (b) 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 Taxes . Timely pay, discharge or otherwise satisfy, as the same shall become due and payable, all of 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, to the extent (1) any such Tax is being contested in good faith and by appropriate actions for which appropriate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP or (2) the failure to pay or discharge the same would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 6.05 Preservation of Existence, etc .

(1) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization; and

(2) take all reasonable action to obtain, preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its rights, licenses, permits, privileges, franchises, and IP Rights material to the conduct of its business,

except in the case of clause (1) or (2) above to the extent (other than with respect to the preservation of the existence of the Borrower) that failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect or pursuant to any merger, consolidation, liquidation, dissolution or disposition permitted by Article VII.

SECTION 6.06 Maintenance of Properties . Except if the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and equipment used in the operation of its business in good working order, repair and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted and casualty or condemnation excepted and any repairs and replacements that are the obligation of the owner or landlord of any property leased by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries excepted.

SECTION 6.07 Maintenance of Insurance . Maintain with insurance companies that the Borrower believes (in the good faith judgment of its management) are financially sound and reputable at the time the relevant coverage is placed or renewed or with a Captive Insurance Subsidiary, insurance with respect to the Borrower’s and the Restricted Subsidiaries’ properties and business against loss or damage of the kinds customarily

 

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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, and will furnish to the Lenders, upon written request from the Administrative Agent, information presented in reasonable detail as to the insurance so carried ; provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event will the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary be required to obtain or maintain insurance that is more restrictive than its normal course of practice.

SECTION 6.08 Compliance with Laws . Comply in all respects with the requirements of all Laws and comply with the USA PATRIOT Act, Sanctions and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or to its business or property, except if the failure to comply therewith would not reasonably be expected individually or in the aggregate to have 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 shall be made of all material financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be (it being understood and agreed that certain Foreign Subsidiaries may maintain individual books and records in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in their respective countries of organization and that such maintenance shall not constitute a breach of the representations, warranties or covenants hereunder).

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 ; provi d ed that 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 (2) times during any calendar year absent the existence of an Event of Default 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 of its 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 shall give the Borrower the opportunity to participate in any discussions with the Borrower’s independent public accountants. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 6.10 is subject to the last paragraph of Section 6.02.

SECTION 6.11 Covenant to Guarantee Obligations . At the Borrower’s expense, take all action necessary or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to ensure that upon (i) the formation or acquisition of any new direct or indirect wholly owned Material Domestic Subsidiary (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) by any Loan Party, (ii) the designation of any existing direct or indirect wholly owned Material Domestic Subsidiary (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) as a Restricted Subsidiary, (iii) any Subsidiary (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) becoming a wholly owned Material Domestic Subsidiary or (iv) an Excluded Subsidiary that is a wholly owned Material Domestic Subsidiary ceasing to be an Excluded Subsidiary but continuing as a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower: within sixty (60) days (or such greater number of days specified below) after such formation, acquisition or designation or, in each case, such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion, cause each such Material Domestic Subsidiary that is required to become a Guarantor to execute the Guaranty (or a joinder thereto) and other documentation the Administrative Agent may reasonably request from time to time in order to carry out more effectively the purposes of the Guaranty; and within sixty (60) days after the reasonable request therefor by the Administrative Agent (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion), deliver to the Administrative Agent a signed copy of a customary Opinion of Counsel, 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 as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.

SECTION 6.12 Compliance with Environmental Laws . Except, in each case, to the extent that the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, (1) comply, and take all reasonable actions to cause any lessees and other Persons operating or occupying its properties to comply, with all applicable Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits (including any cleanup, removal or remedial obligations) and (2) obtain and renew all Environmental Permits required to conduct its operations or in connection with its properties.

 

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SECTION 6.13 Use of Proceeds . The proceeds of the Interim Bridge Loans drawn hereunder on the Closing Date, together with the proceeds of the Equity Contribution and/or the proceeds of the Senior Subordinated Notes, any loans drawn under the Senior Credit Facilities on the Closing Date and cash on hand, will be used (i) to fund the Closing Date Refinancing, together with any premiums and accrued and unpaid interest thereon and any fees and expenses with respect thereto, (ii) to pay the Transaction Consideration, and (iii) to pay the Transaction Expenses.

SECTION 6.14 Tender Documents; Etc . The Tender Documents, the Undertaking Agreement and the Investment Agreement shall not be amended or waived, and no consents shall be given with respect thereto, by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in a manner materially adverse to the Lenders without the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) (it being understood that (a) any increase or decrease in the Transaction Consideration of less than 10% shall not be materially adverse to the Lenders (so long as any such increase is funded by an increase to the Equity Contribution (or is otherwise funded by an issuance of common Equity Interests of the Borrower) and any such decrease results in the pro rata reduction to the Equity Contribution, the Term Loans and the Bridge Loans (provided that any such decrease in respect of the Bridge Loans shall be allocated to instead reduce the Term Loans)), (b) any increase or decrease in the number of days in the Offer’s subscription period that does not extend the subscription period beyond seventy (70) days and does not require the Borrower to settle a purchase of less than 75% of the shares in the Target shall not be materially adverse to the Lenders and (c) any decrease in the tender condition to less than 75% of the shares in the Target shall be materially adverse to the Lenders).

SECTION 6.15 Anti-Corruption Compliance . Comply in all material respects with the requirements of the FCPA and implement and maintain policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance with the FCPA.

Article VII

Negative Covenants

Effective as of the Effective Date and for so long as the Termination Conditions are not satisfied:

SECTION 7.01 Liens .

(1) The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Guarantor to, create, incur or assume any Lien (except Permitted Liens) that secures obligations under any Indebtedness or any related guarantee of Indebtedness, on any asset or property of the Borrower or any Guarantor, or any income or profits therefrom, or assign or convey any right to receive income therefrom, unless:

(i) in the case of Liens securing Subordinated Indebtedness, the Loans and related Guarantees are secured by a Lien on such property, assets or proceeds that is senior in priority to such Liens until such time as such Subordinated Indebtedness is no longer secured by such Liens; and

(ii) in all other cases, the Loans or the Guarantees are equally and ratably secured until such time as such Obligations are no longer secured by such Liens.

(2) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.01, (A) a Lien need not be incurred solely by reference to one category of Permitted Liens described in the definition thereof but is permitted to be incurred in part under any combination thereof and of any other available exemption and (B) in the event that a Lien (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of one or more of the categories of Permitted Liens, the Borrower will, in its sole discretion, be entitled to divide, classify or reclassify, in whole or in part, any such Lien (or any portion thereof) among one or more of such categories or clauses in any manner.

 

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(3) Any Lien created for the benefit of the Lenders pursuant to this Section 7.01 will be deemed automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon the release and discharge of each of the Liens described in clauses (1) and (2) of this Section 7.01 or upon such Liens no longer attaching to assets or property of the Borrower or a Guarantor.

(4) The expansion of Liens by virtue of accretion or amortization of original issue discount, the payment of dividends in the form of Indebtedness and increases in the amount of Indebtedness outstanding solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Liens for purposes of this covenant.

SECTION 7.02 Indebtedness .

(a) The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, 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 Borrower will not issue any shares of Disqualified Stock and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to issue any shares of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock; provided that, following the Interim Bridge Loan Maturity Date, the Borrower 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 issue shares of Preferred Stock, if the Interest Coverage Ratio of the Borrower for the Borrower’s most recently ended Test Period preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued (or, in the case of Indebtedness under Designated Revolving Commitments, on the date such Designated Revolving Commitments are established after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence of the entire committed amount of Indebtedness thereunder, in which case such committed amount under such Designated Revolving Commitments may thereafter be borrowed and reborrowed, in whole or in part, from time to time, without further compliance with this proviso) would have been at least 2.00 to 1.00 (the “ Interest Coverage Test ”), 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 Test Period; provided , further that Restricted Subsidiaries of the Borrower that are not Guarantors may not incur Indebtedness or issue Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock under this paragraph if, after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence or issuance (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness, liquidation preference of Disqualified Stock and amount of Preferred Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors incurred or issued pursuant to this paragraph then outstanding, together with any principal amounts incurred or issued by such Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors with respect to Indebtedness incurred pursuant to clauses (xiv)(a), (xxiii) and (xxxi) of Section 7.02(b) below and Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of any of the foregoing (excluding any Incremental Amounts), in each case then outstanding would exceed (as of the date such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued, incurred or otherwise obtained), the greater of (x) $100.0 million and (y) 50% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower for the most recently ended Test Period (tested on a pro forma basis).

(b) Section 7.02(a) will not apply to:

(i) the incurrence of Indebtedness pursuant to Credit Facilities by the Borrower 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) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the sum of (a) $750.0 million and (b) the Permitted Incremental Amount; provided that any Indebtedness incurred under this Section 7.02(b)(i) may be extended, replaced, refunded, refinanced, renewed or defeased (including through successive extensions, replacements, refundings, refinancings, renewals and defeasances) with new Indebtedness so long as the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such new Indebtedness does not exceed the sum of (x) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness being so extended, replaced, refunded, refinanced, renewed or defeased (and with respect to Indebtedness under Designated Revolving Commitments, including an amount equal to any unutilized Designated Revolving Commitments being refinanced to the extent permanently terminated at the time of incurrence of such Refinancing Indebtedness), plus (y) any accrued and unpaid interest on the Indebtedness being refinanced, plus (z) the amount of any

 

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tender premium or penalty or premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument or documents governing such refinanced Indebtedness and any defeasance costs and any fees and expenses (including original issue discount, upfront fees or similar fees) incurred in connection with the incurrence of such new Indebtedness or the extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance of such refinanced Indebtedness; provided that for purposes of determining the amount of Indebtedness that can be incurred under this clause (b)(i), all Indebtedness incurred under this clause (i) shall be treated as Secured Indebtedness and included in the calculation of the Permitted Incremental Amount;

(ii) the incurrence by the Borrower of the Bridge Loans and the Guarantee thereof by any Guarantor;

(iii) the incurrence of Indebtedness (x) by the Borrower and any Restricted Subsidiary (other than the Target) in existence on the Effective Date (excluding Indebtedness described in Sections 7.02(b)(i) and (ii)); provided that any such item of Indebtedness (other than any Indebtedness of the Target outstanding as on the date hereof) with an aggregate outstanding principal amount on the Closing Date in excess of $5.0 million shall be set forth on Schedule 7.02 and (y) by the Target in existence on the date hereof or incurred thereafter in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed $10.0 million;

(iv) (a) the incurrence of Attributable Indebtedness and (b) Indebtedness (including Capitalized Lease Obligations and Purchase Money Obligations) and Disqualified Stock incurred or issued by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and Preferred Stock issued by any Restricted Subsidiary to finance the purchase, lease, expansion, construction, installation, replacement, repair or improvement of property (real or personal), equipment or other assets, including assets that are used or useful in a Similar Business, whether through the direct purchase of assets or the Capital Stock of any Person owning such assets in an aggregate principal amount, together with any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof (excluding any Incremental Amounts) and all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and/or Preferred Stock incurred or issued and outstanding under this clause (iv) at such time, not to exceed (as of the date such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and/or Preferred Stock is issued, incurred or otherwise obtained) the greater of (x) $60.0 million and (y) 30% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a pro forma basis);

(v) Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (a) constituting reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit, bank guarantees, banker’s acceptances, warehouse receipts, or similar instruments issued or entered into, or relating to obligations or liabilities incurred, in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice, including in respect of workers’ compensation claims, performance, completion or surety bonds, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance, unemployment insurance or other social security legislation or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement-type obligations regarding workers’ compensation claims, performance, completion or surety bonds, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance or (b) as an account party in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar instruments in favor of suppliers, trade creditors or other Persons issued or incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

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

(vii) the incurrence of Indebtedness by the Borrower and owing to a Restricted Subsidiary or the issuance of Disqualified Stock of the Borrower to a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any such Indebtedness for borrowed money owing to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Loans to the extent permitted by applicable law and it does not result in adverse tax consequences; provided, further, that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event that results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock (except to the Borrower or

 

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another Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock constituting a Permitted Lien) will be deemed, in each case, to be an incurrence of such Indebtedness (to the extent such Indebtedness is then outstanding) or issuance of such Disqualified Stock (to the extent such Disqualified Stock is then outstanding) not permitted by this clause (vii);

(viii) the incurrence of Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary to the extent permitted by Section 7.05; provided that any such Indebtedness for borrowed money incurred by a Guarantor and owing to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Guaranty of such Guarantor to the extent permitted by applicable law and it does not result in adverse tax consequences; 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 such subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Borrower or another Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Indebtedness constituting a Permitted Lien) will 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);

(ix) the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event that results in any such Restricted Subsidiary that holds such Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such shares of Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock (except to the Borrower or another Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock constituting a Permitted Lien) will be deemed, in each case, to be an issuance of such shares of Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock (to the extent such Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock is then outstanding) not permitted by this clause (ix);

(x) the incurrence of Hedging Obligations (excluding Hedging Obligations entered into for speculative purposes) including, without limitation, Hedging Obligations entered into under the Existing Credit Agreement;

(xi) the incurrence of obligations in respect of self-insurance and obligations in respect of performance, bid, appeal and surety bonds and performance, banker’s acceptance facilities and completion guarantees and similar obligations provided by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary 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 industry practice, including those incurred to secure health, safety and environmental obligations;

(xii) (a) the incurrence of Indebtedness or issuance of Disqualified Stock of the Borrower and the incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference up to 100.00% of the net cash proceeds received by the Borrower since the Closing Date from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Borrower or contributions to the capital of the Borrower including through consolidation, amalgamation or merger (in each case, other than proceeds of Disqualified Stock or proceeds received from the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary) as determined in accordance with Sections 7.05(a)(3)(B) and (3)(C) to the extent such net cash proceeds or cash have not been applied pursuant to such clauses to make Restricted Payments pursuant to Section 7.05(a) or to make Permitted Investments (other than Permitted Investments specified in clause (1), (2) or (3) of the definition thereof); and

(b) the incurrence of Indebtedness or issuance of Disqualified Stock of the Borrower and the incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference that, when aggregated with the principal amount and liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock then outstanding and incurred or issued, as applicable, pursuant to this clause (xii)(b), together with any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof (excluding any Incremental Amounts), does not exceed (as of the date such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued, incurred or otherwise obtained) (i) the greater of (x) $60.0 million and (y) 30% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended

 

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Test Period (calculated on a pro forma basis); plus, without duplication, (ii) in the event of any extension, replacement, refinancing, renewal or defeasance of any such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, an amount equal to (x) any accrued and unpaid interest on the Indebtedness, any accrued and unpaid dividends on the Preferred Stock, and any accrued and unpaid dividends on the Disqualified Stock being so refinanced, extended, replaced, refunded, renewed or defeased plus (y) the amount of any tender premium or penalty or premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument or documents governing such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock and any defeasance costs and any fees and expenses (including original issue discount, upfront fees or similar fees) incurred in connection with the issuance of such new Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock or the extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance of such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock;

(xiii) the incurrence or issuance by the Borrower of Refinancing Indebtedness or the incurrence or issuance by a Restricted Subsidiary of Refinancing Indebtedness that serves to Refinance any Indebtedness (including any Designated Revolving Commitments) as permitted under Section 7.02(a) and Sections 7.02(b)(ii), (iii) and (xii)(a), this Section 7.02(b)(xiii) and Section 7.02(b)(xiv) or any successive Refinancing Indebtedness with respect to any of the foregoing;

(xiv) following the Interim Bridge Loan Maturity Date, the incurrence or issuance of (a) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Borrower or Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary incurred or issued to finance an acquisition or investment (or other purchase of assets) or that is assumed by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such acquisition or investment (or other purchase of assets); and (b) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of Persons that are acquired by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or merged into, amalgamated or consolidated with the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; provided that in the case of the preceding clauses (a) and (b), in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference, together with any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof (excluding any Incremental Amounts), not to exceed (A) the greater of $60.0 million and 30% of Consolidated EBITDA plus (B) an unlimited amount so long as in the case of this clause (B) only, either:

(a) after giving pro forma effect to such acquisition, investment, amalgamation, consolidation or merger and incurrence, assumption or issuance of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof, the Borrower would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Interest Coverage Test;

