UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d)

of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 31, 2018

 

 

 

LOGO

MEREDITH CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Iowa   1-5128   42-0410230

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation or organization)

 

(Commission

file number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

1716 Locust Street, Des Moines, Iowa   50309-3023
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (515) 284-3000

 

 

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))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).

Emerging growth company  ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

 

 

 


Introductory Note.

As previously disclosed in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 27, 2017 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) by Meredith Corporation (“Meredith”), Meredith entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) on November 26, 2017 with Time Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Time”), and Gotham Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Meredith (“Purchaser”), providing for the merger of Purchaser with and into Time, with Time continuing as the surviving corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Meredith (the “Merger”). Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, on December 12, 2017, Purchaser commenced a tender offer to acquire any and all issued and outstanding shares of common stock of Time (the “Shares”) for $18.50 in cash, without interest (the “Offer Consideration”), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated December 12, 2017 (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Offer to Purchase”), and in the related Letter of Transmittal (which, together with the Offer to Purchase, as each may be amended or supplemented from time to time, constitute the “Offer”), filed as Exhibits (a)(1)(A) and (a)(1)(B), respectively, to the Tender Offer statement on Schedule TO (as amended or supplemented from time to time) filed by Meredith and Purchaser with the SEC on December 12, 2017. Meredith used net proceeds from an equity financing, senior notes offering and drawings under senior credit facilities, each discussed below, along with cash on hand, to pay the consideration in connection with the Merger and Offer, to refinance certain indebtedness of Meredith and Time and to pay fees and expenses in connection with the foregoing.

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Closing of Senior Notes Offering

On January 31, 2018, Meredith completed its previously-announced private placement of $1.4 billion aggregate principal amount of 6.875% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “Notes”) to several investment banks acting as initial purchasers (collectively, the “Initial Purchasers”) who subsequently resold the Notes to qualified institutional buyers as defined in Rule 144A (“Rule 144A”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and outside the United States to non-U.S. persons pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act.

Meredith used the net proceeds from the offering of the Notes together with drawings under the Senior Credit Facilities (as defined below), proceeds from the Equity Financing (as defined below) and cash on hand, to pay the consideration in connection with the Merger and Offer, to refinance certain indebtedness of Meredith and Time and to pay fees and expenses in connection with the foregoing.

The Notes and the Indenture

The description of the Notes and the guarantees thereof by Meredith and certain of its subsidiaries is incorporated herein by reference to Meredith’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on January 19, 2018.

The Notes were issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of January 31, 2018 (the “Indenture”), among the Meredith, certain subsidiaries of Meredith party thereto as subsidiary guarantors (the “Guarantors”) and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee. The Indenture contains covenants that will limit the ability of Meredith and certain of its subsidiaries to, among other things:

 

    pay dividends or distributions, repurchase equity, prepay junior debt and make certain investments;


    incur additional debt and issue certain preferred stock;

 

    incur liens on assets;

 

    engage in certain asset sales;

 

    merge, consolidate with or merge or sell all or substantially all of their assets;

 

    enter into transactions with affiliates;

 

    designate subsidiaries as unrestricted subsidiaries; and

 

    allow to exist certain restrictions on the ability of restricted subsidiaries to pay dividends or make other payments to Meredith.

Certain of the covenants will be suspended during any period in which the Notes receive investment grade ratings.

The Indenture also provides for certain events of default, which, if any of them occurs, would permit or require the principal, premium, if any, interest and any other monetary obligations on all the then outstanding Notes to be declared immediately due and payable. The following constitute events of default under the Indenture:

 

    default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on the Notes;

 

    default in the payment when due and payable, upon redemption, acceleration or otherwise, of principal of on the Notes;

 

    failure by Meredith or certain of its subsidiaries to comply with any of the other agreements in the Indenture (other than a failure to pay interest or principal) for 60 days after receipt of written notice of such failure;

 

    one or more defaults shall have occurred under any mortgage, indenture or instruments under which Meredith or certain of its subsidiaries have borrowed, issued or guaranteed indebtedness for borrowed money and both (a) such default resulted from the failure to pay such debt when due and the default has not been cured or the debt repaid in full within any applicable grace period and the default or defaults have resulted in the acceleration of the maturity of such debt and such acceleration has not been rescinded or such debt repaid in full within any applicable grace period and (b) the principal amount of such indebtedness exceeds $150.0 million;

 

    one or more final and nonappealable judgments or orders that exceed $150.0 million in the aggregate (net of amounts covered by insurance) for the payment of money have been entered by a court or courts of competent jurisdiction against Meredith or certain of its subsidiaries and the judgment or judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for more than 60 days and, if such judgment is not covered by an indemnity or insurance, certain enforcement proceedings have then been commenced;

 

    any guarantee by certain of Meredith’s subsidiaries shall for any reason cease to be, or shall for any reason be held in any judicial proceeding not to be, or asserted in writing not to be by Meredith or certain of its subsidiaries, in full force and effect and enforceable in accordance with its terms; and


    certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to Meredith or certain of its subsidiaries.

On January 31, 2018, Meredith caused Time and certain of its subsidiaries to deliver a supplemental indenture to the Indenture (the “First Supplemental Indenture”), pursuant to which Time and such subsidiaries agreed to guarantee Meredith’s obligations under the Notes on the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture and to be bound by any other terms applicable to subsidiary guarantors under the Indenture.

The foregoing description of the Indenture, the Notes and the First Supplemental Indenture is not intended to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Indenture, the form of Note, and the First Supplemental Indenture, copies of which are filed herewith as Exhibits 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3, respectively, and incorporated herein by reference.

Senior Credit Facilities

On January 31, 2018, Meredith borrowed $1.8 billion aggregate principal amount of loans (the “Term Loans”) pursuant to a credit agreement, dated as of January 31, 2018, by and among Meredith, the Guarantors, the lenders party thereto from time to time and Royal Bank of Canada, as administrative agent and collateral agent (the “Credit Agreement”).

The Credit Agreement provides for (i) the Term Loans, (ii) a $350 million revolving credit facility with a five-year maturity, of which $175 million is available for the issuance of letters of credit from time to time and $35 million of swingline loans (the “Revolving Credit Facility” and, together with the Term Loans, the “Senior Credit Facilities”), which Revolving Credit Facility is undrawn as of closing with full availability other than for certain letters of credit, the aggregate amount of which are not material, (iii) one or more uncommitted incremental senior secured term loan facilities, and incremental senior secured revolving credit facilities, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the sum of (x) $700 million plus (y) additional amounts so long as, on a pro forma basis at the time of incurrence, Meredith’s consolidated secured net leverage ratio does not exceed 2.00 to 1.00 and (iv) one or more uncommitted refinancing loan facilities with respect to loans thereunder.

All obligations under the Senior Credit Facilities, any interest rate protection or other hedging arrangement entered into with a lender, agent, arranger or affiliate thereof and certain cash management arrangements entered into with a lender, agent, arranger or affiliate thereof will be unconditionally guaranteed by Meredith’s material direct and indirect wholly owned domestic subsidiaries, subject to certain exceptions. All obligations under the Senior Credit Facilities, any interest rate protection or other hedging arrangements entered into with any lender, agent, arranger or affiliate thereof, certain cash management arrangements entered into with a lender, agent, arranger or affiliate thereof and the guarantees of those obligations, will be secured, subject to certain permitted liens and other agreed upon exceptions, on a senior basis by a perfected security interest in all of Meredith’s and each Guarantor’s existing or after-acquired personal property, including all of the capital stock directly held by Meredith or any Guarantor (limited, in the case of first-tier foreign subsidiaries of Meredith or any of its subsidiaries that are Guarantors, to 100% of the non-voting equity interests (if any) and 65% of the voting equity interests of such subsidiaries).


The Term Loans will amortize at 1% per annum in equal quarterly installments until the final maturity date. All then outstanding principal and interest under the Term Loans will be due and payable seven years from the closing date of the Senior Credit Facilities. All then outstanding principal and interest under the Revolving Credit Facility are due and payable, and all commitments under the Revolving Credit Facility will terminate five years from the closing date of the Senior Credit Facilities. Term Loans that are repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed, and amounts prepaid under the Revolving Credit Facility may be reborrowed.

Meredith will be permitted to prepay amounts outstanding under the Senior Credit Facilities at any time without payment of a premium, except that with respect to the Term Loans, a 1% premium will apply to a repayment of the Term Loans in connection with a repricing of such loans effected on or prior to the date that is six months following the closing date of the Senior Credit Facilities. Meredith will be required to prepay certain amounts outstanding under the Term Loans with a certain percentage of excess cash flow, the net cash proceeds of certain asset sales, certain casualty events, and certain issuances of debt, in each case subject to certain exceptions.

The Term Loans bear interest, at Meredith’s option, at a rate equal to either a eurocurrency rate, plus 3.00% (subject to a 0.00% eurocurrency floor), or the prime lending rate, plus 2.00%. Loans under the Revolving Credit Facility bear interest, at Meredith’s option, at a rate equal to either a eurocurrency rate, plus 3.00% (subject to a 0.00% eurocurrency floor), or the prime lending rate, plus 2.00%, which margins are subject to decrease if Meredith’s total net leverage ratio is less than or equal to certain levels. Meredith will also be required to pay a quarterly commitment fee of 0.50% under the Revolving Credit Facility based on the average daily unused portion of the commitments during the applicable quarter, which fee is subject to decrease if Meredith’s total net leverage ratio is less than or equal to a certain level, as well as a fee which accrues at a rate per annum equal to the applicable margin under the Revolving Credit Facility on the daily maximum amount available to be drawn under outstanding letters of credit under the Revolving Credit Facility, payable in arrears at the end of each quarter. In addition, Meredith will be required to pay a fronting fee in respect of letters of credit issued under the Revolving Credit Facility at a rate of 0.125% per annum of the daily maximum amount available to be drawn under issued letters of credit, payable in arrears at the end of each quarter. The Revolving Credit Facility will permit multicurrency letters of credit, that may need to be cash collateralized if they exceed their limits as a result of currency fluctuations.

The Senior Credit Facilities contain certain customary affirmative and negative covenants, including, among other things, restrictions on indebtedness, investments, sales of assets, mergers and consolidations, prepayments of junior lien, unsecured and subordinated indebtedness, liens and dividends and other distributions, and customary events of default. With respect to the Revolving Credit Facility only, Meredith will be required to maintain a total net leverage ratio of 4.25 to 1.00 (the “Financial Covenant”), as tested at the end of each fiscal quarter in which the aggregate amount of all loans outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility (including swingline loans), and letters of credit (other than letters of credit that have been cash collateralized or otherwise backstopped) exceeds 30% of commitments under the Revolving Credit Facility.

Events of default under the Credit Agreement include: (i) the failure by Meredith or any Guarantor (each a “Loan Party” and, collectively, the “Loan Parties”) to timely make payments due under the Credit Agreement; (ii) failure by any Loan Party that is a material subsidiary to comply with the covenants under the Credit Agreement and other related agreements; (iii) solely with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility (unless the Revolving Credit Facility has been accelerated or terminated, as the case may be), a breach of the Financial Covenant if then in effect; (iv) material misrepresentations or


misstatements in any representation or warranty by the Loan Parties when made; (v) certain defaults under a specified amount of other indebtedness of Meredith or its subsidiaries; (vi) insolvency or bankruptcy-related events with respect to any Loan Party that is a material subsidiary or any of their material subsidiaries; (vii) certain undischarged judgments against any Loan Party that is a material subsidiary or any of their material subsidiaries; (viii) the invalidity of the guaranty of any Guarantor that is a material subsidiary; (ix) the occurrence of a change of control; (x) certain security interests or liens under the loan documents ceasing to be, or being asserted by Meredith or its restricted subsidiaries not to be, in full force and effect; and (xi) certain ERISA-related events reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect on Meredith and its restricted subsidiaries taken as a whole. If one or more events of default occurs and continues beyond any applicable cure period, the administrative agent may, with the consent of the lenders holding a majority of the loans and commitments under the facilities, or will, at the request of such lenders, terminate the commitments of the lenders to make further loans and declare all of the obligations of the Loan Parties under the Credit Agreement to be immediately due and payable.

The foregoing description of the Senior Credit Facilities and the Credit Agreement is not intended to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Credit Agreement, a copy of which is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.1, and incorporated herein by reference.

Warrant, Option and Registration Rights Agreement

The information provided in Item 3.02 is hereby incorporated by reference to this Item 1.01.

Deed of Guarantee

On January 31, 2018, in connection with the closing of the Time acquisition, Meredith entered into a Deed of Guarantee (“Deed of Guarantee”) in relation to the IPC Media Pension Scheme (the “IPC Plan”). The IPC Plan is a defined benefit pension plan that is sponsored by one of Time’s U.K. subsidiaries (“Time Inc. UK”). Under the assumptions used in the most recent triennial valuation (April 2015), which are more conservative than the assumptions used to determine a pension plan’s funded status in accordance with U.S. GAAP, the IPC Plan was deemed to be underfunded at that time by approximately £156 million. Prior to the Time acquisition, Time guaranteed all obligations of the statutory employers under the IPC Plan. Under the Deed of Guarantee, Meredith was substituted for Time as the parent guarantor. Under the current terms of the Deed of Guarantee, Meredith guarantees all obligations of the IPC Plan employers under the IPC Plan, including the payment obligations described below, as well as the obligation to fund the IPC Plan’s “buyout deficit” (i.e., the amount that would be needed to purchase annuities to discharge the benefits under the IPC Plan) under certain circumstances. Specifically, Meredith would be required to deposit the buyout deficit into escrow if Meredith were to experience a drop in its credit ratings to CCC+ or below by Standard and Poor’s Rating Services (or any successor thereto) and to Caa1 or below by Moody’s Investor Services, Inc. (or any successor thereto) (the “Credit Rating Trigger”) or if its debt in excess of $50 million were not to be paid when due or were to come due prior to its stated maturity as a result of a default (a “Major Debt Acceleration”). As of the date hereof, Meredith’s long-term unsecured senior debt credit rating was B from Standard and Poor’s and B3 from Moody’s, and Meredith has not defaulted on any payments of its debt. Meredith would be permitted to recoup the escrowed funds under certain circumstances. However, if Meredith or Time Inc. UK were to become insolvent, or if a Major Debt Acceleration were to occur (without being promptly cured), any escrowed funds would be immediately contributed into the IPC Plan and Meredith would be obligated to immediately contribute into the IPC Plan any shortfall in the buyout deficit amount. Had Meredith been required to fund the buyout deficit on December 31, 2017, the amount would have been approximately £277 million. The amount of the buyout deficit changes daily and is determined by many factors, including but not limited, to changes in the fair value of the IPC Plan assets and liabilities and interest rates.


Under the current terms of the IPC Plan, the following cash contributions are required: (1) contribution of £11 million annually until November 2021; (2) contributions at November 2021, 2022 and 2023 so as to eliminate the “self-sufficiency deficit,” if any, of the IPC Plan as of November 2023, determined assuming that the discount rate on the IPC Plan’s liabilities would be equivalent to 0.5% in excess of the then-prevailing rate on bonds issued by the UK Government (“gilts”); and (3) contributions between November 2023 and November 2030 calculated so as to eliminate the “risk-free self-sufficiency deficit,” if any, of the IPC Plan as of November 2030, determined assuming that the discount rate on the IPC Plan’s liabilities would be equivalent to the then-prevailing gilts rate. The “self-sufficiency deficit,” which is calculated using more conservative assumptions than those used in the triennial valuation performed for purposes of determining an appropriate annual funding obligation for the IPC Plan, is an estimate of the amount of a hypothetical one-time contribution that would provide a high level of assurance that the IPC Plan could fund all future benefit obligations as they come due with no further contributions using a discount rate that is 50 basis points higher than the expected return on gilts. The “risk-free self-sufficiency basis” uses a discount rate that is the same as the expected return on gilts.

Prior to Meredith’s acquisition of Time, Time had announced plans to sell the entire share capital of Time Inc. UK to an unrelated third party (the “Time UK Sale”). In connection with any Time UK Sale, it is expected that Time Inc. UK will cease to be a participating employer under the IPC Plan and a different subsidiary of Meredith will become the sponsoring, and only, employer under the IPC Plan. Following the Time UK Sale, it is expected that Meredith will continue to guarantee all of the new sponsoring employer’s obligations under the IPC Plan. The trustee under the IPC Plan has previously agreed to certain changes to the terms of the Deed of Guarantee in connection with the completion of the Time UK Sale by March 31, 2018, including the removal of the Credit Rating Trigger, in exchange for certain cash contributions into the IPC Plan and other commitments. As of the date hereof, no definitive agreement has been reached for the Time UK Sale and there can be no assurance when Meredith will enter into a definitive agreement or at all. Unless and until the Time UK Sale is completed by March 31, 2018 or the trustee otherwise agrees, the current terms of the Deed of Guarantee, including the Credit Rating Trigger, continue in effect.

The foregoing description of the Deed of Guarantee does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Deed of Guarantee, which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 1.02 Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.

In connection with the completion of the Offer and consummation of the Merger described in the above Introductory Note, on January 31, 2018, Meredith terminated its (i) revolving credit facility under its Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of November 30, 2016, among Meredith and a group of banks including Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, (ii) asset-backed credit facility under its First Amended and Restated Receivables Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 15, 2011, among Meredith Funding Corporation (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Meredith), Meredith, Falcon Asset Securitization Company LLC, the financial institutions from time to time party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as amended from time to time, (iii) floating-rate unsecured senior notes under each of its Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 19, 2014, among Meredith and the purchasers named therein and its Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 31, 2014, among Meredith and the purchasers


named therein and (iv) fixed-rate senior notes under its Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 29, 2012, among Meredith and the purchasers named therein (collectively, the “Meredith Refinanced Debt”). All amounts outstanding under the Meredith Refinanced Debt were repaid in conjunction with the termination, together with certain accrued interest, premiums fees and expenses payable in connection therewith.

In conjunction with these prepayments of debt, on January 29, 2018 the Company also settled the associated interest rate swaps with a notional amount of $300.0 million, and discontinued cash flow hedge accounting treatment for such swaps.

Item 2.01 Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.

The disclosure under the Introductory Note is incorporated herein by reference. The Offer and all withdrawal rights thereunder expired at one minute after 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on January 30, 2018. The Offer was not extended. Computershare Trust Company, N.A., the depositary for the Offer, has advised that, as of the expiration of the Offer, a total of 66,251,255 Shares (not including 1,995,909 Shares tendered by notice of guaranteed delivery for which Shares have not yet been delivered) have been validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Offer, representing approximately 65.87% of the outstanding Shares. The number of Shares validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Offer (excluding Shares tendered by notice of guaranteed delivery) satisfied the Minimum Condition (as defined in the Merger Agreement). All conditions to the Offer having been satisfied, Purchaser has accepted for payment all Shares that were validly tendered and not validly withdrawn prior to the expiration of the Offer.

Following consummation of the Offer, the remaining conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement to the Merger were satisfied. On January 31, 2018, Meredith completed its acquisition of Time by consummating the Merger, without a meeting of stockholders of Time, in accordance with Section 251(h) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (“DGCL”).

At the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”), and pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, each Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than (i) Shares that were owned, directly or indirectly, by Meredith, Time (including Shares held as treasury stock or otherwise) or Purchaser, (ii) Shares held by a holder who had not tendered in the Offer and has properly exercised appraisal rights in respect of such Shares in accordance with Section 262 of the DGCL, and (iii) Shares purchased in the Offer) was canceled and automatically converted into the right to receive the Offer Consideration.

The foregoing description of the Offer, the Merger and the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Merger Agreement, which was filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Meredith with the SEC on November 27, 2017 and which is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On January 31, 2018, Meredith issued a press release reporting, among other things, the consummation of the Merger and earnings for the second fiscal quarter and six months ended December 31, 2017. A copy of this press release is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.


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

The information provided in Item 1.01 is hereby incorporated by reference to this Item 2.03.

Item 3.02 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

On January 31, 2018 (the “Issue Date”), Meredith completed its previously-announced private placement of preferred stock to KED MDP Investments, LLC (“Koch”), an affiliate of Koch Industries, Inc., comprised of (i) 650,000 shares of a new series of non-voting preferred stock designated “Series A Preferred Stock,” (ii) detachable warrants to purchase 1,625,000 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $1.00 per share, and (iii) options to purchase 875,000 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $70.50 per share, for an amount equal to $650.0 million in cash (the “Equity Financing”). The Series A Preferred Stock, Warrant and Option (each as defined below) were offered and sold to an “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D) pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and Rule 506 of Regulation D promulgated thereunder.

Meredith used the net proceeds from the Equity Financing, together with proceeds from the offering of the Notes, drawings under the Senior Credit Facilities and cash on hand, to pay the consideration in connection with the Merger and Offer, to refinance certain indebtedness of Meredith and Time and to pay fees and expenses in connection with the foregoing.

Series A Preferred Stock

On January 30, 2018, Meredith filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Iowa Articles of Amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation of Meredith Corporation containing a Statement of Designation of Series A Preferred Stock (the “Statement of Designation”), setting forth the rights, powers, and preferences of a new class of Series A Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share (the “Series A Preferred Stock”) and a stated value of $1,000 per share (the “Stated Value”).

The Series A Preferred Stock ranks senior to any other class or series of equity, including Meredith’s common stock and Class B common stock, with respect to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation. Meredith is permitted to continue to pay dividends on the Meredith common stock and Class B common stock as provided in the Statement of Designation.

As provided in the Statement of Designation, certain actions by Meredith or any material subsidiary will require the affirmative approval of Koch (as the majority holder of the Series A Preferred Stock).

The holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall not vote with the holders of Meredith’s common stock or class B common stock generally (including the election of directors).

The Series A Preferred Stock will accrue an annual dividend either (a) to the extent paid in cash, in an amount equal to the Cash Dividend Annual Rate (as set forth in the table below), multiplied by the Stated Value or (b) if dividends are not declared and paid in cash, by issuing additional shares of Series A Preferred Stock, in kind, with the number of shares equal to (i) the Accrued Dividend Annual Rate (as set forth in the table below), multiplied by the Stated Value for all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, divided by (ii) $1,000.

 

Year   

Cash Dividend

Annual Rate

   Accrued Dividend
Annual Rate
Years 1 through 3    8.5%    9.0%
Year 4        LIBOR plus 850 bps            LIBOR plus 900 bps    
Year 5        LIBOR plus 950 bps            LIBOR plus 1000 bps    
Year 6 through redemption        LIBOR plus 1050 bps            LIBOR plus 1100 bps    

The dividend rates are subject to adjustment as provided in the Statement of Designation upon the occurrence of certain events of default and other events.

The Series A Preferred Stock is non-callable during the first three years after issuance provided that Meredith may, at its option redeem all or a portion of the Series A Preferred Stock in cash during such three-year period, if Meredith declares as a dividend and pays a redemption premium in cash as provided in the Statement of Designation.

From and after the third anniversary of the Issue Date, Meredith may redeem all or a portion of the Series A Preferred Stock upon payment in cash of accrued and unpaid dividends and a call premium as provided in the Statement of Designation.


Immediately upon or prior to any (i) liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Meredith or any of its material subsidiaries, (ii) occurrence of an insolvency event with respect to Meredith or any of its material subsidiaries, (iii) any material indebtedness acceleration under the Senior Credit Facilities or the Notes or (iv) change of control, Meredith is required to redeem all of the then outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock in cash for an amount equal to the Stated Value plus a call premium (or redemption premium if the redemption occurs within the first three years after issuance). In addition, prior to redemption, Meredith is required to declare and pay all accrued and unpaid dividends in cash.

If the Series A Preferred Stock is not redeemed before the seventh anniversary of the Issue Date, the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock may elect, at any time following the seventh anniversary of the Issue Date, to convert some or all of the Series A Preferred Stock into Meredith common stock based on the 30-day trailing volume weighted average price of Meredith common stock. Conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock is subject to receipt of any stockholder approval that may be required under NYSE rules and, if required at the time of conversion, the expiration or termination of any applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the “HSR Act”).

The Series A Preferred Stock is freely transferable subject to compliance with securities laws and certain other conditions and restrictions. Koch may not directly or indirectly transfer any shares of Series A Preferred Stock to the extent that, as a result of such transfer, Koch (together with its affiliated entities) would own less than a majority of the outstanding Series A Preferred Stock.

The foregoing descriptions of the Series A Preferred Stock do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Statement of Designation, which is filed as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

Warrant

The warrant to purchase 1,625,000 shares of common stock (the “Warrant”) is exercisable at any time after the Issue Date until the tenth anniversary of the Issue Date. The exercise price is $1.00 per share, subject to customary adjustment. Exercise of the Warrant is subject to the expiration or termination of any applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the “HSR Act”). In lieu of issuing common stock upon exercise, Meredith may elect to redeem all (but not less than all) of the exercised Warrant by paying to the holder an amount per share of common stock otherwise issuable equal to the greater of the 30-day trailing volume weighted average price of Meredith common stock and the closing price of Meredith common stock on the date Meredith delivers a redemption notice. The holder of the Warrant is entitled to participate in any dividend or distribution on Meredith’s common stock as if the holder had exercised the Warrant in full. Otherwise a holder of the Warrant has no rights as a stockholder of Meredith. The Warrant is freely transferable subject to compliance with securities laws and certain other conditions and restrictions.

The foregoing description of the Warrant does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Warrant to Purchase Class A Common Stock, which is filed as Exhibit 10.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

Option

The option to purchase 875,000 shares of common stock (the “Option”) is exercisable at any time after the Issue Date until the fifth anniversary of the Issue Date. The exercise price is $70.50 per share, subject to customary adjustment. Exercise of the option is subject to the expiration or termination of any applicable waiting period under the HSR Act. Prior to issuance of Meredith common stock upon exercise of the option, the holder of the option has no rights as a stockholder of Meredith. The Option is freely transferable subject to compliance with securities laws and certain other conditions and restrictions.

The foregoing description of the Option does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Option to Purchase Class A Common Stock, which is filed as Exhibit 10.4 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.


Registration Rights

As soon as reasonably practicable after the Issue Date, but in no event later than 120 days, Meredith is obligated to file a registration statement under the Securities Act to register the resale of the Meredith common stock underlying the Warrant and Option. Meredith currently expects to file an automatic shelf registration statement to fulfill this requirement. The holders of registrable securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) may also elect to sell pursuant to an underwritten offering, subject to the terms and conditions of the Registration Rights Agreement. Meredith is also obligated to file a registration statement to register the resale of the Meredith common stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock if the Series A Preferred Stock remains outstanding as of the 60th day prior to the seventh anniversary of the Issue Date.

The foregoing description of registration rights does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Registration Rights Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.5 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 3.03 Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

The information provided in Items 1.01 and 3.02 is hereby incorporated by reference to this Item 3.03.

Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

The information provided in Item 3.02 is hereby incorporated by reference to this Item 5.03.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(a) Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired.

The financial statements required by this Item, with respect to the acquisition described in Item 2.01 herein, will be filed as soon as practicable, and in any event not later than 71 days after the date on which this Current Report was required to be filed pursuant to Item 2.01.

(b) Pro Forma Financial Information.

The pro forma financial information required by this Item, with respect to the acquisition described in Item 2.01 herein, will be filed as soon as practicable, and in any event not later than 71 days after the date on which this Current Report was required to be filed pursuant to Item 2.01.


(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit Number

  

Description

  2.1

   Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November  26, 2017, by and among Meredith Corporation, Gotham Merger Sub, Inc. and Time Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC by Meredith Corporation on November 27, 2017)

  3.1

   Articles of Amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation of Meredith Corporation, including the Statement of Designation of Series A Preferred Stock of Meredith Corporation attached as Appendix I thereto

  4.1

   Indenture, dated as of January 31, 2018, by and among Meredith Corporation, the Guarantors and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee

  4.2

   Form of Note (included in Exhibit 4.1)

  4.3

   First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 31, 2018, by and among Meredith Corporation, the Guarantors and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee

10.1

   Credit Agreement, dated as of January  31, 2018, by and among Meredith, the Guarantors, the lenders party thereto from time to time and Royal Bank of Canada, as administrative agent and collateral agent

10.2

   Deed of Guarantee in Relation to the IPC Media Pension Scheme, dated as of January 31, 2018, by and among Meredith Corporation, Time Inc. (UK) Ltd, IPC Media Pension Trustee Limited and Time Inc.

10.3

   Warrant to Purchase Class A Common Stock, dated as of January 31, 2018

10.4

   Option to Purchase Class A Common Stock, dated as of January 31, 2018

10.5

   Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of January 31, 2018, by and between Meredith Corporation and KED MDP Investments, LLC

99.1

   Press release dated January 31, 2018, titled “Meredith Corporation Announces Completion of Time Inc. Acquisition and Reports Fiscal 2018 Second Quarter and First Half Results”

Forward Looking Statements

This Current Report on Form 8-K and Exhibit 99.1 filed herewith contain forward-looking statements. You can generally identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “explore,” “evaluate,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” or “will,” or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of Meredith. Statements in this report that are forward-looking include, without limitation, statements related to the expected benefits of the acquisition of Time Inc., including the expected synergies from the transaction and the combined company’s prospects for growth and increasing shareholder value. Important risk factors could cause actual future results and other future events to differ materially from those currently estimated by management, including, but not limited to, downturns in national and/or local economies; a softening of the domestic advertising market; world, national or local events that could disrupt broadcast television; increased consolidation among major advertisers or other events depressing the level of advertising spending; the unexpected loss or insolvency of one or more major clients or vendors; the integration of acquired businesses; changes in consumer reading, purchasing and/or television viewing patterns; increases in paper, postage, printing, syndicated programming or other costs; changes in television network affiliation agreements; technological developments affecting products or methods of distribution; changes in government regulations affecting Meredith’s industries; increases in interest rates; the consequences of acquisitions and/or dispositions; and the risks associated with Meredith’s recent acquisition of Time, including: (1) litigation challenging the acquisition; (2) Meredith’s ability to retain key personnel; (3) competitive responses to the acquisition; (4) unexpected costs, charges, or expenses resulting from the acquisition; (5) adverse reactions or changes to business relationships resulting from the acquisition; (6) Meredith’s ability to realize the benefits of the acquisition of Time; (7) delays, challenges, and expenses associated with integrating the businesses; and (8) Meredith’s ability to comply with the terms of the debt and equity financings entered into in connection with the acquisition.

For more discussion of important risk factors that may materially affect Meredith, please see the risk factors contained in Meredith’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017, which is on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), as well as in other filings Meredith makes with the SEC from time to time. No assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do occur, what impact they will have on the results of operations, financial condition or cash flows of Meredith. Meredith does not assume any duty to update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, as of any future date.


SIGNATURE

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

 

MEREDITH CORPORATION
/s/ Joseph Ceryanec
Joseph Ceryanec
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

Date: January 31, 2018

Exhibit 3.1

ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT

TO THE

RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

OF

MEREDITH CORPORATION

(Regarding Designation and Authorization of Series A Preferred Stock)

To the Secretary of State of the State of Iowa

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 490.1006 of the Iowa Business Corporation Act (the “ IBCA ”), the undersigned corporation adopts the following Articles of Amendment to its Restated Articles of Incorporation (“ Articles of Amendment ”) regarding the designation and authorization of Series A Preferred Stock by the corporation:

 

I. The name of the corporation is Meredith Corporation. The effective date of its incorporation was the 9th day of August, 1905. Its original name was Successful Farming Publishing Company.

 

II. On January 27, 2018, Meredith Corporation adopted Articles of Amendment containing the designation, authorization, and terms of the Series A Preferred Stock, which are set forth in Exhibit A to the attached Appendix 1 , and incorporated herein by this reference as if set forth in full; which were determined by resolutions of the board of directors of Meredith Corporation on January 27, 2018; a true and correct copy of those resolutions which is attached hereto as Appendix 1 and incorporated herein by this reference as if set forth in full.

 

III. The Articles of Amendment were duly adopted by the Board of Directors without shareholder approval, as shareholder approval is not required pursuant to Sections 490.602 and 490.1005 of the IBCA. The resolutions of the board of directors set forth in Appendix 1 were duly adopted and approved by the board of directors in the manner required by the IBCA and by the articles of incorporation of the corporation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Articles of Amendment to be signed by a duly authorized officer this 30th day of January, 2018.

 

MEREDITH CORPORATION
By:   /s/ Joseph H. Ceryanec
Name:   Joseph H. Ceryanec
Title:   Chief Financial Officer


APPENDIX 1

“D ESIGNATION AND A PPROVAL OF S ERIES A P REFERRED  & A RTICLES OF A MENDMENT

W HEREAS , pursuant to paragraph 10 of Article III.A of the Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended (the “ Restated Articles ”) of Meredith Corporation (the “ Company ”), the Board of Directors of the Company (the “ Board ”) may issue preferred stock from time to time in one or more series, the shares of each series to have the voting powers, full or limited, and the designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions as are stated in the Restated Articles or in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of the series adopted by the Board.

R ESOLVED , that the Board has determined that it is advisable and for the benefit of the Company and its shareholders to establish a series of shares of preferred stock pursuant to the authority granted to the Board in the Restated Articles, and out of the total authorized number of 5,000,000 shares of its preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share (“ Preferred Stock ”), there is hereby designated a series of 2,500,000 shares which shall be issued in and constitute a single series to be known as “Series A Preferred Stock” (hereinafter called the “ Series A Preferred Stock ”) that have the voting powers, designations, preferences and other special rights, and qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof set forth in the Statement of Designation of Series A Preferred Stock attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “ Statement of Designation ”) and included in the Articles of Amendment to the Restated Articles in substantially the form provided to the Board on the date hereof (the “ Articles of Amendment ”);

R ESOLVED , that the Statement of Designation and the Articles of Amendment are hereby authorized and approved in all respects; and

R ESOLVED , that the Authorized Persons (as defined below) be, and each of them hereby is, authorized and directed, for and on behalf of the Company, to execute and deliver, and to make such filings with the Secretary of State of Iowa as may be deemed necessary or appropriate with respect to, the Articles of Amendment.”

EXHIBIT A

Statement of Designation of

Series A Preferred Stock of

Meredith Corporation

In accordance with Section 10 of Article III.A of the Restated Articles of Incorporation of Meredith Corporation, the Board of Directors has established and fixed the voting powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, option or other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of a series of Preferred Stock designated as “Series A Preferred Stock” and has stated and expressed such voting powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, option or other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations or

 

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restrictions of such series of Preferred Stock in this Statement of Designation (the “ Statement of Designation ”) as follows:

1. Definitions; Interpretation .

(a) As used in this Statement of Designation, the following capitalized terms will have the following meanings:

Accrued Dividend Rate ” means, as of the relevant date, the sum of (a) 0.50% plus (ii) the Cash Dividend Rate, per annum, as of such date.

Accrued Stated Value ” means, as of the relevant date, an amount per share equal to: (a) the Stated Value of such share of the Series A Preferred Stock plus (b) any accrued and unpaid Dividends (including any Dividends accumulated from the most recent Dividend Payment Date to (but not including) the relevant date).

Activist Fund ” means any Person identified on the most-recently available “SharkWatch 50” list or any publicly-disclosed Affiliate of any such Person.

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.

Aggregate Accumulated Dividend ” means, as of the relevant date, an amount per share equal to the difference of (a) the Accrued Stated Value of such share as of the relevant date minus (b) the Stated Value of such share as of the Closing Date.

Applicable Treasury Rate ” means, as of the relevant date, the yield to maturity at the time of computation of U.S. Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) which has become publicly available at least two Business Days (but not more than five Business Days) prior to such date (or, if such statistical release is not so published or available, any publicly available source of similar market data selected by the Company in good faith)) most nearly equal to the period from such date to the First Call Date; provided that if the period from such date to the First Call Date is not equal to the constant maturity of a U.S. Treasury security for which a weekly average yield is given, the Applicable Treasury Rate will be obtained by linear interpolation (calculated to the nearest 1/12th of a year) from the weekly average yields of U.S. Treasury securities for which such yields are given, except that if the period from such date to the First Call Date is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actively traded U.S. Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year will be used.

Articles of Incorporation ” means the Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time).

 

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Authorized Bank Account ” means a demand deposit account at a top tier United States banking institution with deposits of no less than $100 billion and a credit rating of AA-/AA3 or higher from Standard & Poor’s or Moody’s, respectively.

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

Board of Directors ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

Business Day ” means any day ending at 11:59 p.m. (U.S. Eastern Time) other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which the banks in the City of New York are authorized by Law to be closed.

Cash Dividend Rate ” means 8.50% per annum; provided that, (a) from and after the date that is the third anniversary of the Closing Date, the Cash Dividend Rate will be the sum of (i) 8.50% plus (ii) LIBOR (as of the beginning of the applicable Dividend Period), per annum, (b) from and after the date that is the fourth anniversary of the Closing Date, the Cash Dividend Rate will be the sum of (i) 9.50% plus (ii) LIBOR (as of the beginning of the applicable Dividend Period), per annum, and (c) from and after the date that is the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date, the Cash Dividend Rate will be the sum of (i) 10.50% plus (ii) LIBOR (as of the beginning of the applicable Dividend Period), per annum; provided , further , that if any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the then-current Cash Dividend Rate will automatically increase by an additional 200 basis points per annum.

Cash Dividends ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  5(a) .

Change of Control Transaction ” means (a) the occurrence of a “Change of Control” or similar event under the Credit Agreement (as in effect on the Closing Date) or Senior Notes Indenture (as in effect on the Closing Date), (b) any transaction or event, or series of related transactions or events, following which shares of the Common Stock (other than shares of the Class B Common Stock) are no longer listed for sale on the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Global Select Market (or their respective successor exchanges), or (c) the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and the subsidiaries of the Company taken as a whole (whether directly or indirectly through the sale or other disposition of the equity interests in, or the assets of, the Company and the subsidiaries of the Company, taken as a whole).

Class  A Common Stock ” means the Company’s common stock, par value $1.00 per share, that is not designated in the Articles of Incorporation as class B common stock.

Class  B Common Stock ” means the Company’s common stock designated in the Articles of Incorporation as class B common stock, par value $1.00 per share.

Closing Date ” means January 31, 2018.

Common Stock ” means, collectively, the Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock.

 

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Company ” means Meredith Corporation, an Iowa corporation.

Compensation Arrangement ” means any bona fide management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or other agreement or arrangement, in each case, the purpose of which is to provide a reasonable incentive to Covered Persons.

Competition Law Filings ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  7(c) .

Competition Laws ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  7(c) .

Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Senior Notes Indenture as in effect on the Closing Date.

Conversion Notice ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  7(a) .

Conversion Shares ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  7(a) .

Covered Person ” means any future, present or former employee, director, officer or consultant of the Company or its Subsidiaries who is unaffiliated with each holder of shares of Series A Preferred Stock and each of their respective affiliates and equity holders.

Credit Agreement ” means the Credit Agreement dated as of the Closing Date, among the Company, certain subsidiaries of the Company from time to time party thereto as guarantors, the lenders from time to time party thereto, Royal Bank of Canada, as administrative agent and collateral agent, and each of the other financial institutions party thereto as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified or replaced from time to time (and any new document governing replacement or refinanced Indebtedness, in each case, to the extent related to incurrence of any indebtedness, other obligations or capital leases permitted by Section  9(i) ) (or as in effect on the Closing Date where expressly provided herein).

Dividend Notice ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  5(c) .

Dividend Payment Date ” means March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year, commencing on (and including) the Closing Date; provided that, if any Dividend Payment Date is not a Business Day, the Dividend Payment Date will be the immediately preceding Business Day.

Dividend Period ” means the period commencing on (and including) a Dividend Payment Date and ending on (but not including) the next Dividend Payment Date; provided that the initial Dividend Period will commence on (and include) the Closing Date and end on, but not include, the first Dividend Payment Date.

Dividends ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  5 .

DOJ ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  7(c) .

 

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DTC ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  10(a) .

Equity Interests ” means any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of a corporation, any and all equivalent ownership interests in a Person (other than a corporation), including partnership interests and membership interests, and any and all warrants, rights or options to purchase or other arrangements or rights to acquire any of the foregoing.

Event of Default ” means (a) a Series A Payment Event of Default, (b) a Material Indebtedness Acceleration, (c) the breach, violation or failure of the Company to act in accordance with any of the provisions of this Statement of Designation or the Series A Investor Rights Agreement, including with respect to any of the designations, rights, preferences, powers, restrictions and limitations of the shares of the Series A Preferred Stock, (i) with respect to any such breach, violation or failure arising under Section  8 or Section  9 of this Statement of Designation, which remains uncured, and (ii) with respect to each other such breach, violation or failure that would reasonably be expected to affect in any material manner the Series A Preferred Stock or the holder thereof and that remains uncured 30 days after delivery of notice to the Company of such breach, violation or failure, or (d) any “Event of Default” (as defined in any applicable definitive documentation related to any Senior Indebtedness).

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

Extraordinary Dividend ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  5 .

First Call Date ” means the date that is the third anniversary of the Closing Date.

FTC ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  7(c) .

Governmental Authority ” means any U.S. or foreign, federal, state, provincial, municipal, local or similar government or any agency, authority, board, body, bureau, commission, court, department, entity, official, political subdivision, tribunal or other instrumentality of any such government and will include any regulatory or trade body or organization and any arbitrator or arbitral body.

IBCA ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereof.

Indebtedness has the meaning assigned to such term in the Senior Notes Indenture as in effect on the Closing Date.

Insolvency Event ” means, the Company or any Material Subsidiary, pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law: (a) (i) commences proceedings to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent; (ii) consents to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under applicable Bankruptcy Law; (iii) consents to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee or other similar official of it or for all or substantially all of its property; (iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors (collectively, an “ Insolvency Proceeding ”); (b) makes an admission in writing of its inability generally to pay its debts as they become due; or (c) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any

 

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Bankruptcy Law that (i) is for relief against the Company or any Material Subsidiary in a proceeding in which the Company or any Material Subsidiary is to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent; (ii) appoints a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee or other similar official of the Company or any Material Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of the property of the Company or any Material Subsidiary; or (iii) orders the liquidation of the Company or any Material Subsidiary; and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days.

Insolvency Proceeding ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Insolvency Event”.

Junior Stock ” means Common Stock, Preferred Stock (other than the Series A Preferred Stock) and any other Equity Interest of the Company.

Law ” means any applicable U.S. or foreign, federal, state, provincial, municipal or local law (including common law), statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, code, policy, directive, standard, license, treaty, judgment, order, injunction, decree or agency requirement of or undertaking to or agreement with any Governmental Authority.

LIBOR ” means (a) the London Interbank Offered Rate of interest for an interest period of 90 days or (b) during any period in which the rate set forth in clause (a)  is no longer available, (i) the rate generally accepted as the replacement thereof or (ii) if no such rate is available, a rate agreed by the Company and the Majority Holder in good faith designed to replicate the rate described in clause (a) ; provided that, for purposes of calculating Dividends, “LIBOR” will not be less than 1.0%.

Majority Holder ” means the holders of record of not less than a majority of the then-outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, provided , that any single holder that, together with its Affiliates, is the holder of record of a majority of the then-outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall constitute the “Majority Holder.” As of the Closing Date, KED MDP Investments, LLC is the Majority Holder.

Make-Whole Amount ” means, with respect to any share of the Series A Preferred Stock as of any Redemption Date prior to the First Call Date, an amount equal to (a) the product of 6.0% multiplied by the Accrued Stated Value (as of such Redemption Date) of such share being redeemed, plus (b) the present value as of such Redemption Date of the amount of Dividends (without duplication of the Aggregate Accumulated Dividend) that would have accrued and accumulated (based on (y) if the Company has paid any Dividends in kind prior to the Redemption Date, the Accrued Dividend Rate as in effect as of such Redemption Date or (z) if the Company has not paid any Dividends in kind prior to the Redemption Date, the Cash Dividend Rate as in effect as of such Redemption Date) and were not paid on such share from such Redemption Date through and including the First Call Date (assuming that, for purposes of this calculation, (i) such share remained outstanding through the First Call Date and (ii) such share was redeemed on the First Call Date), with such present value being computed using an annual discount rate equal to the Applicable Treasury Rate with respect to such date plus 50 basis points.

 

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Mandatory Redemption ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  6(b) .

Market Cap ” means, at any time, (a) the Company’s market capitalization based on the 30-day volume-weighted average trading price of the Company’s Class A Common Stock less (b) the aggregate dividends payable in respect of Common Stock or share repurchases to be made as of such time in connection with such Permissible Payment.

Market Capitalization Ratio ” means, at any time, (a) the Market Cap, as of such time, divided by (b) the aggregate Accrued Stated Value of the then-outstanding Series A Preferred Stock.

Material Event ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  6(b) .

Material Event Redemption Date ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  6(b) .

Material Indebtedness Acceleration ” means any breach or failure of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to observe or perform any agreement or condition relating to any Senior Indebtedness or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto (and all grace or cure periods and notice periods expressly applicable to such observance, performance or condition shall have expired or, in the case of required notices, been given), or any other event occurs, which results in an acceleration or other demand for repurchase, prepayment, defeasance or redemption of the Senior Indebtedness (or any portion thereof), in each case, prior to its express maturity (without such acceleration or demand having been rescinded, annulled or otherwise cured).

Material Subsidiary ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Credit Agreement as in effect on the Closing Date.

Maximum Aggregate Ownership Amount ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  7(d) .

Maximum Aggregate Voting Amount ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  7(d) .

Maximum Fixed Obligations Ratio ” means, as of any date, (a) (i) the sum of (A) (x) the aggregate principal of the Senior Indebtedness then-outstanding and (y) unpaid but accrued interest of the Senior Indebtedness then-outstanding that would, without giving effect to any applicable grace period, constitute an “Event of Default” under the Senior Indebtedness, plus (B) the aggregate dividends payable in respect of Common Stock and share repurchases to be made at such time, plus (C) the aggregate Accrued Stated Value of the then-outstanding Series A Preferred Stock, minus (ii) unrestricted cash of the Company as of such date, divided by (b) the Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of such date.

Options ” means the options to purchase up to an aggregate of 875,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, purchased by KED MDP Investments, LLC on Closing Date (and any new or replacement options issued pursuant to the terms thereof).

 

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Optional Redemption ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  6(a) .

Optional Redemption Date ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  6(a) .

Permissible Payments ” means (a) Run Rate Dividends or equity repurchases made on account of the Common Stock in accordance with past practice, so long as (i) if such payment is made after the second anniversary of the Closing Date, (A) no Event of Default exists and is continuing, (B) immediately following such payment, the Market Capitalization Ratio would be equal to or greater than 2.0, and (C) immediately following such payment, the Maximum Fixed Obligations Ratio would be equal to or less than 4.0, and (ii) if such payment is made prior to or on the second anniversary of the Closing Date, then (A) all dividends with respect to the shares of the Series A Preferred Stock for the Dividend Period in which such dividend is paid or such repurchase is made have been paid in cash, (B) with respect to dividends only, (1) such dividend occurs in a PIK and Pay Quarter, and (2) after the payment of such dividend, the aggregate amount of dividends paid in PIK and Pay Quarters is less than $150,000,000, or (C) if the aggregate amount of dividends paid in PIK and Pay Quarters is $150,000,000 or more, then the conditions set forth in clauses (a)(i)(A) , (B) and (C)  of this definition would be satisfied immediately following the payment of such payments, and (b) such other payments on account of the Common Stock as approved by an affirmative vote of the Majority Holder.

Permitted Affiliate Transactions ” means (a) any issuance of securities in the Company or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise to any Covered Person pursuant to the terms of any Compensation Arrangement, or the funding of such a Compensation Arrangement; (b) (i) payment of reasonable fees to directors of the Company or any its Subsidiaries; and (ii) payment of reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses and indemnities to directors, officers, and employees of the Company or any direct or indirect controlling parent of the Company, in each case, to the extent relating to services performed for or on behalf of the Company; (c) (i) any employment agreements entered into by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business with a Covered Person (including the making of any payments thereunder or any funding in connection therewith); (ii) any subscription agreement or similar agreement pertaining to the repurchase of Junior Stock in the Company, in either case, owned by a member of the Company’s management pursuant to any Permissible Payment; and (iii) any employee compensation (including bonus), severance, arrangement, benefit plan or arrangement, any health, disability or similar insurance plan which covers bona fide directors, officers or employees of the Company or any its Subsidiaries, and any reasonable employment contract and transactions pursuant thereto; (d) loans or advances to directors, officers or employees of the Company or any its Subsidiaries for reasonable payroll, relocation, entertainment, travel expenses, drawing accounts and similar expenditures; or (e) any transaction expressly permitted by, or for which rights are granted pursuant to, any provision of this Statement of Designation or the Series A Investor Rights Agreement.

Person ” means an individual, a corporation, a partnership, a limited liability company, an association, a trust or any other entity, group (as such term is used in Section 13 of the Exchange Act) or organization, including a Governmental Authority, and any successors and permitted assigns of such Person.

 

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PIK and Pay Dividend Rate ” means per quarter, with respect to any PIK and Pay Quarter, (a) (i) the then-current Accrued Dividend Rate for such PIK and Pay Quarter multiplied by (ii) 0.25, plus (b) the applicable number of basis points set forth in the table below based upon the applicable instance of PIK and Pay Quarter; provided , however that for any PIK and Pay Quarter in which the cash dividend paid with respect to the Common Stock is below the Run Rate Dividend, the number of basis points set forth in the column “Basis Point Increase” will be ratably decreased from the amount set forth below in the same proportion as the cash dividend paid with respect to the Common Stock to the Run Rate Dividend:

 

Instance of
PIK and Pay Quarter

 

Basis Point

Increase

1   25 bps
2   50 bps
3   87.5 bps
4   125 bps
5   175 bps
6   225 bps
7   287.5 bps
8   350 bps

PIK and Pay Quarter ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  5(b) .

Preferred Stock ” means the preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Company.

Proxy Statement ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  7(g) .

Redemption Date ” means the Optional Redemption Date or the Material Event Redemption Date, as applicable.

Redemption Percentage ” means, as of the relevant date, the applicable percentage under the heading “Redemption Percentage” set forth in the table below:

 

Period In Which Such Date Occurs

   Redemption
Percentage
 

If such date occurs during the period from (and including) the First Call Date to (but not including) the date that is the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date

     106.0

If such date occurs during the period from (and including) the date that is the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date to (but not including) the date that is the sixth anniversary of the Closing Date

     103.0

If such date occurs on or after the date that is sixth anniversary of the Closing Date

     100.0

 

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Redemption Price ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  6(d) .

Registration Rights Agreement ” means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated the Closing Date, between KED MDP Investments, LLC and the Company, as amended from time to time.

Resale ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  10(a) .

Rule 144 Holding Period ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  10(d) .

Run Rate Dividend means a dividend on account of the Common Stock in an amount consistent with the Company’s historic dividend rate for the five years immediately preceding the Closing Date with annual increases to such historic dividend rate after the Closing Date of no greater than the five-year historical compound annual growth rate as of the Closing Date.

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

Senior Indebtedness ” means the Indebtedness incurred pursuant to (a) the Credit Agreement and (b) the Senior Notes Indenture.

Senior Notes Indenture means the Indenture, dated as of the Closing Date, by and among the Company, certain subsidiaries of the Company from time to time party thereto as guarantors, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified or replaced from time to time (including any new document governing replacement or additional pari passu Indebtedness), in each case, to the extent to incurrence of any indebtedness, other obligations or capital leases thereunder is permitted by Section  9(i) (or as in effect on the Closing Date where expressly provided herein).

Series A Investor Rights Agreement ” means the Series A Investor Rights Agreement, dated the Closing Date, between KED MDP Investments, LLC and the Company, as amended from time to time.

Series A Payment Event of Default ” means the failure of the Company to (a) pay (in cash or in kind, as provided herein) any Dividends (to the extent declared) with respect to any Dividend Period on the applicable Dividend Payment Date or (b) make when due any payment or distribution on the Series A Preferred Stock (including pursuant to Section  6 ).

 

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Series A Preference Amount ” means, as of any date that is on or after the First Call Date, an amount per share of the Series A Preferred Stock equal to the product of (a) the Redemption Percentage applicable as of such date and (b) the Accrued Stated Value of such share as of such date.

Series A Preferred Stock ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  2 .

Series A Securities Purchase Agreement ” means the Series A Securities Purchase Agreement, dated the Closing Date, between KED MDP Investments, LLC and the Company, as amended from time to time.

Shareholder Approval ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  7(g) .

Shareholder Meeting ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  7(g) .

Stated Value ” means $1,000 (adjusted as appropriate in the event of any stock dividend, stock split, stock distribution, recapitalization or combination with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock).

Statement of Designation ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereof.

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, (a) a corporation of which more than 50% of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting stock is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one of more other Subsidiaries of such Person or by such Person and one or more other Subsidiaries thereof, (b) a partnership of which such Person, or one or more other Subsidiaries of such Person or such Person and one or more other Subsidiaries thereof, directly or indirectly, is the general partner and has the power to direct the policies, management and affairs of such partnership, (c) a limited liability company of which such Person, or one or more other Subsidiaries of such Person or such Person and one or more other Subsidiaries thereof, directly or indirectly, is the managing member and has the power to direct the policies, management and affairs of such company or (d) any other Person (other than a corporation, partnership or limited liability company) in which such Person, or one or more other Subsidiaries of such Person or such Person and one or more other Subsidiaries thereof, directly or indirectly, has a majority ownership and power to direct the policies, management and affairs thereof.

U.S. ” means the United States of America.

Unrestricted Conversion Shares ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  7(c) .

Warrants ” means the warrants for the purchase of 1,625,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, purchased by KED MDP Investments, LLC on Closing Date (and any new or replacement warrants issued pursuant to the terms thereof).

Wholly Owned Subsidiary ” means a Subsidiary 100% of the Equity Interests in which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company.

 

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(b) Interpretation . Any of the terms defined herein may, unless the context otherwise requires, be used in the singular or the plural, depending on the reference. The headings are for convenience only and will not be given effect in interpreting this Statement of Designation. References herein to any Section will be to a Section hereof unless otherwise specifically provided. References herein to any Law means such Law, including all rules and regulations promulgated under or implementing such Law, as amended from time to time and any successor Law unless otherwise specifically provided. The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in this Statement of Designation, refer to this Statement of Designation as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Statement of Designation. The use of the masculine, feminine or neuter gender or the singular or plural form of words will not limit any provisions of this Statement of Designation. The use herein of the word “include” or “including”, when following any general statement, term or matter, will not be construed to limit such statement, term or matter to the specific items or matters set forth immediately following such word or to similar items or matters, whether or not non-limiting language (such as “without limitation” or “but not limited to” or words of similar import) is used with reference thereto, but rather will be deemed to refer to all other items or matters that fall within the broadest possible scope of such general statement, term or matter. The word “extent” in the phrase “to the extent” will mean the degree to which a subject or other thing extends, and such phrase will not mean simply “if.” The terms lease and license will include sub-lease and sub-license, as applicable. All references to $, currency, monetary values and dollars set forth herein means U.S. dollars. When the terms of this Statement of Designation refer to a specific agreement or other document or a decision by any body or Person that determines the meaning or operation of a provision hereof, the Secretary of the Company will maintain a copy of such agreement, document or decision at the principal executive offices of the Company and a copy thereof will be provided free of charge to any stockholder who makes a request therefor.

2. Designation . A total of 2,500,000 shares of Preferred Stock are designated as a series known as Series A Preferred Stock, with each share having an initial Stated Value of $1,000 per share (the “ Series A Preferred Stock ”). The Series A Preferred Stock is perpetual, subject to the provisions hereof.

3. Ranking . With respect to (a) payment of dividends, (b) distribution of assets upon, or in connection with, any Material Event and (c) any transaction or series of transactions in connection with which any Junior Stock receives proceeds, the Series A Preferred Stock will rank senior to the Junior Stock.

4. Voting .

(a) Generally . The holders of shares of the Series A Preferred Stock have no voting rights with respect to such shares except (i) as otherwise required by Law and (ii) as specifically set forth with respect to “Permissible Payments” and the “Protective Provisions” as provided in Section  9 hereof. For purposes of clarity, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall not vote with the holders of Common Stock generally (including the election of directors).

 

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(b) Voting Power . At the time of any vote or consent of the Series A Preferred Stock hereunder or as otherwise required by Law, each share of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to one vote.

5. Dividends .

(a) Generally . From and after the Closing Date, dividends (“ Dividends ”) will accumulate and accrue on a daily basis in arrears during each Dividend Period to the extent paid in cash, in an amount equal to the Cash Dividend Rate then in effect, multiplied by the Stated Value (such amounts, the “ Cash Dividends ”). In lieu of paying Cash Dividends for any Dividend Period, the Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, elect to cause the Company to pay Dividends for such Dividend Period in kind by declaring a dividend equal to the aggregate Dividends accumulated during such Dividend Period (assuming, however, that such Dividends accrued at the Accrued Dividend Rate) and causing the Company to issue a number of additional shares of Series A Preferred Stock (each having an initial Stated Value of $1,000) to each holder of Series A Preferred Stock in an amount equal to (y) the aggregate amount of such Dividends for such Dividend Period (calculated utilizing the Accrued Dividend Rate) with respect to all shares of Series A Preferred Stock held by such holder divided by (z) $1,000. Dividends will be due and payable on the Dividend Payment Date with respect to such Dividend Period in accordance with this Section  5 . To the fullest extent not prohibited by Law and subject to Section  5(d) , the Board of Directors will declare for each Dividend Period a Dividend equal to the aggregate Dividends accumulated during such Dividend Period, and the Company will pay such dividend in cash or in shares of Series A Preferred Stock, as applicable, on the applicable Dividend Payment Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the purposes of calculating Dividends for any Dividend Period, the Stated Value shall include all accrued but unpaid Dividends for all prior Dividend Periods.

(b) PIK and Pay Dividends . In no more than eight total Dividend Periods and subject to the other limitations and restrictions herein (including those set forth in Sections 8 and 9 ), the Board of Directors may elect to both (i) pay Dividends in kind by the issuance of additional shares of Series A Preferred Stock and (ii) pay a cash dividend with respect to Common Stock (each such Dividend Period, a “ PIK and Pay Quarter ”). Notwithstanding Section  5(a) , Dividends for each PIK and Pay Quarter will be calculated and issued in accordance with Section  5(a) , but using the applicable PIK and Pay Dividend Rate in lieu of the Accrued Dividend Rate. The provisions of Section  5(a) will apply to any Dividend Period that is not a PIK and Pay Quarter (including a Dividend Period occurring after a PIK and Pay Quarter).

(c) Priority; Mechanics . Dividends with respect to any quarter may only be paid all in cash or all in additional shares of Series A Preferred Stock, and may not be paid in a combination of cash and shares of Series A Preferred Stock. Without limiting the other provisions hereof, all Dividends (regardless of whether paid in additional shares of Series A Preferred Stock or cash) are prior to and in preference over any dividend on any Junior Stock and will be declared and fully paid before any dividends are declared and paid, or any other distributions or redemptions are made, on any Junior Stock and will be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year (calculated on the basis of actual number of days elapsed). Dividends will be payable to the holders of record of the Series A Preferred Stock as they appear on the stock records of the Company on the record date for such Dividends, which, to the extent the Board of

 

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Directors determines to declare a Dividend in respect of any Dividend Period, will be the date that is 15 days prior to the applicable Dividend Payment Date, and which record date and Dividend Payment Date, to the extent so determined, will be declared by the Board of Directors during each Dividend Period on the date that is 20 days prior to the Dividend Payment Date and five days prior to the record date. At least five Business Days prior to the Board of Directors’ consideration of declaring a Dividend beginning after the Closing Date, the Company will provide notice to the holders of Series A Preferred Stock of the amount, date and form (i.e., cash or shares of Series A Preferred Stock) of such Dividend (a “ Dividend Notice ”) being considered. The Company will not issue any fractional shares of the Series A Preferred Stock as part of the Dividends, but will instead issue a number of shares of the Series A Preferred Stock that is rounded up to the nearest whole number of shares from the number of shares that would otherwise be issuable. If, as and when any such additional shares are issued hereunder, the Company will take all action necessary to ensure such shares will be duly authorized, validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable, free and clear of all taxes, liens, charges and encumbrances with respect to the issuance thereof, and the Company will cause its stock records to be updated to reflect the issuance of such additional shares.

(d) Extraordinary Dividends . If the Majority Holder notifies the Company that any Dividend would, if paid, constitute an “extraordinary dividend” under Section 1059 of the Internal Revenue Code (an “ Extraordinary Dividend ”), the Company will defer declaration of such Dividend until such time as it would not constitute an Extraordinary Dividend or three years after the Closing Date, whichever comes first; provided that, the Company will not defer, and will timely declare and pay in accordance with this Section  5 , any portion of such Dividend in the amount specified by the Majority Holder in such notice. In the event that any Dividend is deferred in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence, such Dividend will not be considered accrued but unpaid for purposes of this Statement of Designation. Any such notice by the Majority Holder must be given within 10 Business Days after receipt of the corresponding Dividend Notice. Upon notice from the Majority Holder that any deferred portion of such Dividend no longer constitutes an Extraordinary Dividend or three years after the Closing Date, whichever comes first, the Company will declare and pay any deferred portion of such Dividend in accordance with this Section  5 . In lieu of declaring any such deferred Dividend, until such time as such deferred Dividend would not constitute an Extraordinary Dividend or three years after the Closing Date, whichever comes first, the Company will hold and reserve cash in the amount of the deferred Dividend as “restricted cash” on its balance sheet, and report such cash as “restricted cash” on its publicly filed financial statements. Such restricted cash will be held in a separate Authorized Bank Account and will be used only for the purpose of paying such Dividend. Any interest paid by the applicable banking institution on such restricted cash will belong to the Company. For so long as such restricted cash is held for such purpose, within five Business Days after the end of each calendar quarter, the Company shall (i) certify to the Majority Holder in writing that it has complied with the terms of this Section  5(d) and (ii) provide bank statements setting forth the balance of such segregated cash for such calendar month. The Company shall provide immediate written notice to the Majority Holder of any breach of the terms of this Section  5(d) .

 

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6. Redemption .

(a) Optional Redemption . At any time and from time to time, from and after the Closing Date, to the extent permitted by Law, the Company may elect to redeem any or all of the outstanding shares of the Series A Preferred Stock for an amount per share equal to the Redemption Price paid in cash on the redemption date set forth in the notice required under Section  6(e)(i)(B) (the “ Optional Redemption Date ”) in accordance with this Section  6 ; provided that the shares of the Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed will have an aggregate Accrued Stated Value of at least $50,000,000, unless the aggregate Accrued Stated Value of all of the outstanding shares of the Series A Preferred Stock is less than $100,000,000, in which case the Company will be required to redeem all such remaining shares (any such redemption, an “ Optional Redemption ”).

(b) Mandatory Redemption . Immediately upon or immediately prior to any (i) liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company or any Material Subsidiary (whether voluntary or involuntary), (ii) occurrence of an Insolvency Event with respect to the Company or any Material Subsidiary, (iii) any Material Indebtedness Acceleration or (iv) Change of Control Transaction (each, a “ Material Event ”), the Company will redeem for cash (any such redemption, a “ Mandatory Redemption ”) all of the then outstanding shares of the Series A Preferred Stock at a price per share equal to the Redemption Price as of the date on which such Material Event occurs (such date, the “ Material Event Redemption Date ”).

(c) Redemption Preference . Any redemption under this Section  6 will be in preference to and in priority over any dividend or other distribution upon any Junior Stock. Any redemption pursuant to Section  7(f) or Section  7(j) shall also be deemed under and pursuant to this Section  6 .

(d) Redemption Price . The total price for each share of the Series A Preferred Stock redeemed pursuant to this Section 6 (the “ Redemption Price ”) will be an amount per share equal to the sum of (A) the Stated Value of such share as of such Redemption Date plus (B) any amount required to be declared and paid as a Dividend with respect to such share pursuant to Section  6(i) which the Company has not paid. The aggregate Redemption Price will be due and payable, and paid in cash in immediately available funds, to the respective holders of the Series A Preferred Stock on the applicable Redemption Date as set forth in Section 6(e).

(e) Mechanics of Redemption .

(i) Notice . With respect to any redemption that is effected pursuant to this Section  6 , the Company will deliver to each holder of the Series A Preferred Stock being redeemed:

(A) Written notice of declaration and payment of the Dividends described in Section 6(i)(i)(A) or Section  6(i)(ii)(A) , as applicable, at least 20 days prior to the applicable Redemption Date, which notice will indicate the amount of such Dividend, provide for the record date in accordance with Section  5 and set the date and time for payment of such Dividend, which will occur on such Redemption Date but prior to the payment of the principal and redemption premium described in Section  6(i)(i)(B) or Section  6(i)(ii)(B) , as applicable, and the resulting redemption of the applicable shares of the Series A Preferred Stock; and

 

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(B) Written notice of such redemption at least 15 days prior to the applicable Redemption Date, which notice will indicate the number of shares being redeemed from such holder, such Redemption Date, the amount to be paid in connection with such redemption and the manner of and place designated for surrender (as set forth in Section  6(e)(ii) ) of the certificates representing the shares of the Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed from such holder.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Company is required to effect a Mandatory Redemption or a redemption in accordance with Section  7(f) or Section  7(j) and the timing of such Material Event or transaction described in Section  7(f) or Section  7(j) will make it impracticable for the Company to deliver notices in accordance with timing requirements of this Section  6(e) prior to the applicable Redemption Date, such notices (which the Company will continue to be obligated to give) will be deemed timely if delivered as promptly as practicable under this Section  6(e) , and the Company will be required to effect such Mandatory Redemption in accordance with Section  6(b) and the other applicable provisions of this Section  6 .

(ii) Surrender of Certificates . Each holder of the Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed pursuant to this Section  6 will surrender the certificate or certificates representing such shares to the Company, duly assigned or endorsed for transfer to the Company (or accompanied by duly executed stock powers relating thereto), or, in the event the certificate or certificates are lost, stolen, missing, destroyed or mutilated, will deliver an affidavit of loss with an indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Company, at the principal executive office of the Company or such other place as the Company may from time to time designate by notice to such holder. Upon receipt of each such surrendered certificate, the Company will cancel and retire it; provided that to the extent such certificates represent a greater number of shares than the shares actually redeemed, the Company will deliver, in addition to payment of the Redemption Price for each redeemed share, a new stock certificate to such holder for those shares of the Series A Preferred Stock not redeemed from such holder. Any shares of the Series A Preferred Stock redeemed in accordance with this Section  6 will not be reissuable by the Company, and the Company will take all steps necessary to cancel and retire such shares.

(iii) Termination Upon Payment . Upon payment in full by the Company of the amounts owing under this Section  6 to any holder of the Series A Preferred Stock that has had all or any portion of its shares redeemed in accordance with this Section  6 , then notwithstanding that the certificate or certificates evidencing such shares have not been surrendered, the Dividends with respect to such redeemed shares will cease to accumulate after the date of such payment in full and all rights with respect to such redeemed shares will terminate at such time.

 

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(f) Partial Redemption; Insufficient Funds .

(i) Any Optional Redemption for less than all of the outstanding shares of the Series A Preferred Stock will be made on a pro rata basis among the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock in proportion to the Stated Value of the shares of the Series A Preferred Stock then held by such holders.

(ii) If, in connection with a Mandatory Redemption pursuant to Section  6(b) or a redemption pursuant to Section  7(f) or Section 7 (j) on the applicable Redemption Date, the Company is not permitted by Law to redeem all of the outstanding shares of the Series A Preferred Stock required to be redeemed, then the Company will redeem the shares on a pro rata basis among the holders participating in such redemption in proportion to the aggregate Accrued Stated Value of the outstanding shares of the Series A Preferred Stock required to be redeemed then held by such holders to the fullest extent permitted by Law. The redemption obligations of the Company provided hereby will continue following such Redemption Date, so that at any time thereafter when the Company becomes permitted by Law to redeem such shares, the Company will redeem such shares at the original Redemption Price, adjusted to account for any increase in the Accrued Stated Value following such original Redemption Date.

(iii) Except as provided under the IBCA, any shares of the Series A Preferred Stock that are not redeemed as of any Redemption Date will remain outstanding and be entitled to all of the designations, rights, preferences, powers, restrictions and limitations of the shares of the Series A Preferred Stock set forth in Section  6(f)(ii) and the other provisions of this Statement of Designation, including the right to accumulate and receive any Dividends thereon as provided in Section  5 , until the date on which the Company actually redeems and pays in full the Redemption Price for such shares.

(g) Company Efforts . The Company will take such actions as are necessary to give effect to the provisions of this Section  6 , Section  7(f) and Section 7 (j) , including (i) in the case of a Change of Control Transaction, including in the definitive agreement relating to such Change of Control Transaction provision for the payment in cash of a price per share to the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock equal to the applicable Redemption Price with respect thereto as of the applicable Material Event Redemption Date and (ii) in the event the Company is prohibited by Law from redeeming or otherwise unable to redeem shares of the Series A Preferred Stock in connection with any Mandatory Redemption on the applicable Redemption Date, taking action necessary or appropriate to remove promptly any impediments to its ability to redeem the shares of the Series A Preferred Stock required to be so redeemed, including, (A) to the extent permissible under applicable Law, reducing the stated capital of the Company or revaluing the assets of the Company to their fair market values if such revaluation would create surplus sufficient to make all or any portion of such Mandatory Redemption and (B) if the Company has sufficient surplus but insufficient cash to effect such Mandatory Redemption, borrowing an amount of cash to make such Mandatory Redemption (or the maximum partial Mandatory Redemption permitted in respect of available cash) to the extent it would not cause a breach, with or without notice, lapse of time or both under the Credit Agreement or Senior Notes Indenture.

 

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(h) Notice of Redemption Decision or Material Events . At least five Business Days prior to the Board of Directors’ consideration to effect any redemption pursuant to Section 6(a), the Company will provide notice to the holders of Series A Preferred Stock of the amount and date of such redemption. In connection with any potential Material Event, in addition to any obligation to deliver any notice of redemption under this Section  6 , the Company will, (i) at least five Business Days prior to the date the Board of Directors or the board or other governing body of any Material Subsidiary considers approving such potential Material Event, (ii) at least 20 days before any stockholders’ or other equity holders’ meeting called to approve such potential Material Event, (iii) within two Business Days after the commencement of any involuntary proceeding, (iv) within 48 hours after the Company’s knowledge of any breach of the definitive agreements for any of the Senior Indebtedness that, if uncured, could result in a Material Indebtedness Acceleration and (v) within 48 hours after any Material Indebtedness Acceleration, give each holder of the shares of the Series A Preferred Stock written notice of such potential Material Event. Such written notice will describe the material terms and conditions of such potential Material Event, including, as applicable, a description of the stock, cash and property to be received by the holders of the shares of the Series A Preferred Stock upon the consummation of such potential Material Event and the date of delivery thereof and a general description of the events or circumstances giving rise to such Material Event. If any material change in the facts set forth in such initial notice occur, the Company will promptly (but in any event within 24 hours after such material change) give written notice to each holder of shares of the Series A Preferred Stock of such material change.

(i) Declaration of Dividend . Immediately prior to any resolution of the Board of Directors to redeem any of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock in accordance with Section  6 , the Company will declare as a Dividend and pay separately in cash:

(i) With respect to any Redemption Date occurring prior to the First Call Date, an amount per share equal to the sum of (A) the Aggregate Accumulated Dividend of such share as of such Redemption Date plus (B) the Make-Whole Amount as of such Redemption Date with respect to such share; and

(ii) With respect to any Redemption Date occurring on or after the First Call Date, an amount per share equal to (A) the Series A Preference Amount of such share as of such Redemption Date minus (B) the Stated Value of such share as of such Redemption Date.

7. Conversion .

(a) From and after the seventh anniversary of the Closing Date, by written notice (a “ Conversion Notice ”) to the Company, any holder of shares of Series A Preferred Stock may elect to convert all or a portion of its shares of Series A Preferred Stock into a number of shares of Class A Common Stock (the “ Conversion Shares ”) equal to (a) the aggregate Accrued Stated Value of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock being converted divided by (b) the volume weighted average price (rounded to the nearest one-hundredth of one cent) of the Class A Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange, for the 30 trading days immediately preceding (and not including) the date on which the holder delivers the required written notice to Company with respect to such conversion, as calculated by Bloomberg Financial LP under the

 

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function “VWAP” or any successor page or function; provided , the Company will not issue any fractional shares of Class A Common Stock as part of any such conversion, but will instead issue a number of shares of Class A Common Stock that is rounded up to the nearest whole number of shares from the number of shares that would otherwise be issuable. Subject to Section  7(b) , Section  7(c) and Section  7(d) , the Company will issue the Conversion Shares no more than five Business Days following delivery of a Conversion Notice, and will take all action necessary to ensure all Conversion Shares are, upon issuance in accordance with this Section  7 , duly authorized, validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable, freely transferrable by the holder thereof and free and clear of all taxes, liens, charges and encumbrances with respect to the issuance thereof. Compliance by the Company with its obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement and each of the other provisions hereunder will satisfy the Company’s obligations to ensure all Conversion Shares are freely transferable under this Section  7(a) .

(b) Each holder submitting a Conversion Notice may indicate in such Conversion Notice that a portion of the Conversion Shares determined by such holder will be issued free of the voting restrictions described in the next sentence (the “ Unrestricted Conversion Shares ”); provided , that such portion, when aggregated with all other Unrestricted Conversion Shares to be issued to such holder and its Affiliates, will not exceed 50% of the total Conversion Shares to be issued to such holder and its Affiliates. Prior to the issuance of any Conversion Shares, the Company and the holder delivering such Conversion Notice will execute and deliver a contractual commitment that provides each of the Conversion Shares, other than the Unrestricted Conversion Shares, will be non-voting until such time as such shares are transferred by such holder to any other Person (other than an Affiliate of such holder). Any Unrestricted Conversion Shares will be issued free and clear of any restrictions or limitations on voting.

(c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if a Competition Law Filing is required to permit a holder of Series A Preferred Stock to convert the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock identified in the applicable Conversion Notice, then the Company will not issue to such any Conversion Shares until the date that all applicable waiting periods have expired or been terminated or required approvals have been received. If any holder of shares of Series A Preferred Stock determines that no Competition Law Filings are required in connection with a conversion, concurrently with its delivery of the Conversion Notice, such holder will provide a written representation to the Company that (i) such holder’s holdings of voting securities of the Company after the conversion will be below the then applicable size-of-transaction threshold under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the “ HSR Act ”) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or (ii) such holder will hold the voting securities solely for the purpose of investment, in accordance with 15 U.S.C. §18a(c)(9) and 16 CFR 802.9. Upon at least 15 Business Days’ notice, at the request of any holder of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, the Company will, in consultation and cooperation with such holder, file or submit, and assist such holder with any filing, submission or notification it makes, in connection with the a conversion of such holder’s shares of Series A Preferred Stock (alone or in conjunction with the exercise of any options or warrants held by such holder) with or to any governmental entity any filing, report or notification necessary or advisable in connection with any antitrust, competition or merger control Law applicable to such exercise, including the notification and report form, if any, required to be filed with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (the “ FTC ”) and the U.S. Department of Justice (the “ DOJ ”) under the HSR Act (such applicable Laws, collectively, “ Competition Laws ,” and such filings and submissions, collectively, the

 

20


Competition Law Filings ”). Any such Competition Law Filings made by each of such holder and the Company will be in substantial compliance with the requirements of the Competition Laws. Each of such holder and the Company will use its reasonable best efforts, and cooperate with each other, to obtain as promptly as practicable all approvals, authorizations, terminations of applicable periods and clearances in connection with the Competition Law Filings, including (A) cooperating and consulting with each other and furnishing to each other or each other’s counsel information and reasonable assistance as each may request in connection with the preparation of any Competition Law Filing, (B) giving the other reasonable prior notice of, and the opportunity to review and discuss in advance (including considering in good faith the views of the other), any such Competition Law Filings to be made and, to the extent reasonably practicable, of any communication with, or any responses to inquiries or requests for additional information from, the FTC, the DOJ and any other governmental entity regarding such Competition Law Filings or the transactions contemplated by this Warrant, (C) permitting the other or the other’s counsel to participate in all communications and meetings with any governmental entity to the extent not prohibited by such governmental entity and (D) subject to clauses (B)  and (C) of this Section  7(b) , responding as promptly as practicable to all requests of any governmental entity and providing all requested information to such governmental entity. The Company will pay any expenses associated with, and any filing fees required under the Competition Laws in connection with, the Competition Law Filings.

(d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company will not issue to any holder of Series A Preferred Stock any Conversion Shares to the extent such Conversion Shares, after giving effect to such issuance and when added to the number of shares of Common Stock issued and issuable upon exercise of the Warrants or the Options issued pursuant to the Series A Securities Purchase Agreement, would (a) exceed 19.9% of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of the date of this Statement of Designation (the “ Maximum Aggregate Ownership Amount ”) or (b) exceed 19.9% of the total voting power of the Company’s securities outstanding as of the date of this Statement of Designation that are entitled to vote on a matter being voted on by holders of the Common Stock (the “ Maximum Aggregate Voting Amount ”), unless and until the Company obtains the Shareholder Approval.

(e) For purposes of this Section  7 , beneficial ownership will be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act (and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder).

(f) If on any attempted conversion of Series A Preferred Stock, the issuance of Conversion Shares would exceed the Maximum Aggregate Ownership Amount or the Maximum Aggregate Voting Amount, and the Company shall not have previously obtained Shareholder Approval at the time of conversion, then (i) the Company will issue to the holder requesting conversion such number of Conversion Shares as may be issued below the Maximum Aggregate Ownership Amount or Maximum Aggregate Voting Amount, as the case may be, and (ii) at the election of the applicable holder, either (A) the remainder of the Series A Preferred Stock will not be converted and will remain issued and outstanding with all rights entitled thereto and without any change in their aggregate Accrued Stated Value (but will, for the avoidance of doubt, continue to accrue Dividends) or (B) the remainder of the Series A Preferred Stock will be redeemed by the Company in accordance with Section  6 ( provided that the obligations of the Company set forth in Section  6(h) will be deemed satisfied).

 

21


(g) Prior to the first annual meeting of shareholders of the Company to occur following the fourth anniversary of the Closing Date (the “ Shareholder Meeting ”), the Company will provide each holder of Common Stock or other securities entitled to vote at such meeting a proxy statement meeting the requirements of Section 14 of the Exchange Act (and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) (the “ Proxy Statement ”) soliciting each such shareholder’s affirmative vote at the Shareholder Meeting for approval of resolutions approving the Company’s issuance of the Conversion Shares and the Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants or the Options in excess of the Maximum Aggregate Ownership Amount and Maximum Aggregate Voting Amount in accordance with their respective terms (the “ Shareholder Approval ”) in accordance with applicable rules and regulations of the New York Stock Exchange (or any other applicable successor entity), the Company’s governing documents and applicable Iowa law, and the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to solicit its shareholders’ approval of such resolutions and to cause the Board of Directors to recommend to the shareholders that they approve such resolutions. If any shares of Class A Common Stock are issued pursuant to the Warrants prior to the time the Shareholder Approval is obtained, such shares will not be voted in connection with any subsequent meeting of shareholders of the Company, to the extent owned by a holder of Series A Preferred Stock, to obtain the Shareholder Approval in accordance with applicable rules and regulations of the New York Stock Exchange.

(h) The Proxy Statement will be in a form reasonably acceptable to the Majority Holder and accordingly, the Company will provide the Majority Holder and a single counsel designated to represent the Majority Holder with respect to the Proxy Statement with reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the Proxy Statement. The Company will keep the Majority Holder apprised of the status of matters relating to the Proxy Statement and the Shareholder Meeting, including promptly furnishing the Majority Holder and their designated counsel with copies of notices or other communications related to the Proxy Statement, the Shareholder Meeting or the transactions contemplated hereby received by the Company from the Securities and Exchange Commission or the New York Stock Exchange.

(i) If, despite the Company’s reasonable best efforts, Shareholder Approval is not obtained at the Shareholder Meeting, the Company will, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Majority Holder, cause an additional meeting of shareholders of the Company to be held every six months thereafter until the Shareholder Approval is obtained, and the Company will hire a reputable proxy solicitor for the purpose of pursuing such approval.

(j) The Company will give prompt written notice to the Majority Holder upon receipt of notice with respect to any completed or pending transaction pursuant to which the holders of Class B Common Stock will cease to hold a majority of the voting power of the Company’s Common Stock. Following receipt of such notice, at the election of a holder of Series A Preferred Stock, the remainder of the Series A Preferred Stock held by such electing Holder will be redeemed by the Company in accordance with Section  6 ( provided that the obligations of the Company set forth in Section  6(h) will be deemed satisfied). The Company’s notice obligation under this Section  7(j) , and a holder’s right to make a redemption election under this Section  7(j) , shall automatically expire upon receipt of the Shareholder Approval.

 

22


8. Restricted Payments . Other than Permissible Payments and Permitted Affiliate Transactions:

(a) (i) no payments or other transfers of assets or value may be made (whether directly or indirectly) by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, to any equity holder of the Company or any of their respective Affiliates, on the other hand, and (ii) no dividends or other distributions (whether cash or paid-in-kind) or returns of capital may be declared, made or paid on the Junior Stock or other Equity Interests of the Company or its Subsidiaries (other than with respect to the Equity Interests of a Wholly Owned Subsidiary), except, in each case, for payments to the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms of Section  5 or Section  6 ; or

(b) all dividends and other distributions (whether directly or indirectly) and returns of capital to be declared, made or paid by the Company, will first be used, to the extent necessary, to redeem the then-outstanding shares of the Series A Preferred Stock;

provided , however , that in no event will the Company redeem Junior Stock (other than the Series A Preferred Stock) for more than $20,000,000 (net of any exercise price payable to the Company by the holder of the Junior Stock being redeemed) in the aggregate in any calendar year.

9. Protective Provisions . Without the affirmative vote of the Majority Holder approving such action or omission, the Company shall not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries not to (either directly or indirectly, including by merger, consolidation, operation of Law or otherwise):

(a) pay any cash dividend or make any other distribution (whether in cash or in kind) on account of the Junior Stock or any other Equity Interests of the Company (other than any payment, dividend or other distribution on account of the Series A Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms of this Statement of Designation) or any of its Subsidiaries (except as expressly permitted pursuant to Section  8 );

(b) liquidate, dissolve or wind-up the business and affairs of the Company or any Material Subsidiary;

(c) effect any voluntary Insolvency Proceeding, or approve or fail to contest any involuntary Insolvency Proceeding, in each case, of the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries;

(d) purchase, repurchase or redeem any shares of Junior Stock (other than pursuant to equity incentive agreements in effect as of the Closing Date or approved by the Majority Holder or as expressly permitted pursuant to Section  8 ) or any Equity Interests of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries (other than redemptions of the Series A Preferred Stock in accordance with Section  6 );

(e) issue any new, reclassify any existing Equity Interests into, or issue to any Person (other than a Wholly Owned Subsidiary) any Equity Interests convertible into, or Equity Interests of, any Subsidiary of the Company if the proceeds from such issuance or reclassification would be distributed to the shareholders of the Company in a manner other than as otherwise permitted in accordance with Section  6 ;

 

23


(f) issue any new, reclassify any existing Equity Interests into, or issue any Equity Interests convertible into, Equity Interests of the Company senior or pari passu to the Series A Preferred Stock, including any additional shares of the Series A Preferred Stock (other than the shares of the Series A Preferred Stock issued on the Closing Date or those issued after the Closing Date in accordance with the terms of this Statement of Designation (as such instrument is in effect on the Closing Date));

(g) enter into any transaction with any Affiliate of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any other holder of Equity Interests of the Company (other than (i) any such transaction that is on an arm’s length basis or more favorable to the Company or such Subsidiary than terms it would receive in an arm’s length transaction, and (ii) Permitted Affiliate Transactions);

(h) enter into, effect or consummate a transaction which results in a Change of Control Transaction unless upon consummation of such Change of Control Transaction, all of the then-outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock are redeemed in full in accordance with Section  6 ;

(i) incur any indebtedness, other obligations or capital leases, or create or suffer to exist any lien upon any property or assets in order to secure any such indebtedness, other obligations or capital leases, in each case, other than (A) any such indebtedness, other obligations, capital leases or lien existing on the Closing Date, (B) any indebtedness, other obligations, capital leases or lien created or suffered to exist, to refinance any indebtedness, other obligations or capital leases existing on the Closing Date, so long as such refinancing is (1) scheduled to mature no earlier than the indebtedness, other obligations or capital leases being refinanced and (2) is in an aggregate principal amount that either (x) is equal to or less than the aggregate principal amount of the then-outstanding indebtedness, other obligations or capital leases being refinanced (including fees and expenses related thereto) or (y) results in a Maximum Fixed Obligations Ratio of not greater than 4.0, (C) capital leases or other trade payables arising in the ordinary course of business, (D) any such indebtedness, other obligations or capital leases the proceeds of which are used solely to redeem in whole all of the then-outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, or (E) any indebtedness, other obligations or capital leases incurred from time to time after the Closing Date under the revolving credit facility provided for in the Credit Agreement;

(j) change the Company’s tax status as a C-corporation;

(k) materially change the general nature of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ principal businesses, taken as a whole, as of the Closing Date, or any business substantially related or incidental thereto or related or incidental to the businesses of media, marketing and brand licensing generally ( provided that this clause (k)  will not restrict the Company or its Subsidiaries from divesting a current business if it remains in one or more of the other primary businesses of the Company or its Subsidiaries);

(l) fail to maintain the Meredith Corporation 2004 Stock Incentive Plan or the Meredith Corporation 2014 Stock Incentive Plan (or a similarly-designed program) or materially decrease management equity ownership requirements thereunder; or

(m) agree or consent to any of the foregoing.

 

24


10. Transfers .

(a) The shares of the Series A Preferred Stock are freely transferable subject to restrictions in the Series A Investor Rights Agreement and under applicable securities Laws but only (i) upon execution and delivery by the transferee of such shares of a joinder to the Series A Investor Rights Agreement at the time of or prior to such transfer and (ii) with the prior written consent of the Company, with such approval not to be unreasonably conditioned, delayed or withheld; provided (A) any conditioning, delaying or withholding of consent to a proposed transfer to an Activist Fund or any transferee that is primarily engaged in television broadcasting or print or digital media publishing will not be deemed to be unreasonable and (B) no prior written consent is required with respect to a transfer to an Affiliate of the transferring holder so long as such Affiliate is not primarily engaged in television broadcasting or print or digital media publishing (except that the requirements with respect to such businesses will not apply to the extent the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, are not engaged in such businesses as of the time of the transfer) and such Affiliate is not an Activist Fund. Upon request of a holder of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, the Company will use reasonable best efforts to assist such holder in any non-registered sale of all or any portion of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock owned by such holder (a “ Resale ”) without registration under the Securities Act in accordance with applicable securities Laws, including any sale under any of Rule 144, Rule 144A or Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act. The Company will cooperate in good faith with and assist each such holder in connection with any Resale by such holder, including, subject to prospective purchasers’ execution of a customary confidentiality agreement in a form reasonably acceptable to the Company, by (A) providing direct contact between its senior management and advisors and prospective purchasers, (B) promptly responding to reasonable inquiries of, and providing answers to, prospective purchasers, (C) providing prompt assistance in completion of the prospective purchasers’ reasonable due diligence review, (D) hosting one or more meetings of prospective purchasers at the Company’s facilities or such other location reasonably selected by the Company, provided that the Company shall not be required to host more than two of such meetings with respect to any single prospective purchaser and (E) providing all reasonable information and access required or advisable to comply with applicable securities Laws.

(b) The Company will keep at its principal office a register for the registration of the Series A Preferred Stock. Upon the surrender of any certificate representing shares of the Series A Preferred Stock at such place, the Company will, upon the request of the record holder of such certificate, promptly (but in any event within five Business Days after such request) execute and deliver (at the Company’s expense) a new certificate or certificates in exchange therefor representing shares of the Series A Preferred Stock with an aggregate Stated Value of the Series A Preferred Stock represented by the surrendered certificate. Each such new certificate will be registered in such name and will represent such Stated Value of the Series A Preferred Stock as is requested by the holder of the surrendered certificate, and Dividends will accumulate on the aggregate Stated Value of the shares of the Series A Preferred Stock represented by such new certificate from the date to which Dividends have been fully paid on the aggregate Stated Value of the shares of the Series A Preferred Stock represented by the surrendered certificate. The issuance of new certificates will be made without charge to the holders of the Series A

 

25


Preferred Stock, and the Company will pay for any cost incurred by the Company in connection with such issuance; provided that the Company will not pay for any documentary, stamp and similar issuance or transfer tax in respect of the preparation, execution and delivery of such new certificates pursuant to this Section  10 . All transfers and exchanges of the shares of the Series A Preferred Stock will be made promptly by direct registration on the books and records of the Company and the Company will take all such other actions as may be required to reflect and facilitate all transfers and exchanges permitted pursuant to this Section  10 .

(c) Upon receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company (it being understood that an affidavit of the registered holder will be satisfactory) of the ownership and the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of any certificate evidencing shares of the Series A Preferred Stock, and in the case of any such loss, theft or destruction, upon receipt of indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Company ( provided that if the holder is a financial institution or other institutional investor its own agreement will be satisfactory), or, in the case of any such mutilation upon surrender of such certificate, the Company will (at its expense) execute and deliver in lieu of such certificate a new certificate of like kind representing the shares of the Series A Preferred Stock represented by such lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated certificate and dated the date of such lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated certificate.

(d) Unless otherwise agreed to by the Company and the applicable holder: (i) each certificate representing shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued during the applicable holding period required by Rule 144 (the “ Rule 144 Holding Period ”) will bear a restrictive legend substantially in the form set forth in Annex I hereto, and will be subject to the restrictions set forth therein ( provided , that that the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to remove such legend upon the earlier of (A) the expiration of the Rule 144 Holding Period and (B) a transfer in connection with which such legend is eligible to be removed), and (ii) each certificate representing the shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued following the Rule 144 Holding Period will bear such legend only if the Company determines in good faith that the Rule 144 resale requirements have not been met ( provided , that the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to remove such legend as soon as possible thereafter).

11. Amendments and Waivers . No amendment, modification, termination or waiver of any provision of the Articles of Incorporation, the bylaws or any other governing document of the Company or similar governing document of any Subsidiary (but only if such amendment modification, termination, waiver or consent to the Articles of Incorporation, bylaws or other governing document of the Company or similar governing document of any Subsidiary alters or changes the rights, preferences or powers of the shares of the Series A Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely) or this Statement of Designation (in each case, by merger or otherwise except in connection with a Change of Control Transaction pursuant to which the Series A Preferred Stock is redeemed in full in accordance with Section 6(b)), or consent to any departure by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries herefrom or therefrom, will in any event be effective without being in writing and without the Company first having provided written notice of such proposed action to each holder of the outstanding shares of the Series A Preferred Stock and having obtained the affirmative vote or written consent of the Majority Holder. No waiver of any Event of Default or other failure to comply with any provision, condition or requirement of this Statement of Designation will be deemed to be a continuing waiver in the future or a waiver of any subsequent Event of Default or failure or a waiver of any other provision, condition or

 

26


requirement hereof, nor will any delay or omission to exercise any right hereunder in any manner impair the exercise of any such right. Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing to the contrary, the Company and any holder of Series A Preferred Stock can agree to a waiver or consent with respect to such holder’s rights hereunder. For the avoidance of doubt, any of the actions prohibited by Section  8 , Section  9 or this Section  11 without the affirmative vote of the Majority Holder shall be ultra vires, null and void ab initio and of no force and effect.

12. Written Consent . Notwithstanding anything in the Articles of Incorporation or bylaws of the Company to the contrary, any vote, consent or other action required or permitted to be given or taken by the holders of Series A Preferred Stock may be approved without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the vote, consent or action so given or taken, shall be approved by the Majority Holder.

13. No Reissuance of the Series A Preferred Stock . No share or shares of the Series A Preferred Stock acquired by the Company by reason of redemption, purchase or otherwise will be reissued or held in treasury for reissuance, and the Company will take all necessary action to cause such shares to be canceled, retired and eliminated from the shares which the Company will be authorized to issue.

 

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Annex I

Restrictive Legend to the Series A Preferred Stock Certificate

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ SECURITIES ACT ”) AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT WHILE A REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING THERETO IS IN EFFECT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERS SET FORTH IN SECTION 10 OF THE ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT FILED WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE STATE OF IOWA PURSUANT TO SECTION 490.1006 OF THE IOWA BUSINESS CORPORATION ACT (THE “ STATEMENT OF DESIGNATION ”). NO TRANSFER, SALE, ASSIGNMENT, PLEDGE, HYPOTHECATION OR OTHER DISPOSITION OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE MAY BE MADE EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE STATEMENT OF DESIGNATION. A COPY OF THE STATEMENT OF DESIGNATION WILL BE FURNISHED WITHOUT CHARGE BY THE COMPANY TO THE HOLDER UPON REQUEST.

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERS SET FORTH IN SECTION 1.3 OF THE SERIES A INVESTORS RIGHTS AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND THE HOLDER (THE “ IRA ”). NO TRANSFER, SALE, ASSIGNMENT, PLEDGE, HYPOTHECATION OR OTHER DISPOSITION OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE MAY BE MADE EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE IRA. A COPY OF THE IRA WILL BE FURNISHED WITHOUT CHARGE BY THE COMPANY TO THE HOLDER UPON REQUEST.

Exhibit 4.1

 

 

 

MEREDITH CORPORATION,

THE GUARANTORS NAMED ON SCHEDULE I HERETO

and

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee

 

 

INDENTURE

 

 

Dated as of January 31, 2018

6.875% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2026

 

 

 


CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE

 

Trust Indenture Act Section    Indenture Section

310(a)(1)

   7.10

      (a)(2)

   7.10

      (a)(3)

   N.A.

      (a)(4)

   N.A.

      (a)(5)

   7.10

      (b)

   7.10

      (c)

   N.A.

311(a)

   7.11

      (b)

   7.11

      (c)

   N.A.

312(a)

   2.05

      (b)

   N.A.

      (c)

   12.03

313(a)

   7.06

      (b)(1)

   7.06

      (b)(2)

   7.06; 7.07(f)

      (c)

   7.06; 12.02

      (d)

   N.A.

314(a)

   N.A.

      (b)

   N.A.

      (c)(1)

   N.A.

      (c)(2)

   N.A.

      (c)(3)

   N.A.

      (d)

   N.A.

      (e)

   N.A.

      (f)

   N.A.

315(a)

   N.A.

      (b)

   N.A.

      (c)

   N.A.

      (d)

   N.A.

      (e)

   N.A.

316(a) (last sentence)

   N.A.

      (a)(1)(A)

   N.A.

      (3)(1)(B)

   N.A.

      (a)(2)

   N.A.

      (b)

   N.A.

      (c)

   N.A.

317(a)(1)

   N.A.

      (a)(2)

   N.A.

      (b)

   N.A.

318(a)

   N.A.

      (b)

   N.A.

      (c)

   12.01

 

N.A. means not applicable.

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

 

i


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  
   ARTICLE I   
   Definitions and Incorporation by Reference   

SECTION 1.01

   Definitions      1  

SECTION 1.02

   Other Definitions      30  

SECTION 1.03

   Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act      31  

SECTION 1.04

   Rules of Construction      31  

SECTION 1.05

   Acts of Holders      32  

SECTION 1.06

   Financial Calculations for Limited Condition Transactions      33  
   ARTICLE II   
   The Notes   

SECTION 2.01

   Form and Dating; Terms      34  

SECTION 2.02

   Execution and Authentication      35  

SECTION 2.03

   Registrar and Paying Agent      36  

SECTION 2.04

   Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust      36  

SECTION 2.05

   Holder Lists      36  

SECTION 2.06

   Transfer and Exchange      36  

SECTION 2.07

   Replacement Notes      47  

SECTION 2.08

   Outstanding Notes      47  

SECTION 2.09

   Treasury Notes      48  

SECTION 2.10

   Temporary Notes      48  

SECTION 2.11

   Cancellation      48  

SECTION 2.12

   Defaulted Interest      48  

SECTION 2.13

   CUSIP/ISIN Numbers      48  
   ARTICLE III   
   Redemption   

SECTION 3.01

   Notices to Trustee      49  

SECTION 3.02

   Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed or Purchased      49  

SECTION 3.03

   Notice of Purchase or Redemption      49  

SECTION 3.04

   Effect of Notice of Redemption      50  

SECTION 3.05

   Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price      50  

SECTION 3.06

   Notes Redeemed or Purchased in Part      51  

SECTION 3.07

   Optional Redemption      51  

SECTION 3.08

   Sinking Fund      52  

SECTION 3.09

   [Reserved]      52  

SECTION 3.10

   Offers to Repurchase by Application of Excess Proceeds      52  
   ARTICLE IV   
   Covenants   

SECTION 4.01

   Payment of Notes      53  

SECTION 4.02

   Maintenance of Office or Agency      54  

SECTION 4.03

   Reports and Other Information      54  

SECTION 4.04

   Compliance Certificate      55  

 

i


SECTION 4.05

   Taxes      55  

SECTION 4.06

   Stay, Extension and Usury Laws      55  

SECTION 4.07

   Limitation on Restricted Payments      55  

SECTION 4.08

   Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries      60  

SECTION 4.09

   Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock      62  

SECTION 4.10

   Asset Sales      65  

SECTION 4.11

   Transactions with Affiliates      68  

SECTION 4.12

   Liens      70  

SECTION 4.13

   Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control      70  

SECTION 4.14

   Limitation on Guarantees of Indebtedness by Restricted Subsidiaries      72  

SECTION 4.15

   Suspension of Certain Covenants      72  

SECTION 4.16

   Limitation on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions      73  

SECTION 4.17

   Limitations on Business Activities      74  
   ARTICLE V   
   Successors   

SECTION 5.01

   Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets      74  

SECTION 5.02

   Successor Corporation Substituted      75  
   ARTICLE VI   
   Defaults and Remedies   

SECTION 6.01

   Events of Default      75  

SECTION 6.02

   Acceleration      77  

SECTION 6.03

   Other Remedies      77  

SECTION 6.04

   Waiver of Defaults      77  

SECTION 6.05

   Control by Majority      78  

SECTION 6.06

   Limitation on Suits      78  

SECTION 6.07

   Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment      78  

SECTION 6.08

   Collection Suit by Trustee      78  

SECTION 6.09

   Restoration of Rights and Remedies      78  

SECTION 6.10

   Rights and Remedies Cumulative      78  

SECTION 6.11

   Delay or Omission Not Waiver      79  

SECTION 6.12

   Trustee May File Proofs of Claim      79  

SECTION 6.13

   Priorities      79  

SECTION 6.14

   Undertaking for Costs      79  
   ARTICLE VII   
   Trustee   

SECTION 7.01

   Duties of Trustee      80  

SECTION 7.02

   Rights of Trustee      81  

SECTION 7.03

   Individual Rights of Trustee      82  

SECTION 7.04

   Trustee’s Disclaimer      82  

SECTION 7.05

   Notice of Defaults      82  

SECTION 7.06

   Reports by Trustee to Holders      82  

SECTION 7.07

   Compensation and Indemnity      82  

SECTION 7.08

   Replacement of Trustee      83  

SECTION 7.09

   Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.      83  

SECTION 7.10

   Eligibility; Disqualification      84  

SECTION 7.11

   Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Issuer      84  

SECTION 7.12

   Email      84  

 

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   ARTICLE VIII   
   Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance   

SECTION 8.01

   Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance      84  

SECTION 8.02

   Legal Defeasance and Discharge      84  

SECTION 8.03

   Covenant Defeasance      85  

SECTION 8.04

   Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance      85  

SECTION 8.05

   Deposited Money and Government Securities to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions      86  

SECTION 8.06

   Repayment to Issuer      86  

SECTION 8.07

   Reinstatement      87  
     ARTICLE IX       
     Amendment, Supplement and Waiver       

SECTION 9.01

   Without Consent of Holders of Notes      87  

SECTION 9.02

   With Consent of Holders of Notes      88  

SECTION 9.03

   Compliance with Trust Indenture Act      89  

SECTION 9.04

   Revocation and Effect of Consents      89  

SECTION 9.05

   Notation on or Exchange of Notes      89  

SECTION 9.06

   Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.      89  

SECTION 9.07

   Payment for Consent      89  
     ARTICLE X       
     Guarantees       

SECTION 10.01

   Guarantee      89  

SECTION 10.02

   Limitation on Guarantor Liability      91  

SECTION 10.03

   Notation Not Required      91  

SECTION 10.04

   Subrogation      91  

SECTION 10.05

   Benefits Acknowledged      91  

SECTION 10.06

   Release of Guarantees      91  
   ARTICLE XI   
   Satisfaction and Discharge   

SECTION 11.01

   Satisfaction and Discharge      92  

SECTION 11.02

   Application of Trust Money      92  
     ARTICLE XII       
     Miscellaneous       

SECTION 12.01

   Trust Indenture Act Controls      93  

SECTION 12.02

   Notices      93  

SECTION 12.03

   Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes      93  

SECTION 12.04

   Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent      93  

SECTION 12.05

   Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion      94  

SECTION 12.06

   Rules by Agents      94  

SECTION 12.07

   No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders      94  

 

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SECTION 12.08

   Governing Law      94  

SECTION 12.09

   Waiver of Jury Trial      94  

SECTION 12.10

   Force Majeure      94  

SECTION 12.11

   Benefits of Indenture      95  

SECTION 12.12

   No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements      95  

SECTION 12.13

   Successors      95  

SECTION 12.14

   Severability      95  

SECTION 12.15

   Counterpart Originals      95  

SECTION 12.16

   Table of Contents, Headings, etc.      95  

SECTION 12.17

   U.S.A      95  

 

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Schedule   
SCHEDULE I    List of Initial Guarantors
Exhibits   
EXHIBIT A    Form of Note
EXHIBIT B    Form of Certificate of Transfer
EXHIBIT C    Form of Certificate of Exchange
EXHIBIT D    Form of Supplemental Indenture to Be Delivered by Subsequent Guarantors

 

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INDENTURE, dated as of January 31, 2018, among Meredith Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “ Issuer ”), the Guarantors (as defined herein) listed on Schedule I hereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee.

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, the Issuer has duly authorized the creation of an issue of $1,400,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 6.875% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “ Initial Notes ”); and

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

NOW, THEREFORE, the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Trustee agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes.

ARTICLE I

Definitions and Incorporation by Reference

SECTION 1.01 Definitions .

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

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

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

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

The term “Acquired Indebtedness” does not include Indebtedness of a Person that is redeemed, discharged, defeased, retired or otherwise repaid at the time of, or immediately upon consummation of, the transactions by which such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary or such asset acquisition.

Additional Notes ” means additional Notes (other than the Initial Notes) issued from time to time under this Indenture in accordance with Sections 2.02 and 4.09.

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

Agent ” means any Registrar, Paying Agent, Custodian or other agent appointed in accordance with this Indenture to perform any function that this Indenture authorizes such agent to perform.

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

(1) 1.0% of the principal amount of such Note; and


(2) the excess, if any, of:

(A) the present value at such Redemption Date of (i) the redemption price of such Note at February 1, 2021 (such redemption price being set forth in the table appearing in Section 3.07(b)), plus (ii) all required interest payments due on such Note through February 1, 2021 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest to the Redemption Date), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such Redemption Date plus  50 basis points; over

(B) the principal amount of such Note,

as calculated by the Issuer or on behalf of the Issuer by such Person as the Issuer may designate.

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

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 (including by way of a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction) of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (each referred to in this definition as a “ disposition ”); or

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

in each case, other than:

(1) any disposition of cash, Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities, or of damaged, unnecessary, obsolete or worn out equipment or other property or assets in the ordinary course of business, or of property or assets no longer used or useful or economically practicable to maintain in the business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the reasonable opinion of the Issuer, or of any disposition of inventory or goods (or other property or assets) in the ordinary course of business;

(2) the disposition of all or substantially all of the property or assets of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to the provisions described under Section 5.01 or any disposition that constitutes a Change of Control pursuant to this Indenture;

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

(4) any disposition of property or assets or issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary in any transaction or series of transactions with an aggregate fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) not to exceed $20,000,000;

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

(6) to the extent allowable under Section 1031 of the Code, or any comparable or successor provision, any exchange of like property (excluding any boot thereon) for use in a Similar Business;

 

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(7) the sale, lease, assignment, license, sublicense or sub-lease of any real or personal property, assets or services in the ordinary course of business;

(8) any disposition of Equity Interests in, or Indebtedness or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(9) any disposition of property or assets subject to a Lien held by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in a foreclosure, eminent domain, seizure or similar proceeding or exercises of termination rights under any lease, license, concession or other agreement or dispositions of property or assets required by law, governmental regulation or any order of any court, administrative agency or regulatory body;

(10) sales of accounts receivable, or participations therein, and related assets or rights customarily sold or assigned, in each case in connection with any Receivables Facility;

(11) (A) non-exclusive licenses, sublicenses or cross-licenses of intellectual property or other general intangibles of, and (B) exclusive licenses, sublicenses or cross-licenses of intellectual property or other general intangibles in the ordinary course of business of, the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries;

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

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

(14) the granting of Liens not prohibited by this Indenture;

(15) the unwinding of any Hedging Obligations;

(16) an issuance of Equity Interests pursuant to benefit plans, employment agreements, equity plans, stock subscription or shareholder agreements, stock ownership plans and other similar plans, policies, contracts or arrangements established in the ordinary course of business or approved by the Issuer in good faith;

(17) any surrender or waiver of obligations of trade creditors or customers or contract rights or the settlement, release or surrender of contractual rights, tort or other claims of any kind;

(18) dispositions or discounts of receivables in connection with the compromise, settlement or collection thereof in the ordinary course of business or in bankruptcy or similar proceedings and exclusive of factoring or similar arrangements;

(19) any financing transaction (excluding by way of a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction) with respect to property constructed, acquired, replaced, repaired or improved by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date;

(20) dispositions of leasehold improvements or leased assets in connection with the termination of any operating lease;

(21) any swap of assets in the ordinary course of business in exchange for services (including in connection with any outsourcing arrangements) of comparable or greater value or usefulness to the business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as determined in good faith by an Issuer; and

(22) any Merger Agreement Dispositions.

 

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Attributable Debt ” means, in respect of any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, at the time of determination, the present value of the total obligations of the lessee for net rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, including any period for which such lease has been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be extended. Such present value shall be calculated using a discount rate equal to the rate of interest implicit in such transaction, determined in accordance with GAAP.

Board of Directors ” means (1) with respect to the Issuer or any corporation, the board of directors or managers, as applicable, of the corporation, or any duly authorized committee thereof; (2) with respect to any partnership, the board of directors or other governing body of the general partner of the partnership or any duly authorized committee thereof; and (3) with respect to any other Person, the board or any duly authorized committee of such Person serving a similar function. Whenever any provision requires any action or determination to be made by, or any approval of, a Board of Directors, such action, determination or approval shall be deemed to have been taken or made if approved by a majority of the directors on any such Board of Directors (whether or not such action or approval is taken as part of a formal board meeting or as a formal board approval).

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

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

Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the laws of, or are in fact closed in, the State of New York or the place of payment.

Capital Stock ” means:

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

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

(3) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership 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.

Capitalized Lease Obligation ” means, with respect to any Person, 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) in accordance with GAAP (for the avoidance of doubt, as in effect on the Issue Date). The amount of Indebtedness represented by such liability will be the capitalized amount of such liability at the time any determination thereof is to be made as determined on the basis of GAAP.

Cash Equivalents ” means:

(1) United States dollars;

(2) (A) Euros, Canadian dollars, Sterling or any national currency of any member state of the European Union and (B) any other foreign currency held by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(3) securities issued or directly and fully and unconditionally guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government, Canadian government or any member state of the European Union or, in each case, any agency or instrumentality thereof ( provided that full faith and credit obligation of such country or member state is pledged in support thereof), with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;

 

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(4) certificates of deposit, time deposits, eurodollar deposits and dollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition thereof, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any commercial bank having capital and surplus of not less than $500,000,000 in the case of U.S. banks and $100,000,000 (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 and clause (8) below entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (4) above;

(6) commercial paper rated at least (A) “P-1” by Moody’s or at least “A-1” by S&P (or if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency) and in each case maturing within 24 months after the date of creation thereof and (B) “P-2” by Moody’s or at least “A-2” by S&P (or if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency) and in each case maturing within 12 months after creation thereof;

(7) marketable short-term money market and similar securities having a rating of at least “P-2” or “A-2” from either Moody’s or S&P, respectively (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency), and in each case maturing within 24 months after the date of creation thereof;

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

(9) Investments with average maturities of 24 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 reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized rating agency); and

(10) investment funds investing 95% of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (1) through (9) above.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Cash Equivalents shall include amounts denominated in currencies other than those set forth in clauses (1) and (2) above; provided that such amounts are converted into any currency listed in clauses (1) and (2) as promptly as practicable and in any event within ten Business Days following the receipt of such amounts.

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

(1) the sale, lease or transfer (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person other than the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary;

(2) the Issuer becomes aware of (by way of a report or any other filing pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, proxy, vote, written notice or otherwise) the acquisition by any Person or “group” (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), other than any Person or Persons that are members of the Meredith Family, in a single transaction or in a related series of transactions, of “beneficial ownership” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, except that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any particular Person or “group”, such Person or “group” will not be deemed to have beneficial ownership of any securities that such Person or “group” has the right to acquire or vote only upon the happening of any future event or contingency, including the passage of

 

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time, that has not yet occurred) of 50% or more of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Issuer (determined on a fully diluted basis but without giving effect to contingent voting rights that have not yet vested) (other than a transaction following which holders of securities that represented 100% of the Voting Stock of the Issuer immediately prior to such transaction (or other securities into which such securities are converted as part of such transaction) own, directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the voting power of the Voting Stock of the surviving Person in such transaction immediately after such transaction); or

(3) the adoption of a plan of liquidation and dissolution of the Issuer.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction will not be deemed to involve a Change of Control solely as a result of any Parent Entity or the Issuer becoming a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of a holding company if (A) the direct or indirect holders of the Voting Stock of such holding company immediately following that transaction are substantially the same as the holders of the Issuer’s Voting Stock immediately prior to that transaction or (B) immediately following that transaction no person (other than a holding company satisfying the requirements of this sentence) is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of such holding company.

Clearstream ” means Clearstream Banking, Société Anonyme.

Code ” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

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

(1) increased (without duplication) by (to the extent the same were deducted (and not added back) in computing such Consolidated Net Income (other than clause (J)):

(A) provision for taxes based on income or profits, revenue or capital, including, without limitation, federal, state, provincial, local, foreign, non-U.S. franchise, excise, property, value added and similar taxes, foreign withholding taxes of such Person paid or accrued during such period, including any penalties and interest relating to such taxes or arising from any tax examinations; plus

(B) Consolidated Interest Expense of such Person for such period; plus

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

(D) any fees, premiums, expenses or charges related to the Transactions or any actual, proposed or contemplated Equity Offering, Permitted Investment, acquisition, disposition, recapitalization, the incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by this Indenture (including a Refinancing thereof and the issuance of the Notes and the use of proceeds thereof) or any amendments, consents, waivers or other modifications relating to the Notes, the Transactions or the Credit Facilities (whether or not consummated or successful); plus

(E) the amount of any restructuring charge, accrual or reserve, integration cost or other business optimization expense, including any restructuring costs incurred in connection with the Transactions, acquisitions, mergers or consolidations after the Issue Date and any other restructuring expenses, severance expenses, one-time compensation charges, post-retirement employee benefits plans, any expenses relating to reconstruction, decommissioning or recommissioning fixed assets for alternate use, expenses or charges relating to facility closing costs, acquisition integration costs and signing, retention or completion bonuses or expenses; plus

 

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(F) any other non-cash charges or expenses, including any write-offs or write-downs and non-cash compensation charges or expenses recorded from grants of stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock or other rights ( provided that if any such non-cash charges represent an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA in such future period to the extent paid, but excluding from this proviso, for the avoidance of doubt, amortization of a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period); plus

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

(H) the amount of loss on sale of receivables and related assets to any Receivables Subsidiary in connection with a Receivables Facility; plus

(I) any costs or expenses incurred by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or any stock subscription or shareholder agreement, to the extent that such costs or expenses are funded with cash proceeds contributed to the capital of the Issuer or net cash proceeds of an issuance of Equity Interest of the Issuer (other than Disqualified Stock) solely to the extent that such net cash proceeds are excluded from the calculation set forth in the Restricted Payments Builder Basket; plus

(J) other than with respect to the Transactions, the amount of cost savings, operating expense reductions, other operating improvements and initiatives and synergies projected by the Issuer in good faith to result from actions taken or to be taken in connection with any Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation, discontinued operations, operational changes or other action being given pro forma effect (which will be added to Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as so projected until fully realized and calculated on a pro forma basis as though such cost savings, operating expense reductions, other operating improvements and initiatives and synergies had been realized on the first day of such period), net of the amount of actual benefits realized during such period from such actions; provided that (x) such actions have been taken or are expected to be taken within 18 months after the consummation of the Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation, discontinued operations, operational change or other action expected to result in such cost savings or other benefits, (y) such cost savings are reasonably identifiable and factually supportable (in the good faith determination of the Issuer) and (z) the aggregate amount of cost savings, operating expense reductions, other operating improvements and initiatives and synergies added back pursuant to this clause (J) in any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters shall not exceed 20% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA (prior to giving effect to such addbacks); plus

(K) solely with respect to the Transactions, such add-backs reflected in the definition of “pro forma Adjusted EBITDA” included in the Offering Memorandum under “Summary Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information—Other Pro Forma Financial Information”, and projected by the Issuer in good faith to result from actions with respect to the Transactions that have been taken or are expected to be taken (in the good faith determination of the Issuer) within 18 months of the Issue Date, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $400,000,000;

(2) decreased by (without duplication) the amount of non-cash gains increasing such Consolidated Net Income, excluding (A) any non-cash gains to the extent they represent the reversal of an accrual or reserve for a potential cash item that reduced Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA in any prior period and (B) any non-cash gains in respect of which cash was actually received in a prior period so long as such cash did not increase Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA in such prior period; and (C) the accrual of revenue in the ordinary course of business; and

 

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(3) increased or decreased by (without duplication):

(A) any net loss or gain resulting in such period from Hedging Obligations and the application of Financial Accounting Codification No. 815-Derivatives and Hedging; and

(B) any net loss or gain resulting in such period from currency translation gains or losses related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness (including any net loss or gain resulting from hedge agreements for currency exchange risk).

Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense ” means, with respect to any Person, for any period, the total amount of depreciation and amortization expense, including the amortization of intangibles and deferred financing fees or debt issuance costs, of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period on a consolidated basis and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP.

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

(1) consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period to the extent such expense was deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income of such Person (including (A) amortization of original issue discount resulting from the issuance of Indebtedness at less than par, (B) all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit or bankers acceptances, (C) non-cash interest expense (but excluding any non-cash interest expense attributable to the movement in the mark to market valuation of Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments pursuant to GAAP), (D) the interest component of Capitalized Lease Obligations, (E) imputed interest with respect to Attributable Debt and (F) net payments, if any, pursuant to interest rate Hedging Obligations with respect to Indebtedness, and excluding (X) amortization of deferred financing fees, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses, (Y) any expensing of bridge, commitment and other financing fees and (Z) commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges (including any interest expense) related to any Receivables Facility); plus

(2) consolidated capitalized interest of such Person and such Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued; plus

(3) whether or not treated as interest expense in accordance with GAAP, all cash dividends or other distributions accrued (excluding dividends payable solely in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer) on any series of Disqualified Stock or any series of Preferred Stock (excluding the Series A Preferred Stock) during such period (other than dividends or distributions to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary).