(b) after giving pro forma effect to such acquisition, investment, amalgamation, consolidation or merger and incurrence, assumption or issuance of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof, the Interest Coverage Ratio of the Borrower for the Test Period preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or assumed or such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued (or, in the case of Indebtedness under Designated Revolving Commitments, on the date such Designated Revolving Commitments are established after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence or assumption of the entire committed amount of Indebtedness thereunder, in which case such committed amount under such Designated Revolving Commitments may thereafter be borrowed and reborrowed, in whole or in part, from time to time, without further compliance with this proviso) would be greater than or equal to the Interest Coverage Ratio immediately prior to giving effect to such incurrence or assumption of Indebtedness or issuance of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock;

(c) [intentionally omitted]; or

(d) after giving pro forma effect to such acquisition, investment, amalgamation, consolidation or merger and incurrence, assumption or issuance of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof, the Total Net Leverage Ratio of the Borrower for the Test Period preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or assumed or such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued (or, in the case of Indebtedness under Designated Revolving

 

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Commitments, on the date such Designated Revolving Commitments are established after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence or assumption of the entire committed amount of Indebtedness thereunder, in which case such committed amount under such Designated Revolving Commitments may thereafter be borrowed and reborrowed, in whole or in part, from time to time, without further compliance with this clause (d)) (without netting any cash received from the incurrence or assumption of such Indebtedness proposed to be incurred or assumed) would be no greater than the Total Net Leverage Ratio immediately prior to giving effect to such incurrence or assumption of Indebtedness or issuance of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock;

provided that, with respect to Indebtedness incurred or assumed pursuant to clause (xiv)(a), Restricted Subsidiaries of the Borrower that are not Guarantors may not incur or assume Indebtedness or issue Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock under this clause (xiv) if, after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption or issuance (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness, liquidation preference of Disqualified Stock and amount of Preferred Stock of such Restricted Subsidiaries incurred, assumed or issued pursuant to clause (xiv)(a), together with any principal amounts incurred, assumed or issued by such Restricted Subsidiaries under Sections 7.02(a), 7.02(b)(xxiii) and (xxxi) and any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof (excluding any Incremental Amounts), in each case then outstanding would exceed (as of the date such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued, assumed, incurred or otherwise obtained) the greater of (I) $100.0 million and (II) 50% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a pro forma basis);

(xv) the incurrence of Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(xvi) the incurrence of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary supported by letters of credit or bank guarantees issued pursuant to any Credit Facility, in a principal amount not in excess of the stated amount of such letters of credit or bank guarantees;

(xvii) (a) the incurrence of any guarantee by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other obligations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary so long as the incurrence of such Indebtedness or other obligations incurred by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary is permitted under the terms of this Agreement, or (b) any co-issuance by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of any Indebtedness or other obligations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary so long as the incurrence of such Indebtedness or other obligations by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary is permitted under the terms of this Agreement;

(xviii) the incurrence of Indebtedness issued by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to future, present or former employees, directors, officers, members of management, consultants and independent contractors thereof, their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members and permitted transferees thereof, in each case to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of the Borrower to the extent described in Section 7.05(b)(iv);

(xix) customer deposits and advance payments received in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice from customers for goods and services purchased in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(xx) the incurrence of (a) Indebtedness owed to banks and other financial institutions incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice in connection with ordinary banking arrangements to manage cash balances of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries and (b) Indebtedness in respect of Cash Management Services;

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

 

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(xxii) the incurrence of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary 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 or consistent with industry practice;

(xxiii) the incurrence of Indebtedness, or issuance of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock by Restricted Subsidiaries of the Borrower that are not Guarantors; provided that the amount of such Indebtedness proposed to be incurred or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock proposed to be issued at such time shall be limited to an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference that, when aggregated with the principal amount and liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock then outstanding and incurred or issued, as applicable, pursuant to this clause (xxiii) at any time when this proviso applies, together with any principal amounts incurred, assumed or issued by such Restricted Subsidiaries under Sections 7.02(a), 7.02(b)(xiv)(a) and (b)(xxxi) and any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof (excluding any Incremental Amounts), does not exceed the greater of (a) $100.0 million and (b) 50% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a pro forma basis);

(xxiv) the incurrence of Indebtedness by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary undertaken in connection with cash management (including netting services, automatic clearinghouse arrangements, overdraft protections, employee credit card programs and related or similar services or activities) with respect to the Borrower, any Subsidiaries or any joint venture in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice, including with respect to financial accommodations of the type described in the definition of Cash Management Services;

(xxv) the incurrence of Indebtedness by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent that the net proceeds thereof are promptly deposited with the Administrative Agent to satisfy and discharge any Senior Exchange Notes in accordance with this Agreement and the Senior Exchange Notes Indenture;

(xxvi) guarantees incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice in respect of obligations to suppliers, customers, franchisees, lessors, licensees, sub-licensees and distribution partners and guarantees required by Governmental Authorities in the ordinary course of business;

(xxvii) the incurrence of Indebtedness attributable to (but not incurred to finance) the exercise of appraisal rights or the settlement of any claims or actions (whether actual, contingent or potential) with respect to the Transactions or any other acquisition (by merger, consolidation or amalgamation or otherwise) in accordance with the terms of this Agreement;

(xxviii) the incurrence of Indebtedness representing deferred compensation to employees of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, including Indebtedness consisting of obligations under deferred compensation or any other similar arrangements incurred in connection with the Transactions, any investment or any acquisition (by merger, consolidation or amalgamation or otherwise) permitted under this Agreement;

(xxix) the incurrence of Indebtedness arising out of any Sale-Leaseback Transaction incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(xxx) [reserved];

(xxxi) the incurrence of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock by Restricted Subsidiaries of the Borrower that are not Guarantors to fund working capital requirements in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference that, when aggregated with the principal amount and liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock then outstanding and incurred or issued, as applicable, pursuant to this clause (xxxi), together with any principal amounts incurred, assumed or issued by such Restricted Subsidiaries under Sections 7.02(a), 7.02(b)(xiv)(a) and (b)(xxiii) and any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof (excluding any Incremental Amounts), does not exceed (as of the date such Indebtedness is issued, incurred or otherwise obtained) the greater of (a) $100.0 million and (b) 50% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a pro forma basis);

 

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(xxxii) Qualified Securitization Facilities and, to the extent constituting Indebtedness, Receivables Financing Transactions;

(xxxiii) any Preferred Stock or Senior Subordinated Notes issued pursuant to the Investment Agreement;

(xxxiv) all premiums (if any), interest (including post-petition interest), fees, expenses, charges and additional or contingent interest on obligations described in clauses (i) through (xxxii) of this Section 7.02(b);

(xxxv) Permanent Notes, the proceeds of which are used to prepay any or all of the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement;

(xxxvi) Any Preferred Stock issued pursuant to the Investment Agreement; and

(xxxvii) any Indebtedness in respect of the Tender Letter of Credit, including any reimbursement obligations with respect thereto.

(c) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.02:

(i) in the event that an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) at any time, whether at the time of incurrence or upon the application of all or a portion of the proceeds thereof or subsequently, meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of permitted Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock described in clauses (i) through (xxxiii) of Section 7.02(b) or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to Section 7.02(a), the Borrower, in its sole discretion, may divide and classify and may subsequently re-divide and reclassify such item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or a portion thereof) in such of the above clauses or under Section 7.02(a) as determined by the Borrower at such time; provided that all Indebtedness outstanding incurred hereunder and under the Credit Facilities on the Closing Date will, at all times, be treated as incurred on the Closing Date under Section 7.02(b)(1) and may not be reclassified;

(ii) the Borrower is entitled to divide and classify an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock in more than one of the types of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock described in Section 7.02(a) and Section 7.02(b), subject to the proviso to Section 7.02(c)(i);

(iii) the principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding under any clause of this Section 4.09 will be determined after giving effect to the application of proceeds of any such Indebtedness to refinance any such other Indebtedness;

(iv) in the event an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) is incurred or issued pursuant to Section 7.02(b) (other than Sections 7.02(b)(i)(b), (xiv) or (xxx) above) on the same date that an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) is incurred or issued under Section 7.02(a) or Sections 7.02(b)(i)(b), (xiv) or (xxx), then the Interest Coverage Ratio, or applicable leverage ratio, will be calculated with respect to such incurrence or issuance under Section 7.02(a) or Sections 7.02(b)(i)(b), (xiv) or (xxx) without regard to any incurrence or issuance under Section 7.02(b) (other than with respect to any incurrence or issuance under Section 7.02(b)(i)(b), (xiv) or (xxx)). Unless the Borrower elects otherwise, the incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock will be deemed incurred or issued first under Section 7.02(a) or Sections 7.02(b)(i)(b), (xiv) or (xxx) to the extent permitted, with the balance incurred or issued under Section 7.02(b) (other than pursuant to Sections 7.02(b)(i)(b), (xiv) or (xxx)); and

 

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(v) guarantees of, or obligations in respect of letters of credit relating to, Indebtedness that are otherwise included in the determination of a particular amount of Indebtedness will not be included in the determination of such amount of Indebtedness; provided that the incurrence of the Indebtedness represented by such guarantee or letter of credit, as the case may be, was incurred in compliance with this Section 7.02.

The 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 and increases in the amount of Indebtedness outstanding solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies, will, in each case, not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness or an issuance of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock for purposes of this Section 7.02. Any Indebtedness incurred, or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued, to refinance Indebtedness incurred, or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued, pursuant to clauses (ii), (iii), (iv), (xii), (xiii), (xiv), (xxiii), (xxxi) and (xxxiii) of Section 7.02(b) will be permitted to include additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred to pay (I) any accrued and unpaid interest on the Indebtedness, any accrued and unpaid dividends on the Preferred Stock and any accrued and unpaid dividends on the Disqualified Stock being so refinanced, extended, replaced, refunded, renewed or defeased and (II) the amount of any tender premium or penalty or premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument or documents governing such refinanced Indebtedness, Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock and any defeasance costs and any fees and expenses (including original issue discount, upfront fees or similar fees) incurred in connection with the issuance of such new Indebtedness, Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock or the extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance of such refinanced Indebtedness, Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock (and, with respect to Indebtedness under Designated Revolving Commitments, will be permitted to include an amount equal to any unutilized Designated Revolving Commitments being refinanced, extended, replaced, refunded, renewed or defeased to the extent permanently terminated at the time of incurrence of such Refinancing Indebtedness).

For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. Dollar-denominated restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness or issuance of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, the U.S. Dollar-equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness, liquidation preference of Disqualified Stock or amount of Preferred Stock denominated in a foreign currency will be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock was incurred or issued (or, in the case of revolving credit debt, the date such Indebtedness was first committed or first incurred (whichever yields the lower U.S. Dollar equivalent)); provided that if such Indebtedness is incurred or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued to refinance other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, 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 will be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock does not exceed (1) the principal amount of such Indebtedness, the liquidation preference of such Disqualified Stock or the amount of such Preferred Stock, as applicable, being refinanced, extended, replaced refunded, renewed or defeased, plus (2) any accrued and unpaid interest on the Indebtedness, any accrued and unpaid dividends on the Preferred Stock and any accrued and unpaid dividends on the Disqualified Stock being so refinanced, extended, replaced, refunded, renewed or defeased, plus (3) the amount of any tender premium or penalty or premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument or documents governing such refinanced Indebtedness, Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock and any defeasance costs and any fees and expenses (including original issue discount, upfront fees or similar fees) incurred in connection with the issuance of such new Indebtedness, Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock or the extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance of such refinanced Indebtedness, Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock (and, with respect to Indebtedness under Designated Revolving Commitments, will be permitted to include an amount equal to any unutilized Designated Revolving Commitments being refinanced, extended, replaced, refunded, renewed or defeased to the extent permanently terminated at the time of incurrence of such Refinancing Indebtedness).

The principal amount of any Indebtedness incurred or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued to refinance other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, if incurred or issued in a different currency from the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, being refinanced, will be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such respective Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing. The principal amount of any non-interest bearing Indebtedness or other discount security constituting Indebtedness at any date will be the principal amount thereof that would be shown on a balance sheet of the Borrower dated such date prepared in accordance with GAAP.

 

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The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Guarantor to, directly or indirectly, incur any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) that is contractually subordinated in right of payment to any Indebtedness of the Borrower or such Guarantor, as the case may be, unless such Indebtedness is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Loans or such Guarantor’s Guaranty to the extent and in the same manner as such Indebtedness is contractually subordinated to other Indebtedness of the Borrower or such Guarantor, as the case may be.

For purposes of this Agreement, (1) unsecured Indebtedness will not be deemed to be subordinated or junior to Secured Indebtedness merely because it is unsecured, (2) Indebtedness will not be deemed to be subordinated or junior to any other Indebtedness merely because it is issued or guaranteed by other obligors and (3) Secured Indebtedness will not be deemed to be subordinated or junior to any other Secured Indebtedness merely because it has a junior priority lien with respect to the same collateral.

If any Indebtedness is incurred, or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued, in reliance on a basket measured by reference to a percentage of Consolidated EBITDA, and any refinancing thereof would cause the percentage of Consolidated EBITDA to be exceeded if calculated based on the Consolidated EBITDA on the date of such refinancing, such percentage of Consolidated EBITDA will not be deemed to be exceeded to the extent the principal amount of such newly incurred Indebtedness, the liquidation preference of such newly issued Disqualified Stock or the amount of such newly issued Preferred Stock does not exceed the sum of (i) the principal amount of such Indebtedness, the liquidation preference of such Disqualified Stock or the amount of such Preferred Stock being refinanced, extended, replaced, refunded, renewed or defeased plus (ii) any accrued and unpaid interest on the Indebtedness, any accrued and unpaid dividends on the Preferred Stock and any accrued and unpaid dividends on the Disqualified Stock being so refinanced, extended, replaced, refunded, renewed or defeased plus (iii) the amount of any tender premium or penalty or premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument or documents governing such refinanced Indebtedness, Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock and any defeasance costs and any fees and expenses (including original issue discount, upfront fees or similar fees) incurred in connection with the issuance of such new Indebtedness, Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock or the extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance of such refinanced Indebtedness, Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock (and, with respect to Indebtedness under Designated Revolving Commitments, will be permitted to include an amount equal to any unutilized Designated Revolving Commitments being refinanced, extended, replaced, refunded, renewed or defeased to the extent permanently terminated at the time of incurrence of such Refinancing Indebtedness).

SECTION 7.03 Fundamental Changes .

(a) The Borrower shall not consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not the Borrower is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets, in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

(1) (a) the Borrower is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation or merger (if other than the Borrower), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made, is a Person organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “ Successor Company ”); provided that in the case where the surviving Person is not a corporation, there shall be a co-obligor for the Senior Exchange Notes that is a corporation;

(b) the Successor Company, if other than the Borrower, expressly assumes all the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement pursuant to supplemental loan documents or other customary documents or instruments;

(c) immediately after such transaction, no Default exists;

 

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(d) 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 most recently ended Test Period, either:

(A) the Borrower (or Successor Company, as applicable) would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Interest Coverage Test, or

(B) the Interest Coverage Ratio for the Borrower (or Successor Company, as applicable) would be equal to or greater than the Interest Coverage Ratio for the Borrower immediately prior to such transaction;

(e) each Guarantor, unless it is the other party to the transactions described above, in which case Section 7.03(a)(1)(b) will apply, will have by joinder, supplemental indenture or otherwise confirmed that its Guarantee applies to such Person’s obligations under this Agreement; and

(2) the transaction is made in compliance with Section 7.04; or

(3) in the case of assets comprised 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.

Notwithstanding clauses (c) through (e) of Section 7.03(a)(1),

(i) any Restricted Subsidiary may consolidate with, amalgamate with or merge with or into or wind up into or sell, assign, lease, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or part of its properties and assets to the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary,

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

(iii) the Borrower may convert into a corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company or trust organized or existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of the Borrower or the laws of a jurisdiction in the United States, and

(iv) the Borrower or a Guarantor may change its name.

(b) Upon any consolidation, amalgamation or merger, or any winding up, sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Borrower or a Guarantor in accordance with this section, the Successor Person formed by such consolidation or amalgamation or into or with which the Borrower is merged or to which such wind up, 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, amalgamation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the provisions of this Agreement referring to the Borrower shall refer instead to the Successor Person and not to the Borrower), and may exercise every right and power of the Borrower under this Agreement with the same effect as if such Successor Person had been named as the Borrower herein and, in the case of a predecessor Borrower shall automatically be released from its obligations thereunder; provided that the predecessor Borrower shall not be relieved from the obligations under this Agreement in the case of any lease.

 

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SECTION 7.04 Asset Sales; Prepayment Offer .

(a) After the Interim Bridge Loan Maturity Date, the Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, consummate an Asset Sale, unless:

(i) the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration (including by way of relief from, or by any other Person assuming responsibility for, any liabilities, contingent or otherwise, in connection with such Asset Sale) at least equal to the fair market value (measured 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, with respect to any Asset Sale pursuant to this Section 7.04 for a purchase price in excess of $10.0 million, at least 75% of the consideration for such Asset Sale, together with all other Asset Sales since the Interim Bridge Loan Maturity Date (on a cumulative basis), received by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents; provided that each of the following will be deemed to be cash or Cash Equivalents for purposes of this Section 7.04(a)(ii):

(1) any liabilities (as shown on the Borrower’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet or in the footnotes thereto or, if incurred or accrued subsequent to the date of such balance sheet, such liabilities that would have been reflected on the Borrower’s or a Restricted Subsidiary’s consolidated balance sheet or in the footnotes thereto if such incurrence or accrual had taken place on or prior to the date of such balance sheet, as determined in good faith by the Borrower) of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated in right of payment to the Loans, that are (i) assumed by the transferee of any such assets (or a third party in connection with such transfer) or (ii) otherwise cancelled or terminated in connection with the transaction with such transferee (other than intercompany debt owed to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary);

(2) any securities, notes or other obligations or assets received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee or in connection with such Asset Sale (including earnouts and similar obligations) that are converted by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary into cash or Cash Equivalents, or by their terms are required to be satisfied for cash or Cash Equivalents (to the extent of the cash or Cash Equivalents received) within 180 days following the closing of such Asset Sale;

(3) any Designated Non-Cash Consideration received by the Borrower or any 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 (x) $20.0 million and (y) 10% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a pro forma basis), with the fair market value of each item of Designated Non-Cash Consideration being measured, at the Borrower’s option, either at the time of contractually agreeing to such Asset Sale or at the time received and, in either case, without giving effect to any subsequent change(s) in value;

(4) Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary that ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such Asset Sale (other than intercompany debt owed to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary), to the extent that the Borrower and each other Restricted Subsidiary are released from any guarantee of payment of the principal amount of such Indebtedness in connection with such Asset Sale; and

(5) any Investment, Capital Stock, assets, property or capital or other expenditure of the kind referred to in Section 7.04(b)(ii).

(b) Within 450 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds of any Asset Sale permitted under this Section 7.04 (as may be extended pursuant to clause (ii) below, the “ Asset Sale Proceeds Application Period ”), the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary, at its option, may apply an amount equal to the Net Proceeds from such Asset Sale (other than Excluded Proceeds):

(i) to repay:

 

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(1) Obligations in respect of Credit Facilities (including the Senior Credit Facilities) incurred under Section 7.02(b)(i) and, in the case of revolving obligations, to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto;

(2) Obligations in respect of Secured Indebtedness of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary, other than Indebtedness owed to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary, and in the case of revolving obligations, to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto;

(3) Obligations in respect of the Loans or any other Indebtedness (other than Subordinated Indebtedness) of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary will so repay any such Indebtedness other than the Loans, the Borrower will reduce Obligations under the Loans on a pro rata basis by, at their option, (i) purchasing Loans through open-market purchases, at a price equal to (or higher than) 100.00% of the principal amount thereof, or (ii) making an offer (in accordance with the procedures set forth below for an Asset Sale Prepayment Offer) to all Lenders to prepay their Loans on a pro rata basis with such other Indebtedness for no less than 100.00% of the principal amount thereof, plus the amount of accrued but unpaid interest, if any, on the principal amount of Loans to be prepaid to the date of prepayment; or

(4) Obligations in respect of Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor, other than Obligations owed to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary;

provided that in the case of clause (3) above, (i) if an offer to purchase any Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary is made, such amount will be deemed repaid to the extent of the amount of such offer, whether or not accepted by the holders of such Indebtedness, and no Net Proceeds in the amount of such offer will be deemed to exist following such offer, and (ii) if the holder of any Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary declines the repayment of such Indebtedness owed to it from such Net Proceeds, such amount will be deemed repaid to the extent of the declined Net Proceeds; 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 Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary owning an amount of the Capital Stock of such business such that it constitutes or continues to constitute a Restricted Subsidiary, (b) capital expenditures, (c) other expenditures made in connection with the construction or development of facilities operated or to be operated by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary, (d) acquisitions of properties (including fee and leasehold interests) or (e) acquisitions of other assets, other than securities, in the case of clauses (a) and (d) above and this clause (e), either (i) that are or will be used or useful in a Similar Business or (ii) that replace, in whole or in part, the properties or assets that are the subject of such Asset Sale; provided that in the case of this clause (2), a binding commitment will be treated as a permitted application of the Net Proceeds from the date of such commitment so long as the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary enters into such commitment with the good faith expectation that such Net Proceeds will be applied to satisfy such commitment within 180 days of such commitment (or, if later, 450 days after the receipt of such Net Proceeds) (an “ Acceptable Commitment ”) and, in the event that any Acceptable Commitment is later cancelled or terminated for any reason before the Net Proceeds are applied in connection therewith, the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary enters into another Acceptable Commitment (a “ Second Commitment ”) within 180 days of such cancellation or termination (or, if later, 450 days after the receipt of such Net Proceeds); 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 will constitute Excess Proceeds (as defined below); or

(iii) any combination of the foregoing.

 

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(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) to the extent that any or all of the Net Proceeds of any Asset Sale by a Foreign Subsidiary (a “ Foreign Disposition ”) are prohibited or delayed by applicable local law from being repatriated to the United States, the amount equal to the portion of such Net Proceeds so affected will not be required to be applied in compliance with this covenant, and such amounts 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 use reasonable efforts to cause the applicable Foreign Subsidiary to take all actions reasonably required by the applicable local law to permit such repatriation), and if such repatriation of any of such affected Net Proceeds is permitted under the applicable local law, an amount equal to such Net Proceeds permitted to be repatriated will be applied (whether or not repatriation actually occurs) in compliance with this covenant (net of any additional taxes that are or would be payable or reserved against as a result thereof) and (ii) to the extent that the Borrower has determined in good faith that repatriation of any or all of the Net Proceeds of any Foreign Disposition would have a material adverse tax consequence (which for the avoidance of doubt, includes, but is not limited to, any purchase whereby doing so the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary or any of their Affiliates and/or equity partners would incur a material tax liability, including a material tax dividend, material deemed dividend pursuant to Code Section 956 or material withholding tax) (taking into account any foreign tax credit or benefit actually realized in connection with such repatriation), the amount equal to the Net Proceeds so affected will not be required to be applied in compliance with this covenant.

(d) The amount equal to the Net Proceeds from Asset Sales, other than the amount equal to the Excluded Proceeds, that are not invested or applied as provided and within the time period set forth in Section 7.04(b) (it being understood that any portion of such Net Proceeds used to make an offer to prepay Loans pursuant to Section 7.04(b)(i)(3) will be deemed to have been so applied whether or not such offer is accepted) will be deemed to constitute “ Excess Proceeds ”. When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $60.0 million, the Borrower will make an offer to all Lenders and, at the option of the Borrower, to any holders of any Indebtedness that is at least pari passu with the Loans (“ Pari Passu Indebtedness ” and such offer, an “ Asset Sale Prepayment Offer ”), to purchase the maximum aggregate principal amount of the Loans and such Pari Passu Indebtedness that is in an amount equal to at least $2,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess of $2,000,000 that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer price, in the case of the Loans, in cash in an amount equal to 100.00% of the principal amount thereof (or accreted value thereof, if less), plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any (or, in respect of such Pari Passu Indebtedness, such other price, if any, as may be provided for by the terms of such Pari Passu Indebtedness), to, but excluding, the date fixed for the closing of such offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth on Schedule 7.04 (or, in respect of such Pari Passu Indebtedness, the agreement or instrument governing the terms thereof). The Borrower will commence an Asset Sale Prepayment Offer with respect to Excess Proceeds within thirty days after the date that the amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $60.0 million by mailing or electronically delivering a notice to the Administrative Agent. The Borrower may satisfy the foregoing obligation with respect to any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale by making an offer to purchase Loans with respect to the amount of all or part of the available Net Proceeds (the “ Advance Portion ”) prior to the expiration of the Asset Sale Proceeds Application Period with respect to the amount of all or a part of the available Net Proceeds in advance of being required to do so by this Agreement (the “ Advance Offer ”).

To the extent that the aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) of Loans and such Pari Passu Indebtedness tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Prepayment Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds (or in the case of an Advance Offer, the Advance Portion), the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries may use any remaining Excess Proceeds (or in the case of an Advance Offer, the Advance Portion) in any manner not prohibited by this Agreement (any such remaining Excess Proceeds and Advance Portion amount, “ Declined Excess Proceeds ”). If the aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) of Senior Exchange Notes and/or the Pari Passu Indebtedness surrendered in an Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds (or in the case of an Advance Offer, the Advance Portion), the Loans will be prepaid on a pro rata basis and the Borrower will select such Pari Passu Indebtedness to be purchased pursuant to the terms of such Pari Passu Indebtedness; provided that as between the Loans and any Pari Passu Indebtedness, such purchases will be made on a pro rata basis based on the accreted value or principal amount of the Loans or such Pari Passu Indebtedness tendered with adjustments as necessary so that no Loans or Pari Passu Indebtedness will be repurchased in part in an unauthorized denomination. Upon completion of any such Asset Sale Offer, for purposes of this provision the amount of Excess Proceeds (or in the case of an Advance Offer, the Advance Portion) that resulted in the Asset Sale Offer or Advance Offer will be reset to zero (regardless of whether there are any remaining Excess Proceeds (or Advance Portion) upon such completion). An Asset Sale Offer or Advance Offer may be made at the same time as consents are solicited with respect to an amendment, supplement or waiver of this Agreement, Loans and/or Guaranty (but the Asset Sale Offer or Advance Offer may not condition tenders on the delivery of such consents). The Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries may use any Excluded Proceeds in any manner not prohibited by this Agreement.

 

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(e) Pending the final application of the amount of any Net Proceeds pursuant to this Section 7.04 such amount of Net Proceeds may be applied to temporarily reduce Indebtedness outstanding under a revolving credit facility, including under the Senior Credit Facilities, or otherwise invested in any manner not prohibited by this Agreement.

SECTION 7.05 Restricted Payments .

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

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

 

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

 

  (B) dividends, payments or 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 Borrower 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 or such other amount to which it is entitled pursuant to the terms of such Equity Interest;

(II) purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of the Borrower, including in connection with any merger, amalgamation or consolidation, in each case held by Persons other than the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary;

(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 final maturity, any Subordinated Indebtedness, other than:

 

  (A) Indebtedness permitted under Sections 7.02(b)(vii), (vii) and (ix); or

 

  (B) the payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, acquisition or retirement for value 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 such payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, acquisition or retirement; or

(IV) make any Restricted Investment;

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

(1) in the case of a Restricted Payment described in clauses (I) and (II) above utilizing clauses (3)(A) and (3)(G) below, no Event of Default will have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof;

 

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(2) except in the case of a Restricted Investment, immediately after giving effect to any such Restricted Payment made utilizing clause (3)(A) below on a pro forma basis, the Borrower could incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Interest Coverage Test; and

(3) following the Interim Bridge Loan Maturity Date, such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments (including the fair market value of any non-cash amount) made by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Closing Date (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by Section 7.05(b), other than Section 7.05(b)(i)), is less than the sum of (without duplication):

 

  (A) 50.00% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the period (taken as one accounting period) commencing on the first day of the fiscal quarter in which the Closing Date occurs (which, prior to the consummation of the Transactions, shall be calculated on a pro forma basis giving effect to the Transactions as of the first day of the fiscal quarter in which the Closing Date occurs) to the end of the most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) preceding such Restricted Payment, or, in the case such Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, minus 100.00% of such deficit; plus

 

  (B) 100.00% of the aggregate net cash proceeds and the fair market value of marketable securities or other property received by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries since the Closing Date (other than net cash proceeds to the extent such net cash proceeds have been used to incur Indebtedness or issue Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 7.05(b)(xii)(a)) from the issue or sale of:

(1) (A) Equity Interests of the Borrower, including Treasury Capital Stock (as defined below), 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, members of management, consultants or independent contractors (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or any permitted transferees thereof) of the Borrower, its Subsidiaries after the Closing Date to the extent such amounts have been applied to Restricted Payments made in accordance with Section 7.05(b)(iv); and

(y) Designated Preferred Stock; and

(B) [reserved]; or

(2) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, that has been converted into or exchanged for Equity Interests of the Borrower ;

provided that this clause (3)(B) will not include the proceeds from (W) Refunding Capital Stock (as defined below) applied in accordance with Section 7.05(b)(ii), (X) Equity Interests or convertible debt securities of the Borrower sold to a Restricted Subsidiary, (Y) Disqualified Stock or debt securities or Indebtedness that have been converted into Disqualified Stock or (Z) Excluded Contributions; plus

 

  (C)

100.00% of the aggregate amount of cash, Cash Equivalents and the fair market value of marketable securities or other property contributed to the capital of the Borrower (other than in the form of Disqualified Stock) following the Closing Date (including the fair market value of any Indebtedness contributed to the Borrower or its Restricted

 

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  Subsidiaries for cancellation) or that becomes part of the capital of the Borrower through consolidation, amalgamation or merger following the Closing Date, in each case not involving cash consideration payable by the Borrower (other than (X) net cash proceeds to the extent such net cash proceeds have been used to incur Indebtedness or issue Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 7.05(b)(xii)(a)), (Y) cash, Cash Equivalents and marketable securities or other property that are contributed by a Restricted Subsidiary or (Z) Excluded Contributions); plus

 

  (D) 100.00% of the aggregate amount received in cash and the fair market value of marketable securities or other property received by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary by means of:

(1) the sale or other disposition (other than to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary) of, or other returns on investments from, Restricted Investments made by the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries (including cash distributions and cash interest received in respect of Restricted Investments) and repurchases and redemptions of such Restricted Investments from the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary) and repayments of loans or advances, and releases of guarantees, which constitute Restricted Investments made by the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case after the Closing Date (excluding any Excluded Contributions made pursuant to clause (2) of the definition thereof);

(2) the sale (other than to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary) of Equity Interests of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or a distribution from an Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than, in each case, to the extent the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary constituted a Permitted Investment, but including such cash or fair market value to the extent exceeding the amount of such Permitted Investment) or a dividend from an Unrestricted Subsidiary after the Closing Date (excluding any Excluded Contributions made pursuant to clause (2) of the definition thereof); or

(3) any returns, profits, distributions and similar amounts received on account of any Permitted Investment subject to a dollar-denominated or ratio-based basket (to the extent in excess of the original amount of such Investment); plus

 

  (E) 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 Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary or the transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary after the Closing Date, the fair market value 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 constituted a Permitted Investment, but, to the extent exceeding the amount of such Permitted Investment, including such excess amounts of cash or fair market value; plus

 

  (F) 100% of the aggregate amount of any Excluded Proceeds (except to the extent utilized to repurchase, redeem, defease, acquire, or retire for value any Subordinated Indebtedness pursuant to clause (b)(xiii) below); plus

 

  (G) the greater of (i) $60.0 million and (ii) 30% of the Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a pro forma basis).