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

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

(1) any after-tax effect of extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual gains or losses or expenses (including fees and expenses relating to (A) the Transactions, (B) severance, relocation and transition costs and (C) any rebranding or corporate name change) shall be excluded;

(2) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles during such period shall be excluded;

(3) any after-tax effect of income (or loss) from disposed or discontinued operations and any net after-tax gains (or losses) on disposal of disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations shall be excluded;

 

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(4) any after-tax effect of gains (or losses) (less all fees and expenses relating thereto) attributable to asset dispositions other than in the ordinary course of business, as determined in good faith by the Issuer, shall be excluded;

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

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

(7) the Net Income for such period of any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary shall be excluded to the extent of any portion of its Net Income that may not be transferred (including by way of any one or more of the following (A) dividends or similar distributions, (B) returns of capital, (C) loans or advances or the repayment thereof or (D) other conveyances) at the date of determination without any prior governmental approval (which has not been obtained) or without violating, directly or indirectly, 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 has been legally waived; provided that Consolidated Net Income of the Issuer will be increased by the amount of dividends or other distributions or other payments actually paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash or Cash Equivalents) to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period;

(8) any non-cash compensation charge or expense, including any such charge or expense arising from the grants of stock appreciation or similar rights, employee benefit plans or agreements, stock options, restricted stock or other rights, and any non-cash deemed finance charges or expenses in respect of any pension liabilities or other retiree provisions or on the revaluation of any benefit plan obligation and any non-cash charges or expenses in respect of curtailments, discontinuations or modifications to pension plans shall be excluded;

(9) any after-tax effect of income (or loss) from the early extinguishment or cancellation of Indebtedness or Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments shall be excluded;

(10) any unrealized foreign currency translation or transaction gains or losses (or similar charges) (A) in respect of Indebtedness of any Person denominated in a currency other than the functional currency of such Person, (B) relating to translation of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies and (C) in respect of Indebtedness or other obligations of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary shall be excluded;

(11) [reserved];

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

(13) losses, charges and expenses that are covered by indemnification or other reimbursement provisions in connection with any Investment, acquisition, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of assets will be excluded to the extent actually reimbursed, or, so long as such Person has made a

 

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determination that a reasonable basis exists for indemnification or reimbursement, but only to the extent that such amount is in fact indemnified or reimbursed within 365 days of such determination (with a deduction in the applicable future period for any amount so added back to the extent not so indemnified or reimbursed within such 365 days) shall be excluded;

(14) losses, charges and expenses with respect to liability or casualty events or business interruption, to the extent covered by insurance and actually reimbursed, or, so long as such Person has made a determination that a reasonable basis exists for reimbursement by the insurer and such amount (A) is not denied by the applicable carrier in writing and (B) is in fact reimbursed within 365 days of the date on which such liability was discovered or such casualty event or business interruption occurred (with a deduction in the applicable future period for any amount so added back to the extent not so reimbursed within 365 days) shall be excluded;

(15) the effects of purchase accounting, fair value accounting or recapitalization accounting adjustments (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries) resulting from the application of purchase accounting, fair value accounting or recapitalization accounting in relation to the Transactions or any acquisition consummated before or after the Issue Date, and the amortization, write-down or write-off of any amounts thereof, shall be excluded; and

(16) all non-cash gains, losses, expenses or charges attributable to the movement in the mark-to-market valuation of Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments shall be excluded.

Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of:

(1) the Consolidated Total Net Debt of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries on such date, to

(2) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters ending immediately prior to such date for which Required Financial Statements have been delivered.

In the event that the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (i) incurs, assumes, guarantees, redeems, retires or extinguishes any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness repaid, redeemed, retired or extinguished under any revolving credit facility, except to the extent such revolving credit facility is permanently reduced and has not been replaced) or (ii) issues or redeems Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, in each case subsequent to the period for which the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio is being calculated but prior to or substantially simultaneously with the event for which the calculation of the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio is made (the “ Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio Calculation Date ”), then (x) the Consolidated Total Net Debt shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, guarantee, redemption, retirement or extinguishment of Indebtedness, or such issuance or redemption of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as if the same had occurred as of the date of determination of Consolidated Total Net Debt referred to in clause (1) above and (y) the Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, guarantee, redemption, retirement or extinguishment of Indebtedness, or such issuance or redemption of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as if the same had occurred as of the beginning of the applicable four fiscal quarter period.

For purposes of making the computation referred to above, Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations and discontinued operations in each case with respect to a business (as such term is used in Regulation S-X Rule 11-01), a company, a segment, an operating division or unit or line of business that the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has determined to make and/or made during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio Calculation Date (each, for purposes of this definition, a “ pro forma event ”) shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations and discontinued operations had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period. If since the beginning of such period any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries since the beginning of such period shall have made or effected

 

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any Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or discontinued operation, in each case with respect to a business (as such term is used in Regulation S-X Rule 11-01), a company, a segment, an operating division or unit or line of business that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or discontinued operation had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period.

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to a transaction, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer. Any such pro forma calculation may include adjustments appropriate, in the good faith determination of the Issuer as set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, to reflect reasonably identifiable and factually supportable operating expense reductions and other operating improvements or synergies reasonably expected to result from any action taken or expected to be taken within 18 months after the date of any pro forma event; provided that (x) no such amounts shall be included pursuant to this paragraph to the extent duplicative of any amounts that are otherwise added back in computing Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA with respect to such period and (y) such amounts shall be subject to the limitations contained in clause (J) of the definition of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA.

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 determination had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedging Obligations applicable to such Indebtedness).

Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio ” means, as of the date of determination, the ratio of (1) the Consolidated Total Net Debt of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries that is secured by a Lien on any property or assets of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date, to (2) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters ending immediately prior to such date for which Required Financial Statements have been delivered, in each case with such pro forma adjustments to the Consolidated Total Net Debt and Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio as determined in good faith by the Issuer; provided, however, that solely for purposes of the calculation of the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio, in connection with the incurrence of (x) any Indebtedness pursuant to clause (1)(B)(ii) of Section 4.09(b) and any Lien pursuant to clause (36) of the definition of “Permitted Liens” and (y) any Lien pursuant to clause (37) of the definition of “Permitted Liens,” the Issuer may elect, pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee, to treat all or any portion of the commitment under any Indebtedness which is to be incurred and/or secured by such Lien, as the case may be, as being incurred at such time and any subsequent incurrence of Indebtedness under such commitment shall not be deemed, for purposes of this calculation, to be an incurrence at such subsequent time.

Consolidated Total Net Debt ” means, as of any date of determination, the sum, without duplication, of (1) the total amount of (A) Indebtedness for borrowed money, (B) Indebtedness evidenced by bonds, notes (other than notes in favor of trade creditors evidencing trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business), debentures or other similar instruments for the payment of which such Person is liable, (C) Capitalized Lease Obligations, (D) the Notes and (E) guarantees of the foregoing, in each case, of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding (x) Indebtedness in respect of letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances (or, without duplication, reimbursement agreements in respect thereof) and for the avoidance of doubt, performance and surety bonds not constituting bonds evidencing indebtedness for borrowed money, except to the extent of unreimbursed amounts drawn thereunder, (y) intercompany Indebtedness and (z) Indebtedness in respect of Hedging Obligations not yet due and owing), outstanding on such date; minus (2) up to $250,000,000 of Eligible Cash included in the consolidated balance sheet of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, as of the most recently ended fiscal period for which Required Financial Statements have been delivered (with such pro forma adjustments as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of “Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio” as determined in good faith by the Issuer); plus (3) the greater of (i) the aggregate liquidation value and (ii) maximum fixed repurchase price without regard to any change of control or redemption premiums of all Disqualified Stock of the Issuer and the Guarantors and all Preferred Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of this definition, the “maximum fixed repurchase price” of any Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock that does not have a fixed repurchase price shall be calculated in accordance with the terms of such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock as if such Disqualified Stock

 

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or Preferred Stock were purchased on any date on which Consolidated Total Net Debt shall be required to be determined pursuant to this Indenture, and if such price is based upon, or measured by, the fair market value of such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such fair market value shall be the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer).

Contingent Obligations ” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing any leases, dividends or other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness (“ primary obligations ”) of any other Person (the “ primary obligor ”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including 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.

Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee ” means the corporate trust office of the Trustee, currently located at (a) for Note transfer purposes and presentment of the Notes for final payment thereon, U.S. Bank National Association, 111 Fillmore Ave E, St. Paul, MN 55107-6802, Attention: Corporate Trust Services and (b) for all other purposes, U.S. Bank National Association, 60 Livingston Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55107, Attention: Administrator for Meredith Corporation, email address: Raymond.haverstock@usbank.com, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders, and the Issuer or the principal corporate trust office of any successor Trustee.

Credit Facilities ” means, with respect to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, one or more debt facilities, including the Senior Credit Facilities, or other financing arrangements (including commercial paper facilities, receivables financing or indentures) providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or other Indebtedness, including any notes, mortgages, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements or refundings thereof and any indentures or credit facilities or commercial paper facilities that replace, refund or Refinance any part of the loans, notes, other credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such replacement, refunding or refinancing facility or indenture that increases the amount permitted to be borrowed thereunder ( provided that such increase in borrowings is permitted under Section 4.09), alters the maturity thereof, changes any other terms, covenants or other provisions or adds Restricted Subsidiaries as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder and whether by the same or any other agent, lender or group of lenders, in each case subsequent to the Issue Date.

Custodian ” means the Trustee when serving as custodian for the Depositary with respect to the Global Notes, or any successor entity thereto.

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

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

 

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

Designated Non-cash Consideration ” means the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of non-cash consideration received by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries 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 of or conversion of or collection on such Designated Non-cash Consideration.

Disqualified Stock ” means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person which, by its terms, or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is putable or exchangeable, or upon the happening of any event: (1) matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely as a result of a change of control or asset sale) pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or (2) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely as a result of a change of control or asset sale), in whole or in part, in each case prior to the date that is 91 days after the earlier of the maturity date of the Notes or the date the Notes are no longer outstanding; provided , however , that only the portion of Capital Stock which so matures or is mandatorily redeemable, is so putable, convertible or exchangeable or is so redeemable at the option of the holder thereof prior to such date shall be deemed to be Disqualified Stock; provided further , however , that if such Capital Stock is issued to any employee or any plan for the benefit of employees of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Capital Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Issuer or its Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of any such employee’s termination, death or disability; provided further , however , that any class of Capital Stock of such Person that by its terms authorizes such Person to satisfy its obligations thereunder by delivery of Capital Stock that is not Disqualified Stock shall not be deemed to be Disqualified Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Series A Preferred Stock shall not constitute “Disqualified Stock”.

Domestic Subsidiary ” means any Restricted Subsidiary that is organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

Eligible Cash ” means any cash and Cash Equivalents held by (A) the Issuer or a Guarantor or (B) any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary, but only to the extent that such cash and Cash Equivalents held by such Non-Guarantor Subsidiary in excess of the amount of Indebtedness of such Non-Guarantor Subsidiary included in Consolidated Total Net Debt (before subtracting Eligible Cash) are reduced by the amount of taxes (if any) that would be incurred (as determined assuming a tax rate of 21% or, if less, the highest U.S. corporate tax rate then in effect at that time) if such cash and Cash Equivalents were to be transferred to (i) the Issuer or a Guarantor or (ii) another Non-Guarantor Subsidiary; provided that, in the case of clause (ii), any such after-tax cash and Cash Equivalents will only qualify as “Eligible Cash” under this Indenture to the extent that the amount of cash and Cash Equivalents that would be held by such other Non-Guarantor Subsidiary after giving effect to such deemed transfer is not in excess of the amount of its Indebtedness included in Consolidated Total Net Debt (before subtracting Eligible Cash). In determining any taxes that would be incurred for these purposes, the Issuer may select among the group of eligible transferees (and the manner in which transfers could be effected) so as to minimize any taxes that would be deemed incurred.

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

Equity Contribution ” means the issuance and sale on the Issue Date to an Affiliate of Koch Equity Development LLC for gross consideration of $650,000,000 of 650,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock, warrants to purchase up to 1,625,000 shares of the Issuer’s Class A Common Stock and options to purchase up to 875,000 shares of the Issuer’s Class A Common Stock.

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

Equity Offering ” means any public or private sale of common stock or Preferred Stock of the Issuer (excluding Disqualified Stock and the Equity Contribution), other than:

 

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(1) public offerings with respect to any of the Issuer’s common stock registered on Form S-4 or Form S-8 (or any successor form);

(2) issuances to any Subsidiary of the Issuer; and

(3) Refunding Capital Stock.

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

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

Event of Default ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01(a).

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

Exchange Notes ” means the Notes issued pursuant to this Indenture in exchange for, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to or not in excess of, the Initial Notes or any Additional Notes, if applicable, under the Registration Rights Agreement.

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

fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) ” means the fair market value, as determined in good faith by the Issuer, whose determination will be conclusive for all purposes under this Indenture and the Notes.

Foreign Subsidiary ” means (1) any Subsidiary which is not a Domestic Subsidiary or (2) any Subsidiary of a Subsidiary described in the preceding clause (1).

Four Quarter EBITDA ” means, as of any date of determination, Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters for which Required Financial Statements have been delivered, in each case with such pro forma adjustments to Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio as determined in good faith by the Issuer.

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, which are in effect on the Issue Date.

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

Global Notes ” means, individually and collectively, each of the Restricted Global Notes and the Unrestricted Global Notes, substantially in the form of Exhibit A issued in accordance with Section 2.01, 2.06(b) or 2.06(d).

Government Securities ” means securities that are:

(1) direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed by, the United States for the timely payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged; or

(2) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States, which, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuers thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act), as custodian with respect to any such Government Securities or a

 

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specific payment of principal of or interest on any such Government Securities held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depository receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government Securities or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the Government Securities evidenced by such depository receipt.

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

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

Guarantor ” means, collectively, each Restricted Subsidiary that executes this Indenture as a Guarantor on the Issue Date and each other Restricted Subsidiary that incurs a Guarantee of the Notes; provided that upon the release or discharge of such Person from its Guarantee in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, such Person automatically ceases to be a Guarantor.

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

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

Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any Person on the day of determination, without duplication:

(1) the principal in respect of (A) any indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money and (B) indebtedness evidenced by bonds, notes (other than notes in favor of trade creditors evidencing trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business), debentures or other similar instruments for the payment of which such Person is liable;

(2) the net obligations under all Hedging Obligations of such Person (the amount of such obligations to be equal at any time to the net payment under such agreements or arrangements giving rise to such obligation that would be payable by such Person at the termination of such agreement or arrangement);

(3) all Attributable Debt in respect of a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction entered into by such Person and all Capitalized Lease Obligations of such Person;

(4) the principal component of all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred and unpaid purchase price of any property (excluding trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business), to the extent the same would be required to be shown as a long-term liability on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP;

(5) the principal amount of all reimbursement obligations of such Person in respect of letters of credit, performance or surety bonds, bankers’ acceptances or other similar instruments (the amount of such obligations being equal at any time to the aggregate then undrawn and unexpired amount of such letters of credit, bonds, acceptances or other similar instruments plus the aggregate amount of drawings thereunder that have not been reimbursed) (except to the extent such reimbursement obligations relate to trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business);

 

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(6) the principal component of Indebtedness of the type referred to in clause (1) of a third Person secured by a Lien on any asset owned by the Person first referenced in this definition (other than Liens on Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries securing Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiaries), whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such first Person; provided , however , that the amount of such Indebtedness will be the lesser of (A) the Indebtedness so secured and (B) the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of the assets of such first Person securing such Indebtedness; and

(7) to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation by the Person first referenced in this definition to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, on Indebtedness of the type referred to in clause (1) 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;

provided , however , that notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness shall be deemed not to include (A) Contingent Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business, (B) deferred or prepaid revenues, (C) trade payables, accrued expenses and intercompany liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business, (D) any earn-out obligations until such obligation becomes a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP, (E) purchase price holdbacks arising in the ordinary course of business in respect of a portion of the purchase price of an asset to satisfy underperformed obligations of the seller of such asset or (F) obligations under or in respect of Receivables Facilities.

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

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

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

Initial Notes ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

Initial Purchasers ” means Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Barclays Capital Inc. and Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

Interest Payment Date ” means February 1 and August 1 of each year to stated maturity or, if any such date is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day.

Investment Grade Rating ” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, or an equivalent rating by any other Rating Agency, and in each such case with a “stable” or better outlook.

Investment Grade Securities ” means:

(1) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States, United Kingdom or Canadian 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 instruments constituting loans or advances among the Issuer and its Subsidiaries;

(3) investments in any fund that invests exclusively in investments of the type described in clauses (1) and (2) which fund may also hold immaterial amounts of cash pending investment or distribution; and

 

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(4) corresponding instruments in countries other than the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada customarily utilized for high quality investments.

Investments ” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of loans (including guarantees), advances or capital contributions (excluding accounts receivable, trade credit, deposits, advances to customers, dealers, distributors and suppliers, commission, payroll, travel and similar advances to directors, officers and employees, in each case made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities issued by any other Person and investments that are required by GAAP to be classified on the balance sheet (excluding the footnotes) of such Person in the same manner as the other investments included in this definition to the extent such transactions involve the transfer of cash or other property; provided , however , that endorsements of negotiable instruments and documents in the ordinary course of business will not be deemed to be an Investment. For purposes of the definition of “ Unrestricted Subsidiary ” and Section 4.07:

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

(a) the Issuer’s direct or indirect “ Investment ” in such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; less

(b) the portion (proportionate to the Issuer’s direct or indirect equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of the net assets of such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; and

(2) any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be valued at its fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) at the time of such transfer.

The amount of any Investment outstanding at any time shall be the original cost of such Investment (determined, in the case of any Investment made with assets of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, based on the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) at the time of such Investment of the assets invested), reduced by any dividend, distribution, interest payment, return of capital, repayment or other amount received in cash by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in respect of such Investment.

Issue Date ” means January 31, 2018.

Issuer ” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble hereto.

Issuer Order ” means a written request or order signed on behalf of the Issuer, by an Officer who must be (A) the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer or the principal accounting officer of the Issuer or (B) an Executive Vice President, the Treasurer or the Controller of the Issuer, and delivered to the Trustee.

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

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

 

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Meredith Family ” means, collectively: (a) the lineal descendants by blood or adoption of E.T. Meredith (“ descendants ”), and the spouses and surviving spouses of such descendants; (b) any estate, trust, guardianship, custodianship or other fiduciary arrangement for the primary benefit of any one or more individuals described in clause (a) of this definition; and (c) any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business organization so long as (i) one or more individuals or entities described in clause (a) or clause (b) of this definition possess, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business organization, and (ii) substantially all of the ownership, beneficial or other Equity Interests in such corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business organization are owned, directly or indirectly, by one or more individuals or entities described in clause (a) or clause (b) of this definition.

Merger ” means the merger of the Purchaser with and into Time, with Time surviving, pursuant to the Merger Agreement.

Merger Agreement ” means that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 26, 2017, by and among Meredith Corporation, the Purchaser, and Time.

Merger Agreement Dispositions ” means the dispositions contemplated by Section 6.2 of the Merger Agreement to the extent not entered into or consummated on or before the Issue Date.

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

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

Net Proceeds ” means the aggregate cash proceeds and the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of any Cash Equivalents received by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale, including any cash received upon the sale or other disposition of any Designated Non-cash Consideration received in any Asset Sale, net of the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale and the sale or disposition of such Designated Non-cash Consideration, including legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and brokerage and sales commissions, any relocation expenses incurred as a result thereof, taxes paid or payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements), amounts required to be applied to the repayment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on Indebtedness (other than Subordinated Indebtedness) required (other than required by Section 4.10(b)(1)) to be paid as a result of such transaction, any costs associated with unwinding any related Hedging Obligations in connection with such transaction and any deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a reserve in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities associated with the asset disposed of in such transaction and retained by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries after such sale or other disposition thereof, including pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations associated with such transaction.

Non-Guarantor Subsidiary ” means any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor.

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

Notes ” means any Note authenticated and delivered under this Indenture. For all purposes of this Indenture, the term “ Notes ” shall also include any Additional Notes that may be issued hereafter. The Initial Notes and the Additional Notes, if any, shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture (including waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase), except as specifically noted otherwise herein.

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

 

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Offering Memorandum ” means the offering memorandum, dated January 19, 2018, relating to the sale of the Initial Notes to potential purchasers.

Officer ” means the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President, the Treasurer, the Controller, any Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Issuer.

Officer’s Certificate ” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Issuer by an Officer of the Issuer who must be (A) the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer or the principal accounting officer of the Issuer or (B) an Executive Vice President, the Treasurer or the Controller of the Issuer.

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

Parent Entity ” means any Person of which the Issuer at any time is or becomes a direct or indirect Subsidiary after the Issue Date.

Pari Passu Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Guarantor that ranks equally in right of payment with the Notes or such Guarantor’s Guarantee, as applicable.

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

Permitted 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 Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and another Person; provided that any cash or Cash Equivalents received must be applied in accordance with Section 4.10.

Permitted Investments ” means:

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

(2) any Investment in cash, the Notes, Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities and Investments that were Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities when made;

(3) any Investment by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in a Person if as a result of such Investment:

(A) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary; or

(B) such Person, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, and, in each case, any Investment held by such Person at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary;

provided that such Investment was not acquired by such Person in contemplation of such acquisition, merger, consolidation, amalgamation, transfer or conveyance;

 

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(4) any Investment in securities or other assets not constituting cash or Cash Equivalents and received in connection with an Asset Sale made pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.10 or any other disposition of assets not constituting an Asset Sale;

(5) any Investment (i) existing on the Issue Date or made pursuant to binding commitments in effect on the Issue Date or (ii) consisting of any replacement, refinancing, extension, modification or renewal of any Investment existing on the Issue Date; provided that the amount of any such Investment may only be increased (i) as required by the terms of such Investment as in existence on the Issue Date, or (ii) as otherwise permitted under this Indenture;

(6) any Investment acquired by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries:

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

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

(c) as a result of the settlement, compromise or resolution of litigation, arbitration or other disputes with Persons who are not Affiliates of the Issuer;

(7) Hedging Obligations permitted under Section 4.09(b)(9);

(8) Investments the payment for which consists of Equity Interests (exclusive of Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer; provided , however , that such Equity Interests will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under the Restricted Payments Builder Basket;

(9) guarantees of Indebtedness permitted under Section 4.09;

(10) any transaction to the extent it constitutes an Investment that is permitted and made in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.11(b) (except transactions described in clauses (2), (6), (8), (9), (11), (13) and (17) of Section 4.11(b));

(11) Investments consisting of (A) purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, material, services or equipment, or other similar assets or purchases of contract rights or licenses or leases of intellectual property, in each case in the ordinary course of business or (B) the leasing or licensing of intellectual property in the ordinary course of business or the leasing, licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons;

(12) additional Investments having an aggregate fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (12) that are at that time outstanding (without giving effect to the sale of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the extent the proceeds of such sale do not consist of cash or marketable securities) not to exceed the greater of (x) $500,000,000 and (y) 50.0% of Four Quarter EBITDA at the time of such Investment (with the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); provided that if such Investment is in Capital Stock of a Person that subsequently becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed permitted under clause (1) or (3) above and shall not be included as having been made pursuant to this clause (12);

(13) Investments in a Receivables Subsidiary or any Investment by a Receivables Subsidiary in any Person that, in the good faith determination of the Issuer, are necessary or advisable to effect any Receivables Facility or any repurchases in connection therewith;

 

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(14) advances to, or guarantees of Indebtedness of, officers, directors and employees of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries not in excess of $10,000,000 outstanding at any one time, in the aggregate;

(15) loans and advances to officers, directors and employees of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries for business-related travel expenses, moving expenses, payroll expenses and other similar expenses, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or to fund such Person’s direct or indirect purchase of Equity Interests of the Issuer;

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

(17) endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business;

(18) Investments resulting from pledges or deposits with respect to leases or utilities provided to third parties in the ordinary course of business or that are made in connection with Permitted Liens;

(19) advances, prepayments, loans or extensions of credit to customers and suppliers in the ordinary course of business;

(20) 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 the joint venture arrangements and similar binding arrangements;

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

(22) any Investment by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in an Unrestricted Subsidiary or a joint venture engaged in a Similar Business in an aggregate amount, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (22) that are at the time outstanding (without giving effect to the sale of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the extent the proceeds of such sale do not consist of cash or marketable securities), not to exceed the greater of (i) $150,000,000 and (ii) 12.5% of Four Quarter EBITDA (with the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); provided, however , that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (22) is made in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary after such date, such Investment will thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clauses (1) or (3) above and shall not be included as having been made pursuant to this clause (22).

Permitted Liens ” means, with respect to any Person:

(1) pledges, deposits or security by such Person under workmen’s compensation laws, unemployment insurance, employers’ health tax, and other social security laws or similar legislation, or other insurance related obligations (including, but not limited to, in respect of deductibles, self-insured retention amounts and premiums and adjustments thereto) or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing property, casualty or liability insurance, or good faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, trade contracts or government contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to which such Person is a party, or agreements with utilities, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of such Person or deposits of cash or U.S. government bonds to secure surety, stay, customs or appeal bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as security for contested taxes or import duties or for the payment of rent, performance and return of money bonds and other similar obligations (including letters of credit issued in lieu of any such bonds or to support the issuance thereof and including those to secure health, safety and environmental obligations), in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

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

(3) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges not yet overdue for a period of more than 30 days or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of such Person in accordance with GAAP, or for property taxes on property the Issuer or one of its Subsidiaries has determined to abandon if the sole recourse for such tax, assessment or charge is to such property;

(4) Liens in favor of issuers of performance, surety bonds or bid, indemnity, warranty, release, appeal or similar bonds or with respect to other regulatory requirements or letters of credit issued pursuant to the request of and for the account of such Person in the ordinary course of its business;

(5) survey exceptions, encumbrances, ground leases, servitudes, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights-of-way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph, cable and telephone lines, utilities and other similar purposes, or zoning or other restrictions 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 or other covenants, conditions, restrictions and minor defects or irregularities in title (“ Other Encumbrances ”), in each case which Liens and Other Encumbrances do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of said properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person;

(6) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to clause (4), (12) or (17) of Section 4.09(b); provided that (x) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to clause (4) extend only to the assets and/or Capital Stock, the acquisition, lease, construction, repair, replacement or improvement of which is financed thereby and any replacements, additions and accessions thereto and any income or profits therefrom; provided that individual financings of equipment provided by one lender may be cross-collateralized to other financings of equipment provided by such lender, (y) Liens securing Refinancing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to clause (12) only secure Refinancing Indebtedness that serves to Refinance any Indebtedness secured by a Lien; provided that such Liens are limited to all or part of the same property or assets ( plus additions, accessions, improvements, proceeds or dividends or distributions in respect thereof) that secured (or, under the written arrangements under which the original Lien arose, could secure) the Indebtedness being refinanced and (z) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to clause (17) extend only to the assets of Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries;

(7) Liens existing on the Issue Date (other than Liens securing the Senior Credit Facilities);

(8) Liens on property or shares of stock of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary; provided , however , such Liens are not created or incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such Person becoming such a Restricted Subsidiary; provided further , however , that such Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries other than pursuant to customary after-acquired property clauses;

(9) Liens on property at the time the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary acquired the property, including any acquisition by means of a merger or consolidation with or into the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided , however , that such Liens are not created or incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition, merger or consolidation;

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

 

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(11) Liens securing Hedging Obligations permitted under Section 4.09(b)(9);

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

(13) leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses (including of real property and intellectual property) granted to others in the ordinary course of business and (B) with respect to any leasehold interest held by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries, the terms of the leases granting such leasehold interest and the rights of lessors thereunder, which in the case of each of (A) and (B) do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and do not secure any Indebtedness;

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

(15) Liens in favor of the Issuer or any Guarantor;

(16) Liens on equipment of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries granted in the ordinary course of business;

(17) Liens on accounts receivable and related assets incurred in connection with a Receivables Facility;

(18) Liens to secure any Refinancing (or successive Refinancings) as a whole, or in part, of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien referred to in the foregoing clauses (6), (7), (8), (9) and this clause (18); provided , however , that (A) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property that secured the original Lien (and additions, accessions, improvements, proceeds and replacements and customary deposits in connection therewith and proceeds and products therefrom) and assets that secured or, under the written agreements pursuant to which the original Lien arose, could secure the original Indebtedness, and (B) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (i) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the Indebtedness described under clauses (6), (7), (8), (9) and this clause (18) at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien under this Indenture, and (ii) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, and accrued and unpaid interest related to such Refinancing;

(19) deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure liability to insurance carriers;

(20) other Liens securing obligations that do not exceed $200,000,000 in aggregate amount at any one time outstanding;

(21) Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 6.01(a)(5) so long as such Liens are adequately bonded and any appropriate legal proceedings that may have been duly initiated for the review of such judgment have not been finally terminated or the period within which such proceedings may be initiated has not expired;

(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) Liens (A) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code or any comparable or successor provision on items in the course of collection, (B) attaching to commodity trading accounts or other commodity brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business and (C) in favor of banking or other financial institutions arising as a matter of law or pursuant to customary depositary terms encumbering deposits (including the right of set-off) and which are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry;

 

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

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

(26) banker’s liens, Liens that are statutory, common law or contractual rights of set-off and other similar Liens, in each case (A) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness, (B) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business or (C) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(27) Liens on assets of Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries securing Indebtedness of Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries;

(28) Liens on the Equity Interests of any Unrestricted Subsidiary that secure Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(29) Liens deemed to exist by reason of (A) any encumbrance or restriction (including put and call arrangements) with respect to Capital Stock of any joint venture or similar arrangement pursuant to any joint venture or similar agreement or (B) any encumbrance or restriction imposed under any contract for the sale by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries of the Capital Stock of any Subsidiary of the Issuer, or any business unit or division of the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer permitted by this Indenture;

(30) Liens on property or assets used to defease or to irrevocably satisfy and discharge Indebtedness; provided that such defeasance or satisfaction and discharge is not prohibited by this Indenture;

(31) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(32) Liens incurred to secure cash management services or to implement cash pooling arrangements in the ordinary course of business;

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

(34) rights deemed to arise under revenue sharing or similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business pursuant to which third parties are granted the right to receive a portion of the revenues, income or profits generated from specific assets or operations of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(35) Liens securing the Notes and the related Guarantees;

(36) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under Credit Facilities, including any letter of credit facility relating thereto, that was permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(1);

 

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(37) Liens securing Pari Passu Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09 hereof; provided that at the time of any incurrence of such Pari Passu Indebtedness and after giving pro forma effect thereto, the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio (calculated excluding any increase in Eligible Cash resulting from the incurrence of such Indebtedness) shall not be greater than 2.50 to 1.00; provided , further that the calculation of the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio will treat clauses (1)(A) and (1)(B)(i) of Section 4.09(b) as having been fully utilized to incur Secured Indebtedness; and

(38) Liens on cash collateral, letters of credit or similar security arrangements securing the U.K. Pension Security Obligations in an amount not to exceed at any time £85 million.

For the avoidance of doubt, the inclusion of any specific Lien in the definition of Permitted Liens shall not give rise to any implication that the obligations secured by such Lien constitute Indebtedness.

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

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

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

Purchaser ” means Gotham Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Meredith Corporation.

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

Rating Agencies ” means Moody’s and S&P or if Moody’s or S&P or both shall not make a rating on the Notes publicly available (for reasons outside the control of the Issuer), a nationally recognized statistical rating organization or organizations, as the case may be, selected by the Issuer which shall be substituted for Moody’s or S&P or both, as the case may be.

Receivables Facility ” means any of one or more receivables financing facilities as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, renewed, restated or refunded from time to time, the Obligations of which are non-recourse (except for customary representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities made in connection with such facilities) to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than a Receivables Subsidiary) pursuant to which the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries sells its accounts receivable to either (A) a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary or (B) a Receivables Subsidiary that in turn sells its accounts receivable to (or finances its accounts receivable with) one or more Persons that are not Restricted Subsidiaries.

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

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

Record Date ” for the interest payable on any applicable Interest Payment Date means January 15 and July 15 (whether or not a Business Day) next preceding such Interest Payment Date.

Refinance ” means, in respect of any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, to refinance, extend, renew, refund, repay, prepay, redeem, defease or retire, or to issue other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock in exchange or replacement for, such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock. “Refinanced” and “Refinancing” shall have correlative meanings.

 

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Refinancing Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (including any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred to pay premiums (including tender premiums), accrued interest, defeasance costs and reasonable fees and expenses in connection therewith) that Refinances any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock existing on the Issue Date or incurred thereafter in compliance with this Indenture, including Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock that Refinances Refinancing Indebtedness; provided that such Refinancing Indebtedness:

(1) either (A) has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is incurred which is not less than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock being Refinanced or (B) does not require payments of principal (other than any such payment that may arise as a result of an acceleration following default or pursuant to customary change of control or asset sale provisions) prior to the date that is 91 days following the final scheduled maturity of the Notes;

(2) to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness refinances (i) Indebtedness subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or any Guarantee thereof, such Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Guarantee, as applicable, at least to the same extent as the Indebtedness being Refinanced or (ii) Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such Refinancing Indebtedness must be Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, respectively; and

(3) shall not include:

(A) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Issuer or a Guarantor; or

(B) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

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

Registration Rights Agreement ” means (a) with respect to the Notes issued on the Issue Date, the Registration Rights Agreement dated the Issue Date, among the Issuer, the Guarantors party thereto and the representative for the Initial Purchasers, as supplemented by the Joinder Agreement thereto dated the Issue Date among the Guarantors party thereto and the representative for the Initial Purchasers, and (b) with respect to each issuance of Additional Notes issued in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, the registration rights agreement, if any, among the Issuer, any Guarantors and the Persons purchasing such Additional Notes (or the representative therefor) under the related purchase agreement.

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

Regulation  S Global Note ” means a Global Note in the form of Exhibit A hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee.

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

Required Financial Statements ” means the financial statements required to be delivered pursuant to Section 4.03.

 

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

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

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

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

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

Restricted Subsidiary ” means, at any time, each direct and indirect Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not then an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided , however , that upon the occurrence of an Unrestricted Subsidiary ceasing to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary while such entity remains a Subsidiary of the Issuer, such Subsidiary shall be included in the definition of “Restricted Subsidiary”.

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

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

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

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

S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of McGraw Hill Financial, Inc., or any successor to its rating agency business.

Sale and Lease-Back Transaction ” means any direct or indirect arrangement providing for the leasing by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of any real or tangible personal property (other than a lease for a term not exceeding 12 months), which property has been or is to be sold or transferred for value by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary to a third Person in contemplation of such leasing.

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

Series A Preferred Stock ” means the Series A Preferred Stock, with an initial stated value equal to $1,000 per share, of the Issuer issued on the Issue Date.

Secured Indebtedness ” means any Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries secured by a Lien. For the avoidance of doubt, Attributable Debt will be considered to be secured by the assets that are the subject of the Sale and Lease-Back Transaction.

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

Senior Credit Facilities ” means the credit facilities under the Credit Agreement, dated on or about the Issue Date, by and among the Issuer, the Guarantors, the lenders party thereto in their capacities as lenders thereunder and the Administrative Agent thereunder, including any guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements, refundings or Refinancings thereof subsequent to the Issue Date (and for the avoidance of doubt, after giving effect to the Transactions) and any indentures or credit facilities or commercial paper facilities with banks or other institutional lenders or investors that replace, refund or refinance any part of the loans, notes, other credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such replacement, refunding or refinancing facility or indenture that increases the amount borrowable thereunder or alters the maturity thereof ( provided that such increase in borrowings is permitted under Section 4.09).

 

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Shelf Registration Statement ” has the meaning assigned to that term pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

Significant Subsidiary ” means any Restricted Subsidiary that would be a “ significant subsidiary ” as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such regulation is in effect on the Issue Date; provided , however , that in the case of a Subsidiary that meets clause (3) of the definition thereof but not clause (1) or (2) thereof, such subsidiary shall be deemed not to be a Significant Subsidiary unless the subsidiary’s income (or loss) from continuing operations before income taxes, extraordinary items and cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles exclusive of amounts attributable to any non-controlling interests for the last completed fiscal year prior to the date of such determination exceeds $25,000,000.

Similar Business ” means any business, services or activities conducted or proposed to be conducted by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries (including Time and its Subsidiaries) on the Issue Date or any business, services or activities that are similar, reasonably related, incidental, complementary or ancillary to any of the foregoing or are extensions or developments of any thereof.

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

Sterling ” means the lawful currency of the United Kingdom.

Subordinated Indebtedness ” means:

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

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

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person:

(1) any corporation, association, or other business entity (other than a partnership, limited liability company or similar entity) of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof; and

(2) any partnership, limited liability company or similar entity of which

(x) more than 50% of the voting interests or general 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

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

Tender Offer ” means the tender offer by the Purchaser to purchase for cash all of the outstanding shares of Time’s common stock at a purchase price of $18.50 per share, as contemplated by the Merger Agreement.

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

 

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Time ” means Time Inc., a Delaware corporation.

Transactions ” means the issuance of the Notes, the entering into of the Senior Credit Facilities, the Equity Contribution and the use of the proceeds of each of the foregoing, the Tender Offer, the Merger and each other transaction described in the Offering Memorandum under “The Transactions” and “Use of Proceeds”.

Treasury Rate ” means, as of any Redemption Date, the yield to maturity as of such Redemption Date of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 that has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to the Redemption Date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from the Redemption Date to February 1, 2021; provided , however , that if the period from the Redemption Date to February 1, 2021 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year will be used.

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

U.K. Pension Security Obligations ” means amounts posted as security under the deed of guaranty, dated as of October 19, 2015, among Time, Time Inc. (UK) Ltd. and IPC Media Pension Trustee Limited, or any successor or replacement agreement or amendment thereto, such as surety bonds and/or letters of credit issued or acquired in connection therewith.

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

Unrestricted Global Note ” means a permanent Global Note, substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto that bears the Global Note Legend and that has the “Schedule of Increases or Decreases of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto, and that is deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary, representing Notes that do not bear and are not required to bear the Private Placement Legend.

Unrestricted Subsidiary ” means:

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

(2) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

The Issuer may designate any Subsidiary of the Issuer (including any existing Subsidiary and any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided that:

(1) such designation complies with Section 4.07; and

(2) each of:

(A) the Subsidiary to be so designated; and

(B) its Subsidiaries

has not at the time of designation, and does not thereafter, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable with respect to any Indebtedness pursuant to which the lender has recourse to any of the assets of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary except for Liens described in clause (28) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”.

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

 

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(1) the Issuer could incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio test described in Section 4.09(a);or

(2) the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be less than or equal to such ratio immediately prior to such designation, in each case on a pro forma basis taking into account such designation.

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

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

Voting Stock ” of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the Board of Directors or other governing body 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 from the date of determination to the date of each successive scheduled principal payment of such Indebtedness or scheduled 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.

Wholly Owned Subsidiary ” of any Person means a Subsidiary of such Person, 100% of the outstanding Equity Interests of which (other than 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) shall at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

SECTION 1.02 Other Definitions .

 

Term

   Defined in
Section

“Acceptable Commitment”

   4.10

“Affiliate Transaction”

   4.11

“Asset Sale Offer”

   4.10

“Authentication Order”

   2.02

“Change of Control Offer”

   4.13

“Change of Control Payment”

   4.13

“Change of Control Payment Date”

   4.13

“Covenant Defeasance”

   8.03

“Covenant Suspension Event”

   4.15

“DTC”

   2.03

“Event of Default”

   6.01

“Excess Proceeds”

   4.10

“incur”, “incurrence”

   4.09

“Irrevocable Notice Transaction”

   1.06

“LCT Election Date”

   1.06

“Legal Defeasance”

   8.02

“Limited Condition Acquisition”

   1.06

“Note Register”

   2.03

“Offer Amount”

   3.10

 

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“Offer Period”

   3.10

“Paying Agent”

   2.03

“Permitted Payments”

   4.07

“Purchase Date”

   3.10

“Redemption Date”

   3.07

“Refunding Capital Stock”

   4.07

“Registrar”

   2.03

“Restricted Payments”

   4.07

“Reversion Date”

   4.15

“Successor Company”

   5.01

“Successor Guarantor”

   5.01

“Suspended Covenants”

   4.15

“Suspension Period”

   4.15

“Tax Group”

   4.07

SECTION 1.03 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act .

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

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

indenture securities ” means the Notes;

indenture security holder ” means a Holder of a Note;

indenture to be qualified ” means this Indenture;

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

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

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

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

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

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

(c) “ or ” is not exclusive;

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

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

(f) references to “ shall ” and “ will ” are intended to have the same meaning;

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

 

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

(i) “furnish to the Trustee” shall be deemed to be followed by the words “or electronically transmit”;

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

(k) Indebtedness that is unsecured shall not be deemed to be subordinated or junior to Secured Indebtedness merely because it is unsecured, and Indebtedness shall not be deemed to be subordinated or junior to any other Indebtedness merely because it has a junior priority with respect to the same collateral.

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

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

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

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

(e) The Issuer may, but shall not be obligated to, set a record date for purposes of determining the identity of Holders entitled to give any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or take any other act, or to vote or consent to any action by vote or consent authorized or permitted to be given or taken by Holders. Unless otherwise specified, if not set by the Issuer prior to the first solicitation of a Holder made by any Person in respect of any such action, or in the case of any such vote, prior to such vote, any such record date shall be the later of 30 days prior to the first solicitation of such consent or the date of the most recent list of Holders furnished to the Trustee prior to such solicitation.

(f) Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled to take any action under this Indenture with regard to any particular Note may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Note or by one or more duly appointed agents, each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such principal amount. Any notice given or action taken by a Holder or its agents with regard to different parts of such principal amount pursuant to this Section 1.05 shall have the same effect as if given or taken by separate Holders of each such different part.

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

 

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(h) The Issuer may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Persons who are beneficial owners of interests in any Global Note held by the Depositary entitled under the procedures of such Depositary to make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders. If such a record date is fixed, the Holders on such record date or their duly appointed proxy or proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to make, give or take such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date.

SECTION 1.06 Financial Calculations for Limited Condition Transactions .

With respect to any (x) acquisition or similar Investment by the Issuer or one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries whose consummation is not conditioned upon the availability of, or on obtaining, third-party financing (whether by merger, consolidation or other business combination or the acquisition of Capital Stock or otherwise) (any such acquisition or Investment, a “ Limited Condition Acquisition ”) or (y) repayment, repurchase or refinancing of Indebtedness with respect to which an irrevocable notice of repayment (or similar irrevocable notice) has been delivered (any such notice, an “ Irrevocable Notice Transaction ”), in each case, for purposes of determining:

(a) whether any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) that is being incurred in connection with such Limited Condition Acquisition or Irrevocable Notice Transaction is permitted to be incurred in compliance with Section 4.09 hereof;

(b) whether any Lien being incurred in connection with such Limited Condition Acquisition or Irrevocable Notice Transaction or to secure any such Indebtedness is permitted to be incurred in accordance with Section 4.12 hereof or the definition of “Permitted Liens”;

(c) whether any other transaction undertaken or proposed to be undertaken in connection with such Limited Condition Acquisition or Irrevocable Notice Transaction complies with the covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or the Notes; and

(d) any calculation of the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio, Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio, Net Income, Consolidated Net Income and/or Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA and, whether a Default or Event of Default exists in connection with the foregoing,

at the option of the Issuer, using the date that the definitive agreement for such Limited Condition Acquisition is entered into or the date that an irrevocable notice is given for such Irrevocable Notice Transaction, as the case may be (any such date, the “ LCT Election Date ”) may be used as the applicable date of determination, as the case may be, in each case with such pro forma adjustments as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of “Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio” or “Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA.” For the avoidance of doubt, if the Issuer elects to use the LCT Election Date as the applicable date of determination in accordance with the foregoing, (a) any fluctuation or change in the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio, Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio, Net Income, Consolidated Net Income, and/or Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of the Issuer, the target business or assets to be acquired subsequent to the LCT Election Date and at or prior to the consummation of such acquisition or similar Investment or repayment, repurchase or refinancing of Indebtedness, will not be taken into account for purposes of determining whether any Indebtedness or Lien that is being incurred in connection with such acquisition or similar Investment or repayment, repurchase or refinancing of Indebtedness is permitted to be incurred or in connection with compliance by the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries with any other provision of this Indenture or the Notes or any other transaction undertaken in connection with such acquisition or similar Investment or repayment, repurchase or refinancing of Indebtedness and (b) until such acquisition or similar Investment or repayment, repurchase or refinancing of Indebtedness is consummated or such definitive agreements are terminated, such acquisition or similar Investment or repayment, repurchase or refinancing of Indebtedness and all transactions proposed to be undertaken in connection therewith (including the incurrence of Indebtedness and Liens) will be given pro forma effect when determining compliance of other transactions (including the incurrence of Indebtedness and Liens unrelated to such acquisition or similar

 

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Investment or repayment, repurchase or refinancing of Indebtedness) that are consummated after the LCT Election Date and on or prior to the consummation of such acquisition or similar Investment or repayment, repurchase or refinancing of Indebtedness and any such transactions (including any incurrence of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) will be deemed to have occurred on the date the definitive agreements are entered and outstanding thereafter for purposes of calculating any baskets or ratios under this Indenture after the date of such agreement and before the consummation of such acquisition or similar Investment or repayment, repurchase or refinancing of Indebtedness; provided that in connection with the making of Restricted Payments, the calculation of Consolidated Net Income (and any defined term a component of which is Consolidated Net Income) will not, in any case, assume such acquisition or similar Investment has been consummated. In addition, this Indenture provides that compliance with any requirement relating to absence of Default or Event of Default may be determined as of the LCT Election Date and not as of any later date as would otherwise be required under this Indenture. In the event an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) is incurred or issued, any Lien is incurred or other transaction is undertaken on the same date that any other item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) is incurred or issued, any other Lien is incurred or other transaction is undertaken, then the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio or Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio will be calculated with respect to such incurrence, issuance or other transaction without regard to any other incurrence, issuance or transaction. Each item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock that is incurred or issued, each Lien incurred and each other transaction undertaken will be deemed to have been incurred, issued or taken first, to the extent available, pursuant to the relevant Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio or Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio.

SECTION 1.07 Currencies . For purposes of any determination under Article IV expressly requiring the use of a current exchange rate, all amounts incurred, outstanding or proposed to be incurred or outstanding in currencies other than U.S. dollars shall be translated into U.S. dollars at currency exchange rates in effect on the date of such determination; provided, however, that for purposes of determining compliance with this Indenture with respect to the amount of any Permitted Lien, Indebtedness, Asset Sale, Restricted Payment, Affiliate Transaction, Permitted Investment or Permitted Payment in a currency other than U.S. dollars, no Default or Event of Default shall be deemed to have occurred solely as a result of changes in rates of exchange occurring after the time such Permitted Lien or Indebtedness is incurred or Asset Sale, Restricted Payment, Affiliate Transaction, Permitted Investment or Permitted Payment is made; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.07 shall otherwise apply to such Sections, including with respect to determining whether any Permitted Lien or Indebtedness is incurred or Asset Sale, Restricted Payment, Affiliate Transaction, Permitted Investment or Permitted Payment is made at any time under such Sections. In addition, to the extent that the size of any basket or carve-out set forth under Article IV is determined by reference to a percentage of Four-Quarter EBITDA, a percentage of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA or the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio, no Default or Event of Default shall be deemed to occur with respect to any transaction consummated or incurred pursuant to such basket or carve-out as a result of any decrease in the amount of Four-Quarter EBITDA, Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA or the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio subsequent to such consummation or incurrence which results in such basket or carve-out no longer being sufficient to permit such transaction or incurrence.

ARTICLE II

The Notes

SECTION 2.01 Form and Dating; Terms . (a) General. The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rules or usage (provided that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a form acceptable to the Issuer). Each Note shall be dated the date of the Trustee’s authentication. The Notes shall be in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000.

(b) Global Notes . Notes issued in global form shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (including the Global Note Legend thereon and the “Schedule of Increases or Decreases of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto). Notes issued in definitive form shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (but without the Global Note Legend thereon and without the “Schedule of Increases or Decreases of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto). Each Global Note shall represent such of the outstanding Notes as shall be specified therein and each shall provide that it shall represent up to the aggregate principal amount of Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented

 

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thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as applicable, to reflect exchanges, repurchases and redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee as Registrar (or if the Trustee and the Registrar are not the same Person, by the Registrar at the direction of the Trustee), in accordance with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by Section 2.06.

(c) [ Reserved ].

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

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

The Notes shall be subject to repurchase by the Issuer pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer as provided in Section 4.10 or a Change of Control Offer as provided in Section 4.13. The Notes shall not be redeemable, other than as provided in Article III.

Additional Notes ranking pari passu with the Initial Notes may be created and issued from time to time by the Issuer without notice to or consent of the Holders and shall be consolidated with and form a single class with the other Notes (including any Initial Notes or other Additional Notes) and shall have the same terms as to status, redemption or otherwise as such Notes (other than date of issue and, if applicable, the date from which interest shall accrue and the first date on which payment thereof shall be made); provided that the Issuer’s ability to issue Additional Notes shall be subject to the Issuer’s compliance with Section 4.09. Any Additional Notes shall be issued with the benefit of an indenture supplemental to this Indenture. In authenticating such Additional Notes, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Additional Notes, the Trustee shall receive and be fully protected in relying upon an Opinion of Counsel which shall state:

(1) that the form and terms of such Additional Notes has been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and

(2) that such Additional Notes, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.

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

SECTION 2.02 Execution and Authentication . At least one Officer shall execute the Notes by manual or facsimile signature.

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

A Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose until authenticated substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto, by the manual signature of a Responsible Officer of the Trustee. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been duly authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

 

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On the Issue Date, the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Issuer Order (an “ Authentication Order ”), authenticate and deliver the Initial Notes. In addition, at any time, from time to time, the Trustee shall upon receipt of an Authentication Order and an Opinion of Counsel authenticate and deliver any Additional Notes for an aggregate principal amount specified in such Authentication Order for such Additional Notes issued under this Indenture.

The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Issuer to authenticate Notes. An authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with Holders or an Affiliate of the Issuer.

SECTION 2.03 Registrar and Paying Agent . The Issuer shall maintain (i) a registrar with an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (“ Registrar ”) and (ii) a paying agent with an office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment (the “ Paying Agent ”). The Registrar shall maintain a register reflecting ownership of the Notes outstanding from time to time (“ Note Register ”) and upon written request from the Issuer, the Registrar shall provide the Issuer with a copy of the Note Register. The Issuer may appoint one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “ Registrar ” includes any co-registrar. The term “ Paying Agent ” includes any additional paying agents. The Issuer initially appoints the Trustee as (i) Registrar and Paying Agent and (ii) the Custodian with respect to the Global Notes. The Issuer may change the Paying Agents or the Registrars without prior notice to the Holders. The Issuer shall notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this Indenture. If the Issuer fails to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries may act as a Paying Agent or a Registrar. All Agents appointed under this Indenture shall be appointed pursuant to agency agreements among the Issuer, the Trustee and the Agent, as applicable.

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

SECTION 2.04 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust . The Issuer shall require the Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, and will notify the Trustee of any default by the Issuer in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Issuer at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Issuer or one of its Subsidiaries) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Issuer or one of its Subsidiaries acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders all money held by it as Paying Agent. Upon any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings relating to the Issuer, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the Notes. To the extent that the Paying Agent receives any amounts pursuant to this Section 2.04 and such amounts are remitted to the Holders, the Trustee and Paying Agent shall have no further obligations with respect thereto.

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

SECTION 2.06 Transfer and Exchange . (a)  Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes . Except as otherwise set forth in this Section 2.06, a Global Note may be transferred, in whole and not in part, only to another nominee of the Depositary or to a successor thereto or a nominee of such successor. A beneficial interest in a Global Note shall be exchangeable for a Definitive Note if (A) (i) the Depositary notifies the Issuer that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Note or (ii) the Depositary has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Issuer within 120 days of such notice, (B) the Issuer, at its option, notifies the Trustee in writing that it elects to cause the issuance of Definitive Notes or (C) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to

 

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the Notes and the Depositary has requested the issuance of Definitive Notes. Upon the occurrence of any of the preceding events in (A), (B) or (C) above, Definitive Notes delivered in exchange for any Global Note or beneficial interests therein will be registered in the names, and issued in any approved denominations, requested by or on behalf of the Depositary (in accordance with its Applicable Procedures). Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.07 and 2.10. Every Note authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Note or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.06 or Section 2.07 or 2.10, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Note, except for Definitive Notes issued subsequent to any of the preceding events in (A), (B) or (C) above and pursuant to Section 2.06(c). A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as provided in this Section 2.06(a); provided , however , beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 2.06(b) or (c).

(b) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes . The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes shall be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and the Applicable Procedures. None of the Issuer or any of its agents, the Trustee or the Registrar shall have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Global Note, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests. Beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes shall be subject to restrictions on transfer comparable to those set forth herein to the extent required by the Securities Act, or for complying with or ensuring compliance with any Applicable Procedures. Beneficial interests in Global Notes shall be transferred or exchanged only for beneficial interests in Global Notes pursuant to this clause (b). Transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes also shall require compliance with either subparagraph (i) or (ii) below, as applicable, as well as, if applicable, one or more of the other following subparagraphs:

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

(ii) All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes . In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests that are not subject to Section 2.06(b)(i), the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar (in each case in form and substance satisfactory to the Trustee and the Issuer) either:

(A) (1) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the Participant account to be credited with such increase; or

(B) (1) if Definitive Notes are at such time permitted to be issued under this Indenture, a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to cause to be issued a Definitive Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given by the Depositary to the Registrar containing information regarding the Person in whose name such Definitive Note shall be registered to effect the transfer or exchange referred to in (1) above.

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(D) the Registrar receives the following:

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

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

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

 

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

(v) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note for Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note Prohibited . Beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note cannot be exchanged for, or transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of, beneficial interests in a Restricted Global Note.

(c) Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests for Definitive Notes . Beneficial interests in Global Notes shall be exchanged for Definitive Notes only pursuant to this clause (c).

(i) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes . If any holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note, then, upon the occurrence of any of the events in clause (A), (B) or (C) of Section 2.06(a), subject to satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.06(b)(ii) and receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:

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

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

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

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

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

(F) if such beneficial interest is being transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(c) thereof, the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(h), and the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and mail to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the applicable principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.06(c) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall mail such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(i) shall bear the Private Placement Legend and shall be subject to all restrictions on transfer contained therein.

 

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(ii) [ Reserved ].

(iii) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes . A holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note may exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or may transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note only upon the occurrence of any of the events in clause (A), (B) or (C) of Section 2.06(a), the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.06(b)(ii) hereof and:

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

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

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

(D) the Registrar receives the following:

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

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

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

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

 

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(d) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests in Global Notes . Restricted Definitive Notes shall be exchanged for beneficial interests in Restricted Global Notes only pursuant to this clause (d).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

the Trustee shall cancel the Restricted Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note.

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

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

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

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

(D) the Registrar receives the following:

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(B) if the transfer will be made to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof; or

 

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

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

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

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

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

(D) the Registrar receives the following:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

(i) Private Placement Legend .

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

“THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, SUCH REGISTRATION. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY, ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT HAS PURCHASED SECURITIES, TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) THAT IS [IN THE CASE OF RULE 144A NOTES: ONE YEAR] [IN THE CASE OF REGULATION S NOTES: 40 DAYS] AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE COMPANY OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY), ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF ANOTHER QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D) OR (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM.

 

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THE HOLDER WILL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS SECURITY FROM IT OF THE FOREGOING RESALE RESTRICTIONS.

[IN THE CASE OF REGULATION S NOTES: BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER HEREOF REPRESENTS THAT IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON NOR IS IT PURCHASING FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.]

BY ITS ACQUISITION OF THIS SECURITY, THE HOLDER HEREOF WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND WARRANTED THAT EITHER (1) NO PORTION OF THE ASSETS USED BY SUCH HOLDER TO ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS SECURITY CONSTITUTES THE ASSETS OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN THAT IS SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE U.S. EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), A PLAN, ACCOUNT OR OTHER ARRANGEMENT THAT IS SUBJECT TO SECTION 4975 OF THE U.S. INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”), OR PROVISIONS UNDER ANY OTHER FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, NON-U.S. OR OTHER LAWS OR REGULATIONS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO SUCH PROVISIONS OF ERISA OR THE CODE (COLLECTIVELY, “SIMILAR LAWS”), OR OF AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS ARE CONSIDERED TO INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY SUCH PLAN, ACCOUNT OR OTHER ARRANGEMENT WITHIN THE MEANING OF 29 C.F.R. SECTION 2510.3-103 AS MODIFIED BY SECTION 3(42) OF ERISA OR OTHERWISE OR (2) THE ACQUISITION AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A NON-EXEMPT PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE OR A SIMILAR VIOLATION UNDER ANY APPLICABLE SIMILAR LAW.”

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

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

“THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(h) OF THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE ISSUER. UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE

 

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

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

(i) General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges .

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

(ii) The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents in connection with a transfer of Notes.

(iii) No service charge shall be made to a holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note or to a Holder of a Definitive Note for any registration of transfer or exchange, but Holders shall pay all taxes due on transfer (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.10, 3.06, 3.10, 4.10, 4.13 and 9.04).

(iv) Neither the Registrar nor the Issuer shall be required to register the transfer of or exchange of any Note selected for redemption.

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

(vi) Neither the Registrar nor the Issuer shall be required (A) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Note for a period of 15 days before the mailing of a notice of redemption of Notes to be redeemed, (B) to register the transfer or exchange of any Note selected for redemption, (C) to register the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a Record Date and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date or (D) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes selected for redemption or tendered (and not withdrawn) for repurchase in connection with a Change of Control Offer or an Asset Sale Offer.

 

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

(viii) The Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.02.

(ix) [reserved].

(x) Neither the Registrar nor the Trustee shall have any obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among Participants or beneficial owners of interests in any Global Notes) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

(xi) Neither the Trustee nor any Agent shall have any responsibility or liability for any actions taken or not taken by the Depositary.

(xii) The Trustee and the Registrar shall be entitled to receive such evidence as may be reasonably requested to establish the identity and/or signature of any transferee or transferor.

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

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

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

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

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

If the Paying Agent (other than the Issuer, a Subsidiary of the Issuer or an Affiliate of any thereof) holds, on a Redemption Date, purchase date in connection with an offer to repurchase or maturity date, money sufficient to pay Notes payable on that date, then on and after that date such Notes shall be deemed to be no longer outstanding and shall cease to accrue interest.

 

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SECTION 2.09 Treasury Notes . In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes beneficially owned by the Issuer, or by any Affiliate of the Issuer, shall be considered as though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Notes that are to be acquired by the Issuer, any Subsidiary of the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer pursuant to an exchange offer, tender offer or other similar agreement shall not be deemed to be owned by the Issuer, a Subsidiary of the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer until legal title to such Notes passes to the Issuer, such Subsidiary or such Affiliate, as the case may be.

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

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

SECTION 2.11 Cancellation . The Issuer at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee or, at the direction of the Trustee, the Registrar or the Paying Agent and no one else shall cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall dispose of cancelled Notes in accordance with its customary procedures. Confirmation of the disposal of all cancelled Notes shall be delivered to the Issuer upon its written request. The Issuer may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that it has paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

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

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

SECTION 2.13 CUSIP/ISIN Numbers . The Issuer in issuing the Notes may use CUSIP or ISIN numbers, as applicable, (if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee may use CUSIP or ISIN numbers, as applicable, in notices to Holders as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption or other action shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Issuer will as promptly as practicable notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP or ISIN Code numbers, as applicable. Additional Notes will not be issued with the same CUSIP, if any, as any existing Notes unless such Additional Notes are fungible with such existing Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

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ARTICLE III

Redemption

SECTION 3.01 Notices to Trustee . If the Issuer elects to redeem Notes pursuant to Section 3.07, it shall furnish to the Trustee, at least five Business Days (or such later date acceptable to the Trustee) before notice of redemption is required to be mailed or caused to be mailed (or otherwise sent in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary) to the applicable Holders pursuant to Section 3.03, an Officer’s Certificate setting forth (i) the paragraph or subparagraph of such Note and/or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (ii) the Redemption Date (subject to any conditions precedent applicable thereto), (iii) the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed and (iv) the redemption price (or manner of calculation if not then known). If the redemption price is not known at the time such notice is to be given, the actual redemption price, calculated as described in the terms of the Notes, will be set forth in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee no later than one Business Day prior to the Redemption Date.

SECTION 3.02 Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed or Purchased . If the Issuer is redeeming or repurchasing less than all of the Notes at any time, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be redeemed on a pro rata basis (or as nearly pro rata as practicable) or by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate, unless otherwise required by law or the rules of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes are listed or by lot or such other similar method, all in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary; provided that no Notes of $2,000 or less shall be redeemed or repurchased in part.

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Issuer in writing of the Notes selected for redemption or purchase and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption or purchase, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed or purchased. Notes and portions of Notes selected shall be in amounts of $2,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof; no Notes of $2,000 or less can be redeemed in part, except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed or purchased, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if not a multiple of $1,000, shall be redeemed or purchased. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption or purchase also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption or purchase.

SECTION 3.03 Notice of Purchase or Redemption . The Issuer shall mail or cause to be mailed by first-class mail (or otherwise delivered in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary), notices of purchase or redemption at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the purchase date or Redemption Date to each Holder at such Holder’s registered address or otherwise in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary, except that redemption notices may be mailed (or otherwise sent in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary) more than 60 days prior to a Redemption Date if the notice is issued in connection with Article VIII or Article XI. If any Note is to be purchased or redeemed in part only, any notice of purchase or redemption that relates to such Note shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof that is to be purchased or redeemed. The Issuer shall issue a new Note in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the original Note in the name of the Holder upon cancellation of the original Note. The notice shall identify the Notes (including the CUSIP or ISIN number) to be purchased or redeemed and shall state:

(A) subject to clause (I) below, the purchase date or Redemption Date;

(B) the purchase or redemption price (or manner of calculation if not then known);

(C) if any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the portion of the principal amount of that Note that has been or is to be purchased or redeemed and that, after the Redemption Date upon surrender of such Note, the Issuer will issue a new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the original Note in the name of the Holder upon cancellation of the original Note;

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

 

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

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

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

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

(I) any condition to such redemption.

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

Notice of any redemption of the Notes (including upon an Equity Offering or in connection with a transaction (or series of related transactions) or an event that constitutes a Change of Control) may, at the Issuer’s discretion, be given prior to the completion or the occurrence thereof and any such redemption or notice may, at the Issuer’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion or occurrence of the related transaction or event, as the case may be. In addition, if such redemption or purchase is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice shall describe each such condition, and if applicable, shall state that, in the Issuer’s discretion, the Redemption Date may be delayed until such time (including more than 60 days after the date the notice of redemption was mailed or delivered, including by electronic transmission) as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied, or such redemption or purchase may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the Redemption Date, or by the Redemption Date as so delayed, or such notice may be rescinded at any time in the Issuer’s discretion if in the good faith judgment of the Issuer any or all of such conditions will not be satisfied. In addition, the Issuer may provide in such notice that payment of the redemption price and performance of the Issuer’s obligations with respect to such redemption may be performed by another Person.

SECTION 3.04 Effect of Notice of Redemption . Subject to the last paragraph of Section 3.03 and the terms of the applicable redemption notice (including any conditions contained therein) once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section 3.03, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the Redemption Date at the redemption price, subject to the satisfaction of any conditions precedent to the redemption. The notice, if provided in a manner herein provided, shall be conclusively presumed to have been given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice by mail or any defect in the notice to the Holder of the Notes designated for redemption in whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Notes. Subject to Section 3.05, on and after the Redemption Date, interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions of Notes called for redemption.

SECTION 3.05 Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price . Prior to 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the purchase date or Redemption Date, the Issuer shall deposit with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption or purchase price of and accrued and unpaid interest on all Notes to be redeemed or purchased on that date. The Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Issuer any money deposited with the Paying Agent by the Issuer in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption price of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, all Notes to be redeemed or purchased.

 

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If the Issuer complies with the provisions of this Section 3.05, on and after the purchase date or Redemption Date, interest shall cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of the Notes called for redemption or purchase. If a Note is redeemed or purchased on or after a Record Date but on or prior to the related Interest Payment Date, then any accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption or purchase date shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Note was registered at the close of business on such Record Date. If any Note called for redemption or purchase shall not be so paid upon surrender for redemption or purchase because of the failure of the Issuer to comply with this Section 3.05, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption or purchase date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful on any interest accrued to the redemption or purchase date not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01.

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

SECTION 3.07 Optional Redemption . (a) Prior to February 1, 2021, the Issuer may redeem the Notes, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, upon notice as described in Section 3.03, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to, but excluding, the date of redemption (the “ Redemption Date ”), subject to the rights of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date.

(b) On and after February 1, 2021, the Issuer may redeem the Notes, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, upon notice as described in Section 3.03, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date, if redeemed during the twelve month period beginning on February 1 of each of the years indicated below:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2021

     103.438

2022

     101.719

2023

     100.859

2024 and thereafter

     100.000

(c) Until February 1, 2021, the Issuer may, at any time and from time to time, upon notice as described in Section 3.03, redeem up to 40.0% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes at a redemption price equal to 106.875% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date, in an amount no greater than the aggregate cash proceeds received from one or more Equity Offerings; provided that (1) at least 60.0% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes (including any Additional Notes) remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption and (2) each such redemption occurs within 120 days of the closing of such Equity Offering.

(d) In addition to clauses (a) through (c) above, in connection with any tender offer for the Notes (including, without limitation, any Change of Control Offer), if Holders of not less than 90.0% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes validly tender and do not withdraw such Notes in such tender offer and the Issuer, or any third party making a such tender offer in lieu of the Issuer, purchases all of the Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn by such Holders, the Issuer or such third party will have the right upon not less than 15 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following such purchase date, to redeem (with respect to the Issuer) or purchase (with respect to a third party) all Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at a price equal to the price offered to each other Holder in such tender offer (which may be less than par) plus, to the extent not included in the tender offer payment, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.

 

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SECTION 3.08 Sinking Fund . The Issuer shall not be required to make any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

SECTION 3.09 [ Reserved ].

SECTION 3.10 Offers to Repurchase by Application of Excess Proceeds .

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

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

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

(d) Upon the commencement of an Asset Sale Offer, the Issuer shall send, by first-class mail (or otherwise sent in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary), a notice to each of the Holders, with a copy mailed or electronically transmitted to the Trustee and Agents. The notice shall contain all instructions and materials necessary to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer. The Asset Sale Offer shall be made to all Holders and, if required by the terms of any Pari Passu Indebtedness, holders of such Pari Passu Indebtedness. The notice, which shall govern the terms of the Asset Sale Offer, shall state:

(i) that the Asset Sale Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 3.10 and Section 4.10 and the length of time the Asset Sale Offer shall remain open;

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

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

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

(v) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer may elect to have Notes purchased in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000;

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

(vii) that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Issuer, the Depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, receive, not later than the expiration of the Offer Period, a facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder (or otherwise in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary), the principal amount of the Note the Holder delivered for purchase and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased;

 

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(viii) that, if the aggregate principal amount of Notes and Pari Passu Indebtedness surrendered by the Holders thereof exceeds the Offer Amount, the Trustee shall select the Notes and the Issuer or the agent for such Pari Passu Indebtedness shall select such Pari Passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis (or as nearly pro rata as practicable) based on the amount of the Notes and such Pari Passu Indebtedness tendered, unless otherwise required by law or the rules of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes or such Pari Passu Indebtedness are listed or by lot or such other similar method in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary; provided that no notes of $2,000 or less shall be repurchased in part; and

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

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

(f) The Issuer shall cause an amount equal to the purchase price of the Notes properly tendered by such Holder and accepted by the Issuer for purchase to be remitted to each tendering Holder, and the Issuer shall, if the Notes are issued in definitive form, promptly issue a new Note, and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate and mail or deliver (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) such new Note to such Holder (it being understood that, notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, no Opinion of Counsel or Officer’s Certificate is required for the Trustee to authenticate and mail or deliver such new Note) in a principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered representing the same indebtedness to the extent not repurchased; provided that each such new Note shall be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. Any Note not so accepted shall be promptly mailed or delivered by the Issuer to the Holder thereof. The Issuer shall publicly announce the results of the Asset Sale Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Purchase Date.

Other than as specifically provided in this Section 3.10 and Section 4.10, any purchase pursuant to this Section 3.10 shall be made pursuant to the applicable provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06.

ARTICLE IV

Covenants

SECTION 4.01 Payment of Notes . The Issuer shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes. Principal, premium, if any, and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Issuer or a Subsidiary, holds as of 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the due date money deposited by the Issuer in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest then due. In any case where an Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or any other stated maturity of any payment required to be made on the Notes shall not be a Business Day, then each such payment need not be made on such date, but shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or stated maturity of such payment and no additional interest shall be payable as a result of such delay in payment.

The Issuer shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the rate equal to the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful.

 

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All references to “interest” on the Notes in this Indenture will be deemed to include all Special Interest payable pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, if any. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in the event the Issuer is required to pay Special Interest, the Issuer will provide written notice to the Trustee of the Issuer’s obligation to pay Special Interest no later than 15 days prior to the next Interest Payment Date (or such shorter period as may be agreed by the Trustee), which notice shall set forth the amount of the Special Interest to be paid by the Issuer (but the failure to provide such notice shall not affect the Issuer’s obligation to pay such Special Interest when due). The Trustee shall not at any time be under any duty or responsibility to any Holders to determine whether any Special Interest is payable or the amount thereof.

SECTION 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency . The Issuer shall maintain the office or agency required under Section 2.03 (which may be an office of the Trustee or an Affiliate of the Trustee) where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange. The Issuer shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Issuer shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations and surrenders may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

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

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

SECTION 4.03 Reports and Other Information . (a) If, at any time, the Issuer is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Issuer shall file with the SEC, subject to the following sentence, and provide the Trustee (to the extent not publicly available on the SEC’s EDGAR system (or any successor system) or the Issuer’s website) (and, upon written request, the Holders, to the extent not publicly available on the SEC’s EDGAR system (or any successor system) or the Issuer’s website) such annual and other reports as are specified in Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act and applicable to a U.S. corporation subject to such Sections, such reports to be so filed and provided at the times specified for the filings by the Issuer of such reports under such Sections and containing, in all material respects, the information and audit reports required for such reports. If, at any time, the Issuer is not subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act for any reason, the Issuer shall provide the Trustee and make available to Holders, prospective investors, market makers affiliated with any Initial Purchaser and securities analysts the reports specified in the preceding sentence by posting such reports to its website or on IntraLinks or any comparable password-protected online data system, in each case, within 15 days after the time the Issuer would be required to file such information with the SEC if it were a non-accelerated filer subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, (1) none of the foregoing reports (A) shall 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, (B) shall be required to comply with Regulation G or Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC (with respect to any non-GAAP financial measures contained therein), (C) shall be required to contain the separate financial information for Guarantors and non-guarantor subsidiaries contemplated by Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC, (D) shall be required to present compensation or beneficial ownership information and (E) shall be required to contain information required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K and (2) if any parent of the Issuer becomes a guarantor of the Notes, the reports, information and other documents required to be filed and provided as described above may be those of the parent, rather than those of the Issuer, so long as such filings would satisfy the SEC’s requirements; provided that such reports include a reasonable explanation of the material differences between the assets, liabilities and results of operations of such parent and its consolidated Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries on the other hand.

 

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(b) Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, the Issuer shall not be deemed to have failed to comply with any of its obligations described under this Section 4.03 for purposes of Section 6.01(a)(3) until 120 days after the date any report under this Section 4.03 is due. To the extent any such information is not so filed or provided, as applicable, within the time periods specified in Section 4.03(a) and such information is subsequently filed or provided, as applicable, the Issuer shall be deemed to have satisfied its obligations with respect thereto at such time and any Default or Event of Default with respect thereto shall be deemed to have been cured at such time; provided that such cure shall not otherwise affect the rights of the Holders under Article VI if Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then total outstanding Notes have declared the principal of accrued but unpaid and interest on all the then outstanding Notes to be due and payable immediately and such declaration shall not have been rescinded or cancelled prior to such cure.

(c) At any time when the Issuer is not subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Issuer shall, for so long as any Notes remain outstanding and are “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act, furnish to the Holders and to prospective investors, upon their written request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

(d) Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee under this Indenture is for informational purposes only and the information and the Trustee’s receipt of the foregoing shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein, or determinable from information contained therein including the Issuer’s compliance with any of the covenants under this Indenture (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on an Officer’s Certificate). The Trustee shall have no responsibility whatsoever to determine whether any filing or posting referred to in this Section 4.03 has occurred.

SECTION 4.04 Compliance Certificate . (a) The Issuer and each Guarantor (to the extent that such Guarantor is so required under the TIA) shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year ending after the Issue Date, an Officer’s Certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer or the principal accounting officer that, as to such Officer signing such certificate, to the best of his or her knowledge the Issuer has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every condition and covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions, covenants and conditions of this Indenture (or, if a Default shall have occurred and is continuing, describing all such Defaults of which he or she may have knowledge).

(b) The Issuer shall, within 30 days after becoming aware of any Default, deliver to the Trustee by registered or certified mail or by electronic transmission an Officer’s Certificate specifying such Default.

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

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

SECTION 4.07 Limitation on Restricted Payments . (a) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

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

 

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(A) dividends, payments or distributions payable in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer; 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 Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary receives at least its pro rata share of such dividend, payment or distribution in accordance with its Equity Interests in such class or series of securities;

(2) purchase, redeem, repurchase, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of the Issuer (including in connection with any merger or consolidation), to the extent held by a Person other than the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary;

(3) make any principal payment on, or purchase, redeem, repurchase, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value, in each case prior to any scheduled repayment, sinking fund payment or maturity, any Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Guarantor other than the payment, purchase, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, acquisition or retirement of:

(A) Indebtedness permitted under Section 4.09(b)(7); or

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

(4) make any Restricted Investment

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

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

(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis, the Issuer could incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.09(a); and

(3) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries (and not rescinded or refunded) after the Issue Date (including Restricted Payments permitted by clause (1) of Section 4.07(b), but excluding all other Restricted Payments permitted by Section 4.07(b)), is less than the sum of (without duplication):

(A) (i) 100% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of the Issuer for the period (taken as one accounting period) beginning on the first day of the fiscal quarter during which the Issue Date occurs to the end of the Issuer’s most recently completed fiscal quarter for which Required Financial Statements have been delivered at the time of such Restricted Payment, minus

(ii) the product of

(x) 1.4 and

(y) Consolidated Interest Expense of the Issuer for the same period (taken as one accounting period); plus

(B) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds and the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of marketable securities or other property received by the Issuer from the issuance or sale of Equity Interests of the Issuer (other than Disqualified Stock or Refunding Capital Stock) or

 

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otherwise contributed to the equity (other than through an issuance of Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer after the Issue Date (other than an issuance or sale to a Subsidiary of the Issuer or an issuance or sale to an employee stock ownership plan or other trust established by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent funded by the Issuer or its Subsidiaries); plus

(C) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds and the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of marketable securities or other property received by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary from the issuance or sale (other than to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer or to an employee stock ownership plan or other trust established by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent funded by the Issuer or its Subsidiaries) by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date of any Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock that has been converted into or exchanged for Equity Interests of the Issuer (other than Disqualified Stock), plus , without duplication, any cash proceeds and the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of marketable securities or other property received by the Issuer or any Restricted subsidiary upon such conversion or exchange; plus

(D)100% of the aggregate amount received in cash and the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of marketable securities or other property received by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary from: (i) the sale or other disposition (other than to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary) of and the receipt of any dividends or distributions from Restricted Investments made by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries and repurchases and redemptions of such Restricted Investments from the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries and repayments of loans or advances, and releases of guarantees, which constituted Restricted Investments by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case after the Issue Date; or (ii) the sale (other than to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary) of the stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or a distribution from an Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than to the extent of the amount of the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary that constituted a Permitted Investment) or a dividend from an Unrestricted Subsidiary, in each case after the Issue Date; plus

(E) in the case of the redesignation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or the merger or consolidation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary into the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary or the transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, in each case after the Issue Date, the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) or if such fair market value exceeds $200,000,000, the fair market value as specified in writing by an Independent Financial Advisor, of the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation, merger, consolidation or transfer (other than to the extent of the amount of the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary that constituted a Permitted Investment); plus

(F) in the event that the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary has made or makes any Investment in a Person subsequent to the Issue Date that, as a result of or in connection with such Investment, becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, an amount equal to the existing Investment of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in such Person to the extent it was previously treated as a Restricted Payment (collectively, the “ Restricted Payments Builder Basket ”).

(b) Section 4.07(a) shall not prohibit any of the following (collectively, “ Permitted Payments ”):

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

(2) the purchase, redemption, defeasance, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of any Equity Interests of the Issuer or of Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor, in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent issuance or sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary or to an employee stock ownership plan or other trust established by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent funded by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries) of, Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer (collectively, the “ Refunding Capital Stock ”);

 

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(3) the purchase, redemption, defeasance, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of (i) Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Guarantor made by, in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent incurrence of, Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Guarantor or (ii) Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or any Guarantor made in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent incurrence of Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or any Guarantor, in each case that is incurred in compliance with Section 4.09 so long as:

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

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

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

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

(4) a Restricted Payment to pay for the purchase, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition for value of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer held by any future, present or former member of management, employee, director or consultant of the Issuer 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 stock subscription or shareholder agreement or upon the termination of such member’s, employee’s, director’s or consultant’s employment or directorship; provided , however , that the aggregate Restricted Payments made under this clause (4) do not exceed in any calendar year $50,000,000 (with unused amounts in any calendar year being carried over for one additional calendar year); provided further that such amount in any calendar year may be increased by an amount not to exceed:

(A) the cash proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer to future, present or former members of management, employees, directors or consultants of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries that occurs after the Issue Date, to the extent the cash proceeds from the sale of such Equity Interests have not otherwise been applied to the payment of Restricted Payments by virtue of the Restricted Payments Builder Basket; plus

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

(C) the amount of any Restricted Payments previously made with the cash proceeds described in clauses (A) and (B) of this clause (4);

and; provided further that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary from any future, present or former members of management, employees, directors or consultants of the Issuer or any of the Issuer’s Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of the Issuer will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this Section 4.07 or any other provision of this Indenture;

 

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(5) purchases, redemptions, defeasances, repurchases or other acquisitions of Equity Interests deemed to occur (i) upon exercise of stock options, stock appreciation rights or warrants if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options, stock appreciation rights or warrants or (ii) for purposes of satisfying any required tax withholding obligation upon the exercise or vesting of a grant or award that was granted or awarded to an employee;

(6) other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount taken together with all other outstanding Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (6) not to exceed $300,000,000;

(7) distributions or payments of Receivables Fees;

(8) [reserved];

(9) the repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of any Subordinated Indebtedness pursuant to the provisions similar to those under Section 4.10 and Section 4.13; provided that prior to any such repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement, all Notes tendered by Holders in connection with a Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer, as applicable, have been repurchased, redeemed, defeased, acquired or retired;

(10) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition for value of Equity Interests of the Issuer deemed to occur in connection with paying cash in lieu of fractional shares of such Equity Interests in connection with a share dividend, distribution, share split, reverse share split, merger, consolidation, amalgamation or other business combination of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries, in each case, permitted under this Indenture;

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

(12) for any taxable period in which the taxable income of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries is included in a consolidated, combined or similar income tax group of which a direct or indirect parent of the Issuer is the common parent (a “ Tax Group ”), an amount not to exceed the tax liabilities that the Issuer and the applicable Subsidiaries, in the aggregate, would have been required to pay in respect of such taxable income if such entities were a standalone group of corporations separate from such Tax Group (it being understood and agreed that, if the Issuer or any Subsidiary pays any portion of such tax liabilities directly to any taxing authority, a Restricted Payment in duplication of such amount shall not be permitted to be made pursuant to this clause (12));

(13) the declaration and payment of regularly scheduled or accrued dividends to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary or Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiaries issued or incurred in accordance with Section 4.09;

(14) payments of cash, or dividends, distributions or advances by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to allow the payment of cash in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares upon the exercise of options or warrants or upon the conversion or exchange of Capital Stock of any such Person; or

(15) mandatory redemptions or repurchases of Disqualified Stock the issuance of which itself constituted a Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment otherwise permissible under this Indenture;

provided , however , that at the time of, and after giving effect to, any Restricted Payment permitted under clauses (6) or (11), no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof.

(c) The Issuer will not permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary to become a Restricted Subsidiary except pursuant to the last sentence of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary.” For purposes of designating any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, all outstanding Investments by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid) in the Subsidiary so designated will be deemed to be an Investment in an

 

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amount determined as set forth in the definition of “Investment.” Such designation will be permitted only if an Investment in such amount would be permitted at such time, whether as a Restricted Payment or a Permitted Investment, and if such Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. Unrestricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to any of the covenants set forth in this Indenture.

(d) For purposes of clauses (2) and (3) of Section 4.07(b), a Restricted Payment shall be deemed to have been made substantially concurrently with the applicable event if made or irrevocably committed to be made within 90 days of such event.

(e) The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) shall be the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) on the date of such Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities proposed to be paid, transferred or issued by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to such Restricted Payment.

(f) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.07, in the event that a proposed Restricted Payment or Investment (or a portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Restricted Payments described in clauses (1) through (15) of Section 4.07(b) above and/or one or more of the clauses contained in the definition of “Permitted Investments,” or is entitled to be made pursuant to Section 4.07(a), the Issuer will be entitled to divide or classify (or later divide, classify or reclassify in whole or in part in its sole discretion) such Restricted Payment or Investment (or portion thereof) among such clauses (1) through (15) of Section 4.07(a) and/or one or more of the clauses contained in the definition of “Permitted Investments,” in a manner that otherwise complies with this covenant.

(g) For the avoidance of doubt, this covenant shall not restrict the making of any “AHYDO catch-up payment” with respect to, and required by the terms of, any Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries permitted to be incurred under this Indenture.

SECTION 4.08 Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries . (a) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to:

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

(B) pay any Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

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

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

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

(1) contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Issue Date;

(2) (i) this Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees and (ii) any agreement governing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09; provided that the provisions relating to restrictions of the type described in clauses (1) through (3) of Section 4.08(a) contained in such agreement, taken as a whole, are (in the good faith determination of the Issuer) not materially more restrictive than the provisions contained in the Senior Credit Facilities, or in this Indenture, in each case as in effect when initially executed;

 

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(3) purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business and Capitalized Lease Obligations that impose restrictions of the nature discussed in Section 4.08(a)(3) on the property so acquired or leased;

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

(5) any agreement or other instrument of a Person (including an Unrestricted Subsidiary that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary whether by redesignation or otherwise) acquired by or merged or consolidated with or into the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in existence at the time of such transaction (but 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 and its Subsidiaries, or the property or assets of the Person and its Subsidiaries, so acquired;

(6) contracts for the sale of assets, including customary restrictions with respect to a Subsidiary of the Issuer that impose restrictions solely on the assets to be sold;

(7) any Hedging Obligations;

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

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

(10) other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries permitted to be incurred subsequent to the Issue Date pursuant to Section 4.09;

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

(12) customary provisions contained in leases, sub-leases, licenses or sub-licenses, permits, contracts and other agreements, in each case, entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(13) any agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business, not relating to Indebtedness and that do not, individually or in the aggregate, materially impair (in the good faith determination of the Issuer) the ability of the Issuer or the Guarantors to pay the principal and interest on the Notes;

(14) any agreement for the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all the Capital Stock or the assets of a Restricted Subsidiary to the extent it restricts distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary pending such sale or other disposition;

(15) customary provisions imposed on the transfer of copyrighted or patented materials;

(16) encumbrances or restrictions relating to the IPC Media Ltd. pension scheme;

(17) any encumbrances or restrictions of the type referred to in clauses (1), (2) and (3) of Section 4.08(a) 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 (16) of this Section 4.08(b); provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the good faith determination of the Issuer, 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; and

 

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(18) restrictions created in connection with any Receivables Facility that, in the good faith determination of the Issuer, are necessary or advisable to effect such Receivables Facility; provided that such restrictions apply only to the applicable Receivables Subsidiary.

(c) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.08, (1) the priority of any Preferred Stock in receiving dividends or liquidating distributions prior to dividends or liquidating distributions being paid on common stock will not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make distributions on Capital Stock and (2) the subordination of loans or advances made to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to other Indebtedness Incurred by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary will not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make loans or advances.

SECTION 4.09 Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock . (a) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable for (collectively, “ incur ” and collectively, an “ incurrence ”) any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) and the Issuer shall not issue any shares of Disqualified Stock and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to issue any shares of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock; provided , however , that the Issuer may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock, and any Restricted Subsidiary may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness), issue shares of Disqualified Stock and issue shares of Preferred Stock, if the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio at the time such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued would have been no greater than 3.50 to 1.00, determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom); provided further , however , that Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors may not incur Indebtedness or issue Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock if, after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence or issuance, more than an aggregate of $300,000,000 at the time of incurrence of such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of such Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors is outstanding pursuant to this Section 4.09(a), clause (12) of Section 4.09(b) with respect to Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of the foregoing and clause (17) of Section 4.09(b).

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

(1) the incurrence of Indebtedness under Credit Facilities by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and the issuance and creation of letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances thereunder (with letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the face amount thereof); provided , however , that immediately after giving effect to any such incurrence, the then outstanding aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness under this clause (1) does not exceed at any one time the sum of (A) $2,150,000,000, plus (B) the greater of (i) $700,000,000 and (ii) the maximum amount of Secured Indebtedness that can be incurred, after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and the use of proceeds therefrom (and after giving effect to any acquisition, disposition, Investment and other transactions contemplated in connection with such incurrence) and assuming the full draw of any revolving commitments in respect thereof and that all Indebtedness incurred under this clause (1) is Secured Indebtedness, so long as the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio (calculated excluding any increase in Eligible Cash resulting from the incurrence of such Indebtedness) does not exceed 2.50 to 1.00, plus (C) in connection with the incurrence of Refinancing Indebtedness to Refinance any Indebtedness incurred under this clause (1), any Indebtedness incurred to pay premiums (including tender premiums), accrued interest, defeasance costs and reasonable fees and expenses in connection therewith;

(2) Indebtedness represented by the Notes (other than any Additional Notes) and any related Guarantees (including any Exchange Notes and Guarantees with respect thereto);

(3) Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries in existence on the Issue Date (other than Indebtedness described in clauses (1) and (2) of this Section 4.09(b)) after giving effect to the Transactions;

(4) (A) Indebtedness (including Capitalized Lease Obligations and Attributable Debt), Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock incurred by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to finance the purchase, lease, construction or improvement of property (real or personal) or equipment, whether through the direct purchase of assets or the Capital Stock of any Person owning such assets, and any Indebtedness incurred to Refinance any such Indebtedness (and successive Refinancings thereof), in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference which, when aggregated with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock

 

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then outstanding under this clause (4)(A), together with the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding pursuant to clause (B) of this clause (4), does not exceed the greater of (x) $300,000,000 and (y) 25.0% of Four Quarter EBITDA at the time of incurrence and (B) any Indebtedness incurred to Refinance Indebtedness incurred under clause (A) of this clause (4) (or successive Refinancings of Indebtedness incurred under this clause (B));

(5) Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries constituting reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances, bank guarantees, warehouse receipts or similar facilities issued or entered into in the ordinary course of business, including letters of credit in respect of workers’ compensation claims, performance or surety bonds, health, disability or other employee benefits, property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement type obligations regarding workers’ compensation claims, performance or surety bonds, health, disability or other employee benefits, or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance;

(6) Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries providing for indemnification, earn-out, holdback, adjustment of purchase price 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) Indebtedness of the Issuer to a Restricted Subsidiary or a Restricted Subsidiary to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any such Indebtedness (other than such as may arise from ordinary course intercompany cash management obligations) owing by the Issuer or a Guarantor to a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the applicable Guarantee, as applicable; and provided further that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Indebtedness constituting a Permitted Lien) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an incurrence of such Indebtedness not permitted by this clause (7);

(8) shares of Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary issued to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event that results in such Preferred Stock being beneficially owned by a Person other than the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such shares of Preferred Stock (except to the Issuer or another of its Restricted Subsidiaries) shall be deemed in each case to be an issuance of such shares of Preferred Stock not permitted by this clause (8);

(9) Hedging Obligations not entered into for speculative purposes;

(10) obligations in respect of workers’ compensation claims, self-insurance, performance, bid, appeal and surety bonds and performance or completion guarantees and similar obligations provided by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or obligations in respect of letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances, bank guarantees or similar instruments related thereto, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

(11) (A) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Issuer and Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of any Guarantor not otherwise permitted under this Indenture in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference, which when aggregated with the outstanding principal amount and liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock then outstanding and incurred pursuant to this clause (11)(A), together with the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding pursuant to clause (B) of this clause (11), does not exceed the greater of (x) $500,000,000 and (y) 50.0% of Four Quarter EBITDA at the time of incurrence and (B) any Indebtedness incurred to Refinance Indebtedness incurred under clause (A) of this clause (11) (or successive Refinancings of Indebtedness incurred under this clause (B));

(12) the incurrence by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of Refinancing Indebtedness that serves to Refinance:

 

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(A) any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred as permitted under Section 4.09(a) and clauses (2), (3) and/or (13) of this Section 4.09(b), or

(B) any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred to so Refinance the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock described in clause (A) of this Section 4.09(b)(12),

including, in each case, additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred to pay premiums (including tender premiums), accrued interest, defeasance costs and reasonable fees and expenses in connection therewith;

(13) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of (x) the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary incurred to finance an acquisition of any assets, business or Person or (y) Persons that are acquired by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary or merged into or consolidated with the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; provided that, after giving effect to such acquisition, merger or consolidation, either:

(A) the Issuer would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.09(a), or

(B) the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio immediately prior to such acquisition, merger or consolidation;

(14) 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 other cash management services in the ordinary course of business; provided that such Indebtedness is extinguished within ten Business Days of notice of its incurrence;

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

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

(B) any guarantee by a Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the Issuer; provided that such guarantee is incurred in accordance with Section 4.14, or

(C) any guarantee by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business in respect of obligations to suppliers, customers, franchisees, lessors and licensees of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(17) (A) Indebtedness of Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount, which when aggregated with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness then outstanding and incurred pursuant to this clause (17)(A) and incurred by Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries pursuant to Section 4.09(a) and clause (12) of Section 4.09(b) with respect to Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of the foregoing, together with the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding pursuant to clause (B) of this clause (17), does not exceed the greater of (x) $300,000,000 and (y) 25.0% of Four Quarter EBITDA at the time of incurrence and (B) any Indebtedness incurred to Refinance Indebtedness incurred under clause (A) of this clause (17) (or successive Refinancings of Indebtedness incurred under this clause (B));

(18) Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries consisting of (i) the financing of insurance premiums or (ii) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

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

(20) Indebtedness consisting of Indebtedness issued by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to current or former officers, directors and employees thereof, their respective estates, spouses or former spouses, in each case to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of the Issuer to the extent permitted under Section 4.07(b)(4).

(c) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.09, in the event that an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of permitted Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock described in clauses (1) through (20) of Section 4.09(b) or is permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(a), the Issuer, in its sole discretion, may divide and/or classify on the date of incurrence such item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this Section 4.09 and may later redivide and/or reclassify (based on circumstances existing at the time of such redivision or reclassification) such item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this Section 4.09; provided that all Indebtedness outstanding under the Senior Credit Facilities on the Issue Date will be treated as incurred on the Issue Date under clause (1) of Section 4.09(b) and will not later be reclassified.

(d) Accrual of interest or dividends, the accretion of accreted value and the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, the payment of dividends in the form of additional shares of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, of the same class, and accretion of original issue discount or liquidation preference will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock for purposes of this Section 4.09. Guarantees of, or obligations in respect of letters of credit relating to, Indebtedness which is otherwise included in the determination of a particular amount of Indebtedness shall 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 in compliance with this Section 4.09.

(e) [Reserved.]

(f) The principal amount of any Indebtedness incurred to Refinance other Indebtedness, if incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness being Refinanced, shall be calculated by the Issuer based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such respective Indebtedness is denominated as in effect on the date of such Refinancing.

(g) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any Guarantor to, directly or indirectly, incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) that is contractually subordinated in right of payment to any Indebtedness of the Issuer or such Guarantor, as the case may be, unless such Indebtedness is contractually subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or such Guarantor’s Guarantee, in all material respects, to the extent and in the manner as such Indebtedness is so subordinated to other Indebtedness of the Issuer or such Guarantor, as the case may be.

SECTION 4.10 Asset Sales . (a) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, consummate an Asset Sale, unless:

(1) the Issuer or any such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of the assets sold or otherwise disposed of; and

(2) except in the case of a Permitted Asset Swap, in the Issuer’s good faith determination, at least 75% of the consideration therefor received by the Issuer or any such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents; provided that the amount of:

 

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(A) any liabilities (as shown on the Issuer’s most recent consolidated 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 Issuer’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 Issuer) of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary (other than Contingent Obligations and liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes or any Guarantee) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets (or are otherwise extinguished by the transferee in connection with the transactions relating to such Asset Sale) and for which the Issuer and all such Restricted Subsidiaries have been released,

(B) any notes or other obligations or securities received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by the Issuer or such 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), in each case, within 180 days following the closing of such Asset Sale, and

(C) any Designated Non-cash Consideration received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary in such Asset Sale having an aggregate fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer taken together with all other Designated Non-cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (C) that is at that time outstanding (but, to the extent that any such Designated Non-Cash Consideration is sold or otherwise liquidated for cash, minus the lesser of (i) the amount of the cash received (less the cost of disposition, if any) and (ii) the initial amount of such Designated Non-Cash Consideration) not to exceed $150,000,000 at the time of receipt, with the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of each item of Designated Non-cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value,

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

(b) Within 450 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds of any Asset Sale, the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, at its option, may apply the Net Proceeds from such Asset Sale,

(1) to permanently reduce:

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

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

(C) Obligations under the Notes ( provided that such purchases are at or above 100% of the principal amount thereof) or any other Pari Passu Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Guarantor (and to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto, if applicable); provided that if such Net Proceeds are applied to other Pari Passu Indebtedness (other than the Senior Credit Facilities or other Secured Indebtedness) then the Issuer shall (i) equally and ratably reduce Obligations under the Notes (x) as provided under Section 3.07 or (y) through open market purchases ( provided that such purchases are at or above 100% of the principal amount thereof) or (ii) make an offer (in accordance with clauses (c), (d) and (e) of this Section 4.10) to all Holders of Notes to purchase their Notes at 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus the amount of accrued but unpaid interest, if any, on the principal amount of Notes that would otherwise be redeemed under clause (i) of this clause (C), or

(D) Indebtedness of a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary, other than Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or

(2) to (A) make an Investment in any one or more businesses; provided that such Investment in any business is in the form of the acquisition of Capital Stock and results in the Issuer or any of its Restricted

 

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Subsidiaries, as the case may be, owning an amount of the Capital Stock of such business such that it constitutes a Restricted Subsidiary, (B) make capital expenditures or (C) acquire, maintain, develop, construct, improve, upgrade or repair businesses, properties and/or assets (other than Equity Interests in a Person that is not, or does not as a result of any such acquisition become, a Restricted Subsidiary) that, in the case of each of (A), (B) and (C) are either (x) used or useful in a Similar Business or (y) replace the businesses, properties and/or assets that are the subject of such Asset Sale;

provided that, in the case of clause (2) above, a binding commitment shall be treated as a permitted application of the Net Proceeds from the date of such commitment so long as the Issuer or such other Restricted Subsidiary enters into such commitment with the good faith expectation that such Net Proceeds will be applied to satisfy such commitment within 180 days of such commitment (an “ Acceptable Commitment ”); and provided further that if any Acceptable Commitment is later cancelled or terminated for any reason before such Net Proceeds are applied, then such Net Proceeds shall constitute Excess Proceeds if not otherwise applied as provided above within 450 days of the receipt of such Net Proceeds; or

(3) any combination of the foregoing.

(c) Any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale that are not invested or applied as provided and within the time period set forth in Section 4.10(b) will be deemed to constitute “ Excess Proceeds ”. When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $50,000,000, the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary shall make an offer to all Holders of the Notes and, if required by the terms of any Pari Passu Indebtedness, to the holders of such Pari Passu Indebtedness (an “ Asset Sale Offer ”) to purchase the maximum aggregate principal amount of the Notes in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof and such Pari Passu Indebtedness that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any (or, in respect of such Pari Passu Indebtedness, such lesser price, if any, as may be provided for or permitted by the terms of such Pari Passu Indebtedness), to the date fixed for the closing of such offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Indenture.

(d) The Issuer shall commence an Asset Sale Offer with respect to Excess Proceeds within ten Business Days after the date that Excess Proceeds exceed $50,000,000 by mailing (or otherwise delivering in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary) the notice required pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, with a copy mailed or electronically transmitted to the Trustee.

(e) To the extent that the aggregate principal amount of Notes and such Pari Passu Indebtedness tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Issuer may use any remaining Excess Proceeds for general corporate purposes, subject to the other covenants contained in this Indenture. If the aggregate amount (determined as above) of Notes and the Pari Passu Indebtedness surrendered in an Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes and the Issuer or the agent for such Pari Passu Indebtedness shall select such Pari Passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis (or as nearly pro rata as practicable) based on the amount (determined as set forth above) of the Notes and such Pari Passu Indebtedness tendered, unless otherwise required by law or the rules of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes or such Pari Passu Indebtedness are listed or by lot or such other similar method in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary; provided that no Notes of $2,000 or less shall be repurchased in part. Upon completion of any such Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero. The Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, at its option in its sole discretion, may make an Asset Sale Offer and satisfy the obligations described under this Section 4.10 with respect to any Excess Proceeds prior to the amount of Excess Proceeds exceeding $50,000,000, in which case, upon completion of any such Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reduced by the amounts of such Excess Proceeds. If any Excess Proceeds remain after the completion of an Asset Sale Offer, the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries may use those Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture.

(f) Pending the final application of any Net Proceeds pursuant to this Section 4.10, the holder of such Net Proceeds may apply such Net Proceeds temporarily to reduce Indebtedness outstanding under a revolving credit facility or otherwise invest such Net Proceeds in any manner not prohibited by this Indenture.

 

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(g) The Issuer shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws or regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Indenture, the Issuer shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations described in this Indenture by virtue thereof.

SECTION 4.11 Transactions with Affiliates . (a) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the Issuer (each of the foregoing, an “ Affiliate Transaction ”) involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $25,000,000, unless:

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

(2) any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $100,000,000 is approved by a majority of the Board of Directors of the Issuer; and

(3) the Issuer delivers to the Trustee, with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $200,000,000, an opinion as to the fairness to the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary of such Affiliate Transaction from a financial point of view issued by an Independent Financial Advisor.

(b) Section 4.11(a) shall not apply to the following:

(1) transactions between or among the Issuer and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (including transactions between or among the Issuer’s Restricted Subsidiaries) (or an entity that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of, or in connection with, such transaction, so long as neither such entity nor the selling entity was an Affiliate of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary prior to such transaction);

(2) Restricted Payments permitted by Section 4.07 or Permitted Investments;

(3) the payment of reasonable fees and compensation paid to, and indemnities and reimbursements and employment, benefit and severance arrangements and agreements provided on behalf of, or entered into with, officers, directors, employees or consultants of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(4) (A) any agreement or arrangement as in effect as of the Issue Date (or transactions pursuant thereto), (B) any other agreements or arrangements pursuant to or in connection with the Transactions or (C) any amendment, modification or supplement to the agreements referenced in clause (A) or (B) above or any replacement thereof, as long as the terms of such agreement or arrangement, as so amended, modified, supplemented or replaced are not materially more disadvantageous to the Holders when taken as a whole compared to the applicable agreements or arrangements as in effect on the Issue Date or as described in the Offering Memorandum, as applicable, as determined in good faith by the Issuer;

(5) [reserved];

(6) transactions with customers, clients, suppliers, 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 and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture, which are fair to the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in the reasonable determination of the Board of Directors of the Issuer or the senior management thereof, or are on terms at least as favorable as might reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party;

 

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(7) the issuance or transfer of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer and the granting of registration and other customary rights in connection therewith;

(8) sales of accounts receivable, or participations therein, in connection with any Receivables Facility;

(9) payments or loans (or cancellation of loans) to employees, directors or consultants of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and employment agreements, benefit plans, equity plans, stock option and stock ownership plans and other similar arrangements with such employees, directors or consultants which, in each case, are approved by the Issuer in good faith;

(10) transactions with joint ventures for the purchase or sale of goods, equipment and services entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(11) transactions in which the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, has delivered to the Trustee a letter from an Independent Financial Advisor stating that such transaction is fair to the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or meets the requirements of clause (1) of Section 4.11(a);

(12) the issuances of securities or other payments, loans (or cancellation of loans), awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment arrangements, benefit plans, equity plans, stock option and stock ownership plans or similar employee benefit plans approved by the Board of Directors of the Issuer in good faith;

(13) any transaction with a Person (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary) that would constitute an Affiliate Transaction solely because the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries owns an Equity Interest in or otherwise controls such Person;

(14) any transaction in which the only consideration paid by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is in the form of Equity Interest (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer to Affiliates of the Issuer or any contribution to the capital of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than in consideration of Disqualified Stock);

(15) the provision to Unrestricted Subsidiaries of cash management, accounting, business and strategic management, legal, human resources, centralized purchasing, leasing and other overhead services (including any necessary or incidental use of equipment, goods or services involving intellectual property that are related to the foregoing) in the ordinary course of business undertaken in good faith and not for the purpose of circumventing any covenant set forth in this Indenture;

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

(17) transactions between the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and any Person that would constitute an Affiliate Transaction solely because a director of which is also a director of the Issuer or any other direct or indirect parent of the Issuer; provided , however , that such director abstains from voting as a director of the Issuer or such direct or indirect parent of the Issuer, as the case may be, on any matter involving such other Person;

(18) payments by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to tax sharing agreements among the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(19) intercompany transactions undertaken in good faith for the purpose of improving the consolidated tax efficiency of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries and not for the purpose of circumventing any covenant set forth herein; and

 

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(20) (A) the guarantee by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Indebtedness of any parent company of the Issuer that becomes the parent company of the Issuer in a Change of Control transaction consummated in accordance with this Indenture, or of any Indebtedness of Subsidiaries of such parent company; provided that such guarantee was permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be incurred and (B) the granting by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of any Liens to secure such Indebtedness or such guarantee; provided that such Liens are permitted to be incurred under this Indenture.

SECTION 4.12 Liens . The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien (except Permitted Liens) that secures obligations under any Indebtedness or any related guarantee, on any asset or property of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary whether now owned or hereafter acquired, unless:

(1) in the case of Liens securing Subordinated Indebtedness, the Notes are (or in the case of a Lien on any asset or property of such Guarantor, its Guarantee is) secured by a Lien on such property, assets or proceeds that is senior in priority to such Liens; or

(2) in the case of Liens securing any other Indebtedness, the Notes are (or in the case of a Lien on any asset or property of such Guarantor, its Guarantee is) secured by an equal and ratable (or prior ranking) Lien on such property, assets or proceeds.

Any Lien created for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes pursuant to this Section 4.12 shall be deemed automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon the release and discharge of the applicable Lien described in clauses (1) and (2) of this Section 4.12.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.12, a Lien securing an item of Indebtedness need not be permitted solely by reference to the second preceding paragraph of this Section 4.12 or to one category (or portion thereof) of the Permitted Liens described in clauses (1) through (38) of the definition of “Permitted Liens” but may be permitted in part under any combination thereof.

With respect to any Lien securing Indebtedness that was permitted to secure such Indebtedness at the time of the incurrence of such Indebtedness, such Lien shall also be permitted to secure any Increased Amount of such Indebtedness. The “Increased Amount” of any Indebtedness shall mean any increase in the amount of such Indebtedness in connection with any accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value, the amortization of original issue discount, the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms or in the form of common equity of a Restricted Subsidiary or any direct or indirect parent of a Restricted Subsidiary, the payment of dividends on Preferred Stock in the form of additional shares of Preferred Stock of the same class, accretion of original issue discount or liquidation preference and increases in the amount of Indebtedness outstanding solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies or increases in the value of property securing Indebtedness described in the definition of “Indebtedness”.

SECTION 4.13 Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control . (a) If a Change of Control occurs after the Issue Date, unless the Issuer has previously or concurrently mailed (or otherwise sent in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary) a redemption notice with respect to all the outstanding Notes as described under Section 3.07, the Issuer shall make an offer to purchase all of the Notes pursuant to the offer described below (the “ Change of Control Offer ”) at a price in cash (the “ Change of Control Payment ”) equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of purchase, subject to the right of Holders of the Notes of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date. Within 30 days following any Change of Control, unless the Issuer has previously or concurrently mailed (or otherwise sent in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary) a redemption notice with respect to all the outstanding Notes as described in Section 3.07 or the Issuer has previously made a Change of Control Offer in connection with such Change of Control, the Issuer shall send notice of such Change of Control Offer by first-class mail, with a copy mailed or electronically transmitted to the Trustee, to each Holder of Notes to the address of such Holder appearing in the security register or otherwise in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary, with the following information:

 

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(1) that a Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 4.13 and that, subject to Section 4.13(a)(7), all Notes properly tendered pursuant to such Change of Control Offer will be accepted for payment by the Issuer;

(2) the purchase price and the purchase date, which will, subject to Section 4.13(a)(7), be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (the “ Change of Control Payment Date ”);

(3) that any Note not properly tendered will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest;

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

(5) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their tendered Notes and their election to require the Issuer to purchase such Notes; provided that the paying agent receives, not later than the expiration time of the Change of Control Offer, a facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder of the Notes, the principal amount of Notes tendered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its tendered Notes and its election to have such Notes purchased;

(6) that if the Holders tender less than all of the Notes, the Holders of the remaining Notes will be issued new Notes and such new Notes will be equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered. The unpurchased portion of the Notes must be equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof;

(7) if such notice is delivered prior to the occurrence of a Change of Control, stating that the Change of Control Offer is conditional on the occurrence of such Change of Control, and if applicable, shall state that, in the Issuer’s discretion, the Change of Control Payment Date may be delayed until such time as the Change of Control shall occur, or that such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that the Issuer shall determine that such condition will not be satisfied by the Change of Control Payment Date or by the Change of Control Payment Date as so delayed; and

(8) the other instructions, as determined by the Issuer, consistent with this Section 4.13, that a Holder must follow.

The Issuer shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws or regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of Notes pursuant to a Change of Control Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Indenture, the Issuer shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Indenture by virtue thereof.

(b) On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Issuer will, to the extent permitted by law,

(1) accept for payment all Notes or portions thereof properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer,

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

(3) deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for cancellation the Notes so accepted together with an Officer’s Certificate to the Trustee stating that such Notes or portions thereof have been tendered to and purchased by the Issuer.

(c) [Reserved].

 

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(d) The Issuer shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer following a Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Section 4.13 and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, a Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, conditional upon such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time of the making of the Change of Control Offer.

(e) Notes repurchased by the Issuer pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will have the status of Notes issued but not outstanding or will be retired and canceled at the option of the Issuer. Notes purchased by a third party pursuant to Section 4.13(d) will have the status of Notes issued and outstanding unless transferred to the Issuer.

SECTION 4.14 Limitation on Guarantees of Indebtedness by Restricted Subsidiaries . The Issuer shall not permit any Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary other than a Guarantor to guarantee the payment of any Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Guarantor unless (x) the aggregate amount of all such Indebtedness guaranteed by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors does not exceed $50,000,000 or (y):

(1) the aggregate amount of all such Indebtedness guaranteed by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors exceeds $50,000,000;

(2) within 45 days after the date that such Indebtedness is guaranteed, such Restricted Subsidiary executes and delivers a supplemental indenture to this Indenture, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit D hereto, providing for a Guarantee by such Restricted Subsidiary, except that with respect to a guarantee of Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor:

(A) if the Notes or such Guarantor’s Guarantee is subordinated in right of payment to such Indebtedness, the Guarantee under the supplemental indenture shall be subordinated to such Restricted Subsidiary’s guarantee with respect to such Indebtedness substantially to the same extent as the Notes or such Guarantor’s Guarantee is subordinated to such Indebtedness; and

(B) if such Indebtedness is by its express terms subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or such Guarantor’s Guarantee, any such guarantee by such Restricted Subsidiary with respect to such Indebtedness shall be subordinated in right of payment to such Restricted Subsidiary’s Guarantee of the Notes substantially to the same extent as such Indebtedness is subordinated to the Notes or such Guarantor’s Guarantee; and

(3) the Issuer shall within such 45 days deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (A) such Guarantee has been duly executed and authorized and (B) such Guarantee constitutes a valid, binding and enforceable obligation of such Restricted Subsidiary, except insofar as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws (including all laws relating to fraudulent transfers) and except insofar as enforcement thereof is subject to general principles of equity;

provided that this Section 4.14 shall not be applicable to any guarantee of any Restricted Subsidiary that existed at the time such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary and was not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary. The Issuer may elect, in its sole discretion, to cause any Subsidiary that is not otherwise required to be a Guarantor to become a Guarantor, in which case such Subsidiary shall not be required to comply with the 45 day periods described in this Section 4.14.

SECTION 4.15 Suspension of Certain Covenants . (a) If at any date following the Issue Date, (1) the Notes have Investment Grade Ratings from both Rating Agencies and (2) no Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture a “ Covenant Suspension Event ” shall be deemed to have occurred. Beginning on the day of a Covenant Suspension Event and ending on a Reversion Date (such period a “ Suspension Period ”) with respect to the Notes, the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall not be subject to Section 4.07, Section 4.08, Section 4.09, Section 4.10, Section 4.11, Section 4.14, Section 4.16, Section 4.17 and clause (4) of Section 5.01(a) (collectively, the “ Suspended Covenants ”).

 

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(b) If on any subsequent date (the “ Reversion Date ”) one or both of the Rating Agencies withdraws its Investment Grade Rating or downgrades the rating assigned to the Notes below an Investment Grade Rating, the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall thereafter again be subject to the Suspended Covenants with respect to future events. The period of time beginning on the day of a Covenant Suspension Event and ending on a Reversion Date is referred to herein as a “ Suspension Period ”.

(c) During any Suspension Period, the Guarantees of the Guarantors will be suspended, and such Guarantees will be reinstated on each Reversion Date. On each Reversion Date, all Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred during the Suspension Period will be classified as having been incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(a) or one of the clauses set forth in Section 4.09(b) (to the extent such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock would be permitted to be incurred thereunder as of the Reversion Date and after giving effect to Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred prior to the Suspension Period and outstanding on the Reversion Date). To the extent such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock would not be so permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(a) or 4.09(b), such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock will be deemed to have been outstanding on the Issue Date, so that it is classified as permitted under Section 4.09(b)(3).

(d) Calculations made after the Reversion Date of the amount available to be made as Restricted Payments in Section 4.07 will be made as though Section 4.07 had been in effect since the Issue Date (but not during the Suspension Period); provided that, during the Suspension Period the Issuer shall not designate any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to be Unrestricted Subsidiaries unless the Issuer would have been permitted to designate such Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary if a Suspension Period had not been in effect for any period. In addition, for purposes of Section 4.11, all agreements, arrangements and transactions entered into by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with an Affiliate of the Issuer during the applicable Suspension Period prior to such Reversion Date will be deemed to have been entered into on or prior to the Issue Date, and for purposes of Section 4.08, all contracts entered into during the applicable Suspension Period prior to such Reversion Date that contain any of the restrictions contemplated by such covenant will be deemed to have been existing on the Issue Date. For purposes of Section 4.10, on the Reversion Date, the unutilized Excess Proceeds amount will be reset to zero.

(e) The Issuer shall deliver promptly to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate notifying it of any Covenant Suspension Event and reinstatement of Suspended Covenants on a Reversion Date under this Section 4.15. The Trustee shall not have any duty to monitor whether or not a Covenant Suspension Event or Reversion Date has occurred or if a Suspension Period has commenced or ended, nor any duty to notify the noteholders of any of the foregoing.

(f) Notwithstanding the reinstatement of the Suspended Covenants on a Reversion Date, no Default or Event of Default or breach of any kind under this Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees shall be deemed to have occurred on such Reversion Date as a result of any actions taken by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries during the Suspension Period (or upon the termination of the Suspension Period or thereafter based solely on events that occurred during the Suspension Period) to the extent such actions were permitted under this Indenture during the Suspension Period, and none of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries shall bear any liability for any actions taken or events occurring during the applicable Suspension Period to the extent such actions were permitted under this Indenture during the Suspension Period, regardless of whether such actions or events would have been permitted if the applicable Suspended Covenants remained in effect during such period. On and after each Reversion Date, the Issuer and its Subsidiaries shall be permitted to consummate the transactions contemplated by any contract entered into during any Suspension Period so long as such contract and such consummation would have been permitted during such Suspension Period.

SECTION 4.16 Limitation on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions . The Issuer will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, enter into any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction; provided, that the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary may enter into a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction if:

(1) the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, could have (a) incurred Indebtedness in an amount equal to the Attributable Debt relating to such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction under Section 4.09 and (b) incurred a Lien to secure such Indebtedness without equally and ratably securing the Notes pursuant to Section 4.12; and

 

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(2) the transfer of assets in such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction is permitted by, and the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary applies the proceeds of such transaction in compliance with, Section 4.10.

SECTION 4.17 Limitations on Business Activities . The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, engage in any business other than Similar Businesses, except as would not be material to the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

ARTICLE V

Successors

SECTION 5.01 Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets . (a) The Issuer shall not consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into, or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

(1) the Issuer is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, merger or wind up (if other than the Issuer) or the Person to whom such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a corporation, partnership (including a limited partnership), trust or limited liability company organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state or commonwealth thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof (such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “ Successor Company ”); provided that, if such Person is not a corporation, another Person that is a corporation organized or existing under such laws becomes a co-obligor of the Notes;

(2) the Successor Company, if other than the Issuer, expressly assumes all the obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture, the Notes and the Registration Rights Agreement pursuant to a supplemental indenture;

(3) immediately after such transaction, no Default exists;

(4) immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction and any related financing transactions:

(A) the Successor Company would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.09(a); or

(B) the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio for the Successor Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be less than or equal to such ratio for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction; and

(5) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indentures, if any, comply with this Indenture; provided that in giving an Opinion of Counsel, counsel may rely on an Officer’s Certificate as to any matters of fact, including as to satisfaction of clauses (3) and (4) above.

The Successor Company shall succeed to, and be substituted for, the Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes and the Issuer shall automatically be released and discharged from its obligations under this Indenture and the Notes except in the case of a lease. Notwithstanding the foregoing clauses (3), (4) and (5), which do not apply to transactions referred to in this sentence:

(A) any Restricted Subsidiary may consolidate with, merge into or wind up into, or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions to, the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, and

 

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(B) the Issuer may merge with an Affiliate of the Issuer solely for the purpose or effect of reorganizing the Issuer in a state or commonwealth of the United States, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof.