 

  (b) Section 7.05(a) will not prohibit:

 

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(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 Agreement;

(ii) (a) the redemption, repurchase, defeasance, discharge, retirement or other acquisition of (i) any Equity Interests of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, including any accrued and unpaid dividends thereon (“ Treasury Capital Stock ”), or (ii) Subordinated Indebtedness, in each case, made (x) in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of, a sale or issuance (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) of Equity Interests of the Borrower (in each case, other than Disqualified Stock) (“ Refunding Capital Stock ”) and (y) within 120 days of such sale or issuance, (b) the declaration and payment of dividends on Treasury Capital Stock out of the proceeds of a sale or issuance (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower or to an employee stock ownership plan or any trust established by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary) of Refunding Capital Stock made within 120 days of such sale or issuance, and (c) if, immediately prior to the retirement of Treasury Capital Stock, the declaration and payment of dividends thereon by the Borrower was permitted under Section 7.05(b)(vi)(A) or (B), the declaration and payment of dividends on the Refunding Capital Stock in an aggregate amount per annum 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 principal payment on, defeasance, redemption, repurchase, exchange or other acquisition or retirement of (a) Subordinated Indebtedness of the Borrower or a Guarantor made (i) by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the sale, issuance or incurrence of, new Subordinated Indebtedness of the Borrower or a Guarantor or Disqualified Stock of the Borrower or a Guarantor and (ii) within 120 days of such sale, issuance or incurrence, (b) Disqualified Stock of the Borrower or a Guarantor made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the sale, issuance or incurrence of, Disqualified Stock or Subordinated Indebtedness of the Borrower or a Guarantor, made within 120 days of such sale, issuance or incurrence, (c) Disqualified Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the sale or issuance of, Disqualified Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor made within 120 days of such sale or issuance that, in each case, is Refinancing Indebtedness incurred or issued, as applicable, in compliance with Section 7.02 and (d) any Subordinated Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock that constitutes Acquired Indebtedness;

(iv) a Restricted Payment to pay for the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) (including related stock appreciation rights or similar securities) of the Borrower held by any future, present or former employee, director, officer, member of management, consultant or independent contractor (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members or any permitted transferees thereof) of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement, or any equity subscription or equity holder agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any principal and interest payable on any notes issued by the Borrower in connection with any such repurchase, retirement or other acquisition), including Equity Interests rolled over by management of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the Transactions; provided that the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made under this clause (iv) does not exceed $15.0 million in any fiscal year with unused amounts in any calendar year being carried over to the next two succeeding calendar years; provided , further , that each of the amounts in any calendar year under this clause (iv) may be increased by an amount not to exceed:

(1) the cash proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Borrower to any future, present or former employees, directors, officers, members of management, consultants or independent contractors (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or any permitted transferees thereof) of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that occurs after the Closing Date, to the extent the cash proceeds from the sale of such Equity Interests have not otherwise been applied to the payment of Restricted Payments by virtue of Section 7.05(a)(III); plus

 

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(2) the amount of any cash bonuses otherwise payable to members of management, employees, directors, consultants or independent contractors (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members or any permitted transferees thereof) of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that are foregone in exchange for the receipt of Equity Interests of the Borrower pursuant to any compensation arrangement, including any deferred compensation plan; plus

(3) the cash proceeds of life insurance policies received by the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Closing Date; minus

(4) the amount of any Restricted Payments previously made with the cash proceeds described in clauses (1), (2) and (3) of this clause (iv);

and provided that the Borrower may elect to apply all or any portion of the aggregate increase contemplated by Sections 7.05(b)(iv)(1), (2) and (3) in any calendar year and provided , further , that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary from any future, present or former employees, directors, officers, members of management, consultants or independent contractors (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members or any permitted transferees thereof), of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of the Borrower will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this Section 7.05 or any other provision of this Agreement;

(v) the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or any class or series of Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary issued in accordance with Section 7.02;

(vi) (A) the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock issued by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary after the Closing Date;

(B) the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions to the Borrower, the proceeds of which will be used to fund the payment of dividends or distributions to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock issued by the Borrower after the Closing Date; provided that the amount of dividends and distributions paid pursuant to this clause (b) will not exceed the aggregate amount of cash actually contributed to the Borrower 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 Section 7.05(b)(ii);

provided that in the case of each of clauses (1), (2) and (3) of this clause (vi), for the most recently ended Test Period 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 Borrower would have had an Interest Coverage Ratio of at least 2.00 to 1.00;

(vii) (a) payments made or expected to be made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of withholding or similar taxes payable by any future, present or former employee, director, officer, member of management, consultant or independent contractor (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members or permitted transferees) of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, (b) any repurchases or withholdings of Equity Interests in connection with the exercise of stock options, warrants or similar rights if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of, or withholding obligations with respect to, such options, warrants or similar rights or required withholding or similar taxes and (c) loans or advances to officers, directors, employees, managers, consultants and

 

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independent contractors of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower in connection with such Person’s purchase of Equity Interests of the Borrower; provided that no cash is actually advanced pursuant to this clause (c) other than to pay taxes due in connection with such purchase, unless immediately repaid;

(viii) the declaration and payment of dividends on the Borrower’s common equity in an aggregate amount per annum not to exceed 6.00% of Market Capitalization;

(ix) Restricted Payments in an amount that does not exceed the aggregate amount of Excluded Contributions;

(x) Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount taken together with all other Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (x) not to exceed (as of the date any such Restricted Payment is made) the greater of (a) $20.0 million and (b) 10% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a pro forma basis); provided that if this clause (x) is utilized to make a Restricted Investment, the amount deemed to be utilized under this clause (x) will be the amount of such Restricted Investment at any time outstanding (with the fair market value of such Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value, but subject to adjustment as set forth in the definition of “Investment”); provided further that at the time of, and after giving effect to, any Restricted Payment pursuant to this clause (x), no Event of Default or payment Default will have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof;

(xi) distributions or payments of Securitization Fees;

(xii) any Restricted Payment made in connection with the Transactions and the fees and expenses related thereto or owed to any Affiliate(s), including any payments to holders of Equity Interests of the Target in connection with, or as a result of, (x) their exercise of appraisal rights or the settlement of any claims or actions (whether actual, contingent or potential) related to the Transactions or (y) the acquisition of any minority Equity Interests in the Target following the Closing Date, whether by way of a “squeeze out” process or otherwise;

(xiii) the repurchase, redemption, defeasance, acquisition or retirement for value of any Subordinated Indebtedness (a) pursuant to the provisions similar to those of Sections 7.04 and 2.06 or (b) from Excluded Proceeds; provided that (i) at or prior to such repurchase, redemption, defeasance, acquisition or retirement, the Borrower (or a third person permitted by this Agreement) have made any required Change of Control Prepayment Offer or Asset Sale Prepayment Offer or mandatory prepayment pursuant to Article II, as applicable, to purchase the Loans on the terms provided in this Agreement applicable to Change of Control Prepayment Offers or Asset Sale Prepayment Offers or mandatory prepayments, respectively, and (ii) all Loans validly tendered and not validly withdrawn by Lenders in any such Change of Control Prepayment Offer or Asset Sale Prepayment Offer, as applicable, have been repurchased, redeemed, acquired or retired for value;

(xiv) [reserved];

(xv) the distribution, by dividend or otherwise, or other transfer or disposition of shares of Capital Stock of, Equity Interests in, or Indebtedness owed to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary by, Unrestricted Subsidiaries (other than Unrestricted Subsidiaries, substantially all the assets of which are cash and Cash Equivalents);

(xvi) [reserved];

(xvii) following the Interim Bridge Loan Maturity Date, Restricted Payments, provided that after giving pro forma effect thereto and the application of the net proceeds therefrom, the Total Net Leverage Ratio for the Test Period immediately preceding such Restricted Payment would be no greater than 2.20 to 1.00;

 

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(xviii) payments made for the benefit of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent such payments could have been made by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries because such payments (a) would not otherwise be Restricted Payments and (b) would be permitted by Section 7.06;

(xix) payments and distributions to dissenting stockholders of Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to applicable law, pursuant to or in connection with a consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of any Restricted Subsidiary that complies with the terms of this Agreement or any other transaction that complies with the terms of this Agreement;

(xx) [reserved];

(xxi) [reserved];

(xxii) [reserved];

(xxiii) the refinancing of any Subordinated Indebtedness with the Net Proceeds of, or in exchange for, any Refinancing Indebtedness;

(xxiv) dividends (including all Preferred Dividends and Participating Dividends) required to be made in accordance with the terms of the Investment Agreement (irrespective of whether made in cash or kind) in respect of the Preferred Stock issued pursuant thereto, other than in connection with any optional or mandatory redemption of such Preferred Stock exercised under the terms of the Investment Agreement; and

(xxv) payments or distributions to minority shareholders of Target after the Closing Date pursuant to, or in connection with, or in contemplation of, the Domination Agreement.

provided that at the time of, and after giving effect to, any Restricted Payment permitted under Section 7.05(b)(xvii), in respect of Restricted Payments described in clauses (I), (II) or (III) of Section 7.05(a), no Event of Default will have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof. For purposes of Sections 7.05(b)(vii) and (xiv), taxes will include all interest and penalties with respect thereto and all additions thereto.

(c) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.05, in the event that any Restricted Payment or Investment (or a portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Restricted Payments described in Section 7.05(a) or 7.05(b) and/or one or more of the clauses contained in the definition of “Permitted Investments”, the Borrower will, in its sole discretion, be entitled to divide or classify (or later divide, classify or reclassify), in whole or in part, such Restricted Payment or Investment (or any portion thereof) among Section 7.05(a) and/or 7.05(b) and/or one or more clauses contained in the definition of “Permitted Investments,” in any manner. The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) will be the fair market value on the date the Restricted Payment is made, or at the Borrower’s election, the date a commitment is made to make such Restricted Payment, of the assets or securities proposed to be transferred or issued by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment.

(d) As of the Closing Date, all of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries will be Restricted Subsidiaries. The Borrower will 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 Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid) in the Subsidiary so designated will be deemed to be Restricted Payments or Permitted Investments in an amount determined as set forth in the definition of “Investments.” Such designation will be permitted only if a Restricted Payment in such amount would be permitted at such time pursuant to this Section 7.05 or if an Investment would be permitted at such time, pursuant to the definition of “Permitted Investments,” and if such Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. Unrestricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to any of the restrictive covenants set forth in this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 7.05 will not restrict the making of any AHYDO Payment with respect to, and required by the terms of, any Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary permitted to be incurred under the terms of this Agreement.

 

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SECTION 7.06 Transactions with Affiliates .

(a) The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary 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 Borrower (each of the foregoing, an “ Affiliate Transaction ”) involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $25.0 million, unless:

(i) such Affiliate Transaction is on terms, taken as a whole, that are not materially less favorable to the Borrower or the relevant Restricted Subsidiaries than those that would have been obtained at such time in a comparable transaction by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary with a Person other than an Affiliate of the Borrower on an arm’s-length basis or, if in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors no comparable transaction is available with which to compare such Affiliate Transaction, such Affiliate Transaction is otherwise fair to the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view; and

(ii) the Borrower delivers to the Administrative Agent with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions requiring aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $100.0 million, a resolution adopted by the majority of the Board of Directors approving such Affiliate Transaction and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with Section 7.06(a)(i).

(b) Section 7.06(a) will not apply to the following:

(i) (a) transactions between or among the Borrower and one or more Restricted Subsidiaries or between or among Restricted Subsidiaries or, in any case, any entity that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction and (b) any merger, consolidation or amalgamation of the Borrower; provided that such merger, consolidation or amalgamation of the Borrower is otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Agreement and effected for a bona fide business purpose;

(ii) (a) Restricted Payments permitted by Section 7.05 hereof (including any transaction specifically excluded from the definition of the term “Restricted Payments,” including pursuant to the exceptions contained in the definition thereof and the parenthetical exclusions of such definition), but excluding any Restricted Payment permitted by Section 7.05(b)(xiv)(7), (b) any “Permitted Investments” or any acquisition otherwise permitted by this Agreement and (c) Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.02;

(iii) (a) the payment of indemnification and similar amounts to, and reimbursement of expenses to, the Investors and their officers, directors, employees and Affiliates, in each case, approved by, or pursuant to arrangements approved by, the Board of Directors, (b) payments, loans, advances or guarantees (or cancellation of loans, advances or guarantees) to future, present or former employees, officers, directors, managers, consultants or independent contractors or guarantees in respect thereof for bona fide business purposes or in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice, (c) any subscription agreement or similar agreement pertaining to the repurchase of Equity Interests pursuant to put/call rights or similar rights with current, former or future officers, directors, employees, managers, consultants and independent contractors of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and (d) any payment of compensation or other employee compensation, benefit plan or arrangement, any health, disability or similar insurance plan which covers current, former or future officers, directors, employees, managers, consultants and independent contractors of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;

(iv) the payment of fees and compensation paid to, and indemnities and reimbursements and employment and severance arrangements provided to, or on behalf of, or for the benefit of, present, future or former employees, directors, officers, members of management, consultants or independent contractors (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members or any permitted transferees thereof) of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

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

(vi) the existence of, or the performance by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of its obligations under the terms of, any agreement as in effect as of the Effective Date, 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 to the Lenders when taken as a whole as compared to the applicable agreement as in effect on the Effective Date);

(vii) the existence of, or the performance by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of its obligations under the terms of, any equity holder agreement or the equivalent (including any registration rights agreement or purchase agreement related thereto) to which it is a party as of the Effective Date and any amendment thereto and similar agreements or arrangements that it may enter into thereafter; provided that the existence of, or the performance by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of obligations under any future amendment to any such existing agreement or arrangement or under any similar agreement or arrangement entered into after the Effective Date will only be permitted by this clause (vii) to the extent that the terms of any such amendment or new agreement or arrangement are not otherwise materially disadvantageous in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors to the Lenders when taken as a whole (as compared to the original agreement or arrangement in effect on the Effective Date);

(viii) the Transactions and the payment of all fees and expenses related to the Transactions, including Transaction Expenses;

(ix) transactions with customers, clients, suppliers, contractors, joint venture partners or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, or transactions otherwise relating to the purchase or sale of goods or services, in each case in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Agreement that are fair to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, in the reasonable determination of the Board of Directors or the senior management of the Borrower, or are on terms at least as favorable as might reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party;

(x) the issuance, sale or transfer of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Borrower to any Person and the granting and performing of customary rights (including registration rights) in connection therewith, and any contribution to the capital of the Borrower;

(xi) sales of accounts receivable, or participations therein, or Securitization Assets or related assets in connection with any Qualified Securitization Facility and any other transaction effected in connection with a Qualified Securitization Facility or a financing related thereto;

(xii) payments by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary made for any financial advisory, consulting, 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, or made pursuant to arrangements approved by, a majority of the Board of Directors in good faith;

(xiii) payments with respect to Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and other Equity Interests (and cancellation of any thereof) of the Borrower and any Restricted Subsidiary and Preferred Stock (and cancellation of any thereof) of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to any future, current or former employee, director, officer, member of management, consultant or independent contractor (or their respective

 

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Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members or permitted transferees) of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or any equity subscription or equity holder agreement that are, in each case, approved by the Borrower in good faith; and any employment agreements, severance arrangements, 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, members of management, consultants or independent contractors (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members or any permitted transferees thereof) that are, in each case, approved by the Borrower in good faith;

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

(xv) payments to or from, and transactions with, any joint venture or Unrestricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice, industry practice or industry norms (including, any cash management activities related thereto);

(xvi) payments by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries pursuant to tax sharing agreements among the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;

(xvii) any lease entered into between the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, as lessee, and any Affiliate of the Borrower, as lessor, and transactions pursuant to that lease which lease is approved by the Board of Directors or senior management of the Borrower in good faith;

(xviii) intellectual property licenses in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(xix) the payment of reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses relating to registration rights and indemnities provided to equity holders of the Borrower pursuant to any equity holders agreement or registration rights agreement entered into on or after the Effective Date;

(xx) transactions permitted by, and complying with, Section 7.03 solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Borrower in a new jurisdiction;

(xxi) transactions undertaken in good faith (as determined by the Board of Directors or certified by senior management of the Borrower in an Officer’s Certificate) for the purposes of improving the consolidated tax efficiency of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries and not for the purpose of circumventing Articles VI and VII of this Agreement;

(xxii) (a) transactions with a Person that is an Affiliate of the Borrower (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary) solely because the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary owns Equity Interests in such Person and (b) transactions with any Person that is an Affiliate solely because a director or officer of such Person is a director or officer of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(xxiii) (a) pledges and other transfers of Equity Interests in Unrestricted Subsidiaries and (b) any transactions with an Affiliate in which the consideration paid consists solely of Equity Interests of the Borrower;

(xxiv) the sale, issuance or transfer of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Borrower;

 

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(xxv) investments by any Investor in securities or Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Guarantor;

(xxvi) payments on the Loans in accordance with this Agreement and payments of Obligations under (and as defined in) the Senior Credit Facilities and payments in respect of obligations under other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries held by Affiliates; provided that such Obligations were acquired by an Affiliate of the Borrower in compliance with this Agreement; and

(xxvii) transactions undertaken in the ordinary course of business pursuant to membership in a purchasing consortium.

SECTION 7.07 Burdensome Agreements .

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

(i) (1) pay dividends or make any other distributions to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor on its Capital Stock or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, or

(2) pay any Indebtedness owed to the Borrower or to any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor;

(ii) make loans or advances to the Borrower or to any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor; or

(iii) sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to the Borrower or to any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor;

provided that any dividend or liquidation priority between or among classes or series of Capital Stock, and the subordination of any obligation (including the application of any remedy bars thereto) to any other obligation will not be deemed to constitute such an encumbrance or restriction.