(b) No Guarantor shall, and the Issuer shall not permit any such Guarantor to, consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into, or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

(1) (A) such Guarantor is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, merger or wind up (if other than such Guarantor) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a Person organized or existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of such Guarantor, as the case may be, or the laws of the United States, any state or commonwealth thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof (such Guarantor or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “ Successor Guarantor ”);

(B) the Successor Guarantor, if other than such Guarantor or another Guarantor, expressly assumes all the obligations of such Guarantor under this Indenture and such Guarantor’s related Guarantee pursuant to supplemental indentures; and

(C) immediately after such transaction, no Default exists; or

(2) the consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition complies with Section 4.10.

In the case of clause (1) above, the Successor Guarantor will succeed to, and be substituted for, such Guarantor under this Indenture and such Guarantor’s Guarantee and, except in the case of a lease, such Guarantor will automatically be released and discharged from its obligations under this Indenture and such Guarantor’s Guarantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (A) any Guarantor may merge into or transfer all or substantially all of its properties or assets to another Guarantor or the Issuer and (B) any Guarantor may merge with an Affiliate of the Guarantor solely for the purpose or effect of reorganizing the Guarantor in a state or commonwealth of the United States, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof.

SECTION 5.02 Successor Corporation Substituted . Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer, in accordance with Section 5.01, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or with which the Issuer is merged or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the provisions of this Indenture referring to the Issuer shall refer instead to the successor Person and not to the Issuer), and may exercise every right and power of the Issuer under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Issuer herein; provided that the predecessor Issuer shall not be relieved from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest, if any, on the Notes except in the case of a sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of all of the assets of the predecessor Issuer (except in the case of a lease), that meets the requirements of Section 5.01.

ARTICLE VI

Defaults and Remedies

SECTION 6.01 Events of Default . (a) An “ Event of Default ” wherever used herein means any one of the following events with respect to the Notes:

(1) default in payment when due and payable, upon redemption, acceleration or otherwise, of principal of the Notes;

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

 

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(3) failure by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary for 60 days after receipt of written notice given by the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding to comply with any of its other obligations, covenants or agreements (other than a default referred to in clause (1) or (2) of this Section 6.01(a)) contained in this Indenture or the Notes;

(4) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there is issued or by which there is secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, other than Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists or is created after the issuance of the Notes, if both:

(A) such default either results from the failure to pay any principal of such Indebtedness at its stated final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods) or relates to an obligation other than the obligation to pay principal of any such Indebtedness at its stated final maturity and results in the holder or holders of such Indebtedness causing such Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity; and

(B) the principal amount of such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness in default for failure to pay principal at stated final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods), or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregate $150,000,000 or more;

(5) failure by the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $150,000,000 (other than any judgments covered by indemnities provided by, or insurance policies issued by, reputable and creditworthy companies), which final judgments remain unpaid, undischarged and unstayed for a period of more than 60 days after such judgment becomes final, and in the event such judgment is not covered by an indemnity or insurance, an enforcement proceeding has been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or decree which is not promptly stayed;

(6) the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

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

(ii) consents to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under applicable Bankruptcy Law;

(iii) consents to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee or other similar official of it or for all or substantially all of its property;

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

(v) makes an admission in writing of its inability generally to pay its debts as they become due;

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

(i) is for relief against the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary in a proceeding in which the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary is to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent;

(ii) appoints a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee or other similar official of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of the property of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary; or

(iii) orders the liquidation of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary;

 

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

(8) the Guarantee of any Significant Subsidiary shall for any reason cease to be in full force and effect (except as otherwise not prohibited by this Indenture) or be declared null and void or any responsible officer of such Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary denies that it has any further liability under its Guarantee or gives notice to such effect, in each case other than by reason of the termination of this Indenture or the release of any such Guarantee in accordance with this Indenture.

(b) The Trustee may withhold from the Holders notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default, except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of principal or interest, if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest.

SECTION 6.02 Acceleration . (a) If any Event of Default (other than of a type specified in clause (6) or (7) of Section 6.01(a) with respect to the Issuer) occurs and is continuing under this Indenture, the Trustee (acting at the direction of the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then total outstanding Notes) or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then total outstanding Notes may declare the principal of, and accrued but unpaid interest, if any, on, all the then outstanding Notes to be due and payable immediately.

Upon the effectiveness of such declaration, such principal and any accrued and unpaid interest on all the then outstanding Notes will be due and payable immediately. The Trustee shall have no obligation to accelerate the Notes if in the reasonable judgment of the Trustee acceleration is not in the best interest of the Holders of the Notes.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising under clause (6) or (7) of Section 6.01(a) with respect to the Issuer, the principal of, and accrued but unpaid interest, if any, on, all the then outstanding Notes shall become due and payable without further action or notice.

SECTION 6.03 Other Remedies . Subject to the duties of the Trustee as provided for in Article VII, if an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture.

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

SECTION 6.04 Waiver of Defaults . (a) Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under this Indenture, except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of interest on or the principal of any Note held by a non-consenting Holder, and rescind any acceleration and its consequences with respect to the Notes (except if such recession would conflict with any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction).

(b) In the event of any Event of Default specified in clause (4) of Section 6.01(a), such Event of Default and all consequences thereof (excluding any resulting payment default, other than as a result of acceleration of the Notes) shall be annulled, waived and rescinded, automatically and without any action by the Trustee or the Holders, if within 20 days after such Event of Default arose:

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

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

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

 

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SECTION 6.05 Control by Majority . Holders of a majority in principal amount of the total outstanding Notes may direct in writing the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or the Notes or that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder of a Note (it being understood that the Trustee has no affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not such actions or forbearances are unduly prejudicial to such Holders) or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability. Except during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Trustee will perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture.

SECTION 6.06 Limitation on Suits . Subject to the provisions of this Indenture relating to the duties of the Trustee hereunder, in case an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers under this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders of the Notes unless the Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense. Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal or interest when due, no Holder of a Note may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes unless:

(1) such Holder has previously given the Trustee written notice that an Event of Default is continuing with respect to the Notes;

(2) Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the total outstanding Notes have requested the Trustee in writing to pursue the remedy;

(3) Holders of the Notes have offered the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense;

(4) the Trustee has not complied with such written request within 60 days after the receipt thereof and the offer of security or indemnity against any loss, liability or expense; and

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

SECTION 6.07 Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder of a Note to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Note (including in connection with an Asset Sale Offer or a Change of Control Offer), or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

SECTION 6.08 Collection Suit by Trustee . If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a)(1)or (2) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Issuer and any other obligor on the Notes for the whole amount of principal of, premium, if any, and interest remaining unpaid on the Notes and interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful, interest and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation of the Trustee and the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, in each case as set forth in Section 7.07.

SECTION 6.09 Restoration of Rights and Remedies . If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceedings, the Issuer, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions under this Indenture and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding has been instituted.

SECTION 6.10 Rights and Remedies Cumulative . Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes in Section 2.07, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy,

 

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and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given under this Indenture or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

SECTION 6.11 Delay or Omission Not Waiver . No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Note to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.

SECTION 6.12 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim . The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuer (or any other obligor upon the Notes including the Guarantors), its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to participate as a member in any official committee of creditors appointed in such matter and to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation and the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 out of the estate in any such proceeding shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

SECTION 6.13 Priorities . If the Trustee or any Agent collects any money pursuant to this Article VI, it shall pay out the money in the following order:

(i) to the Trustee, the Agents, their agents and attorneys for amounts due under this Indenture, including payment of all compensation, expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee or any Agent and the costs and expenses of collection;

(ii) to Holders of Notes for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, respectively; and

(iii) to the Issuer or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct including a Guarantor, if applicable.

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Section 6.13. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this Section 6.13, the Trustee shall cause notice of such record date and payment date to be given to the Issuer and to each Holder.

SECTION 6.14 Undertaking for Costs . In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 6.14 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder of a Note pursuant to Section 6.07, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.

 

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ARTICLE VII

Trustee

SECTION 7.01 Duties of Trustee . (a) During the continuance of an Event of Default, the Trustee shall exercise such rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs under the circumstances.

(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

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

(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, in the case of any such certificates, opinions or other instruments that by any provision are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine the certificates, opinions or other such instruments to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculation or other facts stated therein).

(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

(i) this clause (c) does not limit the effect of clause (b) of this Section 7.01;

(ii) the Trustee shall not be liable in its individual capacity for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved in a court of competent jurisdiction that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;

(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable in its individual capacity with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05; and

(iv) no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or indemnity satisfactory to it against such risk or liability is not assured to it.

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

(e) Subject to this Article VII, whether or not an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers under this Indenture or the Notes at the request or direction of any Holder or Holders of the Notes unless such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense (including any actions in respect thereof).

(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Issuer. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

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SECTION 7.02 Rights of Trustee . (a) The Trustee may conclusively rely upon and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, Officer’s Certificate, Opinion of Counsel, statement, certificate, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent order, appraisal, bond or any other document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Issuer, personally or by agent or attorney at the sole cost of the Issuer and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.

(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officer’s Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officer’s Certificates or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under this Indenture in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel.

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

(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture or the Notes; provided , however , that the Trustee’s conduct does not constitute willful misconduct or gross negligence.

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

(f) None of the provisions of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise to incur any liability, financial or otherwise, in the performance of any of its duties under this Indenture, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or indemnity satisfactory to it against such risk or liability is not assured to it.

(g) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice or knowledge of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event that is in fact such a Default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture.

(h) In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

(i) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities under this Indenture, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act under this Indenture.

(j) The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties under this Indenture.

(k) The Trustee may request that the Issuer delivers a certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture.

(l) The right of the Trustee to perform any discretionary or permissive act enumerated in this Indenture shall not be construed as a duty, and the Trustee shall not be answerable for other than its negligence or willful misconduct in performance of such act.

 

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SECTION 7.03 Individual Rights of Trustee . The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Issuer or any Affiliate of the Issuer with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11.

SECTION 7.04 Trustee s Disclaimer . The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for the Issuer’s use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to the Issuer or upon the Issuer’s direction under any provision of this Indenture, it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it shall not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes or any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes or pursuant to this Indenture other than its certificate of authentication.

SECTION 7.05 Notice of Defaults . If a Default occurs and is continuing and is actually known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to Holders of Notes a notice of the Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a Default relating to the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold from the Holders notice of any continuing Default if it determines that withholding notice is in the interest of the Holders of the Notes. The Trustee shall not be deemed to know of any Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event that is such a Default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

SECTION 7.06 Reports by Trustee to Holders . If this Indenture is qualified under the TIA, then within 60 days after each November 15 beginning with November 15, 2018, and for so long as Notes remain outstanding, the Trustee will mail or deliver electronically to the Holders a brief report dated as of such reporting date that complies with TIA § 313(a) (but if no event described in TIA § 313(a) has occurred within the 12 months preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted). If this Indenture is qualified under the TIA, the Trustee also will comply with TIA § 313(b). If this Indenture is qualified under the TIA, the Trustee will also transmit by mail or deliver electronically all reports in the manner required by TIA § 313(c).

SECTION 7.07 Compensation and Indemnity .

(a) The Issuer shall pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services under this Indenture as the parties shall agree in writing from time to time. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Issuer shall reimburse the Trustee promptly upon request for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.

(b) The Issuer and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, shall indemnify the Trustee for, and hold the Trustee harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claims, liability or expense (including reasonable and documented out-of-pocket attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by it (as evidenced in an invoice from the Trustee) in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust and the performance of its duties under this Indenture (including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Issuer or any of the Guarantors (including this Section 7.07) or defending itself against any claim whether asserted by any Holder, the Issuer or any Guarantor, or liability in connection with the acceptance, exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties under this Indenture). The Trustee shall notify the Issuer promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Issuer shall not relieve the Issuer of its obligations under this Indenture. The Issuer shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall provide reasonable cooperation at the Issuer’s expense in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Issuer shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel. The Issuer need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense incurred by the Trustee through the Trustee’s own willful misconduct or negligence or any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

(c) The obligations of the Issuer under this Section 7.07 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or the earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee.

 

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(d) To secure the payment obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantors in this Section 7.07, the Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal and interest on particular Notes. Such Lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

(e) When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a)(6) or (7) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

(f) The Trustee will comply with the provisions of TIA § 313(b)(2) to the extent applicable.

SECTION 7.08 Replacement of Trustee . A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 7.08. The Trustee may resign in writing at any time and be discharged from the trust hereby created by so notifying the Issuer. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Issuer in writing. The Issuer may remove the Trustee if:

(a) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;

(b) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;

(c) a receiver, custodian or other public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

(d) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of the Trustee for any reason, the Issuer shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Issuer.

If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee (at the Issuer’s expense), the Issuer or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder who has been a Holder for at least six months, fails to comply with Section 7.10, such Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Issuer. Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to Holders. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee; provided all sums owing to the Trustee under this Indenture have been paid and subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.07. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Issuer’s obligations under Section 7.07 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

SECTION 7.09 Successor Trustee by Merger, etc . If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation or national banking association, the successor corporation or national banking association without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.

In case at the time such successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture any of the Notes shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee, and deliver such Notes so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Notes shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Notes either in the name of any predecessor under this Indenture or in the name of the successor to the Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Notes or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have.

 

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SECTION 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification . There shall at all times be a Trustee under this Indenture that is a corporation or national banking association organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities and that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.

This Indenture will always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA § 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee is subject to TIA§ 310(b).

SECTION 7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Issuer . The Trustee is subject to TIA § 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA § 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA § 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.

SECTION 7.12 Email . U.S. Bank National Association (in each of its capacities, “ U.S. Bank ”) agrees to accept and act upon instructions or directions pursuant to this Indenture or any documents executed in connection herewith sent by unsecured email, facsimile transmission or other similar unsecured electronic methods, provided, however, that any person providing such instructions or directions shall provide to U.S. Bank an incumbency certificate listing persons designated to provide such instructions or directions (including the email addresses of such persons), which incumbency certificate shall be amended whenever a person is added or deleted from the listing. If such person elects to give U.S. Bank email (of .pdf or similar files) or facsimile instructions (or instructions by a similar electronic method) and U.S. Bank in its discretion elects to act upon such instructions, U.S. Bank’s reasonable understanding of such instructions shall be deemed controlling. U.S. Bank shall not be liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from U.S. Bank’s reliance upon and compliance with such instructions notwithstanding such instructions conflicting with or being inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction. Any person providing such instructions or directions agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of such electronic methods to submit instructions and directions to U.S. Bank, including without limitation the risk of U.S. Bank acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties.

ARTICLE VIII

Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

SECTION 8.01 Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance . The Issuer may, at its option and at any time, elect to have either Section 8.02 or 8.03 applied to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article VIII.

SECTION 8.02 Legal Defeasance and Discharge . Upon the Issuer’s exercise under Section 8.01 of the option applicable to this Section 8.02, the Issuer and the Guarantors shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04, be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to this Indenture, all outstanding Notes and Guarantees and to have cured all then existing Events of Default on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (“ Legal Defeasance ”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Issuer shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.05 and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in (a) and (b) below, to have satisfied all their other obligations under the Notes and this Indenture including that of the Guarantors and to have cured all then existing Events of Default (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Issuer, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged under this Indenture:

(a) the rights of Holders of Notes to receive payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes when such payments are due solely out of the trust created pursuant to Section 8.05 and the Notes;

 

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(b) the Issuer’s obligations pursuant to Sections 2.03, 2.04, 2.07, 2.08, 2.10 and 4.02 and the Notes;

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

(d) the provisions of this Section 8.02 and the Notes.

Subject to compliance with this Article VIII, the Issuer may exercise its option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.03.

SECTION 8.03 Covenant Defeasance . Upon the Issuer’s exercise under Section 8.01 of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Issuer and the Guarantors shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04, be released from their obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14, 4.16 and 4.17 and clauses (4) and (5) of Section 5.01(a), Sections 5.01(b) and 5.01(c) with respect to the outstanding Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 are 104 satisfied (“ Covenant Defeasance ”), and such Notes shall thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes under this Indenture (it being understood that such Notes shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to such outstanding Notes, the Issuer or any Guarantor, as applicable, may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.01, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and the Notes shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Issuer’s exercise under Section 8.01 of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04, Sections 6.01(a)(3), 6.01(a)(4), 6.01(a)(5), 6.01(a)(6) (solely with respect to Significant Subsidiaries), 6.01(a)(7) (solely with respect to Significant Subsidiaries) and 6.01(a)(8) shall not constitute Events of Default.

SECTION 8.04 Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance . The following shall be the conditions to the application of either Section 8.02 or 8.03 to the outstanding Notes:

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance with respect to this Indenture and the Notes:

(1) the Issuer must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, cash in U.S. dollars, Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of Independent Financial Advisors, to pay the principal amount of, premium, if any, and interest due on the Notes on the stated maturity date or on the Redemption Date, as the case may be, of such principal amount, premium, if any, or interest on such Notes and the Issuer must specify whether the Notes are being defeased to maturity or to a particular Redemption Date;

(2) in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions,

(a) the Issuer has received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or

(b) since the issuance of the Notes, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law,

in either case to the effect that, and based thereon, such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the Holders of the Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as applicable, as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

 

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

(4) no Default (other than that resulting from borrowing funds to be applied to make such deposit and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness, and, in each case the granting of Liens in connection therewith) shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit with respect to this Indenture and the Notes;

(5) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under the Senior Credit Facilities or any other material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which, the Issuer or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Issuer or any Guarantor is bound (other than that resulting from borrowing of funds to be applied to make such deposit and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith);

(6) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Issuer with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any creditors of the Issuer or any Guarantor or others; and

(7) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel (which Opinion of Counsel may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions), each stating that all conditions precedent provided for or relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, have been complied with.

SECTION 8.05 Deposited Money and Government Securities to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions . Subject to the provisions of Section 8.06, all money and Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.04 shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of the Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Issuer or a Guarantor acting as Paying Agent) to the Holders of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee.

The Issuer shall pay and indemnify the Trustee and any Paying Agent against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.04 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.

SECTION 8.06 Repayment to Issuer . Anything in this Article VIII or Article XI to the contrary notwithstanding, each of the Trustee and each Paying Agent shall promptly deliver or pay to the Issuer upon request any money or Government Securities held by it in accordance with this Article VIII or Article XI which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee and Paying Agent (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.04(1)), are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance, Covenant Defeasance or discharge in accordance with Article XI.

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Issuer, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, and premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Issuer on its written request or (if then held by the Issuer) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter look only to the Issuer for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or any Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Issuer as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease.

 

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SECTION 8.07 Reinstatement . If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any United States dollars or Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Issuer’s and the Guarantors’ obligations under this Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.02 or 8.03 until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03, as the case may be; provided that, if the Issuer makes any payment of principal of, premium or interest on any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuer shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or the Paying Agent.

ARTICLE IX

Amendment, Supplement and Waiver

SECTION 9.01 Without Consent of Holders of Notes . Notwithstanding Section 9.02, the Issuer, any Guarantor (with respect to a Guarantee or this Indenture) and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture and any Guarantee or the Notes without the consent of any Holder:

(1) to cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency;

(2) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes;

(3) to comply with Section 5.01;

(4) to provide for the assumption of the Issuer’s or any Guarantor’s obligations to the Holders;

(5) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders or that in the good faith judgment of the Issuer does not materially adversely affect the legal rights under this Indenture of any such Holder;

(6) to add covenants for the benefit of the Holders or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Issuer or any Guarantor;

(7) to comply with requirements of the SEC or to comply with the rules of any applicable securities depository;

(8) to evidence and provide for the acceptance and appointment under this Indenture of a successor Trustee thereunder pursuant to the requirements thereof;

(9) to add or release a Guarantor under this Indenture or to secure the Obligations under this Indenture;

(10) to make such provisions as necessary for the issuance of Additional Notes otherwise permitted to be issued under this Indenture;

(11) to conform the text of this Indenture, the Guarantees or the Notes to any provision of the “ Description of Notes ” section of the Offering Memorandum, as set forth in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee; or

(12) to add to, change, eliminate or otherwise amend provisions of this Indenture, the Guarantees or the Notes in accordance with the TIA or to comply with the provisions of the DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream or the Trustee with respect to provisions relating to the transfer, exchange or legending of Notes or beneficial interests in the Notes as permitted by this Indenture, including to facilitate the issuance and administration of the Notes; provided , however , that (i) compliance with this Indenture as so amended would not result in Notes being transferred in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable securities law and (ii) such amendment in the good faith judgment of the Issuer does not materially and adversely affect the rights of Holders to transfer Notes.

 

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SECTION 9.02 With Consent of Holders of Notes . Except as provided in Section 9.01 or below in this Section 9.02, the Issuer and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture, any Guarantee and the Notes with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, the Notes), and, subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07, any existing Default or Event of Default (other than a continuing Default in the payment of interest on, premium, if any, or the principal of, any Note, except a payment default resulting from an acceleration that has been rescinded) or compliance with any provision of this Indenture or the Notes issued under this Indenture may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, the Notes). Sections 2.08 and 2.09 shall determine which Notes are considered to be “ outstanding ” for the purposes of this Section 9.02.

The consent of the Holders of Notes under this Section 9.02 is not necessary under this Indenture to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment. It is sufficient if such consent approves the substance of the proposed amendment.

After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Issuer shall deliver electronically or mail to the Holders of Notes affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Issuer to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amendment, supplement or waiver.

Without the consent of each affected Holder of Notes, an amendment or waiver may not, with respect to Notes held by a non-consenting Holder:

(1) reduce the principal amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

(2) reduce the principal amount of or change the fixed final maturity of any Note or reduce the premium payable upon redemption or change the time at which such Note may be redeemed (excluding any amendment or waiver of any minimum notice period for redemption which may be amended with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority of the Notes then outstanding) as described under Section 3.07;

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

(4) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of or interest on the Notes, except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of Notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration;

(5) make any Note payable in money other than that stated therein;

(6) make any change in the provisions of this Indenture and the Notes relating to waivers of past Defaults or Events of Default or the rights of Holders to receive payments of principal of or interest on the Notes;

(7) make any change in these amendment and waiver provisions as it relates to this Indenture and the Notes;

(8) impair the contractual right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of, or interest on such Holder’s Notes on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holder’s Notes;

(9) make any change to or modify the ranking as to contractual right of payment of the Notes that would adversely affect the Holders; or

(10) except as expressly permitted by this Indenture, modify the terms of the Guarantees of any Significant Subsidiary in any manner adverse to the Holders of the Notes.

 

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SECTION 9.03 Compliance with Trust Indenture Act . Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes will be set forth in an amended or supplemental Indenture that complies with the TIA as then in effect, if this Indenture is then qualified under the TIA.

SECTION 9.04 Revocation and Effect of Consents . Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Note is a continuing consent by the Holder of a Note and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Note. However, any such Holder of a Note or subsequent Holder of a Note may revoke the consent as to its Note if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before the earlier of the date the waiver, supplement or amendment becomes effective and the date on which the Trustee receives an Officer’s Certificate from the Issuer certifying that the requisite principal amount of Notes have consented. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.

The Issuer may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to consent to any amendment, supplement, or waiver. If a record date is fixed, then, notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only such Persons, shall be entitled to consent to such amendment, supplement, or waiver or to revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date.

SECTION 9.05 Notation on or Exchange of Notes . If an amendment changes the terms of a Note, the Trustee may require the Holder of the Note to deliver it to the Trustee so an appropriate notation may be reflected therein. The Trustee may also place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. Alternatively, the Issuer in exchange for all Notes may issue and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.

Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note shall not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

SECTION 9.06 Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc . Upon the request of the Issuer, the Trustee shall sign any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article IX if the amendment, supplement or waiver does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. If it does, the Trustee may but need not sign it. In executing any amendment, supplement or waiver, the Trustee (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon, in addition to the documents required by Section 12.04, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amendment, supplement or waiver is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that such amendment, supplement or waiver is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Issuer and any Guarantors party thereto, enforceable against them in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions. No Opinion of Counsel will be required by the immediately preceding sentence for the Trustee to execute any amendment or supplement adding a new Guarantor under this Indenture.

SECTION 9.07 Payment for Consent . The Issuer will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration to or for the benefit of any Holder of Notes for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture or the Notes unless such consideration is offered to be paid to all Holders of the Notes that consent, waive or agree to amend in the time frame set forth in the solicitation documents relating to such consent, waiver or agreement.

ARTICLE X

Guarantees

SECTION 10.01 Guarantee . Subject to this Article X, each of the Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, unconditionally guarantees to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes or the obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture or thereunder: (a) the performance and full and punctual payment when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, of all obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes, whether for payment of principal of or interest on the Notes, expenses, indemnification or otherwise, on the terms set forth in this Indenture; and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or

 

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any of such other obligations, that same shall be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed or any performance so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors shall be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. Each Guarantor agrees that this is a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection.

The Guarantors hereby agree that their obligations under this Indenture shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Notes with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Issuer, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor. Each Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Issuer, any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuer, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that this Guarantee shall not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Notes and this Indenture.

If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Issuer, the Guarantors or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to either the Issuer or the Guarantors, any amount paid either to the Trustee or such Holder, this Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect.

Each Guarantor also agrees to pay any and all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including reasonable and documented out-of-pocket attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by the Trustee or any Holder in enforcing any rights under this Section 10.01.

Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article VI for the purposes of this Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article VI, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for the purpose of this Guarantee. Any Guarantor that makes a payment under its Guarantee shall be entitled, upon payment in full of all guaranteed obligations under this Indenture, to a contribution from each other Guarantor in an amount equal to such other Guarantor’s pro rata portion of such payment based on the respective net assets of all the Guarantors at the time of such payment determined in accordance with GAAP.

Each Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective should any petition be filed by or against the Issuer for liquidation, reorganization, should the Issuer become insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of creditors or should a receiver or trustee be appointed for all or any significant part of the Issuer’s assets, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment and performance of the Notes are, pursuant to applicable law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any obligee on the Notes or Guarantees, whether as a voidable preference, fraudulent transfer or otherwise, all as though such payment or performance had not been made. In the event that any payment or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Notes shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.

In case any provision of any Guarantee shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

Each payment to be made by a Guarantor in respect of its Guarantee shall be made without set-off, counterclaim, reduction or diminution of any kind or nature.

 

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SECTION 10.02 Limitation on Guarantor Liability . Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Guarantee of such Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to any Guarantee. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, the Holders and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of each Guarantor shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor that are relevant under such laws and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under this Article X, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under applicable law.

SECTION 10.03 Notation Not Required . Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the absence of the endorsement of any notation of such Guarantee on the Notes.

The delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof under this Indenture, shall constitute due delivery of the Guarantee set forth in this Indenture on behalf of the Guarantors.

SECTION 10.04 Subrogation . Each Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of Holders of Notes against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid by any Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of Section 10.01; provided that, no Guarantor shall be entitled to enforce or receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until all obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes shall have been paid in full.

SECTION 10.05 Benefits Acknowledged . Each Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by this Indenture and that the guarantee and waivers made by it pursuant to its Guarantee are knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.

SECTION 10.06 Release of Guarantees . A Guarantee by a Guarantor shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged, and no further action by such Subsidiary Guarantor, the Issuer or the Trustee is required for the release of such Guarantor’s Guarantee upon (a) receipt by the Trustee of a notification from the Issuer that such Guarantee be released and (b) the occurrence of any of the following:

(1) any direct or indirect sale, exchange, disposition or other transfer (including by merger, consolidation or otherwise) of (A) the Capital Stock of such Guarantor, after which such Guarantor is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary or (B) all or substantially all the assets of such Guarantor, which sale, exchange, disposition or other transfer is made in a manner not in violation of the applicable provisions of this Indenture;

(2) (A) the release or discharge of the guarantee by such Guarantor of the Senior Credit Facilities or (B) the release or discharge of the guarantee which resulted in the creation of such Guarantee, in each case except a release or discharge by or as a result of payment under such guarantee;

(3) designation of any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the provisions set forth under Section 4.07 and the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary” in this Indenture;

(4) the Issuer’s exercise of its legal defeasance option or covenant defeasance option as described under Article VIII or the Issuer’s obligations under this Indenture being discharged in a manner not in violation of Article XI; or

(5) the occurrence of a Covenant Suspension Event as described in Section 4.15; provided that such Guarantee will be reinstated upon the applicable Reversion Date in accordance with Section 4.15(c).

A Guarantee by a Guarantor shall also be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged pursuant to Section 4.15(c).

If any Guarantor is released from its Guarantee, any of its Subsidiaries that are Guarantors will also be released from their Guarantees, if any.

 

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Upon request of the Issuer, the Trustee shall evidence such release by its execution of a supplemental indenture or other instrument which may be executed by the Trustee and the Issuer without the consent of any Holder, upon receipt of an Opinion of Counsel and Officer’s Certificate as required by this Indenture.

ARTICLE XI

Satisfaction and Discharge

SECTION 11.01 Satisfaction and Discharge . This Indenture and the Notes shall be discharged and shall cease to be of further effect (except as provided in the last sentence of this Section), when either:

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

(2) (a) all Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the making of a notice of redemption or otherwise, will become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption and redeemed within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Issuer, and the Issuer or any Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes cash in U.S. dollars, Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient (in the Trustee’s sole discretion) without consideration of any reinvestment of interest to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest to the date of maturity or redemption;

(b) the Issuer has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable by it under this Indenture and the Notes; and

(c) the Issuer has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes at maturity or the Redemption Date, as the case may be.

In addition, the Issuer must deliver an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been satisfied.

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (a) of clause (2) of this Section 11.01, the provisions of Section 11.02 and Section 8.06 shall survive.

SECTION 11.02 Application of Trust Money . Subject to the provisions of Section 8.06, all money and Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 11.01 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Issuer or any Guarantor acting as the Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee; but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Government Securities in accordance with Section 11.01 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Issuer’s and any Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 11.01 until such time as the Trustee or any Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money or Government Securities in accordance with Section 11.01; provided that if the Issuer has made any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuer shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or Government Securities held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

 

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ARTICLE XII

Miscellaneous

SECTION 12.01 Trust Indenture Act Controls . If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by TIA § 318(c), the imposed duties will control if this Indenture is then qualified under the TIA.

SECTION 12.02 Notices . Any notice or communication by the Issuer, any Guarantor, the Trustee or any Paying Agent to the others is duly given if in writing and delivered in person, electronically transmitted (in the form of a .pdf or other similar file of a signed document and only in the case of notices or communications to the Trustee) or mailed by first-class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested) or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others’ address:

If to the Issuer and/or any Guarantor:

Meredith Corporation

1716 Locust Street

Des Moines, Iowa 50309-3023

Attention: General Counsel

If to the Trustee, at the applicable Corporate Trust Office.

The Issuer, any Guarantor, the Trustee or any Paying Agent, by notice to the others, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five calendar days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed by first-class mail (or in the case of Notes in global form, on the date the notice is sent pursuant to the applicable procedures of the Depositary); the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery; and on the first date of which publication is made, if given by publication; and when sent, if sent electronically; provided that any notice or communication delivered to the Trustee shall be deemed effective upon actual receipt thereof.

Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be mailed by first-class mail (certified or registered, return receipt requested) or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the register kept by the Registrar or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary. Any notice or communication will also be so mailed to any Person described in TIA § 313(c), to the extent required by the TIA. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.

If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

If the Issuer mails a notice or communication to Holders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

SECTION 12.03 Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes . Holders may communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes. The Issuer, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA § 312(c).

SECTION 12.04 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent . Upon any request or application by the Issuer or any of the Guarantors to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture (except in connection with the original issuance of the Notes), the Issuer or such Guarantor, as the case may be, shall furnish to the Trustee (except as set forth in Section 9.06):

 

93


(a) an Officer’s Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 12.05) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and

(b) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 12.05) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied.

In giving any Opinion of Counsel under this Indenture, counsel may rely as to factual matters on an Officer’s Certificate or certificates of public officials.

SECTION 12.05 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion . Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to Section 4.04) shall include:

(a) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

(c) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with (which examination or investigation, in the case of an Opinion of Counsel, may be limited to reliance on an Officer’s Certificate as to matters of fact or certificates of public officials); and

(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with; provided , however , that with respect to matters of fact an Opinion of Counsel may rely on an Officer’s Certificate or certificates of public officials.

SECTION 12.06 Rules by Agents . The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

SECTION 12.07 No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders . No director, officer, employee, incorporator, member or stockholder of the Issuer or any Guarantor, in their capacity as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer or the Guarantors under the Notes, the Guarantees or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting Notes waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

SECTION 12.08 Governing Law . THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND ANY GUARANTEE WILL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

SECTION 12.09 Waiver of Jury Trial . THE ISSUER, EACH OF THE GUARANTORS AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

SECTION 12.10 Force Majeure . In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its reasonable control, including strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software or hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

 

94


SECTION 12.11 Benefits of Indenture . Nothing in this Indenture or the Notes shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, any Paying Agent, any Registrar and its successors hereunder and the Holders any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

SECTION 12.12 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements . This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

SECTION 12.13 Successors . All agreements of the Issuer in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind their successors. All agreements of the Trustee or any Agent in this Indenture shall bind its successors. All agreements of each Guarantor in this Indenture shall bind its successors, except as otherwise provided in Section 10.05.

SECTION 12.14 Severability . In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

SECTION 12.15 Counterpart Originals . The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture and signature pages for all purposes.

SECTION 12.16 Table of Contents, Headings, etc . The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

SECTION 12.17 U.S.A . Patriot Act . The parties hereto acknowledge that in order to help the United States government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, pursuant to Federal regulations that became effective on October 1, 2003 (Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act), all financial institutions are required to obtain, verify, record and update information that identifies each person establishing a relationship or opening an account. The parties to this agreement agree that it will provide to the Trustee such information as they may request, from time to time, in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act, including but not limited to the name, address, tax identification number and other information that will allow it to identify the individual or entity who is establishing the relationship or opening the account and may also ask for formation documents such as articles of incorporation or other identifying documents to be provided.

[Signatures on following page]

 

95


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

 

M EREDITH C ORPORATION
By:   /s/ Joseph H. Ceryanec
  Name: Joseph H. Ceryanec
  Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

G OTHAM M ERGER S UB , I NC .

A LLRECIPES . COM , I NC .

E ATING W ELL , I NC .

S ELECTABLE M EDIA I NC .

M EREDITH  X CELERATED  M ARKETING C ORPORATION M Y W EDDING , LLC

By:   /s/ Joseph H. Ceryanec
  Name: Joseph H. Ceryanec
  Title: President

 

KPHO B ROADCASTING C ORPORATION

KPTV-KPDX B ROADCASTING C ORPORATION

KVVU B ROADCASTING C ORPORATION

M EREDITH P ERFORMANCE M ARKETING , LLC

By:   /s/ Joseph H. Ceryanec
  Name: Joseph H. Ceryanec
  Title: Treasurer

 

M EREDITH S HOPPER M ARKETING , LLC
By:   /s/ John S. Zieser
  Name: John S. Zieser
  Title: President

[Signature Page to the Indenture]


U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By:   /s/ Raymond S. Haverstock
  Name: Raymond S. Haverstock
  Title: Vice President

[Signature Page to the Indenture]


SCHEDULE I

LIST OF INITIAL GUARANTORS

 

Entity Name

  

Jurisdiction of Organization

Gotham Merger Sub, Inc.    Delaware
Allrecipes.com, Inc.    Washington
Eating Well, Inc.    Iowa
KPHO Broadcasting Corporation    Arizona
KPTV-KPDX Broadcasting Corporation    Oregon
KVVU Broadcasting Corporation    Nevada
Meredith Performance Marketing, LLC    Iowa
Meredith Shopper Marketing, LLC    Iowa
Meredith Xcelerated Marketing Corporation    Iowa
MyWedding, LLC    Colorado
Selectable Media Inc.    Delaware

 

S-I-1


EXHIBIT A

[FACE OF NOTE]

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

[Insert the Private Placement Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

 

A-1


CUSIP [144A: 589433 AA9][Reg S: U58941 AA0][Exchange: 589433 AB7]

ISIN [144A: US589433AA98][Reg S: USU58941AA01][Exchange: US589433AB71]

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

6.875% Senior Notes due 2026

 

No.    [$        ]

MEREDITH CORPORATION

promises to pay to CEDE & CO. or registered assigns, the principal sum [set forth on the Schedule of Increases and Decreases of Interests in the Global Note attached hereto] [of United States Dollars] on February 1, 2026.

Interest Payment Dates: February 1 and August 1; Record Dates: January 15 and July 15

 

A-2


IN WITNESS HEREOF, the Issuer has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

MEREDITH CORPORATION
By    
  Name:
  Title:

This is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture:

Dated:

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By    
  Authorized Signatory

 

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[Back of Note]

6.875% Senior Notes due 2026

Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

1. Interest . MEREDITH CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation, promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at 6.875% per annum from January 31, 2018 2 until maturity. The Issuer will pay interest semi-annually in arrears on February 1 and August 1 of each year to stated maturity, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each, an “ Interest Payment Date ”). The first Interest Payment Date shall be August 1, 2018 3 . Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the date of issuance. The Issuer will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the rate equal to the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful. At maturity, the Issuer will pay accrued and unpaid interest from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or provided for. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

2. Method of Payment . The Issuer will pay interest on the Notes to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the January 15 and July 15 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, immediately preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such Record Date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. Payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders, provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required with respect to principal of and interest and premium, if any, on, all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which shall have provided wire transfer instructions to the Issuer or the Paying Agent. Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

3. Paying Agent and Registrar . Initially, U.S. Bank National Association will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Issuer may change the Paying Agent or the Registrar without prior notice to the Holders. The Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries may act as a Paying Agent or Registrar.

4. Indenture . The Issuer issued the Notes under an Indenture, dated as of January 31, 2018 (the “ Indenture ”), among Meredith Corporation, the Guarantors named therein and the Trustee. This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of notes of the Issuer designated as its 6.875% Senior Notes due 2026. The Issuer shall be entitled to issue Additional Notes pursuant to Sections 2.01 and 4.09 of the Indenture. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S. Code §§ 77aaa-77bbbb). The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture for a statement of such terms. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

5. Optional Redemption .

(a) Prior to February 1, 2021, the Issuer may redeem the Notes, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, upon notice as described in Section 3.03 of the Indenture, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date, subject to the rights of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date.

 

2   With respect to the Initial Notes.
3   With respect to the Initial Notes.

 

A-4


(b) On and after February 1, 2021, the Issuer may redeem the Notes, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, upon notice as described in Section 3.03 of the Indenture, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date, if redeemed during the twelve month period beginning on February 1 of each of the years indicated below:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2021

     103.438

2022

     101.719

2023

     100.859

2024 and thereafter

     100.000

(c) Until February 1, 2021, the Issuer may, at any time and from time to time, upon notice as described in Section 3.03 of the Indenture, redeem up to 40.0% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes at a redemption price equal to 106.875% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date, in an amount no greater than the aggregate cash proceeds received from one or more Equity Offerings; provided that (1) at least 60.0% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes (including any Additional Notes) remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption and (2) each such redemption occurs within 120 days of the closing of such Equity Offering.

(d) In addition to clauses (a) through (c) above, in connection with any tender offer for the Notes (including, without limitation, any Change of Control Offer), if Holders of not less than 90.0% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes validly tender and do not withdraw such Notes in such tender offer and the Issuer, or any third party making a such tender offer in lieu of the Issuer, purchases all of the Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn by such Holders, the Issuer or such third party will have the right upon not less than 15 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following such purchase date, to redeem (with respect to the Issuer) or purchase (with respect to a third party) all Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at a price equal to the price offered to each other Holder in such tender offer (which may be less than par) plus, to the extent not included in the tender offer payment, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.

6. Mandatory Redemption . The Issuer shall not be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

7. Notice of Redemption .

(a) Notice of redemption will be mailed by first-class mail (or otherwise delivered in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary) at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each Holder at such Holder’s registered address or otherwise in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary, except that redemption notices may be mailed (or otherwise sent in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary) more than 60 days prior to a Redemption Date if the notice is issued in connection with Article VIII or Article XI of the Indenture. Notes in denominations larger than $2,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $1,000, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be redeemed. On and after the Redemption Date interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions thereof called for redemption.

(b) Notice of any redemption of the Notes (including upon an Equity Offering or in connection with a transaction (or series of related transactions) or an event that constitutes a Change of Control) may, at the Issuer’s discretion, be given prior to the completion or the occurrence thereof and any such redemption or notice may, at the Issuer’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion or occurrence of the related transaction or event, as the case may be. In addition, if such redemption or purchase is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice shall describe each such condition, and if applicable, shall state that, in the Issuer’s discretion, the Redemption Date may be delayed until such time (including more than 60 days after the date the notice of redemption was mailed or delivered, including by electronic

 

A-5


transmission) as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied, or such redemption or purchase may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the Redemption Date, or by the Redemption Date as so delayed, or such notice may be rescinded at any time in the Issuer’s discretion if in the good faith judgment of the Issuer any or all of such conditions will not be satisfied. In addition, the Issuer may provide in such notice that payment of the redemption price and performance of the Issuer’s obligations with respect to such redemption may be performed by another Person.

8. Offers to Repurchase .

(a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control after the Issue Date, unless the Issuer has previously or concurrently mailed (or otherwise sent in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary) a redemption notice with respect to all the outstanding Notes as described under Section 3.07 of the Indenture, the Issuer shall make an offer (a “ Change of Control Offer ”) to each Holder to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of each Holder’s Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to, but excluding, the date of purchase (the “ Change of Control Payment ”). The Change of Control Offer shall be made in accordance with Section 4.13 of the Indenture.

(b) When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $50,000,000, the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary shall make an offer to all Holders of the Notes and, if required by the terms of any Indebtedness that is pari passu with the Notes (“ Pari Passu Indebtedness ”), to the holders of such Pari Passu Indebtedness (an “ Asset Sale Offer ”), to purchase the maximum aggregate principal amount of Notes and such Pari Passu Indebtedness that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any (or, in respect of such Pari Passu Indebtedness, such lesser price, if any, as may be provided for or permitted by the terms of such Pari Passu Indebtedness), to the date fixed for the closing of such offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture. To the extent that the aggregate principal amount of Notes and such Pari Passu Indebtedness tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Issuer may use any remaining Excess Proceeds for general corporate purposes, subject to other covenants contained in the Indenture. If the aggregate amount of Notes and the Pari Passu Indebtedness surrendered in an Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes and the Issuer or the agent for such Pari Passu Indebtedness shall select such Pari Passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis (or as nearly pro rata as practicable) based on the amount (determined as set forth above) of the Notes and such Pari Passu Indebtedness tendered, unless otherwise required by law or the rules of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes or such Pari Passu Indebtedness are listed or by lot or such similar method in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary; provided that no Notes of $2,000 or less shall be repurchased in part. Upon completion of any such Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.

9. Denominations, Transfer, Exchange . The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents in connection with a transfer of the Notes. Holders shall pay all taxes due on transfer. The Issuer is not required to transfer or exchange any Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part. Also, the Issuer is not required to issue, transfer or exchange any Notes for a period of 15 days before the mailing of a notice of redemption of Notes to be redeemed or within 15 days of an Interest Payment Date.

10. Persons Deemed Owners . The registered Holder of a Note shall be treated as the owner of it for all purposes. Only registered Holders shall have rights under the Indenture and this Note.

11. Amendment, Supplement and Waiver . The Indenture, the Guarantees or the Notes may be amended or supplemented as provided in the Indenture.

12. Defaults and Remedies . The Events of Default relating to the Notes are defined in Section 6.01 of the Indenture. If any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Issuer) occurs under the Indenture and is continuing, the Trustee (acting at the

 

A-6


direction of the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then total outstanding Notes) or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then total outstanding Notes may declare the principal of, and accrued but unpaid interest, if any, on, all the then outstanding Notes to be due and payable immediately. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Issuer, the principal of, and accrued but unpaid interest, if any, on, all the then outstanding Notes will become due and payable without further action or notice. Holders may not enforce the Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees except as provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the Notes notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default, except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of principal or interest, if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under the Indenture except, a continuing Default or Event of Default in payment of the interest on or the principal of any Note held by a non-consenting Holder. The Issuer is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture, and the Issuer is required within 30 days after becoming aware of any Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default.

13. Authentication . This Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee.

14. Governing Law . THE INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND THE GUARANTEES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

15. CUSIP Numbers . Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Issuer has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers in notices to Holders as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

The Issuer will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to the Issuer at the following address:

Meredith Corporation

1716 Locust Street

Des Moines, Iowa 50309-3023

Attention: General Counsel

 

A-7


ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to:                                                                                                                                                         

(Insert assignee’ legal name)                        

  

 

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)

  

 

  

 

  

 

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

and irrevocably appoint                                                                                                                                                                    

to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuer. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

Date:                     

Your Signature:                     

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)

Signature Guarantee*:                     

 

 

* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

A-8


OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.10 or 4.13 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box below:

☐ Section 4.10                    ☐ Section 4.13

If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.13 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:

$                     

Date:                     

 

Your Signature:    
  (Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)
Tax Identification No.:    

Signature Guarantee*:                         

 

* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

A-9


SCHEDULE OF INCREASES AND DECREASES OF INTERESTS

IN THE GLOBAL NOTE*

The initial outstanding principal amount of this Global Note is $         . The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note or increases or decreases in the outstanding principal amount of this Global Note, have been made:

 

Date   

Amount of

decrease

in Principal

Amount

  

Amount of

increase

in Principal

Amount of this

Global Note

  

Principal Amount

of

this Global Note

following such

decrease or

increase

  

Signature of

authorized

signatory of

Trustee or Note

Custodian

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

* This schedule should be included only if the Note is issued in global form.

 

A-10


EXHIBIT B

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

Meredith Corporation

1716 Locust Street

Des Moines, Iowa 50309-3023

Attention: General Counsel

U.S. Bank National Association,

as Trustee and Registrar

60 Livingston Avenue

St. Paul, MN 55107

Attention: Meredith Corporation—Administrator

Email: raymond.haverstock@usbank.com

Re: 6.875% Senior Notes due 2026

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of January 31, 2018 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Indenture ”), among Meredith Corporation, the Guarantors from time to time party thereto and the Trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

(the “ Transferor ”) owns and proposes to transfer the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified in Annex A hereto, in the principal amount of $                  in such Note[s] or interests (the “ Transfer ”), to                  (the “ Transferee ”), as further specified in Annex A hereto. In connection with the Transfer, the Transferor hereby certifies that:

[CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]

1. ☐ CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THE RELEVANT 144A GLOBAL NOTE OR A RELEVANT DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that the beneficial interest or Definitive Note is being transferred to a Person that the Transferor reasonably believes is purchasing the beneficial interest or Definitive Note for its own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to which such Person exercises sole investment discretion, and such Person and each such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, and such Transfer is in compliance with all applicable securities laws of the states of the United States and other jurisdictions. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note shall be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the 144A Global Note and/or the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

2. ☐ CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THE REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE OR A DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO REGULATION S. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that (i) the Transfer is not being made to a person in the United States and (x) at the time the buy order was originated, the Transferee was outside the United States or such Transferor and any Person acting on its behalf reasonably believed and believes that the Transferee was outside the United States or (y) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither such Transferor nor any Person acting on its behalf knows that the transaction was prearranged with a buyer in the United States, (ii) no directed selling efforts have been made in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (iii) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act and (iv) if the proposed transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, the transfer is not being made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser). Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on Transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Regulation S Global Note and/or the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

 

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3. ☐ CHECK AND COMPLETE IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THE RELEVANT DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO ANY PROVISION OF THE SECURITIES ACT OTHER THAN RULE 144A OR REGULATION S. The Transfer is being effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States, and accordingly the Transferor hereby further certifies that (check one):

(a) ☐ such Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act;

or

(b) ☐ such Transfer is being effected to the Issuer or a subsidiary thereof;

or

(c) ☐ such Transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and in compliance with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.

4. ☐ CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE OR OF AN UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE.

(a) ☐ CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO RULE 144. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

(b) ☐ CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO REGULATION S. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

(c) ☐ CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO OTHER EXEMPTION. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in compliance with an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144, Rule 903 or Rule 904 and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any State of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will not be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes or Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

 

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This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Issuer.

[INSERT NAME OF TRANSFEROR],

 

By     
  Name:  
  Title:  

Dated:

 

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ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

 

1. The Transferor owns and proposes to transfer the following:

[CHECK ONE OF (a) OR (b)]

 

  (a) ☐ a beneficial interest in the:

 

  (i) ☐ 144A Global Note (CUSIP/ISIN:                 ), or

 

  (ii) ☐ Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP/ISIN:                 ), or

 

  (b) ☐ a Restricted Definitive Note.

 

2. After the Transfer the Transferee will hold:

[CHECK ONE]

 

  (a) ☐ a beneficial interest in the:

 

  (i) ☐ 144A Global Note (CUSIP/ISIN:                 ), or

 

  (ii) ☐ Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP/ISIN:                 ), or

 

  (iii) ☐ Unrestricted Global Note (CUSIP/ISIN:                  ), or

 

  (b) ☐ a Restricted Definitive Note; or

 

  (c) ☐ an Unrestricted Definitive Note, in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

 

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EXHIBIT C

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE

Meredith Corporation

1716 Locust Street

Des Moines, Iowa 50309-3023

Attention: General Counsel

U.S. Bank National Association,

as Trustee and Registrar

60 Livingston Avenue

St. Paul, MN 55107

Attention: Meredith Corporation—Administrator

Email: raymond.haverstock@usbank.com

Re: 6.875% Senior Notes due 2026

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of January 31, 2018 (the “ Indenture ”), among Meredith Corporation, the Guarantors named therein and the Trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

(the “ Owner ”) owns and proposes to exchange the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified herein, in the principal amount of $                         in such Note[s] or interests (the “ Exchange ”). In connection with the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that:

(1) EXCHANGE OF RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE FOR UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE

(a) ☐ CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note in an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

(b) ☐ CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

(c) ☐ CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

 

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(d) ☐ CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

(2) EXCHANGE OF RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES FOR RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES

(a) ☐ CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a Restricted Definitive Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies that the Restricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Restricted Definitive Note issued will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

(b) ☐ CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in the [CHECK ONE] 144A Global Note Regulation S Global Note, with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer and (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, and in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the beneficial interest issued will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the relevant Restricted Global Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Issuer and are dated                     .

 

[INSERT NAME OF TRANSFEROR],
By     
  Name:
  Title:

Dated:

 

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EXHIBIT D

[FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE TO BE DELIVERED BY

SUBSEQUENT GUARANTORS]

Supplemental Indenture (this “ Supplemental Indenture ”), dated as of                     , among              (the “ Guaranteeing Subsidiary ”), an affiliate of Meredith Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “ Issuer ”), and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”).

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, the Issuer and the Guarantors (as defined in the Indenture referred to below) have heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture (the “ Indenture ”), dated as of January 31, 2018, providing for the issuance of an unlimited aggregate principal amount of 6.875% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “ Notes ”);

WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall unconditionally guarantee all of the Issuer’s Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth herein and under the Indenture (the “ Guarantee ”); and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee is authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes as follows:

(1) Capitalized Terms . Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

(2) Agreement to Guarantee . The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby agrees as follows:

(a) Along with all Guarantors named in the Indenture, to jointly and severally unconditionally guarantee to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of the Indenture, the Notes or the obligations of the Issuer hereunder or thereunder, that:

(i) the performance and full punctual payment when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, of all obligations of the Issuer under the Indenture and the Notes, whether for payment of principal of or interest on the Notes, expenses, indemnification or otherwise will be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and

(ii) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed or any performance so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors and the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. This is a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection.

(b) The obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or the Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Notes with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Issuer, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor.

 

D-1


(c) The following is hereby waived: diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Issuer, any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuer, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever.

(d) This Guarantee shall not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Notes, the Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture, and the Guaranteeing Subsidiary accepts all obligations of a Guarantor under the Indenture.

(e) If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Issuer, the Guarantors (including the Guaranteeing Subsidiary), or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to either the Issuer or the Guarantors, any amount paid either to the Trustee or such Holder, this Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect.

(f) The Guaranteeing Subsidiary also agrees to pay any and all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including reasonable and documented out-of-pocket attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by the Trustee or any Holder in enforcing any rights under Section 10.01 of the Indenture and Section 2 hereof.

(g) As between the Guaranteeing Subsidiary, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article VI of the Indenture for the purposes of this Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article VI of the Indenture, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary for the purpose of this Guarantee.

(h) To the extent that the Guaranteeing Subsidiary makes a payment under its Guarantee, the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall be entitled upon payment in full of all guaranteed obligations under the Indenture to a contribution from each other Subsidiary Guarantor in an amount equal to such other Subsidiary Guarantor’s pro rata portion of such payment based on the respective net assets of all the Subsidiary Guarantors at the time of such payment determined in accordance with GAAP.

(i) Pursuant to Section 10.02 of the Indenture, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities that are relevant under any applicable Bankruptcy or fraudulent conveyance laws, and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under Article X of the Indenture, this new Guarantee shall be limited to the maximum amount permissible such that the obligations of such Guaranteeing Subsidiary under this Guarantee will not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance.

(j) This Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective should any petition be filed by or against the Issuer for liquidation, reorganization, should the Issuer become insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of creditors or should a receiver or trustee be appointed for all or any significant part of the Issuer’s assets, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment and performance of the Notes are, pursuant to applicable law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any obligee on the Notes and Guarantee, whether as a “voidable preference”, “fraudulent transfer” or otherwise, all as though such payment or performance had not been made. In the event that any payment or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Note shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.

 

D-2


(k) In case any provision of this Guarantee shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

(l) This Guarantee shall be a general unsecured senior obligation of such Guaranteeing Subsidiary.

(m) Each payment to be made by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary in respect of this Guarantee shall be made without set-off, counterclaim, reduction or diminution of any kind or nature.

(3) Execution and Delivery . The Guaranteeing Subsidiary agrees that the Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the absence of the endorsement of any notation of such Guarantee on the Notes.

(4) Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets .

(a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 5.01(c) of the Indenture, the Guaranteeing Subsidiary may not consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into, or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

(i) (A) the Guaranteeing Subsidiary is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, merger or wind up (if other than the Guaranteeing Subsidiary) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a Person organized or existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary, as the case may be, or the laws of the United States, any state or commonwealth thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof (the Guaranteeing Subsidiary or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “ Successor Person ”);

(B) the Successor Person, if other than the Guaranteeing Subsidiary, expressly assumes all the obligations of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary under the Indenture and the Guaranteeing Subsidiary’s related Guarantee pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee; and

(C) immediately after such transaction, no Default exists; or

(ii) the transaction is made in compliance with Section 4.10 of the Indenture;

(b) Subject to certain limitations described in the Indenture, the Successor Person will succeed to, and be substituted for, the Guaranteeing Subsidiary under the Indenture and the Guaranteeing Subsidiary’s Guarantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the Guaranteeing Subsidiary may merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to another Guarantor or the Issuer and (ii) the Guaranteeing Subsidiary may merge with an Affiliate solely for the purpose or effect of reorganizing the Guaranteeing Subsidiary in a state or commonwealth of the United States, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof.

(5) Releases . The Guarantee of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged, and no further action by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary, the Issuer or the Trustee is required for the release of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary’s Guarantee, upon (a) receipt by the Trustee of a notification from the Issuer that such Guarantee be released and (b) the occurrence of any of the following:

(a) any direct or indirect sale, exchange, disposition or other transfer (including by merger, consolidation or otherwise) of the Capital Stock of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary, after which the Guaranteeing Subsidiary is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary, or all or substantially all the assets of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary which sale, exchange, disposition or other transfer is made in a manner not in violation of the applicable provisions of the Indenture;

 

D-3


(b) the release or discharge of the guarantee by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary of the Senior Credit Facilities or the guarantee which resulted in the creation of such Guarantee, in each case except a release or discharge by or as a result of payment under such guarantee;

(c) designation of Guaranteeing Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the provisions set forth under Section 4.07 of the Indenture and the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary”;

(d) the Issuer’s exercise of its legal defeasance option or covenant defeasance option as described under Article VIII of the Indenture or the Issuer’s obligations under the Indenture being discharged in a manner not in violation of Article XI; or

(e) the occurrence of a Covenant Suspension Event as described in Section 4.15 of the Indenture; provided that such Guarantee will be reinstated upon the applicable Reversion Date in accordance with Section 4.15(c) of the Indenture.

(6) No Recourse Against Others . No director, officer, employee, incorporator, member or stockholder of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary, in their capacity as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer or the Guarantors (including the Guaranteeing Subsidiary) under the Notes, the Guarantees, the Indenture or this Supplemental Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting Notes waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

(7) Governing Law . THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WILL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

(8) Counterparts . The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Supplemental Indenture and signature pages for all purposes.

(9) Effect of Headings . The Section headings herein are for convenience of reference only, and are not to be considered part of this Supplemental Indenture and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions.

(10) The Trustee . The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary.

(11) Subrogation . The Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall be subrogated to all rights of Holders of Notes against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary pursuant to the provisions of Section 2 hereof and Section 10.01 of the Indenture; provided that the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall not be entitled to enforce or receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until all obligations of the Issuer under the Indenture and the Notes shall have been paid in full.

(12) Benefits Acknowledged . The Guaranteeing Subsidiary’s Guarantee is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary acknowledges that it will receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by the Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture and that the guarantee and waivers made by it pursuant to this Guarantee are knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.

(13) Successors . All agreements of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary in this Supplemental Indenture shall bind its Successors, except as otherwise provided in Section 2(k) hereof or elsewhere in this Supplemental Indenture. All agreements of the Trustee in this Supplemental Indenture shall bind its successors.

 

D-4


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

 

[GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY],
By    
  Name:
  Title:

 

D-5


U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
        By    
  Name:
  Title:

 

D-6

Exhibit 4.3

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

First Supplemental Indenture (this “ Supplemental Indenture ”), dated as of January 31, 2018, among Time Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Time ”), certain of Time’s subsidiaries listed on Schedule I hereto (together with Time, each a “ Time Guarantor ” and collectively, the “ Time Guarantors ”) and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”).

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, the Issuer and the Guarantors (each as defined in the Indenture referred to below) have heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture (the “ Indenture ”), dated as of January 31, 2018, providing for the issuance of an unlimited aggregate principal amount of 6.875% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “ Notes ”);

WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Time Guarantors shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which each Time Guarantor shall unconditionally guarantee all of the Issuer’s Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth herein and under the Indenture (the “ Guarantee ”); and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee is authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes as follows:

(1) Capitalized Terms . Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

(2) Agreement to Guarantee . Each Time Guarantor hereby agrees as follows:

(a) Along with all Guarantors named in the Indenture, to jointly and severally unconditionally guarantee to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of the Indenture, the Notes or the obligations of the Issuer hereunder or thereunder, that:

(i) the performance and full punctual payment when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, of all obligations of the Issuer under the Indenture and the Notes, whether for payment of principal of or interest on the Notes, expenses, indemnification or otherwise will be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and

(ii) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed or any performance so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors and the Time Guarantors shall be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. This is a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection.


(b) The obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or the Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Notes with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Issuer, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor.

(c) The following is hereby waived: diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Issuer, any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuer, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever.

(d) This Guarantee shall not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Notes, the Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture, and each Time Guarantor accepts all obligations of a Guarantor under the Indenture.

(e) If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Issuer, the Guarantors (including the Time Guarantors), or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to either the Issuer or the Guarantors, any amount paid either to the Trustee or such Holder, this Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect.

(f) Each Time Guarantor also agrees to pay any and all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including reasonable and documented out-of-pocket attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by the Trustee or any Holder in enforcing any rights under Section 10.01 of the Indenture and Section 2 hereof.

(g) As between the Time Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article VI of the Indenture for the purposes of this Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article VI of the Indenture, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Time Guarantors for the purpose of this Guarantee.

(h) To the extent that the Time Guarantors make a payment under its Guarantee, the Time Guarantors shall be entitled upon payment in full of all guaranteed obligations under the Indenture to a contribution from each other Subsidiary Guarantor in an amount equal to such other Subsidiary Guarantor’s pro rata portion of such payment based on the respective net assets of all the Subsidiary Guarantors at the time of such payment determined in accordance with GAAP.

(i) Pursuant to Section 10.02 of the Indenture, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities that are relevant under any applicable Bankruptcy or fraudulent conveyance laws, and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under Article X of the Indenture, this new Guarantee shall be limited to the maximum amount permissible such that the obligations of such Time Guarantor under this Guarantee will not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance.

(j) This Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective should any petition be filed by or against the Issuer for liquidation, reorganization, should the Issuer become insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of creditors or should a receiver or trustee


be appointed for all or any significant part of the Issuer’s assets, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment and performance of the Notes are, pursuant to applicable law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any obligee on the Notes and Guarantee, whether as a “voidable preference”, “fraudulent transfer” or otherwise, all as though such payment or performance had not been made. In the event that any payment or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Note shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.

(k) In case any provision of this Guarantee shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

(l) This Guarantee shall be a general unsecured senior obligation of each Time Guarantor.

(m) Each payment to be made by the Time Guarantors in respect of this Guarantee shall be made without set-off, counterclaim, reduction or diminution of any kind or nature.

(3) Execution and Delivery . Each Time Guarantor agrees that the Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the absence of the endorsement of any notation of such Guarantee on the Notes.

(4) Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets .

(a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 5.01(c) of the Indenture, each Time Guarantor may not consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into, or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

(i) (A) such Time Guarantor is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, merger or wind up (if other than the Time Guarantor) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a Person organized or existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of such Time Guarantor, as the case may be, or the laws of the United States, any state or commonwealth thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof (such Time Guarantor or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “ Successor Person ”);

(B) the Successor Person, if other than such Time Guarantor, expressly assumes all the obligations of such Time Guarantor under the Indenture and such Time Guarantor’s related Guarantee pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee; and

(C) immediately after such transaction, no Default exists; or

(ii) the transaction is made in compliance with Section 4.10 of the Indenture;

(b) Subject to certain limitations described in the Indenture, the Successor Person will succeed to, and be substituted for, such Time Guarantor under the Indenture and such Time Guarantor’s Guarantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) each Time Guarantor may merge into


or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to another Guarantor or the Issuer and (ii) each Time Guarantor may merge with an Affiliate solely for the purpose or effect of reorganizing such Time Guarantor in a state or commonwealth of the United States, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof.

(5) Releases . The Guarantee of each Time Guarantor shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged, and no further action by such Time Guarantor, the Issuer or the Trustee is required for the release of each Time Guarantor’s Guarantee, upon (a) receipt by the Trustee of a notification from the Issuer that such Guarantee be released and (b) the occurrence of any of the following:

(a) any direct or indirect sale, exchange, disposition or other transfer (including by merger, consolidation or otherwise) of the Capital Stock of such Time Guarantor, after which such Time Guarantor is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary, or all or substantially all the assets of such Time Guarantor which sale, exchange, disposition or other transfer is made in a manner not in violation of the applicable provisions of the Indenture;

(b) the release or discharge of the guarantee by such Time Guarantor of the Senior Credit Facilities or the guarantee which resulted in the creation of such Guarantee, in each case except a release or discharge by or as a result of payment under such guarantee;

(c) designation of such Time Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the provisions set forth under Section 4.07 of the Indenture and the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary”;

(d) the Issuer’s exercise of its legal defeasance option or covenant defeasance option as described under Article VIII of the Indenture or the Issuer’s obligations under the Indenture being discharged in a manner not in violation of Article XI; or

(e) the occurrence of a Covenant Suspension Event as described in Section 4.15 of the Indenture; provided that such Guarantee will be reinstated upon the applicable Reversion Date in accordance with Section 4.15(c) of the Indenture.

(6) No Recourse Against Others . No director, officer, employee, incorporator, member or stockholder of the Time Guarantors, in their capacity as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer or the Guarantors (including such Time Guarantor) under the Notes, the Guarantees, the Indenture or this Supplemental Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting Notes waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

(7) Governing Law . THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WILL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

(8) Counterparts . The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Supplemental Indenture and signature pages for all purposes.

(9) Effect of Headings . The Section headings herein are for convenience of reference only, and are not to be considered part of this Supplemental Indenture and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions.


(10) The Trustee . The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by each Time Guarantor.

(11) Subrogation . Each Time Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of Holders of Notes against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid by each Time Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of Section 2 hereof and Section 10.01 of the Indenture; provided that the Time Guarantors shall not be entitled to enforce or receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until all obligations of the Issuer under the Indenture and the Notes shall have been paid in full.

(12) Benefits Acknowledged . Each Time Guarantor’s Guarantee is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture. Each Time Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by the Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture and that the guarantee and waivers made by it pursuant to this Guarantee are knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.

(13) Successors . All agreements of the Time Guarantors in this Supplemental Indenture shall bind its Successors, except as otherwise provided in Section 2(k) hereof or elsewhere in this Supplemental Indenture. All agreements of the Trustee in this Supplemental Indenture shall bind its successors.


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

Bizrate Insights Inc.

Book-of-The-Month Club, Inc.

Cozi Inc.

Entertainment Weekly Inc.

FanSided Inc.

Health Media Ventures Inc.

Hello Giggles, Inc.

MNI Targeted Media Inc.

NewSub Magazine Services LLC

NSSI Holdings Inc.

SI Digital Games, Inc.

Southern Progress Corporation

Synapse Direct, Inc.

Synapse Group, Inc.

Synapse Retail Ventures, Inc.

Synapse Ventures, Inc.

SynapseConnect, Inc.

TI Administrative Holdings LLC

TI Books Holdings LLC

TI Circulation Holdings LLC

TI Corporate Holdings LLC

TI Distribution Holdings LLC

TI International Holdings Inc.

TI Live Events Inc.

TI Magazine Holdings LLC

TI Marketing Services Inc.

TI Media Solutions Inc.

TI Mexico Holdings Inc.

TI Paperco Inc.

TI Sales Holdings LLC

Time Consumer Marketing, Inc.

Time Customer Service, Inc.

Time Direct Ventures LLC

Time Distribution Services Inc.

Time Inc.

Time Inc. Affluent Media Group

Time Inc. Books

Time Inc. Lifestyle Group

Time Inc. Play

Time Inc. Retail

Time Inc. Ventures

Time Publishing Ventures, Inc.

Viant Technology Holding Inc.

 

By   /s/ Joseph H. Ceryanec
  Name: Joseph H. Ceryanec
  Title: President

[Signature Page to First Supplemental Indenture]


U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By   /s/ Raymond S. Haverstock
  Name: Raymond S. Haverstock
  Title: Vice President

[Signature Page to First Supplemental Indenture]


Schedule I

 

Time Inc.

Bizrate Insights Inc.

Book-of-The-Month Club, Inc.

Cozi Inc.

Entertainment Weekly Inc.

FanSided Inc.

Health Media Ventures Inc.

Hello Giggles, Inc.

MNI Targeted Media Inc.

NewSub Magazine Services LLC

NSSI Holdings Inc.

SI Digital Games, Inc.

Southern Progress Corporation

Synapse Direct, Inc.

Synapse Group, Inc.

Synapse Retail Ventures, Inc.

Synapse Ventures, Inc.

SynapseConnect, Inc.

TI Administrative Holdings LLC

TI Books Holdings LLC

TI Circulation Holdings LLC

TI Corporate Holdings LLC

TI Distribution Holdings LLC

TI International Holdings Inc.

TI Live Events Inc.

TI Magazine Holdings LLC

TI Marketing Services Inc.

TI Media Solutions Inc.

TI Mexico Holdings Inc.

TI Paperco Inc.

TI Sales Holdings LLC

Time Consumer Marketing, Inc.

Time Customer Service, Inc.

Time Direct Ventures LLC

Time Distribution Services Inc.

Time Inc. Affluent Media Group

Time Inc. Books


Time Inc. Lifestyle Group

Time Inc. Play

Time Inc. Retail

Time Inc. Ventures

Time Publishing Ventures, Inc.

Viant Technology Holding Inc.

Exhibit 10.1

 

 

CREDIT AGREEMENT

Dated as of January 31, 2018

among

MEREDITH CORPORATION,

as the Borrower,

THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO FROM TIME TO TIME,

THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO FROM TIME TO TIME,

and

ROYAL BANK OF CANADA,

as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent

 

 

RBC CAPITAL MARKETS *,

CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC,

BARCLAYS BANK PLC,

and

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.,

as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners

and

BNP PARIBAS,

CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

FIFTH THIRD BANK,

BANKERS TRUST COMPANY,

and

THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY,

as Co-Documentation Agents

 

 

 

 

* RBC Capital Markets is a 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      7  

SECTION 1.02.

     Other Interpretive Provisions      64  

SECTION 1.03.

     Accounting Terms; GAAP      64  

SECTION 1.04.

     Rounding      65  

SECTION 1.05.

     References to Agreements, Laws, Etc.      65  

SECTION 1.06.

     Times of Day      66  

SECTION 1.07.

     Timing of Payment of Performance      66  

SECTION 1.08.

     Pro Forma and Other Calculations      66  

SECTION 1.09.

     Letter of Credit Amounts      67  

SECTION 1.10.

     Determination of Dollar Equivalents      67  

SECTION 1.11.

     Cashless Rollovers      67  

SECTION 1.12.

     Limited Condition Acquisition      67  

SECTION 1.13.

     Basket Amounts and Applicability of Multiple Relevant Previsions      68  
ARTICLE II  
THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS  

SECTION 2.01.

     The Loans      69  

SECTION 2.02.

     Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans      69  

SECTION 2.03.

     Letters of Credit      71  

SECTION 2.04.

     Swingline Loans      81  

SECTION 2.05.

     Prepayments      82  

SECTION 2.06.

     Termination or Reduction of Commitments      85  

SECTION 2.07.

     Repayment of Loans      86  

SECTION 2.08.

     Interest      86  

SECTION 2.09.

     Fees      87  

SECTION 2.10.

     Computation of Interest and Fees      88  

SECTION 2.11.

     Evidence of Indebtedness      88  

SECTION 2.12.

     Payments Generally      88  

SECTION 2.13.

     Sharing of Payments      90  

SECTION 2.14.

     Incremental Credit Extensions      91  

SECTION 2.15.

     Refinancing Amendments      93  

SECTION 2.16.

     Extension Offers      94  

SECTION 2.17.

     Defaulting Lenders      95  

SECTION 2.18.

     MIRE Events      96  
ARTICLE III  
TAXES, INCREASED COSTS PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY  

SECTION 3.01.

     Taxes      96  

SECTION 3.02.

     Illegality      99  

 

i


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

            Page  

SECTION 3.03.

     Inability to Determine Rates      100  

SECTION 3.04.

     Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy      101  

SECTION 3.05.

     Funding Losses      102  

SECTION 3.06.

     Matters Applicable to All Requests for Compensation      102  

SECTION 3.07.

     Replacement of Lenders under Certain Circumstances      103  

SECTION 3.08.

     Survival      103  
ARTICLE IV  
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS  

SECTION 4.01.

     Conditions to the Initial Credit Extensions      104  

SECTION 4.02.

     Conditions to All Credit Extensions After the Closing Date      106  
ARTICLE V  
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES  

SECTION 5.01.

     Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws      107  

SECTION 5.02.

     Authorization; No Contravention      107  

SECTION 5.03.

     Governmental Authorization; Other Consents      108  

SECTION 5.04.

     Binding Effect      108  

SECTION 5.05.

     Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect      108  

SECTION 5.06.

     Litigation      108  

SECTION 5.07.

     Ownership of Property; Liens      108  

SECTION 5.08.

     Environmental Compliance      109  

SECTION 5.09.

     Taxes      109  

SECTION 5.10.

     ERISA Compliance      109  

SECTION 5.11.

     Restricted Subsidiaries; Equity Interests      110  

SECTION 5.12.

     Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act      110  

SECTION 5.13.

     Disclosure      110  

SECTION 5.14.

     Sanctions, OFAC and Patriot Act      110  

SECTION 5.15.

     Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.      111  

SECTION 5.16.

     Solvency      111  

SECTION 5.17.

     Security Documents      111  

SECTION 5.18.

     Use of Proceeds      112  

SECTION 5.19.

     Insurance      112  

SECTION 5.20.

     Undisclosed Liabilities      112  

SECTION 5.21.

     Labor Matters      112  

SECTION 5.22.

     Senior Indebtedness; Subordination      112  

SECTION 5.23.

     EEA Financial Institutions      113  

SECTION 5.24.

     Broadcast Licenses      113  
ARTICLE VI  
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS  

SECTION 6.01.

     Financial Statements      114  

 

ii


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

            Page  

SECTION 6.02.

     Certificates; Other Information      114  

SECTION 6.03.

     Notices      116  

SECTION 6.04.

     Payment of Taxes      116  

SECTION 6.05.

     Preservation of Existence, Etc.      116  

SECTION 6.06.

     Maintenance of Properties      116  

SECTION 6.07.

     Maintenance of Insurance      116  

SECTION 6.08.

     Compliance with Laws      117  

SECTION 6.09.

     Books and Records      117  

SECTION 6.10.

     Inspection Rights      117  

SECTION 6.11.

     Additional Collateral; Additional Guarantors      117  

SECTION 6.12.

     Compliance with Environmental Laws      120  

SECTION 6.13.

     Post-Closing Conditions and Further Assurances      120  

SECTION 6.14.

     Designation of Subsidiaries      120  

SECTION 6.15.

     Use of Proceeds      121  

SECTION 6.16.

     Maintenance of Ratings      121  

SECTION 6.17.

     Lender Calls      121  

SECTION 6.18.

     Anti-Corruption Laws      122  
ARTICLE VII  
NEGATIVE COVENANTS  

SECTION 7.01.

     Liens      122  

SECTION 7.02.

     Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock      126  

SECTION 7.03.

     Fundamental Changes      130  

SECTION 7.04.

     Dispositions      132  

SECTION 7.05.

     Restricted Payments      134  

SECTION 7.06.

     Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries      139  

SECTION 7.07.

     Transactions with Affiliates      141  

SECTION 7.08.

     Financial Covenant      143  

SECTION 7.09.

     Accounting Changes      143  

SECTION 7.10.

     Change in Nature of Business      143  

SECTION 7.11.

     Sale and Lease-Back Transactions      143  

SECTION 7.12.

     Modifications of Organizational Documents      144  

SECTION 7.13.

     Sanctions      144  
ARTICLE VIII  
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES  

SECTION 8.01.

     Events of Default      144  

SECTION 8.02.

     Remedies Upon Event of Default      146  

SECTION 8.03.

     Application of Funds      147  

SECTION 8.04.

     Equity Cure      148  

 

iii


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

            Page  
ARTICLE IX  
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND OTHER AGENTS  

SECTION 9.01.

     Appointment and Authority      149  

SECTION 9.02.

     Delegation of Duties      149  

SECTION 9.03.

     Exculpatory Provisions      150  

SECTION 9.04.

     Reliance by Administrative Agent      150  

SECTION 9.05.

     Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders; Certain ERISA Matters      151  

SECTION 9.06.

     Rights as a Lender      153  

SECTION 9.07.

     Resignation of Administrative Agent      153  

SECTION 9.08.

     Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim      154  

SECTION 9.09.

     Collateral and Guaranty Matters      154  

SECTION 9.10.

     No Other Duties, Etc.      155  

SECTION 9.11.

     Treasury Services Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements      155  

SECTION 9.12.

     Withholding Tax      156  
ARTICLE X  
MISCELLANEOUS  

SECTION 10.01.

     Amendments, Etc.      156  

SECTION 10.02.

     Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communications      159  

SECTION 10.03.

     No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement      161  

SECTION 10.04.

     Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver      161  

SECTION 10.05.

     Payments Set Aside      163  

SECTION 10.06.

     Successors and Assigns      164  

SECTION 10.07.

     Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality      169  

SECTION 10.08.

     Setoff      170  

SECTION 10.09.

     Interest Rate Limitation      170  

SECTION 10.10.

     Counterparts; Effectiveness      170  

SECTION 10.11.

     Integration      171  

SECTION 10.12.

     Survival of Representations and Warranties      171  

SECTION 10.13.

     Replacement of Lenders      171  

SECTION 10.14.

     Severability      172  

SECTION 10.15.

     GOVERNING LAW      172  

SECTION 10.16.

     WAIVER OF RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY      173  

SECTION 10.17.

     Binding Effect      173  

SECTION 10.18.

     No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility      173  

SECTION 10.19.

     Lender Action      174  

SECTION 10.20.

     USA Patriot Act      174  

SECTION 10.21.

     Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents      174  

SECTION 10.22.

     Judgment Currency      174  

SECTION 10.23.

     Acknowledgment and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions      175  

 

iv


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

            Page  
ARTICLE XI  
GUARANTEE  

SECTION 11.01.

     The Guarantee      175  

SECTION 11.02.

    

Obligations Unconditional

     176  

SECTION 11.03.

    

Reinstatement

     177  

SECTION 11.04.

    

Subrogation; Subordination

     177  

SECTION 11.05.

    

Remedies

     177  

SECTION 11.06.

    

Instrument for the Payment of Money

     177  

SECTION 11.07.

    

Continuing Guarantee

     178  

SECTION 11.08.

    

General Limitation on Guarantee Obligations

     178  

SECTION 11.09.

    

Release of Liens and Guarantees

     178  

SECTION 11.10.

    

Right of Contribution

     178  

SECTION 11.11.

    

Subject to Intercreditor Agreement

     178  

SECTION 11.12.

    

Keepwell

     179  

 

v


DISCLOSURE LETTER SCHEDULES

 

1.01A    Commitments
1.01B    Letter of Credit Commitments
1.01C    Subsidiary Guarantors
1.01D    Existing Investments
2.03(a)    Existing Letters of Credit
5.06    Litigation
5.07    Exceptions to Ownership of Property
5.08    Environmental Matters
5.11    Restricted Subsidiaries
5.19    Insurance
5.24    Broadcast Licenses and Stations
6.13(a)    Certain Collateral Documents
7.01    Existing Liens
7.02(b)    Existing Indebtedness
10.02    Administrative Agent’s Office, Certain Addresses for Notices
EXHIBITS   
Form of   
A-1    Committed Loan Notice
A-2    Swingline Request
B-1    Term Note
B-2    Revolving Credit Note
C    Compliance Certificate
D    Assignment and Assumption
E    Security Agreement
F-1    Perfection Certificate
F-2    Perfection Certificate Supplement
G-1    U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate or Foreign Non-Partnership Lenders
G-2    U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate or Foreign Non-Partnership Participants
G-3    U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate or Foreign Partnership Lenders
G-4    U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate or Foreign Partnership Participants
H    Solvency Certificate
I    Prepayment Notice

 

vi


CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of January 31, 2018 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “ Agreement ”), among Meredith Corporation, an Iowa corporation, as borrower (the “ Borrower ”), the Subsidiary Guarantors party hereto from time to time, each lender party hereto from time to time (collectively, the “ Lenders ” and individually, a “ Lender ”) and Royal Bank of Canada (“ Royal Bank ”), as Swingline Lender, Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent.

The Borrower has entered into that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 26, 2017 (the “ Merger Agreement ”), among the Borrower, Time Inc. (the “ Target ”) and Gotham Merger Sub, Inc. (the “ Merger Sub ”).

The Borrower has requested that (a) the Term Lenders lend Term Loans to the Borrower on the Closing Date the proceeds of which, together with the proceeds of the Senior Notes and the Equity Contribution, will be used to (i) acquire all of the Target Stock from the holders thereof (the “ Acquisition ”), (ii) refinance or repay in full all existing Indebtedness for borrowed money of the Borrower and the Target (except for Indebtedness permitted under Section  7.02 ), and (iii) pay fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Transactions; and (b) from time to time (i) the Revolving Credit Lenders make Revolving Credit Loans to the Borrower, and (ii) the L/C Issuers issue Letters of Credit.

The applicable Lenders have indicated their willingness to lend, and the L/C Issuers have indicated their willingness to issue Letters of Credit, in each case, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.

In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

SECTION 1.01. Defined Terms . As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

Accounting Opinion ” has the meaning set forth in Section  6.01(a) .

Acquired Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any specified Person, (a) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged 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 with or into or becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person, and (b) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person. The term “Acquired Indebtedness” does not include Indebtedness of a Person that is redeemed, discharged, defeased, retired or otherwise repaid at the time of, or immediately upon consummation of, the transactions by which such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary or such asset acquisition.

Acquisition ” has the meaning specified in the recitals to this Agreement.

Additional Lender ” has the meaning set forth in Section  2.14(c) .

 

7


Additional Refinancing Lender ” means, at any time, any bank, financial institution or other institutional lender or investor that, in any case, is not an existing Lender and that agrees to provide any portion of Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness pursuant to a Refinancing Amendment in accordance with Section  2.15 ; provided , that each Additional Refinancing Lender shall be subject to the approval of (x) the Administrative Agent and (y) solely with respect to any Refinancing Amendment establishing any Revolving Credit Commitments, each L/C Issuer and the Swingline Lender, such approvals not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed, to the extent that any such consent would be required from the Administrative Agent under Section  10.06(b)(iii)(B) or from such L/C Issuers and the Swingline Lender under Section  10.06(b)(iii)(C) , as the case may be, for an assignment of Loans to such Additional Refinancing Lender, solely to the extent such consent would be required for any assignment to such Lender.

Administrative Agent ” means Royal Bank, in its capacity as administrative agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent.

Administrative Agent s Office ” means the Administrative Agent’s address and account as set forth on Schedule 10.02 of the Disclosure Letter, 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, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise.

Affiliate Transaction ” has the meaning set forth in Section  7.07(a) .

Affiliated Lender ” means any Lender that holds beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Borrower.

Agent Parties ” has the meaning set forth in Section  10.02(c) .

Agents ” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent.

Aggregate Commitments ” mean the Commitments of all the Lenders.

Agreement ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble to this Agreement.

Agreement Currency ” has the meaning set forth in Section  10.22(b) .

All-In Yield ” means, at any time, with respect to any Term Loan or other Indebtedness, the weighted average yield to stated maturity of such Term Loan or other Indebtedness based on the interest rate or rates applicable thereto and giving effect to all upfront or similar fees or original issue discount payable to the Lenders or other creditors advancing such Term Loan or other Indebtedness with respect thereto (but not arrangement or underwriting fees paid to an arranger for their account) and to any interest rate “floor” (with original issue discount and upfront fees, which shall be deemed to constitute like amounts of original issue discount, being equated to interest margins in a manner consistent with generally accepted financial practice based on an assumed four year life to maturity).

 

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Alternative Currency ” means (a) Sterling and (b) any Permitted Additional L/C Currency.

Alternative Currency Exposure ” means, at any time, the Dollar Equivalent of all L/C Obligations denominated in an Alternative Currency.

Alternative Currency Sublimit ” means the lesser of (a) $150 million and (b) the aggregate amount of the L/C Commitments. The Alternative Currency Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Letter of Credit Sublimit.

Applicable Creditor ” has the meaning set forth in Section  10.22(b) .

Applicable ECF Percentage ” means, for any Excess Cash Flow Period, (a) 50% if the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of such Excess Cash Flow Period is greater than 2.50 to 1.00, (b) 25% if the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of such Excess Cash Flow Period is less than or equal to 2.50 to 1.00 but greater than 2.00 to 1.00, and (c) 0% if the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of such Excess Cash Flow Period is less than or equal to 2.00 to 1.00.

Applicable Percentage ” means, with respect to any Revolving Credit Lender, the percentage of the total Revolving Credit Commitments represented by such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment. If the Revolving Credit Commitments have terminated or expired, the Applicable Percentages shall be determined based upon the Revolving Credit Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments.

Applicable Period ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Applicable Rate”.

Applicable Rate ” means a percentage per annum equal to:

(a) with respect to Term Loans, 3.00% in the case of Eurocurrency Rate Loans and 2.00% in the case of Base Rate Loans.

(b) with respect to Revolving Credit Loans, Swingline Loans, commitment fees on unused Revolving Credit Commitments and Letter of Credit fees, as the case may be, the applicable rate set forth in the table below under the caption “Eurocurrency Rate and Letter of Credit Fees”, “Base Rate” or “Unused Commitment Fee Rate”, respectively, subject to the adjustment as provided in the paragraph set forth beneath the table below:

Applicable Rate

 

Pricing Level

   Consolidated Net
Leverage Ratio
   Eurocurrency
Rate and Letter
of Credit Fees
    Base Rate     Unused
Commitment Fee
Rate
 

1

   > 2.50 to 1.00      3.00     2.00     0.500

2

   < 2.50 to 1.00 and
> 2.00 to 1.00
     2.75     1.75     0.375

3

   < 2.00 to 1.00      2.50     1.50     0.375

Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the first Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section  6.02(a) ; provided , that the highest pricing level

 

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shall apply as of the first Business Day after the date on which a Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered but was not delivered, and shall continue to so apply up 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).

In the event that any Compliance Certificate is shown by the Administrative Agent to be inaccurate (whether as a result of an inaccuracy in the financial statements on which such Compliance Certificate is based, a mistake in calculating the applicable Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio or otherwise) at any time that this Agreement is in effect and any Revolving Credit Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments are outstanding such that the Applicable Rate for any period (an “ Applicable Period ”) should have been higher than the Applicable Rate applied for such Applicable Period, then (i) the Borrower shall promptly (and in no event later than five Business Days thereafter) deliver to the Administrative Agent a corrected Compliance Certificate for such Applicable Period; (ii) the Applicable Rate shall be determined by reference to the corrected Compliance Certificate (but in no event shall the Revolving Credit Lenders owe any amounts to the Borrower); and (iii) the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent promptly (and in no event later than five Business Days after the date such corrected Compliance Certificate is delivered) any additional interest owing as a result of such increased Applicable Rate for such Applicable Period, which payment shall be promptly applied by the Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms hereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any nonpayment of such interest as a result of any such inaccuracy shall not constitute a Default (whether retroactively or otherwise), and no such amounts shall be deemed overdue (and no amounts shall accrue interest at the Default Rate), at any time prior to the date that is five Business Days following the date such corrected Compliance Certificate is delivered. The Borrower’s Obligations under this paragraph shall survive the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.

Applicable Reserve Requirement ” means, at any time, for any Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the maximum rate, expressed as a decimal, at which reserves (including any basic marginal, special, supplemental, emergency or other reserves) are required to be maintained with respect thereto against Eurocurrency liabilities (as such term is defined in Regulation D issued by the FRB) under regulations issued from time to time by the FRB or other applicable banking regulator. Without limiting the effect of the foregoing, the Applicable Reserve Requirement shall reflect any other reserves maintained by such member banks with respect to any category of liabilities which includes deposits by reference to which the applicable Eurocurrency Rate or any other interest rate of a Loan is to be determined, and any category of extensions of credit or other assets which include Eurocurrency Rate Loans. A Eurocurrency Rate Loan shall be deemed to constitute Eurocurrency liabilities and as such shall be deemed subject to reserve requirements without benefits of credit for proration, exceptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to the applicable Lender. The rate of interest on Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in the Applicable Reserve Requirement.

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 L/C Issuers and (ii) the Revolving Credit Lenders.

Approved Fund ” means any Fund that is administered, advised or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender, or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers, advises or manages a Lender.

 

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Arrangers ” means the Persons identified on the cover page of this Agreement as “joint lead arrangers” and “joint arrangers”; provided that the reference to Citigroup Global Markets Inc. shall be deemed to be a reference to Citi.

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 entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section  10.06(b)(iii) , and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit D hereto or any other form (including electronic documentation generated by any electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.

Attorney Costs ” means and includes all reasonable and documented fees, expenses and disbursements of any law firm or other external legal counsel.

Attributable Indebtedness ” means, in respect of any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, at the time of determination, the present value of the total obligations of the lessee for net rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, including any period for which such lease has been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be extended. Such present value shall be calculated using a discount rate equal to the rate of interest implicit in such transaction, determined in accordance with GAAP.

Audited Financial Statements ” means (a) the audited combined balance sheet of the Borrower, as of each of June 30, 2015, June 30, 2016 and June 30, 2017, and the related audited combined statements of income, of changes in shareholders’ equity and of cash flows and (b) the audited combined balance sheet of the Target, as of each of December 31, 2014, December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2016, and the related audited combined statements of income, of changes in shareholders’ equity and of cash flows, respectively.

Auto-Extension Letter of Credit ” has the meaning set forth in Section  2.03(b)(iii) .

Bail-In Action ” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable EEA Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an EEA Financial Institution.

Bail-In Legislation ” means, with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

Barclays ” means Barclays Bank PLC.

Base Rate ” means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1.00%, (b) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by the Administrative Agent as its base rate, and (c) the Eurocurrency Rate for a Loan denominated in Dollars and an Interest Period of one month plus 1.00%; provided , that for purposes of this clause (c) , the Base Rate with respect to Term Loans will be deemed not to be less than 2.00%. For the purposes of clause (b)  above, the base 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 base rate announced by the Administrative Agent shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change.

 

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Base Rate Loan ” means a Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate.

Benefit Plan ” means any of (a) an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a “plan” as defined in Section 4975 of the Code or (c) any Person whose assets include (for purposes of 29 CFR § 2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) the assets of any such “employee benefit plan” or “plan”.

Board of Directors ” means (1) with respect to the Borrower or any corporation, the board of directors or managers, as applicable, of the corporation, or any duly authorized committee thereof; (2) with respect to any partnership, the board of directors or other governing body of the general partner of the partnership or any duly authorized committee thereof; and (3) with respect to any other Person, the board or any duly authorized committee of such Person serving a similar function. Whenever any provision requires any action or determination to be made by, or any approval of, a Board of Directors, such action, determination or approval shall be deemed to have been taken or made if approved by a majority of the directors on any such Board of Directors (whether or not such action or approval is taken as part of a formal board meeting or as a formal board approval).

Borrower ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble to this Agreement.

Borrower Materials ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  6.02 .

Borrowing ” means a Revolving Credit Borrowing, a Term Borrowing or Swingline Loans, as the context may require.

Broadcast Licenses means the main station license issued by the FCC for each of the Stations, as such main station licenses may have been extended, modified, or renewed from time to time. This definition of “Broadcast Licenses” may be used with respect to any single Broadcast License meeting the preceding requirements or multiple Broadcast Licenses meeting such requirements, as the context requires.

Business Day ” means a day of the year on which banks are required to be open or are not authorized by law to close in New York City and, if the applicable Business Day relates to any Eurocurrency Rate Loans, on which dealings are carried on in the London interbank market and banks are open for business in London.

Capital Expenditures ” means, for any period, the aggregate of, without duplication (a) all expenditures (whether paid in cash or accrued as liabilities) by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period that, in conformity with GAAP, are or are required to be included as additions during such period to property, plant or equipment reflected in the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries and (b) Capitalized Lease Obligations incurred by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period.

Capital Stock ” means:

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

 

12


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

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

(d) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.

Capitalized Lease Obligation ” means, with respect to any Person, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a Capitalized Lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized and reflected as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) in accordance with GAAP. The amount of Indebtedness represented by such liability will be the capitalized amount of such liability at the time any determination thereof is to be made as determined on the basis of GAAP.

Capitalized Leases ” means all leases that have been or should be, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as capitalized leases.

Cash Collateral ” has the meaning specified in Section  2.03(g) .

Cash Collateral Account ” means a blocked account at the Administrative Agent (or another commercial bank selected in compliance with Section  9.09 ) in the name of the Administrative Agent and under the sole dominion and control of the Administrative Agent, and otherwise established in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

Cash Collateralize ” has the meaning specified in Section  2.03(g) .

Cash Equivalents ” means:

(a) United States dollars;

(b) (i) Euros, Canadian dollars, Sterling or any national currency of any member state of the European Union; and

(ii) any other foreign currency held by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(c) securities issued or directly and fully and unconditionally guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government, Canadian government or any member state of the European Union or, in each case, any agency or instrumentality thereof ( provided , that full faith and credit obligation of such country or member state is pledged in support thereof), with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;

(d) certificates of deposit, time deposits, eurodollar deposits and dollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition thereof, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any 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 dollar equivalent calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate as of the date of determination) in the case of non-U.S. banks;

 

13


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

(f) commercial paper rated at least (i) “P-1” by Moody’s or at least “A-1” by S&P (or if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency) and in each case maturing within 24 months after the date of creation thereof and (ii) “P-2” by Moody’s or at least “A-2” by S&P (or if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency) and in each case maturing within 12 months after creation thereof;

(g) marketable short-term money market and similar securities having a rating of at least “P-2” or “A-2” from either Moody’s or S&P, respectively (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency) and in each case maturing within 24 months after the date of creation thereof;

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

(i) Investments with average maturities of 24 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 reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized rating agency); and

(j) investment funds investing 95% of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (a)  through (i) above.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Cash Equivalents shall include amounts denominated in currencies other than those set forth in clauses (a)  and (b) above, provided that such amounts are converted into any currency listed in clauses (a)  and (b) as promptly as practicable and in any event within 10 Business Days following the receipt of such amounts.

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

CERCLA ” means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as subsequently amended.

CERCLIS ” means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Information System maintained by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

CFC ” means a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of Section 957 of the Code.

 

14


CFC Holdco ” means a Domestic Subsidiary or a Foreign Subsidiary that is a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, in each case substantially all of the assets of which consist, directly or indirectly, of Equity Interests in (i) one or more Foreign Subsidiaries that are CFCs or (ii) any other Person described in this definition.

Change in Law ” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority, or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided , that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law,” regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.

Change of Control ” means the occurrence of any of the following, in each case excluding any of the Transactions:

(a) the sale, lease or transfer (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person other than the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary;

(b) the Borrower becomes aware of (by way of a report or any other filing pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, proxy, vote, written notice or otherwise) the acquisition by any Person or “group” (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), other than any Person or Persons that are members of the Meredith Family, in a single transaction or in a related series of transactions, of “beneficial ownership” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, except that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any particular Person or “group”, such Person or “group” will not be deemed to have beneficial ownership of any securities that such Person or “group” has the right to acquire or vote only upon the happening of any future event or contingency, including the passage of time, that has not yet occurred) of 35% or more of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Borrower (determined on a fully diluted basis but without giving effect to contingent voting rights that have not yet vested) (other than a transaction following which holders of securities that represented 100% of the Voting Stock of the Borrower immediately prior to such transaction (or other securities into which such securities are converted as part of such transaction) own, directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the voting power of the Voting Stock of the surviving Person in such transaction immediately after such transaction);

(c) the adoption of a plan of liquidation and dissolution of the Borrower; or

(d) a “change of control” (or similar event) shall occur under the Senior Notes Indenture or any Indebtedness for borrowed money or any Disqualified Stock, in each case incurred by any Loan Party as permitted under Section  7.08 with an aggregate outstanding principal amount in excess of the Threshold Amount.

 

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Citi ” means Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Citibank, N.A., Citicorp USA, Inc., Citicorp North America, Inc. and/or any of their affiliates as may be appropriate to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

Class ” means (a) when used with respect to Lenders, whether such Lenders are Revolving Credit Lenders, Term Lenders or the Swingline Lender, (b) when used with respect to Commitments, whether such Commitments are Revolving Credit Commitments, Swingline Commitments or Term Commitments, and (c) when used with respect to Loans or a Borrowing, whether such Loans, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Revolving Credit Loans, Swingline Loans or Term Loans. Additional Classes may be established as provided in this Agreement.

Closing Date ” the date on which the conditions precedent set forth in Section  4.01 are satisfied or duly waived.

Code ” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Collateral ” means the “Collateral” as defined in the Security Agreement, all the “Collateral” or “Pledged Assets” as defined in any other Collateral Document and any other assets a Lien in which is granted or purported to be granted pursuant to any Collateral Document.

Collateral Agent ” means Royal Bank, in its capacity as collateral agent or pledgee in its own name under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor collateral agent.

Collateral Documents ” means, collectively, the Security Agreement, each of the Mortgages (if any), collateral assignments, security agreements, pledge agreements, the Intellectual Property Security Agreements or other similar agreements delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders pursuant to Section  6.11 or Section  6.13 , and each other agreement, instrument or document that creates or purports to create a Lien securing any or all of the Obligations in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

Commitment ” means a Term Commitment, Revolving Credit Commitment or Swingline Commitment of any Class or of multiple Classes, as the context may require.

Committed Loan Notice ” means a notice of (a) a Borrowing (other than Swingline Loans), (b) a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, pursuant to Section  2.15(a) , which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 hereto.

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.

Communications Act ” has the meaning set forth in Section  8.02(e) .

Communications Laws ” means the Communications Act, and any similar or successor federal statute, together with all published rules, regulations, policies, orders and decisions of the FCC promulgated thereunder.

Compliance Certificate ” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto.

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

 

16


(a) increased (without duplication) by (to the extent the same were deducted (and not added back) in computing such Consolidated Net Income (other than clause (x) ):

(i) provision for taxes based on income or profits or capital gains, including federal, state, provincial, local, foreign, non-U.S. franchise, excise, value added and similar taxes, foreign withholding taxes and taxes (whether paid in full or in installments) incurred as a result of or in order to consummate the Transactions, of such Person paid or accrued during such period, including any penalties and interest relating to such taxes or arising from any tax examinations; plus

(ii) Consolidated Interest Expense of such Person for such period; plus

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

(iv) any fees, premiums, expenses or charges related to (x) the Transactions, (y) any actual, proposed or contemplated Equity Offering, Permitted Investment, acquisition, Disposition, recapitalization, the incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by this Agreement (including a refinancing thereof) or (z) any amendments, consents, waivers or other modifications relating to the Senior Notes or the Facilities (whether or not consummated or successful); plus

(v) the amount of any restructuring charge, accrual or reserve, integration cost or other business optimization expense, including any restructuring costs incurred in connection with the Transactions, acquisitions, mergers or consolidations after the Closing Date and any other restructuring expenses, severance expenses, one-time compensation charges, post-retirement employee benefits plans, any expenses relating to reconstruction, decommissioning or recommissioning fixed assets for alternate use, expenses or charges relating to facility closing costs, acquisition integration costs and signing, retention or completion bonuses or expenses; plus

(vi) any other non-cash charges or expenses, including any write-offs or write-downs and non-cash compensation charges or expenses recorded from grants of stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock or other rights ( provided that if any such non-cash charges represent an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA in such future period to the extent paid, but excluding from this proviso, for the avoidance of doubt, amortization of a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period); plus

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

(viii) the amount of loss on sale of receivables and related assets to any Receivables Subsidiary in connection with a Receivables Facility; plus

(ix) any costs or expenses incurred by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or any stock subscription or shareholder agreement, to the extent that such costs or expenses are funded with cash

 

17


proceeds contributed to the capital of the Borrower or net cash proceeds of an issuance of Equity Interest of the Borrower (other than Disqualified Stock) solely to the extent that such net cash proceeds are excluded from the calculation set forth in Section  7.05(a)(iii) ; plus

(x) other than with respect to the Transactions, the amount of cost savings, operating expense reductions, other operating improvements and initiatives and synergies projected by the Borrower in good faith to result from actions taken or to be taken in connection with any Investment, acquisition, Disposition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation, discontinued operations, operational changes or other action being given pro forma effect (which will be added to Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as so projected until fully realized and calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as though such cost savings, operating expense reductions, other operating improvements and initiatives and synergies had been realized on the first day of such period), net of the amount of actual benefits realized during such period from such actions; provided that (x) such actions have been taken or are expected to be taken within 18 months after the consummation of the Investment, acquisition, Disposition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation, discontinued operations, operational change or other action expected to result in such cost savings or other benefits, (y) such cost savings are reasonably identifiable and factually supportable (in the good faith determination of the Borrower) and (z) the aggregate amount of cost savings, operating expense reductions, other operating improvements and initiatives and synergies added back pursuant to this clause (x)  in any Test Period shall not exceed 20% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA (prior to giving effect to such addbacks); plus

(xi) solely with respect to the Transactions, such add-backs reflected in the financial model delivered by the Borrower to the Arrangers on or about October 17, 2017, and projected by the Borrower in good faith to result from actions with respect to the Transactions that have been taken or are expected to be taken (in the good faith determination of the Borrower) within 18 months of the Closing Date, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $400 million;

(b) decreased by (without duplication) the amount of non-cash gains increasing such Consolidated Net Income, excluding (i) any non-cash gains to the extent they represent the reversal of an accrual or reserve for a potential cash item that reduced Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA in any prior period and (ii) any non-cash gains in respect of which cash was actually received in a prior period so long as such cash did not increase Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA in such prior period; and (iii) the accrual of revenue in the ordinary course of business; and

(c) increased or decreased by (without duplication):

(A) any net loss or gain resulting in such period from Hedging Obligations and the application of Financial Accounting Codification No. 815-Derivatives and Hedging; and

(B) any net loss or gain resulting in such period from currency translation gains or losses related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness (including any net loss or gain resulting from hedge agreements for currency exchange risk).

Consolidated Current Assets ” means, as at any date of determination, the total assets of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries which may properly be classified as current assets (excluding deferred tax assets without duplication of amounts otherwise added in calculating Excess Cash

 

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Flow) on a consolidated balance sheet for the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, excluding cash and Cash Equivalents; provided that Consolidated Current Assets shall be calculated without giving effect to the impact of purchase accounting.

Consolidated Current Liabilities ” means, as at any date of determination, the total liabilities (excluding deferred taxes and taxes payable, in each case, without duplication of amounts otherwise deducted in calculating Excess Cash Flow) of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries which may properly be classified as current liabilities (other than (a) the current portion of any Indebtedness and other long-term liabilities, and accrued interest thereon, (b) accruals for current or deferred Taxes based on income or profits, (c) accruals, if any, of transaction costs resulting from the Transactions, and (d) accruals of any costs or expenses related to (x) severance or termination of employees prior to the Closing Date or (y) bonuses, pension and other post-retirement benefit obligations) on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP; provided that Consolidated Current Liabilities shall be calculated without giving effect to the impact of purchase accounting.

Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense ” means, with respect to any Person, for any period, the total amount of depreciation and amortization expense, including the amortization of intangibles and deferred financing fees or debt issuance costs, of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period on a consolidated basis and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP.

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

(a) consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period to the extent such expense was deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income of such Person (including (i) amortization of original issue discount resulting from the issuance of Indebtedness at less than par, (ii) all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit or bankers acceptances, (iii) non-cash interest expense (but excluding any non-cash interest expense attributable to the movement in the mark to market valuation of Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments pursuant to GAAP), (iv) the interest component of Capitalized Lease Obligations, (v) imputed interest with respect to Attributable Indebtedness, and (vi) net payments, if any, pursuant to interest rate Hedging Obligations with respect to Indebtedness, and excluding (1) amortization of deferred financing fees, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses, (2) any expensing of bridge, commitment and other financing fees and (3) commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges (including any interest expense) related to any Receivables Facility); plus

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

(c) whether or not treated as interest expense in accordance with GAAP, all cash dividends or other distributions accrued (excluding dividends payable solely in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Borrower) on any series of Disqualified Stock or any series of Preferred Stock (excluding the Series A Preferred Stock) during such period (other than dividends or distributions to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary).

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

 

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

(a) any after-tax effect of extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual gains or losses or expenses (including fees and expenses relating to (i) the Transactions, (ii) severance, relocation and transition costs and (iii) any rebranding or corporate name change) shall be excluded;

(b) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles during such period shall be excluded;

(c) any after-tax effect of income (or loss) from disposed or discontinued operations and any net after-tax gains (or losses) on disposal of disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations shall be excluded;

(d) any after-tax effect of gains (or losses) ( less all fees and expenses relating thereto) attributable to asset Dispositions other than in the ordinary course of business, as determined in good faith by the Borrower, shall be excluded;

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

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

(g) the Net Income for such period of any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary shall be excluded to the extent of any portion of its Net Income that may not be transferred (including by way of any one or more of the following (i) dividends or similar distributions, (ii) returns of capital, (iii) loans or advances or the repayment thereof or (iv) other conveyances) at the date of determination without any prior governmental approval (which has not been obtained) and without violating, directly or indirectly, 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 has been legally waived; provided that Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower will be increased by the amount of dividends or other distributions or other payments actually paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash or Cash Equivalents) to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period;

(h) any non-cash compensation charge or expense, including any such charge or expense arising from the grants of stock appreciation or similar rights, employee benefit plans or agreements, stock options, restricted stock or other rights, and any non-cash deemed finance charges or expenses in respect of any pension liabilities or other retiree provisions or on the revaluation of any benefit plan obligation and any non-cash charges or expenses in respect of curtailments, discontinuations or modifications to pension plans shall be excluded;

 

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(i) any after-tax effect of income (or loss) from the early extinguishment or cancellation of Indebtedness or Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments shall be excluded;

(j) any unrealized foreign currency translation or transaction gains or losses (or similar charges) (i) in respect of Indebtedness of any Person denominated in a currency other than the functional currency of such Person, (ii) relating to translation of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies and (iii) in respect of Indebtedness or other obligations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall be excluded;

(k) accruals and reserves for liabilities or expenses that are established or adjusted as a result of the Transactions, calculated in accordance with GAAP, within 18 months after the Closing Date shall be excluded;

(l) any fees and expenses incurred during such period, or any amortization thereof for such period, in connection with the Transactions and any acquisition, Investment, Disposition, issuance or repayment of Indebtedness, issuance of Equity Interests, refinancing transaction or amendment or modification of any debt instrument (in each case, including 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 shall be excluded;

(m) losses, charges and expenses that are covered by indemnification or other reimbursement provisions in connection with any Investment, acquisition, sale, conveyance, transfer or other Disposition of assets will be excluded to the extent actually reimbursed, or, so long as such Person has made a determination that a reasonable basis exists for indemnification or reimbursement, but only to the extent that such amount is in fact indemnified or reimbursed within 365 days of such determination (with a deduction in the applicable future period for any amount so added back to the extent not so indemnified or reimbursed within such 365 days) shall be excluded;

(n) losses, charges and expenses with respect to liability or casualty events or business interruption, to the extent covered by insurance and actually reimbursed, or, so long as such Person has made a determination that a reasonable basis exists for reimbursement by the insurer and such amount (A) is not denied by the applicable carrier in writing and (B) is in fact reimbursed within 365 days of the date on which such liability was discovered or such casualty event or business interruption occurred (with a deduction in the applicable future period for any amount so added back to the extent not so reimbursed within 365 days) shall be excluded;

(o) the effects of purchase accounting, fair value accounting or recapitalization accounting adjustments (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries) resulting from the application of purchase accounting, fair value accounting or recapitalization accounting in relation to the Transactions or any acquisition consummated before or after the Closing Date, and the amortization, write-down or write-off of any amounts thereof, shall be excluded;

(p) all non-cash gains, losses, expenses or charges attributable to the movement in the mark-to-market valuation of Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments shall be excluded; and

(q) any deferred tax expense associated with tax deductions or net operating losses as a result of the Transactions, or the release of any valuation allowance related to such item shall be excluded.

 

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Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) the Consolidated Total Net Debt of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on such date, to (b) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended Test Period ending immediately prior to such date for which Required Financial Statements have been delivered.

In the event that the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (i) incurs, assumes, guarantees, redeems, retires or extinguishes any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness repaid, redeemed, retired or extinguished under any revolving credit facility (including the Revolving Credit Facility), except to the extent that such revolving credit facility is permanently reduced and has not been replaced) or (ii) issues or redeems Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, in each case subsequent to the period for which the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio is being calculated but prior to or substantially simultaneously with the event for which the calculation of the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio is made (the “ Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio Calculation Date ”), then (x) the Consolidated Total Net Debt shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, guarantee, redemption, retirement or extinguishment of Indebtedness, or such issuance or redemption of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as if the same had occurred as of the date of determination of Consolidated Total Net Debt referred to in clause (a)  above and (y) the Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, guarantee, redemption, retirement or extinguishment of Indebtedness, or such issuance or redemption of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as if the same had occurred as of the beginning of the applicable four fiscal quarter period.

For purposes of making the computation referred to above, Investments, acquisitions, Dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations and discontinued operations in each case with respect to a business (as such term is used in Regulation S-X Rule 11-01), a company, a segment, an operating division or unit or line of business that the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has determined to make and/or made during the Test Period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio Calculation Date (each, for purposes of this definition, a “ pro forma event ”) shall be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, Dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations and discontinued operations had occurred on the first day of such Test Period. If since the beginning of such Test Period any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries since the beginning of such Test Period shall have made or effected any Investment, acquisition, Disposition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or discontinued operation, in each case with respect to a business (as such term is used in Regulation S-X Rule 11-01), a company, a segment, an operating division or unit or line of business that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such Test Period as if such Investment, acquisition, Disposition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or discontinued operation had occurred at the beginning of such Test Period.

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to a transaction, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Borrower. Any such pro forma calculation may include adjustments appropriate, in the good faith determination of the Borrower as set forth in an officer’s certificate, to reflect reasonably identifiable and factually supportable operating expense reductions and other operating improvements or synergies reasonably expected to result from any action taken or expected to be taken within 12 months after the date of any pro forma event; provided , that (x) no such amounts shall be included pursuant to this

 

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paragraph to the extent duplicative of any amounts that are otherwise added back in computing Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA with respect to such period and (y) such amounts shall be subject to the limitations contained in clause (a)(x) of the definition of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA.

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 determination had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedging Obligations applicable to such Indebtedness).

Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio Calculation Date ” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio”.

Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio ” means, as of the date of determination, the ratio of (a) the Consolidated Total Net Debt of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries that is secured by a Lien on any property or assets of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date, to (b) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended Test Period for which Required Financial Statements have been delivered, in each case with such pro forma adjustments to the Consolidated Total Net Debt and Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio as determined in good faith by the Borrower.

Consolidated Total Assets ” means, as of the date of any determination thereof, total assets of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries calculated in accordance with GAAP on a consolidated basis as of such date.

Consolidated Total Net Debt ” means, as of any date of determination, the sum, without duplication, of (a) the total amount of (i) Indebtedness for borrowed money, (ii) Indebtedness evidenced by bonds, notes (other than notes in favor of trade creditors evidencing trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business), debentures or other similar instruments for the payment of which such Person is liable, (iii) Capitalized Lease Obligations, (iv) the Senior Notes and (v) guarantees of the foregoing, in each case of the Borrower and of its Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding (w) the U.K. Pension Security Obligations, (x) Indebtedness in respect of undrawn letters of credit (including Letters of Credit) and bankers’ acceptances (or, without duplication, reimbursement agreements in respect thereof) and for the avoidance of doubt, performance and surety bonds not constituting bonds evidencing indebtedness for borrowed money, except to the extent of unreimbursed amounts drawn thereunder, (y) intercompany Indebtedness and (z) Indebtedness in respect of Hedging Obligations not yet due and owing) outstanding on such date; minus (b) up to $250 million of Eligible Cash included in the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries (x) for purposes of determining compliance with Section  7.08 , as of the last day of the relevant Test Period or (y) otherwise, as of the most recently ended Test Period for which Required Financial Statements have been delivered (with such pro forma adjustments as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of “Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio” as determined in good faith by the Borrower); plus (c) the greater of (i) the aggregate liquidation value and (ii) maximum fixed repurchase price without regard to any change of control or redemption premiums of all Disqualified Stock of the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors and all Preferred Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that (1) for purposes of determining the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio in connection with the incurrence of any Incremental Credit Extension incurred pursuant to Section  2.14 or any Permitted Debt Offerings incurred pursuant to Section  7.02(b)(xxi) only, the cash proceeds of such Incremental Credit Extension and/or Permitted Debt Offering being incurred shall not be deemed to be included on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries and (2) for purposes of this definition, the “maximum fixed repurchase price” of any

 

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Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock that does not have a fixed repurchase price shall be calculated in accordance with the terms of such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock as if such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock were purchased on any date on which Consolidated Total Net Debt shall 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 or Preferred Stock, such fair market value shall be the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower).

Contingent Obligations ” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing any leases, dividends or other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness (“ primary obligations ”) of any other Person (the “ primary obligor ”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent:

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

(b) to advance or supply funds:

(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

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

Contractual Obligation ” means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.

Control ” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Affiliate”.

Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness ” means any (a) Permitted Pari Passu Secured Refinancing Debt, (b) Permitted Junior Secured Refinancing Debt, (c) Permitted Unsecured Refinancing Debt or (d) Indebtedness incurred hereunder pursuant to a Refinancing Amendment, in each case, issued, incurred or otherwise obtained (including by means of the extension or renewal of existing Indebtedness) in exchange for, or to extend, renew, replace, repurchase, retire or refinance, in whole or part, existing Loans or Commitments hereunder, or any then-existing Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness (“ Refinanced Debt ”); provided , that (i) such exchanging, extending, renewing, replacing, repurchasing, retiring or refinancing Indebtedness (including, if such Indebtedness includes or relates to any Other Revolving Credit Commitments, the unused portion of such Other Revolving Credit Commitments) is in an original aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) not greater than the aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Refinanced Debt (and, in the case of Refinanced Debt consisting, in whole or in part, of unused Revolving Credit Commitments or Other Revolving Credit Commitments, the amount thereof) except by an amount equal to unpaid accrued interest and premium (including tender premium) and penalties thereon plus reasonable upfront fees and OID on such exchanging, extending, renewing, replacing, repurchasing, retiring or refinancing Indebtedness, plus other reasonable and customary fees and expenses in connection with such exchange, modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal, replacement, repurchase, retirement or extension and (ii) such Indebtedness shall has the same or later maturity and, except in the case of Other Revolving Credit Commitments, a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Refinanced Debt and (iii)

 

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such Refinanced Debt shall be repaid, repurchased, retired, defeased or satisfied and discharged, and all accrued interest, fees, premiums (if any) and penalties in connection therewith shall be paid, substantially concurrently with the date such Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness is issued, incurred or obtained; provided that to the extent such Refinanced Debt consists, in whole or in part, of Revolving Credit Commitments or Other Revolving Credit Commitments (or Revolving Credit Loans or Other Revolving Credit Loans incurred pursuant to any Revolving Credit Commitments or Other Revolving Credit Commitments), such Revolving Credit Commitments or Other Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, shall be terminated and all accrued fees in connection therewith shall be paid, on the date such Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness is issued, incurred or obtained.

Credit Extension ” means each of the following: (a) a Borrowing and (b) an L/C Credit Extension.

Credit Suisse ” means Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch.

Cure Amount ” has the meaning specified in Section  8.04(a) .

Cure Right ” has the meaning specified in Section  8.04(a) .

Debtor Relief Laws ” means the United States Bankruptcy Code and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.

Declined Proceeds ” has the meaning set forth in Section  2.05(b)(vi) .

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 Base Rate plus (b) the Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to Base Rate Loans plus (c) 2.00% per annum ; provided , that with respect to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus 2.00% per annum , in each case, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

Defaulting Lender ” means, subject to Section  2.17(d) , any Lender that (a) has failed to fund any portion of the Term Loans, Revolving Credit Loans or participations in L/C Obligations or Swingline Loans required to be funded by it hereunder within two Business Days of the date required to be funded by it hereunder, unless subsequently cured or unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s good faith determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (which conditions precedent, together with the applicable default or breach of a representation, if any, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, (b) has otherwise failed to pay over to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within two Business Days of the date when due, unless the subject of a good faith dispute or subsequently cured, (c) has notified the Borrower or the Administrative Agent or an L/C Issuer in writing that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations hereunder or has made a public statement to that effect with respect to its funding obligations hereunder or generally under agreements in which it commits to extend credit (unless such writing or public statement relates to such Lender’s obligation to fund a Loan or L/C Obligation hereunder and states that such position is based on such Lender’s good faith determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (which condition precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be

 

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specifically identified in writing or public statement) cannot be satisfied), (d) has failed, within three Business Days after written request by the Administrative Agent, an L/C Issuer or the Borrower to confirm in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, such L/C Issuer or the Borrower that it will comply with its funding obligations hereunder ( provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (d)  upon receipt of such confirmation by the Administrative Agent, such L/C Issuer or the Borrower), or (e) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, (ii) had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or a custodian appointed for it, (iii) taken any action in furtherance of, or indicated its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointment or (iv) become the subject of a Bail-In Action; provided , that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of (1) the ownership or acquisition of any equity interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority 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) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender or (2) an Undisclosed Administration.

Designated Non-cash Consideration ” means the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) of non-cash consideration received by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with a Disposition 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 of or conversion of or collection on such Designated Non-cash Consideration.

Disclosure Letter ” means the disclosure letter, dated as of the Closing Date, and delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in respect of this Agreement.

Disposition ” or “ Dispose ” means:

(a) the sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, of property or assets (including by way of a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction) of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or

(b) the issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than Preferred Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries issued in compliance with Section  7.02 and the issuance or sale of Equity Interests representing 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), whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions.

Disposition Deficiency ” means the excess, if any, of (a) the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) of any property or asset that is Disposed of by any Loan Party to any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary pursuant to Section  7.04(e) over (b) the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) of the consideration received by such Loan Party in respect of such Disposition.

Disqualified Stock ” means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person which, by its terms, or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is putable or exchangeable, or upon the happening of any event (1) matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely as a result of a change of control or asset sale) pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or (2) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely as a result of a change

 

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of control or asset sale), in whole or in part, in each case prior to the date that is 91 days after the earlier of the Latest Maturity Date at the time of issuance of such Capital Stock or the date the Loans are no longer outstanding; provided , however , that only the portion of Capital Stock which so matures or is mandatorily redeemable, is so putable, convertible or exchangeable or is so redeemable at the option of the holder thereof prior to such date shall be deemed to be Disqualified Stock; provided further , however , that if such Capital Stock is issued to any employee or any plan for the benefit of employees of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Capital Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of any such employee’s termination, death or disability; provided further , however , that any class of Capital Stock of such Person that by its terms authorizes such Person to satisfy its obligations thereunder by delivery of Capital Stock that is not Disqualified Stock shall not be deemed to be Disqualified Stock; provider further that any Capital Stock issued in connection with the Equity Contribution shall not constitute Disqualified Stock.

Dollar ” and “ $ ” mean lawful money of the United States.

Dollar Equivalent ” means, of any amount expressed, at the time of determination thereof, (a) if such amount is expressed in Dollars, such amount, and (b) if such amount is expressed in any Alternative Currency, the equivalent amount thereof in Dollars as determined by the Administrative Agent at such time on the basis of the Spot Rate in effect on the date that is three Business Days prior to the date of such determination for the purchase of Dollars with such Alternative Currency.

Domestic Subsidiary ” means any Restricted Subsidiary that is organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

Dutch Auction ” means an auction conducted by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in order to purchase Term Loans of any Class as contemplated by Section  10.06(i) , which auction shall be open to all Term Lenders of such Class on a pro rata basis and shall be conducted in accordance with customary Dutch auction procedures reasonably established by the Administrative Agent and acceptable to the Borrower.

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.

Eligible Assignee ” means and includes a commercial bank, an insurance company, a finance company, a financial institution, any Fund or any other “accredited investor” (as defined in Regulation D of the Securities Act) other than a Person engaged in a Similar Business to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries (which Persons shall be determined in good faith by the Borrower and identified to the Administrative Agent in writing) but in any event excluding (x) the Borrower and its Affiliates and Subsidiaries, (y) natural persons and (z) any Defaulting Lender.

 

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Eligible Cash ” means any cash and Cash Equivalents held by (a) the Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor or (b) any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary, but only to the extent that such cash and Cash Equivalents held by such Non-Guarantor Subsidiary in excess of the amount of Indebtedness of such Non-Guarantor Subsidiary included in Consolidated Total Net Debt (before subtracting Eligible Cash) are reduced by the amount of taxes (if any) that would be incurred (as determined assuming a tax rate of 21% or, if less, the highest U.S. corporate tax rate then in effect at that time) if such cash and Cash Equivalents were to be transferred to (i) the Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor or (ii) another Non-Guarantor Subsidiary; provided that, in the case of clause (ii) , any such after-tax cash and Cash Equivalents will only qualify as “Eligible Cash” hereunder to the extent that the amount of cash and Cash Equivalents that would be held by such other Non-Guarantor Subsidiary after giving effect to such deemed transfer is not in excess of the amount of its Indebtedness included in Consolidated Total Net Debt (before subtracting Eligible Cash). In determining any taxes that would be incurred for these purposes, the Borrower may select among the group of eligible transferees (and the manner in which transfers could be effected) so as to minimize any taxes that would be deemed incurred.

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

Environment ” means indoor air, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, drinking water, land surface, subsurface strata, and natural resources such as wetlands, flora and fauna.

Environmental Laws ” means the common law and any and all Federal, state, local, and foreign statutes, Laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements or governmental restrictions relating to pollution, the protection of the Environment (or, to the extent relating to exposure to Hazardous Materials, human health) or to the Release or threat of Release of Hazardous Materials into the Environment.

Environmental Liability ” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of investigation and remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Loan Parties or any Restricted Subsidiary 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 into the Environment, or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

Environmental Permit ” means any permit, approval, identification number, license or other authorization required under any Environmental Law.

Equity Contribution ” means the issuance and sale on the Closing Date to an Affiliate of Koch Equity Development LLC for gross consideration of $650 million of 650,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock, warrants to purchase up to 1,625,000 shares of the Borrower’s Class A Common Stock and options to purchase up to 875,000 shares of the Borrower’s Class A Common Stock.

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

 

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Equity Offering ” means any public or private sale of common stock or Preferred Stock of the Borrower (excluding Disqualified Stock), other than:

(a) the Equity Contribution;

(b) public offerings with respect to any of the Borrower’s common stock registered on Form S-4 or Form S-8 (or any successor form);

(c) issuances to any Subsidiary of the Borrower; and

(d) Refunding Capital Stock.

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 or any Restricted Subsidiary is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code or Section 4001(a)(14) of ERISA.

ERISA Event ” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) with respect to any Pension Plan, the failure to satisfy the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, whether or not waived; (c) a withdrawal by a Loan Party, any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate 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; (d) a complete or partial withdrawal by a Loan Party, any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is insolvent, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA, or in endangered or critical status, within the meaning of Section 432 of the Code or Section 305 of ERISA; (e) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate the treatment of a plan amendment as a termination under Sections 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate, a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (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; or (g) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA by the PBGC, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon a Loan Party, any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate with respect to any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan.

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.

Euro ” or “ ” means the single currency of participating member states of the EMU.

Eurocurrency Rate ” means:

(a) for any Interest Period with respect to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the greater of (i) 0% per annum ; and (ii) the rate per annum obtained by dividing (x)(A) the rate per annum equal to the rate determined by the Administrative Agent to be the London Interbank Offered Rate (“ LIBOR ”), as administered by ICE Benchmark Administration Limited (or any other Person which takes over the administration of that rate) for deposits (for delivery on the first day of such period) with a term equivalent to such period in Dollars displayed on page LIBOR01 of the Reuters Screen (or, in the event such rate does not appear on a Reuters page or screen, on any

 

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successor or substitutive page on such screen that displays such rate, or on the appropriate page of such other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion), determined as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London, England time) on such Interest Rate Determination Date, or (B) in the event the rate referenced in the preceding clause (A)  is not available, the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent as the rate of interest equal to the offered quotation rate to major banks in the offshore Dollar market at their request by the Administrative Agent’s London Branch for deposits (for delivery of the first day of the relevant period) in Dollars of amounts in same day funds comparable to the principal amount of the Loan, for which the Eurocurrency Rate is then being determined with maturities comparable to such period as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London, England time) on such Interest Rate Determination Date, by (y) an amount equal to (A) one minus (B) the Applicable Reserve Requirement; 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.

Eurocurrency Rate Loan ” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the Eurocurrency Rate.

Event of Default ” has the meaning specified in Section  8.01 .

Excess Cash Flow ” means, with respect to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for any Excess Cash Flow Period, Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such Excess Cash Flow Period,

(a) minus , without duplication,

(i) repayments, prepayments and other cash payments made with respect to the principal of any Indebtedness or the principal component of any Capitalized Lease Obligations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period (excluding voluntary and mandatory prepayments of Term Loans, voluntary prepayments of Indebtedness described in Section  2.05(b)(iii) (B) and prepayments of other revolving Indebtedness (except to the extent accompanied by a corresponding reduction in commitments), but including all premium, make-whole or penalty payments paid in cash (to the extent such payments were not already deducted in calculating Consolidated Net Income and are not otherwise prohibited under this Agreement)); provided that a mandatory prepayment of Indebtedness will only be deducted pursuant to this clause  (i) to the extent not already deducted in the computation of Net Proceeds of Dispositions;

(ii) (A) cash payments made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period in respect of Capital Expenditures, Permitted Acquisitions, Investments and Restricted Payments (excluding Investments in Cash Equivalents and other items (including Investments and Restricted Payments) that are eliminated in consolidation) and (B) cash payments that the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary is required to make in respect of Capital Expenditures, Permitted Acquisitions and Investments within 365 days after the end of such period pursuant to binding obligations entered into prior to or during such period; provided that amounts described in this clause  (B) will not reduce Excess Cash Flow in subsequent periods and, to the extent not so paid, will increase Excess Cash Flow in the subsequent period;

 

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(iii) cash payments made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period in respect of (A) long-term liabilities other than Indebtedness or (B) items for which an accrual or reserve was established in a prior period;

(iv) (A) cash payments made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period in respect of Taxes (including distributions to any parent entity in respect of Taxes), to the extent such payments exceed the amount of tax expense deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income, and (B) cash payments that the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary will be required to make in respect of Taxes (including distributions to any parent entity in respect of Taxes) within 180 days after the end of such period; provided that amounts described in this clause  (B) will not reduce Excess Cash Flow in subsequent periods;

(v) cash payments and other cash expenditures made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period (A) with respect to items that were excluded in the calculation of such Consolidated Net Income pursuant to clauses  (a) through (q)  of the definition of Consolidated Net Income or (B) that were not expensed during such period in accordance with GAAP;

(vi) all non-cash credits included in calculating such Consolidated Net Income (including insured or indemnified losses referred to in clauses  (m) and (n)  of Consolidated Net Income to the extent not reimbursed in cash during such period);

(vii) an amount equal to the sum of (A) the increase in the Working Capital of the Borrower during such period, if any, plus (B) the increase in long-term accounts receivable of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, if any (other than any such increases contemplated by clauses (A)  and (B) of this clause  (vii) that are directly attributable to acquisitions of a Person or business unit by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period);

(b) plus , without duplication,

(i) all non-cash charges, losses and expenses of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that were deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income;

(ii) all cash payments received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period pursuant to Hedge Agreements that were not treated as revenue or net income under GAAP;

(iii) an amount equal to the sum of (A) the decrease in Working Capital of the Borrower during such period, if any, plus (B) decrease in long-term accounts receivable of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, if any;

(iv) all amounts referred to in clauses  (a)(i) , (a)(ii)  and (a)(iii)  above to the extent funded with the proceeds of the issuance or the incurrence of Indebtedness (other than proceeds of revolving loans), the sale or issuance of Equity Interests or any loss, damage, destruction or condemnation of, or any sale, transfer or other disposition to any Person of, any assets.

Excess Cash Flow Period ” means each fiscal year of the Borrower commencing with the first full fiscal year of the Borrower ending after the Closing Date.

 

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

Excluded Subsidiary ” means (a) any Subsidiary that is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary; (b) any Immaterial Subsidiary; (c) any Subsidiary that is prohibited or restricted by applicable Law, or by Contractual Obligations existing on the Closing Date (or, in the case of any future acquisition, as of the closing date of such acquisition, so long as such prohibition is not incurred in contemplation of such acquisition), from guaranteeing the Obligations or would require the approval, consent, license or authorization of any Governmental Authority in order to guarantee the Obligations (unless such approval, consent, license or authorization has been received); (d) any other Subsidiary with respect to which, the a guarantee therefrom would reasonably be expected to result in material adverse tax consequences to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (as determined by the Borrower in good faith); (e) any not-for-profit Subsidiary, captive insurance entity or special purpose entity (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Receivables Subsidiary); (f) any Unrestricted Subsidiary; or (g) any CFC or CFC Holdco or any direct or indirect Subsidiary of any CFC or CFC Holdco.

Excluded Swap Obligation ” means, with respect to any Guarantor, any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the Guarantee of such Guarantor of, or the grant by such Guarantor of a security interest to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any Guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Guarantor’s failure for any reason not to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act at the time the Guarantee of such Guarantor becomes effective with respect to such related Swap Obligation. 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 is or becomes illegal.

Excluded Taxes ” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to any Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient, (a) any Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable Lending Office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes; (b) in the case of a Lender, any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to a Law in effect at the time (i) such Lender becomes a party hereto or acquires such interest in the Loan or Commitment (other than pursuant to the Borrower’s request under Section  10.13 ) or (ii) such Lender designates a new Lending Office, except in each case to the extent that such Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, immediately prior to the time of designation of a new Lending Office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from a Loan Party with respect to such Taxes pursuant to Section  3.01 ; (c) any Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section  3.01(d) ; and (d) any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed pursuant to FATCA.

Existing Letters of Credit ” has the meaning set forth in Section  2.03(a) .

Extended Revolving Credit Commitment ” has the meaning set forth in Section  2.16 .

Extended Term Loan ” has the meaning set forth in Section  2.16 .

Extending Lender ” has the meaning set forth in Section  2.16 .

 

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Extension ” has the meaning set forth in Section  2.16 .

Extension Offer ” has the meaning set forth in Section  2.16 .

Facility ” means the Term Loans, the Revolving Credit Facility, the Swingline Commitment or the Letter of Credit Sublimit, as the context may require.

FATCA ” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code as of the Closing Date (and any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any agreements entered into pursuant to current Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code (or any amended or successor version described above), any current or future Treasury regulations or official administrative interpretations thereof and any intergovernmental agreements entered into in connection with the implementation thereof.

FCC ” has the meaning set forth in Section  8.02(e) .

FCC License ” means a License issued or granted by the FCC.

FCPA ” means Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

Federal Funds Rate ” means, for any day, the rate calculated by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York based on such day’s federal funds transactions by depository institutions (as determined in such manner as the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shall set forth on its public website from time to time) and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as the federal funds effective rate; 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 1.00%) charged to Royal Bank on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent.

Financial Covenant Event of Default ” has the meaning set forth in Section  8.01(b) .

Foreign Currency Letter of Credit ” has the meaning set forth in Section  2.03(p) .

Foreign Lender ” means any Lender that is not a “United States person” as defined in 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 of its Subsidiaries 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 (i) any Subsidiary which is not a Domestic Subsidiary or (ii) any Subsidiary of a Subsidiary described in the preceding clause (i) .

Four Quarter EBITDA ” means, as of any date of determination, Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended Test Period for which Required Financial Statements have been delivered, in each case with such pro forma adjustments to Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio as determined in good faith by the Borrower.

 

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FRB ” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.

Fronting Exposure ” means, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender (a) with respect to any L/C Issuer, such Defaulting Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the outstanding L/C Obligations with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer other than L/C Obligations as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof and (b) with respect to the Swingline Lender, such Defaulting Lender’s Applicable Percentage of Swingline Loans other than Swingline Loans as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders in accordance with the terms hereof.

Fund ” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its activities.

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, as in effect from time to time, subject to Section  1.03 .

Governmental Authority ” means any nation or government, any state, county, provincial or other political subdivision thereof, any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, administrative tribunal, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.

Granting Lender ” has the meaning specified in Section  10.06(h) .

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

Guaranteed Obligations ” has the meaning specified in Section  11.01 .

Guarantors ” means (a) the Subsidiary Guarantors and (b) with respect to obligations and liabilities owing by any Loan Party (other than the Borrower) or Non-Guarantor Subsidiary in respect of Secured Hedge Agreements or Treasury Services Agreements, the Borrower.

Guaranty ” means, collectively, the guaranty of the Obligations by the Guarantors pursuant to this Agreement.

Hazardous Materials ” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes that are regulated pursuant to applicable Environmental Law.

Hedge Bank ” means any Person that is the Administrative Agent, an Arranger or a Lender or an Affiliate of the Administrative Agent, an Arranger or a Lender at the time it enters into a Secured Hedge Agreement or a Treasury Services Agreement (or, in the case of a Secured Hedge

 

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Agreement or Treasury Services Agreement that is in effect on the Closing Date, any Person that is the Administrative Agent, an Arranger or a Lender or an Affiliate of the Administrative Agent, an Arranger or a Lender as of the Closing Date), as applicable, in its capacity as a party thereto, and (other than a Person already party hereto as a Lender) delivers to the Administrative Agent a letter agreement reasonably satisfactory to it (i) appointing the Collateral Agent as its agent under the applicable Loan Documents and (ii) agreeing to be bound by Sections 9.09 and 10.05 as if it were a Lender.

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

Honor Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section  2.03(c)(i) .

Immaterial Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of the Borrower that does not have assets (after intercompany eliminations) in excess of 5% of Consolidated Total Assets or revenues in excess of 5% of annual consolidated revenues of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended Test Period ( provided that the assets (after intercompany eliminations) of all Immaterial Subsidiaries (other than those that would be Excluded Subsidiaries even if they were not Immaterial Subsidiaries) shall not exceed 10% of Consolidated Total Assets in the aggregate and the annual revenues of all Immaterial Subsidiaries for the most recently ended Test Period (other than those that would be Excluded Subsidiaries even if they were not Immaterial Subsidiaries) shall not exceed 10% of the annual consolidated revenues of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended Test Period in the aggregate), in each case as determined as of the date of the most recent Required Financial Statements that have been delivered.

Incremental Amendment ” has the meaning set forth in Section  2.14(c) .

Incremental Extensions of Credit ” has the meaning specified in Section  2.14(a) .

Incremental Term Loans ” has the meaning set forth in Section  2.14(a) .

Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any Person on the day of determination, without duplication:

(a) the principal in respect of (i) any indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money and (ii) indebtedness evidenced by bonds, notes (other than notes in favor of trade creditors evidencing trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business), debentures or other similar instruments for the payment of which such Person is liable;

(b) the net obligations under all Hedging Obligations of such Person (the amount of such obligations to be equal at any time to the net payment under such agreements or arrangements giving rise to such obligation that would be payable by such Person at the termination of such agreement or arrangement);

(c) all Attributable Indebtedness in respect of a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction entered into by such Person and all Capitalized Lease Obligations of such Person;

(d) the principal component of all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred and unpaid purchase price of any property (excluding trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business), to the extent the same would be required to be shown as a long-term liability on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP;

 

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(e) the principal amount of all reimbursement obligations of such Person in respect of letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or other similar instruments (the amount of such obligations being equal at any time to the aggregate then undrawn and unexpired amount of such letters of credit or other similar instruments plus the aggregate amount of drawings thereunder that have not been reimbursed) (except to the extent such reimbursement obligations relate to trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business);

(f) the principal component of Indebtedness of the type referred to in clause (a)  of a third Person secured by a Lien on any asset owned by the Person first referenced in this definition (other than Liens on Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries securing Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiaries), whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such first Person; provided , however , that the amount of such Indebtedness will be the lesser of (i) the Indebtedness so secured and (ii) the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) of the assets of such first Person securing such Indebtedness; and

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

provided , however , that notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness shall be deemed not to include (A) Contingent Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business, (B) deferred or prepaid revenues, (C) trade payables, accrued expenses and intercompany liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business, (D) any earn-out obligations until such obligation becomes a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP, (E) purchase price holdbacks arising in the ordinary course of business in respect of a portion of the purchase price of an asset to satisfy underperformed obligations of the seller of such asset or (F) obligations under or in respect of Receivables Facilities.

Indemnified Taxes ” means (a) 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 and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in clause (a)  above, Other Taxes.

Indemnitees ” has the meaning set forth in Section  10.04 .

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

Information ” has the meaning set forth in Section  10.07 .

Intellectual Property ” has the meaning specified in the Security Agreement.

Intellectual Property Security Agreements ” has the meaning specified in Section  4.01(d)(iv)(E) .

 

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Intercreditor Agreement ” means a first lien intercreditor agreement among the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the trustee, agent or other representative for holders of any Indebtedness (a) incurred pursuant to Section  7.02(b)(xxi) or Section  7.02(b)(xxii) and (b) secured by a Lien on the Collateral permitted by Section  7.01(38) , which intercreditor agreement shall be consistent with the then existing market practice and reasonably acceptable to the Required Lenders (it being understood that (i) any such intercreditor agreement shall be considered acceptable to a Lender if made available to such Lender by the Administrative Agent (through IntraLinks, SyndTrak, DebtDomain or similar facility) and such Lender is informed that such intercreditor agreement shall be considered acceptable to it if there is no objection within five Business Days, and no such objection is made and (ii) such intercreditor agreement shall be deemed accepted if accepted or deemed accepted by the Required Lenders).

Interest Payment Date ” means, (a) as to any Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date of the Facility under which such Loan was made; provided , that if any Interest Period for a Eurocurrency Rate Loan exceeds three months, the respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates, and (b) as to any Base Rate Loan (including a Swingline Loan), the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date of the Facility under which such Loan was made.

Interest Period ” means, as to each Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such Eurocurrency Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Eurocurrency Rate Loan and ending on the date one, two, three or six months thereafter or, to the extent agreed by each Lender of such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, 12 months thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its Committed Loan Notice; provided , that:

(a) any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;

(b) any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and

(c) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date of the Facility under which such Loan was made.

Interest Rate Determination Date ” means, with respect to any Interest Period, the date that is two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period.

Investment Grade Rating ” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, or an equivalent rating by any other Rating Agency, and in each such case with a “stable” or better outlook.

Investment Grade Securities ” means:

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

 

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

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

(d) corresponding instruments in countries other than the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada 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 of loans), advances or capital contributions (excluding accounts receivable, trade credit, deposits, advances to customers, dealers, distributors and suppliers, commission, payroll, travel and similar advances to directors, officers and employees, in each case made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities issued by any other Person and investments that are required by GAAP to be classified on the balance sheet (excluding the footnotes) of such Person in the same manner as the other investments included in this definition to the extent such transactions involve the transfer of cash or other property; provided , however , that endorsements of negotiable instruments and documents in the ordinary course of business will not be deemed to be an Investment. For purposes of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary” and Section  7.05 :

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

(i) the Borrower’s direct or indirect “Investment” in such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; less

(ii) the portion (proportionate to the Borrower’s direct or indirect equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) of the net assets of such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; and

(b) any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be valued at its fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) at the time of such transfer.

The amount of any Investment outstanding at any time shall be the original cost of such Investment (determined, in the case of any Investment made with assets of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, based on the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) at the time of such Investment of the assets invested), reduced by any dividend, distribution, interest payment, return of capital, repayment or other amount received in cash by Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in respect of such Investment.

IP Rights ” has the meaning set forth in Section  5.15 .

 

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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).

Issuer Documents ” means with respect to any Letter of Credit, the Letter of Credit Application, and any other document, agreement and instrument entered into by any L/C Issuer and the Borrower (or any Subsidiary) or in favor of such L/C Issuer and relating to such Letter of Credit.

Judgment Currency ” has the meaning set forth in Section  10.22(b) .

Junior Indebtedness ” means unsecured Indebtedness with an aggregate principal amount in excess of the Threshold Amount, Junior Lien Secured Indebtedness and any Subordinated Indebtedness.

Junior Lien Secured Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness secured by Liens on the Collateral that are junior to the Liens securing the Obligations.

L/C Advance ” means, with respect to each Revolving Credit Lender, such Lender’s funding of its participation in any L/C Borrowing in accordance with its Pro Rata Share.

L/C Borrowing ” means an extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any Letter of Credit which has not been timely reimbursed or refinanced as a Revolving Credit Borrowing in accordance with Section  2.03(c) .

L/C Commitment ” means, with respect to any L/C Issuer, the aggregate face amount of Letters of Credit that such L/C Issuer has committed, in writing, to provide subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. The L/C Commitments of the L/C Issuers as of the Closing Date are as set forth on Schedule 1.01B of the Disclosure Letter.

L/C Credit Extension ” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the issuance thereof or extension of the expiry date thereof, or the renewal or increase of the amount thereof.

L/C Issuer ” means (a) each Person identified on Schedule 1.01B of the Disclosure Letter, (b) any other Revolving Credit Lender that becomes an L/C Issuer in accordance with Section  2.03(k) following the Closing Date, in each case, in its capacity as an issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, or any successor issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder and, in the case of clause (b) , subject to such Lender’s acceptance of such appointment, (c) BNP Paribas in its capacity as Letter of Credit issuer with respect to Existing Letters of Credit issued by it and any amendment or extension thereof that BNP Paribas agrees to in its sole and absolute discretion, and (d) any Affiliate of any L/C Issuer referred to in clause (a)  through (c) above that has issued an Existing Letter of Credit or issues a Letter of Credit under such L/C Issuer’s L/C Commitment, but such Affiliate shall constitute an L/C Issuer solely for purposes of Letters of Credit issued by it; provided that in no event shall Royal Bank, Credit Suisse, Barclays or Citi (or any of their respective Affiliates) be required to issue commercial or documentary letters of credit. Any reference to “L/C Issuer” herein shall be to the applicable L/C Issuer, as appropriate.

L/C Obligations ” means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit plus the aggregate amount of all Unreimbursed Amounts, including all L/C Borrowings.

Latest Maturity Date ” means, at any date of determination, the latest Maturity Date applicable to any Loan or Commitment hereunder at such time, including the latest maturity date of any

 

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Incremental Extensions of Credit, any Other Term Loan Commitment, any Extended Term Loan, any Other Revolving Credit Commitment, any Other Revolving Credit Loan, any Extended Revolving Credit Commitment and any Incremental Extensions of Credit, in each case as extended in accordance with this Agreement from time to time.

Laws ” means, collectively, all international, foreign, Federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority.

LCA Election ” means the Borrower’s election to treat a specified acquisition as a Limited Condition Acquisition in accordance with Section  1.12 .

LCA Test Date ” has the meaning specified in Section  1.12 .

Lender ” has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Agreement and includes the Swingline Lender and its successors and assigns as permitted hereunder and, as the context requires, includes an L/C Issuer and its successors and assigns as permitted hereunder, each of which is referred to herein as a “Lender”.

Lending Office ” means, as to any Lender, such 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, including the Existing Letters of Credit. A Letter of Credit shall include any standby, commercial or documentary letter of credit.

Letter of Credit 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 L/C Issuer.

Letter of Credit Expiration Date ” means the day that is five Business Days prior to the scheduled Maturity Date then in effect for the Revolving Credit Facility (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day).

Letter of Credit Sublimit ” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $175 million and (b) the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments. The Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Revolving Credit Facility.

LIBOR ” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Eurocurrency Rate”.

License ” means any authorization, permit, consent, special temporary authorization, franchise, ordinance, registration, certificate, license, agreement or other right filed with, granted by or entered into with a Governmental Authority which permits or authorizes the acquisition, construction, ownership or operation of a television broadcast station or any part thereof.

Lien ” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien (statutory or otherwise), pledge, hypothecation, charge, security interest, preference, priority or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any

 

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option or similar 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 in respect of a security interest; provided that in no event shall an operating lease be deemed to constitute a Lien.

Limited Condition Acquisition ” means any acquisition by the Borrower or one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries permitted pursuant to the Loan Documents whose consummation is not conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third party financing and which is designated as a Limited Condition Acquisition by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders; provided that the Consolidated Net Income (and any other financial defined term derived therefrom) shall not include any Consolidated Net Income of or attributable to the target company or assets associated with any such Limited Condition Acquisition for usages other than in connection with the applicable transaction pertaining to such Limited Condition Acquisition unless and until the closing of such Limited Condition Acquisition shall have actually occurred.

Loan ” means an extension of credit by a Lender to the Borrower pursuant to Article II .

Loan Documents ” means, collectively, (a) this Agreement, (b) the Notes (if any), (c) the Collateral Documents, (d) the Disclosure Letter and (e) other amendments of and joinders to any Loan Documents that are deemed pursuant to their terms to be Loan Documents for purposes hereof.

Loan Extension Agreement ” means an agreement among the Borrower and one or more Extending Lenders implementing the terms of any applicable Extension Offer pursuant to Section  2.16 .

Loan Parties ” means, collectively, the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors.

Margin Stock ” has the meaning specified in Section  5.12(a) .

Master Agreement ” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Swap Contract”.

Material Adverse Effect ” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, financial condition or results of operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties, taken as a whole, to perform their obligations under this Agreement, or (c) the material rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

Material Disposition ” means a Disposition or Dispositions, whether in a single transaction or multiple transactions, pursuant to Sections 7.04(c) (solely to the extent the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary receives Net Proceeds from a Disposition to a Person that is not the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), 7.04(h) and/or 7.04(x) to the extent that the aggregate amount of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA attributable to all Dispositions, transfers or separations pursuant to Sections 7.04(c) (solely to the extent the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary receives Net Proceeds from a Disposition to a Person that is not the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), 7.04(h) and/or 7.04(x) (as reasonably determined by the Borrower at the time of each such Disposition) following the Closing Date exceeds 15% or more of the Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of the Borrower as of the last day of the Fiscal Quarter of the Borrower for which Required Financial Statements have been delivered or, prior to the first such delivery, the most recent Audited Financial Statements or Quarterly Financial Statements (as applicable) delivered prior to the Closing Date (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, the Merger Agreement Dispositions); provided that any Dispositions, whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, yielding less than $20 million of Net Proceeds shall not be included in calculating the foregoing percentage of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA.

 

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Material Non-Guarantor Subsidiary ” means any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary of the Borrower that has assets (after intercompany eliminations) in excess of 5% of Consolidated Total Assets or annual consolidated revenues in excess of 5% of the annual consolidated revenues of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case as determined as of the date of the most recent Required Financial Statements that have been delivered.

Maturity Date ” means (a) with respect to the Term Loans, the date that is seven years after the Closing Date and (b) with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility, the date that is five years after the Closing Date; provided , that if either such day is not a Business Day, the Maturity Date shall be the Business Day immediately succeeding such day.

Maximum Incremental Extension of Credit Amount ” means, at any date of determination, a principal amount not to exceed the sum of (a) $700 million and (b) an amount such that, so long as on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to the incurrence of any such Incremental Extension of Credit (in the case of an Revolving Credit Commitment Increase, assuming such Revolving Credit Commitment Increase was fully drawn) or any Permitted Debt Offering (and, in each case, after giving effect to any acquisition consummated concurrently therewith), the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio is equal to or less than 2.00 to 1.00 for the most recently ended Test Period for which Required Financial Statements have been delivered; provided , that, subject to the immediately succeeding sentence, the principal amount of any Incremental Extension of Credit incurred pursuant to Section  2.14 or any Permitted Debt Offerings incurred pursuant to Section  7.02(b)(xxi) , in each case shall reduce the amount in clause (a)  on a dollar for dollar basis until reduced to zero. In calculating the Maximum Incremental Extension of Credit Amount, the Borrower may utilize capacity available under both clauses (a)  and (b) of the preceding sentence in the same transaction and under such circumstances amounts incurred under clause (a)  will be disregarded for purposes of calculating the ratio set forth in clause (b) ; provided that absent direction from the Borrower, if amounts are available under both clauses (a)  and (b) , the Borrower will be deemed to have first utilized amounts permitted under clause (b)  to the extent compliant therewith before any utilization under clause (a) .

Maximum Rate ” has the meaning specified in Section  10.09 .

Meredith Family ” means, collectively: (a) the lineal descendants by blood or adoption of E.T. Meredith (“descendants”), and the spouses and surviving spouses of such descendants; (b) any estate, trust, guardianship, custodianship or other fiduciary arrangement for the primary benefit of any one or more individuals described in clause (a)  of this definition; and (c) any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business organization so long as (i) one or more individuals or entities described in clause (a)  or clause (b)  of this definition possess, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business organization, and (ii) substantially all of the ownership, beneficial or other Equity Interests in such corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business organization are owned, directly or indirectly, by one or more individuals or entities described in clause (a)  or clause (b)  of this definition.

Merger Agreement ” has the meaning specified in the recitals of this Agreement.

Merger Agreement Dispositions ” means those certain Dispositions listed on Schedule 6.2 of the Disclosure Letter (as defined in the Merger Agreement), each as in effect on the Closing Date.

 

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Merger Sub ” has the meaning specified in the recitals of this Agreement.

MIRE Event ” means, if there are any Mortgages at such time, any increase, extension of the maturity or renewal of any of the Commitments or Loans (including an Incremental Amendment or an Extension, but excluding for the avoidance of doubt (a) any continuation or conversion of borrowings, (b) the making of any Loan or (c) the issuance, renewal or extension of Letters of Credit).

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

Mortgage ” has the meaning specified in Section  6.11(c) .

Multiemployer Plan ” means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate 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) attributable to such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of Preferred Stock dividends.

Net Proceeds ” means:

(a) with respect to any Disposition or Casualty Event, 100% of the cash proceeds actually received by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from such Disposition or Casualty Event, net of (i) attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, investment banking fees, survey costs, title insurance premiums, and related search and recording charges, transfer taxes, deed or mortgage recording taxes, required debt payments and required payments of other obligations relating to the applicable asset to the extent such debt or obligations are secured by a Lien permitted hereunder (other than pursuant to the Loan Documents and Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness) on such asset, other customary expenses and brokerage, consultant and other customary fees actually incurred in connection therewith, (ii) Taxes paid or payable as a result thereof, and (iii) the amount of any reasonable reserve established in accordance with GAAP against any adjustment to the sale price or any liabilities (other than any taxes deducted pursuant to clause (i)  above) (x) related to any of the applicable assets and (y) retained by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries including pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations (however, the amount of any subsequent reduction of such reserve (other than in connection with a payment in respect of any such liability) shall be deemed to be Net Proceeds of such Disposition or Casualty Event occurring on the date of such reduction); provided , that, if the Borrower intends to use any portion of such proceeds (other than the proceeds from a Material Disposition) to acquire, maintain, develop, construct, improve, upgrade or repair assets useful in the business of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or to make Permitted Acquisitions or any acquisition of all or substantially all the assets of, or all the Equity Interests (other than directors’ qualifying shares) in, a Person or division or line of business of a Person (or any subsequent investment made in a Person, division or line of business previously acquired), in each case within 12 months of such receipt, such portion of such proceeds shall not constitute Net Proceeds except to the extent not, within 12 months of such receipt, so used or contractually committed to be so used (it being understood that (x) if any portion of such proceeds are not so used within such 12 month period but within such 12 month period are contractually committed to be used, then upon the termination of such contract or if such Net Proceeds are not so used

 

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prior to the expiration of the period ending 180 days after the end of such 12 month period, such remaining portion shall constitute Net Proceeds as of the date of such termination or expiry without giving effect to this proviso and (y) Net Proceeds from a Material Disposition shall not be subject to this proviso and shall be used to repay the Term Loans in an amount equal to 100% of all such Net Proceeds received in connection therewith); and

(b) with respect to any Indebtedness, 100% of the cash proceeds from the incurrence, issuance or sale by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of such Indebtedness, net of all taxes and fees (including investment banking fees), commissions, costs and other expenses, in each case incurred in connection with such issuance or sale.

For purposes of calculating the amount of Net Proceeds, fees, commissions and other costs and expenses payable to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall be disregarded.

Non-Defaulting Lender ” means, at any time, each Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender at such time.

Non-Extension Notice Date ” has the meaning specified in Section  2.03(b)(iii) .

Non-Guarantor Subsidiary ” means any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor.

Note ” means a Term Note or a Revolving Credit Note, as the context may require.

NPL ” means the National Priorities List under CERCLA.

Obligations ” means all (a) 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 and fees 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 and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding and (b) obligations of any Loan Party (or any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary) arising under any Secured Hedge Agreement or any Treasury Services Agreement, excluding, in the case of clauses (a)  and (b) , with respect to any Guarantor at any time, any Excluded Swap Obligations with respect to such Guarantor (or such Non-Guarantor Subsidiary) at such time. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Obligations of the Loan Parties under the Loan Documents include (i) the obligation (including guarantee obligations) to pay principal, interest, Letter of Credit fees, reimbursement obligations, charges, expenses, fees, Attorney Costs, indemnities and other amounts payable by any Loan Party under any Loan Document and (ii) the obligation of any Loan Party to reimburse any amount in respect of any of the foregoing that any Lender may elect to pay or advance on behalf of such Loan Party in accordance with this Agreement.

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

 

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OFAC ” means the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, which administers and enforces U.S. economic sanctions regulations set forth under (31 C.F.R. Subtitle B, Chapter V).

Offering Memorandum ” means the offering memorandum, dated January 19, 2018, pursuant to which the Senior Notes were offered to potential purchasers.

Organization Documents ” means, (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate, charter or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement or limited liability company agreement; and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.

Other Applicable Indebtedness ” has the meaning set forth in Section  2.05(b)(i) .

Other Connection Taxes ” means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax, other than any connection arising from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to, or enforced, any Loan Documents or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document.

Other Encumbrances ” has the meaning specified clause (5)  of Section  7.01 .

Other Revolving Credit Commitments ” means one or more Classes of revolving credit commitments hereunder that result from a Refinancing Amendment.

Other Revolving Credit Loans ” means one or more Classes of Revolving Credit Loans that result from a Refinancing Amendment.

Other Taxes ” has the meaning specified in Section  3.01(b) .

Other Term Loan Commitments ” means one or more Classes of term loan commitments hereunder to fund Other Term Loans of the applicable Refinancing Series 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 Credit Loans on any date, the outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Term Loans and Revolving Credit Loans (including any refinancing of outstanding unpaid drawings under Letters of Credit or L/C Credit Extensions as a Revolving Credit Borrowing), as the case may be, occurring on such date; (b) with respect to Swingline Loans on any date, the outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Swingline Loans (including any refinancing of outstanding Swingline Loans as a Revolving Credit Borrowing), as the case may be, occurring on such date and (c) with respect to any L/C

 

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Obligations on any date, the outstanding amount thereof on such date after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension occurring on such date and any other changes thereto as of such date, including as a result of any reimbursements of outstanding unpaid drawings under any Letters of Credit (including any refinancing of outstanding unpaid drawings under Letters of Credit or L/C Credit Extensions as a Revolving Credit Borrowing) or any reductions in the maximum amount available for drawing under Letters of Credit taking effect on such date.

Participant ” has the meaning specified in Section  10.06(d) .

Participant Register ” has the meaning set forth in Section  10.06(d) .

PBGC ” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

Pension Plan ” means any “employee pension benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), other than a Multiemployer Plan, that is subject to Title IV of ERISA and is sponsored or maintained by any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate or to which any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate contributes or has an obligation to contribute, or in the case of a multiple employer or other plan described in Section 4064(a) of ERISA, has made contributions at any time during the immediately preceding five plan years.

Perfection Certificate ” means a certificate in the form of Exhibit F-1 hereto or any other form approved by the Collateral Agent, as the same shall be supplemented from time to time by a Perfection Certificate Supplement or otherwise.

Perfection Certificate Supplement ” means a certificate supplement in the form of Exhibit F-2 hereto or any other form approved by the Collateral Agent.

Permitted Acquisition ” means any Investment permitted under clause (c)  of the definition of Permitted Investments.

Permitted Additional L/C Currency ” means any currency (other than Sterling) in which a Letter of Credit is denominated, as agreed between the Borrower and the applicable L/C Issuer in its discretion.

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 of its Restricted Subsidiaries and another Person; provided that any cash or Cash Equivalents received must be applied in accordance with Sections 2.05(b) and 7.04 .

Permitted Debt Offering ” means any issuance of senior secured or junior secured or senior unsecured or junior unsecured Indebtedness by any Loan Party after the Closing Date through an incurrence of term loans or through a public offering or private issuance of debt securities under Rule 144A or Regulation S under the Securities Act, or otherwise; provided that, (a) such Indebtedness may be secured by a first priority Lien on the Collateral that is pari passu with the Lien securing the Obligations (other than any Permitted Debt Offering Indebtedness incurred in the form of term loans, which shall not be secured by a first priority Lien on the Collateral), or may be secured by a Lien ranking junior to the Lien on the Collateral securing the Obligations or may be unsecured; (b) such Indebtedness is not secured by any collateral other than the Collateral securing the Obligations; (c) such Indebtedness does not mature on or prior to the Latest Maturity Date of, or have a shorter Weighted Average Life to Maturity than, the Term Loans; (d) the covenants and events of default in respect of such Indebtedness, taken as a whole, are substantially similar, or more favorable to the Loan Parties than, those governing the Senior Notes or are

 

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otherwise not more restrictive to the Loan Parties in the aggregate than those set forth in this Agreement (it being understood to the extent that any financial maintenance covenant is added for the benefit of any Permitted Debt Offering, no consent shall be required from the Administrative Agent or any Lender to the extent that such financial maintenance covenant is also added for the benefit of any corresponding existing Facility); (e) a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the issuing Loan Party delivered to the Administrative Agent at least three Business Days (or such shorter period as the Administrative Agent may reasonably agree) prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, together with a reasonably detailed description of the material terms and conditions of such Indebtedness or drafts of the documentation relating thereto, stating that the issuing Loan Party has determined in good faith that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirements shall be conclusive evidence that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirements; (f) none of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries (other than the Loan Parties) is a guarantor or borrower under such Permitted Debt Offering. Any debt securities (including registered debt securities) issued by any Loan Party in exchange for any Indebtedness issued in connection with a Permitted Debt Offering in accordance with the terms of a registration rights agreement entered into in connection with the issuance of such Permitted Debt Offering Indebtedness shall also be considered a Permitted Debt Offering and (g) the Borrower shall be in Pro Forma Compliance with the financial covenant in Section  7.08 (whether or not then required to be tested); provided, further, that a “Permitted Debt Offering” 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 (c)  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 (c)  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 Investments ” means:

(a) any Investment in the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided , that any Investment by the Loan Parties in Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries pursuant to this clause (a) , together with, but without duplication of, Investments made by Loan Parties in Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries pursuant to clause (c)  below, Indebtedness of a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary owing to the Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor incurred pursuant to Section  7.02(b)(vii) and Disposition Deficiencies shall not exceed an aggregate amount outstanding equal to the greater of (x) $375 million and (y) 33% of Four Quarter EBITDA at the time of such Investment;

(b) any Investment in cash, the Senior Notes, Cash Equivalents and Investments that were Cash Equivalents when made;

(c) any Investment by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in a 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 merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary; provided :

(i) that any Investment by the Loan Parties in a Person that becomes a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary pursuant to this clause (c) , together with, but without duplication of, Investments made by Loan Parties in Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries pursuant to clause (a)  above, Indebtedness of a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary owing to the Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor incurred pursuant to Section  7.02(b)(vii) and Disposition Deficiencies, shall not exceed an aggregate amount outstanding equal to the greater of (x) $375 million and (y) 33% of Four Quarter EBITDA at the time of such Investment;

 

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(ii) subject to Section  1.12 , no Event of Default shall exist either immediately before or after such purchase or acquisition;

(iii) such Investment is in compliance with Section  7.10 regarding Change in Nature of Business; and

(iv) Section 6.11 shall be complied with respect to such newly acquired Restricted Subsidiary and property;

and, in each case, any Investment held by such Person at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary; provided , that such Investment was not acquired by such Person in contemplation of such acquisition, merger, consolidation, amalgamation, transfer or conveyance;

(d) any Investment in securities or other assets not constituting cash or Cash Equivalents and received in connection with a Disposition made pursuant to Section  7.04 ;

(e) any Investment (i) existing on the Closing Date or made pursuant to binding commitments in effect on the Closing Date and listed on Schedule 1.01D of the Disclosure Letter or (ii) consisting of any replacement, refinancing, extension, modification or renewal of any Investment listed on Schedule 1.01D of the Disclosure Letter; provided that the amount of any such Investment may only be increased (A) as required by the terms of such Investment as in existence on the Closing Date or (B) as otherwise permitted under this Agreement;

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

(i) in exchange for any other Investment or accounts receivable held by the Borrower or any such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with or as a result of a bankruptcy workout, reorganization or recapitalization of the issuer of such other Investment or accounts receivable;

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

(iii) as a result of the settlement, compromise or resolution of litigation, arbitration or other disputes with Persons who are not Affiliates of the Borrower;

(g) Hedging Obligations permitted under Section  7.02(b)(ix) ;

(h) Investments the payment for which consists of Equity Interests (exclusive of Disqualified Stock) of the Borrower; provided , however , that such Equity Interests will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section  7.05(a)(iii) ;

(i) guarantees of Indebtedness permitted under Section  7.02 ;

(j) any transaction to the extent it constitutes an Investment that is permitted and made in accordance with the provisions of Section  7.07(b) (except transactions described in clauses (1) , (2) , (6) , (8) , (9) , (11) , (13) and (17)  thereof);

(k) Investments consisting of (i) purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, material, services or equipment, or other similar assets or purchases of contract rights or licenses

 

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or leases of intellectual property, in each case in the ordinary course of business or (ii) the leasing or licensing of intellectual property in the ordinary course of business or the leasing, licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons;

(l) Investments in a Receivables Subsidiary or any Investment by a Receivables Subsidiary in any Person that, in the good faith determination of the Borrower, are necessary or advisable to effect any Receivables Facility or any repurchases in connection therewith;

(m) advances to, or guarantees of Indebtedness of, officers, directors and employees of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries not in excess of $10 million outstanding at any one time, in the aggregate;

(n) loans and advances to officers, directors and employees of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries for business-related travel expenses, moving expenses, payroll expenses and other similar expenses, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or to fund such Person’s direct or indirect purchase of Equity Interests of the Borrower;

(o) any Investment by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in an Unrestricted Subsidiary or a joint venture engaged in a Similar Business in an aggregate amount, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (o)  that are at the time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (i) $150 million and (ii) 12.5% of Four Quarter EBITDA (with the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); provided , however , that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (o)  is made in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary after such date, such Investment will thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clauses (a)  or (c) above and shall not be included as having been made pursuant to this clause (o) ;

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

(q) endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business;

(r) Investments resulting from pledges or deposits with respect to leases or utilities provided to third parties in the ordinary course of business or that are made in connection with Permitted Liens;

(s) advances, prepayments, loans or extensions of credit to customers and suppliers in the ordinary course of business;

(t) 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 the joint venture arrangements and similar binding arrangements;

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

 

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(v) other Investments by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (v)  that are at the time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (i) $500 million and (ii) 50% of Four Quarter EBITDA (with the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value).

Permitted Junior Secured Refinancing Debt ” means any secured Indebtedness (including any Registered Equivalent Notes) incurred by the Borrower in the form of one or more series of second lien (or other junior lien) secured notes or second lien (or other junior lien) secured loans; provided , that (a) such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a second priority (or other junior priority) basis to the liens securing the Obligations and the obligations in respect of any Permitted Pari Passu Secured Refinancing Debt and is not secured by any property or assets of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary other than the Collateral, (b) such Indebtedness may be secured by a Lien on the Collateral that is junior to the Liens securing the Obligations and the obligations in respect of any Permitted Pari Passu Secured Refinancing Debt, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in the definition of Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness, (c) a Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness shall have become party to or otherwise subject to the provisions of a Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement with the Borrower, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Administrative Agent, and (d) such Indebtedness meets the Permitted Other Debt Conditions. Permitted Junior Secured Refinancing Debt will include any Registered Equivalent Notes issued in exchange therefor.

Permitted Liens ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  7.01 .

Permitted Other Debt Conditions ” means, in respect of any Indebtedness other than the Obligations, that such Indebtedness (a) does not mature or have scheduled amortization payments of principal or payments of principal and is not subject to mandatory redemption, repurchase, prepayment or sinking fund obligations (other than customary offers to repurchase upon a change of control, asset sale or event of loss and a customary acceleration right after an event of default), in each case prior to the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Indebtedness is incurred, (b) is not at any time guaranteed by any Subsidiaries other than any Subsidiary Guarantors, (c) to the extent secured, the security agreements relating to such Indebtedness are substantially the same as or more favorable to the Loan Parties than the Collateral Documents (with such differences as are reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) and (d) in regard to any Refinancing Notes, the other terms and conditions (excluding pricing and optional prepayment or redemption terms) are substantially identical to or (taken as a whole) less favorable to the investors providing such Refinancing Notes than the those applicable to the Term Loans being refinanced (except for covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the latest final maturity date of the Term Loans and it being understood that the terms contained in the Senior Notes Indenture satisfy the requirements of this clause (d) ); provided , that a certificate of a Responsible Officer delivered to the Administrative Agent at least five Business Days prior to the incurrence of the applicable Indebtedness, together with a reasonably detailed description of the material terms and conditions of such Indebtedness and drafts of the documentation relating thereto, stating that the Borrower has determined in good faith that such terms and conditions satisfy the requirements of this clause (d)  shall be conclusive evidence that such terms and conditions satisfy such requirements.

Permitted Pari Passu Secured Refinancing Debt ” means any secured Indebtedness (including any Registered Equivalent Notes) incurred by the Borrower in the form of one or more series of senior secured notes; provided , that (a) such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis (but without regard to the control of remedies) with the Obligations and is not secured by any property or assets of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary other than the Collateral, (b) such

 

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Indebtedness is not at any time guaranteed by any Subsidiaries other than any Subsidiary Guarantors, (c) such Indebtedness, (i) unless incurred as a Term Loan under this Agreement, does not mature or have scheduled amortization or payments of principal (other than customary offers to repurchase upon a change of control, asset sale or event of loss and a customary acceleration right after an event of default) prior to the date that is the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Indebtedness is incurred or issued, and (ii) if incurred as a term loan under this Agreement, does not mature earlier than, or have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity shorter than, the applicable Refinanced Debt, (d) the security agreements relating to such Indebtedness (to the extent such Indebtedness is not incurred hereunder) are substantially the same as or more favorable to the Loan Parties than the Collateral Documents (with such differences as are reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent), (e) to the extent such Indebtedness is not incurred hereunder, a Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness shall have become party to or otherwise subject to the provisions of an Intercreditor Agreement with the Administrative Agent and (f) such Indebtedness, if consisting of Refinancing Notes, satisfies clause (d)  of the definition of Permitted Other Debt Conditions. Permitted Pari Passu Secured Refinancing Debt will include any Registered Equivalent Notes issued in exchange therefor.

Permitted Payments ” has the meaning set forth in Section  7.05(b) .

Permitted Unsecured Refinancing Debt ” means unsecured Indebtedness (including any Registered Equivalent Notes) incurred by the Borrower in the form of one or more series of senior unsecured notes or loans; provided , that (a) such Indebtedness constitutes Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness and (b) meets the Permitted Other Debt Conditions.

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 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 ERISA Affiliate.

Platform ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  6.02 .

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

Prepayment Premium ” has the meaning specified in Section  2.05(a)(ii) .

Pro Forma Balance Sheet ” means a pro forma combined balance sheet of the Borrower that is prepared using the most recent such balance sheet included in the Audited Financial Statements and Quarterly Financial Statements (if any) delivered to the Administrative Agent, with such changes as necessary to give pro forma effect to the Transactions as though the Transactions had been consummated on the date of such balance sheet.

Pro Forma Basis ” and “ Pro Forma Compliance ” mean, with respect to compliance with any test or covenant hereunder, that such test or covenant shall have been calculated in accordance with Section  1.08 .

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 of such Lender under the applicable Facility or Facilities at such time and the denominator

 

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of which is the amount of the Aggregate Commitments under the applicable Facility or Facilities at such time; provided , that if such Commitments have been terminated, then the Pro Rata Share of each Lender shall be determined based on the Pro Rata Share of such Lender immediately prior to such termination and after giving effect to any subsequent assignments made pursuant to the terms hereof.

PTE ” means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.

Public Lender ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  6.02 .

Qualified ECP Guarantor ” means, in respect of any Swap Obligation, each Guarantor that, at the time the relevant Guarantee or grant of the relevant security interest becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation, has total assets exceeding $10 million 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” with respect to such Swap Obligation at such time by entering into a keepwell under Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

Qualified Equity Interests ” means Equity Interests that are not Disqualified Stock.

Quarterly Financial Statements ” means the unaudited combined balance sheet and related unaudited combined statements of income and cash flows of (a) the Borrower, prepared on a stand-alone basis for each fiscal quarter (other than the fourth fiscal quarter of any fiscal year) ended after September 30, 2017, and at least 45 days prior to the Closing Date and (b) the Target, prepared on a stand-alone basis for each fiscal (other than the fourth fiscal quarter of any fiscal year) quarter ended after September 30, 2017, and at least 45 days prior to the Closing Date.

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

Ratio ” means each of (a) the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio and (b) the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio.

Real Property ” means, collectively, all right, title and interest in and to any and all parcels of or interests in real property owned by a Loan Party, together with, in each case, all improvements and appurtenant fixtures.

Receivables Exposure ” means, in respect of any Receivables Facility at any time, the amount that would be required to repay, discharge or satisfy all obligations owing to lenders or other third party investors that have made loans to the relevant Receivables Subsidiary or otherwise purchased interests in the receivables sold to the relevant Receivables Subsidiary or extended credit in respect thereof, if such Receivables Facility were to be terminated at such time.

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

 

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

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

Recipient ” means the Administrative Agent, any Lender and any L/C Issuer, as applicable.

Refinance ” means, in respect of any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, to refinance, extend, renew, refund, repay, prepay, redeem, defease or retire, or to issue other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock in exchange or replacement for, such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock. “Refinanced” and “Refinancing” shall have correlative meanings.

Refinanced Debt ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness”.

Refinancing ” means the repayment in full of all existing Indebtedness for borrowed money of the Borrower, the Target and each of their Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness permitted by Section  7.02(b)(iii) ) and the termination and release of all commitments, security interests and guarantees in respect thereof.

Refinancing Amendment ” means an amendment to this Agreement executed by each of (a) the Borrower, (b) the Administrative Agent, and (c) each Additional Refinancing Lender and each Lender that agrees to provide any portion of the Other Term Loans, Other Term Loan Commitments, Other Revolving Credit Loans or Other Revolving Credit Commitments incurred pursuant thereto, in accordance with Section  2.15 , and provided , that the Indebtedness pursuant to any such Refinancing Amendment (i) does not mature earlier than, or have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity shorter than, the applicable Refinanced Debt and (ii) is not at any time guaranteed by any Subsidiaries other than Subsidiary Guarantors.

Refinancing Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (including any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred to pay premiums (including tender premiums), accrued interest, defeasance costs and reasonable fees and expenses in connection therewith) that Refinances any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock existing on the Closing Date or incurred thereafter in compliance with this Agreement, including Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock that Refinances Refinancing Indebtedness; provided that such Refinancing Indebtedness:

(1) either (A) has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is incurred which is not less than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock being Refinanced or (B) does not require payments of principal (other than any such payment that may arise as a result of an acceleration following default or pursuant to customary change of control, asset sale or casualty event provisions) prior to the date that is 91 days following the final scheduled maturity of the Facility;

 

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(2) to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness refinances (A) Indebtedness subordinated in right of payment to the Facilities or any Guarantee thereof, such Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Facilities or the Guarantee, as applicable, at least to the same extent as the Indebtedness being Refinanced or (B) Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such Refinancing Indebtedness must be Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, respectively; and

(3) shall not include:

(A) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor; or

(B) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Refinancing Notes ” means Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness incurred in the form of notes rather than loans.

Refinancing Series ” means all Other Term Loans, Other Term Loan Commitments, Other Revolving Credit Loans or Other Revolving Credit Commitments that are established pursuant to the same Refinancing Amendment (or any subsequent Refinancing Amendment to the extent such Refinancing Amendment expressly provides that the Other Term Loans, Other Term Loan Commitments, Other Revolving Credit Loans or Other Revolving Credit Commitments provided for therein are intended to be a part of any previously established Refinancing Series) and that provide for the same terms, including the same yield (taking into account any applicable interest rate margin, original issue discount, up-front fees and any LIBOR “floor”) and amortization schedule (if any).

Refunding Capital Stock ” has the meaning set forth in Section  7.05(b)(ii) .

Register ” has the meaning set forth in Section  10.06(c) .

Registered Equivalent Notes ” means, with respect to any notes originally issued in an offering pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act or other private placement transaction under the Securities Act, 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 set forth in Section  2.05(b)(vi) .

Related Business Assets ” means assets (other than cash or 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 shall not be deemed to be Related Business Assets if they consist of securities of a Person, unless upon receipt of the securities of such Person, such Person would be or become a Restricted Subsidiary.

Related Parties ” means, with respect to any Person, its Affiliates and the directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors and representatives of such Person and its Affiliates.

Release ” means any spilling, leaking, seepage, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, disposing, depositing, dispersing or migrating in, into, onto or through the Environment.

 

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Reportable Event ” means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder, other than events for which the 30 day notice period has been waived.

Representative ” means, with respect to any 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.

Repricing Transaction ” means (a) any voluntary or mandatory prepayment (including by way of any refinancing, replacement or conversion) of all or a portion of the initial Term Loans with proceeds from the incurrence by the Borrower of any new long-term financing in the bank debt market the primary purpose of which is to lower the All-In Yield below the All-In Yield of the initial Term Loans (excluding any prepayments or refinancings in connection with a Change of Control) (as such comparable yields are determined in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent consistent with generally accepted financial practices), (b) any amendment, amendment and restatement or other modification to this Agreement the primary purpose of which is to reduce the All-In Yield of the initial Term Loans or (c) a Lender must assign its initial Term Loans as a result of its failure to consent to an amendment, amendment and restatement or other modification of the initial Term Loans the primary purpose of which is to reduce the All-In Yield of the initial Term Loans.

Request for Credit Extension ” means (a) with respect to a Borrowing, continuation or conversion of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans, a Committed Loan Notice, (b) with respect to Swingline Loans, a Swingline Request and (c) with respect to an L/C Credit Extension, a Letter of Credit Application.

Required Class  Lenders ” means, as of any date of determination (subject to Section  10.01(f) ), Lenders of a Class having more than 50% of the sum of (a) the Total Outstandings (with, in the case of the Revolving Credit Facility, 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) of all Lenders of such Class and (b) the aggregate unused Commitments of all Lenders of such Class; provided , that the unused Commitment and the portion of the Total Outstandings of such Class held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender of such Class shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Class Lenders.

Required Financial Statements ” means the financial statements required to be delivered pursuant to Sections 6.01(a) and (b) .

Required Lenders ” means, as of any date of determination (subject to Section  10.01(f) ), 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 Credit Commitments; provided , that the unused Term Commitment and unused Revolving Credit Commitment of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.

Responsible Officer ” means the chief executive officer, president, vice president, chief financial officer, treasurer or assistant treasurer or other similar officer of a Loan Party and, as to any document delivered on the Closing Date, any secretary or assistant secretary of such Loan Party 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; provided that, for the purposes of Section  6.03 , “Responsible Officer” shall only mean the chief executive

 

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officer, president, chief financial officer, treasurer or chief accounting officer or other similar officer of the Borrower. 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 and/or other action on the part of such Loan Party and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted solely in his/her representative capacity on behalf of such Loan Party and not individually.

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

Restricted Payment ” has the meaning set forth in Section  7.05(a) .

Restricted Subsidiary ” means, at any time, each direct and indirect Subsidiary of the Borrower (including any Foreign Subsidiary) that is not then an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided , however , that upon the occurrence of an Unrestricted Subsidiary ceasing to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary while such entity remains a Subsidiary of the Borrower, such Subsidiary shall be included in the definition of “Restricted Subsidiary”.

Revaluation Date ” means with respect to any Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, (i) the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit, (ii) each date such Letter of Credit is amended to increase its stated amount, (iii) each date that such Letter of Credit is extended or renewed, (iv) each date of any payment by the applicable L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit, (v) if such Letter of Credit is denominated in a Permitted Additional L/C Currency, such additional dates as the Administrative Agent or applicable L/C Issuer shall reasonably determine based on changes in exchange rates, and (vi) the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December (unless a Revaluation Date shall have occurred in respect of such Letter of Credit pursuant to clause (i) , (ii) , (iii) , (iv) or (v)  above less than 30 days prior to such last Business Day).

Revolving Commitment Increase Lender ” has the meaning specified in Section  2.14(f) .

Revolving Credit Borrowing ” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Revolving Credit Loans of the same Type and Class, and in the same currency, and, in the case of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Revolving Credit Lenders of such Class pursuant to Section  2.01(b) .

Revolving Credit Commitment ” means, as to each Revolving Credit Lender, its obligation to (a) make Revolving Credit Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section  2.01(b) and (b)  purchase participations in L/C Obligations in respect of Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth, and opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 1.01A of the Disclosure Letter under the caption “Revolving Credit 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 (including Section  2.14 ). The aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments of all Revolving Credit Lenders on the Closing Date was $350 million.

Revolving Credit Commitment Increase ” has the meaning specified in Section  2.14(a) .

Revolving Credit Exposure ” means, as to each Revolving Credit Lender at any time, the sum of the outstanding principal amount of each of such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Loans and its Pro Rata Share of the amount of the L/C Obligations and Swingline Loans.

 

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Revolving Credit Facility ” means, at any time, the credit facility represented by the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Lenders’ Revolving Credit Commitments at such time.

Revolving Credit Lender ” means, at any time, any Lender that has a Revolving Credit Commitment at such time.

Revolving Credit Loan ” has the meaning specified in Section  2.01(b) .

Revolving Credit Note ” means a promissory note of the Borrower payable to any Revolving Credit Lender or its registered assigns, in substantially the form of Exhibit B-2 hereto, evidencing the aggregate Indebtedness of the Borrower to such Revolving Credit Lender resulting from the Revolving Credit Loans made by such Revolving Credit Lender to the Borrower.

Revolving Extension Offers ” has the meaning specified in Section  2.16(a) .

Royal Bank ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.

S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

Sale and Lease-Back Transaction ” means any direct or indirect arrangement providing for the leasing by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of any real or tangible personal property (other than a lease for a term not exceeding 12 months), which property has been or is to be sold or transferred for value by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary to a third Person in contemplation of such leasing.

Same Day Funds ” means immediately available funds.

Sanctions ” has the meaning specified in Section  5.14(a) .

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

Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement ” means a second-lien intercreditor agreement among the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the trustee, agent or other representative for holders of any Indebtedness (a) constituting Permitted Junior Secured Refinancing Debt and (b) secured by a Lien on the Collateral that is (i) permitted by Section  7.01(38) and (ii) on a second priority (or other junior priority) basis to the liens securing the Obligations and the obligations in respect of any Permitted Pari Passu Secured Refinancing Debt and (iii) is not secured by any property or assets of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary other than the Collateral, which intercreditor agreement shall be consistent with the then existing market practice and reasonably acceptable to the Required Lenders (it being understood that (A) any such intercreditor agreement shall be considered acceptable to a Lender if made available to such Lender by the Administrative Agent (through IntraLinks, SyndTrak, DebtDomain or similar facility) and such Lender is informed that such intercreditor agreement shall be considered acceptable to it if there is no objection within five Business Days, and no such objection is made and (B) such intercreditor agreement shall be deemed accepted if accepted or deemed accepted by the Required Lenders).

Secured Hedge Agreement ” means any Swap Contract permitted under Article VII that is entered into by and between any Loan Party (or Non-Guarantor Subsidiary) and any Hedge Bank, other than any such Swap Contract that, by its terms, or by the terms of any separate agreement between the parties thereto, is agreed not to constitute a Secured Hedge Agreement.

 

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Secured Indebtedness ” means any Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries secured by a Lien. For the avoidance of doubt, Attributable Indebtedness will be considered to be secured by the assets that are the subject of a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction.

Secured Parties ” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lenders, the Hedge Banks and each co-agent or sub-agent appointed by the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent from time to time pursuant to Section  9.02 .

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

Security Agreement ” has the meaning specified in Section  4.01(d)(iv) .

Senior Notes ” means the Borrower’s senior unsecured notes due 2026 in an aggregate original principal amount of $1,400 million issued under the Senior Notes Indenture.

Senior Notes Indenture ” means the indenture for the Senior Notes, entered into among the Borrower as issuer, U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, and the other entities from time to time party thereto, as the same may be amended, modified, supplemented, replaced or refinanced to the extent not prohibited by this Agreement.

Series A Preferred Stock ” means the Series A Preferred Stock, with an initial stated value equal to $1,000 per share, of the Borrower issued on the Closing Date.

Similar Business ” means any business, services or activities conducted or proposed to be conducted by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries on the Closing Date or any business, services or activities that are similar, reasonably related, incidental, complementary or ancillary to any of the foregoing or are extensions or developments of any thereof.

Solvent ” and “ Solvency ” mean, with respect to any Person on any date of determination, that on such date (a) the fair value of the property of such Person is greater than the total amount of liabilities, including contingent liabilities, of such Person; (b) the present fair salable value of the assets of such Person is greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on the sum of its debts and other liabilities, including contingent liabilities; (c) such Person has not incurred debts or liabilities beyond such Person’s ability to pay such debts and liabilities as they become due (whether at maturity or otherwise); and (d) such Person does not have unreasonably small capital with which to conduct the businesses in which it is engaged as such businesses are now conducted and are proposed to be conducted following the Closing Date. The amount of contingent liabilities at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in the light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

SPC ” has the meaning specified in Section  10.06(h) .

Specified Equity Contribution ” means any cash contribution to the common equity of the Borrower and/or any purchase or investment in Qualified Equity Interests of the Borrower in respect of the Cure Amount pursuant to Section  8.04 .

Specified Merger Agreement Representations ” has the meaning specified in Section  4.01(f) .

 

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Specified Representations ” means those representations and warranties made by any Loan Party in Section  5.01 (a) , Section  5.01 (b)(ii) , Section  5.02 (a) , Section  5.02 (b) , Section  5.02 (c)(i) , Section  5.04 , Section  5.12 , Section  5.14 (in respect of the incurrence of Credit Extensions hereunder), Section  5.16 and Section  5.17 (subject to the proviso at the end of Section  4.01(d) ).

Specified Transaction ” means, with respect to any period, any Investment, Disposition, incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness, Restricted Payment, Subsidiary designation (as “Restricted” or “Unrestricted”), merger, amalgamation, consolidation, Incremental Credit Extension or any other transaction, in each case that by the terms of this Agreement requires “Pro Forma Compliance” with a test or covenant hereunder or requires such test or covenant to be calculated on a “Pro Forma Basis”.

Spot Rate ” means, in relation to the conversion of one currency into another currency, the spot rate of exchange for such conversion as quoted by the Administrative Agent at the close of business on the Business Day that such conversion is to be made (or, if such conversion is to be made before close of business on such Business Day, then at approximately close of business on the immediately preceding Business Day), and, in either case, if no such rate is quoted, the spot rate of exchange quoted for wholesale transactions by the Administrative Agent on the Business Day such conversion is to be made in accordance with its normal practice.

Station ” means, at any time, a full-service television broadcast station of any Loan Party or its Subsidiaries (a) as set forth on Schedule 5.24 of the Disclosure Letter, or (b) as acquired, directly or indirectly, by any Loan Party or its Subsidiaries thereof after the Closing Date pursuant to a transaction permitted under the Loan Documents; provided that any such television broadcast station that ceases to be owned, directly or indirectly, by a Loan Party or its Subsidiaries pursuant to a transaction permitted under the Loan Documents shall, upon consummation of such transaction, cease to be a “Station” hereunder. This definition of “Station” may be used with respect to any single television station meeting the preceding requirements or all such television stations meeting such requirements, as the context requires.

Sterling ” or “ £ ” means the lawful currency of the United Kingdom.

Subordinated Indebtedness ” means:

(a) any Indebtedness of the Borrower which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations; and

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

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person:

(a) any corporation, association, or other business entity (other than a partnership, limited liability company or similar entity) of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof; and

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

 

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(i) more than 50% of the voting interests or general partnership interests, as applicable, are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership or otherwise; and

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

Subsidiary Guarantor ” means (a) any Restricted Subsidiary listed on Schedule 1.01C of the Disclosure Letter and party hereto as of the Closing Date that Guarantees the Obligations pursuant to Article XI and (b) those Restricted Subsidiaries that become a party hereto after the Closing Date and Guarantee the Obligations pursuant to Article XI , in each case until its Guarantee is released or terminated in accordance with the terms hereof.

Successor Company ” has the meaning specified in Section  7.03(d) .

Survey ” means a survey of any Real Property subject to a Mortgage (and all improvements thereon) which is (a) prepared by a surveyor or engineer licensed to perform surveys in the jurisdiction where such Real Property is located and (b) complying in all material respects with the minimum detail requirements of the American Land Title Association as such requirements are in effect on the date of preparation of such survey.

Swap ” means any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of section 1 a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

Swap Contract ” means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate swaps and 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.

Swap Obligation ” means, with respect to any Guarantor, any obligation to pay or perform under any Swap.

Swingline Commitment ” means the commitment of the Swingline Lender to make Swingline Loans up to an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $35 million. The Swingline Commitment is a part of, and not in addition to, the Revolving Credit Commitments.

Swingline Exposure ” means, at any time, the aggregate principal amount of all Swingline Loans outstanding at such time. The Swingline Exposure of any Revolving Credit Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the Aggregate Swingline Exposure at such time.

 

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Swingline Lender ” means Royal Bank, in its capacity as the lender of Swingline Loans hereunder.

Swingline Loan ” means a Loan made pursuant to Section  2.04 .

Swingline Request ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.04(b).

Target ” has the meaning specified in the recitals of this Agreement.

Target Stock ” has the meaning specified in the Merger Agreement for the term “Company Stock”.

Tax Group ” has the meaning specified in Section  7.05(b)(xii) .

Taxes ” means any present or future taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, assessments, fees, withholdings (including backup withholding) or similar charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax and penalties applicable thereto.

Term Borrowing ” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Term Loans of the same Type and Class and, in the case of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Term Lenders.

Term Commitment ” means, as to each Term Lender, its obligation to make a Term Loan to the Borrower pursuant to Section  2.01(a) in an aggregate amount not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 1.01A of the Disclosure Letter under the caption “Term Commitment” or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Term Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement (including Section  2.14 ) . The aggregate amount of the Term Commitments as of the Closing Date was $1,800 million.

Term Extension Offers ” has the meaning specified in Section  2.16(a) .

Term Lender ” means, at any time, any Lender that has a Term Commitment or a Term Loan at such time.

Term Loan ” means a Loan made pursuant to Section  2.01(a) .

Term Loan Standstill Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section  8.01(b) .

Term Note ” means a promissory note of the Borrower payable to any Term Lender or its registered assigns, in substantially the form of Exhibit B-1 hereto, evidencing the aggregate Indebtedness of the Borrower to such Term Lender resulting from the Term Loans made by such Term Lender.

Test Period ” means, for any date of determination under this Agreement, the four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower then last ended.

Threshold Amount ” means $150 million (or the equivalent thereof in any foreign currency).

 

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Title Policy ” means a policy of title insurance (or marked-up title insurance commitment having the effect of a policy of title insurance) insuring the Lien of a Mortgage as a valid mortgage Lien (subject only to Permitted Liens and such other exceptions to title reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent) on the mortgaged property described therein in the amount equal to no more than the fair market value of such mortgaged property, issued by a title company reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent which shall (a) to the extent necessary, include such reinsurance arrangements (with provisions for direct access, if necessary) as shall be reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent; (b) contain a “tie-in” or “cluster” endorsement, if available under applicable law (i.e., policies which insure against losses regardless of location or allocated value of the insured property up to a stated maximum coverage amount) if multiple policies are simultaneously issued; and (c) have been supplemented by such endorsements as shall be reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent (including endorsements, if available, on matters relating to usury, first loss, zoning, contiguity, revolving credit, doing business, public road access, survey, variable rate, environmental lien, subdivision, mortgage recording tax, separate tax lot, revolving credit and so-called comprehensive coverage over covenants and restrictions); provided that, where the cost of a zoning endorsement is excessive in light of the nature of the transaction the Administrative Agent shall reasonably consider the Borrower’s requests to waive such zoning endorsement and to provide a zoning opinion, report or other letter in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

Total Outstandings ” means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of (a) all Loans and all L/C Obligations or (b) if the context requires, all Loans and all L/C Obligations of the applicable Class.

Transaction Expenses ” means any fees or expenses incurred or paid by the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower) or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the Transactions (including expenses in connection with hedging transactions), this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

Transactions ” means (a) the Acquisition and other related transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including for the avoidance of doubt the Merger Agreement Dispositions, (b) the Equity Contribution, (c) the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents and funding of the Term Loans and initial Revolving Credit Loans, (d) the issuance of the Senior Notes, (e) the Refinancing and (f) the payment of Transaction Expenses.

Treasury Services Agreement ” means (x) any agreement between any Loan Party (or any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary) and any Hedge Bank relating to commercial credit or debit card, merchant card, or purchasing card programs (including non-card e-payables services), or treasury, depository, or cash management services (including automatic clearing house transfer of funds, overdraft, controlled disbursement, electronic funds transfer, lockbox, stop payment, return item and wire transfer services) and (y) any agreement between any Loan Party (or any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary) and any Hedge Bank related to a bilateral line of credit to be provided by such Hedge Bank, in each case of the foregoing clauses (x) and (y), other than any such agreement that by its terms, or by the terms of any separate agreement between the parties thereto, is agreed not to constitute a Treasury Services Agreement; provided that, with respect to the lines of credit described in clause (y) , (i) any extensions of credit thereunder are permitted by Section  7.02 and (ii) the aggregate principal amount outstanding under all such lines of credit at any time shall not exceed $20 million.

Type ” means, with respect to a Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a Eurocurrency Rate Loan.

U.K. Pension Security Obligations ” means amounts posted as security under that certain deed of guaranty, dated as of October 19, 2015, among Time Inc., Time Inc. (UK) Ltd. and IPC Media Pension Trustee Limited, or any successor or replacement agreement or amendment thereto, and letters of credit issued or acquired in connection therewith.

 

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U.S. Lender ” means any Lender that is a “United States person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

Undisclosed Administration ” means in relation to a Lender the appointment of an administrator, provisional liquidator, conservator, receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official by a supervisory authority or regulator under or based on the law in the country where such Lender is subject to home jurisdiction supervision if applicable law requires that such appointment is not to be publicly disclosed.

Uniform Commercial Code ” or “ UCC ” means the Uniform Commercial Code as the same may from time to time be in effect in the State of New York or the Uniform Commercial Code (or similar code or statute) of another jurisdiction, to the extent it may be required to apply to any item or items of Collateral.

United States ” and “ U.S. ” mean the United States of America.

United States Tax Compliance Certificate ” has the meaning set forth in Section  3.01(d)(ii)(C) .

Unreimbursed Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section  2.03(c)(i) .

Unrestricted Subsidiary ” means:

(a) any Subsidiary of the Borrower which at the time of determination is an Unrestricted Subsidiary (as designated by the Borrower pursuant to Section  6.14 ); and

(b) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

As of the Closing Date, all of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries are Restricted Subsidiaries.

USA Patriot Act ” has the meaning specified in Section  5.14 .

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 or other governing body of such Person.

Weighted Average Life to Maturity ” means, when applied to any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, at any date, the quotient obtained by dividing: (a) the sum of the products of the number of years from the date of determination to the date of each successive scheduled principal payment of such Indebtedness or scheduled redemption or similar payment with respect to such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock multiplied by the amount of such payment, by (b) the sum of all such payments; provided , that for purposes of determining the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any Refinanced Debt or any Indebtedness that is being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended, the effects of any amortization or prepayments made on such Indebtedness prior to the date of the applicable modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal, replacement or extension shall be disregarded.

Wholly Owned Subsidiary ” of any Person means a Subsidiary of such Person, 100% of the outstanding Equity Interests of which (other than 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) shall at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

 

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Withholding Agent ” means any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent and, in the case of any U.S. federal withholding Tax, any other applicable withholding agent.

Working Capital ” means, at any time, Consolidated Current Assets at such time minus Consolidated Current Liabilities at such time provided that, for purposes of calculating Excess Cash Flow, increases or decreases in Working Capital will be calculated without regard to any changes in Consolidated Current Assets or Consolidated Current Liabilities as a result of (a) reclassification after the date hereof in accordance with GAAP of assets or liabilities, as applicable, between current and non-current or (b) the effects of purchase accounting.

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.

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 or the context otherwise requires:

(a) The meanings of defined terms are equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.

(b) The words “herein,” “hereto,” “hereof” and “hereunder “and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document shall refer to such Loan Document as a whole and not to any particular provision thereof.

(c) Article, Section, Exhibit and Schedule references are to the Loan Document in which such reference appears.

(d) The term “including” is by way of example and not limitation.

(e) The term “documents” includes any and all instruments, documents, agreements, certificates, notices, reports, financial statements and other writings, however evidenced, whether in physical or electronic form.

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

(g) Section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

(h) The term “fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower)” means the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) whose determination will be conclusive for all purposes under this Agreement.

SECTION 1.03. Accounting Terms; GAAP . (a) All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with GAAP, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein.

 

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(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, for purposes of this Agreement (including in determining compliance with any test or covenant contained herein) with respect to (i) any Test Period during which any Specified Transaction occurs, the applicable Ratio shall be calculated with respect to such Test Period and such Specified Transaction on a Pro Forma Basis and (ii) any Test Period with respect to which testing is based on a Specified Transaction happening after the end of such Test Period, the applicable Ratio shall be calculated as if such Specified Transaction had taken place on the first day of such Test Period.

(c) If the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower wishes to amend any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change in GAAP (or in the application thereof) occurring after the Closing Date on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then the compliance of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries with such provision shall be determined on the basis of GAAP as in effect (and as applied) immediately before the relevant change became effective, until either such notice is withdrawn or such provision is amended in a manner satisfactory to the Borrower and the Required Lenders. Until such notice is withdrawn or the relevant provision is so amended, the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement setting forth a reconciliation between calculations made with respect to the relevant provision before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP. Notwithstanding any other provision of this agreement, in no event shall a lease obligation that does not constitute a Capitalized Lease Obligation under GAAP as in effect on the Closing Date be treated as a Capitalized Lease Obligation for any purpose hereof.

(d) 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, (i) without giving effect to any election under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, or any successor thereto (including pursuant to the Accounting Standards Codification), to value any Indebtedness or other liabilities of the Borrower or any Subsidiary at “fair value”, as defined therein and (ii) without giving effect to any change to GAAP occurring after the Closing Date as a result of the adoption of any proposals set forth in the Proposed Accounting Standards Update, Leases (Topic 840), issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board on August 17, 2010, or any other proposals issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board in connection therewith, in each case if such change would require treating any lease (or similar arrangement conveying the right to use) as a capital lease where such lease (or similar arrangement) was not required to be so treated under GAAP as in effect on Closing Date.

SECTION 1.04. Rounding . Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement (or required to be satisfied in order for a specific action to be permitted under this Agreement) shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding up if there is no nearest number).

SECTION 1.05. References to Agreements, Laws, Etc . . Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (a) references to Organization Documents, agreements (including the Loan Documents) and other contractual instruments shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications thereto, but only to the extent that such amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications are permitted by the Loan Documents, and (b) references to any Law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such Law.

 

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SECTION 1.06. Times of Day . Unless otherwise specified or the context otherwise requires, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).

SECTION 1.07. Timing of Payment of Performance . When the payment of any obligation or the performance of any covenant, duty or obligation is stated to be due or performance required on a day which is not a Business Day, the date of such payment (other than as described in the definition of Interest Period) or performance shall extend to the immediately succeeding Business Day.

SECTION 1.08. Pro Forma and Other Calculations . (a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, financial ratios and tests, including the Ratios, shall be calculated in the manner prescribed by this Section 1.08 ; provided , that notwithstanding anything to the contrary in clauses (b) , (c) , (d) or (e)  of this Section 1.08 , when calculating any Ratio for purposes of (i) the definition of “Applicable Rate” and (ii)  Section 7.08 (other than for the purpose of determining Pro Forma Compliance with Section 7.08) , the events described in this Section 1.08 that occurred subsequent to the end of the applicable Test Period shall not be given pro forma effect.

(b) In the event that the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurs, assumes, guarantees, redeems, retires or extinguishes any Indebtedness or issues or redeems Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock subsequent to the Test Period for which any Ratio is being calculated but prior to or simultaneously with the event for which the calculation of the applicable Ratio is made (the “ Ratio Calculation Date ”), then the applicable Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, guarantee, redemption, retirement or extinguishment of Indebtedness, or such issuance or redemption of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as if the same had occurred on the last day of the applicable Test Period; provided , however , that, for purposes of any pro forma calculation of the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio on such determination date pursuant to the provisions described in Section  7.02(a) , the pro forma calculation shall not give effect to any Indebtedness incurred on such determination date pursuant to the provisions described under Section  7.02(b) .

(c) For purposes of making the computation referred to above, Investments, acquisitions, Dispositions, mergers, amalgamations and consolidations (as determined in accordance with GAAP), in each case with respect to a business (as such term is used in Regulation S-X Rule 11-01 under the Securities Act), a company, a segment, an operating division or unit or line of business that the Borrower, or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has determined to make and/or made during the Test Period or subsequent to such Test Period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Ratio Calculation Date shall be calculated on a pro forma basis in accordance with GAAP (except as set forth in the last sentence of clause (d)  below) assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, Dispositions, mergers, amalgamations and consolidations (and the change in any associated fixed charge obligations and the change in Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA resulting therefrom, subject to any limitations set forth in clause (a)(x) of the definition thereof, to the extent applicable) had occurred on the first day of the Test Period. If since the beginning of such Test Period any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries since the beginning of such Test Period shall have made any Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, amalgamation and consolidation, in each case with respect to a business (as such term is used in Regulation S-X Rule 11-01 under the Securities Act), a company, a segment, an operating division or unit or line of business that would have required adjustment pursuant to this Section  1.08 , then the applicable Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such Test Period as if such Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger and consolidation had occurred at the beginning of the applicable Test Period.

 

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(d) For purposes of making the computation referred to above, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to a transaction, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Borrower. Any such pro forma calculation may include adjustments appropriate, in the reasonable determination of the Borrower as set forth in an officer’s certificate, to reflect reasonably identifiable and factually supportable operating expense reductions and other operating improvements or synergies reasonably expected to result from any action taken or expected to be taken within 18 months after the date of any acquisition, amalgamation or merger (subject to any limitations set forth in clause (a)(x) of the definition of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, to the extent applicable); provided , that no such amounts shall be included pursuant to this paragraph to the extent duplicative of any amounts that are otherwise added back in computing Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA with respect to such period.

SECTION 1.09. Letter of Credit Amounts . Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the stated amount of such Letter of Credit in effect at such time; provided , however, that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any Issuer 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 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.

SECTION 1.10. Determination of Dollar Equivalents . The Administrative Agent shall determine the Dollar Equivalent of any Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, in each case, on the applicable Revaluation Date. In such determination, the Administrative Agent shall use the Spot Rate for such currency in relation to Dollars in effect on the date that is three Business Days prior to the applicable Revaluation Date, and each resulting amount of such determination shall be the Dollar Equivalent of such Letter of Credit, as the case may be, until the next required calculation thereof pursuant to this Section. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Revolving Credit Lenders of each calculation of the Dollar Equivalent of each Letter of Credit.

SECTION 1.11. Cashless Rollovers . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, to the extent that any Lender extends the maturity date of, or replaces, renews or refinances, any of its then-existing Loans (including with Incremental Credit Extensions, Loans in connection with any Refinancing Indebtedness or loans incurred under a new credit facility), in each case, to the extent such extension, replacement, renewal or refinancing is effected by means of a “cashless roll” by such Lender, such extension, replacement, renewal or refinancing shall be deemed to comply with any requirement hereunder or any other Loan Document that such payment be made “in Dollars”, “in immediately available funds”, “in cash” or any other similar requirement.

SECTION 1.12. Limited Condition Acquisition . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, for purposes of (i) measuring the relevant financial ratios (including the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio and the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio and including any calculation in connection with any pro forma calculation of the financial covenant under Section 7.08 or any other financial covenant), the amount of cash or Cash Equivalents (collectively, the “ cash amounts ”) and baskets measured as a percentage of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA with respect to the incurrence of any Indebtedness or Liens or the making of any Permitted Acquisition or other similar Investments, Restricted Payment, Dispositions or other sales or dispositions of assets or fundamental changes or the designation of any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or (ii) determining compliance with the representations and warranties other than Specified Representations or the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default other than, to the extent set forth in the applicable covenant, an Event of Default under Section 8.01(a) or Section 8.01(f) , in the case of clauses (i)  and (ii) , in connection with a

 

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Limited Condition Acquisition, if the Borrower has made an LCA Election with respect to such Limited Condition Acquisition, the date of determination of whether any such action is permitted hereunder (including, in the case of calculating Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, the reference date for determining which Test Period shall be the most recently ended Test Period for purposes of making such calculation) shall be deemed to be the date the definitive agreements for such Limited Condition Acquisition are entered into (the “ LCA Test Date ”), and if, after giving pro forma effect to such Limited Condition Acquisition and the other transactions to be entered into in connection therewith as if they had occurred (with respect to income statement items) at the beginning of, or (with respect to balance sheet items) on the last day of, the most recent test period ending prior to the LCA Test Date, the Borrower could have taken such action on the relevant LCA Test Date in compliance with such ratio, cash amount, basket or representation and warranty, such ratio, cash amount, basket or representation and warranty shall be deemed to have been complied with. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Borrower has made an LCA Election and any of the ratios, cash amount, baskets or representations and warranties for which compliance was determined or tested as of the LCA Test Date would thereafter have failed to have been satisfied as a result of fluctuations in any such ratio, cash amount or basket, including due to fluctuations in Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA or Consolidated Total Assets, at or prior the consummation of the relevant transaction or action, such cash amount, basket, ratios or representations or warranties will not be deemed to have failed to have been satisfied as a result of such fluctuations. If the Borrower has made an LCA Election for any Limited Condition Acquisition, then in connection with any subsequent calculation of any ratio, cash amount or basket on or following the relevant LCA Test Date and prior to the earlier of (i) the date on which such Limited Condition Acquisition is consummated or (ii) the date that the definitive agreement for such Limited Condition Acquisition is terminated or expires, or the date for redemption, repurchase, defeasance, satisfaction and discharge or repayment specified in an irrevocable notice for such Limited Condition Acquisition expires or passes, in each case without consummation of such Limited Condition Acquisition, any such ratio (including the financial covenant under Section  7.08 ), such cash amount or basket (x) shall be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis assuming such Limited Condition Acquisition and other transactions in connection therewith (including any incurrence of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds there) have been consummated and (y) with respect to the making of dividends only (and only until such time as the applicable Limited Condition Acquisition is terminated), also on a standalone basis without giving effect to such Limited Condition Acquisition and the other transactions in connection therewith.

SECTION 1.13.     Basket Amounts and Applicability of Multiple Relevant Previsions . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, (a) unless specifically stated otherwise herein, any dollar, number, percentage or other amount available under any carve-out, basket, exclusion or exception to any affirmative, negative or other covenant in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents may be accumulated, added, combined, aggregated or used together by any Loan Party and its Subsidiaries without limitation for any purpose not prohibited hereby, (b) any action or event permitted by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents need not be permitted solely by reference to one provision permitting such action or event but may be permitted in party by one such provision and in part by one or more other provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and (c) to the extent that the size of any basket or carve-out set forth in Article VII is determined by reference to a percentage of Four-Quarter EBITDA, a percentage of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA or the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio, no Default or Event of Default shall be deemed to occur with respect to any transaction consummated or incurred pursuant to such basket or carve-out as a result of any decrease in the amount of Four-Quarter EBITDA, Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA or the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio subsequent to such consummation or incurrence which results in such basket or carve-out no longer being sufficient to permit such transaction or incurrence.

 

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SECTION 1.14. Currency Translation . For purposes of any determination under Article VI , Article VII (other than Section 7.08 ) or Article VIII or any determination under any other provision of this Agreement expressly requiring the use of a current exchange rate, all amounts incurred, outstanding or proposed to be incurred or outstanding in currencies other than Dollars shall be translated into Dollars at currency exchange rates in effect on the date of such determination; provided, however, that for purposes of determining compliance with Article VII with respect to the amount of any Permitted Lien, Indebtedness, Disposition, Restricted Payment, Affiliate Transaction, Permitted Investment or Permitted Payment in a currency other than Dollars, no Default or Event of Default shall be deemed to have occurred solely as a result of changes in rates of exchange occurring after the time such Permitted Lien or Indebtedness is incurred or Disposition, Restricted Payment, Affiliate Transaction, Permitted Investment or Permitted Payment is made; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing provisions of this Section  1.14 shall otherwise apply to such Sections, including with respect to determining whether any Permitted Lien or Indebtedness is incurred or Disposition, Restricted Payment, Affiliate Transaction, Permitted Investment or Permitted Payment is made at any time under such Sections. For purposes of calculation Section  7.08 , amounts in currencies other than Dollars shall be translated into Dollars at the currency exchange rates used in preparing the Required Financial Statements.

ARTICLE II

THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS

SECTION 2.01. The Loans . (a)  The Term Borrowings . Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Term Lender severally agrees to make to the Borrower, on the Closing Date, Term Loans denominated in Dollars in the aggregate amount of such Term Lender’s Term Commitment. Amounts borrowed under this Section 2.01(a) and repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. Term Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurocurrency Rate Loans, as further provided herein.

(b) The Revolving Credit Borrowings . Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Revolving Credit Lender severally agrees to make Loans denominated in Dollars to the Borrower from its applicable Lending Office (each such loan, a “ Revolving Credit Loan ”) from time to time, on any Business Day during the period from and including the Closing Date until the Business Day preceding the Maturity Date for the Revolving Credit Facility; provided , that after giving effect to any Revolving Credit Borrowing, (i) the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Revolving Credit Lender shall not exceed such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment and (ii) the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposures shall not exceed the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments. Within the limits of each Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section  2.01(b) , prepay under Section  2.05 , and reborrow under this Section  2.01(b) . Revolving Credit Loans denominated in Dollars may be Base Rate Loans or Eurocurrency Rate Loans, as further provided herein.

SECTION 2.02. Borrowings , Conversions and Continuations of Loans . (a) Each Term Borrowing, each Revolving Credit Borrowing, each conversion of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be made upon the Borrower’s notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone; provided that this Section shall not apply to Swingline Loans, which shall not be continued or converted. Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. New York City time (i) three Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans or any conversion of Base Rate Loans to Eurocurrency Rate Loans (or, in the case of any such Borrowing of the initial Term Loans, such shorter period of time as may be agreed to by the Administrative Agent), and (ii) one Business Day prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans. Each telephonic notice by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.02(a) must be confirmed promptly by

 

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delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written Committed Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Except as provided in Section  2.14(a) , each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be in a minimum principal amount of $5 million, or a whole multiple of $1 million, in excess thereof. Except as provided in Section  2.03(c) , 2.14(a) or the last sentence of this paragraph, each Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be in a minimum principal amount of $1 million or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof. Each Committed Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting a Term Borrowing, a Revolving Credit Borrowing, a conversion of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans are to be converted, and (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto. If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Loan in a Committed Loan Notice or fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base Rate Loans. Any such automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Eurocurrency Rate Loans. If the Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans in any such Committed Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month.

(b) Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its Pro Rata Share of the applicable Class of Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans or continuation described in Section  2.02(a) . In the case of each Borrowing, each Appropriate Lender shall make the amount of its Loan available to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office (i) not later than the later of (A) 1:00 p.m. New York City time and (B) two hours after the Administrative Agent’s receipt of the notice described in Section  2.02(a) (ii) , in the case of any Base Rate Loan and (ii) not later than 1:00 p.m. New York City time in the case of any Loan (other than a Base Rate Loan) denominated in Dollars; provided that Swingline Loans shall be made as provided in Section  2.04 . Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section  4.02 (and, if such Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section  4.01 ), the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the Borrower; provided , that if, on the date the Committed Loan Notice with respect to such Revolving Credit Borrowing denominated in Dollars is given by the Borrower, 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.

(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, if a Eurocurrency Rate Loan is continued or converted on any day other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the Borrower shall pay the amount due, if any, under Section  3.05 in connection therewith. During the existence of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may require that no Loans may be converted to or continued as Eurocurrency Rate Loans.

(d) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Eurocurrency Rate Loans upon determination of such interest rate. The determination of the Eurocurrency Rate by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive in the absence of demonstrable error. At any time that Base Rate Loans are outstanding, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of any change in the base rate used in determining the Base Rate promptly following the public announcement of such change.

 

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(e) After giving effect to all Term Borrowings, all Revolving Credit Borrowings, all conversions of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than (i) six Interest Periods in effect for any Class of Term Loans and (ii) 12 Interest Periods in effect for any Class of Revolving Credit Loans.

(f) The failure of any Lender to make any 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 any Loan to be made by such other Lender on the date of any Borrowing.

SECTION 2.03. Letters of Credit . (a)  The Letter of Credit Commitment . (i) Subject to Section 4.02 and all of the other terms and conditions set forth herein, (A) each L/C Issuer agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the other Revolving Credit Lenders set forth in this Section 2.03 , (1) from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date to the date that is 30 days prior to the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, to issue Letters of Credit denominated in Dollars or an Alternative Currency for the account of the Borrower ( provided , that any 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(b) , and (2) to honor drafts under the Letters of Credit and (B) the Revolving Credit Lenders severally agree to participate in Letters of Credit issued pursuant to this Section 2.03 ; provided , that no L/C Issuer shall be obligated to make any L/C Credit Extension with respect to any Letter of Credit, and no Lender shall be obligated to participate in any Letter of Credit, if as of the date of such L/C Credit Extension, (x) the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Revolving Credit Lender would exceed such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment, (y) the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations would exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit or (z) the Alternative Currency Exposures (excluding those in respect of Letters of Credit denominated in a Permitted Additional L/C Currency) would exceed the Alternative Currency Sublimit. Letters of Credit denominated in a Permitted Additional L/C Currency shall be subject to the provisions set forth in Section 2.03(p) . 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. It is hereby acknowledged and agreed that each of the letters of credit described on Schedule 2.03(a) of the Disclosure Letter (the “ Existing Letters of Credit ”) shall constitute a “Letter of Credit” for all purposes of this Agreement and shall be deemed issued under this Agreement on the Closing Date.

(ii) An L/C Issuer shall be under no obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if:

(A) any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain such L/C Issuer from issuing such Letter of Credit, or any Law applicable to such L/C Issuer or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over such L/C Issuer shall prohibit, or request that such L/C Issuer refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or the Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon such L/C Issuer with respect to the Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which such L/C Issuer is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date, or shall impose upon such L/C Issuer any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Closing Date and which such L/C Issuer in good faith deems material to it;

 

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(B) subject to Section  2.03(b)(iii) , the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur more than 12 months after the date of issuance or last extension, unless (1) each Appropriate Lender has approved of such expiration date or (2) 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 L/C Issuer;

(C) the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur after the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, unless (1) each Appropriate Lender has approved of such expiration date or (2) 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 L/C Issuer;

(D) the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate any Laws binding upon such L/C Issuer;

(E) the issuance of the Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of such L/C Issuer applicable to letters of credit generally;

(F) the Letter of Credit is to be denominated in a currency other than Dollars or an Alternative Currency;

(G) any Revolving Credit Lender is at that time a Defaulting Lender, unless such L/C Issuer has entered into arrangements, including the delivery of Cash Collateral, satisfactory to such L/C Issuer (in its sole discretion) with the Borrower or such Lender to eliminate such L/C Issuer’s actual or potential Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section  2.17(a) ) with respect to the Defaulting Lender arising from either the Letter of Credit then proposed to be issued or that Letter of Credit and all other L/C Obligations as to which such L/C Issuer has actual or potential Fronting Exposure, as it may elect in its sole discretion; or

(H) after giving effect to such issuance, the Dollar Equivalent of the aggregate face amount of Letters of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer would exceed such L/C Issuer’s L/C Commitment.

(iii) An L/C Issuer shall be under no obligation to amend any Letter of Credit if (A) such L/C Issuer would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof, or (B) the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit does not accept the proposed amendment to such Letter of Credit.

(iv) Each L/C Issuer shall act on behalf of the Revolving Credit Lenders with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith, and such L/C Issuer shall have all of the benefits and immunities (A) provided to the Administrative Agent in Article IX with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by such L/C Issuer in connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and Issuer Documents pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the term “Administrative Agent” as used in Article IX included such L/C Issuer with respect to such acts or omissions, and (B) as additionally provided herein with respect to such L/C Issuer.

(b) Procedures for Issuance and Amendment of Letters of Credit; Auto-Extension Letters of Credit . (i) Subject to Section  4.02 , each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be, upon the request of the Borrower delivered to an L/C Issuer during the period specified in

 

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Section  2.03(a) (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) in the form of a Letter of Credit Application, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Unless otherwise agreed by the Borrower and the relevant L/C Issuer, such Letter of Credit Application must be received by the relevant L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent not later than noon at least one Business Day 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 L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in its sole discretion; provided that in the case of a request of a Letter of Credit denominated in a Permitted Additional L/C Currency, such Letter of Credit Application must be received by the relevant L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent not later than 2:00 p.m. at least three 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 L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in its sole discretion. In the case of a request for an initial issuance of a Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the relevant L/C Issuer: (a) the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (b) the amount and currency thereof; (c) the expiry date thereof; (d) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof; and (e) such other matters as the relevant L/C Issuer may reasonably request (which may include the form of the requested Letter of Credit). In the case of a request for an amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the relevant L/C Issuer (1) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (2) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (3) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (4) such other matters as the relevant L/C Issuer may reasonably request. Additionally, the Borrower shall furnish to each L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent such other documents and information pertaining to such requested Letter of Credit issuance or amendment, including any Issuer Documents, as such L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent may reasonably require.

(ii) Promptly after receipt of any Letter of Credit Application, the relevant L/C Issuer will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has received a copy of such Letter of Credit Application from the Borrower and, if not, such L/C Issuer will provide the Administrative Agent with a copy thereof. Unless the relevant L/C Issuer has received written notice from any Revolving Credit Lender, the Administrative Agent or any Loan Party, at least one Business Day prior to the requested date of issuance or amendment of the applicable Letter of Credit, that one or more applicable conditions contained in Article IV shall not then be satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the relevant L/C Issuer shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the Borrower or enter into the applicable amendment, as the case may be, in each case in accordance with the relevant L/C Issuer’s usual and customary business practices. Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit, each Revolving Credit Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to (regardless of whether the conditions set forth in Section  4.02 have been satisfied), purchase from the relevant L/C Issuer without recourse or warranty a risk participation in such Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the product of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share times the amount of such Letter of Credit.

(iii) If the Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the relevant L/C Issuer may, in its discretion, agree to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic extension provisions (each, an “ Auto-Extension Letter of Credit ”); provided , that any such Auto-Extension Letter of Credit must permit the relevant L/C Issuer to prevent any such extension at least once in each 12 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 12 month period to be agreed upon at the time such Letter of Credit is issued. Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has been issued, unless otherwise directed by the relevant L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to the relevant L/C Issuer for any such extension. Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has been issued, the Revolving Credit Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the relevant L/C Issuer to permit the extension of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry

 

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date not later than the Letter of Credit Expiration Date; provided , that the relevant L/C Issuer shall not permit any such extension if (A) the relevant L/C Issuer has determined that it would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its extended form under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of Section  2.03(a)(ii) or otherwise), or (B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is five Business Days before the Non-Extension Notice Date from the Administrative Agent, any Revolving Credit Lender or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section  4.02 is not then satisfied.

(iv) Promptly after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter of Credit to an advising bank with respect thereto or to the beneficiary thereof, the relevant L/C Issuer will also deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.

(c) Drawings and Reimbursements; Funding of Participations . (i) Upon receipt from the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of any compliant notice of a drawing under such Letter of Credit and subsequent payment by an L/C Issuer, the relevant L/C Issuer shall notify promptly the Borrower and the Administrative Agent thereof. Not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day immediately following the later of the date of payment by an L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit and the date of notice by an L/C Issuer to the Borrower of such payment (each such date, an “ Honor Date ”), the Borrower shall reimburse such L/C Issuer through the Administrative Agent (or directly to such L/C Issuer with a written notice to the Administrative Agent) in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing (x) with respect to any Letter of Credit issued in Dollars, in Dollars or (y) with respect to any Letter of Credit issued in an Alternative Currency, in such Alternative Currency (or if requested by the applicable L/C Issuer at least two Business Days prior to the Honor Date, the Dollar Equivalent thereof in Dollars). If the Borrower fails to so reimburse such L/C Issuer by such time, the L/C Issuer shall notify the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Revolving Credit Lender of the Honor Date, the amount of the unreimbursed drawing (the “ Unreimbursed Amount ”), and the amount of such Revolving Credit Lender’s Pro Rata Share thereof. In such event, the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Revolving Credit Borrowing of Base Rate Loans (or, in the case of an Unreimbursed Amount denominated in an Alternative Currency that is required to be reimbursed in such Alternative Currency, Eurocurrency Loans in such Alternative Currency with an Interest Period of one month) 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 amount of the unutilized portion of the Revolving Credit Commitments of the Revolving Credit Lenders and the conditions set forth in Section  4.02 (other than the delivery of a Committed Loan Notice). Any notice given by an L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section  2.03(c)(i) may be given by telephone if promptly confirmed in writing; provided , that the lack of such a prompt confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice.

(ii) Each Revolving Credit Lender shall upon any notice pursuant to Section  2.03(c)(i) make funds available (x) with respect to any Unreimbursed Amount denominated in Dollars, in Dollars or (y) with respect to any Unreimbursed Amount denominated in an Alternative Currency, in Dollars in accordance with Section  2.03(p)(ii) for the account of the relevant L/C Issuer at the Administrative Agent’s Office for payments in an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of the Unreimbursed Amount not later than 4:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in such notice by the Administrative Agent, whereupon, subject to the provisions of Section  2.03(c)(iii) , each Revolving Credit Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Loan (or, in the case of an Alternative Currency, a Eurocurrency Loan with an Interest Period of one month) to the Borrower in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the relevant L/C Issuer.

 

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(iii) With respect to any Unreimbursed Amount that is not fully refinanced by a Revolving Credit Borrowing because the conditions set forth in Section  4.02 cannot be satisfied or for any other reason, the Borrower shall be deemed to have incurred from the relevant L/C Issuer an L/C Borrowing in the amount of the Unreimbursed Amount that is not so refinanced, which L/C Borrowing shall be due and payable on demand (together with interest) and shall bear interest at the Default Rate. In such event, each Revolving Credit Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the relevant L/C Issuer pursuant to Section  2.03(c)(ii) shall be deemed payment in respect of its participation in such L/C Borrowing and shall constitute an L/C Advance from such Lender in satisfaction of its participation obligation under this Section  2.03 .

(iv) Until a Revolving Credit Lender funds its Revolving Credit Loan or L/C Advance pursuant to this Section  2.03(c) to reimburse the relevant L/C Issuer for any amount drawn under any Letter of Credit, interest in respect of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of such amount shall be solely for the account of the relevant L/C Issuer.

(v) Each Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans or L/C Advances to reimburse an L/C Issuer for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit, as contemplated by this Section  2.03(c) , shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the relevant L/C Issuer, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever; (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default; (C) the form, validity, sufficiency, accuracy, genuineness or legal effect of any Letter of Credit or any document submitted by any party in connection with the application for and issuance of a Letter of Credit, even if it should in fact prove to be in any or all respects invalid, insufficient, inaccurate, fraudulent or forged; (D) failure of the beneficiary to comply fully with conditions required in order to demand payment under a Letter of Credit; or (E) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, including without limitation, any of the events specified in Section  2.03(e) ; provided , that each Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to this Section  2.03(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section  4.02 (other than delivery by the Borrower of a Committed Loan Notice). No such making of an L/C Advance shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the relevant L/C Issuer for the amount of any payment made by such L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit, together with interest as provided herein.

(vi) If any Revolving Credit Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the relevant L/C Issuer any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section  2.03(c) by the time specified in Section  2.03(c)(ii) , then, without limiting the other provisions of this agreement, such L/C Issuer shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to such L/C Issuer at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the applicable L/C Issuer in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by such L/C Issuer in connection with the foregoing. If such Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid (other than such interest and fees) shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in the relevant Borrowing or L/C Advance in respect of the relevant L/C Borrowing, as the case may be. A certificate of the relevant L/C Issuer submitted to any Revolving Credit Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this Section  2.03(c)(vi) shall be conclusive absent demonstrable error.

 

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(d) Repayment of Participations . (i) If, at any time after an L/C Issuer has made a payment under any Letter of Credit and has received from any Revolving Credit Lender such Lender’s L/C Advance in respect of such payment in accordance with Section  2.03(c) , the Administrative Agent receives for the account of such L/C Issuer any payment in respect of the related Unreimbursed Amount or interest thereon (whether directly from the Borrower or otherwise, including proceeds of Cash Collateral applied thereto by the Administrative Agent), the Administrative Agent will distribute to such Lender its Pro Rata Share 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 same funds as those received by the Administrative Agent.

(ii) If any payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of an L/C Issuer pursuant to Section  2.03(c)(i) is required to be returned under any of the circumstances described in Section  10.05 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by such L/C Issuer in its discretion), each Revolving Credit Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such L/C Issuer its Pro Rata Share 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 applicable Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Lenders under this clause (ii)  shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

(e) Obligations Absolute . The obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the relevant L/C Issuer for each drawing under each Letter of Credit issued by it and to repay each L/C Borrowing shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all circumstances, including the following:

(i) any lack of validity or enforceability of such Letter of Credit, this Agreement, or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto;

(ii) the existence of any claim, counterclaim, setoff, defense or other right that any Loan Party may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), the relevant L/C Issuer or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by such Letter of Credit or any agreement or instrument relating thereto, or any unrelated transaction;

(iii) any draft, demand, certificate or other document presented under such Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect;

(iv) any payment by the relevant L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate that does not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; or any payment made by the relevant L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit to any Person purporting to be a trustee in bankruptcy, debtor-in-possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver or other representative of or successor to any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit, including any arising in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law;

(v) any amendment or waiver of or any consent to departure from all or any of the provisions of the Loan Documents;

(vi) any adverse change in the business, assets, operations or financial condition of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; or

(vii) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, including any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, any Loan Party.

 

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The Borrower shall promptly examine a copy of each Letter of Credit and each amendment thereto that is delivered to it by an L/C Issuer prior to the issuance of such Letter of Credit or amendment thereto and, in the event of any claim of noncompliance with the Borrower’s instructions or other irregularity, the Borrower will promptly notify the applicable L/C Issuer. The Borrower shall be conclusively deemed to have waived any such claim against such L/C Issuer and its correspondents unless such notice is given as aforesaid prior to the issuance of such Letter of Credit or amendment thereto.

(f) Role of L/C Issuers . Each Lender and the Borrower agree that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit, the relevant L/C Issuer shall not have any responsibility to obtain any document (other than all documents expressly required by the Letter of Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such document or the authority of the Person executing or delivering any such document. None of the L/C Issuers, any Related Parties nor any of the respective correspondents, participants or assignees of any L/C Issuer shall be liable to any Lender for (i) any action taken or omitted in connection herewith at the request or with the approval of the Lenders holding a majority of the Revolving Credit Commitments; (ii) any action taken or omitted in the absence of bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct; or (iii) the due execution, effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any document or instrument related to any Letter of Credit or Letter of Credit 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’s pursuing such rights and remedies as it may have against the beneficiary or transferee at law or under any other agreement. None of the L/C Issuers, any Related Parties, nor any of the respective correspondents, participants or assignees of any L/C Issuer, shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in clauses (i)  through (v) of Section  2.03(e) ; provided , that anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrower shall have a claim against an L/C Issuer, and such L/C Issuer shall be liable to the Borrower, to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or exemplary, damages suffered by the Borrower which were caused by such L/C Issuer’s bad faith, willful misconduct or gross negligence or such L/C Issuer’s willful or grossly negligent failure to pay under any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary of all documents specified in the Letter of Credit strictly complying with the terms and conditions of a Letter of Credit, in each case, as determined in a final judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, each L/C Issuer may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, and no L/C Issuer shall be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section  2.03(f) , the Borrower shall retain any and all rights it may have against any L/C Issuer for any liability arising out of the bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of such L/C Issuer, as determined by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

(g) Cash Collateral . (i) If an L/C Issuer has honored any full or partial drawing request under any Letter of Credit and such drawing has resulted in an L/C Borrowing that has not been repaid and the conditions set forth in Section  4.02 to a Revolving Credit Borrowing cannot then be met, (ii) if, as of the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, any Letter of Credit for any reason remains outstanding and partially or wholly undrawn (and arrangements that are reasonably satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer have not otherwise been made), (iii) if any Event of Default occurs and is continuing and the Administrative Agent or the Lenders holding a majority of the Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, require the Borrower to Cash Collateralize, on a joint and several basis, the L/C Obligations pursuant to Section  8.02 , (iv) if, after the issuance of any Letter of Credit, any Revolving Credit Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender or (v) if an Event of Default set forth under Section  8.01(f) occurs and is continuing, then the Borrower shall Cash Collateralize the then Outstanding Amount of (A) the applicable L/C Borrowing, in the case of the preceding clause (i) , (B) all L/C Obligations, in the case of the

 

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preceding clauses (ii) , (iii) and (v) , or (C) such L/C Issuer’s Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender that has not been re-allocated to Non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with Section  2.17(a) in the case of the preceding clause (iv) , and shall do so not later than 4:00 p.m., on (x) in the case of the immediately preceding clauses (i)  through (iv) , (1) the Business Day that the Borrower receives notice thereof, if such notice is received on such day prior to 12:00 Noon, or (2) if clause (1)  above does not apply, the Business Day immediately following the day that the Borrower receives such notice and (y) in the case of the immediately preceding clause (v) , the Business Day on which an Event of Default set forth under Section  8.01(f) occurs or, if such day is not a Business Day, the Business Day immediately succeeding such day. For purposes hereof, “ Cash Collateralize ” means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the relevant L/C Issuer and the Revolving Credit Lenders, as collateral for the L/C Obligations, cash or deposit account balances (“ Cash Collateral ”) pursuant to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the relevant L/C Issuer (which documents are hereby consented to by the Lenders); provided that, if the Borrower requests to Cash Collateralize any or all L/C Obligations, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the relevant L/C Issuer or L/C Issuers shall cooperate in good faith to prepare, execute and deliver such documentation as promptly as practicable. Derivatives of such term have corresponding meanings. The Borrower hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the L/C Issuers and the Revolving Credit Lenders, a security interest in all such cash, deposit accounts and all balances therein and all proceeds of the foregoing. Cash Collateral shall be maintained in blocked accounts at the Administrative Agent and may be invested in readily available Cash Equivalents. If at any time the Administrative Agent determines that any funds held as Cash Collateral are subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the Administrative Agent (on behalf of the Secured Parties) or that the total amount of such funds is less than the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations then required to be Cash Collateralized, the Borrower will, forthwith upon demand by the Administrative Agent, pay to the Administrative Agent, as additional funds to be deposited and held in the 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 L/C Issuer. To the extent the amount of any Cash Collateral exceeds the then Outstanding Amount of such L/C Obligations then required to be Cash Collateralized and so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the excess shall be refunded to the Borrower.

(h) Letter of Credit Fees . The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Credit Lender in accordance with its Pro Rata Share a Letter of Credit fee for each Letter of Credit outstanding pursuant to this Agreement, which shall accrue at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Rate on the Dollar Equivalent of the daily maximum amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section  1.09 . Such letter of credit fees shall be due and payable in arrears in Dollars on the date that is three Business Days after the last 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 Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. If there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, such fee shall be computed separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect. For purposes of determining the Letter of Credit fee applicable to any Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency (and not for any other purpose), the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit shall be determined on the basis of the Dollar Equivalent in effect on the first Business Day of each January, April, July and October and such Dollar Equivalent shall be used for determining the Letter of Credit fee with respect to each Letter of Credit which is outstanding at any time and during such calendar quarter and regardless of the issue date of such Letter of Credit.

 

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(i) Fronting Fee and Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to L/C Issuers . The Borrower shall pay directly to each L/C Issuer for its own account a fronting fee with respect to each Letter of Credit issued by it, which shall accrue at a rate per annum equal to 0.125% on the Dollar Equivalent of the daily maximum amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section  1.09 . Such fronting fees shall be due and payable in arrears on the date that is three Business Days after the last 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 Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. For purposes of determining the fronting fee applicable to any Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency (and not for any other purpose), the daily maximum amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit shall be determined on the basis of the Dollar Equivalent in effect on the first Business Day of each January, April, July and October and such Dollar Equivalent shall be used for determining the fronting fee with respect to each Letter of Credit which is outstanding at any time and during such calendar quarter and regardless of the issue date of such Letter of Credit. In addition, the Borrower shall pay directly to each L/C Issuer for its own account with respect to each Letter of Credit issued by it the customary issuance, presentation, amendment and other processing fees, and other standard costs and charges, of such L/C Issuer relating to letters of credit as from time to time in effect. Such customary fees and standard costs and charges are due and payable within 10 Business Days of demand and are nonrefundable.

(j) Conflict with Issuer Documents . Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary in this Agreement, in the event of any conflict between the terms hereof and the terms of any Issuer Document, the terms hereof shall control.

(k) Addition of an L/C Issuer . A Revolving Credit Lender (or an Affiliate of a Revolving Credit Lender) may become an additional L/C Issuer hereunder pursuant to a written agreement among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and such Revolving Credit Lender (or Affiliate) and such agreement shall specify such additional L/C Issuer’s L/C Commitment. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Revolving Credit Lenders of any such additional L/C Issuer.

(l) Applicability of ISP ; Limitation of Liability . Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the applicable L/C Issuer and the Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued, the rules of the ISP and, as to all matters not covered thereby, the laws of the State of New York shall apply to each standby Letter of Credit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, but subject to Section  2.03(f) , the applicable L/C Issuer shall not be responsible to the Borrower (or any other Person) for, and such L/C Issuer’s rights and remedies against the Borrower shall not be impaired by, any action or inaction of such L/C Issuer required or permitted under any law, order, or practice that is required or permitted to be applied to any Letter of Credit or this Agreement, including the Law or any order of a jurisdiction where such L/C Issuer or the beneficiary is located, the practice stated in the ISP, or in the decisions, opinions, practice statements, or official commentary of the ICC Banking Commission, the Bankers Association for Finance and Trade—International Financial Services Association (BAFT-IFSA), or the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice, whether or not any Letter of Credit chooses such law or practice.

(m) 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 stated to be for the account of, a Subsidiary of the Borrower, the Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer hereunder for any and all drawings under such Letter of Credit. The Borrower hereby acknowledges that the issuance of Letters of Credit for the account of any such Subsidiary inures to the benefit of the Borrower, and that the Borrower’s business derives substantial benefits from the businesses of such Subsidiaries.

 

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(n) Reporting of Letter of Credit Information . At any time that any Revolving Credit Lender other than the Person serving as the Administrative Agent is an L/C Issuer, then (i) on the last Business Day of each calendar month, (ii) on each date that a Letter of Credit is amended, terminated or otherwise expires, (iii) on each date that an L/C Credit Extension occurs with respect to any Letter of Credit, and (iv) upon the request of the Administrative Agent, each L/C Issuer (or, in the case of part (ii), (iii) or (iv), the applicable L/C Issuer) shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a report setting forth in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent information (including any reimbursement, Cash Collateral, or termination in respect of Letters of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer) with respect to each Letter of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer that is outstanding hereunder, including any auto-renewal or termination of auto-renewal provisions in such Letter of Credit. No failure on the part of any L/C Issuer to provide such information pursuant to this Section  2.03(n) shall limit the obligation of the Borrower or any Revolving Credit Lender hereunder with respect to its reimbursement and participation obligations, respectively, pursuant to this Section  2.03 .