(b) The restrictions in Section 7.07(a) above will not apply to encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

(i) encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Closing Date, including pursuant to the Senior Credit Facilities, the Loan Documents, any Hedge Agreements, Hedging Obligations and the related documentation;

(ii) this Agreement, the Permanent Notes, any Senior Exchange Notes Indenture, any Senior Exchange Notes and any Guaranty;

(iii) Purchase Money Obligations and Capitalized Lease Obligations that impose restrictions of the nature discussed in Section 7.07(a)(iii) above on the property so acquired;

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

(v) any agreement or other instrument of a Person, or relating to Indebtedness or Equity Interests of a Person, acquired by or merged, amalgamated or consolidated with and into the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary that is designated as a Restricted Subsidiary, or any other transaction entered into in connection with any such acquisition, merger, consolidation or amalgamation in existence at the time of such acquisition or at the time it merges, amalgamates or consolidates with

 

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or into the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary that is designated as a Restricted Subsidiary 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 or designated and its Subsidiaries or the property or assets so acquired or designated;

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

(vii) Secured Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred pursuant to Sections 7.01 and 7.02 that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of assets or incur Liens;

(viii) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice or arising in connection with any Permitted Liens;

(ix) provisions in agreements governing Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors permitted to be incurred subsequent to the Closing Date pursuant to Section 7.02;

(x) provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements (including equity holder agreements) relating to such joint venture or its members or entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(xi) customary provisions contained in leases, sub-leases, licenses, sub-licenses, Equity Interests or similar agreements, including with respect to intellectual property and other agreements;

(xii) restrictions created in connection with any Qualified Securitization Facility or Receivables Financing Transaction that, in the good faith determination of the Board of Directors of the Borrower, are necessary or advisable to effect such Qualified Securitization Facility or Receivables Financing Transaction;

(xiii) restrictions or conditions contained in any trading, netting, operating, construction, service, supply, purchase, sale or other agreement to which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary is a party entered into in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice; provided that such agreement prohibits the encumbrance of solely the property or assets of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary that are 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 Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary or the assets or property of another Restricted Subsidiary;

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

(xv) customary provisions restricting assignment of any agreement;

(xvi) restrictions arising in connection with cash or other deposits permitted under Section 7.01;

(xvii) any other agreement or instrument governing any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, or Preferred Stock permitted to be incurred or issued pursuant to Section 7.02 entered into after the Closing Date that contains encumbrances and restrictions that either (i) are no more restrictive in any material respect, taken as a whole, with respect to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary than (A) the restrictions contained in this Agreement or the Senior Credit Facilities as of the Closing Date or (B) those encumbrances

 

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and other restrictions that are in effect on the Closing Date with respect to the Borrower or that Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to agreements in effect on the Closing Date, (ii) are not materially more disadvantageous, taken as a whole, to the Lenders than is customary in comparable financings for similarly situated issuers or (iii) will not materially impair the Borrower’s ability to make payments on the Loans when due, in each case in the good faith judgment of the Borrower;

(xviii) (i) under terms of Indebtedness and Liens in respect of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 7.02(b)(iv) and any permitted refinancing in respect thereof, and (ii) agreements entered into in connection with a Sale-Leaseback Transaction entered into in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(xix) customary restrictions and conditions contained in documents relating to any Lien so long as (i) such Lien is a Permitted Lien and such restrictions or conditions relate only to the specific asset subject to such Lien and (ii) such restrictions and conditions are not created for the purpose of avoiding the restrictions imposed by this covenant;

(xx) any encumbrance or restriction with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary that was previously an Unrestricted Subsidiary which encumbrance or restriction exists pursuant to or by reason of an agreement that such Subsidiary is a party to or entered into before the date on which such Subsidiary became a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such agreement was not entered into in anticipation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary becoming a Restricted Subsidiary and any such encumbrance or restriction does not extend to any assets or property of the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary other than the assets and property of such Restricted Subsidiary;

(xxi) any encumbrances or restrictions imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (1) through (20) of this Section 7.07(b); provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the good faith judgment of the Borrower, no more restrictive in any material respect with respect to such encumbrance and other restrictions, taken as a whole, than those prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing;

(xxii) any encumbrance or restriction existing under, by reason of or with respect to Refinancing Indebtedness; provided that the encumbrances and restrictions contained in the agreements governing that Refinancing Indebtedness are, in the good faith judgment of the Borrower, not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained in the agreements governing the Indebtedness being refinanced; and

(xxiii) applicable law or any applicable rule, regulation or order in any jurisdiction where Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of Foreign Subsidiaries permitted to be incurred or issued pursuant to Section 7.03 is incurred or issued.

SECTION 7.08 Accounting Changes . The Borrower shall not, nor shall the Borrower permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, make any change in 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.

SECTION 7.09 Equity Contribution . The Borrower shall not fail to receive the Equity Contribution in full on the Closing Date.

 

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Article VIII

Events of Default and Remedies

SECTION 8.01 Events of Default . Effective on and after the Closing Date ((including with respect to events that occurred between the Effective Date and the Closing Date), each of the events referred to in clauses (1) through (8) of this Section 8.01 shall constitute an “ Event of Default ”:

(1) Non-Payment . The Borrower fails to pay (a) when and as required to be paid herein, any amount of principal of any Loan, or (b) 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

(2) Specific Covenants . The Borrower, or any Guarantor fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 6.03(1), 6.05(1) (solely with respect to the Borrower, other than in a transaction permitted under Section 7.03 or 7.04) or Article VII;

(3) Other Defaults . The Borrower or any Guarantor fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in Section 8.01(1) or (2) above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for thirty (30) days after receipt by the Borrower of written notice thereof from the Administrative Agent; or

(4) Representations and Warranties . Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by any Loan Party herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document required to be delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be untrue in any material respect when made or deemed made; or

(5) Cross-Acceleration . The Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary defaults 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 Borrower or any Subsidiary or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, other than Indebtedness owed to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary, whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists or is created after the issuance of the Obligations, if (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 (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) causing such Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity; or (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 its stated final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods), or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregate to the Threshold Amount or more at any one time outstanding; or

(6) Insolvency Proceedings, Etc . The Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant 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

(7) Judgments . There is entered against the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, a final non-appealable judgment and order for the payment of money in an aggregate amount exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not paid or covered by insurance or indemnities as to which the insurer or indemnity has been notified of such judgment or order and the applicable insurance company or indemnity has not denied coverage thereof) 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

 

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(8) Invalidity of Loan Documents . Any material provision of the Loan Documents, taken as a whole, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason (other than (a) as expressly permitted by a Loan Document (including as a result of a transaction permitted under Section 7.03 or 7.04), (b) as a result of acts or omissions by an Agent or any Lender or (c) due to the satisfaction in full of the Termination Conditions) ceases to be in full force and effect; or any Loan Party contests in writing the validity or enforceability of the Loan Documents, taken as a whole (other than as a result of the satisfaction of the Termination Conditions), or any Loan Party denies in writing that it has any or further liability or obligation under the Loan Documents, taken as a whole (other than (i) as expressly permitted by a Loan Document (including as a result of a transaction permitted under Section 7.03 or 7.04) or (ii) as a result of the satisfaction of the Termination Conditions), or purports in writing to revoke or rescind the Loan Documents, taken as a whole, prior to the satisfaction of the Termination Conditions.

SECTION 8.02 Remedies upon Event of Default . Subject to Section 8.03, if any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent may, at any time after the Closing Date, with the consent of the Required Lenders and shall, at the request of the Required Lenders, take any or all of the following actions:

(1) declare the Commitments of each Lender to be terminated, whereupon such Commitments and obligation will be terminated;

(2) declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable under any 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; and

(3) 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 the Borrower under Title 11 of the United States Code entitled “Bankruptcy,” as now or hereafter in effect, or any successor thereto (the “ Bankruptcy Code ”), the Commitments of each Lender will automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid will automatically become due and payable without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender

SECTION 8.03 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 as set forth in the first clause (a) of the proviso to Section 8.02), subject to any Intercreditor Agreement then in effect, any amounts received on account of the Obligations will be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:

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 in its capacity as such;

Second , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities 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 Lenders, 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 ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;

 

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Fourth , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans ratably among the Senior Claimholders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them;

Fifth , to the payment of all other Obligations of the Loan Parties that are due and payable to the Administrative Agent and the other Senior Claimholders on such date, ratably based upon the respective aggregate amounts of all such Obligations owing to the Administrative Agent and the other Senior Claimholders 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.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, amounts received from any Loan Party shall not be applied to any Excluded Swap Obligation of such Loan Party.

Article IX

Administrative Agent and Other Agents

SECTION 9.01 Appointment and Authorization of the Administrative Agent .

Each Lender hereby irrevocably appoints Citibank, N.A., to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article IX (other than Sections 9.07, 9.11 and 9.12) are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and the Borrower shall not have rights as a third-party beneficiary of any such provision. The Administrative Agent hereby represents and warrants that it is either (i) a “U.S. person” and a “financial institution” and that it will comply with its “obligation to withhold,” each within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.1441-1(b)(2)(ii) or (ii) a Withholding U.S. Branch.

SECTION 9.02 Rights as a Lender . Any Lender that is also serving as an Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not an Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include each Lender (if any) serving as an Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Any such Person serving as an Agent and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not an Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders. The Lenders acknowledge that, pursuant to such activities, any Agent or its Affiliates may receive information regarding any Loan Party or any of its Affiliates (including information that may be subject to confidentiality obligations in favor of such Loan Party or such Affiliate) and acknowledge that no Agent shall be under any obligation to provide such information to them.

SECTION 9.03 Exculpatory Provisions . The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities except those expressly set forth in this Agreement and in the other Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Agent (including the Administrative Agent):

(1) shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the use of the term “agent” herein and in the other Loan Documents with reference to any Agent or Arranger is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable Law and 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;

 

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(2) shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that such Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents), provided that no Agent shall be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose such Agent 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; and

(3) shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by any Person serving as an Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.

Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its Related Persons shall be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 10.01 and 8.02) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by the final and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, in connection with its duties expressly set forth herein. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or a Lender.

No Agent-Related Person shall be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any recital, statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent. The duties of the Administrative Agent shall be mechanical and administrative in nature; the Administrative Agent shall not have by reason of this Agreement or any other Loan Document a fiduciary relationship in respect of any Lender or the holder of any Note; and nothing in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, expressed or implied, is intended to or shall be so construed as to impose upon the Administrative Agent any obligations in respect of this Agreement or any other Loan Document except as expressly set forth herein or therein.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or any provision of any other Loan Document, each Arranger is named as such for recognition purposes only, and in its capacity as such shall have no powers, duties, responsibilities or liabilities with respect to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby; it being understood and agreed that each Arranger shall be entitled to all indemnification and reimbursement rights in favor of the Arrangers as, and to the extent, provided for under Section 10.05. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Arranger shall not, solely by reason of this Agreement or any other Loan Documents, have any fiduciary relationship in respect of any Lender or any other Person.

SECTION 9.04 Lack of Reliance on the Administrative Agent . Independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the holder of each Note, to the extent it deems appropriate, has made and shall continue to make (i) its own independent investigation of the financial condition and affairs of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with the making and the continuance of the Loans and the taking or not taking of any action in connection herewith and (ii) its own appraisal of the creditworthiness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and, except as expressly provided in this Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility, either initially or on a continuing basis, to provide any Lender or the holder of any Note with any credit or other information with respect thereto, whether coming into its possession before the making of the Loans or at any time or times thereafter. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible to any Lender or the holder of any Note for any recitals, statements, information, representations or warranties herein or in any document, certificate or other writing delivered in connection herewith or for the execution, effectiveness,

 

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genuineness, validity, enforceability, perfection, collectability, priority or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the financial condition of the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or be required to make any inquiry concerning either the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions or conditions of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or the financial condition of the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or the existence or possible existence of any Default or Event of Default.

SECTION 9.05 Certain Rights of the Administrative Agent . If the Administrative Agent requests instructions from the Required Lenders with respect to any act or action (including failure to act) in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to refrain from such act or taking such action unless and until the Administrative Agent shall have received instructions from the Required Lenders; and the Administrative Agent shall not incur liability to any Lender by reason of so refraining. Without limiting the foregoing, neither any Lender nor the holder of any Note shall have any right of action whatsoever against the Administrative Agent as a result of the Administrative Agent acting or refraining from acting hereunder or under any other Loan Document in accordance with the instructions of the Required Lenders.

SECTION 9.06 Reliance by the Administrative Agent . The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, any note, writing, resolution, notice, statement, certificate, telex, teletype or facsimile message, cablegram, radiogram, order or other document or telephone message signed, sent or made by any Person that the Administrative Agent believed to be the proper Person, and, with respect to all legal matters pertaining to this Agreement and any other Loan Document and its duties hereunder and thereunder, upon advice of counsel selected by the Administrative Agent. In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender prior to the making of such Loan. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

SECTION 9.07 Delegation of Duties . The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Documents by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective 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 and any such sub agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 9.07 or Section 9.12, the Administrative Agent shall not delegate to any Supplemental Administrative Agent responsibility for receiving any payments under any Loan Document for the account of any Lender, which payments shall be received directly by the Administrative Agent, without prior written consent of the Borrower (not to unreasonably withheld or delayed). The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents except to the extent that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agents as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable judgment.

SECTION 9.08 Indemnification . Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, to the extent the Administrative Agent or any other Agent-Related Person (solely to the extent any such Agent-Related Person was performing services on behalf of the Administrative Agent) is not reimbursed and indemnified by the Borrower, the Lenders will reimburse and indemnify the Administrative Agent or any other Agent-Related Person (solely to the extent any such Agent-Related Person was performing services on behalf of the Administrative Agent) in proportion to their respective Pro Rata Shares for and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, actions, judgments, costs, expenses or disbursements of whatsoever kind or nature which may be imposed on, asserted against or incurred by the Administrative Agent or any other Agent-Related Person (solely to the extent any such Agent-Related Person was performing services on behalf of the Administrative Agent) in performing its duties hereunder or under any other Loan Document or in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any other Loan Document; provided that no Lender shall be liable for any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulting from the Administrative Agent’s or any other Agent-Related Person’s gross negligence or

 

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willful misconduct (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable decision). In the case of any investigation, litigation or proceeding giving rise to any Indemnified Liabilities, this Section 9.08 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 the Administrative Agent upon demand for its ratable share of any costs or out-of-pocket expenses (including Attorney Costs) incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or 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 is not reimbursed for such expenses by or on behalf of the Borrower, provided that such reimbursement by the Lenders shall not affect the Borrower’s continuing reimbursement obligations with respect thereto, provided further that the failure of any Lender to indemnify or reimburse the Administrative Agent shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation in respect thereof. The undertaking in this Section 9.08 shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, the payment of all other Obligations and the resignation of the Administrative Agent.

SECTION 9.09 The Administrative Agent in Its Individual Capacity . With respect to its obligation to make Loans under this Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall have the rights and powers specified herein for a “Lender” and may exercise the same rights and powers as though it were not performing the duties specified herein; and the term “Lender,” “Required Lenders” or any similar terms shall, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, include the Administrative Agent in its respective individual capacities. The Administrative Agent and its affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, and generally engage in any kind of banking, investment banking, trust or other business with, or provide debt financing, equity capital or other services (including financial advisory services) to any Loan Party or any Affiliate of any Loan Party (or any Person engaged in a similar business with any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof) as if they were not performing the duties specified herein, and may accept fees and other consideration from any Loan Party or any Affiliate of any Loan Party for services in connection with this Agreement and otherwise without having to account for the same to the Lenders. The Lenders acknowledge that, pursuant to such activities, any Agent or its Affiliates may receive information regarding any Loan Party or any of its Affiliates (including information that may be subject to confidentiality obligations in favor of such Loan Party or such Affiliate) and acknowledge that no Agent shall be under any obligation to provide such information to them.

SECTION 9.10 Resignation by the Administrative Agent . The Administrative Agent may resign from the performance of all its respective functions and duties hereunder or under the other Loan Documents at any time by giving 30 Business Days prior written notice to the Lenders and the Borrower. If the Administrative Agent becomes subject to a Lender-Related Distress Event, then the Administrative Agent may be removed as the Administrative Agent at the reasonable request of the Required Lenders. If the Administrative Agent becomes subject to an Agent-Related Distress Event, then the Borrower may remove the Administrative Agent from such role upon 15 days’ prior written notice to the Lenders. Such resignation or removal shall take effect upon the appointment of a successor Administrative Agent as provided below.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, no successor Administrative Agent shall be appointed unless such successor Administrative Agent represents and warrants that it is (i) a “U.S. person” and a “financial institution” and that it will comply with its “obligation to withhold,” each within the meaning of U.S. Treasury Regulations Section 1.1441-1, or (ii) a Withholding U.S. Branch.