(o) Deemed Issuance . Subject to the terms, conditions and limitations set forth in this Section  2.03 , the Borrower may designate letters of credit not otherwise constituting Letters of Credit hereunder issued by any L/C Issuer to be Letters of Credit hereunder by written notice to the applicable L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent. Following such designation, such letter of credit shall be deemed to be a Letter of Credit hereunder for all purposes and any fees relating to such letter of credit shall be payable as set forth herein (in substitution for any fees set forth in the applicable letter of credit reimbursement agreements or applications relating to such letters of credit).

(p) Permitted Additional L/C Currencies . Upon the issuance of any Letter of Credit denominated in a Permitted Additional L/C Currency (a “ Foreign Currency Letter of Credit ”), and so long as any Foreign Currency Letter of Credit (or Unreimbursed Amount in respect thereof) remains outstanding, the following provisions shall apply:

(i) Subject to paragraph (iii)  below, the obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer for any Unreimbursed Amount under any Foreign Currency Letter of Credit, and to pay interest thereon, shall be payable only in the currency in which such Unreimbursed Amount is made and shall not be discharged by paying an amount in any other currency; provided that the applicable L/C Issuer may agree, in its sole discretion, to accept reimbursement in another currency, but any such agreement shall not affect the obligations of the Revolving Credit Lenders or the Borrower under paragraphs (ii)  and (iii) below if such reimbursement is not actually made to the applicable L/C Issuer when due.

(ii) The obligation of each Revolving Credit Lender under Section  2.03(c) and Section  2.03(d) to pay its Applicable Percentage of any unpaid Unreimbursed Amount under any Foreign Currency Letter of Credit shall be payable only in Dollars and shall be in an amount equal to such Applicable Percentage of the Dollar Amount of such unpaid drawing determined as provided in paragraph (iv)  below. Under no circumstances shall the provisions hereof permitting the issuance of Foreign Currency Letters of Credit be construed, by implication or otherwise, as imposing any obligation upon any Revolving Credit Lender to make any Loan or other payment under the Loan Documents, or to accept any payment from the Borrower in respect of any unreimbursed Unreimbursed Amount, in each case in respect of a Foreign Currency Letter of Credit, in any currency other than Dollars.

(iii) If and to the extent that any Lender pays its Applicable Percentage of any unreimbursed Unreimbursed Amount under any Foreign Currency Letter of Credit, then, notwithstanding paragraph (i)  above, the obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the portion of such unreimbursed Unreimbursed Amount funded by such Lender shall be converted to, and shall be payable only in, Dollars (in an amount equal to the amount funded by such Lender in Dollars as provided above) and shall not be

 

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discharged by paying an amount in any other currency. Interest accrued on such unreimbursed Unreimbursed Amount to and excluding the date of such payment by such Lender shall be for the account of the applicable L/C Issuer and be payable in the applicable currency in which such Unreimbursed Amount was made, but interest thereafter shall accrue on the amount owed to such Lender and shall be payable in Dollars.

(iv) If an Unreimbursed Amount is made by an L/C Issuer in respect of a Foreign Currency Letter of Credit and is not reimbursed by the Borrower as and when required by paragraph (e)  of this Section, then such L/C Issuer shall calculate the amount in Dollars (the “ Dollar Amount ”) that would be required in order for such L/C Issuer to purchase an amount of the currency in which such Unreimbursed Amount was made equivalent to such unpaid Unreimbursed Amount, employing any method of exchange that such L/C Issuer would expect to employ in the conduct of its currency exchange activities. Such L/C Issuer shall notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower of the Dollar Amount so determined by it, and such determination shall be conclusive.

SECTION 2.04. Swingline Loans . (a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein (including Section 2.17 ), in reliance upon the agreements of the other Lenders set forth in this Section 2.04 , the Swingline Lender agrees to make Swingline Loans to the Borrower from time to time on any Business Day during the period beginning on the Business Day after the Closing Date and until the Maturity Date of the Revolving Credit Facility, denominated in Dollars, in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding that will not result in (i) the Outstanding Amount of Swingline Loans of the Swingline Lender exceeding its Swingline Commitment or (ii) the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments; provided that the Swingline Lender shall not be required to make a Swingline Loan (x) to refinance an outstanding Swingline Loan or (y) if any Lender is at that time a Defaulting Lender and after giving effect to Section 2.17(a) , any Fronting Exposure remains outstanding. Each Swingline Loan shall be a Base Rate Loan and shall be repaid in full on the earlier of (x) the funding date of any Borrowing of Revolving Credit Loans and (y) the date of termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Swingline Loans.

(b) To request a Swingline Loan, the Borrower shall notify the Swingline Lender of such request not later than 2:00 p.m. New York City time on the day of such proposed Swingline Loan, which may be made in a writing substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower (a “ Swingline Request ”) or by telephone if confirmed promptly, but in any event, prior to such Borrowing, with such a Swingline Request. Upon receipt of such notice, and subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Swingline Lender shall make a Swingline Loan available to the Borrower by making the proceeds thereof available to the Borrower on the date set forth in the relevant Swingline Request.

(c) The Swingline Lender may at any time forward a demand to the Administrative Agent (which the Administrative Agent shall, upon receipt, forward to the Revolving Credit Lenders) that each Revolving Credit Lender pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swingline Lender, such Revolving Credit Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the outstanding Swingline Loans. Each Revolving Credit Lender shall pay the amount owing by it to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swingline Lender on the Business Day such Revolving Credit Lender receives a notice or demand therefor. Payments received by the Administrative Agent after 11:00 a.m. New York City time may, in the Administrative Agent’s discretion, be deemed to be received on the next Business Day. Upon receipt by the Administrative Agent of such payment (other than during the continuation of any Event of Default under Section  8.01(f) ), such Revolving Credit Lender shall be deemed to have made a Revolving Credit Loan to the Borrower, which, upon receipt of such payment by the Swingline Lender from the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall be deemed to have used in whole to refinance such Swingline

 

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Loan. In addition, regardless of whether any such demand is made, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default under Section  8.01(f) , each Revolving Credit Lender shall be deemed to have acquired, without recourse or warranty, an undivided interest and participation in each Swingline Loan in an amount equal to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such Swingline Loan. If any payment made by any Revolving Credit Lender as a result of any such demand is not deemed a Revolving Credit Loan, such payment shall be deemed a funding by such Lender of such participation. Upon receipt by the Swingline Lender of any payment from any Revolving Credit Lender pursuant to this clause (c)  with respect to any portion of any Swingline Loan, the Swingline Lender shall promptly pay over to such Revolving Credit Lender all payments of principal (to the extent received after such payment by such Lender) and interest (to the extent accrued with respect to periods after such payment) on account of such Swingline Loan received by the Swingline Lender with respect to such portion.

(d) Each Revolving Credit Lender’s obligations pursuant to clause (c)  above shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under any and all circumstances whatsoever, including (A) the existence of any setoff, claim, abatement, recoupment, defense or other right that such Lender, any Affiliate thereof or any other Person may have against the Swingline Lender, the Administrative Agent, any other Lender or L/C Issuer or any other Person, (B) the failure of any condition precedent set forth in Section  4.02 to be satisfied and (C) any adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise) of any Loan Party.

SECTION 2.05. Prepayments . (a)  Optional. (i) The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent in a writing substantially in the form of Exhibit I , at any time or from time to time elect to voluntarily prepay Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty (except as provided in clause (ii)  below); provided , that (1) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m. (A) three Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans and (B) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Loans; (2) any partial prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars shall be in a principal amount of $5 million, or a whole multiple of $100,000, in excess thereof; and (3) any partial prepayment of Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Class (or Classes) and Type (or Types) of Loans and the order of Borrowing (or Borrowings) 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; provided , that the Borrower may rescind any notice of prepayment under this Section 2.05(a)(i) if such prepayment would have resulted from a refinancing or other repayment of all of the Facility or other transaction, which refinancing or transaction shall not be consummated or shall otherwise be delayed. Any prepayment of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest thereon, together with any additional amounts then due pursuant to Section 3.05 . In the case of each prepayment of the Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(a)(i) , the Borrower may in its sole discretion select the Borrowing or Borrowings to be repaid, and such payment shall be paid to the Appropriate Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares.

(ii) In the event that, after the Closing Date and on or prior to the date that is 6 months following the Closing Date, the Borrower (A) makes any prepayment of 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 Term Lender, (I) in the case of clause (A) , a prepayment premium of 1.00% of the principal amount of the 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 Term Loans outstanding immediately prior to such amendment that have been repriced (in each case, the “ Prepayment Premium ”).

 

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(b) Mandatory. (i) If the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary Disposes of any property or assets in reliance upon clause (x)  of Section  7.04 (other than Merger Agreement Dispositions), any Material Disposition occurs or any Casualty Event occurs, that, in either case, results in the realization or receipt by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary of Net Proceeds in excess of $25 million, then, subject to clause (vi)  below, the Borrower shall cause to be prepaid on or prior to the date which is 10 Business Days after the date of the realization or receipt by the Borrower or Restricted Subsidiary of such Net Proceeds an aggregate amount of Term Loans in an amount equal to 100% of all Net Proceeds received; provided , that if at the time that any such prepayment would be required, the Borrower (or any Restricted Subsidiary) is required to prepay or to offer to prepay or repurchase any other Indebtedness then outstanding that is secured on a pari passu basis with the Obligations pursuant to the terms of the documentation governing such Indebtedness with the net proceeds of such Disposition or Casualty Event (such Indebtedness required to be prepaid, offered to be so prepaid or repurchased, “ Other Applicable Indebtedness ”), then the Borrower (or any Restricted Subsidiary) may apply such Net Proceeds on a pro rata basis (determined on the basis of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans and Other Applicable Indebtedness at such time; provided , that the portion of such Net Proceeds allocated to the Other Applicable Indebtedness shall not exceed the amount of such Net Proceeds required to be allocated to the Other Applicable Indebtedness pursuant to the terms thereof, and the remaining amount, if any, of such Net Proceeds shall be allocated to the Term Loans in accordance with the terms hereof) to the prepayment of the Term Loans and to the repurchase or prepayment of Other Applicable Indebtedness, and the amount of prepayment of the Term Loans that would have otherwise been required pursuant to this Section  2.05(b)(i) shall be reduced accordingly; provided further , that to the extent the holders of Other Applicable Indebtedness decline to have such Indebtedness repurchased or prepaid (after giving effect to any requirement that the declined amounts be offered to other holders of such Other Applicable Indebtedness), the declined amount shall promptly (and in any event within 10 Business Days after the date of such rejection) be applied to prepay the Term Loans in accordance with the terms hereof; provided further , that, except with respect to a Material Disposition (for which the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall not have reinvestment rights) or a Merger Agreement Disposition (for which the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall not be required to make any prepayments under this Section  2.05(b)(i) , no prepayment shall be required pursuant to this Section  2.05(b)(i) with respect to such portion of such Net Proceeds that the Borrower or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary shall have reinvested or entered into a binding commitment to reinvest or otherwise determined or may determine to reinvest (as set forth in a notice from the Borrower to the Administrative Agent to be delivered on or prior to the date which is 10 Business Days after the date of receipt of the applicable Net Proceeds), in each case in accordance with the definition of “ Net Proceeds ” and within the timeframe contemplated thereby.

(ii) If the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary incurs or issues any Indebtedness after the Closing Date (other than Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under Section  7.02 ), including Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness, the Borrower shall cause to be prepaid an aggregate principal amount of Term Loans equal to 100% of all Net Proceeds received therefrom on or prior to the date which is five Business Days after the receipt by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary of such Net Proceeds.

(iii) If for any fiscal year of the Borrower commencing with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019 there shall be Excess Cash Flow, the Borrower shall cause to be repaid on or prior to the date which is five Business Days after the financial statements are requirement to be delivered pursuant to Section  6.01(a) for such fiscal year, an aggregate principal amount of the Term Loans in an amount equal to (A) the Applicable ECF Percentage of Excess Cash Flow, if any, for the fiscal year covered by such financial statements minus , at the Borrower’s option, (B) the sum of (1) all voluntary prepayments of Term Loans made during such fiscal year or after year-end and prior to when such Excess Cash Flow prepayment is due and (2) all voluntary prepayments of Revolving Credit Loans during such fiscal year or

 

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after year-end and prior to when such Excess Cash Flow payment is due to the extent the Revolving Credit Commitments are permanently reduced by the amount of such payments, in the case of each of the immediately preceding clauses (1)  and (2) , other than prepayments funded with the proceeds of long-term Indebtedness or the issuance of Equity Interests; provided that, to the extent that any amount described in the foregoing clause (B)  is (x) credited against the prepayment amount required for a fiscal year, such amount may not be credited against any future prepayment obligation arising under this Section  2.05(b)(iii) and (y) not so credited against the prepayment amount required for any fiscal year, such amount may be credited against any future prepayment obligations arising under this Section  2.05(b)(iii) on a dollar-for-dollar basis for such fiscal year (in each case, without duplication of any such credit in any prior or subsequent fiscal year).

(iv) (A) If for any reason (other than by reason of a change in the Dollar Equivalent of any Letter of Credit on any Revaluation Date) the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposures at any time exceed the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments then in effect, the Borrower shall promptly prepay or cause to be promptly prepaid Revolving Credit Loans and Swingline Loans and/or Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations in an aggregate amount equal to such excess.

(B) If, by reason of a change in the Dollar Equivalent of any Letter of Credit on any Revaluation Date, the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposures exceed 105% of the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments then in effect, the Borrower shall promptly prepay or cause to be promptly prepaid Revolving Credit Loans and/or Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations in an aggregate amount equal to such excess.

(v) Each prepayment of Term Loans pursuant to this Section  2.05(b) shall be paid to the Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares ( provided , that any prepayment of Term Loans with the Net Proceeds of Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness shall be applied solely to each applicable Class (or Classes) of Refinanced Debt), subject to clause (vi)  of this Section  2.05(b) .

(vi) The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent in writing of any mandatory prepayment of Loans (and/or Cash Collateralization of L/C Obligations) required to be made pursuant to clauses (i)  through (iv) of this Section  2.05(b) promptly, and in no event more than three Business Days, following the event giving rise to such mandatory prepayment, such written notice to be in substantially the form of Exhibit I . Each such notice shall specify the date of such prepayment and provide a reasonably detailed calculation of the amount of such prepayment. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Appropriate Lender of the contents of the Borrower’s prepayment notice and of such Appropriate Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the prepayment. 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 clause (i) , (ii) or (iii)  of this Section  2.05(b) by providing written notice (each, a “ Rejection Notice ”) to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower no later than 5:00 p.m. one Business Day prior to the proposed date of 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, any such failure will be deemed an acceptance of the total amount of such mandatory prepayment of Term Loans. If a Term Lender delivers a Rejection Notice to the Administrative Agent within the time frame specified above, but fails to specify the principal amount of the Term Loans to be rejected, such Term Lender will be deemed to reject the total amount of such mandatory prepayment. Any Declined Proceeds remaining thereafter may be retained by the Borrower and/or applied, at the discretion of the Borrower, for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by this Agreement.

 

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(vii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, mandatory prepayments to be made pursuant to Section  2.05(b)(i) or Section  2.05(b)(iii) by or with respect to Foreign Subsidiaries shall be limited to the extent that the Borrower reasonably determines that such prepayment or the obligation to make such prepayment would result in material adverse tax consequences (including any withholding tax) related to the repatriation of funds or would be prohibited, restricted or delayed by applicable law. Further, with respect to any mandatory prepayments made pursuant to Section  2.05(b)(i) or Section  2.05(b)(iii) by or with respect to Foreign Subsidiaries there will be no requirement to make any prepayment where by doing so the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries or any of their Affiliates and/or their equity partners would suffer material adverse tax consequences (including any withholding tax) as a result of upstreaming cash to make such prepayments. The non-application of any such prepayment amounts as a result of the foregoing provisions will not constitute a Default or an Event of Default and such amounts shall be available for working capital purposes of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as long as not required to be prepaid in accordance with the following provisions. The Borrower will undertake to use commercially reasonable efforts for a period not to exceed one year from the date of the event or calculation giving rise to such repatriation requirement to overcome or eliminate any such restriction and/or minimize any such costs of prepayment and/or use other cash resources of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries (subject to the considerations above and as determined in the Borrower’s reasonable business judgment) to make the relevant payment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any prepayments required after application of the above provisions shall be net of any costs, expenses or taxes incurred by the Borrower or any of its Affiliates arising as a result of the Borrower’s undertaking to use commercially reasonable efforts to overcome or eliminate restrictions as required pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence. If at any time within one year of a mandatory prepayment pursuant to Section  2.05(b)(i) or Section  2.05(b)(iii) being forgiven due to such restrictions, or such restrictions are removed, any relevant proceeds will at the end of the then current interest period be applied in prepayments in accordance with Section  2.05(b)(v) . Notwithstanding the foregoing, any prepayments made after application of the above provision shall be net of any costs, expenses or taxes incurred by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries of or any of its Affiliates or equity partners and arising as a result of compliance with the preceding sentence, and the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be permitted to make, directly or indirectly, a dividend or distribution to its Affiliates in an amount sufficient to cover such tax liability, costs or expenses.

(viii) Funding Losses, Etc . All prepayments under this Section  2.05 shall be made together with, in the case of any such prepayment of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan on a date other than the last day of an Interest Period therefor, any amounts due in respect of such Eurocurrency Rate Loan pursuant to Section  3.05 . Notwithstanding any of the other provisions of this Section  2.05(b) , so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, if any prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans is required to be made under this Section  2.05(b) , other than on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, deposit the amount of any such prepayment otherwise required to be made thereunder into a Cash Collateral Account until the last day of such Interest Period, at which time the Administrative Agent shall be authorized (without any further action by or notice to or from the Borrower or any other Loan Party) to apply such amount to the prepayment of such Loans in accordance with this Section  2.05(b) . Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, the Administrative Agent shall also be authorized (without any further action by or notice to or from the Borrower or any other Loan Party) to apply such amount to the prepayment of the outstanding Loans in accordance with this Section  2.05(b) .

SECTION 2.06. Termination or Reduction of Commitments . (a)  Optional . The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, elect to terminate the Revolving Credit Commitments, the Swingline Commitment, the Alternative Currency Sublimit or the Letter of Credit Sublimit, or from time to time permanently reduce the Revolving Credit Commitments, the Alternative Currency Sublimit or the Letter of Credit Sublimit; provided , that (i) any such notice shall be received by

 

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the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. three Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction, (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $5 million or any whole multiple of $1 million in excess thereof and (iii) the Borrower shall not elect to terminate or reduce (A) the Revolving Credit Commitments if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Total Outstandings for the Revolving Credit Facility (other than Letters of Credit that have been Cash Collateralized or otherwise subject to arrangements satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer) would exceed the Revolving Credit Commitments, (B) the Alternative Currency Sublimit if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayment or Cash Collateralization of Alternative Currency Exposure attributable to L/C Obligations, the Alternative Currency Exposure (excluding Alternative Currency Exposure attributing to Letters of Credit denominated in a Permitted Additional L/C Currency) would exceed the Alternative Currency Sublimit or (C) the Letter of Credit Sublimit if, after giving effect thereto, the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations (other than Letters of Credit that have been Cash Collateralized or otherwise subject to arrangements satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer) would exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit.

(b) Application of Commitment Reductions; Payment of Fees . The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any termination or reduction of unused portions of the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the unused Commitments of any Class under this Section  2.06 . Upon any reduction of unused Commitments of any Class, the Commitment of each Lender of such Class shall be reduced by such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the amount by which such Commitments are reduced (other than the termination of the Commitment of any Lender as provided in Section  10.13 ). All commitment fees accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Aggregate Commitments shall be paid on the effective date of such termination.

SECTION 2.07. Repayment of Loans . (a)  Term Loans . The Borrower shall repay to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the Term Lenders (i) on the last day of each March, June, September and December, beginning with the first full fiscal quarter ending after the Closing Date, and ending with the last such date to occur prior to the Maturity Date for the Term Loans, an aggregate principal amount of Term Loans equal to 0.25% of the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans made pursuant to this Agreement on the Closing Date (subject to adjustment as provided below) and (ii) on the Maturity Date for the Term Loans, the aggregate principal amount of all Term Loans outstanding on such date. All prepayments of Term Loans shall be applied to reduce the subsequent scheduled repayments of Term Loans specified in the first sentence of this paragraph as directed by the Borrower by notice to the Administrative Agent (or, absent such direction, in the direct order of maturity thereof); provided that, if any Term Loan is canceled as provided in Section 10.06(k) , then such cancellation shall be applied to reduce the subsequent scheduled repayments of Term Loans pro rata.

(b) Revolving Credit Loans . The Borrower shall repay to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the Appropriate Lenders on the Maturity Date for the Revolving Credit Facility the aggregate principal amount of all of the Borrower’s Revolving Credit Loans outstanding on such date.

(c) Swingline Loans . The Borrower shall repay to the Swingline Lender each Swingline Loan on the earlier to occur of (A) the date that is five (5) Business Days after such Loan is made and (B) the Maturity Date applicable to the Revolving Credit Facility; provided that on each date that a Revolving Credit Loan is made, the Borrower shall repay all Swingline Loans that were outstanding on the date such Borrowing was requested. Notwithstanding Section  2.05 , no notice of repayment shall be required to be given by the Borrower in respect of any such repayment of any Swingline Loan.

SECTION 2.08. Interest . (a) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.08(b) , (i) each Eurocurrency Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the Eurocurrency Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate and (ii) each Base Rate Loan (including each Swingline 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.

 

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(b) (i) If any amount of principal of any Loan is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, such overdue amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

(ii) If any amount (other than principal of any Loan) payable by the Borrower under any Loan Document is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, then such overdue amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

(iii) Accrued and unpaid interest on past due amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable upon demand.

(c) Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein. Interest hereunder shall be due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and after the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law.

SECTION 2.09. Fees . In addition to certain fees described in Sections 2.03(h) and  (i) :

(a) Commitment Fee . The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of each Revolving Credit Lender in accordance with its Pro Rata Share, a commitment fee equal to the Applicable Rate multiplied by the actual daily amount by which the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment exceeds the sum of (A) the Outstanding Amount of Revolving Credit Loans (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any outstanding Swingline 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 during the period prior to the time such Lender became a Defaulting Lender and unpaid at such time shall not be payable by the Borrower so long as such Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender except to the extent that such commitment fee shall otherwise have been due and payable by the Borrower prior to such time; and provided , further , that no commitment fee shall accrue on any of the Commitments of a Defaulting Lender so long as such Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender. The commitment fee on the Revolving Credit Facility shall accrue at all times from the Closing Date until the Maturity Date for the Revolving Credit Facility, including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Article IV is not met, and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and on the Maturity Date for the Revolving Credit Facility. The commitment fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears, and if there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the actual daily amount shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect. For purposes of determining the commitment fee applicable to any Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency (and not for any other purpose), the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations shall be determined on the basis of the Dollar Equivalent in effect on the first Business Day of each January, April, July and October and such Dollar Equivalent shall be used for determining the commitment fee with respect to each Letter of Credit which is outstanding at any time and during such calendar quarter and regardless of the issue date of such Letter of Credit.

 

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(b) Other Fees . The Borrower shall pay to the Agents such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever (except as expressly agreed between the Borrower and the applicable Agent).

SECTION 2.10. Computation of Interest and Fees . All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans determined by reference to clause (b)  of the definition of “Base Rate” 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 (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365 day year). Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid; provided , that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.12(a) , bear interest for one day. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent demonstrable error.

SECTION 2.11. Evidence of Indebtedness . (a) The Credit Extensions made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender and by the Administrative Agent in the ordinary course of business. The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be conclusive absent demonstrable error of the amount of the Credit Extensions made by the Lenders to the Borrower and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of demonstrable 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, 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.

(b) In addition to the accounts and records referred to in Section  2.11(a) , each Lender and the Administrative Agent shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice accounts or records 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 demonstrable error.

SECTION 2.12. Payments Generally . (a) Except as otherwise provided herein, including pursuant to Section 3.01 , all payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, 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 in Dollars and in Same Day Funds not later than 3:00 p.m. New York City time. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its Pro Rata Share (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s applicable Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative Agent on the due date after 3:00 p.m. New York City time shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue.

 

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(b) If any payment to be made by the Borrower shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be; provided that, if such extension would cause payment of interest on or principal of Eurocurrency Rate Loans to be made in the next succeeding calendar month, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day.

(c) (i) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed time of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section  2.02 and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing, and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans. If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such 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.

(ii) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the time at which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or an L/C Issuer hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Appropriate Lenders or the applicable L/C Issuers, as the case may be, the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Appropriate Lenders or the applicable L/C Issuers, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or such L/C Issuer, in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this clause (c)  shall be conclusive, absent demonstrable error.

(d) If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Article II , and such funds are not made available to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in Article IV 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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(e) The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Loans, to fund participations in Letters of Credit and to make payments pursuant to Section  10.04(c) are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan, to fund any such participation or to make any payment under Section  10.04(c) 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, purchase its participation or to make its payment under Section  10.04(c) .

(f) Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner.

(g) Except as otherwise provided herein, 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 . If the Administrative Agent receives funds for application to the Obligations of the Loan Parties under or in respect of the Loan Documents under circumstances for which the Loan Documents do not specify the manner in which such funds are to be applied, the Administrative Agent may (to the fullest extent permitted by mandatory provisions of applicable Law), but shall not be obligated to, elect to distribute such funds to each of the Lenders in accordance with such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the sum of (a) the Outstanding Amount of all Loans outstanding at such time and (b) the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations outstanding at such time, in repayment or prepayment of such of the outstanding Loans or other Obligations then owing to such Lender.

SECTION 2.13. Sharing of Payments . Subject to Section 2.05(b)(vi) , if any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of (a) Obligations due and payable to such Lender hereunder and under the other Loan Documents at such time in excess of its ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such Obligations due and payable to such Lender at such time to (ii) the aggregate amount of the Obligations due and payable to all Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents at such time) of payments on account of the Obligations due and payable to all Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents at such time obtained by all the Lenders at such time or (b) Obligations owing (but not due and payable) to such Lender hereunder and under the other Loan Documents at such time in excess of its ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such Obligations owing (but not due and payable) to such Lender at such time to (ii) the aggregate amount of the Obligations owing (but not due and payable) to all Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Parties at such time) of payment on account of the Obligations owing (but not due and payable) to all Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents at such time obtained by all of the Lenders at such time then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans and subparticipations in L/C Obligations and Swingline Exposure of the other Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of Obligations then due and payable to the Lenders or owing (but not due and payable) to the Lenders, as the case may be; provided that:

(i) if any such participations or subparticipations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations or subparticipations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest; and

 

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(ii) the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to (x) any payment made by or on behalf of the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement (including the application of funds arising from the existence of a Defaulting Lender), (y) the application of Cash Collateral provided for in Section  2.17 , or (z) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or subparticipations in L/C Obligations to any assignee or participant, other than an assignment (except an assignment permitted by Section  10.06(i) ) to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (as to which the provisions of this Section shall apply).

Each Loan Party consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against such Loan Party rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of such Loan Party in the amount of such participation.

SECTION 2.14. Incremental Credit Extensions . (a) The Borrower may, at any time or from time to time after the Closing Date, by notice to the Administrative Agent (whereupon the Administrative Agent shall promptly deliver a copy to each of the Lenders), request (i) one or more additional tranches of term loans (the “ Incremental Term Loans ”) or (ii) increase the amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments (such increase, a “ Revolving Credit Commitment Increase ” and, together with the Incremental Term Loans, the “ Incremental Extensions of Credit ”); provided , that upon the effectiveness of any Incremental Amendment referred to below and at the time that any such Incremental Extension of Credit is made (and after giving effect thereto), subject to Section 2.14(d) , (i) subject to Section 1.12 , no Default or Event of Default shall exist and (ii) the Borrower shall be in Pro Forma Compliance with the financial covenant in Section 7.08 (whether or not then required to be tested). Each Incremental Extension of Credit shall be in an aggregate principal amount that is not less than $25 million ( provided , that such amount may be less than $25 million if such amount represents all remaining availability under the limit set forth in the next sentence or if the Administrative Agent consents to such lesser amount). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the aggregate amount of all Incremental Extensions of Credit (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, those established in respect of Extended Term Loans or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments pursuant to Section 2.16 ) shall not exceed the Maximum Incremental Extension of Credit Amount.

(b) Subject to Section  1.12 , the effectiveness of any Incremental Amendment (as defined below) shall be subject to each of the conditions set forth in Section  4.02 and such further conditions as the Borrower and the applicable Lenders and Additional Lenders shall agree; provided that (i) such Incremental Extensions of Credit shall rank pari passu or junior in right of payment and of security with the Revolving Credit Loans and the Term Loans, (ii) such Incremental Term Loans shall not mature earlier than the Maturity Date with respect to the Term Loans, (iii) such Incremental Term Loans shall not have a shorter Weighted Average Life to Maturity than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Term Loans, (iv) such Incremental Term Loans shall be entitled to share in mandatory and voluntary prepayments on a ratable (or less than ratable, but in no event greater than ratable) basis with the Term Loans, and (v) such Incremental Term Loans shall bear interest at rates and be entitled to upfront fees as shall be determined by the Borrower and the applicable new Lenders; provided , however, that if the All-In Yield with respect to any such Incremental Term Loans incurred prior to the date that is 18 months after the Closing Date shall exceed the All-In Yield with respect to the Term Loans by more than 50 basis points, then the interest rate margins applicable to the Term Loans shall be increased so that such excess shall be only 50 basis points. Any Revolving Credit Commitment Increase shall be on the exact same terms and pursuant to the same documentation applicable to the Revolving Credit Facility and Incremental Term Loans shall otherwise be on terms and pursuant to documentation to be determined by the Borrower; provided that, to the extent such terms and documentation are not consistent with the Term Loans with respect to periods on or prior to the Maturity Date thereof (except to the extent permitted by

 

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clauses (i)  through (v) above), they shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (it being understood to the extent that any financial maintenance covenant is added or a restrictive covenant is made more restrictive for the benefit of any Incremental Term Loans, no consent shall be required from the Administrative Agent or any Lender to the extent that such financial maintenance covenant is also added or similarly made more restrictive for the benefit of any corresponding existing Term Loans or is made applicable only after the Maturity Date of the Term Loans) and subject to clauses (ii)  and (iii) above, the amortization schedule (if any) applicable to the Incremental Term Loans shall be determined by the Borrower and the Lenders thereof.

(c) Each notice from the Borrower pursuant to this Section  2.14 shall set forth the requested amount and proposed terms of the relevant Incremental Extension of Credit. Incremental Term Loans may be made by, and Revolving Credit Commitment Increase may be provided by, any existing Lender or by any other bank or other financial institution (any such other bank or other financial institution being called an “ Additional Lender ”); provided , that the Administrative Agent shall have consented (with such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) to such Additional Lender’s making such Incremental Term Loans or providing such Revolving Credit Commitment Increases if such consent would be required under Section  10.06(b) for an assignment of Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, to such Additional Lender. Commitments in respect of Incremental Term Loans and Revolving Credit Commitment Increases shall become Commitments under this Agreement (or in the case of a Revolving Credit Commitment Increase to be provided by an existing Revolving Credit Lender, an increase to such Lender’s applicable Revolving Credit Commitment) pursuant to an amendment (an “ Incremental Amendment ”) to this Agreement and, as appropriate, the other Loan Documents, executed by the Borrower, each Lender agreeing to provide such Commitment, if any, each Additional Lender, if any, and the Administrative Agent. The Incremental Amendment shall, without the consent of the Agents or the 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  2.14 . The Borrower may use the proceeds of the Incremental Term Loans or Revolving Credit Commitment Increases, as applicable, for any purpose not prohibited by this Agreement. No Lender shall be obligated to provide any Incremental Term Loans or Revolving Credit Commitment Increases, unless it so agrees.

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section  2.14 or in Article IV or otherwise in this Agreement, so long as no Event of Default has occurred pursuant to Section  8.01(a) or (f) , the lenders providing any Incremental Extension of Credit in connection with a Permitted Acquisition may agree to modify the conditionality with respect to such Incremental Extension of Credit such that the Permitted Acquisition may be consummated on a “certain funds” basis.

(e) The effectiveness of any Incremental Amendment shall be subject to, if requested by the Administrative Agent, receipt by the Administrative Agent of (i) customary legal opinions, board resolutions and officers’ certificates consistent with those delivered on the Closing Date (conformed as appropriate, including to reflect any Incremental Extension of Credit provided on a “certain funds” basis) and (ii) reaffirmation agreements and/or such amendments to the Collateral Documents as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent in order to ensure that such Incremental Extensions of Credit are provided with the benefit of the applicable Loan Documents.

(f) Upon each increase in the Revolving Credit Commitments pursuant to this Section  2.14 , (i) each Revolving Credit Lender immediately prior to such increase will automatically and without further act be deemed to have assigned to each Lender providing a portion of the Revolving Credit Commitment Increase (each, a “ Revolving Commitment Increase Lender ”) in respect of such increase, and each such Revolving Commitment Increase Lender will automatically and without further act be deemed to have assumed, a portion of such Revolving Credit Lender’s participations hereunder in

 

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outstanding Letters of Credit such that, after giving effect to such deemed assignment and assumption of participations, the percentage of the aggregate outstanding participations hereunder in Letters of Credit held by each Revolving Credit Lender (including each such Revolving Commitment Increase Lender) will equal the percentage of the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments of all Revolving Credit Lenders represented by such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment and (ii) if on the date of such increase, there are any Revolving Credit Loans outstanding, such Revolving Credit Loans shall on or prior to the effectiveness of such Revolving Credit Commitment Increase be prepaid from the proceeds of additional Revolving Credit Loans made hereunder (reflecting such increase in Revolving Credit Commitments), which prepayment shall be accompanied by accrued interest on the Revolving Credit Loans being prepaid. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereby agree that the minimum borrowing, pro rata borrowing and pro rata payment requirements contained elsewhere in this Agreement shall not apply to the transactions effected pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence.

(g) This Section  2.14 shall supersede any provisions in Section  2.13 or 10.01 to the contrary.

SECTION 2.15. Refinancing Amendments . (a) On one or more occasions after the Closing Date, the Borrower may obtain, from any Lender or any Additional Refinancing Lender, Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of all or any portion of (x) the Term Loans then outstanding under this Agreement, in the form of Other Term Loans or Other Term Loan Commitments or (y) the Revolving Credit Loans (or unused Revolving Credit Commitments) under this Agreement, in the form of Other Revolving Credit Loans or Other Revolving Credit Commitments, in each case pursuant to a Refinancing Amendment. The effectiveness of any Refinancing Amendment shall be subject to the satisfaction on the date thereof of each of the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not require compliance with Section 7.08 for any incurrence of Other Term Loans) and, to the extent reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, receipt by the Administrative Agent of (i) customary legal opinions, board resolutions and officers’ certificates consistent with those delivered on the Closing Date (conformed as appropriate) and (ii) reaffirmation agreements and/or such amendments to the Collateral Documents as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent in order to ensure that such Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness is provided with the benefit of the applicable Loan Documents.

(b) Each issuance of Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness under Section  2.15(a) shall be in an aggregate principal amount that is (i) $25 million or an integral multiple of $5 million in excess thereof, unless the Administrative Agent shall otherwise agree in its discretion, (ii) in the case of a refinancing of all Term Loans of a particular Class, such other amount as shall be necessary to refinance all Term Loans of such Class, or (iii) in the case of a refinancing of all Revolving Credit Loans of a particular Class, such other amount as shall be necessary to refinance all Revolving Credit Loans of such Class.

(c) Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that this Agreement and the other Loan Documents may be amended pursuant to a Refinancing Amendment, without the consent of any other Lenders, to the extent (but only to the extent) necessary to (i) reflect the existence and terms of the Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness incurred pursuant thereto, including without limitation to (x) incorporate the applicable lenders in respect of Other Term Loans as “Lenders”, and the Other Term Loans as “Loans” and/or “Term Loans”, for all applicable purposes hereunder, including the definitions of Required Lenders and Required Class Lenders and to establish any tranche of Other Term Loans as an independent Class or Facility, as applicable, and (y) incorporate the applicable lenders in respect of Other Revolving Credit Loans as “Lenders”, and the Other Revolving Credit Loans as “Loans” and/or “Revolving Credit Loans”, for all applicable purposes hereunder, including the definitions of Required Lenders and Required Class Lenders and to establish any tranche of Other Revolving Credit Loans as an

 

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independent Class or Facility, as applicable and (ii) effect such other amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to effect the provisions of this Section  2.15 , and the Lenders hereby expressly authorize the Administrative Agent to enter into any such Refinancing Amendment, which shall not, for the avoidance of doubt be subject to Section  10.01 .

SECTION 2.16. Extension Offers . (a) Pursuant to one or more offers made from time to time by the Borrower to all Term Lenders of a particular Class by notice to the Administrative Agent, on a pro rata basis (based on the aggregate outstanding Term Loans of such Class) and on the same terms (“ Term Extension Offers ”), the Borrower is hereby permitted to consummate transactions with individual Term Lenders from time to time to extend the maturity date of such Lender’s Term Loans and to otherwise modify the terms of such Lender’s Term Loans pursuant to the terms of the relevant Term Extension Offer (including increasing the interest rate or fees payable in respect of such Lender’s Term Loans and/or modifying the amortization schedule (if any) in respect of such Lender’s Term Loans). Pursuant to one or more offers made from time to time by the Borrower to all Revolving Credit Lenders by notice to the Administrative Agent, on a pro rata basis (based on the aggregate outstanding Revolving Credit Commitments) and on the same terms (“ Revolving Extension Offers ” and, together with Term Extension Offers, “ Extension Offers ”), the Borrower is hereby permitted to consummate transactions with individual Revolving Credit Lenders from time to time to extend the maturity date of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitments and to otherwise modify the terms of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitments pursuant to the terms of the relevant Revolving Extension Offer (including increasing the interest rate or fees payable in respect of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitments). For the avoidance of doubt, the reference to “on the same terms” in the preceding sentences shall mean, (i) when comparing Term Extension Offers, that the Term Loans are offered to be extended for the same amount of time and that the interest rate changes and fees payable in respect thereto are the same and (ii) when comparing Revolving Extension Offers, that the Revolving Credit Commitments are offered to be extended for the same amount of time and that the interest rate changes and fees payable in respect thereto are the same. Any such extension (an “ Extension ”) agreed to between the Borrower and any such Lender (an “ Extending Lender ”) will be established under this Agreement pursuant to a Loan Extension Agreement (any such extended Term Loan, an “ Extended Term Loan ” and any such extended Revolving Credit Commitment, an “ Extended Revolving Credit Commitment ”).

(b) The Borrower and each Extending Lender shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a Loan Extension Agreement and such other documentation as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably specify to evidence the Extended Term Loans and/or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments of such Extending Lender. Each Loan Extension Agreement shall specify the terms of the applicable Extended Term Loans and/or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments; provided , that (i) except as to interest rates, fees, amortization, final maturity date, collateral arrangements and voluntary and mandatory prepayment arrangements (which shall, subject to clauses (ii)  and (iii) of this proviso, be determined by the Borrower and set forth in the Extension Offer), the Extended Term Loans shall have (x) the same terms as the Term Loans being extended, or (y) such other terms as shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (ii) the final maturity date of any Extended Term Loans shall be no earlier than the Maturity Date for the Term Loans being extended, (iii) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any Extended Term Loans shall be no shorter than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Term Loans being extended and (iv) except as to interest rates, fees, final maturity, collateral arrangements and voluntary and mandatory prepayment arrangements, any Extended Revolving Credit Commitment shall be a Revolving Credit Commitment with the same terms as the Revolving Credit Commitments being extended. Upon the effectiveness of any Loan Extension Agreement, this Agreement shall be amended to the extent necessary to reflect the existence and terms of the Extended Term Loans and/or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments evidenced thereby and other changes necessary to preserve the intent of this Agreement without the consent of any other Lender and without

 

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regard to Section  10.01 , including without limitation to incorporate the Extending Lenders as “Lenders”, and the Extended Term Loans and Extended Revolving Credit Commitments as “Loans” and/or “Term Loans” and/or Commitments, for all applicable purposes hereunder, including the definitions of Required Lenders and Required Class Lenders and to establish any tranche of Extended Term Loans or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments as an independent Class or Facility, as applicable. Any such deemed amendment may, at the Borrower’s or the Administrative Agent’s request, be memorialized in writing by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower and furnished to the other parties hereto.

(c) Upon the effectiveness of any such Extension, the applicable Extending Lender’s Term Loan will be automatically designated an Extended Term Loan and/or such Extending Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment will be automatically designated an Extended Revolving Credit Commitment. For the avoidance of doubt, the commitments and obligations of L/C Issuer in respect of its L/C Commitment can only be extended pursuant to an Extension or otherwise with such Person’s consent.

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement or any other Loan Document (including this Section  2.16 ), (i) no Extended Term Loan or Extended Revolving Credit Commitment is required to be in any minimum amount or any minimum increment; provided , that the aggregate amount of Extended Term Loans or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments for any new Class of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments made in connection with any Extension Offer shall be at least $25 million (or such lesser amount as shall equal the entire amount of outstanding Term Loans of any Class or Revolving Credit Commitments of any Class, as applicable, being extended), (ii) any Extending Lender may extend all or any portion of its Term Loans and/or Revolving Credit Commitment pursuant to one or more Extension Offers (subject to applicable proration in the case of over participation) (including the extension of any Extended Term Loan and/or Extended Revolving Credit Commitment), (iii) there shall be no condition to any Extension of any Loan or Revolving Credit Commitment at any time or from time to time other than notice to the Administrative Agent of such Extension, any conditions set forth in the applicable Extension Offer and the terms of the Extended Term Loan or Extended Revolving Credit Commitment implemented thereby, (iv) the interest rate limitations referred to in the proviso to clause (v)  of Section  2.14(b) shall not be implicated by any Extension, (v) all obligations in respect of Extended Term Loans and Extended Revolving Credit Commitments shall be Obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents that are secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with all other Obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and (vi) no Lender shall have any obligation to extend the maturity date or otherwise modify the terms of its Term Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments pursuant to any Extension Offers made by the Borrower hereunder.

(e) Each extension shall be consummated pursuant to procedures set forth in the associated Extension Offer; provided , that the Borrower shall cooperate with the Administrative Agent prior to making any Extension Offer to establish reasonable procedures with respect to mechanical provisions relating to such Extension, including timing, rounding and other adjustments.

SECTION 2.17. Defaulting Lenders . (a)  Reallocation of Participations to Reduce Fronting Exposure . All or any part of a Defaulting Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations or Swingline Loans shall be reallocated among the Non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages (calculated without regard to such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment) but only to the extent that (x) the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 are satisfied at the time of such reallocation (and, unless the Borrower shall have otherwise notified the Administrative Agent at such time, the Borrower shall be deemed to have represented and warranted that such conditions are satisfied at such time), and (y) such reallocation does not cause the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure of any Non-Defaulting Lender to exceed such Non-Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment. Subject

 

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to Section  10.23 , no reallocation hereunder shall constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder against a Defaulting Lender arising from that Lender having become a Defaulting Lender, including any claim of a Non-Defaulting Lender as a result of such Non-Defaulting Lender’s increased exposure following such reallocation.

(b) Cash Collateral . If the reallocation described in Section  2.17(a) cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrower shall, without prejudice to any right or remedy available to it hereunder or under law, Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuers’ and the Swingline Lender’s Fronting Exposure in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section  2.03(g) .

(c) New Letters of Credit . Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, so long as any Revolving Credit Lender is a Defaulting Lender, no L/C Issuer shall be required to issue, extend, renew or increase any Letter of Credit unless it is satisfied that it will have no Fronting Exposure after giving effect thereto.

(d) Defaulting Lender Cure . If the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender and each L/C Issuer agree in writing that a Lender is no longer 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 at par 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 Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans to be held pro rata by the Lenders in accordance with the Commitments under the applicable Facility (without giving effect to Section  2.17(a) ), whereupon such 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 such Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided , further , that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender and each L/C Issuer, no notice given pursuant to this Section  2.17(d) that such Lender has ceased to be a Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from such Lender having been a Defaulting Lender.

SECTION 2.18. MIRE Events . Prior to the occurrence of a MIRE Event, the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent (and authorize the Administrative Agent to provide to the Revolving Credit Lenders) the following documents in respect of any Mortgage (if any): (a) a flood hazard determination from a third party vendor; (b) if such real property is so determined to be located in a “special flood hazard area”, (i) a notification to the Administrative Agent of that fact and (if applicable) notification to the Administrative Agent that flood insurance is not available through the National Flood Insurance Program; and (c) if required by Flood Laws, evidence of required flood insurance.

ARTICLE III

TAXES, INCREASED COSTS PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

SECTION 3.01. Taxes . (a) Any and all payments by any Loan Party to or for the account of any Recipient under any Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by applicable Law. If any Withholding Agent shall be required by any applicable Law to deduct or withhold any Taxes from or in respect of any such payment, (i) the applicable Withholding Agent shall be entitled to make such deductions or withholdings, (ii) the applicable Withholding Agent shall pay the full amount so deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Law, (iii) as soon as practicable after the date of such payment, if the Borrower or the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor is the Withholding Agent, such

 

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Withholding Agent shall furnish to the Administrative Agent the original or a copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof, a copy of the tax return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and (iv) if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, the sum payable by the applicable Loan Party shall be increased as necessary so that after all required deductions or withholdings have been made (including deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section  3.01(a) ), the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions or withholdings been made.

(b) In addition, the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors agree to pay any and all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, mortgage recording or similar Taxes which arise from any payment made under any Loan Document or from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, excluding any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed as a result of an assignment by a Lender (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section  10.13 ) (hereinafter referred to as “ Other Taxes ”) to the relevant Governmental Authority, in accordance with applicable Law.

(c) Each of the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors agrees to, jointly and severally, indemnify each Recipient, within 10 Business Days after written demand therefor, for (i) the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes imposed on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section  3.01 ) payable by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability prepared in good faith and delivered to the Borrower by a Lender or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender shall be conclusive absent demonstrable error.

(d) Status of Lenders . 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 such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by any 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 the rate of, any applicable 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 any Laws or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Loan Parties or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Each Lender shall, whenever any such documentation (including any specific documentation required below in this Section  3.01(d) ) becomes obsolete, expired or inaccurate in any 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 the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal ineligibility to do so.

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:

(i) Each U.S. Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or before the date on which it becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent) two properly completed and duly executed copies of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding;

 

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(ii) Each Foreign Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the Borrower or Administrative Agent) on or before the date on which it becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent) whichever of the following is applicable:

(A) two properly completed and duly executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN-E or W-8BEN (or any successor form) claiming eligibility for the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party and such other documentation as required under the Code,

(B) two properly completed and duly executed copies of IRS Form W-8ECI (or any successor form),

(C) 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 executed certificates substantially in the form of Exhibit G-1 (any such certificate, a “ United States Tax Compliance Certificate ”) and (B) two properly completed and duly executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN-E or W-8BEN (or any successor form), or

(D) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, two properly completed and duly executed copies of IRS Form W-8IMY (or any successor form), accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, United States Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G-2 or Exhibit G-3 , IRS Form W-9, IRS Form W-8IMY (or any successor form) and/or any other required information, certification or documentation from each beneficial owner, as applicable ( provided , that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership (and not a participating Lender) and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a United States Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G-4 on behalf of such direct or indirect partner (or partners));

(iii) Any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), two properly completed and duly executed copies of any other form prescribed by applicable Laws (including the Treasury Regulations) as a basis for claiming a complete exemption from, or a reduction in, United States federal withholding tax on any payments to such Lender under the Loan Documents, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable Law (including the Treasury Regulations) to permit any Loan Party or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and

(iv) If a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in 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 any Loan Party and the Administrative

 

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Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA, to determine whether such Lender has or has not complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount, if any, to deduct and withhold from such payment. For purposes of this clause (iv) , “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement and any intergovernmental agreement or similar agreement intended to facilitate compliance with, or otherwise related to FATCA.

(e) Any Lender claiming any additional amounts payable pursuant to this Section  3.01 or 3.04(a) shall use its reasonable efforts to change the jurisdiction of its Lending Office if such a change would reduce any such additional amounts in the future and would not, in the sole good faith determination of such Lender, result in any unreimbursed cost or expense or be otherwise materially disadvantageous to such Lender.

(f) If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith that it has received a refund in respect of any Taxes as to which indemnification or additional amounts have been paid to it pursuant to this Section  3.01 , it shall promptly remit to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made or additional amounts paid under this Section  3.01 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of such indemnified party (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 such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party, agrees to promptly repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over to it pursuant to the above provisions of this Section  3.01(f) ( plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority), in the event such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to the relevant Governmental Authority.

(g) For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Section  3.01 , the term “Lender” shall include any L/C Issuer and the term “applicable Law” shall include FATCA.

SECTION 3.02. Illegality . If any Lender determines in good faith in its reasonable discretion that any 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 Eurocurrency Rate, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurocurrency 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 notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, (i) any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Eurocurrency Rate Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be suspended, and (ii) 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 Eurocurrency 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 determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Eurocurrency 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, (x) the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) convert all Eurocurrency 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 Eurocurrency 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 Eurocurrency Rate Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurocurrency Rate Loans and (y) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon the Eurocurrency Rate, the Administrative Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute the Base Rate applicable to

 

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such Lender without reference to the Eurocurrency 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 Eurocurrency 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 . (a) If in connection with any request for a Eurocurrency Rate Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof (a) the Administrative Agent determines that (i) deposits in the relevant currency are not being offered to banks in the London interbank eurocurrency market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Eurocurrency Rate Loan or (ii) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the Eurocurrency Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurocurrency Rate Loan or in connection with an existing or proposed Base Rate Loan, or (b) the Required Lenders determine that for any reason the Eurocurrency Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurocurrency 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, (x) the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Eurocurrency Rate Loans (or, if applicable, Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in the affected currency) shall be suspended (to the extent of the affected Eurocurrency Rate Loans or Interest Periods), and (y) in the event of a determination described in the preceding sentence with respect to the Eurocurrency Rate component of the Base Rate, the utilization of the Eurocurrency 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 Eurocurrency Rate Loans (to the extent of the affected Eurocurrency Rate Loans or Interest Periods) or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein.

(b) If at any time the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that (i) the circumstances set forth in clause (a)(ii) above have arisen and such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary or (ii) the circumstances set forth in clause (a)(ii) above have not arisen but the supervisory for the administrator of LIBOR or a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which LIBOR shall no longer be used for determining interest rates for loans, then the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall endeavor to establish an alternate rate of interest to LIBOR that gives due consideration to the then prevailing market convention for determining a rate of interest for syndicated loans in the United States at such time, and shall enter into an amendment to this Agreement to reflect such alternate rate of interest and such other related changes to this Agreement as may be applicable (but for the avoidance of doubt, such related changes shall not include a reduction in the Applicable Rate). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section  10.01 , such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement so long as the Administrative Agent shall not have received, within five (5) Business Days of the date notice of such alternate rate of interest is provided to the Lenders, a written notice from the Required Lenders stating that such Required Lenders object to such amendment. From and after the making of a determination described in the first sentence of this Section  3.03(b) until an alternate rate of interest shall be determined in accordance with this clause (b) (but, in the case of the circumstances described in clause (ii)  of the first sentence of this Section  3.03(b) , only to the extent LIBOR for the applicable currency and/or such Interest Period is not available or published at such time on a current basis), any Committed Loan Notice that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Eurocurrency Rate Loan shall be ineffective.

 

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SECTION 3.04. Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy . (a)  Increased Costs Generally . If any Change in Law shall:

(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender (except any reserve requirement with respect to Eurocurrency Rate Loans as are reflected in the definition of “Eurocurrency Rate”) or any L/C Issuer;

(ii) subject any Recipient or any L/C Issuer to any Tax of any kind whatsoever with respect to this Agreement, any Letter of Credit, any participation in a Letter of Credit or Swingline Loan or any Loan made by it, or change the basis of taxation of payments to such Recipient or such L/C Issuer in respect thereof (except for (i) Indemnified Taxes and (ii) Excluded Taxes); or

(iii) impose on any Lender or any L/C Issuer or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or Eurocurrency Rate Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein;

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 Eurocurrency Rate (or, in the case of clause (ii)  above, any Loan), or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan, or to increase the cost to such Lender or such L/C Issuer of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its obligation to participate in or to issue any Letter of Credit), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or such L/C Issuer hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender or such L/C Issuer, the Borrower will pay to such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered, to the extent such compensation is sought by such Lender or L/C Issuer from similarly situated borrowers.

(b) Capital Requirements . If any Lender or any L/C Issuer determines in good faith in its reasonable discretion that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or L/C Issuer or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s holding company, if any, regarding capital or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer, to a level below that which such Lender or such L/C Issuer or such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy or liquidity), then, to the extent such compensation is sought by such Lender or L/C Issuer from similarly situated borrowers, the Borrower, upon request of such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, will pay to such Lender or such L/C Issuer such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such L/C Issuer or such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

(c) Certificates for Reimbursement . A certificate of a Lender or an L/C Issuer setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or such L/C Issuer or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in clause (a)  or (b) of this Section and delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive absent demonstrable error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 Business Days after receipt thereof.

 

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SECTION 3.05. Funding Losses . Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Borrower shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense (other than loss of margin) actually incurred by it as a result of:

(a) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Eurocurrency Rate Loan of the Borrower on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan;

(b) any failure by the Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Eurocurrency Rate Loan of the Borrower on the date or in the amount notified by the Borrower; or

(c) any assignment of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section  10.13 ;

including the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest which would have accrued on the principal amount of such Loan had such event not occurred, at the Eurocurrency Rate that would have been applicable to such Loan, for the period from the date of such event to the last day of the then current Interest Period therefor (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or continue, for the period that would have been the Interest Period for such Loan), over (ii) the amount of interest which would accrue on such principal amount for such period at the interest rate which such Lender would bid were it to bid, at the commencement of such period, for deposits in the relevant currency and of a comparable amount and period from other banks in the eurodollar market.

SECTION 3.06. Matters Applicable to All Requests for Compensation . (a) Except with respect to any requests for compensation or indemnification under Section 3.01 (requests for which shall be governed by Section 3.01(c)) , any L/C Issuer or any Lender claiming compensation under this Article III shall deliver a certificate to the Borrower setting forth the additional amount or amounts to be paid to it hereunder which shall be conclusive in the absence of demonstrable error. In determining such amount, such L/C Issuer or such Lender may use any reasonable averaging and attribution methods.

(b) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or any L/C Issuer to demand compensation pursuant to Section  3.01 or 3.04 shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or any L/C Issuer’s right to demand such compensation; provided , that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate such Lender for any amount incurred more than 180 days prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of the event that gives rise to such claim; provided that, if the event giving rise to such claim has retroactive effect, then such 180 day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof. If any Lender requests compensation by the Borrower under Section  3.04 , the Borrower may, by notice to such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), suspend the obligation of such Lender to make or continue from one Interest Period to another applicable Eurocurrency Rate Loans, or, if applicable, to convert Base Rate Loans into Eurocurrency Rate Loans, until the event or condition giving rise to such request ceases to be in effect (in which case the provisions of Section  3.06(c) shall be applicable); provided , that such suspension shall not affect the right of such Lender to receive the compensation so requested and shall not apply to other Lenders.

(c) If the obligation of any Lender to make or continue any Eurocurrency Rate Loan, or to convert Base Rate Loans into Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be suspended (i) pursuant to Section  3.06(b) hereof, such Lender’s applicable Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be automatically converted into Base Rate Loans on the last day (or days) of the then current Interest Period (or Interest Periods) for such Eurocurrency Rate Loans or (ii) pursuant to Section  3.02 or 3.06(b) hereof, unless and until such Lender gives notice as provided below that the circumstances specified in Section  3.02 or 3.04 hereof that gave rise to such conversion no longer exist:

 

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(i) to the extent that such Lender’s Eurocurrency Rate Loans have been converted to Base Rate Loans, all payments and prepayments of principal that would otherwise be applied to such Lender’s applicable Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be applied instead to its Base Rate Loans; and

(ii) all Loans that would otherwise be made or continued from one Interest Period to another by such Lender as Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be made or continued instead as Base Rate Loans, and all Base Rate Loans of such Lender that would otherwise be converted into Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall remain as Base Rate Loans.

(d) If any Lender gives notice to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) that the circumstances specified in Section  3.02 , 3.03 or 3.04 hereof that gave rise to the conversion of any of such Lender’s Eurocurrency Rate Loans pursuant to Section  3.02 or 3.03 this Section  3.06 no longer exist (which such Lender agrees to do promptly upon such circumstances ceasing to exist) at a time when Eurocurrency Rate Loans made by other Lenders under the applicable Facility are outstanding, if applicable, such Lender’s Base Rate Loans shall be automatically converted, on the first (1st) day (or days) of the next succeeding Interest Period (or Interest Periods) for such outstanding Eurocurrency Rate Loans, to the extent necessary so that, after giving effect thereto, all Loans held by the Lenders holding Eurocurrency Rate Loans under such Facility and by such Lender are held pro rata (as to principal amounts, interest rate basis, and Interest Periods) in accordance with their respective outstanding Loans under the applicable Facility.

SECTION 3.07. Replacement of Lenders under Certain Circumstances . (a)  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, any L/C Issuer, or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender or any L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 3.01 , or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02 , then such Lender or such L/C Issuer shall, as applicable, use reasonable efforts to designate a different Lending Office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender or such L/C Issuer, such designation or assignment (i) 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 (ii) in each case, would not subject such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be materially disadvantageous to such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender or any L/C Issuer in connection with any such designation or assignment.

(b) Replacement of Lenders . If any Lender gives a notice under Section  3.02 or requests compensation under Section  3.04 , or if 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 , the Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with Section  10.13 .

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, resignation of the Administrative Agent and any assignment of rights by, or replacement of, a Lender or L/C Issuer.

 

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ARTICLE IV

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS

SECTION 4.01. Conditions to the Initial Credit Extensions . The obligation of each L/C Issuer and each Lender to make its initial Credit Extension hereunder is subject to satisfaction or waiver of the following conditions precedent:

(a) (i) The Senior Notes shall have been (or, substantially simultaneously with the initial Credit Extension hereunder, shall be) issued in an amount of $1,400 million and (ii) the Equity Contribution shall have been (or, substantially simultaneously with the initial Credit Extension hereunder, shall be) consummated in an amount of not less than $650 million.

(b) The Acquisition shall have been consummated, or substantially simultaneously with the initial Credit Extension hereunder shall be consummated, in all material respects in accordance the terms of the Merger Agreement (and no provision of the Merger Agreement shall have been waived, amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (including any consents thereunder) in a manner material and adverse to the Lenders or the Arrangers without the consent of the Arrangers (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned)).

(c) The Administrative Agent shall have received reasonably satisfactory evidence that the Refinancing has been consummated or, substantially simultaneously with initial Credit Extension hereunder shall be consummated, and after giving effect to the Acquisition, Refinancing and other transactions contemplated hereby, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries have not have any Indebtedness outstanding other than Permitted Indebtedness.

(d) The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party (in the case of items required to be executed on behalf of a Loan Party), each dated the Closing Date or, in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before the Closing Date, and each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:

(i) counterparts of this Agreement executed by a Responsible Officer of each Loan Party and by each of the other parties to this Agreement;

(ii) (A) the Audited Financial Statements; (B) the Quarterly Financial Statements (if any); and (C) the Pro Forma Balance Sheet, in each case, which the Administrative Agent shall promptly deliver to any requesting Lender;

(iii) a Note executed by the Borrower in favor of each Lender that shall have requested a Note not less than three Business Days prior to the Closing Date;

(iv) a security agreement, in substantially the form of Exhibit E hereto (together with each security agreement supplement delivered pursuant to Section  6.11 , in each case as amended, the “ Security Agreement ”), duly executed by each Loan Party, together with:

(A) certificates and instruments representing the applicable Collateral referred to therein (to the extent required by the terms of the Security Agreement to be delivered to the Collateral Agent) accompanied by undated stock powers or instruments of transfer executed in blank;

 

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(B) financing statements in form appropriate for filing under the Uniform Commercial Code of all jurisdictions that the Administrative Agent may deem necessary or desirable in order to perfect the Liens created under the Security Agreement, covering the Collateral described in the Security Agreement;

(C) copies of such lien searches, or equivalent reports or searches, each of a recent date listing all effective financing statements, lien notices or comparable documents (together with copies of such financing statements and documents) with respect to the Loan Parties that the Administrative Agent reasonably deems necessary or appropriate, none of which shall disclose Liens on the Collateral covered or intended to be covered by the Collateral Documents (other than Permitted Liens), it being understood that such searches shall be conducted by the Administrative Agent or its counsel, and the Borrower shall not be required to conduct such searches;

(D) a Perfection Certificate duly executed by the Borrower; and

(E) a Copyright Security Agreement, Patent Security Agreement and Trademark Security Agreement (as each such term is defined in the Security Agreement) (together with each other intellectual property security agreement delivered pursuant to Section  6.11 , in each case as amended or supplemented, the “ Intellectual Property Security Agreements ”), duly executed by each applicable Loan Party;

provided , however , that it is understood that (other than the grant and perfection of security interests (x) in assets with respect to which a Lien may be perfected by the filing of a financing statement under the UCC or (y) in Equity Interests with respect to which a Lien may be perfected by delivery of a stock (or equivalent) and related executed, undated transfer power (limited, in the case of Subsidiaries of the Target, after the Borrower uses its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain such certificates, to those certificates and related, executed, undated transfer powers that have been provided by the Target on the Closing Date)) each of the requirements set forth in clause (iv)  above shall not constitute conditions precedent to any Credit Extension on the Closing Date after the Borrower’s use of commercially reasonable efforts to provide such items on or prior to the Closing Date, but shall be required to be delivered and/or perfected after the Closing Date pursuant to Section  6.13 ;

(v) such certifications of resolutions or other action and incumbency certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer 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;

(vi) such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that each Loan Party is duly organized or formed;

(vii) favorable opinions of each of (A) Cooley LLP and (B) Nyemaster Goode, P.C., counsel to the Loan Parties and, in each case addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender;

(viii) a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying that the conditions specified in Section  4.01(e) , Section  4.01(f) and Section  4.01(g) have been satisfied;

 

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(ix) a certificate attesting to the Solvency of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a combined basis after giving effect to the Transactions, from the Borrower’s chief financial officer, substantially in the form of Exhibit H hereto; and

(x) at least three Business Days prior to the Closing Date, all documentation and other information required by regulatory authorities with respect to the Loan Parties reasonably requested by the Lenders at least 10 Business Days prior to the Closing Date under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA Patriot Act, which documentation and other information the Administrative Agent shall promptly deliver to any requesting Lender.

(e) A Company Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Merger Agreement as in effect on November 26, 2017) has not occurred.

(f) The representations and warranties made by or with respect to the Target in the Merger Agreement that are material to the interests of the Lenders shall be true and correct in all material respects (or, to the extent that such representations and warranties are qualified by materiality, material adverse effect or similar language, they shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the Closing Date, but only to the extent that Borrower has the right (taking into account any applicable cure provisions) to terminate its (or any Affiliates of the Borrower has the right to terminate its) obligations under the Merger Agreement, or to decline to consummate the Acquisition (in each case, in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement) as a result of such representations and warranties in the Merger Agreement (collectively, the “ Specified Merger Agreement Representations ”).

(g) The Specified Representations shall be true and correct in all material respects (or, to the extent that such representations and warranties are qualified by materiality, material adverse effect or similar language, they shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the Closing Date.

(h) The Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the relevant L/C Issuer shall have received a Request for Credit Extension for the Loans and Letters of Credit to be made, or issued, on the Closing Date in accordance with the requirements hereof.

(i) (i) All fees required to be paid to the Agents and Arrangers on or before the Closing Date shall have been (or, substantially concurrently with the funding of the Term Loans, shall be) paid; (ii) all fees required to be paid to the Lenders on or before the Closing Date shall have been (or, substantially concurrently with the funding of the Term Loans, shall be) paid (which fees, in the case of those due to the Term Lenders, may be paid by offset against the proceeds of the Term Loans, to the extent arrangements therefor, satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, have been made); and (iii) all out-of- pocket expenses of the Agents (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Agents) required to be paid or reimbursed by the Borrower on the Closing Date shall have been (or, substantially concurrently with the funding of the Term Loans, shall be) paid, to the extent invoiced at least three Business Days prior to the Closing Date.

SECTION 4.02. Conditions to All 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, or a continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans) after the Closing Date is subject to the following conditions precedent:

(a) The representations and warranties of each Loan Party 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 (except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an

 

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earlier date, they shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date); provided , that, to the extent that such representations and warranties are qualified by materiality, material adverse effect or similar language, they shall be true and correct in all respects.

(b) No Default or Event of Default shall exist or would result from such proposed Credit Extension or from the application of the proceeds therefrom.

(c) The Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the relevant L/C Issuer or Swingline Lender shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.

Each Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans) submitted by the Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and (b)  have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section  4.02 or in Section  2.14 , so long as no Event of Default has occurred pursuant to Section  8.01(a) or (f) , the lenders providing any Incremental Extension of Credit in connection with a Permitted Acquisition may agree to modify the conditionality with respect to such Incremental Extension of Credit such that the Permitted Acquisition may be consummated on a “certain funds” basis.

ARTICLE V

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

Each Loan Party represents and warrants to the Agents and Lenders that:

SECTION 5.01. Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws . Each Loan Party (a) is a Person (i) duly organized or formed, (ii) validly existing and (iii) in good standing (where relevant) under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority to (i) own or lease its assets and carry on its business as currently conducted and (ii) execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, (c) is duly qualified and in good standing (where relevant) under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, (d) is in compliance with all Laws, orders, writs and injunctions applicable to it or its properties and (e) has all requisite governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to operate its business as currently conducted; except in each case referred to in clause (a)(iii), (b)(i), (c), (d) or (e), to the extent that failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.02. Authorization; No Contravention . The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is a party, and the consummation of the Transactions, (a) are within such Loan Party’s corporate or other powers, (b) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action and (c) do not and will not (i) contravene the terms of any of such Person’s Organization Documents; (ii) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien under (other than as permitted by Section 7.01 ) (x) any material order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Person or its property is subject or (y) any material agreement to which such Person is a party; or (iii) violate any material Law applicable to the Loan Parties; except (A) with respect to any conflict, breach, violation or contravention referred to in clause (ii)  or (iii) , to the extent that such conflict, breach, violation or contravention would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (B) subject to obtaining those consents required pursuant to Section 8.02(e) .

 

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SECTION 5.03. Governmental Authorization; Other Consents . No material approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority is necessary or required in connection with (a) the execution, delivery or performance by any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or for the consummation of the Transactions, (b) the grant by any Loan Party of the Liens granted by it pursuant to the Collateral Documents, or (c) the perfection or maintenance of the Liens created under the Collateral Documents (including the priority thereof), except for (i) filings and registrations necessary to perfect the Liens on the Collateral granted by the Loan Parties in favor of the Collateral Agent, (ii) those approvals, consents, exemptions, authorizations, actions, notices and filings which have been duly obtained, taken, given or made and are in full force and effect (or, with respect to consummation of the Transactions, will be duly obtained, taken, given or made and will be in full force and effect, in each case within the time period required to be so obtained, taken, given or made), (iii) 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 a Material Adverse Effect, (iv) the filing of certain Loan Documents with the FCC after the Closing Date, and (v) those consents required pursuant to Section 8.02(e) .

SECTION 5.04. Binding Effect . This Agreement and each other Loan Document has been duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party that is a party thereto. This Agreement and each other Loan Document constitutes, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against each Loan Party that is a party thereto in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (a) Debtor Relief Laws and by general principles of equity and (b) the need for filings and registrations necessary to perfect the Liens on the Collateral granted by the Loan Parties in favor of the Collateral Agent. Prior to the Closing Date, the representation in this Section 5.04 does not apply to any Loan Document (other than this Agreement).

SECTION 5.05. Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect . (a) The Audited Financial Statements and the Quarterly Financial Statements (if any) fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and their results of operations for the 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 any Quarterly Financial Statements, to changes resulting from normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

(b) Since the Closing Date, 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.

SECTION 5.06. Litigation . Except as disclosed in Schedule 5.06 of the Disclosure Letter, there are no actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened in writing, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against any Loan Party or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or against any of their properties or revenues that, either individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.07. Ownership of Property; Liens . Each Loan Party and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries has good record title to, or valid leasehold interests in, or easements or other limited property interests in, all tangible properties, equipment and Real Property necessary in the ordinary conduct of its business, free and clear of all Liens except (i) as set forth on Schedule 5.07 of the Disclosure Letter, (ii) minor defects in title that do not materially interfere with its ability to conduct its business or to utilize such assets for their intended purposes, (iii) Liens permitted by Section 7.01 and (iv) where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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SECTION 5.08. Environmental Compliance . (a) Except as disclosed in Schedule 5.08 of the Disclosure Letter, there are no claims, actions, suits, or proceedings pending against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries alleging liability or responsibility for violation of, or otherwise relating to, any Environmental Law that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Except as disclosed in Schedule 5.08 of the Disclosure Letter or except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, (i) none of the properties currently, or to the knowledge of the Borrower, formerly, owned, leased or operated by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is listed or proposed for listing on the NPL or on the CERCLIS or any analogous foreign, state or local list or is adjacent to any such property; (ii) there are no underground or aboveground storage tanks or any surface impoundments, septic tanks, pits, sumps or lagoons in which Hazardous Materials are being or have been treated, stored or disposed on any property currently owned, leased or operated by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, on any property formerly owned or operated by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries; (iii) there is no asbestos or asbestos-containing material on any property currently owned or operated by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries; and (iv) Hazardous Materials have not been released, discharged or disposed of by any Person on any property currently, or to the knowledge of the Borrower, formerly, owned, leased or operated by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries and Hazardous Materials have not otherwise been released, discharged or disposed of by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries at any other location.

(c) Except as disclosed in Schedule 5.08 of the Disclosure Letter, the properties owned, leased or operated by the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries do not contain any Hazardous Materials in amounts or concentrations which (i) constitute a violation of; (ii) require remedial action under; or (iii) could give rise to liability under, Environmental Laws, which violations, remedial actions and liabilities, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(d) Except as disclosed in Schedule 5.08 of the Disclosure Letter, all Hazardous Materials generated, used, treated, handled or stored at, or transported to or from, any property currently or formerly owned or operated by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries have been disposed of in a manner that would not reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect.

(e) Except as disclosed in Schedule 5.08 of the Disclosure Letter, except as would not reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect, none of the Loan Parties or any of their Subsidiaries has contractually assumed any liability or obligation under or relating to any Environmental Law.

SECTION 5.09. Taxes . Except as would not reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect, each of the Loan Parties and each of their Subsidiaries has filed all Tax returns required to be filed, and has paid all Taxes required to be paid by it, that are due and payable, except those Taxes which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves have been made to the extent required by GAAP.

SECTION 5.10. ERISA Compliance . (a) 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.

 

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(b) (i) No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; and (ii) neither any Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that would reasonably be expected to be subject to Sections 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA, except, with respect to each of the foregoing clauses of this Section  5.10(b) , as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) The Foreign Plans of the Loan Parties and the Subsidiaries are in compliance with the requirements of any Law applicable in the jurisdiction in which the relevant Foreign Plan is maintained, in each case, except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.11. Restricted Subsidiaries ; Equity Interests . As of the Closing Date (after giving effect to the Transactions), the Borrower does not have any Restricted Subsidiaries other than those disclosed in Schedule 5.11 of the Disclosure Letter, and all of the outstanding Equity Interests owned by a Loan Party in such Restricted Subsidiaries are owned free and clear of all Liens except (a) those created under the Collateral Documents; and (b) any Lien that is permitted under Section 7.01 .

SECTION 5.12. Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act . (a) No Loan Party is engaged in, 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 FRB (“ Margin Stock ”)), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock, and no proceeds of any Borrowings or drawings under any Letter of Credit will be used for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock (other than purchases by the Borrower of its Capital Stock) or any purpose that violates Regulation U.

(b) None of the Loan Parties or any of the Subsidiaries of the Loan Parties is or is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

SECTION 5.13. Disclosure . The reports, financial statements, certificates and other written factual information and factual data relating to the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and the Transactions (other than as set forth below and other than information of a general economic or industry nature) furnished by or on behalf of any Loan Party to any Agent or any Lender in connection with the Transactions and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder or under any other Loan Document, when taken as a whole, do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not materially misleading in the light of the circumstances under which they were made; provided , that, with respect to projected financial information and pro forma financial information, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions that were believed by the Borrower to be reasonable at the time made and at the time furnished hereunder; it being understood that (i) such projected and pro forma financial information (A) is merely a prediction as to future events (in the case of projected financial information) and is not to be viewed as fact and (B) is subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the Borrower’s control, (ii) no assurance can be given that any particular projections will be realized and (iii) actual results may differ and such differences may be material.

SECTION 5.14. Sanctions , OFAC and Patriot Act . (a) None of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, or any of the Borrower’s directors or officers, nor, to the knowledge of the Borrower, any of its employees and agents or any directors, officers, employees and agents of any of its Subsidiaries, is a Person that is owned or controlled by Persons that are (i) the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by OFAC, the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “ Sanctions ”), or (ii) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is, or whose government is, the subject of Sanctions.

 

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(b) The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance in all material respects with the United and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, Public Law 107-56 (the “ USA Patriot Act ”) and OFAC.

(c) The Borrower, its Subsidiaries, the Borrower’s directors and officers and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, its employees and agents and the directors, officers, employees and agents of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries, as of the Closing Date, have conducted their business in compliance with, and the Borrower and its Subsidiaries have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance with, the FCPA, the United Kingdom Bribery Act of 2010 and applicable Sanctions.

SECTION 5.15. Intellectual Property; Licenses , Etc . . Each of the Loan Parties and their Restricted Subsidiaries owns, licenses or possesses the right to use, all of the trademarks, service marks, trade names, domain names, social media identifiers, source and business indicators, copyrights, patents, patent rights, technology, software, know-how database rights, design rights, trade secrets and all other intellectual property rights (collectively, “ IP Rights ”) that are used or held for use in connection with and reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses as currently conducted, except where the failure to so own, license or possess the right to use any such IP Rights would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. All registered, proprietary IP Rights are subsisting and unexpired, and to the Loan Parties’ knowledge, are valid and enforceable, in each case except to the extent the failure to be so subsisting or unexpired or to be valid and enforceable would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No IP Rights and, to the Loan Parties’ knowledge, no advertising, product, process, method, substance, part or other material, in each case used by any Loan Party or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the operation of their respective businesses as currently conducted infringes upon any rights held by any other Person except for such infringements, individually or in the aggregate, which would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No claim or litigation regarding any of the IP Rights, is pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, which, either individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.16. Solvency . On the Closing Date, after giving effect to the Transactions, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis taken as a whole, are Solvent.

SECTION 5.17. Security Documents . (a)  Security Agreement . The Collateral Documents are effective to create in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, legal, valid and enforceable Liens on, and security interests in, the Collateral described therein to the extent intended to be created thereby and (i) when financing statements and other filings in appropriate form are filed in the appropriate filing offices and (ii) upon the taking of possession or control by the Collateral Agent of such Collateral with respect to which a security interest may be perfected only by possession or control (which possession or control shall be given to the Collateral Agent to the extent required by the Security Agreement or the Intercreditor Agreement (if in effect)), the Liens created by the Collateral Documents shall constitute fully perfected Liens on, and security interests in (to the extent intended to be created thereby), all right, title and interest of the grantors in such Collateral to the extent perfection can be obtained by filing financing statements or taking possession or control, in each case subject to no Liens other than Liens permitted hereunder.

(b) PTO Filing; Copyright Office Filing . In addition to the actions taken pursuant to Section  5.17(a) (i) , when the Security Agreement or a short form thereof (including any Intellectual Property Security Agreement) is properly filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the

 

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United States Copyright Office, the Liens created by such Security Agreement (or Intellectual Property Security Agreement) shall constitute fully perfected Liens on, and security interests in, all right, title and interest of the grantors (to the extent intended to be created thereby) in Patents and Trademarks (in each case, as defined in the Security Agreement) registered or applied for with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and Copyrights (as defined in the Security Agreement) registered or applied for with the United States Copyright Office, as the case may be, in each case subject to no Liens other than Liens permitted hereunder (it being understood that subsequent recordings in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office may be necessary to perfect a Lien on registered or applied-for Trademarks, Patents and Copyrights acquired by the grantors thereof after the Closing Date).

(c) Notwithstanding anything herein (including this Section  5.17 ) or in any other Loan Document to the contrary, neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party makes any representation or warranty as to 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.

SECTION 5.18. Use of Proceeds . The Borrower will (or will cause each Loan Party to) use the proceeds of the Loans for the purposes set forth in Section 6.15 .

SECTION 5.19. Insurance . Schedule 5.19 of the Disclosure Letter sets forth a description of all material insurance maintained by or on behalf of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date. The Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries (after giving effect to all self-insurance) have insurance in such amounts, with such deductibles and covering such risks as are customarily carried by companies engaged in similar businesses of the same size and character of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary (as applicable) and, to the extent relevant, owning similar properties in localities where such Person operates.

SECTION 5.20. Undisclosed Liabilities . The Borrower and tis Restricted Subsidiaries have no material obligations or liabilities, matured or unmatured, fixed or contingent, other than (i) those set forth or adequately provided for in the financial statements delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Agreement, (ii) those incurred in the ordinary course of business and not required to be set forth in the financial statements under GAAP, (iii) those incurred in the ordinary course of business since the date of the most recently delivered balance sheet, (iv) those incurred in connection with the execution of this Agreement and (v) those that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.21. Labor Matters . After the Closing Date, except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, (a) there are no strikes, lockouts, slowdowns or other labor disputes against any Loan Party, or to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened and (b) the consummation of the Transactions will not give rise to a right of termination or right of renegotiation on the part of any union under any collective bargaining agreement to which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is bound.

SECTION 5.22. Senior Indebtedness ; Subordination . The Obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents are within the definition of “First Lien Debt”, “Senior Debt” (or any comparable terms) and “Designated Senior Debt” (or any comparable terms), to the extent applicable, under and as defined in the subordination provisions in the documents governing Subordinated Indebtedness and Junior Lien Secured Indebtedness, if any.

 

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SECTION 5.23. EEA Financial Institutions . No Loan Party is an EEA Financial Institution.

SECTION 5.24. Broadcast Licenses . (a) Each of the Loan Parties holds such validly issued Broadcast Licenses as are necessary to operate its associated Stations as currently operated in all material respects, and, except as may be set forth in Schedule 5.24 of the Disclosure Letter, each such Broadcast License is in effect in accordance with its terms. As of the Closing Date, the Stations, together with the respective Broadcast License for each, are identified on Schedule 5.24 of the Disclosure Letter, and each such Broadcast License has the expiration date set forth on Schedule 5.24 of the Disclosure Letter.

(b) Subject to such exceptions as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) there is no adverse condition imposed by the FCC as part of any Broadcast License which is neither set forth on the face thereof as issued by the FCC nor contained in the Communications Laws applicable generally to Stations of the type, nature, class, or location of the Station in question; and (ii) except as otherwise set forth on Schedule 5.24 of the Disclosure Letter, each Station is being operated in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Broadcast License applicable to it and the Communications Laws.

(c) Except as otherwise set forth on Schedule 5.24 of the Disclosure Letter, as of the Closing Date, no proceedings are pending or, to the knowledge of Borrower, threatened in writing by or before the FCC, which reasonably would be expected to result in the revocation, modification, non-renewal or suspension of any applicable Broadcast License, the denial of any pending applications, the issuance of any cease and desist order or the imposition of any fines, forfeitures or other administrative actions by the FCC with respect to any Station so as to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, other than proceedings affecting the television broadcasting industry in general.

(d) All reports, applications, and other documents required to be filed by the Loan Parties with the FCC with respect to the Stations have been timely filed, and all such reports, applications and documents are true, correct, and complete in all respects, except for such failures as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Borrower has knowledge of any matters which could reasonably be expected to result in the suspension or revocation of or the refusal to renew any Broadcast License or the imposition on any of the Loan Parties or its Subsidiaries of any fines or forfeitures by the FCC, or the rescission, reversal, or material adverse modification of any Broadcast License so as to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

(e) To the knowledge of the Borrower, (i) there are no unsatisfied or otherwise outstanding forfeiture orders issued by the FCC with respect to any Station or its operations and (ii) each of the Loan Parties has paid all fees required to be paid pursuant to the Communications Laws, with such exceptions as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

ARTICLE VI

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder which is accrued and payable remains unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding (and not Cash Collateralized), each of the Loan Parties shall, and shall cause each of their Restricted Subsidiaries to:

 

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SECTION 6.01. Financial Statements . (a) Deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution to each Lender within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower beginning with the 2018 fiscal year, 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 or operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, audited and accompanied by a (A) report and opinion of KPMG LLP or any other independent registered public accounting firm of nationally recognized standing, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and shall not be subject to any “going concern” or like qualification or exception or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit (other than any qualification or exception that is solely with respect to, or resulting solely from, (i) an upcoming maturity date of any Indebtedness or (ii) any potential inability to satisfy a financial maintenance covenant on a future date or in a future period) (an “ Accounting Opinion ”) and (B) a customary management discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operations for such period; and

(b) Deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution to each Lender within 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter and the related (i) consolidated statements of income or operations for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the fiscal year then ended, and (ii) consolidated statements of cash flows for the portion of the fiscal year then ended, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and certified by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower as fairly presenting in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes, and a customary management discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operations for such period.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations in clauses (a)  and (b) of this Section  6.01 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; provided , that, to the extent such information is in lieu of information required to be provided under Section  6.01(a) , such materials are accompanied by an Accounting Opinion.

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section  6.01 and Sections 6.02(b) and (c)  may be delivered electronically and, if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto, at the website address listed on Schedule 10.02 of the Disclosure Letter or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on IntraLinks / IntraAgency, SyndTrak, DebtDomain or another relevant website (including without limitation the EDGAR website of the SEC), 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).

SECTION 6.02. Certificates; Other Information . Deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution to each Lender:

(a) no later than five Business Days after the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Section  6.01(a) and (b) , a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower;

 

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(b) promptly after the same are publicly available, copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which the Borrower or any Subsidiary files with the SEC or with any Governmental Authority that may be substituted therefor (other than amendments to any registration statement (to the extent such registration statement, in the form it became effective, is delivered), exhibits to any registration statement and, if applicable, any registration statement on Form S-8) and in any case not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto;

(c) together with the delivery of each Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section  6.02(a) (but only together with the delivery of a Compliance Certificate in connection with financial statements delivered pursuant to Section  6.01(a) ), (i) a report setting forth the information required by a Perfection Certificate Supplement or confirming that there has been no change in such information since the Closing Date or the date of the last such report ( provided that no such Perfection Certificate Supplement or confirmation shall be required in connection with the Compliance Certificate to be delivered for the financial statements relating to the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018) and (ii) a list of the Subsidiaries of the Borrower that identifies each Subsidiary as a Restricted or an Unrestricted Subsidiary as of the date of delivery of such Compliance Certificate or a statement confirming that there has been no change in such information since the Closing Date or the date of the last such list;

(d) promptly following completion thereof and in any event within 75 days following the end of each fiscal year, a consolidated annual budget of the Borrower for such fiscal year;

(e) promptly upon any request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender through the Administrative Agent, copies of any detailed audit reports, management letters or recommendations submitted to the Board of Directors (or the audit committee of the Board of Directors) of the Borrower by independent accountants in connection with the accounts or books of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any audit of any of them; and

(f) promptly, such additional information regarding the business, legal, financial or corporate affairs of the Loan Parties or any of their respective Subsidiaries, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender through the Administrative Agent may from time to time reasonably request.

The Loan Parties hereby acknowledge that (a) the Administrative Agent will make available to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, “ Borrower Materials ”) by posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks or another similar electronic system (the “ Platform ”) and (b) certain of the Lenders (each, a “ Public Lender ”) may have personnel who do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its Affiliates, or the respective securities of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such Persons’ securities. The Loan Parties hereby agree that so long as the Borrower is the issuer of any outstanding debt or equity securities that are registered or issued pursuant to a private offering or is actively contemplating issuing any such securities it will use commercially reasonable efforts to identify that portion of the Borrower Materials that may be distributed to the Public Lenders and that (i) all such Borrower Materials shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (i) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Agents, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information (although it may be sensitive and proprietary) with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws ( provided , however, that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section  10.07 ); (ii) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Side

 

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Information;” and (iii) the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Side Information.” Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall be under no obligation to mark any Borrower Materials “PUBLIC”.

SECTION 6.03. Notices . Promptly after a Responsible Officer of the Borrower has obtained knowledge thereof, notify the Administrative Agent:

(a) of the occurrence of any Default;

(b) of the occurrence of any ERISA Event, of U.K. Pension Security Obligations or of other encumbrances or restrictions relating to the IPC Media Ltd. pension scheme; and

(c) of any matter (including in regard to any court suit or action) that has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Each notice pursuant to this Section shall be accompanied by a written statement of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Loan Parties have taken and propose to take with respect thereto and shall be made available to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent.

SECTION 6.04. Payment of Taxes . Pay, discharge or otherwise satisfy as the same shall become due and payable, all its obligations and liabilities in respect of Taxes imposed upon it (including in its capacity as withholding agent) or upon its income or profits or in respect of its property, except, in each case, (a) to the extent the failure to pay or discharge the same would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, or (b) which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves have been made to the extent required by GAAP.

SECTION 6.05. Preservation of Existence, Etc . . (a) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section 7.03 or Section 7.04 and (b) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges (including its good standing where applicable in the relevant jurisdiction), permits, licenses (including FCC Licenses) and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except (i) to the extent that failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) pursuant to a transaction permitted by Section 7.03 or Section 7.04 .

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, (a) maintain, preserve and protect all of its material tangible properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order, repair and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted and casualty or condemnation excepted, (b) make all necessary renewals, replacements, modifications, improvements, upgrades, extensions and additions thereof or thereto in accordance with prudent industry practice and in the normal conduct of its business and (c) do or cause to be done all thing necessary to be done to obtain, preserve, renew, extend and keep in full force and effect the Intellectual Property which are necessary and material to the conduct of its business.

SECTION 6.07. Maintenance of Insurance . Maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance with respect to its properties and business against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by Persons engaged in the same or similar business, of

 

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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. Subject to Section  6.13(a) , (a) all such liability insurance policies of the Loan Parties (other than workers’ compensation, officer and director liability or other policies as to which endorsements are not customary) shall name the Collateral Agent as additional insured, and (b) in the case of each casualty insurance policy that insures any Collateral, such policy shall contain a loss payable clause or endorsement that names the Collateral Agent as loss payee. With respect to each parcel of Real Property constituting Collateral that is subject to a Mortgage, obtain flood insurance from financially sound and reputable insurance companies or through the National Flood Insurance Program in such total amount (not exceeding the lesser of (i) the fair market value of the property and (ii) the maximum amount available under a policy issued through the National Flood Insurance Program) as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may from time to time reasonably require, if at any time the area in which any improvements on such Real Property are located is designated a “flood hazard area” in any Flood Insurance Rate Map published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (or any successor agency), and otherwise comply with the National Flood Insurance Program as set forth in the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, as amended from time to time.

SECTION 6.08. Compliance with Laws . Comply in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except if the failure to comply therewith would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. Comply in all material respects with all terms and conditions of all Broadcast Licenses maintain all of the Broadcast Licenses in effect in accordance with their terms except for such failures as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 6.09. Books and Records . Maintain proper books of record and account, in which entries are full, true and correct in all material respects and are in conformity with GAAP consistently applied in all material respects and which reflect all material financial transactions and matters involving the business of the Loan Parties or a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be.

SECTION 6.10. Inspection Rights . Permit representatives and agents 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 senior officers, and independent public accountants, all at reasonable times during normal business hours, upon reasonable advance notice to the Borrower; provided , however, (a) unless an Event of Default exists, only the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders may exercise the rights under this Section 6.10 and the Administrative Agent shall not exercise such rights more often than two times during any calendar year, (b) if an Event of Default exists and an individual Lender elects to exercise rights under this Section 6.10 , (x) such Lender shall coordinate with the Administrative Agent and any other Lender electing to exercise such rights and shall share the results of such inspection with the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders and (y) the number of visits and expense associated with such individual Lender inspections must be reasonable, and (c) the Borrower shall have the opportunity to participate in any discussions with the Borrower’s independent public accountants.

SECTION 6.11. Additional Collateral; Additional Guarantors . (a) Subject to this Section 6.11 and Section 6.13(b) , with respect to any property acquired after the Closing Date by any Loan Party that is intended to be subject to the Lien created by any of the Collateral Documents but is not so subject, promptly (and in any event within 30 days after the acquisition thereof (or, with respect to intellectual property, in any event on a quarterly basis) (or, in each case, such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree)) (i) execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral

 

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Agent such amendments or supplements to the relevant Collateral Documents or such other documents as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent shall reasonably request to grant to the Collateral Agent, for its benefit and for the benefit of the other Secured Parties, a Lien on such property subject to no Liens other than Liens permitted hereunder; and (ii) take all actions reasonably necessary or advisable to cause such Lien to be duly perfected within the United States to the extent required by such Collateral Document in accordance with all applicable Law, including the filing of financing statements in such jurisdictions within the United States as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent. The Borrower shall otherwise take such actions and execute and/or deliver to the Collateral Agent such documents as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent shall reasonably require to confirm the validity, perfection and priority of the Lien of the Collateral Documents on such after-acquired properties to the extent required by the Collateral Documents.

(b) With respect to any Person that is or becomes a Restricted Subsidiary directly owned by a Loan Party after the Closing Date or if any Restricted Subsidiary that was an Excluded Subsidiary ceases to be an Excluded Subsidiary, promptly (and in any event within 30 days after the date such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or the date the Borrower delivers to the Administrative Agent financial statements by which it is determined that such Restricted Subsidiary ceased to be an Excluded Subsidiary (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree)) (i) deliver to the Collateral Agent the certificates, if any, representing all of the Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary owned by such Loan Party, together with undated stock powers or other appropriate instruments of transfer executed and delivered in blank by a duly authorized officer of the holder (or holders) of such Equity Interests, and all written intercompany notes, if any, representing Indebtedness owing from such Subsidiary to any Loan Party together with instruments of transfer executed and delivered in blank by a duly authorized officer of such Loan Party (in each case, with respect to Foreign Subsidiaries, to the extent applicable and permitted under foreign laws, rules or regulations) or, if necessary to perfect a Lien under applicable Law, by means of an applicable Collateral Document, to create a Lien on such Equity Interests and intercompany notes in favor of the Collateral Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties and (ii) cause any such Restricted Subsidiary (A) to execute a joinder agreement reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent or such comparable documentation to become a Subsidiary Guarantor and a joinder agreement to the applicable Collateral Documents (including the Security Agreement), substantially in the form annexed thereto, and (B) to take all other actions reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent to cause the Lien created by the applicable Collateral Documents (including the Security Agreement) to be duly perfected within the United States to the extent required by such agreement in accordance with all applicable Law, including the filing of financing statements in such jurisdictions within the United States as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (1) compliance with clause (i)  of this Section  6.11(b) shall be required only to the extent required by the terms of the Security Agreement, (2) no Excluded Subsidiary shall be required to become a Subsidiary Guarantor or otherwise take the actions specified in clause (ii)  of this Section  6.11(b) and (3) no more than 65% of the total voting power of all outstanding voting stock and 100% of the Equity Interests not constituting voting stock of any CFC or CFC Holdco (except that any such Equity Interests constituting “stock entitled to vote” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.956-2(c)(2) shall be treated as voting stock for purposes of this Section  6.11(b) ) shall be required to be pledged.

(c) Each Loan Party shall grant to the Collateral Agent, within 90 days of the Closing Date or the acquisition thereof (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree), as applicable, a security interest in and mortgage in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent (a “ Mortgage ”) on each parcel of Real Property located in the United States and owned in fee by such Loan Party as is owned by such Loan Party on the Closing Date or acquired by such Loan Party after the Closing Date and that, together with any improvements thereon, individually has a fair market value of at least $25 million as additional security for the Obligations (unless the subject

 

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property is already mortgaged to a third party to the extent permitted hereunder). Such Mortgages shall be granted pursuant to documentation reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent and shall constitute valid and enforceable perfected Liens subject only to Liens permitted hereunder. The Mortgages or instruments related thereto shall be duly recorded or filed in such manner and in such places as are required by Law to establish, perfect, preserve and protect the Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent required to be granted pursuant to the Mortgages and all taxes, fees and other charges payable in connection therewith shall be paid in full. Such Loan Party shall otherwise take such actions and execute and/or deliver to the Collateral Agent such documents as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent shall reasonably require to confirm the validity, perfection and priority of the Lien of any existing Mortgage or new Mortgage against such Real Property (including, to the extent so required, a Title Policy, a Survey (if required in order to permit the issuer of the Title Policy to omit a survey exception or issue any survey dependent endorsements requested by the Administrative Agent), local counsel opinion (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent) and a completed “Life-of-Loan” Federal Emergency Management Agency standard flood hazard determination, together with a notice executed by such Loan Party about special flood hazard area status, if applicable, in respect of such Mortgage). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall not enter into any Mortgage in respect of any real property acquired by any Loan Party after the Closing Date unless the Administrative Agent has provided to the Revolving Credit Lenders (i) if such Mortgaged Property is not located in a “special flood hazard area”, a completed flood hazard determination with respect to such real property from a third-party vendor at least ten (10) days prior to entering into such Mortgage or (ii) if such Mortgage relates to real property located in a “special flood hazard area”, the following documents with respect to such real property at least twenty (20) days prior to entering into such Mortgage: (w) a completed flood hazard determination from a third party vendor, and (x) a notification to the applicable Loan Parties that flood insurance coverage is not available under the National Flood Insurance Program; or (y) if required by relevant requirements of Law, evidence of required flood insurance.

(d) The foregoing paragraphs (a)  through (c) shall not require the creation or perfection of pledges of or security interests in, or Mortgage on, or the obtaining of title insurance or surveys with respect to, particular assets if and for so long as (i) in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, the cost of creating or perfecting such pledges or security interests in, or a Mortgage on, such assets or obtaining title insurance or surveys in respect of such assets shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Lenders therefrom or (ii) such asset constitutes an Excluded Asset (as such term is defined in the Security Agreement). In addition, the foregoing will not require actions under this Section  6.11 by a Person if and to the extent that such action would (a) go beyond the corporate or other powers of the Person concerned (and then only as such corporate or other power cannot be modified or excluded to allow such action); or (b) unavoidably result in material issues of director’s or officer’s personal liability, breach of fiduciary duty or criminal liability. The Administrative Agent may grant extensions of time for the perfection of security interests in, or a Mortgage on, or the obtaining of title insurance or surveys with respect to particular assets (including extensions beyond the Closing Date for the perfection of security interests in the assets of the Loan Parties on such date) where it reasonably determines, in consultation with the Borrower, that perfection 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.

(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section  6.11 or anything in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary, Liens required to be granted from time to time pursuant to this Section  6.11 shall be subject to exceptions and limitations set forth herein, in the Collateral Documents and, to the extent appropriate in the applicable jurisdiction, as agreed between the Collateral Agent and the Borrower. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section  6.11 or anything in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary, any Subsidiary of the Borrower that Guarantees the Senior Notes shall be a Guarantor hereunder for so long as it Guarantees such Indebtedness.

 

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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, (a) comply, and take all reasonable actions to cause all lessees and other Persons operating or occupying its properties to comply, with all applicable Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits, (b) obtain and renew all Environmental Permits necessary for its operations and properties, and (c) to the extent the Loan Parties are required by Environmental Laws, conduct any investigation, study, sampling and testing, and undertake any cleanup, removal, remedial or other action necessary to remove and clean up all Hazardous Materials from any affected property, in accordance with the requirements of all Environmental Laws.

SECTION 6.13. Post-Closing Conditions and Further Assurances . (a) Within 90 days after the Closing Date (subject to extension by the Administrative Agent in its discretion), deliver each Collateral Document or other deliverable set forth on Schedule 6.13(a) of the Disclosure Letter (as such Schedule may be supplemented or modified on or prior to the Closing Date by agreement between the Administrative Agent and the Borrower), duly executed by each Loan Party that is a party thereto, together with all documents and instruments required to perfect the security interest of the Administrative Agent in the Collateral (if any) free of any other pledges, security interests or mortgages, except Liens permitted hereunder.

(b) Promptly upon request by the Administrative Agent (i) correct any material defect or error that may be discovered in the execution, acknowledgment, filing or recordation of any Collateral Document or other document or instrument relating to any Collateral, and (ii) do, execute, acknowledge, deliver, record, re-record, file, re-file, register and re-register any and all such further acts, deeds, certificates, assurances and other instruments as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request from time to time in order to carry out more effectively the purposes of the Collateral Documents.

SECTION 6.14. Designation of Subsidiaries . (a) After the Closing Date, the Borrower may at any time and from time to time designate any of its Subsidiaries (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 Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower (other than solely any Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated); provided , that (i) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing before and after giving effect to such designation and (ii) the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be in Pro Forma Compliance with Section 7.08 for the most recently ended Test Period for which Required Financial Statements have been delivered (whether or not then required to be tested) and provided , further that (A) such designation complies with Section 7.05 ; and (B) neither the Subsidiary to be so designated nor any of its Subsidiaries has at the time of designation, created, incurred, issued, assumed, guaranteed 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 any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary.

(b) The Borrower may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that, immediately before and after giving effect to such designation, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be in Pro Forma Compliance with Section  7.08 for the most recently ended Test Period for which Required Financial Statements have been delivered (whether or not then required to be tested); provided further, that any Indebtedness of the applicable Subsidiary and any Liens encumbering its property existing as of the time of such designation shall be deemed incurred or established, as applicable, at the time of such designation.

 

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(c) 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 Investments in an amount determined as set forth in the definition of “Investment”. Such designation will be permitted only if an Investment in such amount would be permitted at such time, under any of the provisions of this Agreement, and if such Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an “Unrestricted Subsidiary.”

(d) Any such designation by the Borrower shall be notified by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent by promptly delivering to the Administrative Agent a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions, whereupon such designation shall be immediately effective.

SECTION 6.15. Use of Proceeds . (a) The Borrower will use the proceeds of the Term Loans solely for the following purposes: (i) as consideration for the Acquisition, (ii) to fund the Refinancing, and (iii) to fund the Transaction Expenses and other fees and expenses relating to the Transactions.

(b) The Borrower will use the proceeds of the Revolving Credit Loans (a) on the Closing Date in an amount up to $75 million plus such additional amounts required to fund any additional upfront fees or OID required to be funded on the Closing Date, and (b) thereafter, for general corporate purposes, including Permitted Investments and Restricted Payments.

(c) The Borrower will use Letters of Credit for general corporate purposes.

(d) The Borrower will not use the proceeds of any Credit Extensions (including any Letter of Credit) for the purpose of (i) furthering an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment of money, to any Person in violation of FCPA or the United Kingdom Bribery Act of 2010 or (ii) funding, financing or facilitating any activities, business or transaction in violation of any applicable Sanctions.

SECTION 6.16. Maintenance of Ratings . Use commercially reasonable efforts to (a) cause each Facility to be continuously rated (but not any specific rating) by S&P and Moody’s and (b) maintain a public corporate rating (but not any specific rating) from S&P and a public corporate family rating (but not any specific rating) from Moody’s, in each case for the Borrower.

SECTION 6.17. Lender Calls . At the request of the Administrative Agent or of the Required Lenders and upon reasonable prior notice, hold a conference call (at a location and time selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower) with all Lenders who choose to attend such conference call, at which conference call the financial results of the previous fiscal year or first two fiscal quarters of the current fiscal year, as applicable, and the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be reviewed; provided , that notwithstanding the foregoing, the requirement set forth in this Section 6.17 may be satisfied with a public earnings call; provided further, in no event shall any such call be required to take place prior to forty-five days after the end of each of the second fiscal quarter of each fiscal year of the Borrower and ninety days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, as applicable; provided further , that the Borrower shall in no event be required to hold more than two such calls during any fiscal year.

 

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SECTION 6.18. Anti-Corruption Laws . The Borrower will maintain in effect policies and procedures designated to promote compliance by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with the FCPA and any other applicable anti-corruption laws.

ARTICLE VII

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder which is accrued and payable shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding (and not Cash Collateralized):

SECTION 7.01. Liens . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien that secures any obligation or any related guarantee, on any asset or property of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than the following (“ Permitted Liens ”):

(1) pledges, deposits or security by such Person under workmen’s compensation laws, unemployment insurance, employers’ health tax, and other social security laws or similar legislation, or other insurance related obligations (including, but not limited to, in respect of deductibles, self-insured retention amounts and premiums and adjustments thereto) or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing property, casualty or liability insurance, or good faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, trade contracts or government contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to which such Person is a party, or agreements with utilities, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of such Person or deposits of cash or U.S. government bonds to secure surety, stay, customs or appeal bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as security for contested taxes or import duties or for the payment of rent, performance and return of money bonds and other similar obligations (including letters of credit issued in lieu of any such bonds or to support the issuance thereof and including those to secure health, safety and environmental obligations), in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;

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

(3) Liens for Taxes, assessments or other governmental charges not yet overdue for more than 30 days or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of such Person in accordance with GAAP or for property taxes on property the Borrower or one of its Subsidiaries has determined to abandon if the sole recourse for such tax, assessment or charge is to such property;

(4) Liens in favor of issuers of performance, surety bonds or bid, indemnity, warranty, release, appeal or similar bonds or with respect to other regulatory requirements or letters of credit issued pursuant to the request of and for the account of such Person in the ordinary course of its business;

 

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(5) survey exceptions, encumbrances, ground leases, servitudes, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights-of-way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph, cable and telephone lines, utilities and other similar purposes, or zoning or other restrictions 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 or other covenants, conditions, restrictions and minor defects or irregularities in title (“ Other Encumbrances ”), in each case which Liens and Other Encumbrances do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of said properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person;

(6) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Sections 7.02(b)(iv) , 7.02(b)(xii) or 7.02(b)(xvii) ; provided that (x) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section  7.02(b)(iv) extend only to the assets and/or Capital Stock, the acquisition, lease, construction, repair, replacement or improvement of which is financed thereby and any replacements, additions and accessions thereto and any income or profits therefrom; provided that individual financings of equipment provided by one lender may be cross-collateralized to other financings of equipment provided by such lender, (y) Liens securing Refinancing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section  7.02(b)(xii) only secure Refinancing Indebtedness that serves to Refinance any Indebtedness secured by a Lien; provided that such Liens are limited to all or part of the same property or assets (plus additions, accessions, improvements, proceeds or dividends or distributions in respect thereof) that secured (or, under the written arrangements under which the original Lien arose, could secure) the Indebtedness being refinanced and (z) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section  7.02(b)(xvii) extend only to the assets of Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries;

(7) Liens existing on the Closing Date listed on Schedule 7.01 of the Disclosure Letter;

(8) Liens on property or shares of stock of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary; provided , however , such Liens are not created or incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such Person becoming such a Restricted Subsidiary; provided further , however , that such Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries other than pursuant to customary after acquired-property clauses;

(9) Liens on property at the time the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary acquired the property, including any acquisition by means of a merger or consolidation with or into the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary; provided , however , that such Liens are not created or incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition, merger or consolidation;

(10) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary permitted to be incurred under Section  7.02 ;

(11) Liens securing Hedging Obligations incurred pursuant to Section  7.02(b)(ix) ;

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

 

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(13) (a) leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses (including of real property and intellectual property) granted to others in the ordinary course of business and (b) with respect to any leasehold interest held by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, the terms of the leases granting such leasehold interest and the rights of lessors thereunder, which in the case of each of (a) and (b) do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and do not secure any Indebtedness;

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

(15) Liens in favor of the Loan Parties;

(16) Liens on equipment of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries granted in the ordinary course of business;

(17) Liens on accounts receivable and related assets incurred in connection with a Receivables Facility;

(18) Liens to secure any Refinancing (or successive Refinancings) as a whole, or in part, of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien referred to in the foregoing clauses (6) , (7) , (8) , (9) and this clause (18) ; provided , however , that (a) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property that secured the original Lien (and additions, accessions, improvements, proceeds and replacements and customary deposits in connection therewith and proceeds and products therefrom) and assets that secured or, under the written agreements pursuant to which the original Lien arose, could secure the original Indebtedness, and (b) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (i) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the Indebtedness described under clauses (6) , (7) , (8) , (9) and this clause (18)  at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien under this Agreement, and (ii) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, and accrued and unpaid interest related to such Refinancing;

(19) deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure liability to insurance carriers;

(20) other Liens securing obligations that do not exceed $200 million in aggregate amount at any one time outstanding;

(21) Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section  8.01(g) so long as such Liens are adequately bonded and any appropriate legal proceedings that may have been duly initiated for the review of such judgment have not been finally terminated or the period within which such proceedings may be initiated has not expired;

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

 

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(24) Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements permitted pursuant to Section  7.02 ; provided , that such Liens do not extend to any assets other than those that are the subject of such repurchase agreement;

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

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

(27) Liens pursuant to any Loan Document;

(28) Liens on Collateral securing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section  7.02(b)(xxi) or 7.02(b)(xxii) , in each case so long as such Indebtedness is subject to an Intercreditor Agreement (or Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement in the case of Permitted Junior Secured Refinancing Debt and such other Indebtedness pursuant to such sections as shall be intended to be secured on a second-lien basis);

(29) Liens on assets of Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries securing Indebtedness of Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries permitted pursuant to Section  7.02 ;

(30) Liens on the Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(31) Liens deemed to exist by reason of (i) any encumbrance or restriction (including put and call arrangements) with respect to Capital Stock of any joint venture or similar arrangement pursuant to any joint venture or similar agreement or (ii) any encumbrance or restriction imposed under any contract for the sale by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of the Capital Stock of any Subsidiary of the Borrower, or any business unit or division of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower permitted by this Agreement;

(32) Liens on property or assets used to defease or to irrevocably satisfy and discharge Indebtedness; provided that such defeasance or satisfaction and discharge is not prohibited by this Agreement;

(33) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(34) Liens incurred to secure cash management services or to implement cash pooling arrangements in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(35) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement in respect of any Investment permitted under this Agreement;

(36) rights deemed to arise under revenue sharing or similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business pursuant to which third parties are granted the right to receive a portion of the revenues, income or profits generated from specific assets or operations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(37) Liens on cash collateral, letters of credit or similar arrangements securing the U.K. Pension Security Obligations in an amount not to exceed at any time £85 million; and

(38) additional Liens securing Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section  7.02 ; provided , that at the time of incurrence of such Indebtedness, on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio shall not be greater than 2.00 to 1.00; provided , that any Liens on the Collateral incurred pursuant to this clause (38)  shall be subject to an Intercreditor Agreement or a Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

For purposes of this Section  7.01 , the term “Indebtedness” shall be deemed to include interest on and the costs in respect of such Indebtedness.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section  7.01 , in the event that any Lien meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Liens described in clause (1)  through (38) of this Section  7.01 , the Borrower, in its sole discretion, divide and/or classify on the date of incurrence of such Lien in any manner that complies with this Section  7.01 and may later redivide and/or reclassify (based on circumstances existing at the time of such redivision or reclassification) such Lien in any manner that complies with this covenant; provided that all Liens securing the Facilities on the Closing Date will be treated as incurred on the Closing Date under Section  7.01(27) and will not later be reclassified.

SECTION 7.02. Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock . (a) The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable for (collectively, “ incur ” and collectively, an “ incurrence ”) 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 , however , 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, if the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio at the time such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued would have been no greater than 3.50 to 1.00, determined on a Pro Forma Basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom); provided further , however , that Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries may not incur Indebtedness or issue Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 7.02(a) if, after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence or issuance, more than an aggregate of $300 million at the time of incurrence of such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of such Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries is outstanding pursuant to this clause (a)  and clause (xvii)  of Section 7.02(b) in the aggregate.

 

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(b) The provisions of Section  7.02(a) hereof shall not apply to:

(i) Indebtedness of any Loan Party under the Loan Documents;

(ii) Indebtedness represented by the Senior Notes (including any guarantee thereof by a Subsidiary Guarantor) (other than any “Additional Notes” (as defined in the Senior Notes Indenture) or guarantees with respect thereto);

(iii) Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in existence on the Closing Date (other than Indebtedness described in clauses (i)  and (ii) ) listed on Schedule 7.02(b) of the Disclosure Letter;

(iv) (A) Indebtedness (including Capitalized Lease Obligations and Attributable Indebtedness), Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock incurred or issued by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to finance the purchase, lease, construction or improvement of property (real or personal) or equipment, whether through the direct purchase of assets or the Capital Stock of any Person owning such assets, and any Indebtedness incurred to refinance any such Indebtedness (and successive refinancings thereof), in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference which, when aggregated with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock then outstanding under this clause (iv)(A) , together with the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding pursuant to clause (B)  of this clause (iv) , does not exceed the greater of (x) $300 million and (y) 25% of Four Quarter EBITDA at the time of incurrence and (B) any Indebtedness incurred to Refinance Indebtedness incurred under clause (A)  of this clause (iv) (or successive Refinancings of Indebtedness incurred under this clause (B) );

(v) Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries constituting reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances, bank guarantees, warehouse receipts or similar facilities issued or entered into in the ordinary course of business, including letters of credit in respect of workers’ compensation claims, performance or surety bonds, health, disability or other employee benefits, property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement type obligations regarding workers’ compensation claims, performance or surety bonds, health, disability or other employee benefits, or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance;

(vi) Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries providing for indemnification, earn-out, holdback, adjustment of purchase price 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) Indebtedness of the Borrower to a Restricted Subsidiary or a Restricted Subsidiary to the Borrower or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any (A) such Indebtedness (other than such as may arise from ordinary course intercompany cash management obligations) owing by the Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor to a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations, (B) any such Indebtedness (other than such as may arise from ordinary course intercompany cash management obligations) owing by a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary to the Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor is pledged to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms of the Collateral Documents to the extent required thereby and (C) any such Indebtedness (other than such as may arise from ordinary course intercompany cash management obligations) owing by a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary to the Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor, together with, but without duplication of, Investments made by Loan Parties in Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries pursuant to clauses (a)  and (c) of the definition of “Permitted Investments” and Disposition Deficiencies shall not exceed an aggregate amount outstanding equal to the greater of (x) $375 million and (y) 33% of Four Quarter EBITDA at the time

 

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such Indebtedness is incurred; provided further, that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Borrower or another Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Indebtedness constituting a Permitted Lien) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an incurrence of such Indebtedness not permitted by this clause (vii) ;

(viii) shares of Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary issued to the Borrower or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event that results in such Preferred Stock being beneficially owned by a Person other than the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such shares of Preferred Stock (except to the Borrower or another of its Restricted Subsidiaries) shall be deemed in each case to be an issuance of such shares of Preferred Stock not permitted by this clause (viii) ;

(ix) Hedging Obligations not entered into for speculative purposes;

(x) obligations in respect of workers’ compensation claims, self-insurance, performance, bid, appeal and surety bonds and performance or completion guarantees and similar obligations provided by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or obligations in respect of letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances, bank guarantees or similar instruments related thereto, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

(xi) (A) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Borrower and Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of any Subsidiary Guarantor not otherwise permitted hereunder in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference, which when aggregated with the outstanding principal amount and liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock then outstanding and incurred pursuant to this clause (xi)(A) , together with the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding pursuant to clause (B)  of this clause (xi) , does not exceed the greater of (x) $500 million and (y) 50% of Four Quarter EBITDA at the time of incurrence and (B) any Indebtedness incurred to Refinance Indebtedness incurred under clause (A)  of this clause (xi) (or successive Refinancings of Indebtedness incurred under this clause (B) );

(xii) the incurrence by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of Refinancing Indebtedness that serves to refinance:

(A) any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred or issued as permitted under any of Section  7.02(a) and clauses (ii) , (iii) and/or (xiii)  of this Section  7.02(b) , or

(B) any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred or issued to so Refinance the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock described in clause (A)  above,

including, in each case, additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred to pay premiums (including tender premiums), accrued interest, defeasance costs and reasonable fees and expenses in connection therewith;

(xiii) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of (x) the Borrower or a Loan Party incurred to finance an acquisition of any assets, business or Person or (y) Persons that are acquired by the Borrower or any Loan Party or merged into or consolidated with the Borrower or a Loan Party in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; provided that, after giving effect to such acquisition, merger or consolidation, either:

(A) the Borrower would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio test set forth in Section  7.02(a) , or

 

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(B) the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio immediately prior to such acquisition, merger or consolidation;

(xiv) 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 other cash management services in the ordinary course of business; provided that such Indebtedness is extinguished within 10 Business Days of notice of its incurrence;

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

(xvi) (A) any guarantee by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other obligations of any Restricted Subsidiary so long as the incurrence of such Indebtedness incurred by such Restricted Subsidiary is permitted under the terms of this Agreement and, in the case of the guarantee by a Loan Party of Indebtedness of Non-Guarantor Subsidiary, only to the extent that the related Investment is permitted;

(B) any guarantee by a Subsidiary Guarantor of Indebtedness of the Borrower, or

(C) any guarantee by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business in respect of obligations to suppliers, customers, franchisees, lessors and licensees of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(xvii) (A) Indebtedness of Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount, which when aggregated with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness then outstanding and incurred pursuant to this clause (xvii)(A) , together with the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding pursuant to clause (B)  of this clause (xvii) , does not exceed the greater of (x) $300 million and (y) 25% of Four Quarter EBITDA at the time of incurrence and (B) any Indebtedness incurred to Refinance Indebtedness incurred under clause (A)  of this clause (xvii) (or successive Refinancings of Indebtedness incurred under this clause (B) );

(xviii) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries consisting of (i) the financing of insurance premiums or (ii) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business;

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

(xx) Indebtedness consisting of Indebtedness issued by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to current or former officers, directors and employees thereof, their respective estates, spouses or former spouses, in each case to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of the Borrower to the extent permitted under Section  7.05(b)(iv) ;

 

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(xxi) Indebtedness incurred pursuant to a Permitted Debt Offering so long as, at the time of the incurrence thereof, after giving effect thereto, the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness does not exceed the Maximum Incremental Extension of Credit Amount; and

(xxii) Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness.

(c) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section  7.02 , in the event that an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of permitted Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock described in clauses (i)  through (xxii) of Section  7.02(b) above or is permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section  7.02(a) hereof, the Borrower, in its sole discretion, may divide and/or classify on the date of incurrence such item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this Section  7.02 and may later redivide and/or reclassify (based on circumstances existing at the time of such redivision or reclassification) such item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this covenant; provided that all Indebtedness outstanding under the Facilities on the Closing Date will be treated as incurred on the Closing Date under Section  7.02(b)(i) and will not later be reclassified.

Accrual of interest or dividends, the accretion of accreted value and the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, the payment of dividends in the form of additional shares of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, of the same class, and accretion of original issue discount or liquidation preference will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock for purposes of this Section  7.02 . Guarantees of, or obligations in respect of letters of credit relating to, Indebtedness which is otherwise included in the determination of a particular amount of Indebtedness shall 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 in compliance with this Section  7.02 .