Upon any such notice of resignation by, or notice of removal of, the Administrative Agent, the Required Lenders shall appoint a successor Administrative Agent hereunder or thereunder who shall be a commercial bank or trust company reasonably acceptable to the Borrower, which acceptance shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed ( provided that the Borrower’s approval shall not be required if an Event of Default under Section 8.01(1) or, solely with respect to the Borrower, Section 8.01(6) has occurred and is continuing).

If a successor Administrative Agent shall not have been so appointed within such 30 Business Day period, the Administrative Agent, with the consent of the Borrower (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, provided that the Borrower’s consent shall not be required if an Event of Default under Section 8.01(1) or, solely with respect to the Borrower, Section 8.01(6) has occurred and is continuing), shall then appoint a successor Administrative Agent who shall serve as Administrative Agent hereunder or thereunder until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided above.

 

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If no successor Administrative Agent has been appointed pursuant to the foregoing by the 35th Business Day after the date such notice of resignation was given by the Administrative Agent or such notice of removal was given by the Required Lenders or the Borrower, as applicable, the Administrative Agent’s resignation shall nonetheless become effective and the Required Lenders shall thereafter perform all the duties of the Administrative Agent hereunder or under any other Loan Document until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided above. The retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and except for any indemnity payments or other amounts then owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent, all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above in this Section 9.11.

The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Sections 10.04 and 10.05 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Agent-Related Persons in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent.

Upon a resignation or removal of the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 9.10, the Administrative Agent (i) shall continue to be subject to Section 10.08 and (ii) shall remain indemnified to the extent provided in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the provisions of this Article IX (and the analogous provisions of the other Loan Documents) shall continue in effect for the benefit of the Administrative Agent for all of its actions and inactions while serving as the Administrative Agent.

SECTION 9.11 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim . In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan 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) shall be 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 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 and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.08 and 10.04) 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, 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 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 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 under Sections 2.08 and 10.04.

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.

 

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SECTION 9.12 Appointment of Supplemental Administrative Agents .

(1) 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 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 is hereby authorized to appoint an additional individual or institution selected by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion as a separate trustee, co-trustee, administrative agent, administrative sub-agent or administrative co-agent (any such additional individual or institution being referred to herein individually as a “ Supplemental Administrative Agent ” and collectively as “ Supplemental Administrative Agents ”).

(2) Should any instrument in writing from any Loan Party be reasonably required by any Supplemental Administrative Agent so appointed by the Administrative Agent for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to him or it such rights, powers, privileges and duties, the Borrower shall, or shall cause such Loan Party to, execute, acknowledge and deliver any and all such instruments reasonably acceptable to it promptly upon request by the Administrative Agent. In case any Supplemental Administrative 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 Administrative Agent, to the extent permitted by Law, shall vest in and be exercised by the Administrative Agent until the appointment of a new Supplemental Administrative Agent.

SECTION 9.13 Withholding Tax . To the extent required by any applicable Laws, the Administrative Agent may withhold from any payment to any Lender an amount equivalent to any applicable withholding Tax. Without limiting or expanding the provisions of Section 3.01, each Lender shall indemnify and hold harmless the Administrative Agent against, and shall make payable in respect thereof within ten (10) days after demand therefor, any and all Taxes and any and all related losses, claims, liabilities and expenses (including fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent) incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent by the IRS or any other Governmental Authority as a result of the failure of the Administrative Agent to properly withhold Tax from amounts paid to or for the account of such Lender for any reason (including 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). 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 or replacement of the Administrative Agent, any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all other Obligations.

Article X

Miscellaneous

SECTION 10.01 Amendments, etc .

(1) 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 the Borrower or any other Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders (other than with respect to any amendment or waiver contemplated in clauses (b) or (c), which shall only require the consent of the Lenders expressly set forth therein and not the Required Lenders) (or by the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders) and the Borrower or the applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and the Administrative Agent hereby agrees to acknowledge any such waiver, consent or amendment that otherwise satisfies the requirements of this Section 10.01 as promptly as possible, however, to the extent the final form of such waiver, consent or amendment has been delivered to the Administrative Agent at least

 

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one Business Day prior to the proposed effectiveness of the consents by the Lenders party thereto, the Administrative Agent shall acknowledge such waiver, consent or amendment (i) immediately, in the case of any amendment which does not require the consent of any existing Lender under this Agreement or (ii) otherwise, within two hours of the time copies of the Required Lender consents or other applicable Lender consents required by this Section 10.01 have been provided to the Administrative Agent; and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

(a) extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender (it being understood that a waiver of any condition precedent set forth in Section 4.01 or 4.02 or the waiver of any Default, Event of 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 the amount of, any payment of principal or interest or any payment of fees or premiums hereunder or under any Loan Document with respect to payments to any Lender without the written consent of such Lender, it being understood that none of the following will constitute a postponement of any date scheduled for, or a reduction in the amount of, any payment of principal, interest, fees or premiums: (i) the waiver of (or amendment to the terms of) any mandatory prepayment of the Loans, (ii) the waiver of any Default or Event of Default, and (iii) any change to the definition of “Secured Net Leverage Ratio,” “Total Net Leverage Ratio,” “Interest Coverage Ratio” or, in each case, in the component definitions thereof;

(c) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or Unreimbursed Amount, or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to any Lender without the written consent of such Lender, it being understood that none of the following will constitute a reduction in any rate of interest or any fees: any change to the definition of “Secured Net Leverage Ratio,” “Total Net Leverage Ratio,” “Interest Coverage Ratio,” or, in each case, in the component definitions thereof; provided that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend the definition of “Default Rate”;

(d) change any provision of this Section 10.01 or the definition of “Required Lenders” or “Pro Rata Share” 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 or Section 2.12 or 8.03, without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby;

(e) amend, waive or otherwise modify any term or provision in Section 4.01 or Section 4.02, in each case, without the written consent of each Lender;

provided that:

(i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of, or any fees or other amounts payable to, the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; and

(ii) Section 10.07(g) 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;

provided further that notwithstanding the foregoing:

(A) no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove of 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 the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Defaulting Lender (it being understood that any Commitments or Loans held or deemed held by any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for a vote of the Lenders hereunder requiring any consent of the Lenders);

 

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(B) any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document may be amended by an agreement in writing entered into by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency (including amendments, supplements or waivers to any of the guarantees, intercreditor agreements or related documents executed by any Loan Party or any other Subsidiary in connection with this Agreement if such amendment, supplement or waiver is delivered in order to cause such guarantees, intercreditor agreements or related documents to be consistent with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents) so long as, in each case, the Lenders shall have received at least five (5) Business Days’ prior written notice thereof and the Administrative Agent shall not have received, within five (5) Business Days of the date of such notice to the Lenders, a written notice from the Required Lenders stating that the Required Lenders object to such amendment;

(C) any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document may be amended by the Administrative Agent without written consent of the Borrower or any other party, to effect any “market flex” provisions of the Fee Letter within one (1) Business Day of notice by the Arrangers to the Borrower of their intention to exercise their option to invoke such provisions; and

(D) other than in a transaction permitted under Section 7.03 or Section 7.04, release all or substantially all of the aggregate value of the Guaranty, without the written consent of each Lender.

(2) In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 10.01,

(a) the Guaranty and related documents executed by Loan Parties 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 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 or waiver is delivered in order (i) to comply with local Law or advice of local counsel, (ii) to cure ambiguities or defects or (iii) to cause the Guaranty or other document to be consistent with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including by adding additional parties as contemplated herein or therein) and

(b) (i) if the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall have jointly identified an obvious error (including an incorrect cross-reference) or any error or omission of a technical or immaterial nature or (ii) if the Administrative Agent shall have identified any administrative, operational or agency changes of a technical nature, in each case, in any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any exhibit, schedule or other attachment to any Loan Document), then the Administrative Agent (acting in its sole discretion) and the Borrower or any other relevant Loan Party shall be permitted to amend such provision and such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to any Loan Document. Notification of such amendment shall be made by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders promptly upon such amendment becoming effective.

SECTION 10.02 Notices and Other Communications; Facsimile Copies .

(1) General . Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by facsimile as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:

(a) if to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.02 ; and

(b) if to any other Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire.

 

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Notices and other communications sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices and other communications sent by facsimile shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next succeeding Business Day for the recipient). Notices and other communications delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in subsection (2) below shall be effective as provided in such subsection (2).

(2) Electronic Communication . Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender pursuant to Article II if such Lender, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

(3) Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next succeeding Business Day for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.

(4) The Platform . THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD-PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Agent-Related Persons or any Arranger (collectively, the “ Agent Parties ”) have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender, or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of Borrower Materials through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and non-appealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided , however , that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages).

(5) Change of Address . Each Loan Party and the Administrative Agent may change its address, facsimile or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by written notice to the other parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its address, facsimile or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by written notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent. In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, facsimile number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender. Furthermore, 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 Borrower Materials 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.

 

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(6) Reliance by the Administrative Agent . The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic 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 the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Agent-Related Persons of each of them 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. All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative 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 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.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against the Loan Parties or any of them shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 8.02 for the benefit of all the Lenders; provided , however , that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (b) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 10.09 (subject to the terms of Section 2.12), or (c) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to any Loan Party under any Debtor Relief Law; and provided further that if at any time there is no Person acting as Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 8.02 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b) and (c) of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 2.12, any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders.

SECTION 10.04 Costs and Expenses . The Borrower agrees (a) if the Closing Date occurs and to the extent not paid or reimbursed on or prior to the Closing Date, to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers incurred in connection with the preparation, negotiation, syndication, execution, delivery and administration 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 of a single U.S. counsel and, if necessary, a single local counsel in each relevant material jurisdiction, and (b) upon presentation of a summary statement, together with any supporting documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower, to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent and the other Lenders, taken as a whole, promptly following a written demand therefor for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement 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 Attorney Costs of one counsel to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders taken as a whole (and, if necessary, one local counsel in any relevant material jurisdiction and solely in the case of a conflict of interest, one additional counsel in each relevant material jurisdiction to each group of affected Lenders similarly situated taken as a whole)). 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) Business Days following receipt by the Borrower of an invoice relating thereto setting forth such expenses in reasonable detail (except that amounts described in clause (a) of this Section 10.04 should be payable on the Closing Date to the extent invoiced in reasonable detail at least three (3) Business Days prior to 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.

 

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SECTION 10.05 Indemnification by the Borrower . The Borrower shall indemnify and hold harmless the Agents, each other Lender, the Arrangers and their respective Related Persons (collectively, the “ Indemnitees ”) from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (including Attorney Costs and Environmental Liabilities) to which any such Indemnitee may become subject arising out of, resulting from or in connection with (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, a single local counsel for all Indemnitees taken as a whole in each relevant material jurisdiction, and solely in the case of a conflict of interest, one additional counsel in each relevant material jurisdiction to each group of affected Indemnitees similarly situated taken as a whole) any actual or threatened claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to the Transactions or to the execution, delivery, enforcement, performance and administration of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, the Loans, or the use, or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory (including any investigation of, preparation for, or defense of any pending or threatened claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding), and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto (all the foregoing, collectively, the “ Indemnified Liabilities ”); provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses resulted from (x) the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or any of its Related Indemnified Persons 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 any of its Related Indemnified Persons 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 administrative agent or arranger or any similar role under any Loan Document and other than any claims arising out of any act or omission of the Borrower or any of its Affiliates (as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction). To the extent that the undertakings to indemnify and hold harmless set forth in this Section 10.05 may be unenforceable in whole or in part because they are violative of any applicable Law or public policy, the Borrower shall contribute the maximum portion that they are permitted to pay and satisfy under applicable Law to the payment and satisfaction of all Indemnified Liabilities incurred by the Indemnitees or any of them. 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 (except to the extent such damages are found in a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence of such Indemnitee), nor shall any Indemnitee or any Loan Party 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 for which such Indemnitee is otherwise entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section 10.05). 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, 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 is consummated. All amounts due under this Section 10.05 shall be paid within thirty (30) Business Days after written demand therefor. The agreements in this Section 10.05 shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations. This Section 10.05 shall not apply to Taxes, except any Taxes that represent losses or damages arising from any non-Tax claim. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Indemnitee shall be obligated to refund and return promptly any and all amounts paid by any Loan Party or any of its Affiliates under this Section 10.05 to such Indemnitee for any such fees, expenses or damages to the extent such Indemnitee is not entitled to payment of such amounts in accordance with the terms hereof as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

SECTION 10.06 Marshaling; Payments Set Aside . None of the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall be under any obligation to marshal any assets in favor of the Loan Parties or any other party or against or in payment of any or all of the Obligations. 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

 

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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 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 Overnight Rate from time to time in effect.

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 registered assigns permitted hereby, except that the Borrower may not, except as permitted by Section 7.03, assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder (including to existing Lenders and their Affiliates) except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.07(b) (such an assignee, an “ Eligible Assignee ”) and (A) in the case of any Eligible Assignee that, immediately prior to or upon giving effect to such assignment, is an Affiliated Lender, in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.07(h), (B) in the case of any Eligible Assignee that is the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower, in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.07(l), or (C) in the case of any Eligible Assignee that, immediately prior to or upon giving effect to such assignment, is a Debt Fund Affiliate, in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.07(k), (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.07(d), or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of Section 10.07(f), or (iv) to an SPC in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.07(g) (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in Section 10.07(d) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, Related Persons of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Borrower may assign its right, title and interest in, to and under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and all proceeds (as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York) of the foregoing to the Tender Issuing Bank to secure obligations under the Agreement for Standby Letter of Credit and the L/C Fee Letter.

(b) Assignments by Lenders . Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

(i) Minimum Amounts .

(A) in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and

(B) in any case not described in subsection (b)(i)(A) of this Section 10.07, the aggregate amount of the Commitment or, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than €1.0 million, in the case of Loans, unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default under Section 8.01(1) or, solely with respect to the Borrower, Section 8.01(6) has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (in the case of an assignment of Loans, each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided , however , that concurrent assignments to members of an Assignee Group and concurrent assignments from members of an Assignee Group to a single Eligible Assignee (or to an Eligible Assignee and members of its Assignee Group) will be treated as a single assignment for purposes of determining whether such minimum amount has been met.

 

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(ii) Proportionate Amounts . Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans or the Commitment assigned (it being understood that assignments under separate Facilities shall not be required to be made on a pro rata basis).

(iii) Required Consents . No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by Section 10.07(b)(i)(B) and, in addition:

(A) the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (1) an Event of Default under Section 8.01(1) or, solely with respect to the Borrower, Section 8.01(6) has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if a “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date or (2) a Demand Failure Event has occurred and is continuing; provided further that no consent of the Borrower shall be required for an assignment of all or a portion of the Loans pursuant to Section 10.07(h), (k) or (l);

(B) the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender; provided that no consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required for an assignment of all or a portion of the Loans pursuant to Section 10.07(h), (k) or (l);

(iv) Assignment and Assumption . 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), and shall pay to the Administrative Agent a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 (which fee may be waived or reduced in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent). Other than in the case of assignments pursuant to Section 10.07(l), the Eligible Assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire and all applicable tax forms.

(v) No Assignments to Certain Persons . No such assignment shall be made (A) to the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries except as permitted under Section 10.07(l), (B) subject to Sections 10.07(h), (k) and (l) below, to any Affiliate of the Borrower, (C) to a natural person, (D) to any Disqualified Institution or (E) to any Defaulting Lender.

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 sub participations, 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 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.

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to clause (c) of this Section 10.07 (and, in the case of an Affiliated Lender or a Person that, after giving effect to such assignment, would become an Affiliated Lender, to the requirements of clause (h) of this Section 10.07), from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, other than in connection with an assignment pursuant to Section 10.07(l), (x) the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and (y) 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

 

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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), but shall in any event continue to be subject to Section 10.08. 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 subsection 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(d).

(c) 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 delivered to it, each Affiliated Lender Assignment and Assumption delivered to it, each notice of cancellation of any Loans delivered by the Borrower pursuant to subsections (h) or (l) below, 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 and 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 its own Loans, any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. This Section 10.07(c) and Section 2.10 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 the Term Loans or Incremental Term Loans held by Affiliated Lenders.

(d) Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person, the Borrower and its Affiliates, a Defaulting Lender or a Disqualified Institution) (each, a “ Participant ”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment or the Loans owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the 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 any other Loan Document; 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(1) that directly and adversely affects such Participant. Subject to subsection (e) of this Section 10.07, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01 (subject to the requirements of Section 3.01 (including subsections (2), (3) and (4), as applicable) as though it were a Lender; provided that any forms required to be provided under Section 3.01(3) shall be provided solely to the participating Lender), 3.04 and 3.05 (through the applicable Lender) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section 10.07. 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 shall agree to be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender.