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

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section  7.02 , the Borrower will not, and will not permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly, incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) that is contractually subordinated in right of payment to any Indebtedness of the Borrower or such other Loan Party, as the case may be, unless such Indebtedness is contractually subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations or such Guarantor’s Guarantee, in all material respects, to the extent and in the manner as such Indebtedness is so subordinated to other Indebtedness of the applicable Loan Party.

For the purposes of this Agreement, (x) Indebtedness that is unsecured is not deemed to be subordinated or junior to secured Indebtedness merely because it is unsecured and (y) Indebtedness is not deemed to be subordinated or junior to any other Indebtedness merely because it has a junior priority with respect to the same collateral.

SECTION 7.03. Fundamental Changes . Neither the Borrower nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall merge, dissolve, liquidate, wind up, consolidate with or into another Person, or Dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) in one or more related transactions (for the avoidance of doubt, other than in the Transactions) to or in favor of any Person, except that:

 

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(a) any Restricted Subsidiary may merge or consolidate with (i) the Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor (including a merger, the purpose of which is to reorganize such Restricted Subsidiary into a new jurisdiction); provided , that the Borrower or such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be the continuing or surviving Person; or (ii) one or more other Restricted Subsidiaries; provided , that when any Person that is a Loan Party is merging with a Restricted Subsidiary under this clause (a)(ii) , a Loan Party shall be the continuing or surviving Person;

(b) (i) any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party may merge or consolidate with or into any other Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party; and (ii) any Subsidiary may liquidate or may dissolve into its parent if the Borrower determines in good faith that such action is in the best interest of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as a whole and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders;

(c) the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided , that if the transferor in such a transaction is the Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor, then the transferee must be the Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor and; provided further, that the Borrower shall remain after such transaction;

(d) so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom, the Borrower may merge or consolidate with any other Person; provided , that (i) the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving corporation or (ii) if the Person formed by or surviving any such merger or consolidation (any such Person, the “ Successor Company ”) is not the Borrower, (A) the Successor Company shall be an entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state or commonwealth thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof, (B) the Successor Company shall expressly assume all the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which the Borrower is a party pursuant to a supplement hereto or thereto in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (C) in the case of a Successor Company for the Borrower, each Guarantor, unless it is the other party to such merger or consolidation, shall have confirmed that its Guarantee and its pledges and other obligations under the Collateral Documents shall apply to the Successor Company’s obligations under the Loan Documents, including, to the extent reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, by executing amendments or supplements to the Security Agreement, any Mortgage (if any) and any other Collateral Documents, and (D) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent (i) an officer’s certificate stating that such merger or consolidation and such supplement to this Agreement or any Collateral Document comply with this Agreement, (ii) all documentation and information of the type set described in Section  4.01(d)(x) with respect to the Successor Company and (iii) such other certificates and other documentation as reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent; provided further, that if the foregoing are satisfied, the Successor Company will succeed to, and be substituted for, the Borrower under this Agreement;

(e) so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom, a Subsidiary Guarantor may merge or consolidate with any other Person; provided , that (i) such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be the continuing or surviving corporation or (ii) if the Successor Company is not such Subsidiary Guarantor, (A) the Successor Company shall be an entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state or commonwealth thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof, (B) the Successor Company shall expressly assume all the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Subsidiary Guarantor is a party pursuant to a supplement hereto or thereto in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and (C) such Subsidiary Guarantor shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent an officer’s certificate stating that such merger or consolidation and such supplement to this Agreement or any Collateral Document comply with this Agreement; provided further, that if the foregoing are satisfied, the Successor Company will succeed to, and be substituted for, such Subsidiary Guarantor under this Agreement;

 

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(f) so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may merge or consolidate with any other Person in order to effect an Investment permitted pursuant to Section  7.05 ; and

(g) so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom, any Restricted Subsidiary may consummate a merger, dissolution, liquidation, consolidation or Disposition, the purpose of which is to effect a Disposition permitted pursuant to Section  7.04 .

SECTION 7.04. Dispositions . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, consummate any Disposition, except:

(a) any Disposition of cash, Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities, or of damaged, unnecessary, obsolete or worn out equipment or other property or assets in the ordinary course of business, or of property or assets no longer used or useful or economically practicable to maintain the business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the reasonable opinion of the Borrower in the ordinary course of business, or of any Disposition of inventory or goods (or other property or assets) in the ordinary course of business;

(b) the Disposition of all or substantially all of the property or assets of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to Section  7.03 ;

(c) the making of any Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment that is permitted to be made, and is made, under Section  7.05 ;

(d) any Disposition of property or assets or issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary in any transaction or series of transactions with an aggregate fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) not to exceed $20 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 another Restricted Subsidiary; provided , however , Disposition Deficiencies, together with, but without duplication of, Investments made by Loan Parties in Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries pursuant to clauses (a)  and (c) of the definition of “Permitted Investments” and Indebtedness of a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary owing to the Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor incurred pursuant to Section  7.02(b)(vii) shall not exceed an aggregate amount outstanding equal to the greater of (x) $375 million and (y) 33% of Four Quarter EBITDA at the time such of such Disposition;

(f) to the extent allowable under Section 1031 of the Code, or any comparable or successor provision, any exchange of like property (excluding any boot thereon) for use in a Similar Business;

(g) the sale, lease, assignment, license, sublicense or sub-lease of any real or personal property, assets or services in the ordinary course of business;

(h) any Disposition of Equity Interests in, or Indebtedness or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(i) any Disposition of property or assets subject to a Lien held by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in a foreclosure, eminent domain, seizure or similar proceeding or exercises of termination rights under any lease, license, concession or other agreement or Dispositions of property or assets required by law, governmental regulation or any order of any court, administrative agency or regulatory body;

 

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(j) sales of accounts receivable, or participations therein, and related assets or rights customarily sold or assigned, in each case in connection with any Receivables Facility; provided that the aggregate Receivables Exposure shall not exceed $150 million;

(k) (A) non-exclusive licenses, sublicenses or cross-licenses of intellectual property or other general intangibles of, and (B) exclusive licenses, sublicenses or cross-licenses of intellectual property or other general intangibles in the ordinary course of business of, the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries;

(l) sales, transfers and other Dispositions of Investments or other interests in joint ventures or similar entities to the extent required by, or made pursuant to, customary buy/sell arrangements or rights of first refusal between the parties set forth in joint venture arrangements and similar binding arrangements;

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

(n) the granting of Liens not prohibited by Section  7.01 ;

(o) the unwinding of any Hedging Obligations;

(p) an issuance of Equity Interests pursuant to benefit plans, employment agreements, equity plans, stock subscription or shareholder agreements, stock ownership plans and other similar plans, policies, contracts or arrangements established in the ordinary course of business or approved by the Borrower in good faith;

(q) any surrender or waiver of obligations of trade creditors or customers or contract rights or the settlement, release or surrender of contractual rights, tort or other claims of any kind;

(r) Dispositions or discounts of receivables in connection with the compromise, settlement or collection thereof in the ordinary course of business or in bankruptcy or similar proceedings and exclusive of factoring or similar arrangements;

(s) any financing transaction (excluding by way of a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction) with respect to property constructed, acquired, replaced, repaired or improved by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Closing Date;

(t) Dispositions of leasehold improvements or leased assets in connection with the termination of any operating lease;

(u) any swap of assets, in the ordinary course of business, in exchange for services (including in connection with any outsourcing arrangements) of comparable or greater value or usefulness to the business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as determined in good faith by an Borrower;

(v) Dispositions of Investments in joint ventures and, to the extent any joint venture constitutes a Restricted Subsidiary, the property of such joint venture, so long as the aggregate fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) (determined, with respect to each such Disposition, as of the time of such Disposition), of all such Dispositions does not exceed $20 million;

 

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(w) the Merger Agreement Dispositions; and

(x) Dispositions (including by way of any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction) with respect to which (i) the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration at the time of such Disposition at least equal to the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) of the assets sold or otherwise Disposed of; and (ii) except in the case of a Permitted Asset Swap, at least 75% of the consideration therefor received by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents; provided , that the amount of:

(i) any liabilities (as shown on the Borrower’s most recent consolidated 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 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 such Restricted Subsidiary, other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Obligations, that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets (or are otherwise extinguished by the transferee in connection with the transactions relating to such Disposition) and for which the Borrower and all such Restricted Subsidiaries have been released,

(ii) any notes or other obligations or securities received by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by the Borrower or such 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), in each case, within 180 days following the date of such Disposition, and

(iii) any Designated Non-cash Consideration received by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary in such Disposition having an aggregate fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) taken together with all other Designated Non-cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (iii)  that is at that time outstanding (but, to the extent that any such Designated Non-cash Consideration is sold or otherwise liquidated for cash, minus the lesser of (A) the amount of the cash received (less the cost of Disposition, if any) and (B) the initial amount of such Designated Non-cash Consideration) not to exceed $150 million at the time of receipt, with the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) of each item of Designated Non-cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value shall be deemed to be cash for purposes of this clause (x)  and for no other purpose.

SECTION 7.05. Restricted Payments . (a) The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

(i) declare or pay any dividend or make any other payment or distribution on account of the Borrower’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests (including the Capital Stock issued in connection with the Equity Contribution), including any dividend, payment or distribution payable in connection with any merger or consolidation, other than:

(A) dividends, payments or distributions payable in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Borrower; or

 

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(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;

(ii) purchase, redeem, repurchase, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of the Borrower (including in connection with any merger or consolidation), to the extent held by a Person other than the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary;

(iii) make any principal payment on, or purchase, redeem, repurchase, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value, in each case prior to any scheduled repayment, sinking fund payment or maturity, any Junior Indebtedness of the Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor other than the payment, purchase, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, acquisition or retirement of:

(A) Indebtedness permitted under Section  7.02(b)(vii) ; or

(B) Junior Indebtedness in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of purchase, 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 such Restricted Payment:

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

(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a Pro Forma Basis, the Borrower would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio test set forth in Section  7.02(a) for the most recently ended Test Period for which Required Financial Statements have been delivered; and

(3) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries (and not rescinded or refunded) after the Closing Date (including Restricted Payments permitted by Section  7.05(b)(i) , but excluding all other Restricted Payments permitted by Section  7.05(b) ), is less than the sum of (without duplication);

(A) (i) 100% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of the Borrower for the period (taken as one accounting period) beginning on the first day of the fiscal quarter during which the Closing Date occurs to the end of the Borrower’s most recently ended Test Period for which Required Financial Statements have been delivered at the time of such Restricted Payment, minus (ii) the product of (x) 1.4 and (y) Consolidated Interest Expense of the Borrower for the same period (taken as one accounting period); plus

 

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(B) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds and the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) of marketable securities or other property received by the Borrower from the issuance or sale of Equity Interests of the Borrower (other than a Specified Equity Contribution, Disqualified Stock or Refunding Capital Stock (as defined below)) or otherwise contributed to the equity (other than through an issuance of Disqualified Stock) of the Borrower after the Closing Date (other than an issuance or sale to a Subsidiary of the Borrower or an issuance or sale to an employee stock ownership plan or other trust established by the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent funded by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries); plus

(C) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds and the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) of marketable securities or other property received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary from the issuance or sale (other than to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary or to an employee stock ownership plan or other trust established by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries to the extent funded by the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries) by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary after the Closing Date of any Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock that has been converted into or exchanged for Equity Interests of the Borrower (other than Disqualified Stock), plus , without duplication, any cash proceeds and the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) of marketable securities or other property received by the Borrower or any Restricted subsidiary upon such conversion or exchange; plus

(D) in the event that the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary has made or makes any Investment in a Person subsequent to the Closing Date that, as a result of or in connection with such Investment, becomes a Subsidiary Guarantor, an amount equal to the existing Investment of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in such Person to the extent it was previously treated as a Restricted Payment.

(b) The provisions of the preceding clause (a)  will not prohibit any of the following (collectively, “ Permitted Payments ”):

(i) the payment of any dividend or distribution or the consummation of any irrevocable redemption within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof or the giving of such irrevocable notice, as applicable, if at the date of declaration or the giving of such notice such payment would have complied with the provisions of this Agreement;

(ii) the purchase, redemption, defeasance, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of any Equity Interests of the Borrower or of Junior Indebtedness of any Loan Party, in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent issuance or sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary or to an employee stock ownership plan or other trust established by the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent funded by the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries) of, Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Borrower (collectively, the “ Refunding Capital Stock ”);

(iii) the purchase, redemption, defeasance, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of (x) Junior Indebtedness of any Loan Party made by, in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent incurrence of, Indebtedness of any Loan Party or (y) Disqualified Stock of any Loan Party made in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent issuance of Disqualified Stock of any Loan Party, in each case that is incurred in compliance with Section  7.02 ) so long as:

(A) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such new Indebtedness or the liquidation preference of such new Disqualified Stock does not exceed the principal amount of (or accreted value, if applicable), plus any accrued and unpaid interest on, the Junior Indebtedness or the liquidation preference of, plus any

 

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accrued and unpaid dividends on, the Disqualified Stock, as applicable, being so purchased, redeemed, defeased, repurchased, retired or acquired for value, plus the amount of any premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument governing the Junior Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock being so purchased, redeemed, defeased, repurchased, acquired or retired and any fees and expenses incurred in connection with the issuance of such new Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock;

(B) such new Indebtedness is subordinated to the Loans or the applicable Guarantee and the Collateral at least to the same extent as such Junior Indebtedness so purchased, redeemed, defeased, repurchased, retired or acquired;

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

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

(iv) a Restricted Payment to pay for the purchase, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition for value of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Borrower held by any future, present or former member of management, employee, director or consultant 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 stock subscription or shareholder agreement or upon the termination of such member’s, employee’s, director’s or consultant’s employment or directorship; provided , however , that the aggregate Restricted Payments made under this Section  7.05(b)(iv) do not exceed in any calendar year $50 million (with unused amounts in any calendar year being carried over for one additional calendar year); provided further, that such amount in any calendar year may be increased by an amount not to exceed:

(A) the cash proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests (other than a Specified Equity Contribution or Disqualified Stock) of the Borrower to future, present or former members of management, employees, directors or consultants 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

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

(C) the amount of any Restricted Payments previously made with the cash proceeds described in clauses (A)  and (B) of this Section  7.05(b)(iv) ;

and provided further , that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary from any future, present or former members of management, employees, directors or consultants of the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Restricted Subsidiaries 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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(v) purchases, redemptions, defeasances, repurchases or other acquisitions of Equity Interests deemed to occur (i) upon exercise of stock options, stock appreciation rights or warrants if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options, stock appreciation rights or warrants or (ii) for purposes of satisfying any required tax withholding obligation upon the exercise or vesting of a grant or award that was granted or awarded to an employee;

(vi) other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount taken together with all other outstanding Restricted Payments made pursuant to this Section  7.05(b)(vi) , not to exceed $250 million;

(vii) distributions or payments of Receivables Fees;

(viii) any Restricted Payment attributable to, or arising or made in connection with the Transactions and the fees and expenses related thereto;

(ix) the repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of Equity Interests of the Borrower deemed to occur in connection with paying cash in lieu of fractional shares of such Equity Interests in connection with a share dividend, distribution, share split, reverse share split, merger, consolidation, amalgamation or other business combination of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, in each case permitted under this Agreement;

(x) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition for value of Equity Interests of the Borrower deemed to occur in connection with paying cash in lieu of fractional shares of such Equity Interests in connection with a share dividend, distribution, share split, reverse share split, merger, consolidation, amalgamation or other business combination of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, in each case permitted under this Agreement;

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

(xii) for any taxable period in which the taxable income of the Borrower and/or any of its Subsidiaries is included in a consolidated, combined or similar income tax group of which a direct or indirect parent of the Borrower is the common parent (a “ Tax Group ”), an amount not to exceed the tax liabilities that the Borrower and the applicable Subsidiaries, in the aggregate, would have been required to pay in respect of such taxable income if the Borrower and such Subsidiaries were a standalone group of corporations separate from such Tax Group (it being understood and agreed that, if the Borrower or any Subsidiary pays any portion of such tax liabilities directly to any taxing authority, a Restricted Payment in duplication of such amount shall not be permitted to be made pursuant to this clause (xii) ;

(xiii) the declaration and payment of regularly scheduled or accrued dividends to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiaries issued or incurred in accordance with Section  7.02 ;

(xiv) payments of cash, or dividends, distributions or advances by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to allow the payment of cash in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares upon the exercise of options or warrants or upon the conversion or exchange of Capital Stock of any such Person; and

(xv) mandatory redemptions or repurchases of Disqualified Stock the issuance of which itself constituted a Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment otherwise permissible hereunder;

 

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

For purposes of clauses (ii)  and (iii) above, a Restricted Payment shall be deemed to have been made substantially concurrently with the applicable event if made or irrevocably committed to be made within 90 days of such event.

The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) shall be the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) on the date of such Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities proposed to be paid, transferred or issued by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to such Restricted Payment.

SECTION 7.06. Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to:

(a) (i) pay dividends or make any other distributions to the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries on its Capital Stock, or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, or (ii) pay any Indebtedness owed to the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(b) make loans or advances to the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or

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

except (in each case) for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

(1) contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Closing Date on substantially the terms described in the Offering Memorandum, including those arising under the Loan Documents;

(2) (i) the Senior Notes Indenture, the Senior Notes and, in each case, the guarantees thereunder and (ii) any agreement governing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section  7.02 ; provided that the provisions relating to restrictions of the type described in clauses (a)  through (c) above contained in such agreement, taken as a whole, are (in the good faith determination of the Borrower) not materially more restrictive than the provisions contained in this Agreement or in the Senior Notes Indenture, in each case as in effect when initially executed;

(3) purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business and Capitalized Lease Obligations that impose restrictions of the nature discussed in clause (c)  above on the property so acquired or leased;

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

(5) any agreement or other instrument of a Person (including an Unrestricted Subsidiary that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary whether by redesignation or otherwise) acquired by or merged or consolidated with or into the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in existence at the time of such transaction (but 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 and its Subsidiaries, or the property or assets of the Person and its Subsidiaries, so acquired;

 

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(6) contracts for the sale of assets, including customary restrictions with respect to a Subsidiary of the Borrower, that impose restrictions solely on the assets to be sold;

(7) any Hedging Obligations;

(8) Secured Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred pursuant to Sections 7.01 and 7.02 ;

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

(10) other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries permitted to be incurred subsequent to the Closing Date pursuant to Section  7.02 ;

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

(12) customary provisions contained in leases, sub-leases, licenses or sub-licenses, permits, contracts and other agreements, in each case, entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(13) any agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business, not relating to Indebtedness and that do not, individually or in the aggregate, materially impair (in the good faith determination of the Borrower) the ability of the Borrower or the Subsidiary Guarantors to pay the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, L/C Obligations or any other Obligations;

(14) any agreement for the sale or other Disposition of all or substantially all the Capital Stock or the assets of a Restricted Subsidiary to the extent it restricts distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary pending such sale or other Disposition;

(15) customary provisions imposed on the transfer of copyrighted or patented materials;

(16) encumbrances or restrictions relating to the IPC Media Ltd. pension scheme;

(17) any encumbrances or restrictions of the type referred to in clauses (a) , (b) and (c)  above 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 (16) above; provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the good faith determination 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; and

 

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(18) restrictions created in connection with any Receivables Facility that, in the good faith determination of the Borrower, are necessary or advisable to effect such Receivables Facility; provided that such restrictions apply only to the applicable Receivables Subsidiary.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section  7.06 , (i) the priority of any Preferred Stock in receiving dividends or liquidating distributions prior to dividends or liquidating distributions being paid on common stock will not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make distributions on Capital Stock and (ii) the subordination of loans or advances made to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to other Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary will not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make loans or advances.

SECTION 7.07. Transactions with Affiliates . (a) The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the Borrower (each of the foregoing, an “ Affiliate Transaction ”) involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $25 million, unless:

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

(ii) any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $100 million is approved by a majority of the Board of Directors of the Borrower; and

(iii) the Borrower delivers to the Administrative Agent with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $200 million, an opinion as to the fairness to the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary of such Affiliate Transaction from a financial point of view issued by an Independent Financial Advisor.

(b) The foregoing provisions will not apply to the following:

(1) transactions between or among the Borrower and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (including transactions between or among the Borrower’s Restricted Subsidiaries) (or an entity that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of, or in connection with, such transaction, so long as neither such entity nor the selling entity was an Affiliate of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary prior to such transaction);

(2) Restricted Payments permitted to be made pursuant to Section  7.05 or Permitted Investments;

(3) the payment of reasonable fees and compensation paid to, and indemnities and reimbursements and employment, benefit and severance arrangements and agreements provided on behalf of, or entered into with, officers, directors, employees or consultants of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(4) (i) any agreement or arrangement as in effect as of the Closing Date (or transactions pursuant thereto), or (ii) any amendment, modification or supplement to the agreements referenced in clause (i)  above or any replacement thereof, as long as the terms of such

 

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agreement or arrangement, as so amended, modified, supplemented or replaced are not materially more disadvantageous to the Lenders when taken as a whole compared to the applicable agreements or arrangements as in effect on the Closing Date, as determined in good faith by the Borrower;

(5) the Transactions;

(6) transactions with customers, clients, suppliers, 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 and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Agreement which are fair to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in the reasonable determination of the Board of Directors of the Borrower or the senior management thereof, or are on terms at least as favorable as might reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party;

(7) the issuance or transfer of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Borrower and the granting of registration and other customary rights in connection therewith;

(8) sales of accounts receivable, or participations therein, in connection with any Receivables Facility;

(9) payments or loans (or cancellation of loans) to employees, directors or consultants of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and employment agreements, benefit plans, equity plans, stock option and stock ownership plans and other similar arrangements with such employees, directors or consultants which, in each case, are approved by the Borrower in good faith;

(10) transactions with joint ventures for the purchase or sale of goods, equipment and services entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(11) transactions in which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, has delivered 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 meets the requirements of Section  7.07 (a)(i) ;

(12) the issuances of securities or other payments, loans (or cancellation of loans), awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment arrangements, benefit plans, equity plans, stock option and stock ownership plans or similar employee benefit plans approved by the Board of Directors of the Borrower in good faith;

(13) any transaction with a Person (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary) that would constitute an Affiliate Transaction solely because the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries owns an Equity Interest in or otherwise controls such Person;

(14) any transaction in which the only consideration paid by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is in the form of Equity Interest (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Borrower to Affiliates of the Borrower or any contribution to the capital of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than in consideration of Disqualified Stock);

 

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(15) the provision to Unrestricted Subsidiaries of cash management, accounting, business and strategic management, legal, human resources, centralized purchasing, leasing and other overhead services (including any necessary or incidental use of equipment, goods or services involving intellectual property that are related to the foregoing) in the ordinary course of business undertaken in good faith and not for the purpose of circumventing any covenant set forth in this Agreement;

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

(17) transactions between the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and any Person that would constitute an Affiliate Transaction solely because a director of which is also a director of the Borrower or any other direct or indirect parent of the Borrower; provided , however , that such director abstains from voting as a director of the Borrower or such direct or indirect parent of the Borrower, as the case may be, on any matter involving such other Person;

(18) payments by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to tax sharing agreements among the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; and

(19) intercompany transactions undertaken after consultation of the Borrower with the Administrative Agent for the purpose of improving the consolidated tax efficiency of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries and not for the purpose of circumventing any covenant set forth herein, so long as, after giving effect thereto, the security interest of the Lenders in the Collateral, taken as a whole, is not materially impaired.

SECTION 7.08. Financial Covenant . The Borrower shall not permit the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of any Test Period to be higher than 4.25 to 1.00.

The provisions of this Section  7.08 are for the benefit of the Revolving Credit Lenders only and the Required Class Lenders for the Revolving Credit Facility may amend, waive or otherwise modify this Section  7.08 or the defined terms used for purposes of this Section  7.08 (but solely for such purposes) or waive any Default resulting from a breach of this Section  7.08 without the consent of any Lenders other than such Required Class Lenders in accordance with the provisions of clause (iv)  of the second proviso of Section  10.01(a) .

Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section  7.08 shall be in effect (and shall only be in effect) when the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Revolving Credit Loans, Swingline Loans and Letters of Credit (other than Letters of Credit that have been Cash Collateralized) exceeds 30% of the Revolving Credit Commitments at the end of the applicable Test Period.

SECTION 7.09. Accounting Changes . The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, make any change in its fiscal year; provided , however , that the Borrower may, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent, change the fiscal year of the Target and its Subsidiaries to the fiscal year of the Borrower.

SECTION 7.10. Change in Nature of Business . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, engage in any business other than Similar Businesses, except as would not be material to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

SECTION 7.11. Sale and Lease-Back Transactions . The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, enter into any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction; provided , that the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may enter into a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction if (a) the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, could have (i) incurred Indebtedness in an amount equal to the Attributable Indebtedness relating to such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction under Section  7.02 , (ii) incurred a Lien to secure such Indebtedness pursuant to Section  7.01 and (b) the transfer of assets in such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction is permitted by Section  7.04 .

 

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SECTION 7.12. Modifications of Organizational Documents . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, terminate, amend, modify or change any of its Organizational Documents (including by filing or modification of any certificate of designation) or any agreement to which it is a party with respect to its Equity Interests (including any stockholders’ agreement), other than any such amendments, modifications or changes or such new agreements which are not materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders.

SECTION 7.13. Sanctions . The Borrower will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the Loans, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner, or other Person (i) to fund any activities or business of or with any Person, or in any country or territory, that, at the time of such funding, is, or whose government is, the subject of Sanctions, or (ii) in any other manner that would result in a violation of Sanctions by any Person (including any Person participating in the Loans, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor, or otherwise).

ARTICLE VIII

EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

SECTION 8.01. Events of Default . Any of the following shall constitute an event of default (an “ Event of Default ”):

(a) Non-Payment . Any Loan Party fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid herein, any amount of principal of any Loan, (ii) within three Business Days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan or (iii) within five Business Days after the same becomes due, any other amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document; or

(b) Specific Covenants . The Borrower fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Sections 6.03(a) or 6.05(a) (solely with respect to the existence of the Borrower), Section  6.15 , or Article VII ; provided , that a Default as a result of a breach of Section  7.08 (a “ Financial Covenant Event of Default ”) shall not constitute an Event of Default with respect to any Term Loans, Incremental Term Loans or Extended Term Loans unless and until the Revolving Credit Lenders have declared all amounts outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility to be immediately due and payable and all outstanding Revolving Credit Commitments to be immediately terminated, in each case in accordance with this Agreement (the “ Term Loan Standstill Period ”); or

(c) Other Defaults . Any Loan Party (other than a Loan Party that is an Immaterial Subsidiary) fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in Section  8.01(a) or (b)  above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for 30 days following the date of receipt by the Borrower of notice thereof from the Administrative Agent (given at the request of any Lender); or

(d) Representations and Warranties . Any representation, warranty or certification made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower or any other Loan Party (other than a Loan Party that is an Immaterial Subsidiary) herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document required to be delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made; or

 

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(e) Cross-Default . The Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (i) fails to make any payment beyond the applicable grace period with respect thereto, if any (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise) in respect of any Indebtedness (including any outstanding letters of credit thereunder, but other than Indebtedness hereunder) having an aggregate principal amount of not less than the Threshold Amount, or (ii) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness, or any other event occurs that would constitute a default under such Indebtedness (other than, with respect to Indebtedness consisting of Swap Contracts, termination events or equivalent events pursuant to the terms of such Swap Contracts), the effect of which default is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made or require cash collateralization thereof, prior to its stated maturity; provided , that this clause (e)(ii) 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; or

(f) Insolvency Proceedings, Etc . (i) Any Loan Party (other than a Loan Party that is an Immaterial Subsidiary) or any Material Non-Guarantor 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 (ii) any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator, administrator, administrative receiver or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Loan Party (other than a Loan Party that is an Immaterial Subsidiary) or Material Non-Guarantor Subsidiary and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for 60 calendar days; or (iii) any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any Loan Party (other than a Loan Party that is an Immaterial Subsidiary) or Material Non-Guarantor Subsidiary or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for 60 calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or (iv) any Loan Party (other than a Loan Party that is an Immaterial Subsidiary) or any Material Non-Guarantor Subsidiary becomes unable or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due; or

(g) Judgments; Attachments. (i) There is entered against any Loan Party (other than a Loan Party that is an Immaterial Subsidiary) or any Material Non-Guarantor Subsidiary a final judgment or order for the payment of money in an aggregate amount exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer has been notified of such judgment or order and has not disputed coverage) and such judgment or order shall not have been satisfied, vacated, discharged or stayed or bonded pending an appeal for a period of 60 consecutive days; or (ii) in respect of an obligation in excess of the Threshold Amount, any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is otherwise issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of the Loan Parties (other than a Loan Party that is an Immaterial Subsidiary) and any Material Non-Guarantor Subsidiary, taken as a whole, and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within 60 days after its issue or levy; or

(h) Invalidity of Guaranties . Any Guaranty by any Guarantor (other than a Loan Party that is an Immaterial Subsidiary) pursuant to Article XI hereof shall cease to be, or shall be asserted by any Loan Party (other than a Loan Party that is an Immaterial Subsidiary) not to be, in full force and effect, except as a result of the release or termination of such Guaranty in accordance with this Agreement; or

(i) Change of Control . There occurs any Change of Control; or

 

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(j) Collateral Documents . Any Lien created under any Collateral Document on assets of any Loan Party (other than a Loan Party that is an Immaterial Subsidiary) shall for any reason cease to be a valid Lien, perfected to the extent, and with the priority, required by the Collateral Documents, on and security interest in any material portion of the Collateral, subject to Liens permitted under Section  7.01 , except (i) 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 any stock certificate, promissory note or other instrument actually delivered to it under the Collateral Documents or to properly file Uniform Commercial Code financing statements or continuation statements, (ii) as a result of the release of any Lien or Liens in accordance with the Loan Documents or (iii) to the extent due to foreign Laws, rules and regulations as they relate to pledges of Equity Interests in Foreign Subsidiaries; or

(k) ERISA . (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in liability of a Loan Party, a Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate under Title IV of ERISA in an aggregate amount which would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) a Loan Party, any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount which would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or (iii) with respect to any Foreign Plan, a termination, withdrawal or noncompliance with applicable Law or plan terms or the foreclosure on any assets securing the U.K. Pension Security Obligations, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 8.02. Remedies Upon Event of Default . If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent may and, at the request of the Required Lenders, shall take any or all of the following actions (or, to the extent such Event of Default solely comprises a Financial Covenant Event of Default, prior to the expiration of the Term Loan Standstill Period, at the request of the Required Class Lenders with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility only, and in such case only with respect to the Revolving Credit Loans, Revolving Credit Commitments, and any Letters of Credit):

(a) declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuers to make L/C Credit Extensions to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;

(b) declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Loan Parties;

(c) require that the Borrower Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to the then Outstanding Amount thereof); and

(d) 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 subject to Section  8.02(e) hereof;

provided , that upon the entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the United States Bankruptcy Code (11 U.S.C. § 101, et seq.), the obligation of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuers to make L/C Credit Extensions shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable and the obligation of the Borrower to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations as aforesaid shall automatically become effective, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

 

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(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, any foreclosure on, sale, transfer or other disposition of any Collateral or any other action taken or proposed to be taken hereunder that would affect the operational, voting, or other control of any Loan Party or affect the ownership of any FCC License issued by the Federal Communications Commission (the “ FCC ”) to a Loan Party shall be in accordance with the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Communications Act ”) and, if and to the extent required thereby, subject to the prior consent of the FCC and any other applicable Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (i) the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall not take any action pursuant hereto that would constitute or result in any assignment of any FCC License or the transfer of control of any Loan Party if such assignment or transfer of control would require, under then existing law (including the Communications Act), the prior approval of the FCC, without first obtaining such approval of the FCC and notifying the FCC of the consummation of such assignment or transfer of control (to the extent required to do so); (ii) voting rights in any Collateral representing direct or indirect control of any FCC License shall remain with the FCC-approved holder thereof notwithstanding the existence of any Event of Default until all required consents of the FCC shall have been obtained; (iii) if the Administrative Agent or the Lenders exercise any remedies of foreclosure in respect to any such pledged interest following the occurrence of an Event of Default, there shall be either a private or public arm’s-length sale of such pledged interest; and (iv) prior to the exercise of voting rights by any purchaser at a public or private arm’s-length sale of any Collateral representing direct or indirect control of any FCC License, the consent and approval of the FCC as required pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 310(d) of the Communications Act of 1934 shall have first been obtained. The Collateral shall not include any FCC License or other authorization issued by the FCC to the extent (but only to the extent) that at such time the Administrative Agent or the Lenders may not validly possess a security interest therein pursuant to applicable Communications Laws, but the Collateral shall include, to the maximum extent permitted by law, all rights incident or appurtenant to any FCC License and the right to receive any consideration or proceeds derived from or in connection with the sale, assignment or transfer of any FCC License. Each Loan Party agrees to use its best efforts to take any lawful action which the Administrative Agent may request in order to obtain and enjoy the full rights and benefits granted to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders by this Agreement, including, but not limited to, after the occurrence of an Event of Default, the use of such Loan Party’s best efforts to assist in obtaining any approval of the FCC and any other Governmental Authority that is then required under the Communications Act or under any other Law for any action or transaction contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, the sale or transfer of Collateral.

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 and the L/C Obligations have automatically been required to be Cash Collateralized as set forth in the proviso to Section 8.02 ), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order (to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law):

First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (other than principal and interest, but including Attorney Costs payable under Section  10.04 and amounts payable under Article III ) payable to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent in its capacity as such;

Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest) payable to the Lenders (including Attorney Costs payable under Section  10.04 and amounts payable under Article III ), ratably among them in proportion to the amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;

 

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Third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans, Swingline Loans and L/C Borrowings, and any fees, premiums and scheduled periodic payments due under Treasury Services Agreements or Secured Hedge Agreements, ratably among the Secured Parties in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;

Fourth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans, Swingline Loans and L/C Borrowings (including to Cash Collateralize that portion of L/C Obligations comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit), and any breakage, termination or other payments under Treasury Services Agreements or Secured Hedge Agreements, ratably among the Secured Parties in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them;

Fifth, to the payment of all other Obligations of the Borrower that are due and payable to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties on such date, ratably based upon the respective aggregate amounts of all such Obligations owing to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties on such date; and

Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been paid in full, as directed by the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.

Subject to Section  2.03(c) , amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to clause Fourth above shall be applied to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they occur. If any amount remains on deposit as Cash Collateral after all Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount shall be applied to the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above and, if no Obligations remain outstanding, as directed by the Borrower.

SECTION 8.04. Equity Cure . (a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 8.01, in the event that the Borrower fails to comply with the requirements of the covenant under Section 7.08 at the end of any fiscal quarter, from and after the beginning of the relevant fiscal quarter until the expiration of the tenth (10th) Business Day subsequent to the date the financial statements are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or Section 6.01(b) , as applicable, any net cash proceeds of any common equity contribution made, directly or indirectly to the Borrower, or any net cash proceeds of any issuance of Qualified Equity Interests of the Borrower, in each case, from and after the beginning of the fiscal quarter then ended for which the Borrower has failed to comply with Section 7.08 and/or following the end of such fiscal quarter and on or prior to such tenth (10th) Business Day, in each case in an aggregate amount equal to the amount necessary to cure the relevant failure to comply with such covenant may, at the election of the Borrower be included in the calculation of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for purposes of determining compliance with such covenant (the “ Cure Right ”), and upon the receipt by the Borrower of such cash proceeds (the “ Cure Amount ”), such covenant shall be recalculated with Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA being increased by such Cure Amount; and

(b) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) in each four-fiscal-quarter period of the Borrower there shall be at least two (2) fiscal quarters in which the Cure Right is not exercised, and the Cure Right may not be exercised more than five (5) times during the term of this Agreement, (ii) the Cure Amount shall not exceed the amount required to cause the Borrower to be in compliance with the covenant under Section  7.08 ; (iii) Cure Amounts shall only be counted as Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for a fiscal quarter for which a Cure Right is exercised and solely for the purpose of compliance with Section  7.08 and not for any other purposes under the Loan Documents, (iv)

 

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from and after the date on which the Borrower provides notice of their intention to use the Cure Right, (A) no Default or Event of Default shall be deemed to have occurred or be continuing with respect to Section  7.08 unless the Cure Amount is not paid by the date so required (provided that, if the Cure Amount is not paid on or before the date the Borrower’s ability to cure has lapsed without exercise of the Cure Right, such Event of Default or potential Event of Default shall be deemed, to exist from the date of the end of the applicable fiscal quarter) and (B) neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender or Secured Party shall exercise any remedy under the Loan Documents or applicable law on the basis of an Event of Default caused by the failure to comply with Section  7.08 until the earliest of (x) the date the Borrower’s ability to cure has lapsed without exercise of the Cure Right and (y) the date the Borrower confirms in writing that they do not intend to exercise the Cure Right. No Lender will be required to extend new Revolving Credit Loans or issue or extend new Letters of Credit until the date the Cure Amount is received. To the extent that the Cure Amount (x) is used to repay Indebtedness, there shall be no pro forma or other reduction in Indebtedness with the Cure Amount for determining compliance with Section  7.08 for the for any period which includes the fiscal quarter for which a Cure Right is exercised or (y) is not used to repay Indebtedness, there shall be no reduction in Indebtedness by cash netting for determining compliance with Section  7.08 for any period which includes the fiscal quarter for which a Cure Right is exercised.

ARTICLE IX

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND OTHER AGENTS

SECTION 9.01. Appointment and Authority . (a) Each of the Lenders and the L/C Issuers hereby irrevocably appoints Royal Bank to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent and the Collateral 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 (other than Sections 9.07 and 9.09 ) are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers, and neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.

(b) The Administrative Agent shall also act as the Collateral Agent under the Loan Documents, and each of the Lenders (including in its capacity as a potential Hedge Bank) and the L/C Issuers hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to act as the agent of such Lender and such L/C Issuer 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  9.02 for purposes of holding or enforcing any Lien on the Collateral (or any portion thereof) granted under the Collateral Documents, or for exercising any rights and remedies thereunder at the direction of the Administrative Agent), shall be entitled to the benefits of all provisions of this Article IX and Article X (including Section  10.04(c) , as though such co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact were the Collateral Agent under the Loan Documents) as if set forth in full herein with respect thereto.

SECTION 9.02. Delegation of Duties . The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.

 

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SECTION 9.03. Exculpatory Provisions . The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:

(a) shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;

(b) shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents); provided , that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law; and

(c) shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.

(d) The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it 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 ), in each case in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, a Lender or an L/C Issuer.

(e) The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any 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.

SECTION 9.04. Reliance by Administrative Agent . The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and reasonably believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms

 

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must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or an L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or such L/C Issuer unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or L/C Issuer prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

SECTION 9.05. Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders; Certain ERISA Matters . (a) Each Lender and L/C Issuer acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender and L/C Issuer also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

(b) Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent and each Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that at least one of the following is and will be true:

(i) such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans or the Commitments;

(ii) the prohibited transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable so as to exempt from the prohibitions of Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code, such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement;

(iii) (A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement; or

(iv) such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.

 

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(c) In addition, unless sub-clause (i)  in the immediately preceding clause (b)  is true with respect to a Lender or such Lender has not provided another representation, warranty and covenant as provided in sub-clause (iv)  in the immediately preceding clause (b) , such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent and each Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that:

(i) none of the Administrative Agent or the Arrangers or their respective Affiliates is a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related to hereto or thereto);

(ii) the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement is independent (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-21) and is a bank, an insurance carrier, an investment adviser, a broker-dealer or other person that holds, or has under management or control, total assets of at least $50 million, in each case as described in 29 CFR § 2510.3-21(c)(1)(i)(A)-(E);

(iii) the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement is capable of evaluating investment risks independently, both in general and with regard to particular transactions and investment strategies (including in respect of the Loan Document Obligations);

(iv) the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement is a fiduciary under ERISA or the Code, or both, with respect to the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement and is responsible for exercising independent judgment in evaluating the transactions hereunder; and

(v) no fee or other compensation is being paid directly to the Administrative Agent or any Arranger or any their respective Affiliates for investment advice (as opposed to other services) in connection with the Loans, the Commitments or this Agreement.

(d) The Administrative Agent and each Arranger hereby informs the Lenders that each such Person is not undertaking to provide impartial investment advice, or to give advice in a fiduciary capacity, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and that such Person has a financial interest in the transactions contemplated hereby in that such Person or an Affiliate thereof (i) may receive interest or other payments with respect to the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, (ii) may recognize a gain if it extended the Loans or the Commitments for an amount less than the amount being paid for an interest in the Loans or the Commitments by such Lender or (iii) may receive fees or other payments in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, the Loan Documents or otherwise, including structuring fees, commitment fees, arrangement fees, facility fees, upfront fees, underwriting fees, ticking fees, agency fees, administrative agent or collateral agent fees, utilization fees, minimum usage fees, letter of credit fees, fronting fees, deal-away or alternate transaction fees, amendment fees, processing fees, term out premiums, banker’s acceptance fees, breakage or other early termination fees or fees similar to the foregoing.

 

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SECTION 9.06. Rights as a Lender . The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

SECTION 9.07. Resignation of Administrative Agent . The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, with the Borrower’s consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed and, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, shall not be required), to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders (with the consent of the Borrower, if so required) and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may (with the Borrower’s consent, as aforesaid) on behalf of the Lenders and the L/C Issuers, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above; provided , that if, after the expiry of such 30 day period, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment and that it elects that its resignation become effective, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (a) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders or the L/C Issuers 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 (b) all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender and the L/C Issuers directly (or, in the case of determinations, by the Required Lender), until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above in this Section. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section). The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 10.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent.

Any resignation by Royal Bank as Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section  9.07 shall also constitute its resignation as a L/C Issuer and Swingline Lender, unless it remains a Lender; provided that, if Royal Bank does not remain a Lender (i) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of Royal Bank as retiring L/C Issuer and Swingline Lender and (ii) Royal Bank shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents as a Swingline Lender and as an L/C Issuer except with respect to Letters of Credit previously issued by it.

 

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SECTION 9.08. 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 or L/C Obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) 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, the L/C Issuers and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts to the extent due to the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the Administrative Agent under Section  2.03(h) and (i) , 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 L/C Issuer to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, if the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due to 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 any L/C Issuer any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or any L/C Issuer to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender or any L/C Issuer or in any such proceeding.

SECTION 9.09. Collateral and Guaranty Matters . Each of the Lenders (including in its capacity as a potential Hedge Bank) and each L/C Issuer irrevocably authorize the Collateral Agent:

(a) to release any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document (i) upon termination of the Aggregate Commitments and payment in full of all Obligations (other than (A) contingent indemnification obligations and (B) obligations and liabilities under Treasury Services Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements, except as to amounts that are due and payable thereunder for which the Administrative Agent has received a written notice from the applicable Hedge Bank) and the expiration or termination of all Letters of Credit (other than Letters of Credit that have been Cash Collateralized or back-stopped by a letter of credit, or are otherwise subject to arrangements, in each case reasonably satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer), (ii) that is sold or to be sold or otherwise transferred as part of or in connection with any sale or other transfer permitted hereunder or under any other Loan Document to a Person that is not a Loan Party, (iii) that constitutes “Excluded Assets” (as such term is defined in the Security Agreement), (iv) if approved, authorized or ratified in writing in accordance with Section  10.01 , (v) if the property subject to such Lien is owned by a Guarantor, upon release of such Guarantor from its obligations under its Guaranty pursuant to clause (b)  below or (vi)  upon the terms of the Collateral Documents or the Intercreditor Agreement (if in effect), Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement (if in effect), or any other intercreditor agreement entered into pursuant hereto;

 

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(b) to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty (i) if such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary as a result of a transaction permitted hereunder, or becomes an Excluded Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary or (ii) upon termination of the Aggregate Commitments and payment in full of all Obligations (other than (A) contingent indemnification obligations and (B) obligations and liabilities under Treasury Services Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements, except as to amounts that are due and payable thereunder for which the Administrative Agent has received a written notice from the applicable Hedge Bank) and the expiration or termination of all Letters of Credit (other than Letters of Credit that have been Cash Collateralized or back-stopped by a letter of credit, or are otherwise subject to arrangements, in each case reasonably satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer); and

(c) to subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted by Section  7.01(6) (but solely in the case of Indebtedness incurred pursuant to clause (iv)  of Section  7.02(b) ).

Upon request by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent at any time, the Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release or subordinate its interest in particular types or items of property, or to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty pursuant to this Section  9.09 . The Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, will, at the Borrower’s expense, execute and deliver to the Borrower such documents as the Borrower may reasonably request to evidence the release of any item of Collateral from the assignment and security interest granted under the Collateral Documents or to subordinate its interest in such item, or to release any Loan Party from its obligations under the Guaranty, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents and this Section  9.09 .

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if, in compliance with the terms and provisions of Section  7.04 hereof, any portion of the Collateral is sold or otherwise transferred to a Person or Persons, none of which is a Loan Party, then such portion of the Collateral shall, upon the consummation of such sale or transfer, be automatically released from the Lien of the Collateral Agent pursuant to any Collateral Document.

The Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, as applicable, to enter into any Intercreditor Agreement, any Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement or other intercreditor agreement or arrangement permitted under this Agreement and the Lenders acknowledge that any such intercreditor agreement shall be binding upon the Lenders. The Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, as applicable, agree, upon the request of the Borrower and at the Borrower’s expense, to negotiate in good faith and enter into any Intercreditor Agreement, any Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement or other intercreditor agreement or arrangement permitted under this Agreement.

SECTION 9.10. No Other Duties, Etc . . Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Arrangers or Documentation Agents shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent a Lender or an L/C Issuer hereunder.

SECTION 9.11. Treasury Services Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements . No Hedge Bank that obtains the benefits of Section 8.03 , the Guaranty or any Collateral Document by virtue of the provisions hereof or of the 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

 

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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 Treasury Services 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 Hedge Bank, as the case may be.

SECTION 9.12. Withholding Tax . To the extent required by any applicable Laws (as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent), the Administrative Agent may withhold from any payment to any Lender under any Loan Document 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 payment in respect thereof within 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 demonstrable 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 9.12 . The agreements in this Section 9.12 shall survive the resignation and/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. For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Lender” shall, for purposes of this Section 9.12 , include each L/C Issuer and Swingline Lender.

ARTICLE X

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 10.01. Amendments, Etc . . (a) Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, none of this Agreement, any Loan Document or any provision hereof or thereof may be waived, amended or modified except, in the case of this Agreement, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrower and the Required Lenders or, in the case of any other Loan Document, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Administrative Agent and the Loan Party or Loan Parties that are parties thereto, in each case with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided that:

(i) 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 so long as, in each case, the Lenders shall have received at least five Business Days’ prior written notice thereof and the Administrative Agent shall not have received, within five 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;

(ii) no such agreement shall:

 

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(A) increase any Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender;

(B) except as expressly provided otherwise in the definition of Eurocurrency Rate, reduce or forgive the principal amount of any Loan or payment obligation in respect of any L/C Obligation or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby; provided that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the Default Rate or change the amount of the Default Rate;

(C) postpone the maturity of any Loan, or the required date of reimbursement of any L/C Obligation, or any date for the payment of any interest or fees payable hereunder, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date of expiration of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby (it being understood that the waiver of any Default or any mandatory prepayment shall not constitute a postponement, waiver or excuse of any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts); provided that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the Default Rate or change the amount of the Default Rate;

(D) change Section  2.12(g) or 2.13 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby, or the definition of “Pro Rata Share”, in each case, without the written consent of each Lender;

(E) change any of the provisions of this Section or the percentage set forth in the definition of “Required Lenders”, “Required Class Lenders” or any other provision of any Loan Document specifying the number or percentage of Lenders (or Lenders of any Class) required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or thereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder or thereunder, without the written consent of each Lender (or each Lender of such Class, as the case may be);

(F) release all or substantially all of the Collateral in any transaction or series of related transactions, without the written consent of each Lender;

(G) release all or substantially all of the aggregate value of the Guarantees, without the written consent of each Lender;

(H) change any provision of any Loan Document in a manner that by its terms adversely affects the rights in respect of payments or prepayments due to Lenders with Commitments or Obligations of any Class differently than those with Commitments or Obligations of any other Class without the written consent of the Required Class Lenders of the adversely affected Class;

(I) change or waive any of the provisions in Section 4.02 as it relates to any Revolving Credit Loan, Swingline Loan or L/C Extension without the written consent of the Required Class Lenders under the Revolving Credit Facility; or

(J) change any of the provisions of Section  8.03 , without the written consent of each Lender adversely affected thereby;

 

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provided further that (i) no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of any Agent, the Swingline Lender or any L/C Issuer without the prior written consent of such Agent, the Swingline Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be; (ii) any waiver, amendment or modification of this Agreement that by its terms affects the rights or duties under this Agreement of one Class (but not of the other Classes) may be effected by an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrower and the requisite percentage in interest of the affected Lenders of such Class; (iii)  Section  10.06(h) may not be amended, waived or otherwise modified without the consent of each Granting Lender all or any part of whose Loans are being funded by an SPC at the time of such amendment, waiver or other modification; and (iv) no amendment, waiver or consent shall be made to modify Section  7.08 or any definition related thereto (as any such definition is used for purposes of Section  7.08 ) or waive any Default or Event of Default resulting from a failure to perform or observe the requirements of Section  7.08 without the written consent of the Required Class Lenders under the Revolving Credit Facility; provided , however , that the waivers described in this clause (iv)  shall not require the consent of any Lenders other than the Required Class Lenders under such Facility; and

(iii) the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (without the consent or approval of another Person) are expressly permitted to amend this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and to enter into customary intercreditor agreements as they determine to be necessary or appropriate to provide for the pari passu treatment of obligations secured by a Lien on the Collateral as provided for under Section  7.01(20) .

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no consent with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification of this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be required of any Defaulting Lender, except that (i) the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended, (ii) the maturity date of any Loan held by such Defaulting Lender may not be extended and (iii) the principal or interest in respect of any Loans held by such Defaulting Lender shall not be reduced or forgiven, in each case 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).

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any provision of this Agreement may be amended by an agreement in writing entered into by the Borrower, the Required Lenders and the Administrative Agent (and, if their rights or obligations are affected thereby, the other Agents, the Swingline Lender and the L/C Issuers) if (i) by the terms of such agreement the Commitments of each Lender not consenting to the amendment provided for therein shall terminate upon the effectiveness of such amendment and (ii) at the time such amendment becomes effective, each Lender not consenting thereto receives payment in full of the principal of and interest accrued on each Loan owed to it and all other amounts owing to it or accrued for its account under this Agreement.

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be amended (or amended and restated) with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (a) to add one or more additional Classes of 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 and the Revolving Credit Loans and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof and (b) to include appropriately the Lenders holding such credit facilities in any determination of the Required Lenders. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents may be amended as set forth in Sections 2.14 , 2.15 and 2.16 .

(e) If any Lender does not consent to a proposed amendment, waiver, consent or release with respect to any Loan Document that requires the consent of such Lender or each adversely affected Lender and that has been approved by the Required Lenders or Required Class Lenders (as applicable), the Borrower may replace such non-consenting Lender in accordance with Section  10.13 .

 

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(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Section  10.01 or in 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, 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 the Total Outstandings, aggregate unused Term Commitments and aggregate unused Revolving Credit Commitments held by any Affiliated Lenders shall be deemed to be not outstanding for all purposes of calculating whether the Required Lenders have taken any actions. In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, no Affiliated Lender shall have any right to (i) attend (including by telephone) any meeting or discussions (or portion thereof) among the Administrative Agent or any Lender to which representatives of the Borrower are not then present or (ii) receive any information or material prepared by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or any communication by or among Administrative Agent and one or more Lenders, except to the extent such information or materials have been made available to the Borrower or its representatives (and in any case, other than the right to receive notices of prepayments and other administrative notices in respect of its Loans required to be delivered to Lenders pursuant to Article II ).

SECTION 10.02. Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communications . (a)  Notices Generally . Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in clause (b)  below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing (including by electronic communication) and shall be delivered 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:

(i) if to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or the Swingline Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.02 of the Disclosure Letter; and

(ii) if to any Lender or L/C Issuer, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire (including, as appropriate, notices delivered solely to the Person designated by a Lender or L/C Issuer on its Administrative Questionnaire then in effect for the delivery of notices that may contain material non- public information relating to the Borrower).

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 telecopier shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient). Notices and other communications delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in clause (b)  below shall be effective as provided in such clause (b) .

(b) Electronic Communications . Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers 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;

 

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provided , that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or any L/C Issuer pursuant to Article II if such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided , that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the 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 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.

(c) 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 Related Parties (collectively, the “ Agent Parties ”) have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender, any L/C Issuer 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 nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence 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, any L/C Issuer or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages).

(d) Change of Address, Etc . Each of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Each Lender, L/C Issuer and Swingline Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by 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, telecopier 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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(e) Reliance by the Agents , L/C Issuer and Lenders . The Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the L/C Issuers, the Swingline Lender 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, the Collateral Agent, each L/C Issuer, the Swingline Lender, each Lender and the Related Parties 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 in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct by such Person. All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, may be recorded by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

SECTION 10.03. No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement . No failure by any Lender or the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided, and provided under each other Loan Document, are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by Law.

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 and the L/C Issuers; 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 L/C Issuer or the Swingline Lender from exercising the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as L/C Issuer or Swingline Lender (as applicable)) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (c) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section  10.08 (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.

SECTION 10.04. Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver . (a) Costs and Expenses . The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of a single firm of counsel for the Administrative Agent, and if reasonably required by the Administrative Agent, local or specialist firms of counsel (which may include a single firm of counsel acting in multiple

 

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jurisdictions)), in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated); (ii) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by an L/C Issuer in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder; and (iii) after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender, any Lender or any L/C Issuer (including the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of legal counsel for the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers) in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with this Agreement and the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit; provided that reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of such legal counsel shall be limited to (x) one primary firm of counsel for the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender the Lenders and the L/C Issuers and, if reasonably required by the Administrative Agent, local or specialist firms of counsel (which may include a single firm of counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions) and (y) if there is an actual or perceived conflict of interest that requires separate representation for any Lender and such Lender informs the Borrower of such conflict, in which case such Lender and those Lenders similarly affected shall, as a whole, be entitled to one separate firm of counsel and, to the extent reasonably necessary, local or specialist firms of counsel (which may include a single firm of counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions).

(b) Indemnification by the Borrower . The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), the Collateral Agent, each Documentation Agent, each Arranger, the Swingline Lender, each Lender and each L/C Issuer, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “ Indemnitee ”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities of any kind or nature and reasonable, documented and invoiced out-of-pocket fees and expenses (including the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket legal expenses of (x) one firm of counsel for all such Indemnitees, taken as a whole, and, if necessary, of a single firm of local counsel in each appropriate jurisdiction (which may include a single firm of special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions) for all such affected Indemnitees, taken as a whole and (y) if there is an actual or perceived conflict of interest that requires separate representation for any Indemnitee and such Indemnitee informs the Borrower of such conflict, one separate firm of counsel and, to the extent reasonably necessary, local or specialist firms of counsel (which may include a single firm of counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions) for such Indemnitee and similarly affected Indemnitees, taken as a whole), incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (including in connection with the arranging and syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein), or, in the case of the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents; (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by any L/C Issuer to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit); (iii) any actual or alleged presence or Release of Hazardous Materials at, on, under or emanating from any property owned, leased or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party or any of the Borrower’s or such Loan Party’s

 

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directors, shareholders or creditors, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided , that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from (A) the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or any of its Related Parties or (B) any material breach of the obligations of such Indemnitee or any of its Related Parties under the Loan Documents; (y) result from any such proceeding that does not involve an act or omission by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and that is brought by an Indemnitee against another Indemnitee (other than disputes involving claims against any Agent in its capacity as such) or (z) are incurred by an Indemnitee not acting in its capacity hereunder as a Lender, Agent, Swingline Lender, L/C Issuer or Related Party of any of the foregoing. This Section  10.04(b) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim.

(c) Reimbursement by Lenders . To the extent that the Borrower for any reason fails to indefeasibly pay any amount required under clause (a)  or (b) of this Section to be paid by it to an Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), the Swingline Lender, any L/C Issuer or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to such Agent (or any such sub-agent), the Swingline Lender, such L/C Issuer or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount; provided , that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against such Agent (or any such sub-agent), the Swingline Lender or such L/C Issuer in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for such Agent (or any such sub-agent), the Swingline Lender or such L/C Issuer in connection with such capacity. The obligations of the Lenders under this clause (c)  are subject to the provisions of Section  2.12(e) .

(d) Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc . To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof. No Indemnitee referred to in clause (b)  above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed to such unintended recipients by such Indemnitee through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby other than for direct or actual damages resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee as determined by a final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

(e) Payments . All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than 10 Business Days after demand therefor.

(f) Survival . The agreements in this Section shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent and any L/C Issuer, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Loan Documents and the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.

SECTION 10.05. Payments Set Aside . To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower is made to any Agent or any Lender or L/C Issuer, or any Agent or any Lender or L/C Issuer 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

 

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pursuant to any settlement entered into by such Agent or such Lender or such L/C Issuer in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall, to the fullest extent possible under provisions of applicable Law, be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred; and (b) each Lender severally agrees to pay to the applicable Agent upon demand its applicable share of any amount so recovered from or repaid by such Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect.

SECTION 10.06. Successors and Assigns . (a)  Successors and Assigns Generally . The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that (other than as permitted pursuant to Section 7.03 ), neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an Eligible Assignee in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.06(b) ; (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.06(d) ; or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of Section 10.06(f) or (iv) to an SPC in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.06(h) (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 (i) the parties hereto, (ii) their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, (iii) Participants to the extent provided in clause (d)  of this Section and (iv) to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Agents, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

(b) Assignments by Lenders . Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more Eligible Assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment (or Commitments) and the Loans (including for purposes of this Section  10.06(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 under any Facility and the Loans at the time owing to it under such Facility or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and

(B) in any case not described in clause (b)(i)(A) of this Section, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $5 million, in the case of any assignment in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility, or $1 million, in the case of any assignment in respect of Term Loans, unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default under Section  8.01(a) or (f) (excluding sub-clause (iv)  of such clause (f) ) has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents; provided , however , that concurrent assignments to members of an Assignee Group and

 

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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 each applicable Facility, except that this clause (ii)  shall not prohibit any Lender from assigning all or a portion of its rights and obligations under one Facility on a non- pro rata basis relative to its rights and obligations under another Facility.

(iii) Required Consents . No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by clause (b)(i)(B) of this Section 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(a) or (f) (excluding sub-clause (iv)  of such clause (f) ) has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund (which, in the case of an assignment in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility, shall be a Revolving Credit Lender, an Affiliate of a Revolving Credit Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender; provided , that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within 10 Business Days after having received notice thereof;

(B) the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for assignments in respect of (1) any Term Commitment or Revolving Credit Commitment (and associated Revolving Credit Loans and participations in L/C Obligations) if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender with a Commitment in respect of the applicable Facility or (in the case of a Term Commitment only) an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender or (2) any Term Loan to a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; and

(C) the consent of the L/C Issuers and the Swingline Lender (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Revolving Credit Lender.

(iv) Assignment and Assumption . The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee in the amount of $3,500; provided , however , that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment. The assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

(v) No Assignment to Certain Persons . No such assignment shall be made (A) to the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries except as permitted by Section  10.06(i) , (B) to any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (B)  or (C) to a natural person.

 

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(vi) Certain Additional Payments . In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective (without the Borrower’s and the Administrative Agent’s consent) unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or subparticipations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon) and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans and participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage. 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, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of (and subject to the obligations and limitations of) Sections 3.01 , 3.04 , 3.05 and 10.04 with respect to amounts payable thereunder and accruing for such Lender’s benefit but not paid prior to the effective date of such assignment. Upon request, 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 Section 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  10.06(d) .

(c) Register . The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it 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 L/C Obligations owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “ Register ”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent demonstrable error and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent 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 and any Lender (with respect to its own interests only), at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. This Section  10.06(c) and Section  2.12 shall be construed so that all Loans are at all times maintained in “registered form” within the meaning of Section 163(f), 871(h)(2) and 881(c)(2) of the Code and the Treasury regulations thereunder.

(d) Participations . Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender or any L/C Issuer sell participations to any Eligible Assignee (each, a “ Participant ”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans (including such Lender’s participations in L/C Obligations) owing to it); provided , that (i) such Lender’s obligations

 

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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, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers 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 to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided , that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to Section  10.01 that adversely affects such Participant. Subject to clause (e)  of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01 , 3.04 and 3.05 (subject to the requirements and limitations of such Sections and Section  10.13 and the Participant’s compliance with Section  3.01(d) ) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section  10.06(b) . To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section  10.08 as though it were a Lender; provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section  2.13 as though it were a Lender.

Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters 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 demonstrable error, and the Borrower and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary; 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 Loans or other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that any Loans are in registered form for U.S. federal income tax purposes (including under Section 5F.103-1(c) of the Treasury regulations).

(e) Limitations upon Participant Rights . A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section  3.01 or 3.04 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results in a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation.

(f) Certain Pledges . Any Lender may at any time, without consent or notice, 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 central bank having jurisdiction over such Lender; 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) Resignation as L/C Issuer after Assignment . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if at any time any L/C Issuer assigns all of its Revolving Credit Commitment and Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to Section  10.06(b) , such L/C Issuer may, subject to the remainder of this paragraph, upon 30 days’ notice to the Borrower and the Lenders, resign as L/C Issuer. In the event of any such resignation as L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a successor L/C Issuer hereunder; provided , however , that no failure by the Borrower to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of such L/C Issuer. If any L/C Issuer resigns as L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of such L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as L/C Issuer and all L/C

 

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Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section  2.03(c)(i) ) . Upon the appointment of a successor L/C Issuer such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer.

(h) Special Purpose Funding Vehicles . 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) any grant of such an option to any SPC shall not constitute a novation, 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 in no event shall any Granting Lender be released from its obligations hereunder. Each party hereto hereby agrees that (i) each SPC shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01 , 3.04 and 3.05 (subject to the requirements and limitations of such Sections and Section  10.13 ) to the same extent as if it were a Granting Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section  10.06(b) ; provided , that an SPC shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section  3.01 or 3.04 than the applicable Granting Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the SPC granted to such SPC, (ii) no SPC shall be liable for any indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement for which a Lender would be liable; and (iii) the Granting Lender shall for all purposes, including the approval of any amendment, waiver or other modification of any provision of any Loan Document, remain the lender of record hereunder. The making of a Loan by an SPC hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent, and as if, such Loan were made by such Granting Lender. In furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby agrees (which agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement) that, prior to the date that is one year and one day after the payment in full of all outstanding commercial paper or other senior debt of any SPC, it will not institute against, or join any other Person in instituting against, such SPC any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, or liquidation proceeding under the laws of the United States or any State thereof. 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 in the amount 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 related 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.

(i) Assignments to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may acquire outstanding Term Loans, and each Term Lender shall have the right at any time to assign all or a portion of its Term Loans to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, on the following basis:

(i) such assignment shall be made pursuant to (A) an open-market transaction on a non-pro rata basis or (B) a Dutch Auction open to all Lenders of the applicable Class of Term Loans on a pro rata basis, and in each case the Borrower or such Subsidiary shall identify itself as such to the assignor Lender (it being agreed that such assignment shall be made pursuant to an assignment agreement in form and substance consistent with this paragraph (i)  and otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower and the assignor Lender; provided , that (A) the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as applicable, shall (1) make a customary representation to the assignor Lender to the effect that it does not possess material non-public information with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries or the securities of any of them that has not been disclosed to the Term Lenders generally (other than Term Lenders who have

 

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elected not to receive such information) other than information that the Borrower or such Subsidiary has offered to disclose to the assignor Lender and such Lender has declined to receive, or (2) make a statement that such representation cannot be made or the assignor Lender shall deliver to such assignee a customary “big boy” letter containing customary “big boy” assurance by the assignor Lender to the effect that it is a sophisticated investor and is willing to proceed with the assignment;

(ii) at the time of such assignment and after giving effect thereto, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

(iii) the Borrower shall not use the proceeds of Revolving Credit Loans to make such acquisition; and

(iv) upon any such acquisition by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of any Term Loans, such Term Loans shall, without further action by any Person, be deemed cancelled and no longer outstanding (and may not be resold by the Borrower or such Subsidiary) for all purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including with respect to (A) the making of, or the application of, any payments to the Lenders under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (B) the making of any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or (C) the determination of Required Lenders or Required Class Lenders, or for any similar or related purpose, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

SECTION 10.07. Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality . Each of the Agents, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates’ respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, 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 and that the disclosing party shall be liable for the failure of any such Persons to adhere to the requirements of this Section 10.07 ); (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners); (c) to the extent required by applicable Laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process; (d) to any other party hereto; (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder; (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, 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 (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction or securitization relating to the Borrower and its obligations, (g) with the consent of the Borrower; (h) on a confidential basis to 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; (i) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (ii) becomes available to an Agent, any Lender, any L/C Issuer or any of their respective Affiliates on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (or any of their respective representatives) that is not itself, to the knowledge of such Person, in breach of a confidentiality obligation to the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with the disclosure of such Information, (j) to any credit insurance provider relating to the Borrower and its obligations and (i) in consultation with the Borrower, to Rating Agencies.

For purposes of this Section, “ Information ” means all information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary (or any of their respective representatives) relating to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to any

 

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Agent, any Lender or any L/C Issuer on a non-confidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower or any Subsidiary (or any of their respective representatives). Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

Each of the Agents, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers acknowledges that (a) the Information may include 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 material non-public information; and (c) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws. In addition, any Agent or Lender may disclose the existence of this Agreement and the information about this Agreement to market data collectors, similar services providers to the lending industry, and service providers to any Agent or Lender in connection with the administration and management of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

SECTION 10.08. Setoff . In addition to any rights and remedies of the Lenders provided by Law, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, each Lender and its Affiliates (and the Collateral Agent, in respect of any unpaid fees, costs and expenses payable hereunder) is authorized at any time and from time to time, without prior notice to the Borrower, any such notice being waived by the Borrower (on its own behalf and on behalf of each Loan Party) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held by, and other Indebtedness at any time owing by, such Lender and its Affiliates or the Collateral Agent to or for the credit or the account of the respective Loan Parties against any and all Obligations owing to such Lender and its Affiliates or the Collateral Agent hereunder or under any other Loan Document, now or hereafter existing, irrespective of whether or not such Agent or such Lender or Affiliate shall have made demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such Obligations may be contingent or unmatured or denominated in a currency different from that of the applicable deposit or Indebtedness. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent after any such set off and application made by such Lender; provided , that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application. The rights of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and each Lender under this Section 10.08 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and such Lender may have.

SECTION 10.09. 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 or L/C Issuer 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 or L/C Issuer 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 10.10. Counterparts; Effectiveness . This Agreement and each other Loan Document may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery by telecopier or email pdf of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement and each other Loan Document shall be

 

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effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Agreement and such other Loan Document. The Agents may also require that any such documents and signatures delivered by telecopier or email pdf be confirmed by a manually signed original thereof; provided , that the failure to request or deliver the same shall not limit the effectiveness of any document or signature delivered by telecopier or email pdf. 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.

SECTION 10.11. Integration . This Agreement, together with the other Loan Documents, comprises the complete and integrated agreement of the parties on the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersedes all prior agreements, written or oral, on such subject matter. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and those of any other Loan Document, the provisions of this Agreement shall control; provided , that the inclusion of supplemental rights or remedies in favor of the Agents or the Lenders in any other Loan Document shall not be deemed a conflict with this Agreement. Each Loan Document was drafted with the joint participation of the respective parties thereto and shall be construed neither against nor in favor of any party, but rather in accordance with the fair meaning thereof.

SECTION 10.12. 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 or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding.

SECTION 10.13. Replacement of Lenders . If any Lender gives a notice under Section 3.02 or requests compensation under Section 3.04 , if 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 , if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, if Section 10.01(e) applies to any Lender or if 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, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 10.06 ), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that:

(A) the Administrative Agent shall have received the assignment fee specified in Section  10.06(b) , unless waived by it as provided therein;

(B) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to 100% of the outstanding principal of its Loans and L/C Advances and, other than in the case of a Defaulting Lender, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents from the assignee and any amounts payable by the Borrower then due pursuant to Section  3.01 , 3.04 or 3.05 from the Borrower (it being understood that the Assignment and Assumption relating to such assignment shall provide that any interest and fees that accrued prior to the effective date of the assignment shall be for the account of the replaced Lender and such amounts that accrue on and after the effective date of the assignment shall be for the account of the replacement Lender);

 

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(C) 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; and

(D) such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws.

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. Each Lender agrees that, if the Borrower elects to replace such Lender in accordance with this Section  10.13 , it shall promptly execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption to evidence the assignment and shall deliver to the Administrative Agent any Note (if Notes have been issued in respect of such Lender’s Loans) subject to such Assignment and Assumption; provided , that the failure of any such Lender to execute an Assignment and Assumption shall not render such assignment invalid and such assignment shall be recorded in the Register.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Borrower elects to replace a Term Lender in connection with a Repricing Transaction, such Lender shall be entitled to the Prepayment Premium paid in accordance with Section  2.05(a)(ii) .

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. Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.14 , if and to the extent that the enforceability of any provisions in this Agreement relating to Defaulting Lenders shall be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, as determined in good faith by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender or the applicable L/C Issuer, as applicable, then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent not so limited.

SECTION 10.15. GOVERNING LAW . THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CONFLICTS PROVISIONS THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION.

ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING UNDER ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO OR ANY OF THEM WITH RESPECT TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED THERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, SHALL BE BROUGHT IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK COUNTY OR OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK LOCATED IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN OR ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY SUCH COURT, AND BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT, EACH LOAN PARTY, EACH AGENT, EACH LENDER AND EACH L/C ISSUER CONSENTS, FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THOSE COURTS. EACH LOAN PARTY, EACH AGENT, EACH LENDER AND EACH L/C ISSUER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION, INCLUDING ANY

 

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OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OR BASED ON THE GROUNDS OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS, WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE BRINGING OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN SUCH JURISDICTION IN RESPECT OF ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR OTHER DOCUMENT RELATED THERETO. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENTS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES (OTHER THAN TELECOPIER) IN SECTION 10.02 . NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

SECTION 10.16. WAIVER OF RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY . 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.

SECTION 10.17. Binding Effect . This Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and the Loan Parties and the Administrative Agent shall have been notified by each Lender and L/C Issuer that each such Lender and L/C Issuer has executed it and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Loan Parties, each Agent, each Lender and each L/C Issuer and their respective successors and assigns, in each case in accordance with Section 10.06 (if applicable) and except that no Loan Party shall have the right to assign its rights hereunder or any interest herein without the prior written consent of the Lenders except as permitted by Section 7.03 .

SECTION 10.18. No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility . (a) 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), each of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that: (a) (i) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Agents, the Arrangers, Documentation Agents and the Lenders, are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Borrower, the other Loan Parties and its and their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Agents, the Arrangers, Documentation Agents and the Lenders, on the other hand, (ii) each of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (iii) each of the Borrower and each of the other Loan Parties are capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (b) (i) each of the Agents, Documentation Agents, the Arrangers and the Lenders 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, the other Loan Parties or any of its or their respective Affiliates, or any other Person; and (ii) neither the Agents, Documentation Agents, the Arrangers nor the Lenders have any obligation to the Borrower, the other Loan Parties or any of its or their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except (x) those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents and (y) pursuant to any separate advisory agreement; and (c) the Agents, the Arrangers,

 

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Documentation Agents, 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, the other Loan Parties and its and their respective Affiliates, and neither the Agents, Documentation Agents, the Arrangers nor the Lenders have any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower, the other Loan Parties or any of its or their respective Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by law, each of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties hereby waive and release any claims that it may have against the Agents, Documentation Agents, the Arrangers and the Lenders with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

(b) No Documentation Agent shall have or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Lender. Each Lender acknowledges that it has not relied, and will not rely, on the Documentation Agents in deciding to enter into this Agreement or any other Loan Document or in taking or not taking any action hereunder or thereunder.

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 or any other obligor under any of the Loan Documents, the Secured Hedge Agreements or the Treasury Services 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. USA Patriot Act . Each Lender that is subject to the USA Patriot Act and each Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Loan Parties that pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Loan Parties, which information includes the name, address and tax identification number of each Loan Party and other information regarding each Loan Party that will allow such Lender or Agent, as applicable, to identify each Loan Party in accordance with the USA Patriot Act. This notice is given in accordance with each requirement of the USA Patriot Act and is effective as to the Lenders and the Agents. The Borrower shall, promptly following a request by an Agent or any Lender, provide all documentation and other information that such 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 10.21. Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents . The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption or in any amendment or other modification hereof (including waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

SECTION 10.22. Judgment Currency . (a) If, for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court, it is necessary to convert a sum owing hereunder in one currency into another currency, each party hereto agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so, that the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures in the relevant jurisdiction the first currency could be purchased with such other currency on the Business Day immediately preceding the day on which final judgment is given.

 

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(b) The obligations of the Borrower in respect of any sum due to any party hereto or any holder of the obligations owing hereunder (the “ Applicable Creditor ”) shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency (the “ Judgment Currency ”) other than the currency in which such sum is stated to be due hereunder (the “ Agreement Currency ”), be discharged only to the extent that, on the Business Day following receipt by the Applicable Creditor of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment Currency, the Applicable Creditor may in accordance with normal banking procedures in the relevant jurisdiction purchase the Agreement Currency with the Judgment Currency; if the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to the Applicable Creditor in the Agreement Currency, such Borrower agrees, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify the Applicable Creditor against such loss, and if the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased exceeds the sum originally due to the Applicable Creditor in the Agreement Currency, the Applicable Creditor shall refund the amount of such excess to the applicable Borrower. The obligations of the parties contained in this Section  10.22 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of all other amounts owing hereunder.

SECTION 10.23. Acknowledgment and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any 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:

(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 company, 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 Credit Document; or

(iii) the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the write-down and conversion powers of any EEA Resolution Authority.

ARTICLE XI

GUARANTEE

SECTION 11.01. The Guarantee . Each Guarantor hereby jointly and severally with the other Guarantors guarantees, as a primary obligor and not as a surety, to each Secured Party and their respective successors and assigns, the prompt payment in full when due (whether at stated maturity, by required prepayment, declaration, demand, by acceleration or otherwise) of the principal of and interest (including any interest that would accrue but for the provisions of (i) the Title 11 of the United States Code after any bankruptcy or insolvency petition under Title 11 of the United States Code and (ii) any other Debtor Relief Laws) on the Loans made by the Lenders to, and the Notes held by each Lender of,

 

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the Borrower (other than such Guarantor), and all other Obligations from time to time owing to the Secured Parties by any Loan Party (or any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary) under any Loan Document, any Secured Hedge Agreement or any Treasury Services Agreement, in each case strictly in accordance with the terms thereof, excluding, with respect to any Guarantor at any time, Excluded Swap Obligations with respect to such Guarantor at such time (such obligations being herein collectively called the “ Guaranteed Obligations ”). The Guarantors hereby jointly and severally agree that if the Borrower shall fail to pay in full when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) any of the Guaranteed Obligations, the Guarantors will promptly pay the same in cash, without any demand or notice whatsoever, and that in the case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, the same will be promptly paid in full when due (whether at extended maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) in accordance with the terms of such extension or renewal. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, this Section  11.01 shall not require or result in the application of any amount received from any Loan Party to any Excluded Swap Obligation of such Loan Party (or any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary).

SECTION 11.02. Obligations Unconditional . The obligations of the Guarantors under Section 11.01 shall constitute a guaranty of payment and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, are absolute, irrevocable and unconditional, joint and several, irrespective of the value, genuineness, validity, regularity or enforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement, the Notes, if any, or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or therein, or any substitution, release or exchange of any other guarantee of or security for any of the Guaranteed Obligations, and, irrespective of any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety or Guarantor (except for payment in full). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is agreed that the occurrence of any one or more of the following shall not alter or impair the liability of the Guarantors hereunder which shall remain absolute, irrevocable and unconditional under any and all circumstances as described above:

(A) at any time or from time to time, without notice to the Guarantors, the time for any performance of or compliance with any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be extended, or such performance or compliance shall be waived;

(B) any of the acts mentioned in any of the provisions of this Agreement or the Notes, if any, or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or therein shall be done or omitted;

(C) the maturity of any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be accelerated, or any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be amended in any respect, or any right under the Loan Documents or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or therein shall be amended or waived in any respect or any other guarantee of any of the Guaranteed Obligations or any security therefor shall be released or exchanged in whole or in part or otherwise dealt with;

(D) any Lien or security interest granted to, or in favor of, an L/C Issuer or any Lender or Agent as security for any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall fail to be perfected;

(E) the release of any other Guarantor pursuant to Section  11.09 ; or

(F) the expiration of any statute of limitations.

 

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The Guarantors hereby expressly waive diligence, presentment, demand of payment, protest and all notices whatsoever, and any requirement that any Secured Party exhaust any right, power or remedy or proceed against the Borrower under this Agreement or the Notes, if any, or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or therein, or against any other Person under any other guarantee of, or security for, any of the Guaranteed Obligations. The Guarantors waive any and all notice of the creation, renewal, extension, waiver, termination or accrual of any of the Guaranteed Obligations and notice of or proof of reliance by any Secured Party upon this Guarantee or acceptance of this Guarantee, and the Guaranteed Obligations, and any of them, shall conclusively be deemed to have been created, contracted or incurred in reliance upon this Guarantee, and all dealings between the Borrower and the Secured Parties shall likewise be conclusively presumed to have been had or consummated in reliance upon this Guarantee. This Guarantee shall be construed as a continuing, absolute, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of payment without regard to any right of offset with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations at any time or from time to time held by Secured Parties, and the obligations and liabilities of the Guarantors hereunder shall not be conditioned or contingent upon the pursuit by the Secured Parties or any other Person at any time of any right or remedy against the Borrower or against any other Person which may be or become liable in respect of all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations or against any collateral security or guarantee therefor or right of offset with respect thereto. This Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect and be binding in accordance with and to the extent of its terms upon the Guarantors and the successors and assigns thereof, and shall inure to the benefit of the Lenders, and their respective successors and assigns, notwithstanding that from time to time during the term of this Agreement there may be no Guaranteed Obligations outstanding.

SECTION 11.03. Reinstatement . The obligations of the Guarantors under this Article XI shall be automatically reinstated if and to the extent that for any reason any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower or any other Loan Party in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations is rescinded or must be otherwise restored by any holder of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, whether as a result of any proceedings in bankruptcy or reorganization or otherwise.

SECTION 11.04. Subrogation; Subordination . Each Guarantor hereby agrees that until the payment and satisfaction in full in cash of all Guaranteed Obligations and the expiration and termination of the Commitments of the Lenders under this Agreement it shall waive any claim and shall not exercise any right or remedy, direct or indirect, arising by reason of any performance by it of its guarantee in Section 11.01 , whether by subrogation or otherwise, against the Borrower or any other Guarantor of any of the Guaranteed Obligations or any security for any of the Guaranteed Obligations.

SECTION 11.05. Remedies . The Guarantors jointly and severally agree that, as between the Guarantors and the Lenders, the Obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement and the Notes, if any, may be declared to be forthwith due and payable as provided in Section 8.02 (and shall be deemed to have become automatically due and payable in the circumstances provided in Section 8.02 ) for purposes of Section 11.01 , notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such declaration (or such obligations from becoming automatically due and payable) as against the Borrower and that, in the event of such declaration (or such obligations being deemed to have become automatically due and payable), such obligations (whether or not due and payable by the Borrower) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for purposes of Section 11.01 .

SECTION 11.06. Instrument for the Payment of Money . Each Guarantor hereby acknowledges that the guarantee in this Article XI constitutes an instrument for the payment of money, and consents and agrees that any Lender or Agent, at its sole option, in the event of a dispute by such Guarantor in the payment of any moneys due hereunder, shall have the right to bring a motion-action under New York CPLR Section 3213.

 

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SECTION 11.07. Continuing Guarantee . The guarantee in this Article XI is a continuing guarantee of payment, and shall apply to all Guaranteed Obligations whenever arising.

SECTION 11.08. General Limitation on Guarantee Obligations . In any action or proceeding involving any state corporate limited partnership or limited liability company law, or any applicable state, federal or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other Law affecting the rights of creditors generally, if the obligations of any Guarantor under Section 11.01 would otherwise be held or determined to be void, voidable, invalid or unenforceable, or subordinated to the claims of any other creditors, on account of the amount of its liability under Section 11.01 , then, notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, the amount of such liability shall, without any further action by such Guarantor, any Loan Party or any other Person, be automatically limited and reduced to the highest amount (after giving effect to the right of contribution established in Section 11.10 ) that is valid and enforceable and not subordinated to the claims of other creditors as determined in such action or proceeding.

SECTION 11.09. Release of Liens and Guarantees . If, in compliance with the terms and provisions of the Loan Documents, any Subsidiary Guarantor ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary or becomes an Excluded Subsidiary, then such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be automatically released from its Guaranty and other obligations under this Agreement (including under Section 10.04 hereof) and any other Loan Document to which it is a party including its obligations to pledge and grant a Lien on any Collateral owned by it pursuant to any Collateral Document, and all Liens granted by it pursuant to the Collateral Documents, in each case shall be automatically released and such Subsidiary Guarantor shall cease to be a party to this Agreement and each other Loan Document to which it is a party. If, in compliance with the terms and provisions of the Loan Documents, any Loan Party Disposes of any Collateral (other than to another Loan Party) in a transaction permitted under this Agreement, or upon the effectiveness of any written consent to the release of the security interest created under any Collateral Document in any Collateral pursuant to Section 10.01 , in each case the security interest in such Collateral created by the Collateral Documents shall be automatically released. So long as the Borrower shall have provided the Agents such certifications or documents as any Agent shall reasonably request to the effect that such release is permitted, the Collateral Agent shall take such actions as requested by the any Loan Party to confirm each release described in this Section 11.09 .

SECTION 11.10. Right of Contribution . Each Guarantor hereby agrees that to the extent that a Guarantor shall have paid more than its proportionate share of any payment made hereunder, such Guarantor shall be entitled to seek and receive contribution from and against any other Guarantor hereunder which has not paid its proportionate share of such payment. Each Guarantor’s right of contribution shall be subject to the terms and conditions of Section 11.04 . The provisions of this Section 11.10 shall in no respect limit the obligations and liabilities of any Guarantor to the Agents, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders, and each Guarantor shall remain liable to the Agents, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders for the full amount guaranteed by such Guarantor hereunder.

SECTION 11.11. Subject to Intercreditor Agreement . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the liens and security interests granted to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Collateral Documents are expressly subject to any Intercreditor Agreement (if in effect), any Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement (if in effect) and any other intercreditor agreement entered into pursuant hereto and (ii) the exercise of any right or remedy by either Agent hereunder or under any Intercreditor Agreement (if in effect), any Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement (if in effect) and any other intercreditor agreement entered into pursuant hereto is subject to the limitations and provisions of any Intercreditor Agreement (if in effect), any Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement (if in effect) and such other intercreditor agreement entered into pursuant hereto. In the event of any conflict between the terms of any Intercreditor Agreement (if in effect), any Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement (if in effect) or any other such intercreditor agreement and terms of this Agreement, the terms of any Intercreditor Agreement (if in effect), any Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement (if in effect) or such other intercreditor agreement, as applicable, shall govern.

 

178


SECTION 11.12. Keepwell . Each Qualified ECP Guarantor hereby jointly and severally absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes to provide such funds or other support as may be needed from time to time by each other Guarantor to honor all of its obligations under this Guaranty in respect of Swap Obligations ( provided , however , that each Qualified ECP Guarantor shall only be liable under this Section 11.12 for the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without rendering its obligations under this Section 11.12 , or otherwise under this Guaranty, voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not for any greater amount). The obligations of each Qualified ECP Guarantor under this Section 11.12 shall remain in full force and effect until the release of this Guaranty under Section 9.09(b)(ii) . Each Qualified ECP Guarantor intends that this Section 11.12 constitute, and this Section 11.12 shall be deemed to constitute, a “keepwell, support, or other agreement” for the benefit of each other Guarantor for all purposes of Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

179


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

 

M EREDITH C ORPORATION
By:   /s/ Joseph H. Ceryanec
  Name: Joseph H. Ceryanec
  Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

G OTHAM M ERGER S UB , I NC .
A LLRECIPES . COM , I NC .
E ATING W ELL , I NC .
S ELECTABLE M EDIA I NC .
M EREDITH X CELERATED M ARKETING C ORPORATION
M Y W EDDING , LLC
By:   /s/ Joseph H. Ceryanec
  Name: Joseph H. Ceryanec
  Title:   President

 

KPHO B ROADCASTING C ORPORATION
KPTV-KPDX B ROADCASTING C ORPORATION
KVVU B ROADCASTING C ORPORATION
M EREDITH P ERFORMANCE M ARKETING , LLC
By:   /s/ Joseph H. Ceryanec
  Name: Joseph H. Ceryanec
  Title:   Treasurer

 

M EREDITH S HOPPER M ARKETING , LLC
By:   /s/ John S. Zieser
  Name: John S. Zieser
  Title:   President

[Signature Page to the Credit Agreement]


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

 

B IZRATE I NSIGHTS I NC .

B OOK - OF -T HE -M ONTH C LUB , I NC .

C OZI I NC .

E NTERTAINMENT W EEKLY I NC .

F AN S IDED I NC .

H EALTH M EDIA V ENTURES I NC .

H ELLO G IGGLES , I NC .

MNI T ARGETED M EDIA I NC .

N EW S UB M AGAZINE S ERVICES LLC

NSSI H OLDINGS I NC .

SI D IGITAL G AMES , I NC .

S OUTHERN P ROGRESS C ORPORATION

S YNAPSE D IRECT , I NC .

S YNAPSE G ROUP , I NC .

S YNAPSE R ETAIL V ENTURES , I NC .

S YNAPSE V ENTURES , I NC .

S YNAPSE C ONNECT , I NC .

TI A DMINISTRATIVE H OLDINGS LLC

TI B OOKS H OLDINGS LLC

TI C IRCULATION H OLDINGS LLC

TI C ORPORATE H OLDINGS LLC

TI D ISTRIBUTION HOLDINGS LLC

TI I NTERNATIONAL H OLDINGS I NC .

TI L IVE E VENTS I NC .

TI M AGAZINE H OLDINGS LLC

TI M ARKETING S ERVICES I NC .

TI M EDIA S OLUTIONS I NC .

TI M EXICO H OLDINGS I NC .

TI P APERCO I NC .

TI S ALES H OLDINGS LLC

T IME C ONSUMER M ARKETING , I NC .

T IME C USTOMER S ERVICE , I NC .

T IME D IRECT V ENTURES LLC

T IME D ISTRIBUTION S ERVICES I NC .

T IME I NC .

T IME I NC . A FFLUENT M EDIA G ROUP

T IME I NC . B OOKS

T IME I NC . L IFESTYLE G ROUP

T IME I NC . P LAY

T IME I NC . R ETAIL

T IME I NC . V ENTURES

T IME P UBLISHING V ENTURES , I NC .

V IANT T ECHNOLOGY H OLDING I NC .

By   /s/ Joseph H. Ceryanec
  Name: Joseph H. Ceryanec
  Title:   President

[Signature Page to the Credit Agreement]


ROYAL BANK OF CANADA,

as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent

By:   /s/ Ann, Hurley
  Name: Ann, Hurley
  Title:   Manager, Agency

[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]


ROYAL BANK OF CANADA,

as a Lender, L/C Issuer and Swingline Lender

By:   /s/ Alfonse Simone
  Name: Alfonse Simone
  Title:   Authorized Signatory

[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]


CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH,

as a Lender and L/C Issuer

By:   /s/ Judith E. Smith
  Name: Judith E. Smith
  Title:   Authorized Signatory
By:   /s/ Joan Park
  Name: Joan Park
  Title:   Authorized Signatory

[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]


BARCLAYS BANK PLC,
as a Lender and L/C Issuer

By:   /s/ Robert Chen
  Name: Robert Chen
  Title:   Managing Director

[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]


CITIBANK N.A., as a Lender and L/C Issuer
By:   /s/ Matthew S. Burke
  Name: Matthew S. Burke
  Title:   Vice President

[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]


BNP PARIBAS,
as a Lender and L/C Issuer solely with
respect to Existing Letters of Credit

By:   /s/ David L. Berger
  Name: David L. Berger
  Title:   Director

 

By:   /s/ Sang W. Han
  Name: Sang W. Han
  Title:   Vice President

[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]


CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as a Lender

By:   /s/ Nirmal Bivek
  Name: Nirmal Bivek
  Title: Duly Authorized Signatory

[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]


FIFTH THIRD BANK,
as a Lender

By:   /s/ Suzanne Rode
  Name: Suzanne Rode
  Title:   Managing Director

[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]


BANKERS TRUST COMPANY,
as a Lender

By:   /s/ Todd W. Wishman
  Name: Todd W. Wishman
  Title:   Vice President

[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]


THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY,
as a Lender

By:   /s/ Lisa DeCristofaro
  Name: Lisa DeCristofaro
  Title:   SVP

[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]


EXHIBIT A-1

[FORM OF]

COMMITTED LOAN NOTICE

 

To: Royal Bank of Canada, as Administrative Agent

[Date]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is made to the Credit Agreement, dated as of January 31, 2018 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among Meredith Corporation, an Iowa corporation, as borrower (the “ Borrower ”), the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto from time to time, each lender party thereto from time to time and Royal Bank of Canada, as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and Swingline Lender. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

The Borrower hereby requests (select one):

 

A Borrowing of new Loans

    

A conversion of Loans made on

    

A continuation of Loans made on

    

to be made on the terms set forth below:

 

(A)   Class of Borrowing 1

        

(B)   Date of Borrowing, conversion or continuation (which is a Business Day)

        

(C)   Principal amount 2

        

(D)   Type of Loan 3

        

(E)   Interest Period and the last day thereof 4

        

(F)   Location and number of applicable Borrower’s account to which proceeds of Borrowings are to be disbursed:

        

  

 

1   Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans.
2   For Eurocurrency Rate Loans, borrowing minimum of $5 million or a whole multiple of $1 million in excess thereof. For Base Rate Loans, borrowing minimum of $1 million or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof.
3   Specify Eurocurrency Rate or Base Rate.
4   Applicable for Eurocurrency Rate Borrowings/Loans only.

 

EXHIBIT A-1 - 1


[The Borrower hereby represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that, on and as of the date of the Borrowing contemplated by this Committed Loan Notice, the conditions to lending specified in Section  4.02(a) and (b)  of the Credit Agreement shall have been satisfied.] 5

[THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

5   Insert bracketed language if the Borrower is requesting a Borrowing of new Revolving Credit Loans after the Closing Date.

 

EXHIBIT A-1 - 2


MEREDITH CORPORATION
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

[Signature Page to Committed Loan Notice]


EXHIBIT A-2

[FORM OF]

SWINGLINE REQUEST

 

To: Royal Bank of Canada, as Swingline Lender

[Date]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is made to the Credit Agreement, dated as of January 31, 2018 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among Meredith Corporation, an Iowa corporation, as borrower (the “ Borrower ”), the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto from time to time, each lender party thereto from time to time and Royal Bank of Canada, as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and Swingline Lender, this represents the Borrower’s request to borrow as follows:

The Borrower hereby gives you irrevocable notice pursuant to Section 2.04(b) of the Credit Agreement that it requests Swingline Loans under the Credit Agreement (the “ Proposed Advance ”) and, in connection therewith, sets forth the following information:

1. The date of the Proposed Advance is [•] (the “ Funding Date ”)

2. The aggregate principal amount of the Proposed Advance is $[•]

The undersigned is a duly authorized officer of the Borrower executing this Swingline Request and hereby certifies on behalf of the Borrower that as of the Funding Date:

(i) the representations and warranties of each Loan Party set forth in the Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects, in each case on and as of the requested Funding Date (or true and correct in all material respects as of a specified date, if earlier); and

(ii) at the time of and immediately after giving effect to the Borrowing contemplated hereby, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

 

MEREDITH CORPORATION
as the Borrower
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

 

EXHIBIT A-2 - 1


EXHIBIT B-1

LENDER: [•]

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT: $[•]

[FORM OF]

TERM NOTE

New York, New York

[Date]

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, Meredith Corporation, an Iowa corporation (the “ Borrower ”), hereby promises to pay to the Lender set forth above (the “ Lender ”) or its registered assigns, in accordance with the provisions of the Credit Agreement (as defined below), in lawful money of the United States of America in immediately available funds to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lender at the Administrative Agent’s Office (such term, and each other capitalized term used but not otherwise defined herein, having the meaning assigned to it in the Credit Agreement, dated as of January 31, 2018 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among the Borrower, the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto from time to time, each lender party thereto from time to time and Royal Bank of Canada, as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and Swingline Lender) (i) on the dates set forth in the Credit Agreement, the principal installment amounts set forth in the Credit Agreement with respect to Term Loans made by the Lender to the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement and (ii) interest at the rate or rates per annum and payable on such dates as provided in the Credit Agreement on the unpaid principal amount of all Term Loans made by the Lender to the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement.

The Borrower promises to pay interest, on demand, on any overdue principal and, to the extent permitted by law, overdue interest from their due dates at the rate or rates provided in (and to the extent required by) the Credit Agreement.

The Borrower hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand, protest and notice of any kind whatsoever. The nonexercise by the holder hereof of any of its rights hereunder in any particular instance shall not constitute a waiver thereof in that or any subsequent instance.

All borrowings evidenced by this note and all payments and prepayments of the principal hereof and interest hereon and the respective dates thereof shall be endorsed by the holder hereof on the schedule attached hereto and made a part hereof or on a continuation thereof which shall be attached hereto and made a part hereof, or otherwise recorded by such holder in its internal records; provided , however , that the failure of the holder hereof to make such a notation or any error in such notation shall not affect the obligations of the Borrower under this note.

This note is one of the Term Notes referred to in the Credit Agreement that, among other things, contains provisions for the acceleration of the maturity hereof upon the happening of certain events, for optional and mandatory prepayment of the principal hereof prior to the maturity hereof and for the amendment or waiver of certain provisions of the Credit Agreement, all upon the terms and conditions therein specified.

 

EXHIBIT B-1 – 1


THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THE CREDIT AGREEMENT.

THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CONFLICTS OF LAWS PROVISIONS THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION.

[THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

EXHIBIT B-1 - 2


MEREDITH CORPORATION
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

[Signature Page to Term Note]


LOANS AND PAYMENTS

 

Date

   Amount of Loan    Maturity Date    Payments of
Principal/Interest
   Principal
Balance of
Note
   Name of
Person
Making the
Notation


EXHIBIT B-2

LENDER: [•]

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT: $[•]

[FORM OF]

REVOLVING CREDIT NOTE

New York, New York

[Date]

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, Meredith Corporation, an Iowa corporation (the “ Borrower ”), hereby promises to pay to the Lender set forth above (the “ Lender ”) or its registered assigns, in accordance with the provisions of the Credit Agreement (as defined below), in lawful money of the United States of America in immediately available funds to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lender at the Administrative Agent’s Office (such term, and each other capitalized term used but not otherwise defined herein, having the meaning assigned to it in the Credit Agreement, dated as of January 31, 2018 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among the Borrower, the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto from time to time, each lender party thereto from time to time and Royal Bank of Canada, as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and Swingline Lender) (A) on the dates set forth in the Credit Agreement, the lesser of (i) the principal amount set forth above and (ii) the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Revolving Credit Loans made by the Lender to the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement, and (B) interest on the principal amount from time to time outstanding on each such Revolving Credit Loan at the rate or rates per annum and payable on such dates, as provided in the Credit Agreement.

The Borrower promises to pay interest, on demand, on any overdue principal and, to the extent permitted by law, overdue interest from their due dates at a rate or rates provided in (and to the extent required by) the Credit Agreement.

The Borrower hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand, protest and notice of any kind whatsoever. The nonexercise by the holder hereof of any of its rights hereunder in any particular instance shall not constitute a waiver thereof in that or any subsequent instance.

All borrowings evidenced by this note and all payments and prepayments of the principal hereof and interest hereon and the respective dates thereof shall be endorsed by the holder hereof on the schedule attached hereto and made a part hereof or on a continuation thereof which shall be attached hereto and made a part hereof, or otherwise recorded by such holder in its internal records; provided , however , that the failure of the holder hereof to make such a notation or any error in such notation shall not affect the obligations of the Borrower under this note.

This note is one of the Revolving Credit Notes referred to in the Credit Agreement that, among other things, contains provisions for the acceleration of the maturity hereof upon the happening of certain events, for optional and mandatory prepayment of the principal hereof prior to the maturity hereof and for the amendment or waiver of certain provisions of the Credit Agreement, all upon the terms and conditions therein specified.

 

EXHIBIT B-2 - 1


THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THE CREDIT AGREEMENT.

THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CONFLICTS OF LAWS PROVISIONS THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION.

[THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

EXHIBIT B-2 - 2


MEREDITH CORPORATION
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

[Signature Page to Revolving Credit Note]


LOANS AND PAYMENTS

 

Date

   Amount of Loan    Maturity Date    Payments of
Principal/Interest
   Principal
Balance of
Note
   Name of
Person
Making the
Notation


EXHIBIT C

[FORM OF]

COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

[Date]

Reference is made to the Credit Agreement, dated as of January 31, 2018 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among Meredith Corporation, an Iowa corporation, as borrower (the “ Borrower ”), the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto from time to time, each lender party thereto from time to time and Royal Bank of Canada, as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and Swingline Lender. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement. Pursuant to Section  6.02(a) of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned, in his/her capacity as a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, certifies as follows:

 

  1. [Attached hereto as Exhibit A is the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of June 30, 20[•] and related consolidated statements of income or operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the fiscal year then ended, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, audited and accompanied by (i) a report and opinion of KPMG LLP or any other independent registered public accounting firm of nationally recognized standing, prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and not subject to any “going concern” or like qualification or exception or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit (other than any qualification or exception that is solely with respect to, or resulting solely from, (A) an upcoming maturity date of any Indebtedness or (B) any potential inability to satisfy a financial maintenance covenant on a future date or in a future period) and (ii) a customary management discussion and analysis of the financial conditions and results of operations for such period.] 1

[Attached hereto as Exhibit A is the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of [•] and the related (i) consolidated statements of income or operations for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the fiscal year then ended and (ii) consolidated statements of cash flows for the portion of the fiscal year then ended, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail. These present fairly in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes and a customary management discussion and analysis of the financial conditions and results of operations for such period.] 2

 

1   To be included if delivered in connection with annual financial statements only.
2   To be included if delivered in connection with quarterly financial statements only.

 

EXHIBIT C - 1


  2. To my knowledge, except as otherwise disclosed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Credit Agreement, no Default has occurred and is continuing. [If unable to provide the foregoing certification, fully describe the reasons therefor and circumstances thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto on Annex A attached hereto.]

 

  3. The following represent true and accurate calculations, as of [•], 20[•], to be used to determine compliance with the covenant set forth in Section  7.08 of the Credit Agreement:

 

Consolidated Net

  

Leverage Ratio:

  

Consolidated Total Net Debt=

   [•]

Consolidated Adjusted

  

EBITDA=

   [•]

Actual Ratio=

   [•] to 1.00

Maximum Ratio (as of the last

   4.25 to 1.00

day of any Test Period)

  

Supporting detail showing the calculation of the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio is attached hereto as Schedule 1. 3

 

  4. [Attached hereto is the information required by Section  6.02(c) of the Credit Agreement.] 4

 

3   Used for computing margin and if Section 7.08 is applicable for reporting period.
4   To be included only in annual compliance certificate.

 

EXHIBIT C - 2


SCHEDULE 1

 

(A)  

   Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio: Consolidated Total Net Debt, to Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period.

(1)   

   Consolidated Total Net Debt as of [•], 20[•]:   
  

(a)   The total amount of:

  
  

(i) Indebtedness for borrowed money,

    
  

(ii)  Indebtedness evidenced by bonds, notes, (other than notes in favor of trade creditors evidencing trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business), debentures or other similar instruments,

    
  

(iii)  Capitalized Lease Obligations,

    
  

(iv) the Senior Notes, and

    
  

(v)   guarantees of the foregoing,

    
  

in each case of the Borrower and of its Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding (w) the U.K. Pension Security Obligations, (x) Indebtedness in respect of undrawn letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances (or, without duplication, reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), except to the extent of unreimbursed amounts drawn thereunder, (y) intercompany Indebtedness and (z) Indebtedness in respect of Hedging Obligations not yet due and owing) outstanding on such date;

  
  

(b)    less up to $250 million of Eligible Cash included on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date of determination; 1

    
  

(c)    plus the greater of (i) the aggregate liquidation value and (ii) maximum fixed repurchase price without regard to any change of control or redemption premiums of all Disqualified Stock of the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors and all Preferred Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

  

 

1   provided that (1) for purposes of determining the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio in connection with the incurrence of any Incremental Credit Extensions incurred pursuant to Section  2.14 of the Credit Agreement or any Permitted Debt Offerings incurred pursuant to Section  7.02(b)(xxi) of the Credit Agreement only, the cash proceeds of such Incremental Credit Extensions and/or Permitted Debt Offering being incurred shall not be deemed to be included on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

EXHIBIT C - 3


   Consolidated Total Net Debt     

(2)

   Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA:   
  

(a)   Consolidated Net Income:

  
  

The aggregate Net Income of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP; provided , however , that, without duplication:

    
  

(i) any after-tax effect of extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual gains or losses or expenses (including fees and expenses relating to (i) the Transactions, (ii) severance, relocation and transition costs and (iii) any rebranding or corporate name change) shall be excluded;

    
  

(ii)  the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles during such period shall be excluded;

    
  

(iii)  any after-tax effect of income (or loss) from disposed or discontinued operations and any net after-tax gains (or losses) on disposal of disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations shall be excluded;

    
  

(iv) any after-tax effect of gains (or losses) (less all fees and expenses relating thereto) attributable to asset Dispositions other than in the ordinary course of business, as determined in good faith by the Borrower, shall be excluded;

    

 

EXHIBIT C - 4


  

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

    
  

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

    
  

(vii)  the Net Income for such period of any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary shall be excluded to the extent of any portion of its Net Income that may not be transferred (including by way of any one or more of the following (i) dividends or similar distributions, (ii) returns of capital, (iii) loans or advances or the repayment thereof or (iv) other conveyances) at the date of determination without any prior governmental approval (which has not been obtained) and without violating, directly or indirectly, 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 has been legally waived; provided that Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower will be increased by the amount of dividends or other

  

 

EXHIBIT C - 5


  

distributions or other payments actually paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash or Cash Equivalents) to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period;

    
  

(viii)   any non-cash compensation charge or expense, including any such charge or expense arising from the grants of stock appreciation or similar rights, employee benefit plans or agreements, stock options, restricted stock or other rights, and any non-cash deemed finance charges or expenses in respect of any pension liabilities or other retiree provisions or on the revaluation of any benefit plan obligation and any non-cash charges or expenses in respect of curtailments, discontinuations or modifications to pension plans shall be excluded;

    
  

(ix)  any after-tax effect of income (or loss) from the early extinguishment or cancellation of Indebtedness or Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments shall be excluded;

    
  

(x)    any unrealized foreign currency translation or transaction gains or losses (or similar charges) (i) in respect of Indebtedness of any Person denominated in a currency other than the functional currency of such Person, (ii) relating to translation of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies and (iii) in respect of Indebtedness or other obligations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall be excluded;

    

 

EXHIBIT C - 6


  

(xi)  accruals and reserves for liabilities or expenses that are established or adjusted as a result of the Transactions, calculated in accordance with GAAP, within 18 months after the Closing Date shall be excluded;

    
  

(xii)  any fees and expenses incurred during such period, or any amortization thereof for such period, in connection with the Transactions and any acquisition, Investment, Disposition, issuance or repayment of Indebtedness, issuance of Equity Interests, refinancing transaction or amendment or modification of any debt instrument (in each case, including 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 shall be excluded;

    
  

(xiii)   losses, charges and expenses that are covered by indemnification or other reimbursement provisions in connection with any Investment, acquisition, sale, conveyance, transfer or other Disposition of assets will be excluded to the extent actually reimbursed, or, so long as such Person has made a determination that a reasonable basis exists for indemnification or reimbursement, but only to the extent that such amount is in fact indemnified or reimbursed within 365 days of such determination (with a deduction in the applicable future period for any amount so added back to the extent not so indemnified or reimbursed within such 365 days) shall be excluded;

    

 

EXHIBIT C - 7


  

(xiv) losses, charges and expenses with respect to liability or casualty events or business interruption, to the extent covered by insurance and actually reimbursed, or, so long as such Person has made a determination that a reasonable basis exists for reimbursement by the insurer and such amount (A) is not denied by the applicable carrier in writing and (B) is in fact reimbursed within 365 days of the date on which such liability was discovered or such casualty event or business interruption occurred (with a deduction in the applicable future period for any amount so added back to the extent not so reimbursed within 365 days) shall be excluded;

    
  

(xv)   the effects of purchase accounting, fair value accounting or recapitalization accounting adjustments (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries) resulting from the application of purchase accounting, fair value accounting or recapitalization accounting in relation to the Transactions or any acquisition consummated before or after the Closing Date, and the amortization, write-down or write-off of any amounts thereof, shall be excluded;

    
  

(xvi) all non-cash gains, losses, expenses or charges attributable to the movement in the mark-to-market valuation of Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments shall be excluded; and

    
  

(xvii)  any deferred tax expense associated with tax deductions or net operating losses as a result of the Transactions, or the release of any valuation allowance related to such item shall be excluded.

    

 

EXHIBIT C - 8


 

(b)

   plus (without duplication) to the extent the same were deducted (and not added back) in computing such Consolidated Net Income (other than clause (x)):   
    

(i)  provision for taxes based on income or profits or capital gains, including federal, state, provincial, local, foreign, non-U.S. franchise, excise, value added and similar taxes, foreign withholding taxes and taxes (whether paid in full or in installments) incurred as a result of or in order to consummate the Transactions, of such Person paid or accrued during such period, including any penalties and interest relating to such taxes or arising from any tax examinations; plus

    
    

(ii)   Consolidated Interest Expense of such Person for such period; plus

    
    

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

    
    

(iv)  any fees, premiums, expenses or charges related to (x) the Transactions (y) any actual, proposed or contemplated Equity Offering, Permitted Investment, acquisition, Disposition, recapitalization, the incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by this Agreement (including a refinancing thereof) or (z) any amendments, consents, waivers or other modifications relating to the Senior Notes, or the Facilities (whether or not consummated or successful); plus

    
    

(v)    the amount of any restructuring charge, accrual or reserve, integration cost or other business optimization expense, including any restructuring costs incurred in connection with the Transactions, acquisitions, mergers or consolidations after the Closing Date and any other restructuring expenses, severance expenses, one-time compensation charges, post-retirement employee benefits plans, any expenses relating to reconstruction, decommissioning or recommissioning fixed assets for alternate use, expenses or charges relating to facility closing costs, acquisition integration costs and signing, retention or completion bonuses or expenses; plus

    

 

EXHIBIT C - 9


      

(vi)  any other non-cash charges or expenses, including any write-offs or write-downs and non-cash compensation charges or expenses recorded from grants of stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock or other rights ( provided that if any such non-cash charges represent an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA in such future period to the extent paid, but excluding from this proviso, for the avoidance of doubt, amortization of a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period); plus

    
      

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

    
      

(viii)   the amount of loss on sale of receivables and related assets to any Receivables Subsidiary in connection with a Receivables Facility; plus

    
      

(ix)  any costs or expenses incurred by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or any stock subscription or shareholder agreement, to the extent that such costs or expenses are funded with cash proceeds contributed to the capital of the Borrower or net cash proceeds of an issuance of Equity Interest of the Borrower (other than Disqualified Stock) solely to the extent that such net cash proceeds are excluded from the calculation set forth in Section 7.05(a)(iii) of the Credit Agreement: plus

    

 

EXHIBIT C - 10


      

(x)    other than with respect to the Transactions, the amount of cost savings, operating expense reductions, other operating improvements and initiatives and synergies projected by the Borrower in good faith to result from actions taken or to be taken in connection with any Investment, acquisition, Disposition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation, discontinued operations, operational changes or other action being given pro forma effect (which will be added to Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as so projected until fully realized and calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as though such cost savings, operating expense reductions, other operating improvements and initiatives and synergies had been realized on the first day of such period), net of the amount of actual benefits realized during such period from such actions; provided that (x) such actions have been taken or are expected to be taken within 18 months after the consummation of the Investment, acquisition, Disposition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation, discontinued operations, operational change or other action expected to result in such cost savings or other benefits, (y) such cost savings are reasonably identifiable and factually supportable (in the good faith determination of the Borrower) and (z) the aggregate amount of cost savings, operating expense reductions, other operating improvements and initiatives and synergies added back pursuant to this clause (x) in any Test Period shall not exceed 20% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA (prior to giving effect to such addbacks); plus

    
      

(xi)  solely with respect to the Transactions, such add-backs reflected in the financial model delivered by the Borrower to the Arrangers on or about October 17, 2017, and projected by the Borrower in good faith to result from actions with respect to the Transactions that have been taken or are expected to be taken (in the good faith determination of the Borrower) within 18 months of the Closing Date, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $400 million;

  

 

EXHIBIT C - 11


  

(c)    minus (without duplication) the amount of non-cash gains increasing such Consolidated Net Income, excluding (i) any non-cash gains to the extent they represent the reversal of an accrual or reserve for a potential cash item that reduced Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA in any prior period and (ii) any non-cash gains in respect of which cash was actually received in a prior period so long as such cash did not increase Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA in such prior period; and (iii) the accrual of revenue in the ordinary course of business; and

    
  

(d)    plus or minus (without duplication)

    
  

(i) any net loss or gain resulting in such period from Hedging Obligations and the application of Financial Accounting Codification No. 815- Derivatives and Hedging; and

    
  

(ii)  any net loss or gain resulting in such period from currency translation gains or losses related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness (including any net loss or gain resulting from hedge agreements for currency exchange risk).

    
  

Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA

    
  

Consolidated Total Net Debt to Consolidated

Adjusted EBITDA

   [•]: 1.00
  

Covenant Requirement (as of the last day of any Test Period)

   4.25 to 1.00

 

EXHIBIT C - 12


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, in his/her capacity as a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, has executed this certificate for and on behalf of the Borrower and has caused this certificate to be delivered as of the first date written above.

 

MEREDITH CORPORATION
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

[Signature Page to Compliance Certificate]


EXHIBIT D

[FORM OF]

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

This Assignment and Assumption (this “ Assignment and Assumption ”) is dated as of the Effective Date set forth below and is entered into by and between [the] [each] 1 Assignor identified in item 1 below ([the][each, an] “ Assignor ”) and [the] [each] 2 Assignee identified in item 2 below ([the][each, an] “ Assignee ”). [It is understood and agreed that the rights and obligations of [the Assignors][the Assignees] 3 hereunder are several and not joint.] 4 Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement identified below (the “ Credit Agreement ”), receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged by the Assignee. The Standard Terms and Conditions set forth in Annex 1 attached hereto are hereby agreed to and incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Assignment and Assumption as if set forth herein in full.

For an agreed consideration, [the] [each] Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to [the Assignee][the respective Assignees], and [the][each] Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from [the Assignor][the respective Assignors], subject to and in accordance with the Standard Terms and Conditions and the Credit Agreement, as of the Effective Date inserted by the Administrative Agent as contemplated below (i) all of [the Assignor’s][the respective Assignors’] rights and obligations in [its capacity as a Lender][their respective capacities as Lenders] under the Credit Agreement and any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto to the extent related to the amount and percentage interest identified below of all of such outstanding rights and obligations of [the Assignor] [the respective Assignors] under the respective facilities identified below (including, without limitation, the Letters of Credit included in such facilities 5 ) and (ii) to the extent permitted to be assigned under applicable law, all claims, suits, causes of action and any other right of [the Assignor (in its capacity as a Lender)] [the respective Assignors (in their respective capacities as Lenders)] against any Person, whether known or unknown, arising under or in connection with the Credit Agreement, any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto or the loan transactions governed thereby or in any way based on or related to any of the foregoing, including, but not limited to, contract claims, tort claims, malpractice claims, statutory claims and all other claims at law or in equity

 

1   For bracketed language here and elsewhere in this form relating to the Assignor(s), if the assignment is from a single Assignor, choose the first bracketed language. If the assignment is from multiple Assignors, choose the second bracketed language.
2   For bracketed language here and elsewhere in this form relating to the Assignee(s), if the assignment is to a single Assignee, choose the first bracketed language. If the assignment is to multiple Assignees, choose the second bracketed language.
3   Select as appropriate.
4   Include bracketed language if there are either multiple Assignors or multiple Assignees.
5  

Include all applicable subfacilities.

 

Exhibit D - 1


related to the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clause (i)  above (the rights and obligations sold and assigned by [the] [any] Assignor to [the] [any] Assignee pursuant to clauses (i)  and (ii) above being referred to herein collectively as [the][an] “ Assigned Interest ”). Each such sale and assignment is without recourse to [the] [any] Assignor and, except as expressly provided in this Assignment and Assumption, without representation or warranty by [the] [any] Assignor.

 

1.    Assignor[s]:        
          
2.    Assignee[s]:        
          

[for each Assignee, indicate [Affiliate] [Approved Fund] of [ identify Lender ]]

 

3. Borrower: Meredith Corporation

 

4. Administrative Agent: Royal Bank of Canada, as the administrative agent under the Credit Agreement

 

5. Credit Agreement: Credit Agreement, dated as of January 31, 2018 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time), among Meredith Corporation, as Borrower, the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto from time to time, each lender party thereto from time to time and Royal Bank of Canada, as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and Swingline Lender.

 

Exhibit D - 2


6. Assigned Interest:

 

Assignor[s] 6

   Assignee[s] 7      Facility
Assigned 8
     Aggregate
Amount of
Commitment/
Loans for all
Lenders 9
     Amount
of
Commitment/
Loans
Assigned
     Percentage
Assigned of
Commitment/
Loans 10
     CUSIP
Number
 
         $      $        
                 %     
         $      $        
                 %     
         $      $        
                 %     

 

7. [Trade Date: ___________________] 11

Effective Date: _____________________, 20__ [TO BE INSERTED BY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND WHICH SHALL BE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF RECORDATION OF TRANSFER IN THE REGISTER THEREFOR.]

 

6   List each Assignor, as appropriate.
7   List each Assignee, as appropriate.
8   Fill in the appropriate terminology for the types of facilities under the Credit Agreement that are being assigned under this Assignment (e.g. “Revolving Credit Commitment”, “Term Commitment”, etc.).
9   Amounts in this column and in the column immediately to the right to be adjusted by the counterparties to take into account any payments or prepayments made between the Trade Date and the Effective Date.
10   Set forth, to at least 9 decimals, as a percentage of the Commitment/Loans of all Lenders thereunder.
11   To be completed if the Assignor and the Assignee intend that the minimum assignment amount is to be determined as of the Trade Date.

 

Exhibit D - 3


The terms set forth in this Assignment and Assumption are hereby agreed to:

 

[NAME OF ASSIGNOR], as

Assignor

By:        
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

[NAME OF ASSIGNEE], as

Assignee

By:        
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

[Signature Page to Assignment and Assumption]


[Consented to and] 1 Accepted:

 

ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, as

Administrative Agent

By:        
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

[Consented to:] 2
By:        
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

1   To be added only if the consent of the Administrative Agent is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement.
2   To be added only if the consent of the Borrower and/or other parties (e.g., L/C Issuer) is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement.

 

[Signature Page to Assignment and Assumption]


Annex 1

STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

Representations and Warranties.

1.1. Assignor. [The] [Each] Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of [the][[the relevant] Assigned Interest, (ii) [the][such] Assigned Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim and (iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; and (b) assumes no responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Loan Documents or any collateral thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person obligated in respect of any Loan Document or (iv) the performance or observance by the Borrower, any of its respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person of any of its respective obligations under any Loan Document.

1.2. Assignee. [The] [Each] Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) it meets all the requirements to be an assignee under Section  10.06 of the Credit Agreement (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section  10.06(b)(i)(B) or 10.06(b)(iii) of the Credit Agreement), (iii) from and after the Effective Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement as a Lender thereunder and, to the extent of [the] [the relevant] Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder, (iv) it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to acquire assets of the type represented by [the] [such] Assigned Interest and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to acquire [the][such] Assigned Interest, is experienced in acquiring assets of such type, (v) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, and has received or has been accorded the opportunity to receive copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section  6.01 thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it deems appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase [the] [such] Assigned Interest, (vi) it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase [the] [such] Assigned Interest, and (vii) if it is a Foreign Lender, attached hereto is any documentation required to be delivered by it pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by [the][such] Assignee; and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, [the] [any] Assignor or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Loan Documents, and (ii) it will be bound by the terms of the Credit Agreement and perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender including its obligations under Section  3.01(d) of the Credit Agreement.


2. Payments. From and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments in respect of [the] [each] Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to [the] [the relevant] Assignor for amounts which have accrued to but excluding the Effective Date and to [the] [the relevant] Assignee for amounts which have accrued from and after the Effective Date.

3. General Provisions. This Assignment and Assumption shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Assignment and Assumption may be executed in any number of counterparts, which together shall constitute one instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Assignment and Assumption by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Assumption. This Assignment and Assumption shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York without giving effect to any conflicts of laws provisions that would result in the application of the laws of another jurisdiction.


EXHIBIT E

[FORM OF]

SECURITY AGREEMENT


EXHIBIT F-1

[FORM OF]

PERFECTION CERTIFICATE

(See Attached)


EXHIBIT F-2

[FORM OF]

PERFECTION CERTIFICATE SUPPLEMENT

This Perfection Certificate Supplement, dated as of [•] is delivered pursuant to Section  6.02(c) of that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of January 31, 2018 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among Meredith Corporation, an Iowa corporation, as borrower (the “ Borrower ”), the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto from time to time, each lender party thereto from time to time and Royal Bank of Canada as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and Swingline Lender. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings assigned in the Credit Agreement.

The undersigned hereby certifies (in my capacity as [•] of the Borrower and not in my individual capacity) to the Collateral Agent and each of the other Secured Parties that, as of the date hereof, there has been no change in the information described in the Perfection Certificate delivered on the Closing Date (as supplemented by any perfection certificate supplements delivered prior to the date hereof, the “ Prior Perfection Certificate ”), other than as follows:

[The Remainder of this Page has been intentionally left blank]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto signed this Perfection Certificate Supplement as of the date first written above.

 

MEREDITH CORPORATION
as the Borrower
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

[Signature Page to Perfection Certificate Supplement]


EXHIBIT G-1

[ FORM OF]

UNITED STATES TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Lenders That Are Not Treated As Partnerships For

U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is made to the Credit Agreement, dated as of January 31, 2018 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among Meredith Corporation, an Iowa corporation, as borrower (the “ Borrower ”), the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto from time to time, each lender party thereto from time to time (collectively, the “ Lenders ” and individually, a “ Lender ”) and Royal Bank of Canada, as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and Swingline Lender. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Credit Agreement.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section  3.01 (d) of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a “ bank ” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code, (iv) it is not a “ controlled foreign corporation ” related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code and (v) no payments in connection with any Loan Document are effectively connected with the undersigned’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business.

The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing and (2) the undersigned shall furnish the Borrower and the Administrative Agent a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which payment is to be made by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding each such payment.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

Exhibit G-1 - 1


[Foreign Lender]
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
[Address]
Dated:                                             , 20[•]

[Signature Page to United States Tax Compliance Certificate]


EXHIBIT G-2

[FORM OF]

UNITED STATES TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Participants That Are Not Treated As Partnerships For

U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is made to the Credit Agreement, dated as of January 31, 2018 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement ”), among Meredith Corporation, an Iowa corporation, as borrower (the Borrower ), the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto from time to time, each lender party thereto from time to time (collectively, the “ Lenders ” and individually, a “ Lender ”) and Royal Bank of Canada, as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and Swingline Lender. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Credit Agreement.

Pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01(d) and 10.06(d) of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code, (iv) it is not a “ controlled foreign corporation ” related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code and (v) no payments in connection with any Loan Document are effectively connected with the undersigned’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business.

The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender in writing and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding each such payment.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

Exhibit G-2 - 1


[Foreign Lender]
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
[Address]
Dated:                                             , 20[•]

[Signature Page to United States Tax Compliance Certificate]


EXHIBIT G-3

[FORM OF]

UNITED STATES TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Lenders That Are Treated As Partnerships For

U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is made to the Credit Agreement, dated as of January 31, 2018 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among Meredith Corporation, an Iowa corporation, as borrower (the “ Borrower ”), the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto from time to time, each lender party thereto from time to time (collectively, the “ Lenders ” and individually, a “ Lender ”) and Royal Bank of Canada, as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and Swingline Lender. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Credit Agreement.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section  3.01(d) of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)), (iii) neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code, (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a “ controlled foreign corporation ” related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code and (vi) no payments in connection with any Loan Documents are effectively connected with the undersigned’s or its direct or indirect partners’/members’ conduct of a U.S. trade or business.

The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding each such payment.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

Exhibit G-3 - 1


[Foreign Lender]
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
[Address]
Dated:                                             , 20[•]

[Signature Page to United States Tax Compliance Certificate]


EXHIBIT G-4

[FORM OF]

UNITED STATES TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Participants That Are Treated As Partnerships For

U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is made to the Credit Agreement, dated as of January 31, 2018 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among Meredith Corporation, a corporation, as borrower (the “ Borrower ”), the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto from time to time, each lender party thereto from time to time (collectively, the “ Lenders ” and individually, a “ Lender ”) and Royal Bank of Canada, as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and Swingline Lender. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Credit Agreement.

Pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01(d) and 10.06(d) of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such participation, (iii) neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code, (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a “ controlled foreign corporation ” related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code and (vi) no payments in connection with any Loan Document are effectively connected with the undersigned’s or its direct or indirect partners’/members’ conduct of a U.S. trade or business.

The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E or (ii) and IRS Form W- 8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN OR W-8BEN-E from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender in writing and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding each such payment.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

Exhibit G-4 - 1


[Foreign Lender]
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
[Address]
Dated: ______________________, 20[•]

[Signature Page to United States Tax Compliance Certificate]


EXHIBIT H

[FORM OF]

SOLVENCY CERTIFICATE

Date: ______________, 2018

To the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders party to the Credit Agreement referred to below:

I, the undersigned, the Chief Financial Officer of Meredith Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of Iowa (the “ Borrower ”), in that capacity only and not in my individual capacity (and without personal liability), do hereby certify as of the date hereof, and based upon facts and circumstances as they exist as of the date hereof (and disclaiming any responsibility for changes in such facts and circumstances after the date hereof), that:

1. This certificate is furnished to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders pursuant to Section 4.01(d)(ix) of the Credit Agreement, dated as of January 31, 2018 (as the same may be amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among the Borrower, the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto from time to time, each lender party thereto from time to time and Royal Bank of Canada, as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and Swingline Lender. Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used in this certificate shall have the meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement.

2. For purposes of this certificate, the terms below shall have the following definitions:

(a) “Fair Value”

The amount at which the assets (both tangible and intangible), in their entirety, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole would change hands between a willing buyer and a willing seller, within a commercially reasonable period of time, each having reasonable knowledge of the relevant facts, with neither being under any compulsion to act.

(b) “Present Fair Salable Value”

The amount that could be obtained by an independent willing seller from an independent willing buyer if the assets (both tangible and intangible) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole are sold with reasonable promptness in an arm’s-length transaction under present conditions for the sale of comparable business enterprises insofar as such conditions can be reasonably evaluated.

(c) “Stated Liabilities”

The recorded liabilities (including contingent liabilities that would be recorded in accordance with GAAP) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, as of the date hereof after giving effect to the consummation of the Transactions (including the execution and delivery of the Credit Agreement, the making of the Loans and the use of proceeds of such Loans on the date hereof), determined in accordance with GAAP consistently applied.

 

EXHIBIT H - 1


(d) “Identified Contingent Liabilities”

The maximum estimated amount of liabilities reasonably likely to result from pending litigation, asserted claims and assessments, guaranties, uninsured risks and other contingent liabilities of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole after giving effect to the Transactions (including the execution and delivery of the Credit Agreement, the making of the Loans and the use of proceeds of such Loans on the date hereof) (including all fees and expenses related thereto but exclusive of such contingent liabilities to the extent reflected in Stated Liabilities), as identified and explained in terms of their nature and estimated magnitude by responsible officers of the Borrower.

(e) “Will be able to pay their Stated Liabilities and Identified Contingent Liabilities as they mature”

For the period from the date hereof through the Maturity Date, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole will have sufficient assets and cash flow to pay their respective Stated Liabilities and Identified Contingent Liabilities as those liabilities mature or (in the case of Identified Contingent Liabilities) otherwise become payable, in light of business conducted or anticipated to be conducted by the Borrower and its subsidiaries as reflected in the projected financial statements and in light of the anticipated credit capacity.

(f) “Do not have Unreasonably Small Capital”

The Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole after consummation of the Transactions is a going concern and has sufficient capital to reasonably ensure that it will continue to be a going concern for the period from the date hereof through the Maturity Date. I understand that “unreasonably small capital” depends upon the nature of the particular business or businesses conducted or to be conducted, and I have reached my conclusion based on the needs and anticipated needs for capital of the business conducted or anticipated to be conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as reflected in the projected financial statements and in light of the anticipated credit capacity.

3. For purposes of this certificate, I, or officers of the Borrower under my direction and supervision, have performed the following procedures as of and for the periods set forth below.

(a) I have reviewed the financial statements (including the pro forma financial statements) referred to in Section 4.01(d)(ii) of the Credit Agreement.

(b) I have knowledge of and have reviewed to my satisfaction the Credit Agreement.

(c) As chief financial officer of the Borrower, I am familiar with the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

 

EXHIBIT H - 2


4. Based on and subject to the foregoing, I hereby certify on behalf of the Borrower that after giving effect to the consummation of the Transactions (including the execution and delivery of the Credit Agreement, the making of the Loans and the use of proceeds of such Loans on the date hereof), it is my opinion that (i) the Fair Value of the assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole exceeds their Stated Liabilities and Identified Contingent Liabilities, (ii) the Present Fair Salable Value of the assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole exceeds their Stated Liabilities and Identified Contingent Liabilities; (iii) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole do not have Unreasonably Small Capital; and (iv) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole will be able to pay their Stated Liabilities and Identified Contingent Liabilities as they mature.

 

EXHIBIT H - 3


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this certificate in such undersigned’s capacity as Chief Financial Officer of the Borrower, on behalf of the Borrower, and not individually, as of the date first stated above.

 

MEREDITH CORPORATION
By:    
  Name:
  Title: Chief Financial Officer

[Signature Page to Solvency Certificate]


EXHIBIT I

[FORM OF]

PREPAYMENT NOTICE

To: Royal Bank of Canada, as Administrative Agent

[Date] 1

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is made to the Credit Agreement, dated as of January 31, 2018 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among Meredith Corporation, an Iowa corporation, as borrower (the “ Borrower ”), the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto from time to time, each lender party thereto from time to time and Royal Bank of Canada, as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and Swingline Lender. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

The undersigned Borrower hereby gives you notice that, pursuant to Section 2.05[(a)(i)][(b)[•]] of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned intends to make a prepayment on the terms set forth below:

 

  1. Date of Prepayment: _______________.

 

  2. Class of Borrowing: _______________. 2

 

  3. Type of Loans: _______________. 3

 

  4. In the principal amount of $______________. 4

 

  5. Conditions to Prepayment (if any): ______________.

 

  6. [Manner of Application ______________.] 5

 

1   Notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) (A) three (3) Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans and (B) on the day of prepayment of Base Rate Loans. In the case of mandatory prepayments required under Section 2.05(b), notice must be delivered three (3) Business Days following the event giving rise to the mandatory prepayment.
2   E.g., Term Loans, Revolving Credit Loans, Extended Term Loans, or Replacement Term Loans.
3   Specify whether Eurocurrency Rate Loans, Base Rate Loans or a combination thereof.
4   If a combination of Eurocurrency Rate Loans and Base Rate Loans, specify the principal amount allocable to each. If a prepayment is required by Section 2.05(b), please attach a reasonably detailed calculation of the amount of such payment.
5   To be provided in the case of prepayments of Term Loans. If not specified, such prepayment of Term Loans shall be applied in direct order of maturity to repayments thereof required pursuant to Section 2.07(a) of the Credit Agreement.

 

EXHIBIT I - 1


MEREDITH CORPORATION
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

[Signature Page to Prepayment Notice]

Exhibit 10.2

MEREDITH CORPORATION

TIME INC. (UK) LTD

IPC MEDIA PENSION TRUSTEE LIMITED

AND

TIME INC.

 

 

DEED OF GUARANTEE

IN RELATION TO THE IPC MEDIA PENSION SCHEME

 

 


Table of Contents

 

 

          Page  

CONTENTS

  

1.

   Definitions and interpretation      1  

2.

   Representations      14  

3.

   Actuarial Valuations and Insurance Buy-Out Basis dispute resolution      15  

4.

   Investment Strategy      16  

5.

   Liability and Risk Management Exercises      16  

6.

   Contributions      17  

7.

   Escrow Account – establishment and general provisions      18  

8.

   Payments into the Escrow Account      19  

9.

   True-ups      20  

10.

   Payments out of the Escrow Account      21  

11.

   Replacement of Guarantee and Escrow Account arrangements      24  

12.

   Guarantee      26  

13.

   Recourse      27  

14.

   Effectiveness and Termination of this Deed and 2015 Deed of Guarantee      27  

15.

   Deficit Estimation      30  

16.

   Continuing Guarantee      31  

17.

   Reinstatement      31  

18.

   Liability/Waiver of Defences      32  

19.

   Appropriations      32  

20.

   Deferral of the Guarantor’s Rights      33  

21.

   Additional Security      33  

22.

   Provision of Financial Information      33  

23.

   Payments      34  

24.

   Taxes      34  

25.

   Currency Indemnity      36  

26.

   Assignment      36  

27.

   Notices      36  

28.

   Costs and Expenses      37  

29.

   Default Interest      37  

30.

   No Release or Waiver      37  

31.

   Cumulative Rights and Remedies      38  

32.

   Amendments and Variations      38  

33.

   Governing Law and Jurisdiction      38  

34.

   Agent for Service of Process      38  

35.

   Severability      38  

36.

   Counterparts      38  

37.

   Third Party Rights      39  

 

2018 Deed of Guarantee


THIS DEED is made on 31 January 2018

BETWEEN :

 

(1) MEREDITH CORPORATION , an Iowa corporation (the “Guarantor” );

 

(2) TIME INC. (UK) LTD (registered number 00053626) (the “Sponsor” );

 

(3) IPC MEDIA PENSION TRUSTEE LIMITED (registered number 03469531) (the “Trustee” ) acting in its capacity as the sole trustee of the IPC Media Pension Scheme (the “Scheme” ); and

 

(4) TIME INC ., a Delaware corporation, being a party for the purposes of Clause 14(b) of this Deed only.

The parties agree as follows:

 

1. DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

 

  (a) In this Deed the following expressions have the following meanings:

 

  “Acceleration Escrow Payment Event” means

 

  (a) any Financial Indebtedness of the Guarantor or its Wholly-owned Subsidiaries (other than Excluded Subsidiaries) is not paid within any originally applicable grace period (or, if no grace period applies, within 5 Business Days after its original scheduled date, as such date may be extended at any time when no actual or potential event of default, however described, under the relevant documentation is continuing);

 

  (b) any Financial Indebtedness of the Guarantor or its Wholly-owned Subsidiaries (other than Excluded Subsidiaries) is declared to be or otherwise becomes due and payable prior to its specified maturity as a result of an event of default (however described) and any applicable grace periods which apply before that Financial Indebtedness can be declared to be due or otherwise become due and payable have expired,

 

  other than, in either case, if

 

  (i) the failure or default has been waived by or on behalf of the relevant lender(s); and/or

 

  (ii) the aggregate amount which has not been paid and/or which has become prematurely due and payable is less than U.S.$50,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency or currencies).

 

2018 Deed of Guarantee    1


“Acceleration Escrow Release Event” in relation to an Acceleration Escrow Payment Event means that either all the Financial Indebtedness in relation to which the Acceleration Escrow Payment Event occurred is either repaid or discharged within 6 months of the date on which the Acceleration Escrow Payment Event occurs or (in the case of an Acceleration Escrow Payment Event of the type described in paragraph (b) of the definition of that term) the Acceleration Escrow Payment Event is reversed (by the relevant declaration being withdrawn) within 6 months of the date on which the Acceleration Escrow Payment Event occurs.

“Actuarial Valuation” means an actuarial valuation of the Scheme carried out in accordance with Part 3 of the Pensions Act 2004

“Agreed Assumptions” means assumptions for an Actuarial Valuation as set in accordance with the principles set out in Schedule 1, with the fixed addition to the discount rate referred to therein being 50 basis points until 2023 (or if earlier the date on which there is no Funding Deficit on this basis) and thereafter progressing to zero in 2030 as set out in Schedule 1.

“Agreed Escrow Rating” means at least one of the following long term unsecured senior debt credit ratings—at least A3 from Moody’s, at least A- from Standard & Poor’s or at least A- from Fitch.

“Agreed Investment Strategy” means the investment strategy set out in Schedule 2, as amended between the parties from time to time in their sole discretion.

“ALS” means the Willis Towers Watson software known as “Asset Liability Suite” , which is a web based system performing daily valuations of assets and liabilities to track the funding position of pension schemes, which is to be set-up and configured for use under this Deed.

“ALS Failure” means no amount is showing on ALS as the relevant deficit as at a relevant date.

“Alternative Tracker” has the meaning given to it in Clause 15(f).

“Business Day” means a day (other than a Saturday or a Sunday) on which banks in London and New York are open for general business.

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

 

  (a) the sale, lease or transfer (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Guarantor to any person other than the Guarantor or its Wholly-owned Subsidiaries;

 

2018 Deed of Guarantee    2


  (b) the Guarantor becomes aware of (by way of a report or any other filing pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, proxy, vote, written notice or otherwise) the holding or acquisition, in a single transaction or in a related series of transactions, by any person or “group” (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), of Control of the Guarantor; or

 

  (c) the adoption of a plan of liquidation and dissolution of the Guarantor.

“Configuration Document” means the document contained at Schedule 3.

“Control” of an entity means “beneficial ownership” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, except that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any particular person or “group”, such person or “group” will not be deemed to have beneficial ownership of any securities that such person or “group” has the right to acquire or vote only upon the happening of any future event or contingency, including the passage of time, that has not yet occurred) of 50% or more of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the entity (determined on a fully diluted basis but without giving effect to contingent voting rights that have not yet vested)

“Credit Rating Condition” means the holding by the Guarantor (or following a Permitted Change of Control, the Relevant Surviving Entity) of either of the following:

 

  (a) a long term unsecured senior debt credit rating of higher than Caa1 from Moody’s (or, if it ceases to have a rating of its long term unsecured senior debt from Moody’s, a corporate rating of higher than B2 from Moody’s); or

 

  (b) a long term unsecured senior debt credit rating higher than CCC+ from Standard & Poor’s (or, if it ceases to have a rating of its long term unsecured senior debt from Standard & Poor’s, a corporate rating of higher than B from Standard & Poor’s).

“Credit Rating Downgrade Event” means the holding by the Guarantor (or following a Permitted Change of Control, the Relevant Surviving Entity) of either of the following:

 

  (a) a long term unsecured senior debt credit rating below Caa1 from Moody’s (or, if it ceases to have a rating of its long term unsecured senior debt from Moody’s, a corporate rating below B2 from Moody’s); or

 

2018 Deed of Guarantee    3


  (b) a long term unsecured senior debt credit rating below CCC+ from Standard & Poor’s (or, if it ceases to have a rating of its long term unsecured senior debt from Standard & Poor’s, a corporate rating below B from Standard & Poor’s).

“Credit Rating Escrow Payment Event” means the Guarantor ceasing to satisfy the Credit Rating Condition.

“Credit Rating Escrow Release Event” in relation to a Credit Rating Escrow Payment Event means the granting or upgrading of a credit or corporate rating following the Credit Rating Escrow Payment Event such that the Guarantor again satisfies the Credit Rating Condition.

“Escrow Account” means a cash deposit account established for the purposes of this Deed:

 

  (a) in the name of an independent escrow agent with the Agreed Escrow Rating and otherwise acceptable to the Trustee, acting reasonably. The approval of the Guarantor to the Trustee’s choice of escrow agent is not required, given the circumstances in which the Trustee may be establishing the Escrow Account, but the Trustee shall consider in good faith any representations made by the Guarantor as to the identity of the escrow agent;

 

  (b) held in London and subject to English law with a financial institution with the Agreed Escrow Rating;

 

  (c) with the possibility of the deposited cash being invested from time to time in securities, but only on terms and subject to investment criteria agreed by the Trustee in its discretion;

 

  (d) subject to an English law governed escrow agreement pursuant to which:

 

  (i) the escrow agent declares that it holds the Escrow Account, and the cash and securities from time to time deposited in it, on trust for the Trustee and the Guarantor, to be applied in accordance with the terms of this Deed (but on the basis that the escrow agent will be required, but only be required, to act on instructions as per paragraph (ii));

 

  (ii) the escrow agent will agree to make payments upon joint instructions from the Guarantor and the Trustee or upon an instruction from the Guarantor or the Trustee accompanied by a court declaration or order confirming that such payment from the Escrow Account is in accordance with the terms of this Deed.

 

2018 Deed of Guarantee    4


“Escrow Event” means an Event of Default, a Credit Rating Escrow Payment Event, an Acceleration Escrow Payment Event or a Change of Control (other than a Permitted Change of Control).

“Estimated Funding Position” means the estimated Funding Position as shown at any relevant date on the ALS, subject to Clause 15 (c).

“Estimated Insurance Buy-Out Deficit” means the estimated Insurance Buy-Out Deficit as shown at any relevant date on the ALS, subject to Clause 15 (c).

“Estimated Relevant Funding Position” means as at any given date the Estimated Funding Position or the Estimated Insurance Buy-Out Deficit figure as at that date as shown on the ALS.

“Event of Default” means (a) the occurrence of an Insolvency Event in relation to the Guarantor or the Sponsor or (b) a failure to make payment into the Escrow Account within 5 business days of an Acceleration Escrow Payment Event.

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

“Excluded Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Guarantor financed substantially using Limited Recourse Financing.

“Financial Indebtedness” means any indebtedness for or in respect of:

 

  (a) moneys borrowed;

 

  (b) any amount raised by acceptance under any acceptance credit facility or dematerialised equivalent;

 

  (c) any amount raised pursuant to any note purchase facility or the issue of bonds, notes, debentures, loan stock or any similar instrument;

 

  (d) the amount of any liability in respect of any lease or hire purchase contract which would, in accordance with U.S. GAAP, be treated as a finance or capital lease;

 

  (e) receivables sold or discounted (other than any receivables to the extent they are sold on a non-recourse basis or discounted on a non-recourse basis in connection with collections activities in the ordinary course of business);

 

  (f) any amount raised under any other transaction (including any forward sale and purchase, sale and sale back or sale and lease back agreement) having the commercial effect of a borrowing;

 

2018 Deed of Guarantee    5


  (g) any derivative transaction entered into in connection with protection against or benefit from fluctuation in any rate or price (and, when calculating the value of any derivative transaction, only the marked to market value (calculated on a net basis insofar as the Guarantor has offset rights) shall be taken into account);

 

  (h) any counter-indemnity obligation in respect of a guarantee, indemnity, bond, standby or documentary letter of credit or any other instrument issued by a bank or a financial institution; or

 

  (i) the amount of any liability in respect of any guarantee or indemnity for any of the items referred to in paragraphs (a) to (h) above.

“Financial Information” means the information described in Schedule 4.

“Funding Deficit” means a Funding Position in which the Scheme’s liabilities exceed its assets, in each case calculated on the basis set out in the definition of Funding Position.

“Funding Position” means the amount (if any) at any relevant date by which the liabilities of the Scheme calculated on the basis of the Agreed Assumptions exceeds the assets of the Scheme (and for the avoidance of doubt, for this purpose, the value of any rights arising under this Deed (including the value of any monies held in the Escrow Account) shall be treated as zero, except that any amounts already due and payable pursuant to this Deed by the Guarantor to the Scheme shall be treated for the purpose of the calculation as having been paid, but without prejudice to the Guarantor’s continuing obligation to make the payment), or vice versa.

“Gilts Flat Confirmation Date” means the earlier of (a) the date on which both (i) the Scheme is invested in a manner consistent with the investment approach described in the Agreed Investment Strategy as the ‘Gilts +0.5% pa’ strategy and (ii) an Actuarial Valuation shows that there is no Funding Deficit (assuming for this purpose that the Agreed Assumptions add no basis points to the gilts discount rate) and (b) the date on which both (i) the Scheme is invested in a manner consistent with the investment approach described in the Agreed Investment Strategy as the ‘Gilts +0.5% pa’ strategy and (ii) the ALS has shown for the preceding ten consecutive days that the Estimated Funding Position is that the Scheme’s assets are at least 105% of its liabilities.

“Gilts Flat Pro Rata Amount” means, for each month subsequent to the month in which the eighth anniversary of the Sale Completion occurs, an amount equal to (i) the absolute value of the Funding Deficit (if any) prevailing as at the most recent anniversary of Sale Completion divided by (ii) the number of months then remaining until the 15 th anniversary of Sale Completion.

 

2018 Deed of Guarantee    6


“Gilts Plus 50 Confirmation Date” means the earlier of (a) the date on which both (i) the Scheme is invested in a manner consistent with the investment approach described in the Agreed Investment Strategy as the ‘Gilts +1.0% pa’ strategy and (ii) an Actuarial Valuation shows that there is no Funding Deficit (assuming for this purpose that the Agreed Assumptions add 50 basis points to the gilts discount rate) and (b) the date on which both (i) the Scheme is invested in a manner consistent with the investment approach described in the Agreed Investment Strategy as the ‘Gilts +1.0% pa’ strategy and (ii) the ALS has shown for the preceding ten consecutive days that the Estimated Funding Position is that the Scheme’s assets are at least 105% of its liabilities.

“Guaranteed Liabilities” means all obligations and liabilities (whether actual or contingent and whether owed jointly or severally and in any capacity whatsoever) of the Sponsor or any IMPS Employer to the Scheme or the Trustee that fall due for payment on or after the date on which this Deed comes into effect under Clause 14(a).

“Heads of Terms Agreement” means the Heads of Terms Agreement dated 25 November 2017 between the Guarantor, the Sponsor, the Trustee, Time Inc., and International Publishing Corporation Limited, the Principal Employer of the Scheme.

“IMPS Employers” means all companies or persons (other than the Sponsor) which are or may from time to time become employers in relation to the Scheme.

“Insolvency Event” means any of the following in respect of an entity:

 

  (a) any person (other than such entity) presents a petition or files documents with a court for such entity’s winding-up, administration or dissolution or reorganisation except to the extent that such petition or filing is being contested in good faith and with due diligence and is discharged or struck out within 45 days;

 

  (b) a meeting of its shareholders, directors or other officers is convened for the purpose of considering any resolution to petition or to file documents with a court or any registrar for its winding-up, administration or dissolution and such resolution is passed;

 

  (c) such entity presents a petition or files documents with a court for its winding-up, administration or dissolution or reorganisation (by way of voluntary arrangement, scheme of arrangement or otherwise) or commences negotiations with its creditors (or some of them) with a view to a moratorium, composition, assignment or similar arrangement;

 

  (d) an order for its winding-up, administration or dissolution is made;

 

2018 Deed of Guarantee    7


  (e) any liquidator, trustee in bankruptcy, judicial custodian, compulsory manager, receiver, administrative receiver, receiver and manager, judicial manager, administrator or similar officer is appointed in respect of it or any material part of its assets;

 

  (f) its directors, shareholders or other officers request the appointment of, or give notice to appoint, a liquidator, trustee in bankruptcy, judicial custodian, judicial manager, receiver and manager, compulsory manager, receiver, administrative receiver, receiver and manager, administrator or similar officer in respect of it or any material part of its assets; or

 

  (g) any other analogous step or procedure is taken in any jurisdiction.

“Insurance Buy-Out Basis” means an actuarial assessment by the Scheme Actuary of the Scheme’s liabilities on the assumption that the Scheme’s liabilities in respect of pensions and other benefits will be discharged by the purchase of annuities (of the kind described in section 74(3)(c) of the Pensions Act 1995) which the Scheme would be likely to purchase (taking account not only of price but also the reputation, financial strength, and service levels of the insurer) in the event that it was actually winding-up on the relevant date and then promptly securing benefits, the cost of such annuities to be estimated on terms which the Scheme Actuary considers consistent with those in the available market (or, where the Scheme Actuary considers that it is not practicable to make such an estimate, in such manner as the Scheme Actuary considers appropriate in the circumstances), without allowing for any further margins of prudence and including an allowance for fees and expenses associated with the purchase of such annuities and the winding-up of the Scheme subject to Clauses 3(d) to (f) inclusive.

“Insurance Buy-Out Deficit” means, subject to Clauses 3(d) to (f), the amount (if any) at any relevant date by which the liabilities of the Scheme calculated on the Insurance Buy-Out Basis exceeds the assets of the Scheme (and for the avoidance of doubt, for this purpose, the value of any rights arising under this Deed (including the value of any monies held in the Escrow Account) shall be treated as zero, except that any amounts already due and payable pursuant to this Deed by the Guarantor to the Scheme shall be treated for the purpose of the calculation as having been paid, but without prejudice to the Guarantor’s continuing obligation to make the payment). The Scheme Actuary shall issue a certificate of the amount of the Insurance Buy-Out Deficit (being the amount as determined by the Scheme Actuary

 

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10 Business Days after the Scheme Actuary has provided the calculation of the Insurance Buy-Out Deficit and information required by Clause 3(c) to the Guarantor and the Trustee or otherwise determined in accordance with Clauses 3(d) to (f)).

“Limited Recourse Financing” means any financing made available to a Subsidiary either:

 

  (a) for the acquisition, construction, development and/or operation of any assets, on terms such that from completion (as that term, or any similar term, is defined in the agreements governing that financing) of the acquisition or construction the person(s) providing the financing agree to look primarily to the assets financed, the share capital (or equivalent) of the relevant Subsidiary which holds those assets, the revenues or other resources to be generated by the use, exploitation, operation or disposal of, or insurance proceeds resulting from the loss or damage to those assets, and/or any contractual payments in relation to the acquisition, construction, development and/or operation of those assets (including any warranty claims, damages or termination payments) as the primary sources of repayment of and debt service for the moneys advanced;

 

  (b) for the supply, delivery, storage, sale or purchase of any commodity on terms such that the persons providing the financing agree to look primarily to the commodity financed, the share capital (or equivalent) of the Subsidiary that owns or controls the commodity and/or the contractual revenues or other market revenues to be generated by the storage, disposal or delivery of, or insurance proceeds resulting from the loss of or damage to those commodities and/or any contractual payments in relation to the supply, delivery, storage, sale or purchase of that commodity (including any warranty claim, damages and/or termination payments) as the primary source of repayment of and debt service for the moneys advanced; or

 

  (c) to refinance any previously existing Limited Recourse Financing, provided that that refinancing is otherwise on terms satisfying the requirements of paragraph (a) or (b) above.

“Manifest Error” means there are one or more manifest errors in ALS such that the amount stated to be the Estimated Relevant Funding Position as at a given date cannot be an accurate calculation of the Relevant Deficit as at the relevant date calculated using methodology and assumptions consistent with those described in the Configuration Document.

“Merger Date” means 31 January 2018, being the date on which the Guarantor’s merger with Time Inc. becomes effective.

 

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“Permitted Change of Control” means a Change of Control in respect of which there is a Relevant Surviving Entity and either:

 

  (a) no person or “group” (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act) has Control of the Relevant Surviving Entity, the Credit Rating Condition is met following the Change of Control and the credit rating or corporate rating by virtue of which it is met has been confirmed; or

 

  (b) a person or “group” (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act) (the “New Owner” ) has Control of the Relevant Surviving Entity, the Credit Rating Condition is met following the Change of Control, the credit rating or corporate rating by virtue of which it is met has been confirmed and the Trustee, acting reasonably on the basis of a statement of the relevant rating agency or the opinion of a financial adviser acceptable to the Trustee, is satisfied that the Credit Rating Condition would be met even were any actual or implicit guarantee or other credit support provided to the Sponsor by or on behalf of the New Owner or any of its Affiliates to be disregarded,

 

  and for this purpose a credit rating or corporate rating has been “ confirmed ” if:

 

  (i) the relevant rating agency has confirmed in writing to the Trustee, in terms acceptable to the Trustee, that the relevant rating will not be affected by the Change of Control;

 

  (ii) the relevant rating agency has confirmed or updated the relevant rating after and in full knowledge of the Change of Control; or

 

  (iii) the Trustee receives an opinion from a financial adviser acceptable to it that the Change of Control should not affect the relevant rating.

“Relevant Deficit” means the Funding Deficit or, as the case may be, Insurance Buy-Out Deficit.

“Relevant Surviving Entity” in relation to a Change of Control means either:

 

  (a) if the Guarantor is the or a surviving entity and retains all of its assets and liabilities (including its obligations and liabilities under this Deed), the Guarantor; or

 

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  (b) if the Trustee, acting reasonably on the basis of such legal opinions and other advice and information as it may require, is satisfied that another company or other entity acceptable to the Trustee:

 

  (i) is the surviving entity; and

 

  (ii) by operation of law as a result of the Change of Control and without any additional documents being required has become a party to this Deed in place of the Guarantor and succeeded in a manner recognised by English law to all of the assets and liabilities of the Guarantor (including its obligations and liabilities under this Deed) without affecting the continued operation of the Escrow Account in accordance with the terms of this Deed,

that other entity.

“Replacement Estimated Relevant Funding Position” means:

 

  (a) in respect of an Estimated Relevant Funding Position challenged due to alleged Manifest Error, the most recent (determined by reference to their “as at” dates) Estimated Relevant Funding Position, prior to the Estimated Relevant Funding Position, in respect of which there is not a Manifest Error; provided that if there exists no such alternative Estimated Relevant Funding Position with an as at date less than 30 days prior to the date in question, then the Replacement Estimated Relevant Funding Position shall mean the Relevant Deficit calculated by the Scheme Actuary as at the date of the Estimated Relevant Funding Position using the methods and assumptions set out in the Configuration Document; and

 

  (b) in respect of an Estimated Relevant Funding Position challenged due to an ALS Failure, the Relevant Deficit calculated by the Scheme Actuary as at the date of the Estimated Relevant Funding Position using the methods and assumptions set out in the Configuration Document.

“Reservations” means:

 

  (a) the principle that equitable remedies are remedies which may be granted or refused at the discretion of the court and damages may be regarded as an adequate remedy;

 

  (b) the limitation on enforcement as a result of laws relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, reorganisation, court schemes, moratoria, administration and other laws affecting the rights of creditors generally;

 

  (c) the statutory time-barring of claims;

 

  (d) defences of set off or counterclaim;

 

  (e) rules against penalties and similar principles;

 

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  (f) the possibility that an undertaking to assume liability for, or indemnify a person against, non-payment of stamp duty may be void;

 

  (g) the fact that a court may refuse to give effect to a purported contractual obligation to pay costs imposed upon another person in respect of costs of an unsuccessful litigation brought against that person or may not award by way of costs all of the expenditure incurred by a successful litigant in proceedings brought before that court or that a court may stay proceedings if concurrent proceedings based on the same grounds and between the same parties have previously been brought before another court;

 

  (h) any matters which are set out as qualifications or reservations as to matters of law or general application in any legal opinions supplied to the Scheme in respect of this Deed; and

 

  (i) steps for perfection not required by the terms of this Deed to be taken.

“Sale Completion” means 25 November 2015.

“Schedule of Contributions” means the schedule of contributions in place in respect of the Scheme pursuant to Part 3 of the Pensions Act 2004 from time to time.

“Scheme Actuary” means the actuary appointed to the Scheme from time to time under section 47 of the Pensions Act 1995.

“Statement of Investment Principles” means the statement of investment principles adopted in relation to the Scheme from time to time in accordance with section 35 of the Pensions Act 1995.

“Subsidiary” means a subsidiary within the meaning of section 1159 of the Companies Act 2006.

“Tax” means any tax, levy, impost, duty or other charge or withholding of a similar nature (including any related penalty or interest payable in connection with any failure to pay or any delay in paying any of the same).

“Tax Credit” means a credit against, relief from, or remission or repayment of any Tax.

“Tax Deduction” means a deduction or withholding for or on account of Tax from a payment under this Deed.

“Tax Payment” means a payment made by the Guarantor to the Trustee in any way relating to a Tax Deduction or under any indemnity given by the Guarantor in respect of Tax under this Deed.

 

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“Termination Date” means the date on which this Deed terminates in accordance with Clause 14.

“Trust Deed and Rules” means the Rules of the Scheme as amended from time to time.

“Voting Stock” in relation to an entity means share capital (for the avoidance of doubt, including in the case of the Guarantor corporate stock) carrying with it an entitlement to vote in the election of the board of directors of the entity.

“Wholly-owned Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary of a person which has no other shareholders except that person and that person’s wholly-owned Subsidiaries or other persons acting on behalf of, or as nominee for, that person or its wholly-owned Subsidiaries (save by reason of directors holding qualifying shares which they are required by law to hold).

 

(b) Construction

 

  (i) In this Deed, unless the contrary intention appears, a reference to:

 

  (A) assets includes present and future properties, revenues and rights of every description and includes uncalled capital;

 

  (B) an “authorisation” includes an authorisation, consent, approval, resolution, licence, exemption, filing, registration or notarisation;

 

  (C) a “person” includes any individual, company, corporation, unincorporated association or body (including a partnership, trust, joint venture or consortium), government, state, agency, organisation or other entity whether or not having separate legal personality;

 

  (D) a “ regulation ” includes any regulation, rule, official directive, request or guideline (whether or not having the force of law but, if not having the force of law, being of a type with which persons to which it applies are accustomed to comply) or any governmental, inter-governmental or supranational body, agency, department or regulatory, self-regulatory or other authority or organisation; and

 

  (E) a party or any other person includes its successors in title, permitted assigns and permitted transferees and this Deed shall be binding on and enforceable by the successors in office of the Trustee as trustees of the Scheme.

 

  (ii) Unless the contrary intention appears, a reference to a month or months is a reference to a period starting on one day in a calendar month and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the next calendar month or the calendar month in which it is to end, except that:

 

  (A) if the numerically corresponding day is not a Business Day, the period will end on the next Business Day in that month (if there is one) or the preceding Business Day (if there is not);

 

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  (B) if there is no numerically corresponding day in that month, that period will end on the last Business Day in that month; and

 

  (C) notwithstanding paragraph (A) above, a period which commences on the last Business Day of a month will end on the last Business Day in the next month or the calendar month in which it is to end, as appropriate.

 

  (iii) Headings in this Deed do not affect its interpretation.

 

  (iv) It is intended by the parties that this document takes effect as a deed notwithstanding the fact that a party may only execute this document under hand.

 

2. REPRESENTATIONS

 

  (a) Each of the Guarantor and the Sponsor represents and warrants to the Trustee that:

 

  (i) it is duly incorporated and is a validly existing company under the laws of its place of incorporation and has power to carry on its business as now being conducted;

 

  (ii) it has full power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Deed and no limitation on the powers of the Guarantor or the Sponsor will be exceeded as a result of entering into this Deed;

 

  (iii) subject to the Reservations, the obligations expressed to be assumed by the Guarantor in this Deed constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Guarantor enforceable in accordance with their terms;

 

  (iv) all governmental and other approvals and authorisations required in relation to the making, performance, validity and enforceability of this Deed and the transactions contemplated by it have been obtained and are in full force and effect;

 

  (v) the Guarantor is the parent company of the Sponsor and it owns either directly or indirectly, all (or substantially all) of the issued and outstanding equity share capital of the Sponsor; and

 

  (vi) the entry into and performance by it of, and the transactions contemplated by this Deed do not and will not conflict with any law or regulation applicable to it or its constitutional documents or any agreement or instrument binding upon it or any of its assets which would have a material adverse effect on its ability to perform its obligations under this Deed.

 

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  (b) The Trustee represents and warrants to the Guarantor and the Sponsor that:

 

  (i) it has full power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Deed and no limitation its powers will be exceeded as a result of entering into this Deed; and

 

  (ii) subject to the Reservations, the obligations expressed to be assumed by it in this Deed constitute its legal, valid and binding obligations enforceable in accordance with their terms.

 

3. ACTUARIAL VALUATIONS AND INSURANCE BUY-OUT BASIS DISPUTE RESOLUTION

 

  (a) The Guarantor and the Sponsor each consent, and the Guarantor shall procure that the relevant IMPS Employer(s) shall consent, in relation to the Actuarial Valuation as at 5 April 2018 and each subsequent Actuarial Valuation, to using the Agreed Assumptions.

 

  (b) The Trustee confirms that it does not envisage calling an Actuarial Valuation with an effective date prior to 5 April 2018 unless there is a material unmitigated detrimental change to the covenant as a whole (including the position of the Guarantor and the Sponsor in aggregate), taking into account the commitments set out in this Deed. For the avoidance of doubt, the merger of the Guarantor with Time Inc. shall not be treated as a material unmitigated detrimental change to the covenant (it being understood that, without limitation, a material failure of the Sponsor or the Guarantor to abide by the terms of this Deed and/or a subsequent reduction in value or poor performance of any asset or business acquired with the proceeds has the potential to constitute or contribute to a material unmitigated detrimental change to the covenant).

 

  (c) Where this Deed requires the Scheme Actuary to calculate an Insurance Buy-Out Deficit using the Insurance Buy-Out Basis, the Scheme Actuary shall supply to the Guarantor and the Sponsor such calculation and such information as to data, methods and assumptions as an actuary advising the Sponsor or Guarantor (the “Funder’s Actuary”) would reasonably request to be able to test both whether the proposed Insurance Buy-Out Basis meets the requirements to be on the Insurance Buy-Out Basis and whether the calculation of the Insurance Buy-Out Deficit is correct.

 

  (d) Where the Funder’s Actuary concludes in good faith that the basis proposed as the Insurance Buy-Out Basis does not meet the requirements to be on the Insurance Buy-Out Basis or an amount calculated as the Insurance Buy-Out Deficit contains an arithmetical error then the Sponsor or Guarantor may by written notice to the Trustee within 10 Business Days of the relevant notice from the Scheme Actuary or, as the case may be, Trustee notify the Trustee that the matter is disputed and where such notice is validly served, Clauses 3(e) and (f) shall apply and the matter shall be a “ Dispute ”.

 

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  (e) The parties shall use all reasonable endeavours to reach agreement regarding any such Dispute within 20 Business Days of the commencement of discussions between the Parties regarding the substance of such Dispute, then, subject to Clause 3(f), either party may refer the matter to be determined by an independent actuary (the “Expert” ) and shall instruct such Expert to provide their expert opinion on the subject matter of the Dispute.

 

  (f) The Expert shall be nominated either jointly by the Sponsor or the Guarantor (as applicable) and the Trustee, or failing agreement between them within 10 Business Days of the first nomination proposal, on the application of either of them to the President for the time being of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries. In the event that the subject matter of the Dispute is such that an actuary will not accept the appointment on the grounds that the matter is outside of his expertise, the parties shall, acting reasonably and in good faith, agree an alternative category of professional for the purposes of this Clause 3(f). The Expert will act as expert and not as an arbitrator.

 

4. INVESTMENT STRATEGY

The parties agree, and the Guarantor shall procure that the relevant IMPS Employer(s) shall agree, that the Trustee shall implement the Agreed Investment Strategy, and shall update and adopt a Statement of Investment Principles consistent with the Agreed Investment Strategy.

 

5. LIABILITY AND RISK MANAGEMENT EXERCISES

 

  (a) The parties have identified certain liability management exercises, which they will implement on a basis to be agreed acting reasonably, provided that such exercises will be carried out on a basis which is within the reasonable range adopted for such exercises in UK pensions practice. Any costs and expenses reasonably incurred by the Trustee in relation to such liability management exercises will be met by the Sponsor, and for the avoidance of doubt shall form part of the Guaranteed Liabilities.

 

  (b) The Sponsor, the Guarantor and the Trustee may from time to time discuss possible opportunities for the Trustee to enter into contracts to secure (within or outside of the Scheme) some or all of the liabilities of the Scheme. To facilitate such discussions, the Sponsor and/or the Guarantor may from time to time request data from the Trustee in relation to the benefits provided by the Scheme. The Trustee will provide such data to the Sponsor and/or Guarantor provided that each of the Sponsor and/or Guarantor and any other person to whom the data may be passed by the Sponsor and/or Guarantor (each a “Data Recipient”) (a) enters into such undertaking and/or agreement as is reasonably required by the Trustee to ensure the transfer of data does not result in a breach by the Trustee of the Data Protection Act 1988 or other applicable legal or regulatory requirements, and (b) provides the Trustee with an indemnity against all costs, expenses, losses or fines in the event of a breach by the Data Recipient of such undertaking and/or agreement.

 

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6. CONTRIBUTIONS

 

  (a) The parties acknowledge and agree, that the Schedule of Contributions provides for monthly contributions to be paid by the Sponsor to the Scheme of £917,000 in relation to each month until (but excluding) the month in which the sixth anniversary of the Sale Completion falls. Such contributions are payable to the Scheme no later than the 19 th of the month to which they relate.

 

  (b) In the event that at the sixth anniversary of the Sale Completion the ALS shows a Funding Deficit, the Sponsor will within 30 days of such anniversary make a contribution to the Scheme equal to half of that Funding Deficit.

 

  (c) In the event that at the seventh anniversary of the Sale Completion the ALS shows a Funding Deficit, the Sponsor will within 30 days of such anniversary make a contribution to the Scheme equal to half of that Funding Deficit.

 

  (d) In the event that at the eighth anniversary of the Sale Completion the ALS shows a Funding Deficit, the Sponsor will within 30 days of such anniversary make a contribution to the Scheme equal to that Funding Deficit.

 

  (e) Contributions shall cease to be payable under Clauses 6(a) to (d) above from the Gilts Plus 50 Confirmation Date, save that any contributions already due and payable shall continue to be due and payable.

 

  (f) The parties agree, and the Guarantor shall procure that the relevant IMPS Employer(s) shall agree, that a Schedule of Contributions will be adopted which will provide for monthly contributions to be paid by the Sponsor to the Scheme of the estimated Gilts Flat Pro Rata Amount (and for adjustments as the Gilts Flat Pro Rata Amount may change from time to time) in relation to each month from (and including) the month immediately succeeding the month in which the eighth anniversary of the Sale Completion falls until the earlier of (1) the month before the month in which the fifteenth anniversary of the Sale Completion falls and (2) the Gilts Flat Confirmation Date. Such contributions will be payable to the Scheme no later than the 19 th of the month following the month to which they relate.

 

  (g) In the event that the first Actuarial Valuation using the Agreed Assumptions with an effective date which falls on or after the 15 th anniversary of the Sale Completion shows a Funding Deficit the Sponsor will within 30 days of the signing of that Actuarial Valuation make a contribution to the Scheme equal to the Funding Deficit.

 

  (h) In the event that a payment is made under Clause 7, no further contributions (apart from any which were overdue for payment at the time of, but assumed paid for the purposes of, any calculation of the Funding Deficit) will be payable under this Clause 6.

 

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7. ESCROW ACCOUNT – ESTABLISHMENT AND GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

  (a) The Guarantor may establish the Escrow Account at any time, if not already established.

 

  (b) The Guarantor shall establish the Escrow Account, if not already established, on or before the earlier of:

 

  (i) the date on which a payment into the Escrow Account is first required pursuant to Clause 8.1 following a Credit Rating Escrow Payment Event; and

 

  (ii) the day prior to any Change of Control necessitating a payment into the Escrow Account pursuant to Clause 8.1.

 

  (c) The Trustee may establish the Escrow Account, if not already established, at any time:

 

  (i) the Guarantor has failed, or in the opinion of the Trustee, acting reasonably, appears likely to fail to establish the Escrow Account at a time it is required to do so pursuant to Clause 7(b); or

 

  (ii) when it has reason to anticipate the occurrence of an Event of Default or an Acceleration Escrow Payment Event.

 

  (d) The Trustee shall establish the Escrow Account, if not already established, as soon as reasonably practicable following the occurrence of an Event of Default or an Acceleration Escrow Payment Event.

 

  (e) If the Guarantor or the Trustee is proposing to establish the Escrow Account in accordance with this Clause 7, it shall notify the Trustee or the Guarantor, as applicable, accordingly giving details of the proposed escrow agent and financial institution and a copy of the proposed escrow agreement. The Trustee or the Guarantor, as applicable, shall promptly give the party establishing the Escrow Account such assistance as it may reasonably require in connection with its establishment. The party establishing the Escrow Account shall notify the Trustee of the Guarantor, as applicable, promptly after it has been established.

 

  (f) Once the Escrow Account has been established, it shall be maintained unless and until:

 

  (i) the Guarantor and the Trustee agree to its discontinuance;

 

  (ii) the escrow agent or the financial institution terminates the Escrow Account;

 

  (iii) the financial institution ceases to have an Agreed Escrow Rating or becomes subject to an Insolvency Event; or

 

  (iv)

the escrow agent ceases to have an Agreed Escrow Rating, commits a material breach of the escrow agreement or becomes subject to an Insolvency Event,

 

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  in which case unless the Guarantor and the Trustee agree otherwise an alternative Escrow Account shall be established on a basis agreed between the Guarantor and the Trustee or (failing such agreement within 10 Business Days of either of those parties seeking the agreement of the other) by the Trustee, with any monies in the existing Escrow Account being promptly transferred into the alternative Escrow Account once established.

 

  (g) The costs of the establishment and maintenance of the Escrow Account shall be borne by the Guarantor.

 

  (h) In relation to any payment to be made out of the Escrow Account in accordance with the terms of this Deed, each of the Guarantor and the Trustee undertakes to the other promptly upon the other’s request to join in giving appropriate instructions to the escrow agent for that payment to be made.

 

8. PAYMENTS INTO THE ESCROW ACCOUNT

 

  (a) Subject to (b)(ii) and (iv), the Guarantor shall in connection with the occurrence of any Escrow Event pay into the Escrow Account on or before the date specified in (b) an amount equal to:

 

  (i) the Estimated Insurance Buy-Out Deficit; less

 

  (ii) the balance, if any, standing to the credit of the Escrow Account,

in each case as at the Relevant Time.

 

  (b) In respect of:

 

  (i) an Event of Default, the “Relevant Time” shall be the date of the Event of Default and the payment pursuant to Clause 8(a) shall be payable on that date;

a Credit Rating Escrow Payment Event, the “Relevant Time” shall be the date on which the Credit Rating Escrow Payment Event first occurs and the payment pursuant to Clause 8 (a) shall be payable 60 Business Days after that date, provided that if a Credit Rating Escrow Release Event occurs within 60 Business Days of the Credit Rating Escrow Payment Event occurring, no amount shall be payable into the Escrow Account in connection with that Credit Rating Escrow Payment Event under Clause 8(a) unless and until the Guarantor ceases again to meet the Credit Rating Condition within twelve months of the initial Credit Rating Escrow Payment Event occurring, in which case the Guarantor shall make the payment under Clause 8(a) (for the avoidance of doubt, with the Relevant Time remaining the date on which the initial Credit Rating Escrow Payment Event occurred) within 10 Business Days (or, if later, within 60 Business Days of the date on which the initial Credit Rating Escrow Payment Event occurred);

 

  (ii) an Acceleration Escrow Payment Event, the “Relevant Time” shall be the date of the Acceleration Escrow Payment Event and the payment pursuant to Clause 8(a) shall be payable on the date five Business Days after that; and

 

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  (iii) a Change of Control, the “Relevant Time” shall be the day prior to the Change of Control and the payment pursuant to Clause 8(a) shall be payable on the date of the Change of Control, provided that no amount shall be payable pursuant to Clause 8(a) in connection with a Permitted Change of Control.

 

  (c) If the Sponsor or Guarantor reasonably believes that the payment directly into the Scheme of any contributions otherwise due and payable is likely to result in the Scheme winding up with a surplus within the next 12 months in circumstances after all benefits are secured in full and all costs and expenses associated with winding-up met from the Scheme’s assets, they may notify the Trustee accordingly and, unless the Trustee challenges such notification (in which event the matter will be referred for arbitration in accordance with the procedure set out in Clause 14(f)(v)) such contributions will then instead be paid into the Escrow Account.

 

9. TRUE-UPS

 

  (a) As soon as reasonably practicable following the date on which an Escrow Event occurs, the Trustee will instruct the Scheme Actuary to calculate the Insurance Buy-out Deficit as at the Relevant Time.

 

  (b) Clause 10(a) provides for what is to happen upon the Scheme Actuary issuing its calculation following an Event of Default. In relation to the Scheme Actuary issuing its calculation following one of the other Escrow Events:

 

  (i) where the Insurance Buy-out Deficit is greater than the Estimated Insurance Buy-out Deficit as at the Relevant Time, the Guarantor shall within 10 Business Days of the Scheme Actuary issuing its calculation make a payment into the Escrow Account equal to the difference; and

 

  (ii) where the Insurance Buy-out Deficit is less than the Estimated Insurance Buy-out Deficit as at the Relevant Time, subject to Clause 9(d) the difference shall be paid to the Guarantor out of the Escrow Account within 10 Business Days of the Scheme Actuary issuing its calculation.

 

  (c) For so long as there is a credit balance on the Escrow Account as a result of a Credit Rating Escrow Payment Event or Change of Control having occurred, the Trustee will instruct the Scheme Actuary to calculate the Insurance Buy-out Deficit as at each anniversary of the date on which the relevant (or if applicable, the first relevant) Escrow Event occurred (or such other date as the Trustee and the Guarantor may agree to be administratively practicable) of what would, on that anniversary (or other agreed date), be the Insurance Buy-Out Deficit. In the event that the credit balance on the Escrow Account is

 

  (d) more than the Insurance Buy-Out Deficit, subject to Clause 9(d) the balance shall be paid to the Guarantor within 10 Business Days of the Scheme Actuary issuing its calculation. In the event that the credit balance on the Escrow Account is less than the Insurance Buy-Out Deficit, the Guarantor shall make a payment into the Escrow Account equal to the shortfall within 10 Business Days of the Scheme Actuary issuing its calculation.

 

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  (e) No payment shall be made to the Guarantor pursuant to Clause 9(b) or (c) if at the time the Scheme Actuary issues the relevant calculation it has been instructed pursuant to Clause 9(b) or (c) to calculate the Insurance Buy-out Deficit as at a later date than that to which the relevant calculation relates or an Escrow Event or anniversary has occurred which will result in its being so instructed.

 

10. PAYMENTS OUT OF THE ESCROW ACCOUNT

 

  (a) Event of Default – payments upon certification of Insurance Buy-Out Deficit

When the Scheme Actuary issues its certificate of the amount of the Insurance Buy-Out Deficit as at the Relevant Time in connection with an Event of Default as referred to in Clause 9 (a):

 

  (i) if the Insurance Buy-out Deficit is greater than the Estimated Insurance Buy-out Deficit as at the Relevant Time, the Guarantor shall immediately upon the Scheme Actuary issuing its calculation make a payment into the Escrow Account equal to the difference;

 

  (ii) immediately upon the Scheme Actuary issuing its calculation, the lesser of:

 

  (A) the Insurance Buy-Out Deficit as at the Relevant Time reduced by the amount (if any) paid by the Sponsor to the Trustee in connection with the Event of Default since that Relevant Time; and

 

  (B) the credit balance on the Escrow Account, taking into account any amount payable by the Guarantor pursuant to Clause 10(a)(i),

shall be paid from the Escrow Account to the Scheme; and

 

  (iii) the credit balance (if any) on the Escrow Account shall be paid from the Escrow Account to the Guarantor.

 

  (b) Credit Rating Escrow Payment Event – payments upon Credit Rating Escrow Release Event

This Clause 10(b) shall apply if and for so long as the Credit Rating Condition is met again at any time after a payment has been made into the Escrow Account in connection with a Credit Rating Escrow Payment Event.

 

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If and so long as it applies, the amount paid in to the Escrow Account in connection with the Credit Rating Escrow Payment Event shall be repaid to the Guarantor from the Escrow Account as to 50% on the date six months after the Credit Rating Condition has again been met and as to the balance on the date 12 months after the Credit Rating Condition has again been met, subject in each case to there being a sufficient credit balance on the Escrow Account and provided that:

 

  (i) no payment shall be made under this Clause 10(b) if at the time it would otherwise be made an Event of Default or Acceleration Escrow Payment Event has occurred and is continuing or if a Change of Control (other than a Permitted Change of Control) has occurred and has not within two months become a Permitted Change of Control (e.g., by virtue of a credit rating being “confirmed” after the completion of the Change of Control transaction); and

 

  (ii) if the Credit Rating Condition again ceases to be met before, or within twelve months after, the balance has been paid to the Guarantor, the Guarantor shall within 10 Business Days make a payment into the Escrow Account to ensure that the amount held in the Escrow Account is equal to the Estimated Insurance Buy-out Deficit at the date on which the Credit Rating Escrow Payment Event first occurred.

 

  (c) Acceleration Escrow Payment Event – payments upon Acceleration Escrow Release Event

This Clause 10(c) shall apply if an Acceleration Escrow Release Event occurs within six months of the date on which an Acceleration Escrow Payment Event occurs.

If and so long as it applies, the amount paid in to the Escrow Account in connection with the Acceleration Escrow Payment Event shall be repaid to the Guarantor from the Escrow Account as to 50% on the date six months after the Acceleration Escrow Payment Event occurs (the “six month anniversary” ) and as to the balance on the date 12 months after the Acceleration Escrow Payment Event, subject in each case to there being a sufficient credit balance on the Escrow Account and provided that:

 

  (i) no payment shall be made under this Clause 10(c) if at the time it would otherwise be made an Event of Default or Credit Rating Escrow Payment Event has occurred and is continuing, or if a Change of Control (other than a Permitted Change of Control) has occurred and has not within two months become a Permitted Change of Control (e.g., by virtue of a credit rating being “confirmed” after the completion of the Change of Control transaction); and

 

  (ii) if a Credit Rating Escrow Payment Event occurs after the six month anniversary but before, or within twelve months after, the balance has been paid to the Guarantor, the Guarantor shall within 10 Business Days make a payment into the Escrow Account equal to the total amount returned to it and Clause 10(d) shall then apply.

 

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  (d) Acceleration Escrow Payment Event – payments into the Scheme

This Clause 10(d) shall apply if an Acceleration Escrow Release Event does not occur prior to the six month anniversary or in the circumstances set out in Clause 10(c)(ii).

If it applies:

 

  (i) the lesser of:

 

  (A) the Insurance Buy-Out Deficit as at the Relevant Time reduced by the amount (if any) paid by the Sponsor to the Trustee in connection with the Acceleration Escrow Payment Event since that Relevant Time; and

 

  (B) the credit balance on the Escrow Account, if applicable taking into account any payment which becomes due from the Guarantor pursuant to Clause 9(b)(i) upon the Scheme Actuary confirming the Insurance Buy-out Deficit as at the date on which the Acceleration Escrow Payment Event occurred,

shall be paid from the Escrow Account to the Scheme immediately following the six month anniversary (if an Acceleration Escrow Release Event does not occur by that date) or immediately following the occurrence of the circumstances set out in Clause 10(c)(ii) (or in either case if later the date on which the Scheme Actuary confirms the Insurance Buy-out Deficit as at the date on which the Acceleration Escrow Payment Event occurred); and

 

  (ii) the credit balance (if any) on the Escrow Account shall then be paid from the Escrow Account to the Guarantor.

 

  (e) Change of Control Escrow Payment Event – payments upon the Change of Control becoming a Permitted Change of Control

This Clause 10(e) shall apply if a Change of Control which was not a Permitted Change of Control at the time of the Change of Control transaction within two months following the date of the Change of Control becomes a Permitted Change of Control (e.g., by virtue of a credit rating being “confirmed” after the completion of the Change of Control transaction).

If and so long as it applies, the amount paid in to the Escrow Account in connection with the Change of Control shall be repaid to the Guarantor from the Escrow Account promptly after it is determined that such Change in Control was or has become a Permitted Change of Control, subject to there being a sufficient credit balance on the Escrow Account and provided that no payment shall be made under this Clause 10(e) if at the time it would otherwise be made an Event of Default, Acceleration Escrow Payment Event or Credit Rating Escrow Payment Event has occurred and is continuing.

 

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11. REPLACEMENT OF GUARANTEE AND ESCROW ACCOUNT ARRANGEMENTS

 

  (a) If at any time:

 

  (i) a Matching Replacement Obligation is provided to the Trustee by an Acceptable Replacement Entity; and

 

  (ii) the Appropriate Replacement Conditions are satisfied,

then the Trustee shall at the request of the Guarantor:

 

  (iii) release the Guarantor from its obligations under this Deed; and

 

  (iv) if there are monies in the Escrow Account, join with the Guarantor in instructing the escrow agent to return those monies to the Guarantor or as it may direct.

 

  (b) In this Clause 11:

“Acceptable Replacement Entity” means a corporate entity (or other entity acceptable to the Trustee):

 

  (i) which is not a Subsidiary of the Guarantor or a Subsidiary of, or under the Control of, an entity which, following a Change of Control, alone or together with a “group” (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act) of other entities has Control of the Guarantor;

 

  (ii) which at the date on which the Trustee releases the Guarantor from its obligations under this Deed pursuant to Clause 11(a) has at least one of the following:

 

  (A) a confirmed long term unsecured senior debt credit rating of higher than Caa1 from Moody’s (or, if it does not have a rating of its long term unsecured senior debt from Moody’s, a confirmed corporate rating of higher than B2 from Moody’s);

 

  (B) a confirmed long term unsecured senior debt credit rating higher than CCC+ from Standard & Poor’s (or, if it does not have a rating of its long term unsecured senior debt from Standard & Poor’s, a confirmed corporate rating of higher than B from Standard & Poor’s); or

 

  (C) a confirmed long term unsecured senior debt credit rating higher than CCC+ from Fitch (or, if it does not have a rating of its long term unsecured senior debt from Fitch, a confirmed corporate rating of higher than B from Fitch); and

 

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  (iii) which would have satisfied the condition in (ii) (ignoring for this purpose the word “confirmed” in each of (b)(ii)(A), (B) and (C)) at all times during the 12 months immediately preceding the date on which the Matching Replacement Obligation is completed,

and for these purposes a credit rating or corporate rating is a “ confirmed ” rating if:

 

  (i) the relevant rating agency has confirmed in writing to the Trustee, in terms acceptable to the Trustee, that the relevant rating will not be affected by the relevant entity entering into the Replacement Documents and becoming bound by the obligations on its part in the Replacement Documents and the release and return referred to in Clause 11(a)(iii) and (iv);

 

  (ii) the relevant rating agency, with knowledge of the actual or impending release and return referred to in Clause 11(a)(iii) and (iv), has confirmed or updated the relevant rating after the relevant entity has to the relevant rating agency’s knowledge entered into the Replacement Documents and become bound by the obligations on its part in the Replacement Documents; or

 

  (iii) the Trustee receives an opinion from a financial adviser acceptable to it, and which has knowledge of the actual or impending release and return referred to in Clause 11(a)(iii) and (iv), that the entry by the relevant entity into the Replacement Documents and its becoming bound by the obligations should not affect the relevant rating.

“Appropriate Replacement Conditions” means the provision to the Trustee of each of the following in form and substance satisfactory to the Trustee, acting reasonably:

 

  (i) Replacement Documents executed and (subject only to execution by the Trustee) delivered by each party apart from the Trustee;

 

  (ii) capacity and validity legal opinions satisfactory to the Trustee confirming that the Replacement Documents constitute legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligations on the part of the Acceptable Replacement Entity and containing such other opinions as the Trustee, acting reasonably, may request in connection with the Replacement Documents and the Acceptable Replacement Entity;

 

  (iii) the confirmation in writing from a rating agency referred to in the definition of “ Acceptable Replacement Entity ”; and

 

  (iv) such other agreements, corporate resolutions, search results and other documentation as the Trustee may reasonably request.

 

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“Matching Replacement Obligation” means any of the following:

 

  (i) the assumption by accession or operation of law of the Guarantor’s obligations under this Deed;

 

  (ii) the entry into of a deed in substantially identical terms to this Deed; or

 

  (iii) the entry into of a corporate guarantee, surety bond, letter of credit, bank guarantee or other similar instrument considered by Trustee, acting reasonably, to provide it with protection in commercial terms substantially identical to that provided by this Deed, including in particular:

 

  (A) obligations to make payments to the Scheme at the same times and in the same amounts as provided under this Deed; and

 

  (B) obligations to:

 

  (1) put money into an account satisfying the conditions set out in the definition of “Escrow Account”;

 

  (2) provide equivalent security; or

 

  (3) make payments into the Scheme,

in the case of (A), (B) and (C) at the same time and in the same amounts as provided under Clauses 7 to 10 of this Deed.

“Replacement Documents” means the documents entered into in order to effect, and otherwise in connection with, the Matching Replacement Obligation.

 

12. GUARANTEE

 

  (a) The Guarantor hereby unconditionally and irrevocably:

 

  (i) guarantees to the Trustee punctual payment by the Sponsor and the IMPS Employers of the Guaranteed Liabilities;

 

  (ii) undertakes to the Trustee that whenever the Sponsor and/or any of the IMPS Employers does not pay any amount when due and payable in respect of a Guaranteed Liability it shall pay such amount in accordance with the terms of Clause 13 ( Recourse ) as if it were the principal obligor; and

 

  (iii) undertakes with the Trustee that if any payment obligation guaranteed by it under this Deed is or becomes unenforceable, invalid or illegal, it will, as an independent and primary obligation, indemnify the Trustee in accordance with the terms of Clause 13 ( Recourse ) against any cost,

 

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loss or liability which the Trustee or the Scheme incur as a result of the Sponsor and/or any of the IMPS Employers not paying any amount which would, but for such unenforceability, invalidity or illegality, have been payable by the Sponsor and/or any of the IMPS Employers to the Scheme or the Trustee.

 

  (b) The Guarantor shall ensure that its payment obligations under this Deed will rank at least pari passu with the claims of all its other direct unsecured and unsubordinated creditors, except for obligations mandatorily preferred or privileged by law.

 

13. RECOURSE

 

  (a) Before making a demand for payment from the Guarantor under this Deed other than in relation to any payment due under Clauses 7 to 11, the Trustee shall first make a demand for the relevant amount against the Sponsor and/or any relevant IMPS Employers and shall simultaneously notify the Guarantor that it has made such a demand.

 

  (b) If the Sponsor and the IMPS Employers do not pay the amount so demanded by the Trustee within 10 Business Days of the date of the relevant demand, the Trustee may make written demand of the Guarantor for such unpaid amounts under this Deed. The Guarantor shall pay any unpaid amounts so demanded by the Trustee under this Deed within 10 Business Days of such demand if still unpaid on such date.

 

  (c) Where, and to the extent only that, a payment due from the Sponsor or any of the IMPS Employers (other than a payment set out in the Schedule of Contributions to the extent it is expressed in a Sterling amount and not as a percentage) has been validly disputed in good faith, no amounts shall be payable under Clause 12 in respect of that payment obligation until the payment obligation has been confirmed by the payer or a court of first instance.

 

14. EFFECTIVENESS AND TERMINATION OF THIS DEED AND 2015 DEED OF GUARANTEE

 

  (a) Notwithstanding anything else in this Deed and subject only to the conditions in clauses 4(2) and 5(c) (the “ Conditions ”) of the Heads of Terms Agreement having been met, this Deed shall come into effect from the Merger Date and shall remain in full force and effect until the Termination Date.

 

  (b) With effect from the Merger Date, the Trustee and the Sponsor agree that in accordance with their legal obligation under clause 5(4) of the Heads of Terms Agreement, Time Inc. (the “ Former Guarantor ”) is released from all its obligations under the Deed of Guarantee dated 19 October 2015 between Time Inc., the Sponsor and the Trustee (“ 2015 Deed of Guarantee ”) and the 2015 Deed of Guarantee is terminated and will be of no further force or effect. For the avoidance of doubt, the Former Guarantor is a party to this Deed solely for the purpose of this Clause 14(b), has no other rights or obligations under this Deed and shall no longer be treated as a party to this Deed after the Merger Date.

 

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  (c) The occurrence of the Termination Date shall not affect the liability of the Guarantor under this Deed in respect of any Guaranteed Liabilities that fall due for payment on or prior to the Termination Date.

 

  (d) This Deed shall terminate if the Scheme is wound up and all liabilities in relation to the Scheme (ignoring any reduction to benefits that may otherwise arise due to an insufficiency of resources) are fully secured to the satisfaction of the Trustee, acting reasonably. In such event, any surplus funds then remaining in the Scheme or in the Escrow Account shall be promptly returned to the Guarantor.

 

  (e) This Deed shall terminate (unless the Guarantor elects otherwise in writing) if the Trustee implements an investment strategy that is not consistent with the Agreed Investment Strategy, the Trustee adopts assumptions for an Actuarial Valuation which are not the Agreed Assumptions, or the Trustee adopts transfer or commutation factors that, if this Deed had not been entered into, would be outside of the reasonable range which the Trustee could properly adopt in relation to the Scheme (assuming no concerns about the ability of the Sponsor and IMPS Employers to support the Scheme on an ongoing basis) (a “Material Change” ) and (subject to (v) below) the Guarantor informs the Trustee in writing that termination will occur as a result of that Material Change except:

 

  (i) Where a Credit Rating Escrow Payment Event occurs the Trustee may change the investment strategy to de-risk to a target return of gilts plus 0.5% or, where a Credit Rating Downgrade Event occurs, the Trustee may (subject to any consultation required under the Pensions Act 1995) change the investment strategy as they see fit; provided that (A) if a Credit Rating Escrow Release Event occurs, it will be a Material Change if the Guarantor so notifies the Trustee and the Trustee does not adjust the investment strategy to be consistent with the Agreed Investment Strategy within 90 days or such other period as the Trustee and the Guarantor shall agree, and (B) if the Credit Rating Downgrade Event has been reversed it will be a Material Change if the Guarantor so notifies the Trustee and the Trustee does not adjust the investment strategy to be consistent with the Agreed Investment Strategy (or, where a Credit Rating Escrow Release Event has not occurred, to change the investment strategy to de-risk to a target return of gilts plus 0.5%) within 90 days or such other period as the Trustee and the Guarantor shall agree;

 

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  (ii) Where an investment adviser appointed by the Trustee under section 47 of the Pensions Act 1995 (the “Trustee’s Investment Adviser” ) advises the Trustee in writing (copied to the Guarantor) that a change to the investment strategy is expected to result in the same (or increased) expected long-term return with the same (or less) level of overall risk as compared with the then current investment strategy, it shall not be a Material Change;

 

  (iii) It shall not be a Material Change if the Trustee reverses the Material Change within 90 days of the later of the Guarantor informing them in writing that termination will occur as a result of it and the resolution of any dispute about whether there has been a Material Change in accordance with (v) below;

 

  (iv) It shall not be a Material Change if the Trustee has made a change to the investment target return in accordance with the Agreed Investment Strategy and the following conditions are met:

 

  (A) prior to the change, the Trustee’s Investment Adviser advises the Trustee in writing (copied to the Guarantor) that the investment target return in accordance with the Agreed Investment Strategy is no longer capable of being achieved on the basis of the current strategic allocation;

 

  (B) prior to the change, the Trustee has requested the Trustee’s Investment Adviser to advise in writing (copied to the Guarantor) on whether there is any change in the current strategic allocation which could be made without materially increasing the overall level of risk in order to reduce so far as possible the extent to which the Trustee’s Investment Adviser advises that the investment target return in accordance with the Agreed Investment Strategy needs to be changed;

 

  (C) prior to the change, the Trustee has made any change that is advised by the Trustee’s Investment Adviser further to the request referred to in sub-Clause (B) above;

 

  (D) the change is not more than the minimum change necessary to align the investment target return in accordance with the Agreed Investment Strategy with the investment target return that the Trustee’s Investment Adviser has advised is achievable (taking into account any change that is advised by the Trustee’s Investment Adviser further to the request referred to in sub-Clause (B) above); and

 

  (E) the Guarantor has consented to the change, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

 

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  (v) In the event that the Trustee disputes whether there has been a Material Change (e.g. due to a dispute over the interpretation of the Agreed Investment Strategy or the Agreed Assumptions or over the reasonableness of transfer or commutation factors), such dispute shall be referred to and finally resolved by arbitration under the Arbitration Rules of the London Court of International Arbitration and the following provisions shall apply:

 

  (A) The tribunal shall consist of a sole arbitrator;

 

  (B) The seat of arbitration shall be London, England

 

  (C) The language of the arbitration shall be English.

 

15. DEFICIT ESTIMATION

 

  (a) The Guarantor and the Trustee shall procure that the ALS is maintained in respect of the Scheme in accordance with the Configuration Document. Both the Trustee and the Guarantor shall have unrestricted access to the ALS for purposes of accessing the Estimated Funding Position and the Estimated Insurance Buy-Out Deficit as at any given date.

 

  (b) The Guarantor and the Trustee shall procure that no changes (whether by replacement, modification or addition) are made to the information in the Configuration Document without the prior written consent of both the Guarantor and the Trustee and neither the Guarantor nor the Trustee shall take steps (directly or indirectly) to prevent the other party from accessing ALS. In the event of a breach of this Clause by the Trustee which has been notified to the Trustee by the Guarantor but not remedied, the Estimated Relevant Funding Position at any given time (when looked at following the breach) shall be as determined by the Guarantor based on the terms of the Configuration Document as it stood prior to such amendment in contravention of this Clause.

 

  (c) In respect of an Estimated Relevant Funding Position, the Guarantor may (acting reasonably) give the Trustee, and the Trustee may (acting reasonably) give the Guarantor notice in writing (the “Error Notice” ) that there is either a Manifest Error or an ALS Failure, in each case, specifying reasonable details of the same, including what they believe (acting reasonably) to be the Replacement Estimated Relevant Funding Position. To be a valid notice under this Clause 15(c), such notice must be sent within 5 Business Days following the day on which the Guarantor became aware, or should reasonably be expected to have become aware, of such Manifest Error or ALS Failure.

Where the recipient of the Error Notice disputes the existence of the Manifest Error, or the ALS Failure, or disputes whether the Replacement Estimated Relevant Funding Position is itself subject to a Manifest Error, or both, they shall, within 5 Business Days of their receipt of the Error Notice, notify the other party (being the Guarantor or the Trustee) in writing (the “Error Dispute Notice” ). In the event that the parties are unable to agree the Replacement Estimated Relevant Funding Position, that dispute will be resolved by arbitration in accordance with the terms set out in Clause 14(g)(v) and the amount so determined shall be the Replacement Estimated Relevant Funding Position.

 

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  (d) Where the Guarantor is required to hold funds in escrow in accordance with Clauses 8, 9 or 10 and an Error Notice is issued, on and from the date on which the Error Notice is received by the other party until the date on which the Replacement Estimated Relevant Funding Position is agreed or otherwise determined in accordance with Clause 15(d), the Estimated Relevant Funding Position for the purpose of Clauses 8, 9 or 10 shall be the most recent (determined by reference to their “as at” dates) Estimated Relevant Funding Position available on or from ALS prior to the challenged Estimated Relevant Funding Position.

 

  (e) The Guarantor and the Trustee may (in their absolute discretion), from time to time, agree to use a different technology and software to the ALS (the “Alternative Tracker” ). The Guarantor and the Trustee shall use all reasonable endeavours to so agree in the event that the ALS no longer exists in the form described in this Deed.

The Guarantor and the Trustee shall, unless they agree otherwise in writing (in their absolute discretion), procure that any Alternative Tracker which replaces the ALS under this Clause 15 is configured as closely as practicable to the configuration of the ALS (as set out in the Configuration Document). In the event that the Guarantor and the Trustee are unable to reach agreement as to whether a proposed Alternative Tracker satisfies this Clause 15, or otherwise which Alternative Tracker to use, that dispute will be resolved by arbitration in accordance with the terms set out in Clause 14(g)(v).

In the event that the ALS is replaced under this Clause 15(f) with an Alternative Tracker, this Deed shall apply as if all references in this Deed to “the ALS” were instead references to the Alternative Tracker which replaced it.

 

16. CONTINUING GUARANTEE

Subject to Clause 14, the guarantee set out in this Deed is a continuing guarantee and will extend to the ultimate balance of sums payable by it in respect of the Guaranteed Liabilities, regardless of any intermediate payment or discharge in whole or in part.

 

17. REINSTATEMENT

If any discharge, release or arrangement (whether in respect of the obligations of the Sponsor and/or any of the IMPS Employers or any security for those obligations or otherwise) is made by the Trustee in whole or in part on the basis of any payment, security or other disposition which is avoided or must be restored in insolvency, liquidation, administration or otherwise, without limitation, then the liability of the Guarantor under this Deed will continue or be reinstated as if the discharge, release or arrangement had not occurred.

 

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18. LIABILITY/WAIVER OF DEFENCES

The obligations of the Guarantor under this Deed will not be affected by any act, omission, matter or thing which, but for this Clause 18 would reduce, release or prejudice any of its obligations under this Deed (without limitation and whether or not known to it or the Trustee) including:

 

  (i) any time, waiver or consent granted to, or composition with the Sponsor and/or any of the IMPS Employers and/or any other person;

 

  (ii) any amendment, novation, supplement, renewal, release, extension, restatement (however fundamental and whether or not more onerous) or replacement of the Schedule of Contributions or the Trust Deed and Rules or any other document or security;

 

  (iii) the taking, variation, compromise, exchange, renewal or release of, or refusal or neglect to perfect, take up or enforce any rights against, or security over assets of the Sponsor and/or any of the IMPS Employers and/or any other person or any non-presentation or non-observance of any formality or other requirement in respect of any instrument or any failure to realise the full value of any security;

 

  (iv) any discharge or release of the Sponsor and/or any of the IMPS Employers or any other person under the terms of any composition or arrangement;

 

  (v) any incapacity or lack of power, authority or legal personality of or dissolution or change in the members or status relating to the Sponsor and/or any of the IMPS Employers and/or any other person;

 

  (vi) any unenforceability, illegality or invalidity of any obligation of any person under the Schedule of Contributions or the Trust Deed and Rules or any other document; or

 

  (vii) any bankruptcy or insolvency or similar proceedings.

 

19. APPROPRIATIONS

Until the Guaranteed Liabilities have been irrevocably paid in full, the Trustee (or any trustee or agent on its behalf) may:

 

  (i) refrain from applying or enforcing any other moneys, security or rights held or received by the Trustee (or any trustee or agent on its behalf) in respect of those amounts, or apply and enforce the same in such manner and order as they see fit (whether against those amounts or otherwise) and the Guarantor shall not be entitled to the benefit of the same; and

 

  (ii) hold in an interest-bearing suspense account (bearing interest at a commercial rate) any moneys received from the Guarantor or on account of the Guarantor’s liability under this Deed, unless and until such amounts are sufficient in aggregate to discharge the Guaranteed Liabilities in full.

 

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20. DEFERRAL OF THE GUARANTOR’S RIGHTS

Until the Guaranteed Liabilities have been irrevocably paid and satisfied in full and unless the Trustee otherwise directs, the Guarantor will not exercise any rights which it may have by reason of performance by it of its obligations under this Deed or by reason of any amount being payable, or liability arising under this Deed:

 

  (i) to be indemnified by the Sponsor and/or any of the IMPS Employers;

 

  (ii) to claim any contribution from any other guarantor of the Sponsor’s and/or any of the IMPS Employers’ obligations or liabilities to make payments to the Scheme;

 

  (iii) to take the benefit (in whole or in part and whether by way of subrogation or otherwise) of any rights of the Trustee or the Scheme in respect of the Sponsor’s and/or any of the IMPS Employers’ obligations or liabilities to make payments to the Trustee or the Scheme, or under or pursuant to any other guarantee or security taken in connection with such obligations or liabilities of the Sponsor and/or any of the IMPS Employers by the Trustee;

 

  (iv) to bring legal or other proceedings for an order requiring the Sponsor and/or any of the IMPS Employers to make any payment, or perform any obligation, in respect of which the Guarantor has given a guarantee, undertaking or indemnity under this Deed;

 

  (v) to exercise any right of set-off against the Sponsor and/or any of the IMPS Employers; and/or

 

  (vi) to claim or prove as a creditor of the Sponsor and/or any of the IMPS Employers in competition with the Trustee or the Scheme.

The Guarantor must hold in trust for and immediately pay or transfer to the Trustee any payment or distribution or benefit of security received by it contrary to this Clause 20 or in accordance with any directions given by the Trustee under this Clause 20.

 

21. ADDITIONAL SECURITY

This Deed is in addition to and is not in any way prejudiced by any other guarantee or security now or subsequently held by the Trustee or the Scheme.

 

22. PROVISION OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION

The Guarantor and the Sponsor each undertake to the Trustee that it shall provide the Financial Information at the times specified in Schedule 4. The contents of Schedule 4 may be amended by written agreement between the Guarantor, the Sponsor and the Trustee.

 

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23. PAYMENTS

All payments made pursuant to this Deed shall be made in Sterling in immediately available funds without any set-off or counterclaim to the Trustee’s account at such office or bank as it may notify the Guarantor from time to time by no less than 5 Business Days’ prior notice. If a payment under this Deed is due on a day which is not a Business Day, the due date for that payment will instead be the next Business Day in the same calendar month (if there is one) or the preceding Business Day (if there is not).

 

24. TAXES

 

  (a) Tax gross-up:

 

  (i) The Guarantor must make all payments to the Trustee or into the Escrow Account under this Deed without any Tax Deduction, unless a Tax Deduction is required by law.

 

  (ii) If the Guarantor is aware that it must make a Tax Deduction (or that there is a change in the rate or the basis of a Tax Deduction), it must promptly notify the Trustee. Similarly, the Trustee shall notify the Guarantor on becoming so aware in respect of a payment payable by the Guarantor to the Trustee or into the Escrow Account.

 

  (iii) If a Tax Deduction is required by law to be made by the Guarantor from any payment made to the Trustee or into the Escrow Account, the amount of the payment due from the Guarantor will be increased to an amount which (after making the Tax Deduction) leaves an amount equal to the payment which would have been due if no Tax Deduction had been required provided that the Guarantor shall not be required to make an increased payment under this Clause 24(a)(iii) in respect of a Tax Deduction to the extent that the Tax Deduction in question has already been taken into account (outside the operation of this Clause) in calculating the amount of the payment due.

 

  (iv) If the Guarantor is required to make a Tax Deduction, the Guarantor must make the appropriate Tax Deduction and must make any payment required in connection with that Tax Deduction to the relevant Tax authority within the time allowed by law.

 

  (v) Within 60 days of making a payment required in connection with a Tax Deduction, the Guarantor must deliver to the Trustee evidence satisfactory to it (acting reasonably) that the appropriate payment has been paid to the relevant Tax authority.

 

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  (vi) If the Guarantor makes a Tax Payment and the Trustee determines (or is informed) that it is or may be entitled to obtain a Tax Credit which is attributable to that Tax Payment or to an increased payment of which that Tax Payment forms part, the Trustee shall use all reasonable endeavours to obtain such Tax Credit and, in any event if the Trustee does obtain and utilise a Tax Credit, the Trustee shall pay to the Guarantor an amount which the Trustee determines (acting reasonably) will leave the Trustee (after the payment) in the same after-Tax position as it would have been in had the Tax Payment not been required to be made by the Guarantor.

 

  (vii) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Clause 24(a), the net amounts received by the Trustee under this Deed (including any Tax Payments) shall not exceed the net amounts that would have been received by the Trustee had such payments been made directly by the Sponsor and/or any of the IMPS Employers.

 

  (viii) In the event that the Guarantor is required by law to make a Tax Deduction from any payment made to the Trustee or into the Escrow Account under this Deed, the Trustee shall co-operate with the Guarantor in completing any procedural formalities or other steps necessary for the Guarantor to obtain authorisation, or to otherwise enable the Guarantor, to make the relevant payment(s) without a Tax Deduction.

 

  (b) Value added taxes:

Any amount payable under this Deed by the Guarantor which constitutes the consideration for any supply for value added tax purposes is exclusive of any value added tax or any other Tax of a similar nature which is chargeable in connection with that amount. If any such Tax is chargeable and the Trustee is required to account to the relevant Tax authority for that Tax, the Guarantor must pay to the Trustee (in addition to and at the same time as paying that amount) an amount equal to the amount of that Tax subject to the Trustee providing the Guarantor with a valid VAT invoice in respect of the supply.

 

  (c) Stamp taxes:

The Guarantor shall pay and, within 15 Business Days of demand, indemnify the Trustee against any cost, loss or liability that the Trustee incur in relation to all stamp duty, registration and other similar taxes payable in respect of this Deed.

 

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25. CURRENCY INDEMNITY

 

  (a) The Guarantor must, as an independent obligation, indemnify the Trustee against any loss or liability which the Trustee incurs as a consequence of the Trustee or the Escrow Account receiving an amount under this Deed in a currency other than Sterling.

 

  (b) The Guarantor waives any right it may have in any jurisdiction to pay any amount under this Deed in a currency other than Sterling.

 

26. ASSIGNMENT

None of the parties to this Deed shall assign or transfer in any way its rights, interests or obligations under this Deed, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of the other parties, provided that the Trustee may transfer its rights under this Deed to any successor trustee or trustees of the Scheme or to the Pension Protection Fund as a result of the operation of Section 161 of and Schedule 6 to the Pensions Act 2004; and provided further that nothing in this Clause 26 shall derogate from Clause 11.

 

27. NOTICES

All notices and other communications relating to this Deed must be in English and in writing, shall be sent by facsimile, hand delivery or overnight courier service and must be addressed or directed to the relevant address or number specified below, subject to such amendments as may be notified from time to time in accordance with this Clause by the relevant party to the other party:

If to the Guarantor, to :

 

   Address:    1716 Locust Street
      Des Moines
      Iowa 50309-3023
      USA
   Attention:    General Counsel

If to the Sponsor, to :

 

   Address:    3rd Floor, 161 Marsh Wall
      London
      E14 9AP
      England
   Attention:    Director of Legal and Business Affairs

 

2018 Deed of Guarantee    36


If to the Trustee, to:

 

   Address:    IPC Media Pension Trustee Limited
     

3rd Floor, 161 Marsh Wall

London

E14 9AP

England

   Attention:    Scheme Secretary
   With copy to the Scheme’s legal adviser:
   Address:    Mayer Brown International LLP
     

201 Bishopsgate

London

EC2M 3AF

England

   Attention:    Ian Wright

Notices are effective when actually received by the party to which they are given, as evidenced by facsimile transmission report, written acknowledgment or affidavit of hand delivery or courier receipt.

 

28. COSTS AND EXPENSES

 

  (a) The Sponsor shall on demand reimburse the Trustee for all duly documented costs and expenses reasonably incurred by it in connection with the negotiation and execution of this Deed.

 

  (b) The Guarantor shall on demand reimburse the Trustee for all costs and expenses reasonably incurred by it in connection with the preservation or enforcement of its rights under this Deed.

 

29. DEFAULT INTEREST

If the Guarantor fails to pay any amount payable by it under this Deed on the due date of payment hereunder, interest shall accrue on the overdue amount from the due date up to the date of actual payment (both before and after judgement) at the rate (if any) payable by the Sponsor or any of the IMPS Employers with respect to default interest under Rule 13.3 of the Trust Deed and Rules. Any interest that accrues under this Clause 29 shall be immediately payable on demand from the Guarantor.

 

30. NO RELEASE OR WAIVER

No failure to exercise, nor delay in exercising on the part of the Trustee, any right, power or privilege hereunder or under the Schedule of Contributions or in respect of any other Guaranteed Liabilities shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege preclude any other or further exercise thereof. Any waiver or release by the Trustee must be granted in writing.

 

2018 Deed of Guarantee    37


31. CUMULATIVE RIGHTS AND REMEDIES

The rights and remedies of the Trustee herein provided are cumulative, and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.

 

32. AMENDMENTS AND VARIATIONS

The Guarantor, the Sponsor and the Trustee may amend or vary any of the terms of this Deed (including the Schedules), provided that no amendment or variation of the terms of this Deed shall be effective unless it is made or confirmed in a written document signed by the Guarantor, the Sponsor and the Trustee.

 

33. GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION

 

  (a) This Deed and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with this Deed shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English law.

 

  (b) Each party irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of the English courts to settle any dispute (except any dispute which this Deed expressly provides shall be referred to arbitration) which may arise under or in connection with this Deed or the legal relationships established by this Deed (a “Dispute” ). The parties agree that the courts of England are the most appropriate and convenient courts to settle any Dispute and accordingly, no party will argue to the contrary.

 

34. AGENT FOR SERVICE OF PROCESS

Without prejudice to any other mode of service allowed under any relevant law:

 

  (i) the Guarantor shall at all times maintain an agent for service of process in England;

 

  (ii) the Guarantor appoints the Sponsor as its agent for service of process in relation to any proceedings before the English courts in connection with this Deed and agrees that failure by the process agent to notify the Guarantor of the process will not invalidate the proceedings concerned.

 

35. SEVERABILITY

If any part or any provision of this Deed shall be or become illegal, prohibited, invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction all other provisions of this Deed shall continue in full force and effect in such jurisdiction and shall not affect the validity and enforceability of such provisions in any other jurisdiction; and further if any part or any provision of this Deed is found by a court to be illegal, prohibited, invalid or unenforceable the parties shall use reasonable endeavours to agree in good faith any such amendments or replacement arrangements as are necessary to replicate to the extent possible the purpose and intention of that part or provision.

 

36. COUNTERPARTS

This Deed may be executed in any number of counterparts, and this has the same effect as if the signatures on the counterparts were on a single copy of the Deed.

 

2018 Deed of Guarantee    38


37. THIRD PARTY RIGHTS

A person who is not a party to this Deed, other than Time Inc. in relation only to Clause 14(b), has no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce or to enjoy the benefit of any term of this Deed.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , this Deed has been duly executed and delivered as a deed by the parties on the date which appears at the beginning of this Deed:

 

THE GUARANTOR   
EXECUTED as a DEED by    )
MEREDITH CORPORATION    )

 

By:    /s/ Joseph H. Ceryanec
Name of authorized officer: Joseph H. Ceryanec
Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

2018 Deed of Guarantee    39


THE SPONSOR   
EXECUTED as a DEED by    )
TIME INC. (UK) LTD    )
acting by    )
in the presence of:    )

Director     /s/ Susana D’Emic                                  

Name of Witness:  Sharon Budhai

Signature of Witness:  /s/ Sharon Budhai

Address:  225 Liberty Street New York, NY 10881

Occupation:  Executive Assistant

 

THE TRUSTEE   
EXECUTED as a DEED by    )
IPC MEDIA PENSION TRUSTEE    )
LIMITED    )

Director     /s/ Susan Andrews                                      

Director/Secretary     /s/ Hamish Dawson                    

 

2018 Deed of Guarantee    40


THE FORMER GUARANTOR   
EXECUTED as a DEED by    )
TIME INC.    )

 

By:    /s/ Susana D’Emic
Name of authorized officer: Susana D’Emic
Title: EVP & Chief Financial Officer

 

2018 Deed of Guarantee    41


SCHEDULE 1

AGREED ASSUMPTIONS

Discount rate

This assumption will be in line with the Willis Towers Watson GBP Zero Coupon Nominal Gilt curve (or such equivalent curve as the Trustee and the Company shall agree) plus a fixed addition as set out in the table below.

 

Time Period    Addition to Gilts for discount rate
Up to but not including the eighth anniversary of “Sale Completion” (as defined in the Deed of Guarantee)    0.5% pa
On the eighth anniversary of “Sale Completion” for the purpose of 6(e) of the Deed of Guarantee    0.5% pa
Except for 6(e) of the Deed of Guarantee, from the eighth anniversary of “Sale Completion”    0.21% pa
From the ninth anniversary of “Sale Completion”    0.18% pa
From the tenth anniversary of “Sale Completion”    0.15% pa
From the eleventh anniversary of “Sale Completion”    0.12% pa
From the twelfth anniversary of “Sale Completion”    0.09% pa
From the thirteenth anniversary of “Sale Completion”    0.06% pa
From the fourteenth anniversary of “Sale Completion”    0.03% pa
From the fifteenth anniversary of “Sale Completion”    Nil

Retail Price Inflation (RPI)

This assumption will be in line with the Willis Towers Watson GBP Zero Coupon Gilt-implied Breakeven inflation curve (or such equivalent curve as the Trustee and the Company shall agree) at the valuation date.

 

2018 Deed of Guarantee    42


Consumer Price Inflation (CPI)

This assumption will be set to 1.1% pa below the assumed rate of RPI. This is subject to review at subsequent triennial valuations if there are material changes to the composition and/or derivation of either the RPI or CPI index such that this relationship is no longer reasonable.

Revaluation in deferment and increases to pensions in payment

Increases will take account of the caps and floors on the relevant tranches of benefits by applying a fixed deduction to the RPI inflation curve. This deduction is derived from the application of the ‘Black 76’ model with inflation set equal to the single equivalent RPI inflation assumption (as at 5 April 2015, 3.2% pa) (less the above RPI – CPI margin if applicable) and inflation volatilities of 1.8% pa (RPI) and 1.5% pa (CPI). These volatility assumptions represent the year one best-estimate volatilities on the Willis Towers Watson model. They are subject to review at subsequent triennial valuations based on best estimates on the Willis Towers Watson model (or equivalent) at the relevant valuation date.

Salary increases

Salary increases will be assumed to be in line with RPI, subject to analysis of salary experience between valuations. If salary increases overall have been in excess of RPI, then the Trustee and the Company are to discuss whether this should be reflected by increasing this assumption.

Mortality (base tables)

Pre-retirement and post-retirement mortality assumptions should be based on the latest standard tables (as at 5 April 2015, the ‘S2’ tables), as modified to reflect the results of a postcode mortality analysis. The best-estimate multipliers issuing from such an analysis should be adjusted downwards by 5% as a margin for prudence (as at 5 April 2015, the post code analysis supports using the ‘S2 light’ tables with multipliers following the 5% reduction of 1.04 (males) and 0.88 (females)). The assumptions will be updated at each triennial valuation but not between valuations.

Mortality (future improvements)

Future improvements in mortality should be based on the latest published version of the CMI core projections model (CMI 2014 for the 5 April 2015 valuation) with long-term rates of improvement for males and females of 1.5%, or such other assumption as agreed by the Trustee and the Company to be broadly in line with the benchmarking of assumptions adopted by other schemes. The assumptions will be updated at each triennial valuation but not between valuations.

Commutation

Allowance to be made for members to commute (on average) 20% of their pension for cash at retirement on terms that are 25% less than the corresponding funding reserve. The percentage of pension assumed to be commuted is subject to review in the light of actual experience between valuations.

 

2018 Deed of Guarantee    43


Liability management options at retirement

No allowance will be made in the 5 April 2015 funding valuation. Allowance may be made in the 5 April 2018 funding valuation (and in subsequent valuations) for members to take up certain “liability management” options at retirement. The Company proposes to amend the Scheme’s retirement process to include liability management options (including possibly transfer values and pension increase exchanges). The Trustee and the Company will discuss for the 2018 funding valuation, the appropriate allowance to make for any such options that are introduced and taken up. The allowance made will be based on actual Scheme experience and expectations of how future experience may differ.

Expense reserve

A loading of 2.5% will be applied to the liabilities to cover the expenses of running the Scheme (including life assurance costs, but excluding PPF levies and investment expenses), unless it is agreed by the Trustee and the Company that an alternative loading more appropriately represents these expenses. Investment expenses are assumed to be met from investment income. The discount rate is therefore assumed to be net of investment expenses. PPF levies are to be paid by the Company as they arise.

Proportion married and age difference

Withdrawal from active deferred status

Ill-health early retirements

These assumptions are to be in line with the appended table. These may be subject to review at subsequent triennial valuations based on the Scheme’s experience and/or the experience of pension schemes more generally where relevant and where the Scheme’s experience on its own is not sufficient to be statistically credible.

Early retirement

Deferred members assumed to draw their benefits at the earliest age at which those benefits are payable without reduction. Active deferred members are assumed to take all their benefits at age 60 on the preferential terms guaranteed under the Scheme Rules. These assumptions are to be revisited if in the future Scheme experience shows that the vast majority of members do not retire at or before age 60.

Discretionary benefits

No allowance was made for any benefits payable which are subject to some exercise of discretion on the part of the Trustee or the Company including:

 

    Temporary benefit improvements

 

    Increases to pensions in payment above those guaranteed under the rules

 

    Individual augmentations to benefits with the Scheme.

 

2018 Deed of Guarantee    44


Other factors

All assumptions are subject to review if there are changes in legislation or guidance from the Pensions Regulator that mean that these assumptions are no longer reasonable. Any changes to the assumptions to be agreed by the Trustee and the Company.

 

2018 Deed of Guarantee    45


Appendix

Other Demographic Assumptions

 

Age    Withdrawal     

Ill-health

retirement

    

Proportion

married

    

Age difference

(spouse - member)

 
     Males      Females      Males      Females      Males      Females      Males      Females  

25

     0.17699        0.20400        0.00000        0.00000        0.32000        0.60000        -1.00000        1.00000  

30

     0.13662        0.18100        0.00020        0.00020        0.66500        0.60000        -1.50000        1.50000  

35

     0.10350        0.14300        0.00050        0.00040        0.84000        0.60000        -2.00000        2.00000  

40

     0.07866        0.10500        0.00090        0.00080        0.88400        0.60000        -2.50000        2.50000  

45

     0.05244        0.08200        0.00200        0.00180        0.90400        0.60000        -3.00000        3.00000  

50

     0.02622        0.05900        0.00480        0.00360        0.91400        0.60000        -3.00000        3.00000  

55

     0.00000        0.00000        0.00990        0.01000        0.92300        0.60000        -3.00000        3.00000  

57

     0.00000        0.00000        0.01390        0.01400        0.92500        0.60000        -3.00000        3.00000  

59

     0.00000        0.00000        0.01840        0.01800        0.92700        0.60000        -3.00000        3.00000  

 

2018 Deed of Guarantee    46


SCHEDULE 2

AGREED INVESTMENT STRATEGY

Nothing in this Agreed Investment Strategy is intended to amend, contradict or waive any rights or obligations of the parties under the Deed of Guarantee to which this is Schedule 2, including without limitation Clause 14 thereof.

Definitions

Strategy at January 2018

 

    50% growth asset allocation

 

    50% matching asset allocation

 

    With a 45% interest rate and 45% inflation hedge ratio relative to liabilities in line with “Agreed Assumptions” measured on a gilts +0.5% basis

‘Gilts +1.0% pa’ strategy

An overall asset portfolio which targets a best estimate return of gilts + 1% p.a. and manages the interest rate and inflation risk relative to liabilities measured on the Agreed Assumptions with a gilts plus 0.5% basis. Currently it is expected that the resulting growth allocation will be in the region of 15%-25% with the remainder invested in matching assets to achieve an interest rate and inflation hedge ratio in the region of 90% to 100%. This should be reviewed as necessary based on market opportunities.

The appropriateness of the Gilts +1.0% return target should at the minimum be reviewed following each triennial valuation and additionally on material changes to market conditions. Both Trustee and Company, acting on investment advice, must agree to any change to the return target.

‘Gilts +0.5% pa’ strategy

An overall asset portfolio which targets a best estimate return of gilts + 0.5% p.a. and manages the interest rate and inflation risk relative to liabilities measured on the Agreed Assumptions with a gilts flat basis. Currently it is expected that the resulting growth allocation will be in the region of 5%-15% with the remainder invested in matching assets targeting an interest rate and inflation hedge ratio in the region of 95% to 100%. This should be reviewed as necessary.

The appropriateness of the Gilts +0.5% return target should at the minimum be reviewed following each triennial valuation and additionally on material changes to market conditions. Both Trustee and Company, acting on investment advice, must agree to any change to the return target.

 

2018 Deed of Guarantee    47


Growth Asset s

For the growth assets, the Trustee will target a diversified portfolio using specialist managers and asset classes. Subject to adherence to the Agreed Glide Path, the Trustee will have ultimate responsibility for selecting the specialist managers and asset classes within the diversified portfolio, but may delegate this responsibility to a specialist fiduciary manager. The Trustee will consult with the Company on the target return and risk characteristics of the overall portfolio.

De-risking Strategy

Funding level based de-risking triggers have been set such that the investment strategy evolves from the ‘Current Strategy’ to the ‘Gilts plus 1.0% pa’ Strategy and then from the ‘Gilts plus 1.0% pa’ Strategy to the ‘Gilts + 0.5% pa’ Strategy within the timeframes described below.

 

    By the time the Scheme is fully funded on a gilts + 0.5% pa basis in line with the Agreed Assumptions and no later than November 2023, the investment strategy will be de-risked in line with the ‘Gilts +1.0% pa’ Strategy;

 

    By the time the Scheme is fully funded on a gilts flat basis in line with the Agreed Assumptions and no later than November 2030, the investment strategy will be de-risked in line with the ‘Gilts +0.5% pa’ Strategy.

These funding level triggers and the associated investment strategy are referred to herein as the “Agreed Glide Path.” As the funding level moves along the Agreed Glide Path, the Strategy will de-risk. Each strategy corresponding to a trigger level will specify a minimum interest rate and inflation hedge ratio and a maximum allocation to growth assets. Details of the Agreed Glide Path are set out in the Scheme’s Statement of Investment Principles.

The funding level for this purpose will be measured on the Blackrock modelling tool (or such other model as the Trustee and the Company determines shall replace this).

For the avoidance of doubt, investment in UK credit assets used for liability matching will not be considered to be growth assets.

Application of triggers

Trigger based de-risking will occur automatically when a funding level trigger is reached, except where:

 

    A trigger is breached because of a contribution over and above the expected monthly contributions of £917,000 (a “ Special Contribution ”), and

 

    the Trustee or Company receive advice that application of the trigger would not be in the best interest of the Scheme due to adverse market conditions or other circumstances prevailing at that time.

 

2018 Deed of Guarantee    48


In such circumstances (“ Special Circumstances ”), the Trustee and the Company should share any advice received and discuss how to manage the de-risking after taking appropriate investment and funding advice. The Trustee will decide whether de-risking should take place in these circumstances, but must act reasonably based on the advice received and (absent agreement from the Company) may not de-risk more quickly or to a greater extent than as contemplated by this Agreed Investment Strategy and the Deed of Guarantee were it not for the Special Circumstances (other than the fact that the Special Contribution has been paid). Once the exact revised triggers and asset allocations have been agreed these should be documented formally.

Review of triggers

The triggers should be reviewed periodically and adjusted as deemed necessary or desirable by the parties to ensure they still follow the principles set out above.

The triggers should at a minimum be reviewed following each triennial valuation and additionally on material changes to market conditions. Both Trustee and Company, acting on investment advice, must agree to any change to the triggers.

 

2018 Deed of Guarantee    49


SCHEDULE 3

CONFIGURATION DOCUMENT

IPC Media Pension Scheme

Asset Liability Suite Addendum:

Liability and Asset Model

 

2018 Deed of Guarantee    50


Purpose of the document

 

1. This document sets out an addendum to the liability model originally set out in the Configuration Requirements report (the “Requirements”) signed by Charlie Meredith on 2 June 2014 as referenced and defined in the Asset Liability Suite (“ALS”) (or Asset Liability Tracker) software Licensing Agreement between Towers Watson Limited and the Licensee dated 20 May 2014 (the “Agreement”). For the avoidance of doubt, this document is intended to be consistent with the Deed of Guarantee to which it is Schedule 3 entered into by the Licensee, Time Inc. (UK) Limited, and Time Inc. In the event that any provision of this document is or appears to be inconsistent with any rights or obligations under that Deed of Guarantee, then the Deed of Guarantee will prevail.

 

2. The purpose of the document is to:

 

    Set out the specification for the “Gilts plus 0.5% pa”, “Gilts Flat” and “Estimated Insurance Buy-out” liability measures based on the cashflows generated as part of the Scheme’s valuation as at 5 April 2015, including details of the Client-Specific LPI Curves and Buy-Out Module.

 

    Set out the changes in the assumed cashflows in the asset model

 

3. This document forms part of the Agreement and any work that Towers Watson does in accordance with the Requirements is undertaken on the terms of the Agreement, including the liability provisions therein. In particular, this document does not constitute advice from Towers Watson, whether for the purposes of any separate consultancy agreement between the parties, any investment or actuarial advice more generally, or for any other purpose.

 

4. This document is subject to the Limitations and Reliances as set out in the Requirements and the additional Limitations and Reliances set out in this document, and terms used in this document have the same meaning as in the Requirements and the Agreement.

 

2018 Deed of Guarantee    51


Liability Model – Gilts + 0.5% pa, Gilts Flat and Estimated Insurance Buy-out measures

Liability values

 

5. The liability information has been provided by the IPC Media Pension Scheme’s actuarial team at Towers Watson on behalf of the Licensee. This data includes a summary of the liability values, financial assumptions and tracking rules as well as a set of “3D” 1 cashflows for the Gilts + 0.5% pa and Estimated Insurance Buy-out measures produced as at 5 April 2015 in conjunction with the formal actuarial valuation at that date. These “3D” cashflows will be used for all of the liability measures below and incorporate information relating to the sensitivity of the liabilities to the financial assumptions. The Gilts Flat measure will be set up using the Gilts + 0.5% pa cashflows.

 

1   “3D” cashflows split out the cashflows for active deferreds, deferred, pensioner and dependant members. They also split out the cashflows by types of increase fixed, RPI (0,5) etc. Furthermore, they include data on the lengths of the in-service, in-deferment and in-payment periods for each cashflow and thus fully describe the sensitivity of the cashflows to independent changes in salary increases, revaluation in deferment and pension increase assumptions.

 

2018 Deed of Guarantee    52


6. ALS will track the Scheme’s Gilts + 0.5% pa, Gilts Flat and Estimated Insurance Buy-out liabilities. The value of these liabilities as at 5 April 2015 is set out in the table below (a split of these liabilities between the different rates of increase is provided in the “3D” cashflows, referred to above):

 

Membership

category

   Gilts + 0.5% pa
as at 5 April 2015
(£m)
     Gilts Flat
as at 5 April 2015
(£m)
     Estimated
Insurance Buy-out

as at 5 April 2015
(£m)
 

Active

     156.679        179.930        213.308  

Deferred

     262.796        304.634        393.945  

Pensioner

     197.818        213.748        223.172  

Expenses

     15.432        17.458        12.025  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     632.725        715.770        842.450  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Expenses

 

7. Expenses for the Gilts + 0.5% pa and Gilts Flat measures are calculated as 2.5% of the total liabilities for those measures.

 

8. Expenses for the Estimated Insurance Buy-out measure are calculated in line with the approach prescribed for Section 179 PPF valuations. For the purposes of tracking the liabilities, we have approximated this to be 1% of the total liabilities plus a fixed expense of £3.721 million as at 5 April 2015.

Accrual of future service benefits

 

9. The Scheme is closed to future accrual and so no allowance is made for further accrual.

Commutation

 

10. There is no explicit allowance for commutation of member’s pensions at retirement within the underlying “3D” cashflows for the Gilts + 0.5% pa (and Gilts Flat) measures. An allowance has been made for members to commute (on average) 20% of their pension for cash at retirement on terms that are 25% less than the corresponding funding reserve on the Gilts + 0.5% pa and Gilts Flat measures. It has been assumed that at 5 April 2015, this allowance will result in a reduction of 4.4% for active liabilities and 4.6% for deferred liabilities in the Gilts + 0.5% pa and Gilts Flat measures.

 

11. No allowance has been made for commutation on the Estimated Insurance Buy-out measure.

Tracking rules

 

12. A summary of how the discount rate, inflation, pension increase assumption, and revaluation assumptions are calculated each day is set out below. The Estimated Insurance Buy-out measure tracks the discount rate using the Towers Watson Buy-Out Model in ALS. Further details of the methodology underlying the Towers Watson ‘Settlement Watch’ tracking in the Buy-out Module is set out in the Limitations and Reliances at the end of this document.

 

2018 Deed of Guarantee    53


  a. Inflation (RPI)

 

Liability measure    Assumption reflects changes in investment conditions in line with:
All    Towers Watson GBP Zero Coupon Gilt-Implied Breakeven inflation rate curve 2

 

  b. Inflation (CPI)

 

Liability measure    Assumption reflects changes in investment conditions in line with:
All    100% of inflation (RPI) less a margin of 1.1% pa

 

  c. Discount rate

 

Liability measure    Assumption reflects changes in investment conditions in line with:
Gilts + 0.5% pa    Towers Watson GBP Zero Coupon Gilt Nominal yield curve 1 + 0.50% pa
Gilts Flat    Towers Watson GBP Zero Coupon Gilt Nominal yield curve 1
Estimated Insurance Buy-out    Towers Watson UK Settlement Watch non-pensioner or pensioner discount rate curve as appropriate

 

  d. Salary growth

 

Liability measure    Assumption reflects changes in investment conditions in line with:
Gilts + 0.5% pa    100% of Inflation (RPI)
Gilts Flat    100% of Inflation (RPI)
Estimated Insurance Buy-out    Not applicable

 

  e. Revaluation in deferment (CPI)

 

Liability measure    Assumption reflects changes in investment conditions in line with:
All    100% of Inflation (CPI)

 

  f. RPI based LPI 5 pension increases (in payment and in deferment)

 

Liability measure    Assumption reflects changes in investment conditions in line with:
Gilts + 0.5% pa    78% of Inflation (RPI) plus a margin of 0.55% pa
Gilts Flat    78% of Inflation (RPI) plus a margin of 0.55% pa
Estimated Insurance Buy-out    100% of Inflation (RPI)

 

  g. RPI based LPI 3,5 pension increases

 

Liability measure    Assumption reflects changes in investment conditions in line with:
All    37% of Inflation (RPI) plus a margin of 2.52% pa

 

  h. CPI based LPI 3 pension increases

 

Liability measure    Assumption reflects changes in investment conditions in line with:
All    63% of Inflation (CPI) plus a margin of 0.58% pa

Daily tracking of liability value

 

2   See Towers Watson ‘yield curves’ in Limitations and Reliances Section of the Requirements”, and also appended to this document.

 

2018 Deed of Guarantee    54


13. The daily tracking of the liability values is achieved using the following approach:

 

    The base set of cashflows is adjusted daily for “actual” RPI or CPI inflation experience, in line with a specially constructed inflation index that is calculated on a daily basis. The inflation index used is constructed by interpolating between monthly RPI or CPI values with a two-month lag, to be consistent with the inflation curves used in the model.

 

    An updated set of projected benefit cashflows are created from the starting cashflows by:

 

    deducting benefit payments expected to have been made since the last calculation date.

 

    adjusting the cashflows to reflect the sensitivity to investment conditions as described above.

 

    These updated cashflows are discounted to the new calculation date using the discount rate model summarised in paragraph 12. Cashflows are assumed to be discounted half-way through the years between each anniversary of the calculation date.

 

14. Historic salary increases/pension increases/deferred revaluation since the valuation date that differ from the assumptions set out above are not captured in the daily tracking process. Material adjustments will need to be referred to Towers Watson.

Future recalibrations

 

15. The liabilities will be recalibrated following the end of each quarter to allow for:

 

    Any material 3 differences between the actuarial assumptions updated in line with the tracking rules in paragraph 12 and the actual assumptions at the same date that would result from application of the principles in Schedule 1 to the Deed of Guarantee to which it is schedule 3. If appropriate the fixed margins and proportions of yields (as set out in paragraph 12) will be updated, or recalibrated as agreed by the Licensee and Time Inc. (UK) Ltd.

 

    the impact of actual benefit cashflows (including commutation lump sums and transfer values) over the period compared with those underlying the liability calculation in ALS. The liabilities will first be reduced by an amount equal to (actual benefit cashflows over the period since the previous recalibration) minus (assumed benefit cashflows over the period since the previous recalibration). The liabilities will then be adjusted by an amount approximately representing the difference between the total commutation lump sums and transfer values paid and the value of the liabilities extinguished on the relevant measure. The first such recalibration will be as at 30 September 2015 and will reflect actual and assumed benefit cashflows between 5 April 2015 and 30 September 2015. This initial recalibration will also include an adjustment to ensure the liabilities reflect market conditions at 30 September 2015 (whereas the initial liability values at 5 April 2015 set out in paragraph 6 reflect market conditions as at 31 March 2015). These liability recalibrations will be carried out at the same time as the asset recalibrations described in paragraph 25 and will be completed within 20 business days of the quarter-end.

 

16. In addition the liabilities will be recalibrated annually to allow for actual pension increases and deferred revaluation, once known, to the extent they differ from the daily inflation tracking described in paragraph 13. The first such recalibration will be as at 31 March 2016 (reflecting the pension increases due on 6 April 2016).

 

3   For the purpose of this paragraph a material difference is one that causes a difference in liability values of more than 1%.

 

2018 Deed of Guarantee    55


17. With the written agreement of both the Licensee and Time Inc. (UK) Ltd, the liabilities may be updated, based on calculations carried out by the Scheme’s actuarial team at Towers Watson to reflect Scheme experience since the valuation date. This written agreement should not be unreasonably withheld by either party. This may include (not exclusively) membership movements and mortality experience.

 

18. The “3D” cashflows underlying the liability calculations will be updated following each actuarial valuation of the Scheme under Section 224 of the Pensions Act 2004.

 

19. The Licensee and Time Inc. (UK) Ltd will be informed of any such changes relating to paragraph 15, 16 and 17 above when they are made but a signed addendum will not be required.