(e) Limitations upon Participant Rights . A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 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). Each Lender that sells a participation shall (acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower) maintain a register complying with the requirements of Sections 163(f), 871(h) and 881(c)(2) of the Code and the Treasury regulations issued thereunder on which is entered the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and related interest amounts) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under this Agreement (the

 

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Par ticipant Register ”). The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender and the Borrower 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; provided that no Lender shall have the obligation to disclose all or a portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of the Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent such disclosure is necessary to establish that any such commitments, loans, letters of credit or other obligations are in registered form for U.S. federal income tax purposes or such disclosure is otherwise required under Treasury Regulations Section 5f.103-1(c).

(f) Any Lender may 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 or any other central 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.

(g) 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) 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 (including its obligations under Section 3.01, 3.04 or 3.05), (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 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 (which processing fee may be waived by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), 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.

(h) Any Lender may at any time, assign all or a portion of its rights and obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement to a Person who is or will become, after such assignment, an Affiliated Lender through (x) Dutch auctions or other offers to purchase or take by assignment open to all Lenders on a pro rata basis in accordance with procedures to be mutually determined by such Affiliated Lender and the Administrative Agent or (y) open market purchase on a non-pro rata basis, in each case subject to the following limitations:

(i) Affiliated Lenders will not (A) 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 or (B) make any challenge to the Administrative Agent’s or any other Lender’s attorney-client privilege on the basis of its status as a Lender;

(ii) each Affiliated Lender that purchases any Loans pursuant to clause (x) above shall represent and warrant to the selling Lender (other than any other Affiliated Lender) that it does not possess material non-public information with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries that either (1) has not been disclosed to the Lenders generally (other than Lenders that have elected not to receive such information) or (2) if not disclosed to the Lenders, would reasonably be expected to have a material effect on, or otherwise be material to (A) a Lender’s decision to participate in any such assignment or (B) the market price of such Loans, or shall make a statement that such representation cannot be made;

 

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(iii) each Lender (other than any other Affiliated Lender) that assigns any Loans to an Affiliated Lender pursuant to clause (y) above shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower a customary Big Boy Letter (unless such Affiliated Lender is willing, in its sole discretion, to make the representation and warranty contemplated by the foregoing clause (ii));

(iv) the aggregate principal amount of Loans under this Agreement held by Affiliated Lenders at the time of any such purchase or assignment shall not exceed 25% of the aggregate principal amount of Loans outstanding at such time under this Agreement (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 ;

(v) as a condition to each assignment pursuant to this subsection (h), the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall have been provided a notice 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 (in its capacity as such) shall waive any right to bring any action in connection with such Loans against the Administrative Agent, in its capacity as such; and

(vi) the assigning Lender and the Affiliated Lender purchasing such Lender’s Loans shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an assignment agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit D-2 hereto (an “ Affiliated Lender Assignment and Assumption ”).

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Affiliated Lender that has purchased Loans pursuant to this subsection (h) may, in its sole discretion, contribute, directly or indirectly, the principal amount of such Loans or any portion thereof, plus all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, to the Borrower for the purpose of cancelling and extinguishing such Loans. Upon the date of such contribution, assignment or transfer, (x) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Loans shall reflect such cancellation and extinguishing of the Loans then held by the Borrower and (y) the Borrower shall promptly provide notice to the Administrative Agent of such contribution of such Loans, and the Administrative Agent, upon receipt of such notice, shall reflect the cancellation of the applicable Loans in the Register.

Each Affiliated Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower promptly (and in any event within ten (10) Business Days) if it acquires any Person who is also a Lender, and each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower promptly (and in any event within ten (10) Business Days) if it becomes an Affiliated Lender. The Administrative Agent may conclusively rely upon any notice delivered pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence or pursuant to clause (v) of this subsection (h) and shall not have any liability for any losses suffered by any Person as a result of any purported assignment to or from an Affiliated Lender.

(i) 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, or subject to Section 10.07(j), 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, except with respect to any amendment, modification, waiver, consent or other action (x) in Section 10.01 requiring the consent of all Lenders, all Lenders directly and adversely affected or specifically such Lender, (y) that alters an Affiliated Lender’s pro rata share of any payments given to all Lenders, or (z) affects the Affiliated Lender (in its capacity as a Lender) in a manner that is disproportionate to the effect on any Lender, the Loans held by an Affiliated Lender shall be disregarded in both the numerator and denominator in the calculation of any Lender vote (and shall be deemed to have been voted in the same percentage as all other applicable Lenders voted if necessary to give legal effect to this paragraph) (but, in any event, in connection with any amendment, modification, waiver, consent or other action, shall be entitled to any consent fee, calculated as if all of such Affiliated Lender’s Loans had voted in favor of any matter for which a consent fee or similar payment is offered).

 

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(j) 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 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 than the proposed treatment of similar Obligations held by Lenders that are not Affiliated Lenders.

(k) Although any Debt Fund Affiliate(s) shall be Eligible Assignees and shall not be subject to the provisions of Section 10.07(h), (i) or (j), any Lender may, at any time, assign all or a portion of its rights and obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement to a Person who is or will become, after such assignment, a Debt Fund Affiliate only through (x) Dutch auctions or other offers to purchase or take by assignment open to all Lenders on a pro rata basis in accordance with customary procedures (for the avoidance of doubt, without requiring any representation as to the possession of material non-public information by such Affiliate) or (y) open market purchase on a non-pro rata basis. 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 Loans held by Debt Fund Affiliates, in the aggregate, may not account for more than 49.9% of the Loans of consenting Lenders included in determining whether the Required Lenders have consented to any action pursuant to Section 10.01.

(l) Any Lender may, so long as no 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 the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower through (x) Dutch auctions or other offers to purchase open to all Lenders on a pro rata basis in accordance with customary procedures or (y) open market purchases on a non-pro rata basis; provided that:

(i) (x) if the assignee is a Subsidiary of the Borrower, upon such assignment, transfer or contribution, the applicable assignee shall automatically be deemed to have contributed or transferred the principal amount of such Loans, plus all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, to the Borrower; or (y) if the assignee is the Borrower (including through contribution or transfers set forth in clause (x)), (a) the principal amount of such 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 Loans of the remaining Lenders shall reflect such cancellation and extinguishing of the 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 Loans, and the Administrative Agent, upon receipt of such notice, shall reflect the cancellation of the applicable Loans in the Register;

(ii) each Person that purchases any Loans pursuant to clause (x) of this subsection (l) shall represent and warrant to the selling Lender (other than any Affiliated Lender) that it does not possess material non-public information with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries that either (1) has not been disclosed to the Lenders generally (other than Lenders that have elected not to receive such information) or (2) if not disclosed to the Lenders, would reasonably be expected to have a material effect on, or otherwise be material to (A) a Lender’s decision to participate in any such assignment or (B) the market price of such Loans, or shall make a statement that such representation cannot be made; and

 

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(iii) each Lender (other than an Affiliated Lender) that assigns any Loans to the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower pursuant to clause (y) above shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower a customary Big Boy Letter (unless such Person is willing, in its sole discretion, to make the representation and warranty contemplated by the foregoing clause (ii)).

(m) 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.

(n) The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible or have any liability for, or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into, monitor or enforce, compliance with the provisions hereof relating to Disqualified Institutions. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall not (x) be obligated to ascertain, monitor or inquire as to whether any Lender or Participant or prospective Lender or Participant is a Disqualified Institution or (y) have any liability with respect to or arising out of any assignment or participation of Loans or Commitments, or disclosure of confidential information, to any Disqualified Institution.

SECTION 10.08 Confidentiality . Each of the Agents, the Arrangers and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information in accordance with its customary procedures (as set forth below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates’ respective partners, directors, officers, employees, legal counsel, independent auditors, agents, trustees, advisors and representatives (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential, with such Affiliate being responsible for such Person’s compliance with this Section 10.08; provided , however , that such Agent, Arranger or Lender, as applicable, shall be principally liable to the extent this Section 10.08 is violated by one or more of its Affiliates or any of its or their respective employees, directors or officers), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners); provided , however , that each Agent, each Arranger and each Lender agrees to notify the Borrower promptly thereof to the extent it is legally permitted to do so, (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or otherwise as required by applicable Law or regulation or as requested by a governmental authority; provided that such Agent, such Arranger or such Lender, as applicable, agrees that it will (x) notify the Borrower as soon as practicable in the event of any such disclosure by such Person (except in connection with any request as part of a regulation examination) unless such notification is prohibited by law, rule or regulation and (y) seek confidential treatment with respect to any such disclosure, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) subject to an agreement containing provisions at least as restrictive as those of this Section 10.08, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or any Eligible Assignee (or its agent) invited to be an Additional Lender or (ii) with the prior consent of the Borrower, any actual or prospective direct or indirect counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries or any of their respective obligations; provided that such disclosure shall be made subject to the acknowledgment and acceptance by such prospective Lender, Participant or Eligible Assignee that such Information is being disseminated on a confidential basis (on substantially the terms set forth in this paragraph or as is otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Borrower, the Agents and the Arrangers, including as set forth in any confidential information memorandum or other marketing materials) in accordance with the standard syndication process of the Agents and the Arrangers or market standards for dissemination of such type of information which shall in any event require “click through” or other affirmative action on the part of the recipient to access such confidential information, (f) for purposes of establishing a “due diligence” defense, (g) on a confidential basis to (i) any rating agency in connection with rating the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or the credit facilities provided hereunder, (ii) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers or other market identifiers with respect to the credit facilities provided hereunder, or (iii) service providers to the Agents and the Lenders in connection with the administration, settlement and management

 

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of this Agreement and the credit facilities provided hereunder, (h) with the consent of the Borrower or (i) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach by any Person of this Section 10.08 or any other confidentiality provision in favor of any Loan Party, (y) becomes available to any Agent, any Arranger or any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof, and which source is not known by such Agent, such Lender or the applicable Affiliate to be subject to a confidentiality restriction in respect thereof in favor of the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof or (z) is independently developed by the Agents, the Lenders, the Arrangers or their respective Affiliates, in each case, so long as not based on information obtained in a manner that would otherwise violate this Section 10.08.

For purposes of this Section 10.08, “ Information ” means all information received from any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof relating to any Loan Party or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof or their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to any Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof; provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section 10.08 shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so in accordance with its customary procedures if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

Each Agent, each Arranger and each Lender acknowledges that (a) the Information may include trade secrets, protected confidential information, or material non-public information concerning the Borrower or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of such information and (c) it will handle such information in accordance with applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws and to preserve its trade secret or confidential character.

The respective obligations of the Agents, the Arrangers and the Lenders under this Section 10.08 shall survive, to the extent applicable to such Person, (x) the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement, (y) any assignment of its rights and obligations under this Agreement and (z) the resignation or removal of any Agent.

SECTION 10.09 Setoff . If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, after obtaining the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender or any Affiliate of such Lender to or for the credit or the account of any Loan Party against any and all of the obligations of such Loan Party then due and payable under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or any Affiliate of such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender or any Affiliate of such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; 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 2.13 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 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. The rights of each Lender under this Section 10.9 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender may have. Each Lender agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

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.

 

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SECTION 10.11 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness . This Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or other electronic imaging (including in .pdf format) means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

SECTION 10.12 Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents . The words “delivery,” “execution,” “execute,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in or related to any document to be signed in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (including without limitation Assignment and Assumptions, amendments or other modifications, Loan Notices, waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, the electronic matching of assignment terms and contract formations on electronic platforms approved by the Administrative Agent, 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, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable Law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

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 the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative 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.

SECTION 10.14 Severability . If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

SECTION 10.15 GOVERNING LAW .

(a) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

(b) THE BORROWER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH LENDER EACH IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK CITY IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF

 

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THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. EACH PARTY HERETO AGREES THAT THE AGENTS AND LENDERS RETAIN THE RIGHT TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR TO BRING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST ANY LOAN PARTY IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN CONNECTION WITH THE ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT.

(c) THE BORROWER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH LENDER EACH IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (b) OF THIS SECTION 10.15. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

SECTION 10.16 WAIVER OF RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY . EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 10.16.

SECTION 10.17 Binding Effect . This Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent shall have been notified by each Lender that each such Lender has executed it and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Borrower, each Agent, each Lender, each other party hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

SECTION 10.18 Use of Name, Logo, etc . Each Loan Party consents to the publication in the ordinary course by Administrative Agent or the Arrangers of customary advertising material relating to the financing transactions contemplated by this Agreement using such Loan Party’s name, product photographs, logo or trademark; provided that any such material shall be provided to the Borrower for its review a reasonable period of time in advance of publication. Such consent shall remain effective until revoked by such Loan Party in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers.

SECTION 10.19 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 and address of each Loan Party and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify each Loan Party in accordance with the USA PATRIOT Act. The Borrower shall, promptly following a request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide all documentation and other information that the Administrative Agent or such Lender requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act.

 

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SECTION 10.20 Service of Process . EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 10.02. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

SECTION 10.21 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility . In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), the Borrower acknowledges and agrees that (i) (A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Agents, the Arrangers and the Lenders are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Borrower and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders, on the other hand, (B) the Borrower has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) the Borrower is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii) (A) each Agent, Arranger and Lender is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Borrower or any of its Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) none of the Agents, the Arrangers nor any Lender has any obligation to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the Agents, the Arrangers, the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower and its Affiliates, and none of the Agents, the Arrangers nor any Lender has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates. The Borrower hereby agrees that it will not claim that any of the Agents, the Arrangers, the Lenders or their respective Affiliates has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect or owes a fiduciary duty or similar duty to it in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

SECTION 10.22 Release of Guarantee Obligations .

(a) The Lenders hereby irrevocably agree that the Guarantors shall be released from the Guaranties upon consummation of any transaction permitted hereunder resulting in such Subsidiary ceasing to constitute a Restricted Subsidiary, or otherwise becoming an Excluded Subsidiary. The Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent to execute and deliver any instruments, documents, consents, acknowledgements, and agreements necessary or desirable to evidence or confirm the release of any Guarantor pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, all without the further consent or joinder of any Lender. Any representation, warranty or covenant contained in any Loan Document relating to any such released Guarantor shall no longer be deemed to be repeated.

SECTION 10.23 Entire Agreement .

This Agreement, together with all of the other Loan Documents, the applicable provisions of the Commitment Letter and the Fee Letter referred to herein, and all certificates and documents delivered hereunder or thereunder, embodies the entire agreement of the parties and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof. In the event of any conflict between the terms of this Agreement and any other Loan Document, the Commitment Letter or the Fee Letter, the terms of this Agreement shall govern.

SECTION 10.24 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 the parties hereto, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any 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 that is an EEA Financial Institution; and

(b) the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:

 

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(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 entity, 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.

[THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]

 

144


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

 

SUPERIOR INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL, INC ., as the Borrower
By:  

            /s/ Kerry A. Shiba

  Name:   Kerry A. Shiba
  Title:   EVP, Chief Financial Officer, & Secretary

[Signature Page to Bridge Credit Agreement]

 


CITIBANK, N.A. , as Administrative Agent and Lender
By:  

            /s/ Akshay Kulkarni

  Name:   Akshay Kulkarni
  Title:   Vice President

[Signature Page to Bridge Credit Agreement]

 


JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. , as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Jeff Bailard

  Name:   Jeff Bailard
  Title:   Managing Director

[Signature Page to Bridge Credit Agreement]

 


ROYAL BANK OF CANADA , as a Lender
By:  

            /s/ James S. Wolfe

  Name:   James S. Wolfe
  Title:   Managing Director
              Head of Global Leveraged Finance

[Signature Page to Bridge Credit Agreement]

 


DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC. , as a Lender

By:

 

            /s/ Dusan Lazarov

 

Name:

 

Dusan Lazarov

 

Title:

 

By:

 

            /s/ Peter Cucchiara

 

Name:

 

Peter Cucchiara

 

Title:

 

Vice President

[Signature Page to Bridge Credit Agreement]

 

SLIDE 1

Superior Industries International, Inc. Acquisition of UNIWHEELS AG Investor Conference Call March 23, 2017 Exhibit 99.1


SLIDE 2

Forward-Looking Statements This webcast and presentation contain statements that are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include all statements that do not relate solely to historical or current facts and can generally be identified by the use of future dates or words such as "may," "should," "could," “will,” "expects," "seeks to," "anticipates," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "intends," "predicts," "projects," "potential" or "continue" or the negative of such terms and other comparable terminology. These statements also include, but are not limited to, the 2017 outlook included herein, and the Company’s strategic and operational initiatives, including obtaining integration synergies, product mix and overall cost improvement and are based on current expectations, estimates, and projections about the Company's business based, in part, on assumptions made by management. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements due to numerous factors, risks, and uncertainties discussed in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year-ended December 25, 2016, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other reports from time to time filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You are cautioned not to unduly rely on such forward looking statements when evaluating the information presented in this press release. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this webcast and presentation. Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures In addition to the results reported in accordance with GAAP included throughout this presentation, this presentation refers to “Adjusted EBITDA,” which we have defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, restructuring charges and impairments of long-lived assets and investments and “Value-Added Sales,” which we define as net sales less pass-through charges primarily for the value of aluminum. Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of value-added sales is a key measure that is not calculated according to GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of value-added sales is defined as adjusted EBITDA divided by value-added sales. Management believes the non-GAAP financial measures used in this presentation are useful to both management and investors in their analysis of the Company’s financial position and results of operations. Further, management uses these non-GAAP financial measures for planning and forecasting future periods. This non-GAAP financial information is provided as additional information for investors and is not in accordance with or an alternative to GAAP. These non-GAAP measures may be different from similar measures used by other companies. For reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP, see the appendix of this presentation. In reliance on the safe harbor provided under section 10(e) or Regulation S-K, we have not quantitatively reconciled differences between adjusted EBITDA presented in our 2017 Outlook to net income, the most comparable GAAP measure, as Superior is unable to quantify certain amounts that would be required to be included in net income without unreasonable efforts and due to the inherent uncertainty regarding such variables. Superior also believes that such a reconciliation would imply a degree of precision that could potentially be confusing or misleading to investors. However, the magnitude of these amounts may be significant. Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Forward-Looking Statements


SLIDE 3

Transaction Announcement Summary Commence tender offer for 100% of outstanding shares of UNIWHEELS AG on 3/23/2017 Accretive transaction creates one of the largest automotive OEM aluminum wheel suppliers globally Total equity purchase price, assuming 100% tender, is approximately $715 million Funding provided by consortium of banks and strategic investor, TPG Growth


SLIDE 4

UNIWHEELS At a Glance Leading European Aluminum Alloy Wheel Supplier Attractive Underlying Market Trends Diversified and Longstanding Blue Chip Customer Relationships Clear Quality and Technology Leadership Operational Excellence Strong Financial Track Record with Attractive Growth and Profitability Additional Business Development Potential


SLIDE 5

UNIWHEELS Overview Automotive OEM Business Segments and Brands Selected Customers Aftermarket Business Business Design and production with low-pressure die casting technology Supplier to car manufacturers in the OE segment Leading supplier of alloy wheels to major European car manufacturers (OEM) Market-leading alloy wheel manufacturer for European aftermarket Distribution to major tire/wheel distributors, retailers as well as leading car dealers Broad product portfolio, ranging from economy to premium forged and motorsports (e.g. DTM)


SLIDE 6

Creates a leading OEM supplier of aluminum wheels and leading supplier of aftermarket wheels Diversified customer base and geographic reach Larger platform for investment in innovative products Bolsters human capital with two highly-skilled teams Combines complementary R&D, engineering capabilities, and process technologies Immediately accretive; significant efficiency benefits from scale Aligns with Superior’s growth strategy #3 European OEM supplier; #1 European aftermarket supplier Deep, long-standing relationships with European OEMs Competitive cost manufacturing footprint; new plant built in 2016 Culture of innovation Compelling Investment Thesis #1 North American aluminum wheel manufacturer Deep, long-standing relationships with leading global OEM’s Competitive cost manufacturing footprint; new plant built in 2015 Culture of innovation


SLIDE 7

Diversified Customer Base Combined Revenue by Customer 2016 Superior Revenue by Customer 2016 UNIWHEELS Revenue by Customer Source: UNIWHEELS financial reports and Superior


SLIDE 8

Globally Competitive Manufacturing Capabilities 3 Plants Stalowa Wola, Poland 1 Plant Werdohl, Germany Bad Dürkheim Germany Headquarters 4 Plants Chihuahua, Mexico 1 Plant Fayetteville, AR Southfield, MI Headquarters CAPACITY: – ~2.0M wheels PREMIUM AND STANDARD WHEELS Superior North American Footprint UNIWHEELS European Footprint Superior New Mexican Facility (Opened 2015) UNIWHEELS New Polish Facility (Opened 2016) CAPACITY: – ~2.75M wheels PREMIUM AND STANDARD WHEELS Source: UNIWHEELS financial reports and Superior


SLIDE 9

Complementary Innovative Cultures Increasing Wheel Diameters Complex Surfaces Lightweight Technologies Increasing OptionsCustomization Regulatory trends


SLIDE 10

Similar Track Records of Growth +21% UNIWHEELS Volumes Source: UNIWHEELS financial reports and Superior filings (1) EBITDA is a non-GAAP; see appendix for reconciliation to Superior’s EBITDA can Superior Volumes +10% (Thousands) (Thousands) (EUR in Millions) +53% UNIWHEELS EBITDA(1) ($ in Millions) +77% Superior EBITDA (1)


SLIDE 11

Similar Track Records of Enhanced Profitability Source: UNIWHEELS financial reports and Superior filings +391% Superior Earnings Per Share +127% UNIWHEELS Earnings Per Share +370% Superior Net Income +181% UNIWHEELS Net Income (EUR in Millions) ($ in Millions)


SLIDE 12

Transaction Details Superior will commence tender offer on 3/23/2017 for 100% of UNIWHEELS AG’s shares outstanding (“SO”) Total equity purchase price, assuming 100% tender, estimated to be $715 million Tender offer for 39% held by public shareholders for approximately 236zl per share, equivalent to the 3-Month volume-weighted average price (VWAP) Agreement with UNIWHEELS Malta (61% owner of SO) to tender its shares for 226.5zl per share Anticipate $15M in annual run-rate synergies by 2020 from operational efficiencies Tender offer expected to close around end of May 2017; not conditioned on any antitrust approval


SLIDE 13

Overview of Transaction Financing $150M Preferred Equity purchased by TPG Growth $100M Series A Convertible Redeemable Preferred stock $50M Series B Preferred stock Preferred dividends payable in cash or “in-kind” (PIK), at Superior’s election Participation rights on common dividends One new Director to be nominated by TPG to Superior’s Board of Directors Subsequent shareholder vote to approve conversion of Series B to Series A Equity Financing Debt Financing(1) Transaction to be financed with $660M of funded debt $400M Senior Secured Term Loan B $260M of Senior Unsecured Notes $150M revolver (1) Assumes acquisition of 100% of UNIWHEELS' shares outstanding


SLIDE 14

Capital Structure and Allocation Priorities (1) Includes addback for expedited freight costs incurred during 2016 3.7x net debt to EBITDA (1) at the close of the transaction Anticipate reduction of annual dividend from $0.72 cents/share to $0.36 cents/share post close Transaction diversifies business and mitigates risks Investment in business and debt paydown top priorities Long-term targeted leverage of 2.0x net debt to EBITDA


SLIDE 15

Summary Investment Thesis Accretive transaction creates one of the largest global automotive OEM supplier of aluminum wheels Diversified customer base and geographic reach Larger platform for further investment to design / manufacture innovative products Bolsters human capital with two highly-skilled teams Expect significant efficiency benefits from scale Aligns with Superior's growth strategy


SLIDE 16

Appendix


SLIDE 17

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Exhibit 99.2

 

LOGO    News Release

Superior Industries Announces Transformative

Acquisition of Germany-based UNIWHEELS AG

Transaction Highlights:

 

  Accretive transaction creates one of the largest global automotive OEM aluminum wheel suppliers

 

  Positions the combined company as a leading global partner to automotive OEMs in Europe and North America

 

  Leverages process, product and engineering capabilities of both companies

 

  Delivers industry-leading product technologies through a globally competitive manufacturing footprint

 

  Funding provided by consortium of banks and strategic investor, TPG Growth

SOUTHFIELD, MICHIGAN – March  23, 2017 Superior Industries International, Inc. ( Superior ) (NYSE:SUP) , the largest manufacturer of aluminum wheels for light vehicles in North America, announced today that it will commence a tender offer for 100% of the outstanding shares of UNIWHEELS AG (“UNIWHEELS”) (UNW-PL) on March 23, 2017. This tender offer is being commenced in connection with an agreement by the owner of 61% of the outstanding UNIWHEELS shares, UNIWHEELS Holdings (Malta) Ltd. (“UNIWHEELS Malta”), which has irrevocably agreed to tender its shares. The tender offer is not conditioned on receipt of any antitrust approvals. The aggregate equity purchase price, assuming all outstanding shares are tendered, is anticipated to be approximately $715 million.

Headquartered in Germany, UNIWHEELS is the third largest supplier of aluminum wheels to the European OEM automotive market, as well as Europe’s leading manufacturer of aluminum wheels for the automotive aftermarket. UNIWHEELS’ shares are traded on the Warsaw Stock Exchange under the ticker UNW. UNIWHEELS’ primary customers include Audi/Bentley/Porsche/Skoda/Volkswagen, BMW, Jaguar Land Rover, Mercedes/AMG, PSA Group, Volvo, among others.

The transaction will be funded through a combination of debt, preferred equity, and balance sheet cash. The preferred equity will be purchased by TPG Growth. The transaction has been approved by the Boards of Directors of Superior and UNIWHEELS Malta. The tender offer is expected to close around the end of May 2017.

“This is a highly transformative and synergistic transaction that will deliver meaningful benefits to all of the stakeholders and positions the combined company extremely well for future growth,” stated Don Stebbins, Superior’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “The acquisition immediately establishes us as a leading global supplier of aluminum wheels, diversifies our customer base and end markets, expands our geographic reach, and creates a platform to better serve our global customers. This is a remarkable opportunity for Superior, UNIWHEELS, and our collective employees and shareholders.”


“We are truly delighted to join forces with Superior. The combination brings together highly complementary product technologies and manufacturing processes, creating global scale and positioning the business for profitable and sustainable growth. The combination of UNIWHEELS’ and Superior’s management teams, its workforce and operations will strengthen relationships with OEMs throughout the world,” added Dr. Thomas Buchholz, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of UNIWHEELS’ Executive Board.

Ransom Langford, a Partner at TPG Growth added, “We are excited to be involved in this transformational transaction. Superior’s acquisition of UNIWHEELS creates a powerful, global platform that will integrate UNIWHEELS’ expertise in Europe with Superior’s expertise in North America.”

Strategic Rationale

Transformational : Creates one of the largest global providers of aluminum wheels for the automotive OEM market with a diversified customer base and geographic reach.

Platform for future growth : Leverages global manufacturing capacity of the combined business, creating a larger platform for further investment to design and manufacture the most innovative products for our customers.

Strong operating teams : Bolsters the combined company’s human capital by bringing together two highly skilled organizations; UNIWHEELS’ focus in Europe and Superior’s operations in North America.

Diversification : Creates a diversified global supplier of aluminum wheels with a solid footprint in Europe and North America, while enhancing relationships with its OEM partners. Includes #1 automotive aftermarket aluminum wheel manufacturer in Europe.

Increased scale : Delivers benefits from complementary R&D, engineering capabilities and process technologies that will enhance overall operational efficiency.

Financial benefits : Immediately accretive to earnings per share. With no manufacturing overlap, the combined business will require minimal restructuring actions and create long-term value for Superior’s shareholders. Superior anticipates $15 million in annual run-rate synergies by 2020. Sales and volumes are balanced between North America and Europe.

Summary Terms of Agreement

Superior will immediately commence a tender offer for 100% of the outstanding shares of UNIWHEELS. The owner of 61% of UNIWHEELS outstanding shares, UNIWHEELS Malta, has irrevocably agreed to tender its shares. Completion of the tender offer, which is subject to the condition that at least 75% of the outstanding UNIWHEELS shares are tendered, is expected to be completed around the end of May 2017. The tender offer is not conditioned on receipt of any antitrust approvals.

Under the terms of the agreement:

 

    UNIWHEELS Malta will receive cash consideration of 226.5zl per share upon close of the tender offer.

 

    UNIWHEELS public shareholders will receive cash consideration of approximately 236zl per share, equivalent to the volume-weighted-average-price for the prior three months.

 

    The tender offer subscription period will commence promptly following expiry of the mandatory waiting period under Polish security regulations, which is expected on or about April 12, 2017 and after commencement, UNIWHEELS shareholders will have 40 days to tender their shares, unless extended by Superior.


The transaction is subject to customary and other terms and conditions set forth in the acquisition agreement, which Superior will file shortly with the SEC on Form 8-K.

Transaction Financing

To support the acquisition of 100% of UNIWHEELS’ shares outstanding, the transaction is to be financed with approximately $660 million of newly funded debt, consisting of a $400 million Senior Secured Term Loan B and $260 million of Senior Unsecured Notes, as well as $150 million of Preferred Equity, consisting of $100 million of Series A convertible redeemable preferred stock and $50 million of Series B preferred stock. A $150 million revolving credit facility also will be obtained.

The $150 million of Preferred Equity will be purchased by TPG Growth. As part of its investment, upon funding, TPG Growth will nominate one individual to Superior’s Board of Directors. The debt financing will be provided by a consortium of banks including Citibank NA, JP Morgan, Royal Bank of Canada and Deutsche Bank.

Following completion of the transaction and reflecting its new capital structure, Superior anticipates that it will reduce its annual dividend from $0.72 per share to $0.36 per share.

Advisors

Evercore is serving as lead financial advisor, with Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP and Ernst & Young LLP also providing transaction support. Winston & Strawn LLP is lead legal counsel to Superior, while Allen & Overy LLP, Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek, and SMM Legal also are acting as legal counsel.

Conference Call

Superior will host a conference call beginning at 8:30 AM EDT / 1:30 PM CET on Thursday, March 23, 2017. The conference call may be accessed by dialing (800) 723-6575 from the U.S. or (785) 830-1997 if dialing internationally, and using the required pass code 7147107. The live conference call can also be accessed by logging into the company’s website at www.supind.com . Interested parties are invited to listen to the webcast. In addition, a presentation will be posted on the Superior’s website and referred to during the conference call. A replay of the webcast will be available on the company’s website immediately following the conclusion of the call.

About Superior Industries

Headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, Superior is the largest manufacturer of aluminum wheels for passenger cars and light-duty vehicles in North America. From its facilities in the U.S. and Mexico, the company supplies aluminum wheels to the original equipment market. Superior’s primary customers include BMW, FCA, Ford, General Motors, Mazda, Nissan, Subaru, Tesla, Toyota and Volkswagen. For more information, visit www.supind.com .

About UNIWHEELS

UNIWHEELS is one of the leading manufacturers of aluminum wheels for passenger cars and light-duty vehicles in Europe and is one of the few technology leaders worldwide in the aluminum wheel industry. UNIWHEELS is the third largest European supplier of OEM wheels for the automotive industry as well


as the market-leading manufacturer of alloy wheels for the aftermarket in Europe. It includes the well-known brands ATS, RIAL, ALUTEC, and ANZIO. The company has four production facilities, of which three are located in Poland and one in Germany. For more information, visit www.uniwheels.com .

About TPG Growth

TPG Growth is the middle market and growth equity investment platform of TPG, the global private investment firm. With over $7 billion of assets under management, TPG Growth targets investments in a broad range of industries and geographies. TPG Growth has the deep sector knowledge, operational resources, and global experience to drive value creation, and help companies reach their full potential. The firm is backed by the resources of TPG, which has approximately $70 billion of assets under management. For more information, visit www.tpggrowth.com .

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include all statements that do not relate solely to historical or current facts and can generally be identified by the use of future dates or words such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “will,” “expects,” “seeks to,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “intends,” “predicts,” “projects,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of such terms and other comparable terminology. These statements also include, but are not limited to, the 2017 outlook included herein, and the company’s strategic and operational initiatives, including obtaining integration synergies, product mix and overall cost improvement and are based on current expectations, estimates, and projections about the company’s business based, in part, on assumptions made by management. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements due to numerous factors, risks, and uncertainties discussed in the company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports, including the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year-ended December 25, 2016, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other reports from time to time filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You are cautioned not to unduly rely on such forward-looking statements when evaluating the information presented in this press release. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.

Contacts:

Superior Investor Relations / Media Contacts:

Troy Ford

(248) 234-7104

Clermont Partners

Victoria Sivrais

(312) 690-6004

vsivrais@clermontpartners.com