Asset model

 

20. The Scheme’s asset value as at 5 April 2015 was £476.851 million (excluding AVCs but including insured pensions). The asset allocation and asset tracking has been provided by the Scheme’s Investment Team at Towers Watson on behalf of the Licensee. ALS will assume that from 5 April 2015 the Scheme’s assets track the following indices (with no rebalancing), expense allowance and cashflow allocations:

 

Name of asset category

  

Total return index*

   Annual
Investment
Expenses
     Allocation
of
cashflows
     Asset value (bid)
as at 5 April 2015
(£)
 

Global Equities - LGIM UK Equity Index

   FTSE All-Share      0.06      27.99      133,211,000  

Global Equities - LGIM North America Equity Index

   FTSE All-World North America      0.12      3.68      17,490,000  

Global Equities - LGIM North America Equity Index-GBP Hedged

   FTSE All-World North America (Hedged)      0.14      10.08      47,955,000  

Global Equities - LGIM Europe (ex UK) Equity Index

   FTSE Developed World Europe ex UK      0.17      2.36      11,209,000  

Global Equities - LGIM Europe (ex UK) Equity Index GBP Hedged

   FTSE Developed World Europe ex UK (Hedged)      0.18      7.21      34,300,000  

Global Equities - LGIM Japan Equity Index

   FTSE All-World Japan      0.17      1.26      6,002,000  

Global Equities - LGIM Japan Equity Index GBP Hedged

   FTSE All-World Japan      0.17      3.39      16,129,000  

Global Equities - LGIM Asia Pac exJap Dev Equity Index

   FTSE Developed Asia Pacific ex Japan      0.23      1.98      9,416,000  

Global Equities - LGIM World Emerging Markets Equity Index

   FTSE All-World All Emerging      0.35      4.53      21,563,000  

 

2018 Deed of Guarantee    56


Name of asset category

  

Total return index*

   Annual
Investment
Expenses
     Allocation
of
cashflows
     Asset value (bid)
as at 5 April 2015
(£)
 

Fixed Interest - LGIM Over 15y Gilts Index

   FTSE Actuaries UK Conventional Gilts, Over 15 Year      0.10      1.33      6,330,000  

Fixed Interest - LGIM Active Corp Bond - Over 10y

   iBoxx £ Non-Gilts 10+      0.20      1.25      5,934,000  

Fixed Interest - AAA-A-A - Over 15y Index

   iBoxx £ Non-Gilts 15+      0.10      11.64      55,372,000  

Fixed Interest - LGIM Over 5y Index-linked Gilts

   FTSE Actuaries UK Index-Linked Gilts, Over 5 Year      0.05      12.16      57,855,000  

Fixed Interest - LGIM Over 15y Index-linked Gilts

   FTSE Actuaries UK Index-Linked Gilts, Over 15 Year      0.06      8.07      38,400,000  

Property - LGIM Managed Property

   FTSE EPRA/NAREIT UK Index      0.70      0.24      1,133,000  

Cash - LGIM Sterling Liquidity Fund

   No Index      0.13      2.85      13,543,000  

Annuity Policies

   No Index      0.00      0.00      200,000  

Net Current Assets

   No Index      0.00      0.00      807,000  
        

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

           100.00      476,851,000  
        

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

* for index provider attributions see the Requirements

 

21. A summary of the expected cashflows in respect of contributions and benefit payments are outlined below:

 

Cashflow type

  

Expected cashflows

Deficit contributions   

Assumed to be payable on the 19 th day of each month as follows:

£917,000 per month

Ongoing contributions                None
Expenses paid   

Assumed to be payable on the 19 th day of each month as follows:

£42,000 per month

Benefit payments    Assumed to be payable daily in line with the benefit cashflow projections adopted for the liability tracking.

 

22. The cashflows are assumed to be allocated to/removed from each asset category in the proportions outlined in paragraph 20 (or such proportions that may supersede those set out in paragraph 20 following application of paragraphs 24, 25, 26 and 27).

Asset tracking

 

23. A summary of the steps involved in the daily asset tracking calculation are set out below.

 

    ALS will initiate its calculation by referencing the close of play asset values on the previous calculation date.

 

2018 Deed of Guarantee    57


    The change in the total return index for each asset class (as specified above) will be calculated in respect of the period from the previous calculation date to the current calculation date.

 

    A reduction in the return will be made in respect of the investment management expenses specified in paragraph 20.

 

    This net return will be applied to each asset class to provide an updated market value for each category.

 

    Contributions, expenses and benefit payments as specified above are allocated to/removed from each asset category.

 

24. There is a significant review of the current investment strategy currently being undertaken. The asset model in ALS will be recalibrated to reflect the revised investment strategy, as agreed by the Licensee and Time Inc. (UK) Ltd once the review has been finalised. The details of this asset model recalibration will be set out in a subsequent addendum which will be required to be signed.

 

25. Notwithstanding the asset model recalibration set out in paragraph 24, the assets will be recalibrated following the end of each quarter after the initial calibration to reflect the actual asset value at the end of the preceding quarter. These recalibrations will be carried out at the same time as the liability recalibrations described in paragraph 15 and will be completed within 20 business days of the quarter-end. The first such recalibration will be as at 30 September 2015.

 

26. Further recalibrations of the assets will be made to reflect changes in the investment strategy and changes in the benchmark indices used for tracking. Other reasons for such recalibrations, include but are not limited to, changes in the expected cashflow information and changes to investment management expenses.

 

27. The assets will also be recalibrated following the payment of the contribution of £50 million expected to be paid by 31 December 2015 and at the end of the month prior to the sixth, seventh and eighth anniversaries of the sale completion (based on the latest available asset values at those dates). These recalibrations will be completed within 15 business days of the recalibration date.

 

28. The Licensee and Time Inc. (UK) Ltd will be informed of any such changes relating to paragraphs 25, 26 and 27 above when they are made but a signed addendum will not be required.

 

2018 Deed of Guarantee    58


Agreement

 

29. The Licensee confirms its agreement to the variation to the Requirements set out in this addendum.

 

Scheme    IPC Media Pension Scheme   
Date of issue    8 October 2015   
Signed on behalf of Licensee   

 

  
Name   

 

  
Position   

 

  
Date   

 

  

 

2018 Deed of Guarantee    59


Limitations and Reliances

Modelling issues to be acknowledged by Licensee

Due to the complexity of pension schemes, it is inevitable that models will need to be used to represent a pension scheme’s assets and liabilities in the Asset Liability Tracker calculations. Any models specified by the Licensee will however need to be in a format that is compatible with the more generic model or range of inputs permitted by the Software.

Tracking of liability measures requires use of a model for which the Licensee specifies forward looking assumptions, together with rules as to how those assumptions might change as investment market conditions change.

Tracking of assets also requires the use of models to represent the actual investment portfolio held, for which the Licensee specifies proxies for actual investment returns (such as benchmark investment returns and assumptions as to expected outperformance).

In addition, the data made available by the Licensee may necessitate certain models to be used to represent the experience of the pension scheme.

Therefore, the Licensee should take appropriate professional advice before agreeing its Configuration Requirements, and before taking action, or not taking action, in respect of any results (including the provision or absence of an email alert) obtained from the Software.

Further, any models that are developed by the Licensee for use in the Software (including models underlying the configuration of asset calculations, liability calculations and/or trigger calculations) may cease to be appropriate. The Licensee should therefore take appropriate, ongoing advice on the continued suitability of the Configuration Requirements and any changes or updates that may be required to the Configuration Requirements.

The Licensee acknowledges that the functionality (including trigger status reports and email alerts) depends on the data and models adopted from time to time and that a recalibration may subsequently indicate that a trigger status would have differed in the past had this new data then been available.

Towers Watson yield curves

Towers Watson Limited (“Towers Watson”) produces curves based on pricing data from FTSE International and indicative pricing received from a range of major investment banks in the swaps market. Towers Watson uses these data sources to form a view on the best estimate level of the relevant curves. Whilst reasonable care has been taken to gauge the reliability of this data, Towers Watson provides no guarantee as to the accuracy or completeness of the curves. Towers Watson and its affiliates and their respective directors, officers and employees cannot be held accountable for any errors or misrepresentations in the data made by any third party. Towers Watson’s curves are based on data available to Towers Watson that represent market conditions as at the date of the curve and take no account of subsequent developments in market conditions thereafter. No curve prepared by Towers Watson constitutes an offer or recommendation, nor should it be construed as an offer or recommendation, to conclude any transaction. No curve of itself purports to be, nor should it be considered, a substitute for specific advice. Reliance on any separate advice based on these curves should take into account the limitations set out in this notice, as well as any further limitations within the advice itself.

The methodology for interpolating, extrapolating, averaging, smoothing and including or excluding data is necessarily subjective and is regularly reviewed and updated by Towers Watson according to its best judgement, and is subject to change without notice. Different methods will inevitably lead to different results.

 

2018 Deed of Guarantee    60


As at the date of this disclaimer, there is no active market in gilts beyond 50 years and most swaps beyond 50 or 60 years. Extra care needs to be taken when using curve data in relation to maturity dates beyond the longest traded instruments, since these depend on extrapolation of the curve.

The market for certain swaps may not be actively traded at certain times (for example, certain “exotic” types of inflation swaps with caps and floors). Care is needed when drawing inferences from these swap curves since the market may be illiquid, the number of banks willing to quote these rates may be lower, bid and offer spreads may be wider, and quoted prices may not be representative of prices at which trades can actually be transacted. As with all market prices, the market rate may or may not include a positive or negative risk premium, so is not necessarily an unbiased estimator of expected future experience.

Except as may be required by law, Towers Watson’s curves may not be modified, sold, distributed, shown or otherwise made available to any other party without Towers Watson’s prior written permission. In the absence of its express written permission to the contrary, Towers Watson and its affiliates and their respective directors, officers and employees accept no responsibility and will not be liable for any consequences howsoever arising from any third party’s use of or reliance on these curves

Buy-out module

The purpose of the buy-out module is to enable users to automatically track the estimated funding position of a pension scheme on a solvency basis, based on the latest Towers Watson yield curve and the Settlement Watch central buy-out basis margins produced by Towers Watson transaction specialists.

The Settlement Watch methodology is as follows:

 

    Pricing data is provided each month by a number of different insurers in the form of joint life annuities.

 

    For each of these pensioner joint life annuities an implied discount rate is ‘back-solved’.

 

    Separately, cashflows are generated for notional members with benefits corresponding to those assumed in the insurers’ pricing data.

 

    These cashflows are applied to Towers Watson’s yield curves to produce single equivalent gilt discount rates.

 

    These single equivalent gilt discount rates are compared to the ‘back-solved’ discount rate from the annuities to imply the ‘margin’ relative to gilts for both nil increasing and LPI(0,5) annuities at ages 60 and 70.

 

    Due to non-disclosure agreements covering the insurers pricing data, this information can only be shared in an aggregated form. To achieve this:

 

    the pensioner margins at age 60 and 70 from a given insurer for a given benefit are combined, placing an equal weighting on each age

 

    the 75th percentile of the range of the margins across insurers for both nil increasing and LPI(0,5) pricing are communicated to a group of Towers Watson transaction specialists (here the 75th percentile is towards that end of the range which would imply a smaller liability and is set at this level in anticipation of the expected outcome from running a competitive quotation process).

 

2018 Deed of Guarantee    61


    Towers Watson transaction specialists meet monthly to agree the Settlement Watch central buy-out basis margins, taking in to account the output of the analysis described above, relevant market data and their knowledge of any recent transaction activity.

 

    This group will also form a view as to the appropriate margin for deferred bulk annuity pricing.

 

    The daily Towers Watson yield curve is then combined with the latest monthly buy-out basis margins, to give curves that can then be used by Asset Liability Suite.

The methodology for these calculations is necessarily subjective and is regularly reviewed and updated by Towers Watson according to its best judgement, and is subject to change without notice. Different methods will inevitably lead to different results.

Limitations and Reliances of tracking discount rate using the Buy-out module

 

    This tracking feature only produces an approximate indication of the Fund’s buy-out liability. The liability produced should not be used as a substitute for a direct quotation from an insurer. If you wish to obtain a formal quotation please speak to your Towers Watson consultant.

 

    In order to ‘back-solve’ the implied discount rate from the pricing information supplied by the insurers, the other variables underlying this, including the mortality assumption, need to be fixed. Each month the Towers Watson transaction specialists will therefore consider if they believe the insurers to have updated the mortality assumptions they have used in the pricing information they have provided. If the specialists do believe there has been a change they will update the assumption used in their ‘back-solve’ calculation accordingly.

 

    However, such a change in insurer pricing would not be automatically reflected in the output from the module as the mortality assumptions used to generate the cash flows loaded into ALS will not have automatically been updated.

 

    The mortality assumptions used in the ‘back-solve’ calculations are kept under regular review by the Settlement Watch team but are typically not expected to change more often than annually (and in some cases not even that frequently).

 

    Similarly the buy-out module does not automatically capture any change in the Towers Watson transaction specialists’ view as to changes in insurer pricing for CPI linked benefits.

 

    If the mortality assumptions do change or the Towers Watson specialists’ view on the pricing of CPI linked benefits change then your Towers Watson consultant will be notified and can advise you on whether a further recalibration of ALS would be appropriate.

 

    Similarly the buy-out module does not automatically capture any change in the Towers Watson transaction specialists’ view as to changes in insurer pricing for CPI linked benefits.

 

    Due to the time taken to receive and analyse pricing information from the insurers, the buy-out basis margins are not normally available in ALS until 10 working days after each month end. Therefore each discount rate curve has two separate versions:

 

    One version which will pause at the end of each month and will not display a liability values for the current month until the central buy-out basis margins have been set, at which point production of the daily discount rate curves will resume and calculation of the liability values since the month end will commence.

 

2018 Deed of Guarantee    62


    A second version which will continue to produce daily discount rate curves (and hence liability calculations) using the latest available margins, picking up any changes in margins as soon as they become available (which would normally be part way through each calendar month). When the margins are updated, Asset Liability Tracker’s liability calculations since the month end will not automatically be restated, i.e. the results calculated between the month end and the date the margins are updated will remain on the previous month’s buy-out margins.

The second of these two options is being used for the Estimated Insurance Buy-out measure discount rate tracking for the IPC Media Pension Scheme.

 

2018 Deed of Guarantee    63


SCHEDULE 4

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Timing/
Frequency

 

Information to be
provided

 

Comment

Quarterly   Unaudited financial statements (balance sheet, income statement, statement of cash flows) of Guarantor   Automatically satisfied by timely filing
Form 10-Q with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Annually   Audited financial statements of Guarantor and Sponsor   Automatically satisfied for Guarantor by timely filing Form 10-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Automatically satisfied for Sponsor by timely filing statutory accounts with the U.K Companies House.
Ad hoc   Such additional financial information as the Trustee may from time to time request acting reasonably and consistent with customary U.K. pensions practice.   This to include an annual presentation from the Sponsor including updated long-term plan forecasts and an annual presentation from the Guarantor, including in relation to its long-term strategy.

 

2018 Deed of Guarantee    64

Exhibit 10.3

THIS WARRANT AND THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE ON EXERCISE HEREOF HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (THE “ SECURITIES ACT ”) OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN EXEMPTION THEREFROM UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND UNDER APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THIS WARRANT MAY NOT BE SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT AS DESCRIBED IN THIS WARRANT.

MEREDITH CORPORATION

WARRANT TO PURCHASE CLASS A COMMON STOCK

 

Warrant No. 1    January 31, 2018 (the “ Issue Date ”)

Meredith Corporation, an Iowa corporation (the “ Company ”), for value received, certifies and agrees (this warrant and any other warrants delivered in substitution or exchange herefor as provided herein, this “ Warrant ”) that KED MDP Investments, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Holder ”), is entitled, subject to the terms set forth below, to purchase from the Company 1,625,000 duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable shares of Class A Common Stock (such shares, subject to adjustment as provided herein, the “ Warrant Shares ”) for $1.00 per Warrant Share (the “ Exercise Price ”). Except as otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms in this Warrant have the meanings set forth in Section  21 . This Warrant has been issued pursuant to the terms of the Series A Securities Purchase Agreement.

1. Term . Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Holder may exercise this Warrant for all or any part of the Warrant Shares at any time or from time to time after the Issue Date until the Expiration Date (the “ Exercise Period ”); provided that, subject to Section  2.2 and Section  10 with respect to a Competition Law Filing, if this Warrant has not been fully exercised by 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date described in clause (a) of the definition of Expiration Date, this Warrant will be deemed automatically exercised pursuant to Section  2.1(b)(i) as of such time without any action required of the Holder or the Company.

2. Exercise.

2.1 Method of Exercise . This Warrant may be exercised by the Holder, in whole or in part:

(a) by surrendering (i) this Warrant and (ii) a duly executed Notice of Exercise in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (the “ Notice of Exercise ”) to the Company (or its agent) via delivery in accordance with Section  16 ; and


(b) by:

(i) instructing the Company to withhold a number of Warrant Shares then issuable upon exercise of this Warrant equal to (A) the Aggregate Exercise Price divided by (B) the Per Share Price;

(ii) surrendering to the Company a number of Warrant Shares previously acquired by the Holder equal to (A) the Aggregate Exercise Price divided by (B) the Per Share Price; or

(iii) any combination of the foregoing.

In the event of any withholding of Warrant Shares pursuant to this Section  2.1(b) in which the number of shares whose value is equal to the Aggregate Exercise Price is not a whole number, the Company will withhold a fraction of a Warrant Share such that the value of the total number of Warrant Shares (including such fraction of a Warrant Share) withheld equals the Aggregate Exercise Price.

2.2 Exercise Date .

(a) Each exercise of this Warrant will be deemed to have been effected immediately prior to the close of business on the day (i) on which the Notice of Exercise pursuant to Section  2.1 is deemed to be delivered pursuant to Section  16 , (ii) if a later date is specified in the Notice of Exercise, such later date, or (iii) if this Warrant has not previously been exercised prior to the Expiration Date, on the Business Day immediately preceding the Expiration Date, but in any event, if a Competition Law Filing is required to permit the Holder to exercise this Warrant for Warrant Shares in compliance with applicable Law, not earlier than the date that all applicable waiting periods have expired or been terminated or required approvals have been received, provided that in such instance the Expiration Date shall automatically be extended until the day following the expiration or termination of any such applicable waiting periods (each such date, an “ Exercise Date ”).

(b) At such time, each Person in whose name any certificates for Warrant Shares are issuable upon such exercise as provided in Section  2.3 will become a holder of record of the Warrant Shares represented by such certificates (or such lesser number of Warrant Shares as specified in the applicable Notice of Exercise). If the Holder determines that no Competition Law Filings are required, on or prior to the Exercise Date, the Holder shall provide a written representation to the Company that (i) the Holder’s holdings of voting securities of the Company after the exercise of the Warrant will be below the then applicable size-of-transaction threshold under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the “ HSR Act ”) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or (ii) the Holder will hold the voting securities solely for the purpose of investment, in accordance with 15 U.S.C. §18a(c)(9) and 16 CFR 802.9.

 

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2.3 Certificates and New Warrants . As soon as practicable after an Exercise Date (and in any event within five Business Days thereafter), the Company, at its expense, will cause to be issued in the name of, and delivered to, the Holder, or otherwise as the Holder may direct (subject to Section  5 ):

(a) a certificate or certificates for the number of shares of Class A Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled upon such exercise (it being agreed that each certificate so delivered will be in such denominations of shares of Class A Common Stock as may be requested by the Holder) or, in lieu of certificates, maintaining the Warrant Shares’ inclusion in the book entry settlement system of DTC if the Company is then a participant in such system; and

(b) if such exercise is in part only, a new Warrant or Warrants substantially identical in form hereto for the purchase of a number of Warrant Shares equal to the difference of the number of Warrant Shares subject to this Warrant less the number of Warrant Shares that are issued to the Holder pursuant to such partial exercise.

2.4 Conditional Exercise . Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an exercise of any portion of this Warrant is to be made in connection with a public offering or a sale of the Company (pursuant to a merger, sale of stock, or otherwise), such exercise may at the election of the Holder be conditioned upon the consummation of such transaction, in which case the Exercise Date will be the date of such consummation and such exercise will not be deemed to be effective until immediately prior to such consummation on the Exercise Date.

2.5 Company Redemption Right . Notwithstanding any of the provisions in this Section  2 (other than Section  2.6(c) ), the Company may elect, by delivery of written notice (the “ Redemption Notice ”) to the Holder no later than two Business Days after receipt of the Notice of Exercise, to pay to the Holder (in lieu of delivery of the applicable number of Warrant Shares) an amount per such Warrant Share equal to the greater of (a) the volume weighted average price (rounded to the nearest one-hundredth of one cent) of the Class A Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange for the 30 trading days immediately preceding the date on which the Holder delivers the Notice of Exercise, as calculated by Bloomberg Financial LP under the function “VWAP” or any successor page or function, and (b) the closing price of the Class A Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the date the Company delivers the Redemption Notice (such greater amount, the “ Redemption Share Price ”). Any such election will not be for less than all of the Warrant Shares to be issued in connection with such Notice of Exercise. Such cash payment to Holder will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account(s) provided by Holder, no later than ten Business Days following the delivery of the Redemption Notice.

 

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2.6 Ownership Cap .

(a) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, unless and until the Company obtains the Shareholder Approval, the Company shall not issue to the Holder any Warrant Shares to the extent such Warrant Shares, after giving effect to such issuance and when added to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issued and issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock or exercise of the Options, would (a) exceed 19.9% of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of the date of the Closing Date (the “ Maximum Aggregate Ownership Amount ”) or (b) exceed 19.9% of the total voting power of the Company’s securities outstanding as of the date of the Closing Date that are entitled to vote on a matter being voted on by holders of the Common Stock (the “ Maximum Aggregate Voting Amount ”).

(b) For purposes of this Section  2 , beneficial ownership shall be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

(c) If any attempted exercise of this Warrant would result in the issuance of Warrant Shares exceeding the Maximum Aggregate Ownership Amount or the Maximum Aggregate Voting Amount, and the Company has not obtained the Shareholder Approval prior to the time of such exercise (the “ Excess Condition ”), then (i) the Company will issue to the Holder such number of Warrant Shares as may be issued below the Maximum Aggregate Ownership Amount or Maximum Aggregate Voting Amount, as the case may be, and (ii) at the election of the Holder made at any time while the Excess Condition exists, either (A) the Company will pay to the Holder by wire transfer of immediately available funds (in lieu of delivery of the Excess Shares or of replacement Warrant) an amount per Excess Share equal to the Redemption Share Price as of the date of such election or (B) this Warrant will be deemed to have not been exercised with respect to the remaining portion of the Warrant Shares (the “ Excess Shares ”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Warrant, if the Excess Condition exists as of the Expiration Date, the Expiration Date will be extended until the date that is 30 days after the Excess Condition no longer exists.

(d) Prior to the first annual meeting of shareholders of the Company to occur following the fourth anniversary of the Closing Date (the “ Shareholder Meeting ”), the Company will provide each holder of Common Stock or other securities entitled to vote at such meeting a proxy statement meeting the requirements of Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the related rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “ Proxy Statement ”) soliciting each such shareholder’s affirmative vote at the Shareholder Meeting for approval of resolutions approving the Company’s issuance of the Warrant Shares and Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock or exercise of the Options in excess of the Maximum Aggregate Ownership Amount and Maximum Aggregate Voting Amount in accordance with their respective terms (the “ Shareholder Approval ”) in accordance with applicable rules and regulations of the New York Stock Exchange (or any other applicable successor entity), the Articles of Incorporation, the Company’s bylaws and applicable Iowa and New York law, and the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to solicit its shareholders’ approval of such resolutions and to cause the Board to

 

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recommend to the shareholders that they approve such resolutions. If any Warrant Shares are issued prior to the time the Shareholder Approval is obtained, such Warrant Shares will not be voted in connection with any subsequent meeting of shareholders of the Company, to the extent owned by Holder at such time, to obtain the Shareholder Approval in accordance with applicable rules and regulations of the New York Stock Exchange.

(e) The Proxy Statement shall be in a form reasonably acceptable to the Holder and accordingly, the Company shall provide the Holder and a single counsel designated by the Holder with reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the relevant portions of the Proxy Statement. The Company shall keep the Holder apprised of the status of matters relating to the Proxy Statement and the Shareholder Meeting, including promptly furnishing the Holder and its counsel with copies of notices or other communications related to the Proxy Statement, the Shareholder Meeting or the transactions contemplated hereby received by the Company from the Securities and Exchange Commission or the New York Stock Exchange.

(f) If, despite the Company’s best efforts, Shareholder Approval is not obtained at the Shareholder Meeting, the Company shall, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Holder, cause an additional meeting of shareholders of the Company to be held every six months thereafter until such Shareholder Approval is obtained, and the Company will hire a reputable proxy solicitor for the purpose of pursuing such approval.

3. Shares to be Fully Paid; Reservation of Shares . The Company represents, warrants, covenants and agrees that:

(a) this Warrant is, and any Warrant issued in substitution for or replacement of this Warrant will be, upon issuance, duly authorized and validly issued;

(b) all Warrant Shares issued upon the exercise of this Warrant will, upon issuance, be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and free from preemptive or similar rights and free from all taxes, liens and charges with respect thereto (other than liens and charges arising solely from the actions and circumstances of the Holder or holder of such Warrant Shares);

(c) the Company will at all times during the Exercise Period have authorized, and reserved, free from preemptive or similar rights and solely for the purpose of effecting the exercise of this Warrant, out of its authorized but unissued Class A Common Stock, a sufficient number of shares of Class A Common Stock to provide for the exercise of the rights represented by this Warrant, which shares have not been subscribed for or otherwise committed to be issued;

 

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(d) the Company will take all such action as may be necessary to ensure that the par value per Warrant Share will at all times during the Exercise Period be less than or equal to the applicable Exercise Price;

(e) the Company will take all such actions as may be necessary to ensure that all such Warrant Shares are issued without violation by the Company of any applicable Law or any requirements of any securities exchange upon which shares of Common Stock or other securities constituting Warrant Shares may be listed at the time of such exercise (except for official notice of issuance which will be immediately delivered by the Company upon each such issuance);

(f) the Company will use its best efforts to cause the Warrant Shares, immediately upon such exercise, to be listed on any securities exchange upon which shares of Class A Common Stock or other securities constituting Warrant Shares are listed at the time of such exercise; and

(g) the Company will pay all expenses in connection with, and all taxes and other governmental charges that may be imposed with respect to, the issuance or delivery of Warrant Shares upon exercise of this Warrant; provided , however , that in the event that Warrant Shares are to be issued in a name other than the name of the Holder, the Company may, as a condition thereto, require the payment of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any transfer tax incidental thereto.

4. Adjustment . To prevent dilution of the exercise rights granted under this Warrant, the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant will be subject to adjustment from time to time as set forth in this Section  4 (in each case, after taking into consideration any prior adjustments pursuant to this Section  4 ).

4.1 Adjustment to Number of Warrant Shares Upon Subdivision or Combination of Class  A Common Stock .

(i) If Company at any time subdivides (by stock split, recapitalization or otherwise) its outstanding number of shares of Class A Common Stock into a greater number of shares of Class A Common Stock, the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant immediately prior to any such subdivision shall be proportionately increased.

(ii) If Company at any time combines or reclassifies (by reverse stock split, combination or otherwise) its outstanding number of shares of Class A Common Stock into a smaller number of shares of Class A Common Stock, the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant immediately prior to such combination shall be proportionately decreased.

(iii) Any adjustment under this Section  4.1 shall be conditioned on, and become effective immediately upon, the effectiveness of the subdivision or combination.

 

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4.2 Business Combination . In the event of any Business Combination, (i) this Warrant will, immediately after such Business Combination, remain outstanding and thereafter, in lieu of or in addition to (as the case may be) the number of Warrant Shares then exercisable under this Warrant, be exercisable for the kind and number of shares of stock or other securities or assets of the Company or of the successor Person (including cash) resulting from such Business Combination to which the Holder would have been entitled upon such Business Combination if the Holder had exercised this Warrant in full immediately prior to the time of such Business Combination and acquired the applicable number of Warrant Shares then issuable hereunder as a result of such exercise (without taking into account any limitations or restrictions on the exercisability of this Warrant) and (ii) in such case, appropriate adjustment (in form and substance satisfactory to the Holder) will be made with respect to the Holder’s rights under this Warrant to ensure that the provisions of this Section  4 are thereafter applicable, as nearly as possible, to this Warrant in relation to any shares of stock, securities or assets thereafter acquirable upon exercise of this Warrant. The Company will not effect any Business Combination described in this Section  4.2 unless either, prior to the consummation thereof, the successor Person (if other than the Company) resulting from such Business Combination, will assume, by written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to this Warrant and satisfactory to the Holder, the obligation to deliver to the Holder such shares of stock, securities or assets that, in accordance with this Section  4 , the Holder will be entitled to receive upon exercise of this Warrant, or upon consummation thereof, the Holder will be entitled to receive the same kind and number of shares of stock or other securities or assets (including cash) resulting from such Business Combination as the Holder would have been entitled upon such the Business Combination if the Holder had exercised this Warrant in full immediately prior to the time of such Business Combination and acquired the applicable number of Warrant Shares then issuable hereunder (assuming exercise pursuant to Section 2.1(b)). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, with respect to any Business Combination, the Holder will have the right to elect prior to the consummation of such Business Combination, to give effect to the exercise rights contained in Section  2 instead of giving effect to the provisions contained in this Section  4.2 with respect to this Warrant.

4.3 Certain Events . If any event of the type contemplated by Section  4.1 or 4.2 but not expressly provided for by this Section  4 occurs, then the Board and the Holder will jointly determine in good faith an appropriate adjustment in the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant so as to protect the rights of the Holder in a manner consistent with this Section  4 .

4.4 Adjustment to Exercise Price . In connection with any adjustment described in this Section  4 , the Exercise Price per Warrant Share shall be automatically adjusted so that the aggregate Exercise Price for all outstanding Warrant Shares as of immediately prior to such adjustment shall equal the aggregate Exercise Price for all outstanding Warrant Shares as of immediately following such conversion.

4.5 Dividends and Distributions . If the Company, at any time after the issuance of this Warrant, makes or declares, or fixes a record date for the determination of holders of Class A Common Stock entitled to receive, a dividend or any other

 

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distribution payable in securities of the Company, cash or other property, then, and in each such event, the Holder will receive at the same time as the holders of Class A Common Stock, the kind and amount of securities of the Company, cash or other property which the Holder would have been entitled to receive had the Warrant been exercised in full into Warrant Shares on the date of such event (and the record date therefor).

4.6 Certificates .

(a) Adjustment Certificates . As promptly as practicable following any adjustment of the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon the exercise of the Warrant (but in any event not later than five Business Days thereafter), the Company will furnish to the Holder a certificate reasonably satisfactory to the Holder executed by a duly authorized officer thereof (i) certifying the Exercise Price then in effect and the number of Warrant Shares or the amount, if any, of other shares of stock, securities or assets then issuable upon exercise of the Warrant and (b) setting forth in reasonable detail such adjustment and the facts upon which it is based and certifying the calculation thereof.

4.7 Notices . In the event, prior to the earlier of the Expiration Date and the date on which this Warrant has been exercised in full, (a) that the Company sets a record date (or a record date will otherwise occur) for any (i) dividend or other distribution, (ii) vote at a meeting (or action by written consent), (iii) right to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or any other securities or (iv) right to receive any other security or right in or to a security, or (b) of a potential Business Combination or the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company, then the Company will send or cause to be sent to the Holder at least 15 days prior to the applicable record date or the expected effective date, as applicable, for the event described above, a written notice in accordance with Section  16 specifying, as applicable, (A) the record date for such dividend, distribution, meeting or consent or other right or action and a description of such dividend, distribution or other right or such action to be taken at such meeting or by written consent or (B) the effective date on which such Business Combination or dissolution, liquidation or winding up is proposed to take place, and the date, if any is to be fixed, as of which the books of the Company will close or a record will be taken with respect to which the holders of record of Class A Common Stock (or such other capital stock or securities at the time issuable upon exercise of the Warrant) will be entitled to exchange their shares of Class A Common Stock (or such other capital stock or securities) for securities or other property deliverable upon such Business Combination or dissolution, liquidation or winding up, and the amount per share and character of such exchange applicable to the Warrant and the Warrant Shares. To the extent the Company discloses any of these matters to its stockholders by means of a press release or SEC filing, the Company’s notice obligations to the Holder under this Section 4.7 will be deemed satisfied.

4.8 Successive Adjustments . Any adjustments made pursuant to this Section  4 will be made successively whenever an event referred to in this Section  4 occurs.

 

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5. Warrant Register; Transfer .

5.1 Warrant Register . The Company will keep and properly maintain at its principal executive office books and records for the registration of this Warrant and any transfers thereof. The Company (i) may deem and treat the Person in whose name this Warrant is registered on such books as the Holder thereof for all purposes and (ii) will not be affected by any notice to the contrary, except any assignment, division, combination or other transfer of this Warrant effected in accordance with the provisions hereof.

5.2 Warrant Transfer . This Warrant is freely transferable (a) upon surrender of this Warrant to the Company at its then principal executive offices with a properly completed and duly executed warrant transfer agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B , (b) subject to compliance with applicable securities Laws (including the Securities Act and any applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws), and (c) with the prior written consent of the Company, which consent will not be unreasonably conditioned, delayed or withheld; provided (i) any conditioning, delaying or withholding of consent to a proposed transfer to an Activist Fund or any transferee that is primarily engaged in television broadcasting or print or digital media publishing will not be deemed to be unreasonable and (ii) no prior written consent is required with respect to a transfer to an Affiliate of the transferring Holder so long as such Affiliate is not primarily engaged in television broadcasting or print or digital media publishing (except that the requirements with respect to such businesses will not apply to the extent the Company is not engaged in such businesses as of the time of the transfer) and such Affiliate is not an Activist Fund. Upon request of a Holder, the Company will use reasonable best efforts to assist such Holder in any sale without registration of all or any portion of this Warrant (a “ Resale ”) under the Securities Act in accordance with applicable securities Laws including any sale under any of Rule 144, Rule 144A or Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act. The Company will cooperate with and assist each such Holder in connection with any Resale by such Holder, including, subject to prospective purchasers’ execution of a customary confidentiality agreement in a form acceptable to the Company, by (A) providing direct contact between its senior management and advisors and prospective purchasers, (B) responding to reasonable inquiries of, and providing answers to, prospective purchasers, (C) providing assistance in completion of the prospective purchasers’ reasonable due diligence review, (D) hosting one or more meetings of prospective purchasers at the Company’s facilities or such other location selected by the Company, provided that the Company shall not be required to host more than two of such meetings with respect to any single prospective purchaser and (E) providing all reasonable information and access required or advisable to comply with applicable securities Laws. Upon such compliance, surrender and delivery, the Company will (1) execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in the name of the transferee or transferees and in the denominations specified in such instrument of transfer, (2) issue to the transferor a new Warrant evidencing the portion of this Warrant, if any, not so transferred and (3) promptly cancel this Warrant.

 

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5.3 Warrant Share Transfer .

(a) All Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant will be freely transferable subject to registration pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement and compliance with applicable securities Laws. Subject to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company will take all action necessary to ensure all Warrant Shares are, upon issuance hereunder, freely transferrable by the holder thereof. Compliance by the Company with its obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement and the other provisions of this Warrant will satisfy the Company’s obligations under this Section  5.3(a) .

(b) Upon request of a Holder of Warrant Shares, the Company will use reasonable best efforts to assist such Holder in any sale of all or any portion of any Warrant Shares owned by such Holder (a “ Share Resale ”) under the Securities Act in accordance with applicable securities Laws, including any sale under any of Rule 144, Rule 144A or Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act, including (i) maintaining the Warrant Shares’ inclusion in the book entry settlement system of DTC, (ii) complying with all obligations set forth in the Company’s representations letter to DTC relating to such inclusion and (iii) maintaining appropriate CUSIP numbers for the Warrant Shares. The Company will cooperate with and assist each such holder in connection with any Share Resale by such Holder, including by (A) providing direct contact between its senior management and advisors and prospective purchasers, (B) responding to reasonable inquiries of, and providing answers to, prospective purchasers, (C) providing assistance in completion of the prospective purchasers’ reasonable due diligence review, (D) hosting one or more meetings of prospective purchasers at the Company’s facilities or such other location selected by the Company, provided that the Company shall not be required to host more than two of such meetings with respect to any single prospective purchaser and (E) providing all reasonable information and access required or advisable to comply with applicable securities Laws.

(c) Any certificate representing Warrant Shares issued during the applicable one-year holding period required by Rule 144 (the “ Rule 144 Holding Period ”) will bear a customary restrictive legend, and will be subject to the restrictions set forth therein ( provided , that that the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to remove such legend once the Rule 144 Holding Period has lapsed or as is otherwise available in connection with a transfer of the applicable Warrant Shares), and any certificate representing Warrant Shares issued following the Rule 144 Holding Period will bear such legend only if the Company determines in good faith that the Rule 144 resale requirements have not been met ( provided , that the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to remove such legend as soon as possible thereafter).

6. [Reserved.]

 

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7. Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder; Limitations on Liability . Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, prior to the issuance to the Holder of the Warrant Shares to which the Holder is then entitled to receive upon the exercise of this Warrant in accordance with the terms hereof, the Holder (in its capacity as such) will not be entitled to vote or be deemed the holder of shares of capital stock of the Company for any purpose, and nothing in this Warrant will be construed to confer upon the Holder (in its capacity as such) any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company or any right to vote, give or withhold consent to any corporate action (whether any Business Combination or issuance or reclassification of stock), receive notice of meetings, receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise. Nothing in this Warrant will be construed as imposing any liabilities on the Holder to purchase any securities (upon exercise of this Warrant or otherwise) or as a shareholder of the Company, whether such liabilities are asserted by the Company, creditors of the Company or any other third Persons.

8. Effect of Violation . Any action or attempted action by the Company in violation of this Warrant will be null and void ab initio and of no force or effect whatsoever.

9. Replacement of Warrant . Upon receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant and (in the case of loss, theft or destruction) upon delivery of a customary indemnity agreement or (in the case of mutilation) upon surrender and cancellation of this Warrant, the Company will issue, in lieu thereof, a new Warrant of the same tenor and date.

10. Competition Law Filings . Upon at least 15 Business Days’ notice, at the request of the Holder, the Company will, in consultation and cooperation with the Holder, file or submit, and assist the Holder with any filing, submission or notification it makes, in connection with the exercise of this Warrant (alone or in conjunction with the exercise of any options held by the Holder) with or to any governmental entity any filing, report or notification necessary or advisable in connection with any antitrust, competition or merger control Law applicable to such exercise, including the notification and report form, if any, required to be filed with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (the “ FTC ”) and the U.S. Department of Justice (the “ DOJ ”) under the HSR Act (such applicable Laws, collectively, “ Competition Laws ,” and such filings and submissions, collectively, the “ Competition Law Filings ”). Any such Competition Law Filings made by each of the Holder and the Company will be in substantial compliance with the requirements of the Competition Laws. Each of the Holder and the Company will use its reasonable best efforts, and cooperate with each other, to obtain as promptly as practicable all approvals, authorizations, terminations of applicable periods and clearances in connection with the Competition Law Filings, including (a) cooperating and consulting with each other and furnishing to each other or each other’s counsel information and reasonable assistance as each may request in connection with the preparation of any Competition Law Filing, (b) giving the other reasonable prior notice of, and the opportunity to review and discuss in advance (including considering in good faith the views of the other), any such Competition Law Filings to be made and, to the extent reasonably practicable, of any communication with, or any responses to inquiries or requests for additional information from, the FTC, the DOJ and any other governmental entity regarding such Competition Law Filings or the transactions contemplated by this Warrant, (c) permitting the other or the other’s counsel to participate in all communications and meetings with any governmental entity to the extent not prohibited by such governmental entity and (d) subject to clauses (b) and (c) of this Section  10 , responding as promptly as

 

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practicable to all requests of any governmental entity and providing all requested information to such governmental entity. The Company will pay any expenses associated with, and any filing fees required under the Competition Laws in connection with, the Competition Law Filings.

11. Entire Agreement; Parties in Interest . This Warrant, the Series A Securities Purchase Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Series A Investors Rights Agreement constitute the entire agreement of, and supersede all other prior agreements and understandings (both written and oral and including, without limitation, that certain commitment letter and fee letter relating to the terms hereof) between, the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. In the event of any inconsistency between this Warrant, the Series A Securities Purchase Agreement and the Series A Investors Rights Agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof, this Warrant will control. This Warrant will be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of the Company and the Holder and their respective successors and permitted assigns, and nothing in this Warrant, express or implied, is intended to or will confer upon any other Person any rights, benefits or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Warrant.

12. Governing Law . This Warrant, and all Proceedings (whether based in contract, tort or statute) that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Warrant or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Warrant, will be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the Laws of the State of New York without regard to the Laws of the State of New York or any other jurisdiction that would call for the application of the substantive Laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York.

13. Jurisdiction . Each Party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally, for itself and its property, submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State court or Federal court of the United Stated of America sitting, in each case in the Borough of Manhattan in New York City, and any appellate court from any thereof (such courts in such jurisdictional priority, the “ Forum ”), in any Proceeding (whether based in contract, tort or statute) based upon, arising out of or relating to this Warrant or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Warrant, or any transaction contemplated hereby, and agrees that all claims in respect of such Proceeding may be heard and determined in the Forum, and each of the Company and the Holder hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (a) agrees not to commence any such Proceeding except in the Forum, (b) agrees that any claim in respect of any such Proceeding may be heard and determined in the Forum, (c) waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such Proceeding in the Forum, and (d) waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such Proceeding in the Forum. Each of the Company and Holder hereby agrees that service of summons, complaint or other process in connection with any Proceedings contemplated hereby may be made by registered or certified mail addressed to such Person at the address specified pursuant to Section  16 , and that service so made will be effective as if personally made in the State of New York.

14. Waiver of Jury Trial . EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE HOLDER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY PROCEEDING (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) BETWEEN OR AMONG SUCH PERSONS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS WARRANT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

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15. Remedies .

(a) Remedies Cumulative . Except as set forth in Section  15(a) , all remedies available under this Warrant, at Law, in equity or otherwise will be deemed cumulative and not alternative or exclusive of other remedies, and the exercise by any party hereto of a particular remedy will not preclude the exercise of any other remedy.

(b) Injunctive Relief . The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Holder would be irreparably damaged if any of the provisions of this Warrant are not performed in accordance with their specific terms and that any breach of this Warrant by the Company could not be adequately compensated in all cases by monetary damages alone. Accordingly, in addition to any other right or remedy to which the Holder may be entitled, at Law or in equity, it will be entitled to enforce any provision of this Warrant by a decree of specific performance and temporary, preliminary and permanent injunctive relief to prevent breaches or threatened breaches of any of the provisions of this Warrant, without posting any bond or other undertaking.

16. Notice .

(a) Any notice or other communication required or permitted to be delivered to any party under this Warrant will be in writing and delivered by (i) email or (ii) overnight delivery via a national courier service to the following email address or physical address, as applicable:

If to the Company, to:

Meredith Corporation

1716 Locust Street

Des Moines, Iowa 50309-3023

Attention: John S. Zieser

with a copy (which will not constitute notice) to:

Cooley LLP

1299 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 700

Washington, DC 20004

Attention: J. Kevin Mills

Email: kmills@cooley.com

If to the Holder, to:

KED MDP Investments, LLC

c/o Koch Equity Development LLC

 

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4111 East 37th Street North

Wichita, Kansas 67220

Attention: Brett Watson; Matthew Hewitt; Adam Schaeffer

Email: brett.watson@kochind.com; matthew.hewitt@kochind.com; adam.schaeffer@kochps.com

with a copy (which will not constitute notice) to:

Jones Day

1420 Peachtree Street

Atlanta, Georgia 30309

Attention: Bryan E. Davis

Email: bedavis@jonesday.com

(b) Notice or other communication pursuant to Section  16(a) will be deemed given or received when delivered, except that any notice or communication received by email transmission on a non-Business Day or on any Business Day after 5:00 p.m. addressee’s local time or by overnight delivery on a non-Business Day will be deemed to have been given and received at 9:00 a.m. addressee’s local time on the next Business Day. Any party may specify a different address, by written notice to the other party. The change of address will be effective upon the other party’s receipt of the notice of the change of address.

17. Amendments; Waivers . Any provision of this Warrant may be amended or waived if, and only if, such amendment or waiver is in writing and signed, in the case of an amendment, by the Company and the Holder, or in the case of a waiver, by the party against whom the waiver is to be effective. No knowledge, investigation or inquiry, or failure or delay by the Company or the Holder in exercising any right hereunder will operate as a waiver thereof nor will any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise of any other right hereunder.

18. Counterparts . This Warrant may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which constitutes an original, and all of which taken together constitute one instrument.

19. Assignment by the Company . The Company may not, without the prior written consent of the Holder, sell, transfer (by operation of Law or otherwise, except in connection with a Business Combination in compliance herewith) or assign this Warrant or any of its rights or obligations hereunder.

20. Severability . If any provision of this Warrant, or the application thereof becomes or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, void, invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this Warrant will continue in full force and effect and the application of such provision to other Persons or circumstances will be interpreted so as reasonably to effect the intent of the parties hereto. The parties hereto further agree to replace such illegal, void, invalid or unenforceable provision of this Warrant with a legal, valid and enforceable provision that achieves, to the extent possible, the economic, business and other purposes of such illegal, void, invalid or unenforceable provision.

 

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21. Definitions .

21.1 Certain Defined Terms . The following words and phrases have the meanings specified in this Section  21.1 :

Activist Fund ” means any Person identified on the most-recently available “SharkWatch 50” list or any publicly-disclosed Affiliate of any such Person.

Affiliate ” means, as to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. As used in this definition, “control” (including, with its correlative meanings, “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of securities or partnership or other ownership interests, by contract or otherwise.

Aggregate Exercise Price ” means an amount equal to the product of (a) the number of Warrant Shares in respect of which this Warrant is then being exercised pursuant to Section  2 , multiplied by (b) the Exercise Price in effect as of the Exercise Date.

Articles of Incorporation ” means the articles of incorporation of the Company, as amended.

Board ” means the board of directors of the Company.

Business Combination ” means, whether through one transaction or a series of related transactions, any (a) recapitalization of the Company, (b) reclassification of the stock of the Company (other than (i) a change in par value, from par value to no par value, from no par value to par value or (ii) as a result of a stock dividend or subdivision, split up or combination of shares), (c) consolidation or merger of the Company with and into another Person or of another Person with and into the Company (whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger), (d) sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets (on a consolidated basis) or capital stock to another Person or (e) other similar transaction (in the case of this clause (e)) other than any such transaction covered by Section  4.5 ), in each case, which entitles the holders of Common Stock to receive (either directly or upon subsequent liquidation) stock, securities or assets (including cash) with respect to or in exchange for Common Stock.

Business Day ” means any day ending at 11:59 p.m. (New York City time) other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which the banks in the City of New York are authorized by Law to be closed.

Class  A Common Stock ” means the Company’s common stock, par value $1.00 per share, that is not designated in the Articles of Incorporation as class B common stock, and any capital stock into which common stock is converted, exchanged or reclassified following the Issue Date.

Class  B Common Stock ” means the Company’s common stock designated in the Articles of Incorporation as class B common stock, par value $1.00 per share, and any capital stock into which common stock is converted, exchanged or reclassified following the Issue Date.

 

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Closing Date ” means January 31, 2018.

Common Stock ” means, collectively, the Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock.

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Expiration Date ” means the date that is the latest of (a) the tenth anniversary of the Closing Date, (b) the date determined in accordance with the proviso contained in Section  2.2(a) and (c) the date after the Exercise Date on which all Warrant Shares have been purchased (or redeemed in accordance with Section  2.5 or Section  2.6(c) ) hereunder, except that, in the case of clause (a) , if such date is not a Business Day, on the next Business Day.

Law ” means any applicable U.S. or foreign, federal, state, provincial, municipal or local law (including common law), statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, code, policy, directive, standard, license, treaty, judgment, order, injunction, decree or agency requirement of or undertaking to or agreement with any governmental entity.

Options ” means the options to purchase of up to an aggregate of 875,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, purchased by the Holder on Closing Date (and any new or replacement options issued pursuant to the terms thereof).

Per Share Price ” means the greater of (a) the volume weighted average price (rounded to the nearest one-hundredth of one cent) of the Class A Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange for the 30 trading days immediately preceding the date on which the Holder delivers the applicable Notice of Exercise, as calculated by Bloomberg Financial LP under the function “VWAP” or any successor page or function, and (b) the closing price of the Class A Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the date the Holder delivers the applicable Notice of Exercise.

Person ” means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, trust or any other entity, group (as such term is used in Section 13 of the Exchange Act) or organization, including a governmental entity.

Proceeding ” means any claim, action, arbitration, mediation, audit, hearing, investigation, proceeding, litigation or suit (whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or informal) commenced, brought, conducted or heard by or before, or otherwise involving, any governmental entity or arbitrator or mediator.

Registration Rights Agreement ” means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated the Closing Date, by and between the Company and the Holder.

Series A Investors Rights Agreement ” means the Series A Investors Rights Agreement, dated the Closing Date, by and between the Company and the Holder.

 

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Series A Preferred Stock ” means the Series A Preferred Stock of the Company issued on the Closing Date or as a paid-in-kind dividend on the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms of the Statement of Designation of Series A Preferred Stock of Meredith Corporation (as such instrument is in effect on the Closing Date).

Series A Securities Purchase Agreement ” means the Series A Securities Purchase Agreement, dated the Closing Date, by and between the Company and the Holder.

U.S. ” means the United States of America.

21.2 Terms Defined Elsewhere in this Agreement . For purposes of this Warrant, the following terms have the meanings set forth in the sections indicated:

 

Terms

  

Section

Company    Preamble
Competition Law Filings    Section 10
Competition Laws    Section 10
DOJ    Section 10
DTC    Section 5.2
Excess Condition    Section 2.6(c)
Excess Shares    Section 2.6(c)
Exercise Date    Section 2.2(a)
Exercise Period    Section 1
Exercise Price    Preamble
Forum    Section 13
FTC    Section 10
Holder    Preamble
Issue Date    Preamble
Maximum Aggregate Ownership Amount    Section 2.6(a)
Maximum Aggregate Voting Amount    Section 2.6(a)
Notice of Exercise    Section 2.1(a)(ii)
Proxy Statement    Section 2.6(d)
Redemption Notice    Section 2.5
Redemption Share Price    Section 2.5
Resale    Section 5.2
Rule 144 Holding Period    Section 5.3(b)
Securities Act    Legend
Share Resale    Section 5.3(a)
Shareholder Approval    Section 2.6(d)
Shareholder Meeting    Section 2.6(d)
Warrant    Preamble
Warrant Shares    Preamble

22. Construction . The parties hereto intend that each representation, warranty, covenant and agreement contained in this Warrant will have independent significance. The headings are for convenience only and will not be given effect in interpreting this Warrant. References to sections or exhibits are to the sections and exhibits contained in or attached to this Warrant, unless otherwise specified. The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in this Warrant, refer to this Warrant as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Warrant. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” in this Warrant

 

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mean “include/includes/including without limitation.” All references to $, currency, monetary values and dollars set forth herein means U.S. dollars. The use of the masculine, feminine or neuter gender or the singular or plural form of words will not limit any provisions of this Warrant. References to a Person also include its permitted assigns and successors. Any reference to a statute refers to the statute, any amendments or successor legislation and all rules and regulations promulgated under or implementing the statute, as in effect at the relevant time. Whenever this Warrant refers to a number of days, such number will refer to calendar days unless Business Days are specified. Whenever any action must be taken hereunder on or by a day that is not a Business Day, then such action may be validly taken on or by the next day that is a Business Day. Any reference herein to any Law or contract will be construed as referring to such Law or contract as amended or modified or, in the case of a Law, codified or reenacted, in each case, in whole or in part, and as in effect from time to time. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that (a) each party and its counsel has reviewed, or has had the opportunity to review, the terms and provisions of this Warrant, (b) any rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguities are resolved against the drafting party will not be used to interpret this Warrant and (c) the provisions of this Warrant will be construed fairly as to all parties and not in favor of or against any party, regardless of which party was generally responsible for the preparation of this Warrant.

23. Tax Treatment . The parties hereto agree to treat and report (a) the Holder as owning the Warrant Shares as of the Issue Date for all U.S. federal, and applicable state and local, income tax purposes and (b) any dividend or distribution made pursuant to Section  4.5 as a distribution on the Warrant Shares under Section 301 of the Internal Revenue Code or, in the case of a redemption of the Warrant Shares, a share redemption subject to Section 302 of the Internal Revenue Code, and, in each case, the parties hereto agree to take no position inconsistent with such treatment in their respective dealings with U.S. federal, state and local tax authorities.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

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

 

COMPANY:
Meredith Corporation
By:   /s/ Joseph H. Ceryanec
  Name: Joseph H. Ceryanec
  Title: Chief Financial Officer

[S IGNATURE P AGE TO C LASS  A C OMMON S TOCK W ARRANT ]


HOLDER:
KED MDP Investments, LLC
By:   /s/ Matthew Hewitt
  Name: Matthew Hewitt
  Title: Vice President

[S IGNATURE P AGE TO C LASS  A C OMMON S TOCK W ARRANT ]


EXHIBIT A

Notice of Exercise Form

[•]

Dated: [•]

The undersigned, pursuant to the provisions set forth in the attached Warrant (the “ Warrant ”), hereby irrevocably elects to purchase [•] Warrant Shares (as such term is defined in the Warrant) and herewith surrenders Warrant Shares with a value of $[•], representing the full purchase price for such shares at the exercise price per share provided for in such Warrant.

 

[Holder]
By:     
  Name:
  Title:


EXHIBIT B

Warrant Transfer Form

Dated: [•]

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers all of its rights and interest in and to the number of Warrant Shares (as defined in the attached Warrant (the “ Warrant ”)) set forth below, standing in its name on the books of the Company and represented by the Warrant, to:

 

Name of Transferee

  

Address

  

No. of Warrant Shares

[•]    [•]    [•]

The undersigned hereby irrevocably instructs and appoints the Secretary of the Company its agent and attorney-in-fact (the “ Agent ”) to transfer all of such Warrant Shares on the books of the Company, to register each such transferee as the registered owner thereof and to take all other necessary and appropriate action to effect such transfer and registration, including the issuance of one or more new or replacement Warrants. The Agent may substitute and appoint one or more persons to act on his or her behalf.

 

[Holder]
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

Exhibit 10.4

THIS OPTION AND THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE ON EXERCISE HEREOF HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (THE “ SECURITIES ACT ”) OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN EXEMPTION THEREFROM UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND UNDER APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THIS OPTION MAY NOT BE SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT AS DESCRIBED IN THIS OPTION.

MEREDITH CORPORATION

OPTION TO PURCHASE CLASS A COMMON STOCK

 

Option No. 1    January 31, 2018 (the “ Issue Date ”)

Meredith Corporation, an Iowa corporation (the “ Company ”), for value received, certifies and agrees (this option and any other options delivered in substitution or exchange herefor as provided herein, this “ Option ”) that KED MDP Investments, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Holder ”), is entitled, subject to the terms set forth below, to purchase from the Company 875,000 duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable shares of Class A Common Stock (such shares, subject to adjustment as provided herein, the “ Option Shares ”) for $70.50 per Option Share (the “ Exercise Price ”). Except as otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms in this Option have the meanings set forth in Section  21 . This Option has been issued pursuant to the terms of the Series A Securities Purchase Agreement.

1. Term . Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Holder may exercise this Option for all or any part of the Option Shares at any time or from time to time after the Issue Date until the Expiration Date (the “ Exercise Period ”).

2. Exercise.

2.1 Method of Exercise . This Option may be exercised by the Holder, in whole or in part:

(a) by surrendering (i) this Option and (ii) a duly executed Notice of Exercise in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (the “ Notice of Exercise ”) to the Company (or its agent) via delivery in accordance with Section  15 ; and

(b) by:

(i) instructing the Company to withhold a number of Option Shares then issuable upon exercise of this Option equal to (A) the Aggregate Exercise Price divided by (B) the Per Share Price;

(ii) surrendering to the Company a number of Option Shares previously acquired by the Holder equal to (A) the Aggregate Exercise Price divided by (B) the Per Share Price; or


(iii) any combination of the foregoing.

In the event of any withholding of Option Shares pursuant to this Section  2.1(b) in which the number of shares whose value is equal to the Aggregate Exercise Price is not a whole number, the Company will withhold a fraction of an Option Share such that the value of the total number of shares (including such fraction of an Option Share) equals the Aggregate Exercise Price.

2.2 Exercise Date .

(a) Each exercise of this Option will be deemed to have been effected immediately prior to the close of business on the day (i) on which the Notice of Exercise pursuant to Section  2.1 is deemed to be delivered pursuant to Section  16 , or (ii) if a later date is specified in the Notice of Exercise, such later date, but in any event, if a Competition Law Filing is required to permit the Holder to exercise this Option for Option Shares in compliance with applicable Law, not earlier than the date that all applicable waiting periods have expired or been terminated or required approvals have been received; provided that in such instance the Expiration Date shall automatically be extended until the day following the expiration or termination of any such applicable waiting periods (each such date, an “ Exercise Date ”).

(b) At such time, each Person in whose name any certificates for Option Shares are issuable upon such exercise as provided in Section  2.3 will become a holder of record of the Option Shares represented by such certificates (or such lesser number of Option Shares as specified in the applicable Notice of Exercise). If the Holder determines that no Competition Law Filings are required, on or prior to the Exercise Date, the Holder shall provide a written representation to the Company that (i) the Holder s holdings of voting securities of the Company after the exercise of the Option will be below the then applicable size-of-transaction threshold under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the “ HSR Act ”) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or (ii) the Holder will hold the voting securities solely for the purpose of investment, in accordance with 15 U.S.C. § 18a(c)(9) and 16 CFR 802.9.

2.3 Certificates and New Options . As soon as practicable after an Exercise Date (and in any event within five Business Days thereafter), the Company, at its expense, will cause to be issued in the name of, and delivered to, the Holder, or otherwise as the Holder may direct (subject to Section  5 ):

(a) a certificate or certificates for the number of shares of Class A Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled upon such exercise (it being agreed that each certificate so delivered will be in such denominations of shares of Class A Common Stock as may be requested by the Holder) or, in lieu of certificates, maintaining the Option Shares’ inclusion in the book entry settlement system of DTC if the Company is then a participant in such system; and

 

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(b) if such exercise is in part only, a new Option or Options substantially identical in form hereto for the purchase of a number of Option Shares equal to the difference of the number of Option Shares subject to this Option less the number of Option Shares that are issued to the Holder pursuant to such partial exercise.

2.4 Conditional Exercise . Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an exercise of any portion of this Option is to be made in connection with a public offering or a sale of the Company (pursuant to a merger, sale of stock, or otherwise), such exercise may at the election of the Holder be conditioned upon the consummation of such transaction, in which case the Exercise Date will be the date of such consummation and such exercise will not be deemed to be effective until immediately prior to such consummation on the Exercise Date.

2.5 Ownership Cap .

(a) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, unless and until the Company obtains the Shareholder Approval, the Company shall not issue to the Holder any Option Shares to the extent such Option Shares, after giving effect to such issuance and when added to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issued and issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock or exercise of the Warrant, would (a) exceed 19.9% of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of the date of the Closing Date (the “ Maximum Aggregate Ownership Amount ”) or (b) exceed 19.9% of the total voting power of the Company’s securities outstanding as of the date of the Closing Date that are entitled to vote on a matter being voted on by holders of the Common Stock (the “ Maximum Aggregate Voting Amount ”).

(b) For purposes of this Section  2 , beneficial ownership shall be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

(c) If any attempted exercise of this Option would result in the issuance of Option Shares exceeding the Maximum Aggregate Ownership Amount or the Maximum Aggregate Voting Amount, and the Company has not obtained the Shareholder Approval prior to the time of such exercise (the “ Excess Condition ”), then the Company will issue to the Holder such number of Option Shares as may be issued below the Maximum Aggregate Ownership Amount or Maximum Aggregate Voting Amount, as the case may be, and this Option will be deemed to have not been exercised with respect to the remaining portion of the Option Shares (the “ Excess Shares ”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Option, if the Excess Condition exists as of the Expiration Date, the Expiration Date will be extended until the date that is 30 days after the Excess Condition no longer exists.

 

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(d) Prior to the first annual meeting of shareholders of the Company to occur following the fourth anniversary of the Closing Date (the “Shareholder Meeting”), the Company will provide each holder of Common Stock or other securities entitled to vote at such meeting a proxy statement meeting the requirements of Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the related rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “ Proxy Statement ”) soliciting each such shareholder’s affirmative vote at the Shareholder Meeting for approval of resolutions approving the Company’s issuance of the Option Shares and Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock or exercise of the Warrant in excess of the Maximum Aggregate Ownership Amount and Maximum Aggregate Voting Amount in accordance with their respective terms (the “ Shareholder Approval ”) in accordance with applicable rules and regulations of the New York Stock Exchange (or any other applicable successor entity), the Articles of Incorporation, the Company’s bylaws and applicable Iowa and New York law, and the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to solicit its shareholders’ approval of such resolutions and to cause the Board to recommend to the shareholders that they approve such resolutions. If any Option Shares are issued prior to the time the Shareholder Approval is obtained, such Option Shares will not be voted in connection with any subsequent meeting of shareholders of the Company, to the extent owned by Holder at such time, to obtain the Shareholder Approval in accordance with applicable rules and regulations of the New York Stock Exchange.

(e) The Proxy Statement shall be in a form reasonably acceptable to the Holder and accordingly, the Company shall provide the Holder and a single counsel designated by the Holder with reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the relevant portions of the Proxy Statement. The Company shall keep the Holder apprised of the status of matters relating to the Proxy Statement and the Shareholder Meeting, including promptly furnishing the Holder and its counsel with copies of notices or other communications related to the Proxy Statement, the Shareholder Meeting or the transactions contemplated hereby received by the Company from the Securities and Exchange Commission or the New York Stock Exchange.

(f) If, despite the Company’s best efforts, Shareholder Approval is not obtained at the Shareholder Meeting, the Company shall, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Holder, cause an additional meeting of shareholders of the Company to be held every six months thereafter until the Shareholder Approval is obtained, and the Company will hire a reputable proxy solicitor for the purpose of pursuing such approval.

3. Shares to be Fully Paid; Reservation of Shares . The Company represents, warrants, covenants and agrees that:

(a) this Option is, and any Option issued in substitution for or replacement of this Option will be, upon issuance, duly authorized and validly issued;

 

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(b) all Option Shares issued upon the exercise of this Option will, upon issuance, be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and free from preemptive or similar rights and free from all taxes, liens and charges with respect thereto (other than liens and charges arising solely from the actions and circumstances of the Holder or holder of such Option Shares);

(c) the Company will at all times during the Exercise Period have authorized, and reserved, free from preemptive or similar rights and solely for the purpose of effecting the exercise of this Option, out of its authorized but unissued Class A Common Stock, a sufficient number of shares of Class A Common Stock to provide for the exercise of the rights represented by this Option, which shares have not been subscribed for or otherwise committed to be issued;

(d) the Company will take all such action as may be necessary to ensure that the par value per Option Share will at all times during the Exercise Period be less than or equal to the applicable Exercise Price;

(e) the Company will take all such actions as may be necessary to ensure that all such Option Shares are issued without violation by the Company of any applicable Law or any requirements of any securities exchange upon which shares of Common Stock or other securities constituting Option Shares may be listed at the time of such exercise (except for official notice of issuance which will be immediately delivered by the Company upon each such issuance);

(f) the Company will use its best efforts to cause the Option Shares, immediately upon such exercise, to be listed on any securities exchange upon which shares of Class A Common Stock or other securities constituting Option Shares are listed at the time of such exercise; and

(g) the Company will pay all expenses in connection with, and all taxes and other governmental charges that may be imposed with respect to, the issuance or delivery of Option Shares upon exercise of this Option; provided , however , that in the event that Option Shares are to be issued in a name other than the name of the Holder, the Company may, as a condition thereto, require the payment of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any transfer tax incidental thereto.

4. Adjustment . To prevent dilution of the exercise rights granted under this Option, the number of Option Shares issuable upon exercise of this Option will be subject to adjustment from time to time as set forth in this Section  4 (in each case, after taking into consideration any prior adjustments pursuant to this Section  4 ).

4.1 Adjustment to Number of Option Shares Upon Subdivision or Combination of Class  A Common Stock .

(i) If Company at any time subdivides (by stock split, recapitalization or otherwise) its outstanding number of shares of Class A Common Stock into a greater number of shares of Class A Common Stock, the number of Option Shares issuable upon exercise of this Option immediately prior to any such subdivision shall be proportionately increased.

 

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(ii) If Company at any time combines or reclassifies (by reverse stock split, combination or otherwise) its outstanding number of shares of Class A Common Stock into a smaller number of shares of Class A Common Stock, the number of Option Shares issuable upon exercise of this Option immediately prior to such combination shall be proportionately decreased.

(iii) Any adjustment under this Section  4.1 shall be conditioned on, and become effective immediately upon, the effectiveness of the subdivision or combination.

4.2 Business Combination . In the event of any Business Combination, (i) this Option will, immediately after such Business Combination, remain outstanding and thereafter, in lieu of or in addition to (as the case may be) the number of Option Shares then exercisable under this Option, be exercisable for the kind and number of shares of stock or other securities or assets of the Company or of the successor Person (including cash) resulting from such Business Combination to which the Holder would have been entitled upon such Business Combination if the Holder had exercised this Option in full immediately prior to the time of such Business Combination and acquired the applicable number of Option Shares then issuable hereunder as a result of such exercise (without taking into account any limitations or restrictions on the exercisability of this Option) and (ii) in such case, appropriate adjustment (in form and substance satisfactory to the Holder) will be made with respect to the Holder’s rights under this Option to ensure that the provisions of this Section  4 are thereafter applicable, as nearly as possible, to this Option in relation to any shares of stock, securities or assets thereafter acquirable upon exercise of this Option. The Company will not effect any Business Combination described in this Section  4.2 unless either, prior to the consummation thereof, the successor Person (if other than the Company) resulting from such Business Combination, will assume, by written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to this Option and satisfactory to the Holder, the obligation to deliver to the Holder such shares of stock, securities or assets that, in accordance with this Section  4 , the Holder will be entitled to receive upon exercise of this Option, or upon consummation thereof, the Holder will be entitled to receive the same kind and number of shares of stock or other securities or assets (including cash) resulting from such Business Combination as the Holder would have been entitled upon such the Business Combination if the Holder had exercised this Option in full immediately prior to the time of such Business Combination and acquired the applicable number of Option Shares then issuable hereunder (assuming exercise pursuant to Section  2.1(b) ). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, with respect to any Business Combination, the Holder will have the right to elect prior to the consummation of such Business Combination, to give effect to the exercise rights contained in Section  2 instead of giving effect to the provisions contained in this Section  4.2 with respect to this Option.

 

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4.3 Certain Events . If any event of the type contemplated by Section  4.1 or 4.2 but not expressly provided for by this Section  4 occurs, then the Board and the Holder will jointly determine in good faith an appropriate adjustment in the number of Option Shares issuable upon exercise of this Option so as to protect the rights of the Holder in a manner consistent with this Section  4 .

4.4 Adjustment to Exercise Price . In connection with any adjustment described in this Section  4 , the Exercise Price per Option Share shall be automatically adjusted so that the aggregate Exercise Price for all outstanding Option Shares as of immediately prior to such adjustment shall equal the aggregate Exercise Price for all outstanding Option Shares as of immediately following such conversion.

4.5 Certificates . As promptly as practicable following any adjustment of the number of Option Shares issuable upon the exercise of the Option (but in any event not later than five Business Days thereafter), the Company will furnish to the Holder a certificate reasonably satisfactory to the Holder executed by a duly authorized officer thereof (i) certifying the Exercise Price then in effect and the number of Option Shares or the amount, if any, of other shares of stock, securities or assets then issuable upon exercise of the Option and (b) setting forth in reasonable detail such adjustment and the facts upon which it is based and certifying the calculation thereof.

4.6 Notices . In the event, prior to the earlier of the Expiration Date and the date on which this Option has been exercised in full, (a) that the Company sets a record date (or a record date will otherwise occur) for any (i) dividend or other distribution, (ii) vote at a meeting (or action by written consent), (iii) right to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or any other securities or (iv) right to receive any other security or right in or to a security or (b) of a potential Business Combination or the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company, then the Company will send or cause to be sent to the Holder at least 15 days prior to the applicable record date or the expected effective date, as applicable, for the event described above, a written notice in accordance with Section  16 specifying, as applicable, (A) the record date for such dividend, distribution, meeting or consent or other right or action and a description of such dividend, distribution or other right or such action to be taken at such meeting or by written consent or (B) the effective date on which such Business Combination or dissolution, liquidation or winding up is proposed to take place, and the date, if any is to be fixed, as of which the books of the Company will close or a record will be taken with respect to which the holders of record of Class A Common Stock (or such other capital stock or securities at the time issuable upon exercise of the Option) will be entitled to exchange their shares of Class A Common Stock (or such other capital stock or securities) for securities or other property deliverable upon such Business Combination or dissolution, liquidation or winding up, and the amount per share and character of such exchange applicable to the Option and the Option Shares. To the extent the Company discloses any of these matters to its stockholders by means of a press release or SEC filing, the Company’s notice obligations to the Holder under this Section  4.6 will be deemed satisfied.

4.7 Successive Adjustments . Any adjustments made pursuant to this Section  4 will be made successively whenever an event referred to in this Section  4 occurs.

 

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5. Option Register; Transfer .

5.1 Option Register . The Company will keep and properly maintain at its principal executive office books and records for the registration of this Option and any transfers thereof. The Company (i) may deem and treat the Person in whose name this Option is registered on such books as the Holder thereof for all purposes and (ii) will not be affected by any notice to the contrary, except any assignment, division, combination or other transfer of this Option effected in accordance with the provisions hereof.

5.2 Option Transfer . This Option is freely transferable (a) upon surrender of this Option to the Company at its then principal executive offices with a properly completed and duly executed option transfer agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, (b) subject to compliance with applicable securities Laws (including the Securities Act and any applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws), and (c) with the prior written consent of the Company, which consent will not be unreasonably conditioned, delayed or withheld; provided (i) any conditioning, delaying or withholding of consent to a proposed transfer to an Activist Fund or any transferee that is primarily engaged in television broadcasting or print or digital media publishing will not be deemed to be unreasonable and (ii) no prior written consent is required with respect to a transfer to an Affiliate of the transferring Holder so long as such Affiliate is not primarily engaged in television broadcasting or print or digital media publishing (except that the requirements with respect to such businesses will not apply to the extent the Company is not engaged in such businesses as of the time of the transfer) and such Affiliate is not an Activist Fund. Upon request of a Holder, the Company will use reasonable best efforts to assist such Holder in any sale without registration of all or any portion of this Option (a “ Resale ”) under the Securities Act in accordance with applicable securities Laws including any sale under any of Rule 144, Rule 144A or Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act. The Company will cooperate with and assist each such Holder in connection with any Resale by such Holder, including, subject to prospective purchasers’ execution of a customary confidentiality agreement in a form acceptable to the Company, by (A) providing direct contact between its senior management and advisors and prospective purchasers, (B) responding to reasonable inquiries of, and providing answers to, prospective purchasers, (C) providing assistance in completion of the prospective purchasers’ reasonable due diligence review, (D) hosting one or more meetings of prospective purchasers at the Company’s facilities or such other location selected by the Company ( provided that the Company shall not be required to host more than two of such meetings with respect to any single prospective purchaser) and (E) providing all reasonable information and access required or advisable to comply with applicable securities Laws. Upon such compliance, surrender and delivery, the Company will (1) execute and deliver a new Option or Options in the name of the transferee or transferees and in the denominations specified in such instrument of transfer, (2) issue to the transferor a new Option evidencing the portion of this Option, if any, not so transferred and (3) promptly cancel this Option.

 

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5.3 Option Share Transfer .

(a) All Option Shares issuable upon exercise of this Option will be freely transferable subject to registration pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement and compliance with applicable securities Laws. Subject to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company will take all action necessary to ensure all Option Shares are, upon issuance hereunder, freely transferrable by the holder thereof. Compliance by the Company with its obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement and the other provisions of this Option will satisfy the Company’s obligations under this Section  5.3(a) .

(b) Upon request of a Holder of Option Shares, the Company will use reasonable best efforts to assist such Holder in any sale of all or any portion of any Option Shares owned by such Holder (a “ Share Resale ”) under the Securities Act in accordance with applicable securities Laws, including any sale under any of Rule 144, Rule 144A or Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act, including (i) maintaining the Option Shares’ inclusion in the book entry settlement system of DTC, (ii) complying with all obligations set forth in the Company’s representations letter to DTC relating to such inclusion and (iii) maintaining appropriate CUSIP numbers for the Option Shares. The Company will cooperate with and assist each such holder in connection with any Share Resale by such Holder, including by (A) providing direct contact between its senior management and advisors and prospective purchasers, (B) responding to reasonable inquiries of, and providing answers to, prospective purchasers, (C) providing assistance in completion of the prospective purchasers’ reasonable due diligence review, (D) hosting one or more meetings of prospective purchasers at the Company’s facilities or such other location selected by the Company ( provided that the Company shall not be required to host more than two of such meetings with respect to any single prospective purchaser) and (E) providing all reasonable information and access required or advisable to comply with applicable securities Laws.

(c) Any certificate representing Option Shares issued during the applicable one-year holding period required by Rule 144 (the “ Rule 144 Holding Period ”) will bear a customary restrictive legend, and will be subject to the restrictions set forth therein ( provided , that that the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to remove such legend once the Rule 144 Holding Period has lapsed or as is otherwise available in connection with a transfer of the applicable Option Shares), and any certificate representing Option Shares issued following the Rule 144 Holding Period will bear such legend only if the Company determines in good faith that the Rule 144 resale requirements have not been met ( provided , that the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to remove such legend as soon as possible thereafter).

6. [Reserved.]

 

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7. Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder; Limitations on Liability . Prior to the issuance to the Holder of the Option Shares to which the Holder is then entitled to receive upon the exercise of this Option in accordance with the terms hereof, the Holder (in its capacity as such) will not be entitled to vote or be deemed the holder of shares of capital stock of the Company for any purpose, and nothing in this Option will be construed to confer upon the Holder (in its capacity as such) any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company or any right to vote, give or withhold consent to any corporate action (whether any Business Combination or issuance or reclassification of stock), receive notice of meetings, receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise. Nothing in this Option will be construed as imposing any liabilities on the Holder to purchase any securities (upon exercise of this Option or otherwise) or as a shareholder of the Company, whether such liabilities are asserted by the Company, creditors of the Company or any other third Persons.

8. Effect of Violation . Any action or attempted action by the Company in violation of this Option will be null and void ab initio and of no force or effect whatsoever.

9. Replacement of Option . Upon receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Option and (in the case of loss, theft or destruction) upon delivery of a customary indemnity agreement or (in the case of mutilation) upon surrender and cancellation of this Option, the Company will issue, in lieu thereof, a new Option of the same tenor and date.

10. Competition Law Filings . Upon at least 15 Business Days’ notice, at the request of the Holder, the Company will, in consultation and cooperation with the Holder, file or submit, and assist the Holder with any filing, submission or notification it makes, in connection with the exercise of this Option (alone or in conjunction with the exercise of any options held by the Holder) with or to any governmental entity any filing, report or notification necessary or advisable in connection with any antitrust, competition or merger control Law applicable to such exercise, including the notification and report form, if any, required to be filed with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (the “ FTC ”) and the U.S. Department of Justice (the “ DOJ ”) under the HSR Act (such applicable Laws, collectively, “ Competition Laws ,” and such filings and submissions, collectively, the “ Competition Law Filings ”). Any such Competition Law Filings made by each of the Holder and the Company will be in substantial compliance with the requirements of the Competition Laws. Each of the Holder and the Company will use its reasonable best efforts, and cooperate with each other, to obtain as promptly as practicable all approvals, authorizations, terminations of applicable periods and clearances in connection with the Competition Law Filings, including (a) cooperating and consulting with each other and furnishing to each other or each other’s counsel information and reasonable assistance as each may request in connection with the preparation of any Competition Law Filing, (b) giving the other reasonable prior notice of, and the opportunity to review and discuss in advance (including considering in good faith the views of the other), any such Competition Law Filings to be made and, to the extent reasonably practicable, of any communication with, or any responses to inquiries or requests for additional information from, the FTC, the DOJ and any other governmental entity regarding such Competition Law Filings or the transactions contemplated by this Option, (c) permitting the other or the other’s counsel to participate in all communications and meetings with any governmental entity to the extent not prohibited by such governmental entity and (d) subject to clauses (b) and (c) of this Section  10 , responding as promptly as

 

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practicable to all requests of any governmental entity and providing all requested information to such governmental entity. The Company will pay any expenses associated with, and any filing fees required under the Competition Laws in connection with, the Competition Law Filings.

11. Entire Agreement; Parties in Interest . This Option, the Series A Securities Purchase Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Series A Investors Rights Agreement constitute the entire agreement of, and supersede all other prior agreements and understandings (both written and oral and including, without limitation, that certain commitment letter and fee letter relating to the terms hereof) between, the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. In the event of any inconsistency between this Option, the Series A Securities Purchase Agreement and the Series A Investors Rights Agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof, this Option will control. This Option will be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of the Company and the Holder and their respective successors and permitted assigns, and nothing in this Option, express or implied, is intended to or will confer upon any other Person any rights, benefits or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Option.

12. Governing Law . This Option, and all Proceedings (whether based in contract, tort or statute) that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Option or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Option, will be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the Laws of the State of New York without regard to the Laws of the State of New York or any other jurisdiction that would call for the application of the substantive Laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York.

13. Jurisdiction . Each of the Company and the Holder hereby irrevocably and unconditionally, for itself and its property, submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State court or Federal court of the United Stated of America sitting, in each case in the Borough of Manhattan in New York City, and any appellate court from any thereof (such courts in such jurisdictional priority, the “ Forum ”), in any Proceeding (whether based in contract, tort or statute) based upon, arising out of or relating to this Option or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Option, or any transaction contemplated hereby, and agrees that all claims in respect of such Proceeding may be heard and determined in the Forum, and each of the Company and the Holder hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (a) agrees not to commence any such Proceeding except in the Forum, (b) agrees that any claim in respect of any such Proceeding may be heard and determined in the Forum, (c) waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such Proceeding in the Forum, and (d) waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such Proceeding in the Forum. Each of the Company and Holder hereby agrees that service of summons, complaint or other process in connection with any Proceedings contemplated hereby may be made by registered or certified mail addressed to such Person at the address specified pursuant to Section  16 , and that service so made will be effective as if personally made in the State of New York.

14. Waiver of Jury Trial . EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE HOLDER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY PROCEEDING (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) BETWEEN OR AMONG SUCH PERSONS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS OPTION OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

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15. Remedies .

(a) Remedies Cumulative . All remedies available under this Option, at Law, in equity or otherwise will be deemed cumulative and not alternative or exclusive of other remedies, and the exercise by any party hereto of a particular remedy will not preclude the exercise of any other remedy.

(b) Injunctive Relief . The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Holder would be irreparably damaged if any of the provisions of this Option are not performed in accordance with their specific terms and that any breach of this Option by the Company could not be adequately compensated in all cases by monetary damages alone. Accordingly, in addition to any other right or remedy to which the Holder may be entitled, at Law or in equity, it will be entitled to enforce any provision of this Option by a decree of specific performance and temporary, preliminary and permanent injunctive relief to prevent breaches or threatened breaches of any of the provisions of this Option, without posting any bond or other undertaking.

16. Notice .

(a) Any notice or other communication required or permitted to be delivered to any party under this Option will be in writing and delivered by (i) email or (ii) overnight delivery via a national courier service to the following email address or physical address, as applicable:

If to the Company, to:

Meredith Corporation

1716 Locust Street

Des Moines, Iowa 50309-3023

Attention: John S. Zieser

with a copy (which will not constitute notice) to:

Cooley LLP

1299 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 700

Washington, DC 20004

Attention: J. Kevin Mills

Email: kmills@cooley.com

If to the Holder, to:

KED MDP Investments, LLC

c/o Koch Equity Development LLC

4111 East 37th Street North

 

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Wichita, Kansas 67220

Attention: Brett Watson; Matthew Hewitt; Adam Schaeffer

Email: brett.watson@kochind.com; matthew.hewitt@kochind.com;

adam.schaeffer@kochps.com

with a copy (which will not constitute notice) to:

Jones Day

1420 Peachtree Street

Atlanta, Georgia 30309

Attention: Bryan E. Davis

Email: bedavis@jonesday.com

(b) Notice or other communication pursuant to Section  16(a) will be deemed given or received when delivered, except that any notice or communication received by email transmission on a non-Business Day or on any Business Day after 5:00 p.m. addressee’s local time or by overnight delivery on a non-Business Day will be deemed to have been given and received at 9:00 a.m. addressee’s local time on the next Business Day. Any party may specify a different address, by written notice to the other party. The change of address will be effective upon the other party’s receipt of the notice of the change of address.

17. Amendments; Waivers . Any provision of this Option may be amended or waived if, and only if, such amendment or waiver is in writing and signed, in the case of an amendment, by the Company and the Holder, or in the case of a waiver, by the party against whom the waiver is to be effective. No knowledge, investigation or inquiry, or failure or delay by the Company or the Holder in exercising any right hereunder will operate as a waiver thereof nor will any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise of any other right hereunder.

18. Counterparts . This Option may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which constitutes an original, and all of which taken together constitute one instrument.

19. Assignment by the Company . The Company may not, without the prior written consent of the Holder, sell, transfer (by operation of Law or otherwise, except in connection with a Business Combination in compliance herewith) or assign this Option or any of its rights or obligations hereunder.

20. Severability . If any provision of this Option, or the application thereof becomes or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, void, invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this Option will continue in full force and effect and the application of such provision to other Persons or circumstances will be interpreted so as reasonably to effect the intent of the parties hereto. The parties hereto further agree to replace such illegal, void, invalid or unenforceable provision of this Option with a legal, valid and enforceable provision that achieves, to the extent possible, the economic, business and other purposes of such illegal, void, invalid or unenforceable provision.

21. Definitions .

 

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21.1 Certain Defined Terms . The following words and phrases have the meanings specified in this Section  21.1 :

Activist Fund ” means any Person identified on the most-recently available “SharkWatch 50” list or any publicly-disclosed Affiliate of any such Person.

Affiliate ” means, as to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. As used in this definition, “control” (including, with its correlative meanings, “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of securities or partnership or other ownership interests, by contract or otherwise.

Aggregate Exercise Price ” means an amount equal to the product of (a) the number of Option Shares in respect of which this Option is then being exercised pursuant to Section  2 , multiplied by (b) the Exercise Price in effect as of the Exercise Date.

Articles of Incorporation ” means the articles of incorporation of the Company, as amended.

“Board” means the board of directors of the Company.

Business Combination ” means, whether through one transaction or a series of related transactions, any (a) recapitalization of the Company, (b) reclassification of the stock of the Company (other than (i) a change in par value, from par value to no par value, from no par value to par value or (ii) as a result of a stock dividend or subdivision, split up or combination of shares), (c) consolidation or merger of the Company with and into another Person or of another Person with and into the Company (whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger), (d) sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets (on a consolidated basis) or capital stock to another Person or (e) other similar transaction, in each case, which entitles the holders of Common Stock to receive (either directly or upon subsequent liquidation) stock, securities or assets (including cash) with respect to or in exchange for Common Stock.

Business Day ” means any day ending at 11:59 p.m. (New York City time) other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which the banks in the City of New York are authorized by Law to be closed.

Class  A Common Stock ” means the Company’s common stock, par value $1.00 per share, that is not designated in the Articles of Incorporation as class B common stock, and any capital stock into which common stock is converted, exchanged or reclassified following the Issue Date.

Class  B Common Stock ” means the Company’s common stock designated in the Articles of Incorporation as class B common stock, par value $1.00 per share, and any capital stock into which common stock is converted, exchanged or reclassified following the Issue Date.

Closing Date ” means January 31, 2018.

 

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Common Stock ” means, collectively, the Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock.

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Expiration Date ” means the date that is the latest of (a) the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date, (b) the date determined in accordance with the proviso contained in Section  2.2(a) and (c) the date after the Exercise Date on which all Option Shares have been purchased hereunder, except that, in the case of clause (a) , if such date is not a Business Day, on the next Business Day.

Law ” means any applicable U.S. or foreign, federal, state, provincial, municipal or local law (including common law), statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, code, policy, directive, standard, license, treaty, judgment, order, injunction, decree or agency requirement of or undertaking to or agreement with any governmental entity.

Per Share Price ” means the greater of (a) the volume weighted average price (rounded to the nearest one-hundredth of one cent) of the Class A Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange for the 30 trading days immediately preceding the date on which the Holder delivers the applicable Notice of Exercise, as calculated by Bloomberg Financial LP under the function “VWAP” or any successor page or function, and (b) the closing price of the Class A Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the date the Holder delivers the applicable Notice of Exercise.

Person ” means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, trust or any other entity, group (as such term is used in Section 13 of the Exchange Act) or organization, including a governmental entity.

Proceeding ” means any claim, action, arbitration, mediation, audit, hearing, investigation, proceeding, litigation or suit (whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or informal) commenced, brought, conducted or heard by or before, or otherwise involving, any governmental entity or arbitrator or mediator.

Registration Rights Agreement ” means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated the Closing Date, by and between the Company and the Holder.

Series A Investors Rights Agreement ” means the Series A Investors Rights Agreement, dated the Closing Date, by and between the Company and the Holder.

Series A Preferred Stock ” means the Series A Preferred Stock of the Company issued on the Closing Date or as a paid-in-kind dividend on the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms of the Statement of Designation of Series A Preferred Stock of Meredith Corporation (as such instrument is in effect on the Closing Date).

Series A Securities Purchase Agreement ” means the Series A Securities Purchase Agreement, dated the Closing Date, by and between the Company and the Holder.

U.S. ” means the United States of America.

 

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Warrant ” means the warrant to purchase up to an aggregate of 1,625,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, purchased by the Holder on the Closing Date (and any new or replacement warrants issued pursuant to the terms thereof).

21.2 Terms Defined Elsewhere in this Agreement . For purposes of this Option, the following terms have the meanings set forth in the sections indicated:

 

Terms

   Section
Company    Preamble
Competition Law Filings    Section 10
Competition Laws    Section 10
DOJ    Section 10
DTC    Section 5.2
Excess Condition    Section 2.7(c)
Excess Shares    Section 2.7(c)
Exercise Date    Section 2.2(a)
Exercise Period    Section 1
Exercise Price    Preamble
Forum    Section 13
FTC    Section 10
Holder    Preamble
Issue Date    Preamble
Maximum Aggregate Ownership Amount    Section 2.5(a)
Maximum Aggregate Voting Amount    Section 2.5(a)
Notice of Exercise    Section 2.1(a)(ii)
Option    Preamble
Option Shares    Preamble
Proxy Statement    Section 2.5(d)
Resale    Section 5.2
Rule 144 Holding Period    Section 5.3(b)
Securities Act    Legend
Share Resale    Section 5.3(a)
Shareholder Approval    Section 2.7(d)
Shareholder Meeting    Section 2.7(d)
Shareholder Meeting Deadline    Section 2.7(d)

22. Construction . The parties hereto intend that each representation, warranty, covenant and agreement contained in this Option will have independent significance. The headings are for convenience only and will not be given effect in interpreting this Option. References to sections or exhibits are to the sections and exhibits contained in or attached to this Option, unless otherwise specified. The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in this Option, refer to this Option as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Option. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” in this Option mean “include/includes/including without limitation.” All references to $, currency, monetary values and dollars set forth herein means U.S. dollars. The use of the masculine, feminine or neuter gender

 

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or the singular or plural form of words will not limit any provisions of this Option. References to a Person also include its permitted assigns and successors. Any reference to a statute refers to the statute, any amendments or successor legislation and all rules and regulations promulgated under or implementing the statute, as in effect at the relevant time. Whenever this Option refers to a number of days, such number will refer to calendar days unless Business Days are specified. Whenever any action must be taken hereunder on or by a day that is not a Business Day, then such action may be validly taken on or by the next day that is a Business Day. Any reference herein to any Law or contract will be construed as referring to such Law or contract as amended or modified or, in the case of a Law, codified or reenacted, in each case, in whole or in part, and as in effect from time to time. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that (a) each party and its counsel has reviewed, or has had the opportunity to review, the terms and provisions of this Option, (b) any rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguities are resolved against the drafting party will not be used to interpret this Option and (c) the provisions of this Option will be construed fairly as to all parties and not in favor of or against any party, regardless of which party was generally responsible for the preparation of this Option.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

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

 

COMPANY:
Meredith Corporation
By:   /s/ Joseph H. Ceryanec
  Name: Joseph H. Ceryanec
  Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

[S IGNATURE P AGE TO O PTION ]


HOLDER:
KED MDP Investments, LLC
By:   /s/ Matthew Hewitt
  Name: Matthew Hewitt
  Title: Vice President

 

[S IGNATURE P AGE TO O PTION ]


EXHIBIT A

Notice of Exercise Form

[•]

Dated: [•]

The undersigned, pursuant to the provisions set forth in the attached Option (the “ Option ”), hereby irrevocably elects to purchase [•] Option Shares (as such term is defined in the Option) and herewith surrenders Option Shares with a value of $[•], representing the full purchase price for such shares at the exercise price per share provided for in such Option.

 

[Holder]
By:     
  Name:
  Title:


EXHIBIT B

Option Transfer Form

Dated: [•]

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers all of its rights and interest in and to the number of Option Shares (as defined in the attached Option (the “ Option ”)) set forth below, standing in its name on the books of the Company and represented by the Option, to:

 

Name of Transferee    Address    No. of Option Shares
[•]    [•]    [•]

The undersigned hereby irrevocably instructs and appoints the Secretary of the Company its agent and attorney-in-fact (the “ Agent ”) to transfer all of such Option Shares on the books of the Company, to register each such transferee as the registered owner thereof and to take all other necessary and appropriate action to effect such transfer and registration, including the issuance of one or more new or replacement Options. The Agent may substitute and appoint one or more persons to act on his or her behalf.

 

[Holder]
By:     
  Name:
  Title:

Exhibit 10.5

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

BY AND AMONG

MEREDITH CORPORATION,

KED MDP INVESTMENTS, LLC

AND

THE OTHER HOLDERS PARTY HERETO

Dated as of January 31, 2018

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  

ARTICLE I

   Registration      1  

Section 1.1

   Shelf Registrations      1  

Section 1.2

   Selection of Underwriters      5  

Section 1.3

   Other Registration Rights      5  

Section 1.4

   Contemporaneous Demands      5  

Section 1.5

   Piggyback Registrations      6  

Section 1.6

   Registration Procedures      7  

Section 1.7

   Registration Expenses      11  

Section 1.8

   Indemnification and Contribution      12  

Section 1.9

   Underwritten Offering      14  

Section 1.10

   Current Public Information      15  

Section 1.11

   Restrictions on Transfer of Registrable Securities      15  

Section 1.12

   Legend      15  

ARTICLE II

   MISCELLANEOUS      16  

Section 2.1

   Survival      16  

Section 2.2

   Entire Agreement; Parties in Interest      16  

Section 2.3

   No Recourse      16  

Section 2.4

   Governing Law      16  

Section 2.5

   Jurisdiction      17  

Section 2.6

   Waiver of Jury Trial      17  

Section 2.7

   Specific Performance; Remedies      17  

Section 2.8

   Notices      18  

Section 2.9

   Amendments; Waivers      19  

Section 2.10

   Counterparts      19  

Section 2.11

   Assignment      19  

Section 2.12

   Severability      19  

Section 2.13

   Further Assurances      19  

Section 2.14

   No Inconsistent Agreements      20  

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

          Page  

ARTICLE III

   Definitions      20  

Section 3.1

   Certain Definitions      20  

Section 3.2

   Terms Defined Elsewhere in this Agreement      22  

Section 3.3

   Construction      22  

 

 

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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “ Agreemen t”), dated as of January 31, 2018, is made by and among KED MDP Investments, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Purchaser ”), each other Person that is the permitted holder of record of at least one Share, the Warrant, the Option or any of the Class A Common Stock issued upon the exercise of any Share, the Warrant (or any substitute warrant issued pursuant thereto) or the Option (or any substitute option issued pursuant thereto) (a “Holder”) who becomes a party hereto by the execution of a Joinder, and Meredith Corporation, an Iowa corporation (the “ Company ” and together with Purchaser, any other Holders party hereto, the “ Parties ”). As provided in Section  3.1 , capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined have the meanings specified in the Statement of Designation of Series A Preferred Stock of Meredith Corporation (the “ Series A Statement of Designation ”).

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS

A. Concurrently with the execution and delivery hereof, the Company will issue and sell to Purchaser, and Purchaser will purchase on the terms set forth in the Series A Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between Purchaser and the Company (the “ Series A Securities Purchase Agreement ”), (a) 650,000 Shares, each of which may, subject to the terms and conditions contained in the Statement of Designation, be converted into shares of Class A Common Stock, (b) certain warrants for the purchase of shares of the Class A Common Stock and (c) an option to purchase shares of the Class A Common Stock.

B. The Company has filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Iowa an Articles of Amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company containing the Series A Statement of Designation, which sets forth certain designations, rights, preferences, powers, restrictions and limitations of the Shares.

C. The Parties each desire to enter into this Agreement to establish certain additional rights of the Holders.

The Parties agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

REGISTRATION

SECTION 1.1 Shelf Registrations .

(a) (i) As soon as reasonably practicable after the date hereof (including taking into account the availability of the pro forma financial statements required to be included in the registration statement), but in any event no later than 120 days after the date hereof, and (ii) on or prior to the date that is 60 days prior to the seventh anniversary of the Closing Date, the Company will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement on Form S-3 pursuant to Rule 415 or any similar short-form registration statement under the Securities Act for the Shelf Registration (a “ Shelf Registration Statement ”) to register the resale of all the Registrable Securities (a “ Shelf Registration ”); provided , that any Shelf Registration


made on or prior to the 60 th day prior to the seventh anniversary of the Closing Date is not required to include the resale of the Delayed Registrable Securities; provided, however, that with respect to any such Shelf Registration in effect on the 60 th day prior to the seventh anniversary of the Closing Date, the applicable Shelf Registration Statement must be amended (with such amendment effective no later than the seventh anniversary of the Closing Date) to include the resale of the Delayed Registration Securities. If the Company is a WKSI at the time of any Shelf Registration, the Shelf Registration Statement filed with respect to such Shelf Registration will be an automatic shelf registration statement (as defined in Rule 405) (such Shelf Registration, an “ Automatic Shelf Registration ”). The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to cause any Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as soon as practicable after filing, and once effective, the Company will cause such Shelf Registration Statement to remain continuously effective for such time period until the earliest of (x) with respect to an Automatic Shelf Registration, the third anniversary of the date such Shelf Registration Statement becomes effective, (y) the date on which all Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to the applicable Shelf Registration, and (z) the date as of which there are no longer any Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration in existence.

(b) In the event that a Shelf Registration Statement is effective, the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement will have the right at any time or from time to time to elect to sell pursuant to an offering (including once every 12 months an underwritten offering) Registrable Securities available for sale pursuant to such registration statement (“ Shelf Registrable Securities ”), so long as the Shelf Registration Statement remains in effect, and the Company will pay all Registration Expenses in connection therewith (other than any underwriting discount or similar commission). The holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement will make such election by delivering to the Company a written request (a “ Shelf Offering Request ”) for such offering specifying the number of Shelf Registrable Securities that the holders desire to sell pursuant to such offering (the “ Shelf Offering ”). As promptly as practicable, but no later than two business days after receipt of a Shelf Offering Request, the Company will give written notice (the “ Shelf Offering Notice ”) of such Shelf Offering Request to all other holders of Shelf Registrable Securities. The Company, subject to Section  1.1(f) and Section  1.9 hereof, will include in such Shelf Offering the Shelf Registrable Securities of any other holder of Shelf Registrable Securities that shall have made a written request to the Company for inclusion in such Shelf Offering (which request shall specify the maximum number of Shelf Registrable Securities intended to be disposed of by such holder) within seven days after the receipt of the Shelf Offering Notice. The Company will, as expeditiously as possible (and in any event within 10 days after the receipt of a Shelf Offering Request, unless a longer period is agreed to by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities that made the Shelf Offering Request), use its reasonable best efforts to facilitate such Shelf Offering. Each holder of Registrable Securities agrees that such holder will treat as confidential the receipt of the Shelf Offering Notice and will not disclose or use the information contained in such Shelf Offering Notice without the prior written consent of the Company until such time as the information contained therein is or becomes available to the public generally, other than as a result of disclosure by the holder in breach of the terms of this Agreement.

 

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(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement wish to engage in a block trade off of such Shelf Registration Statement, then notwithstanding the foregoing time periods, such holders only need to notify the Company of the block trade Shelf Offering two business days prior to the day such offering is to commence (unless a longer period is agreed to by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities wishing to engage in the underwritten block trade) and no other notice to the other holders of Registrable Securities will be required, and the Company will as expeditiously as possible use its reasonable best efforts to facilitate such offering (which may close as early as two business days after the date it commences); provided that the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement will use reasonable best efforts to work with the Company and the underwriters prior to making such request in order to facilitate preparation of any required prospectus supplement and other offering documentation related to the underwritten block trade.

(d) The Company will, at the request of the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, file any prospectus supplement or, if required, any post-effective amendments and otherwise take any action necessary to include therein all disclosure and language deemed necessary or advisable by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities to effect such Shelf Offering.

(e) If at any time when the Company determines that it will cease to be a WKSI upon the updating of a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act, the Company shall file, as promptly as practicable, a post-effective amendment to the existing Shelf Registration Statement, or a new Shelf Registration Statement, on Form S-3 and such other filings as may be required to permit the continued effectiveness of the original Shelf Registration Statement or, if required, the new Shelf Registration Statement, in accordance with rules, regulations and interpretations of the SEC and its staff. If Form S-3 is not available for such purpose, such required post-effective amendment or new Shelf Registration Statement shall be on Form S-1. The Company shall keep such registration statement effective during the period throughout which such registration statement is required to be kept effective in accordance with this Section 1.1. For the purpose of this Agreement, any registration statement filed pursuant to this Section 1.1(e) shall be deemed to be a Shelf Registration Statement.

(f) The Company will not include in any Shelf Offering or any registration pursuant to this Agreement any securities which are not Registrable Securities without the prior written consent of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the Registrable Securities included in such registration. If a Shelf Offering or other registration pursuant to this Agreement is an underwritten offering and the managing underwriters advise the Company in writing that in their opinion the number of Registrable Securities and, if permitted hereunder, other securities requested to be included in such offering exceeds the number of Registrable Securities and other securities, if any, which can be sold therein without adversely affecting the marketability, proposed offering price, timing or method of distribution of the offering, the Company will include in such Shelf Offering prior to the inclusion of any securities which are not Registrable Securities the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included which, in the opinion of such underwriters, can be sold, without any such adverse effect, pro rata among the respective holders thereof on the basis of the amount of Registrable Securities owned by each such holder. Any Persons other than holders of Registrable Securities who participate in a Shelf Offering, which are not at the Company’s expense, must pay their share of the Registration Expenses as provided in Section  1.7(c) .

 

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(g) The Company may postpone, for up to 90 days from the date of a Shelf Offering Request or suspend the use of a prospectus that is part of a Shelf Registration Statement for up to 90 days from the date of the Suspension Notice and therefore suspend sales of the Shelf Registrable Securities (such period, the “ Suspension Period ”) by providing written notice to the holders of Registrable Securities if the Board of Directors reasonably determines in its good faith judgment that the offer or sale of Registrable Securities would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on any proposal or plan by the Company or any Subsidiary to engage in any material acquisition or disposition of assets or stock (other than in the ordinary course of business) or any material merger, consolidation, tender offer, recapitalization, reorganization, financing or other transaction or event involving the Company or would require the Company to disclose any material nonpublic information which would reasonably be likely to be detrimental to the Company and its Subsidiaries; provided that in such event, the holders of Registrable Securities initially requesting such underwritten Shelf Offering will be entitled to withdraw such request for an underwritten Shelf Offering and the Company will pay all Registration Expenses in connection with such Shelf Offering. The Company may delay or suspend the effectiveness of a registration or Shelf Offering hereunder only once in any twelve-month period; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the Company may in any event delay or suspend the effectiveness of a registration or Shelf Offering in the case of an event described under Section  1.6(a)(vi) to enable it to comply with its obligations set forth in Section  1.6(a)(vi) . In the event that the Company will exercise its right to delay or suspend the filing or effectiveness of a registration hereunder, the applicable time period during which the registration statement is to remain effective will be extended by a period of time equal to the duration of the Suspension Period.

(h) In the case of an event that causes the Company to suspend the use of a Shelf Registration Statement as set forth in Section  1.6(a) or pursuant to Section  1.6(a)(vi) or clause  (A) of Section  1.6(a)(ii) hereof (a “ Suspension Event ”), the Company will give a notice to the holders registered pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement (a “ Suspension Notice ”) to suspend sales of the Registrable Securities and such notice will state generally the basis for the notice and that such suspension will continue only for so long as the Suspension Event or its effect is continuing. A holder of Registrable Securities will not effect any sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement at any time after it has received a Suspension Notice from the Company and prior to receipt of an End of Suspension Notice (as defined herein). Each holder of Registrable Securities agrees that such holder will treat as confidential the receipt of the Suspension Notice and will not disclose or use the information contained in such Suspension Notice without the prior written consent of the Company until such time as the information contained therein is or becomes available to the public generally, other than as a result of disclosure by the holder in breach of the terms of this Agreement. The holders of Registrable Securities may recommence effecting sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement (or such filings) following further written notice to such effect (an “ End of Suspension Notice ”) from the Company, which End of Suspension Notice will be given by the Company to the holders of Registrable Securities and to such holders’ counsel, if any, promptly following the conclusion of any Suspension Event and its effect.

 

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(i) Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, if the Company gives a Suspension Notice with respect to any Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to this Section  1.1 , the Company agrees that it will extend the period of time during which such Shelf Registration Statement will be maintained effective pursuant to this Agreement by the number of days during the period from the date of receipt by the holders of Registrable Securities of the Suspension Notice to and including the date of receipt by the holders of Registrable Securities of the End of Suspension Notice and provide copies of the supplemented or amended Shelf Registration Statement or prospectus contained therein necessary to resume sales, with respect to each Suspension Event; provided that such period of time will not be extended beyond the earliest of the events described in clauses  (i) , (ii) and (iii)  of Section  1.1(a) .

SECTION  1.2 Selection of Underwriters . In any underwritten Shelf Offering, the Board of Directors will have the right to select the investment banker(s) and manager(s) to administer the offering, subject to the approval of the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities initially requesting registration hereunder, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

SECTION  1.3 Other Registration Rights . The Company represents and warrants that as of the date of this Agreement it is not a party to, or otherwise subject to, any other agreement granting registration rights to any other Person with respect to any Common Stock of the Company. Except as provided in this Agreement, the Company will not grant to any Persons a right senior or pari passu to the Holders to request the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company to register any Equity Interests of the Company or any Subsidiary, or any securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for such securities, without the prior written consent of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the Registrable Securities; provided that the Board of Directors may grant rights to other Persons to (a) participate in Piggyback Registrations so long as such rights are subordinate to the rights of the holders of Registrable Securities with respect to such Piggyback Registrations as set forth in Section  1.5(c) and Section  1.5(d) and (b) request registrations so long as the holders of Registrable Securities are entitled to participate in any such registrations with such Persons pro rata on the basis of the number of shares owned by each such holder.

SECTION  1.4 Contemporaneous Demands . Following the registration of the Delayed Registrable Securities, if any holders of the Company’s securities (other than Persons who hold Registrable Securities) exercise demand registration rights to have the Company register their securities under the Securities Act within fifteen (15) days before or after the time that holders of Registrable Securities have requested a Shelf Offering, then (i) the holders of Registrable Securities who desire to have securities included in such registration and the holders of such other securities will be entitled to participate in such registration on a pro rata basis, according to the number of shares requested to be included in such registration, (ii) the Company will pay all of the Registration Expenses of the holders of Registrable Securities, (iii) such registration will not count as a Shelf Offering for purposes of Section 1.1(b) unless the holders of Registrable Securities are able to register and sell at least 90% of the Registrable Securities requested to be registered, and (iv) the holders of Registrable Securities will be entitled to the rights provided in Section  1.1(g) .

 

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SECTION 1.5 Piggyback Registrations .

(a) Right to Piggyback . Following registration of the Delayed Registrable Securities, whenever the Company proposes to register any of its securities under the Securities Act (other than in connection with registrations on Form S-4 or S-8 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor or similar forms) and the registration form to be used may be used for the registration of Registrable Securities (a “ Piggyback Registration ”), the Company will give prompt written notice to all holders of Registrable Securities of its intention to effect such Piggyback Registration and, subject to the terms of Section  1.5(c) and Section  1.5(d) , will include in such Piggyback Registration (and in all related registrations or qualifications under blue sky Laws and in any related underwriting) all Registrable Securities with respect to which the Company has received written requests for inclusion therein within 20 days after delivery of the Company’s notice.

(b) Piggyback Expenses . Following registration of the Delayed Registrable Securities, the Registration Expenses of the holders of Registrable Securities will be paid by the Company in all Piggyback Registrations, whether or not any such registration became effective.

(c) Priority on Primary Registrations . Following registration of the Delayed Registrable Securities, if a Piggyback Registration is an underwritten primary registration on behalf of the Company, and the managing underwriters advise the Company in writing that in their opinion the number of securities requested to be included in such registration exceeds the number which can be sold in such offering without adversely affecting the marketability, proposed offering price, timing or method of distribution of the offering, the Company will include in such registration (i) first, the securities the Company proposes to sell, (ii) second, the Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect, pro rata among the holders of such Registrable Securities on the basis of the number of shares owned by each such holder, and (iii) third, other securities requested to be included in such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect; provided that in any event the holders of Registrable Securities will be entitled to register at least 66 2/3% of the securities to be included in any such registration.

(d) Priority on Secondary Registrations . If a Piggyback Registration is an underwritten secondary registration on behalf of holders of the Company’s securities, and the managing underwriters advise the Company in writing that in their opinion the number of securities requested to be included in such registration exceeds the number which can be sold in such offering without adversely affecting the marketability, proposed offering price, timing or method of distribution of the offering, the Company will include in such registration (i) first, the securities requested to be included therein by the holders requesting such registration (including securities requested to be included pursuant to Section  1.5(a) ) and the Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect, pro rata among the holders of such securities on the basis of the number of securities owned by each such holder, and (ii) second, other securities requested to be included in such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect.

 

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(e) Selection of Underwriters . If any Piggyback Registration is an underwritten offering, the selection of investment banker(s) and manager(s) for the offering must be approved by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such Piggyback Registration. Such approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

SECTION 1.6 Registration Procedures .

(a) Whenever the holders of Registrable Securities have initiated a Shelf Offering, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to effect the registration and the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method of disposition thereof held by a holder of Registrable Securities requesting registration as to which the Company has received reasonable assurances that only Registrable Securities will be distributed to the public), and pursuant thereto the Company will as expeditiously as possible:

(i) in accordance with the Securities Act and all applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, prepare and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement (if required), and all amendments and supplements thereto and related prospectuses, with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its reasonable best efforts to cause any such registration statement to become effective ( provided that before filing a registration statement or prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto, the Company will furnish to the counsel selected by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which documents shall be subject to the review and comment of such counsel);

(ii) notify each holder of Registrable Securities of (A) the issuance by the Securities and Exchange Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of any registration statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (B) the receipt by the Company or its counsel of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, and (C) the effectiveness of each registration statement filed hereunder;

(iii) prepare and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission 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 when all of the securities covered by such registration statement have been disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of distribution by the sellers thereof set forth in such registration statement (but not in any event before the expiration of any longer period required under the Securities Act or, if such Shelf Offering is an underwritten Public Offering, such longer period as in the opinion of counsel for the underwriters a prospectus is required by Law to be delivered in connection with the sale of Registrable Securities by an underwriter or dealer) and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities included in the Shelf Offering during such period in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the sellers thereof set forth in the prospectus for the Shelf Offering;

 

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(iv) furnish to each seller of Registrable Securities thereunder such number of copies of such registration statement, each amendment and supplement thereto, the prospectus included in such registration statement (including each preliminary prospectus), each Free Writing Prospectus and such other documents as such seller may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such seller;

(v) use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify such Registrable Securities under such other securities or blue sky Laws of such jurisdictions as any seller reasonably requests and do any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such seller to consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities owned by such seller ( provided that the Company will 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 subparagraph or (B) consent to general service of process in any such jurisdiction or (C) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction);

(vi) notify each seller of such Registrable Securities (A) promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the date and time when any such registration statement and each post-effective amendment thereto has become effective or a prospectus or supplement to any prospectus relating to a registration statement has been filed and when any registration or qualification has become effective under a state securities or blue sky Law or any exemption thereunder has been obtained, (B) promptly after receipt thereof, of any request by the Securities and Exchange Commission for the amendment or supplementing of such registration statement or prospectus or for additional information, and (C) at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus included in such registration statement contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits any fact necessary to make the statements therein in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and, subject to Section  1.1 , at the request of any such seller, the Company will prepare a supplement or amendment to such prospectus so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such prospectus shall not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any fact necessary to make the statements therein in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(vii) use reasonable best efforts to cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on each securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed and, if not so listed, to be listed on a securities exchange and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to arrange for at least two market makers to register as such with respect to such Registrable Securities with FINRA;

(viii) use reasonable best efforts to provide a transfer agent and registrar for all such Registrable Securities not later than the effective date of such registration statement;

 

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(ix) enter into and perform such customary agreements (including underwriting agreements in customary form) and take all such other actions as the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold in such Shelf Offering or the underwriters, if any, reasonably request in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;

(x) make available for inspection by any seller of Registrable Securities, any underwriter participating in such Shelf Offering and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any such seller or underwriter, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate and business documents and properties of the Company as shall be necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility, and cause the Company’s officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives and independent accountants to supply all information reasonably requested by any such seller, underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with such Shelf Offering;

(xi) take all reasonable actions to ensure that any Free-Writing Prospectus utilized in connection with such Shelf Offering complies in all material respects with the Securities Act, is filed in accordance with the Securities Act to the extent required thereby, is retained in accordance with the Securities Act to the extent required thereby and, when taken together with the related prospectus, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

(xii) otherwise use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least twelve months beginning with the first day of the Company’s first full calendar quarter after the effective date of the registration statement, which earnings statement will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158;

(xiii) permit any holder of Registrable Securities which holder, in its sole and exclusive judgment, might be deemed to be an underwriter or a controlling person of the Company, to participate in the preparation of such registration or prospectus and to allow such holder to provide language for insertion therein, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, which in the reasonable judgment of such holder and its counsel should be included;

(xiv) in the event of the issuance of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a registration statement, or the issuance of any order suspending or preventing the use of any related prospectus or suspending the qualification of any Common Stock included in such registration statement for sale in any jurisdiction use reasonable best efforts promptly to obtain the withdrawal of such order;

 

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(xv) in the case of any underwritten offering, use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the sellers thereof to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities ( provided that the Company will 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 subparagraph or (B) consent to general service of process in any such jurisdiction or (C) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction);

(xvi) cooperate with the holders of Registrable Securities included in such Shelf Offering and the managing underwriter or agent, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates (not bearing any restrictive legends) representing securities to be sold in such Shelf Offering and enable such securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the managing underwriter, or agent, if any, or such holders may request;

(xvii) cooperate with each holder of Registrable Securities included in such Shelf Offering and each underwriter or agent participating in the disposition of such Registrable Securities and their respective counsel in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA;

(xviii) use its reasonable best efforts to make available the executive officers of the Company to participate with the holders of Registrable Securities or any underwriters in any “road shows” or other selling efforts that may be reasonably requested by the holders in connection with the methods of distribution for the Registrable Securities;

(xix) in the case of any underwritten offering, use its reasonable best efforts to obtain one or more cold comfort letters from the Company’s independent public accountants in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by cold comfort letters as the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold reasonably request;

(xx) in the case of any underwritten offering, use its reasonable best efforts to provide a legal opinion of the Company’s outside counsel, dated as of the closing of such offering in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by legal opinions of such nature, which opinion shall be addressed to the underwriters;

(b) If the Company files an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement covering any Registrable Securities, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to remain a WKSI (and not become an ineligible issuer (as defined in Rule 405)) during the period during which such Automatic Shelf Registration Statement is required to remain effective.

(c) If the Company does not pay the filing fee covering the Registrable Securities at the time an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement is filed, the Company will pay such fee at such time or times as the Registrable Securities are to be sold.

 

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(d) If an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement expires or otherwise ceases to be effective, the Company will refile prior to such expiration or cession a new Automatic Shelf Registration Statement covering any Registrable Securities that were included in such expiring or ineffective Automatic Shelf Registration Statement but remain unsold, and, if at any time when the Company determines that it is not a WKSI, the Company will refile the Shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3 and, if such form is not available, Form S-1 and keep such registration statement effective during the period throughout which such registration statement is required to be kept effective.

(e) The Company will not undertake any voluntary act that could be reasonably expected to cause a Violation. Subject to the Company’s rights under Section  1.1(g) , the Company will use reasonable best efforts to correct or update any disclosure causing the Company to provide notice of the Suspension Period and to file and cause to become effective or terminate the suspension of use or effectiveness, as the case may be, the subject registration statement. If so directed by the Company, all holders of Registrable Securities registering shares under such registration statement will (i) not offer to sell any Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement during the period in which the delay or suspension is in effect after receiving notice of such delay or suspension and (ii) use their reasonable best efforts to deliver to the Company (at the Company’s expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies then in such holders’ possession, of the prospectus relating to such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.

SECTION  1.7 Registration Expenses .

(a) Company s Obligation . All expenses incident to the Company’s performance of or compliance with this Agreement (including, without limitation, all registration, qualification and filing fees, fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue sky Laws, printing expenses, messenger and delivery expenses, fees and disbursements of custodians, and fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and all independent certified public accountants, underwriters (excluding underwriting discounts and commissions) and other Persons retained by the Company) (all such expenses being herein called “ Registration Expenses ”), will be borne as provided in this Agreement, except that the Company will, in any event, pay its internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual audit or quarterly review, the expense of any liability insurance and the expenses and fees for listing the securities to be registered on each securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed. Each Person that sells securities pursuant to a Shelf Offering hereunder will bear and pay all underwriting discounts and commissions applicable to the securities sold for such Person’s account.

(b) Counsel Fees and Disbursements . In connection with each Shelf Offering, the Company will reimburse the holders of Registrable Securities included in such registration for the reasonable fees and documented disbursements of one counsel chosen by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such registration or participating in such Shelf Offering.

 

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(c) Security Holders . To the extent Registration Expenses are not required to be paid by the Company, each holder of securities included in any registration hereunder will pay those Registration Expenses allocable to the registration of such holder’s securities so included, and any Registration Expenses not so allocable will be borne by all sellers of securities included in such registration in proportion to the aggregate selling price of the securities to be so registered.

SECTION  1.8 Indemnificatio n and Contribution .

(a) By the Company . The Company will indemnify and hold harmless, to the extent permitted by Law, each holder of Registrable Securities, such holder’s officers, directors employees, agents and representatives, and each Person who controls such holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) (the “ Indemnified Parties ”) against all losses, claims, actions, damages, liabilities and expenses (including with respect to actions or proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, and including reasonable attorney fees and expenses) caused by, resulting from, arising out of, based upon or related to any of the following statements, omissions or violations (each a “ Violation ”) by the Company: (i) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in (A) any registration statement, prospectus, preliminary prospectus or Free-Writing Prospectus, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or (B) any application or other document or communication (in this Section  1.8 , collectively called an “ application ”) executed by or on behalf of the Company or based upon written information furnished by or on behalf of the Company filed in any jurisdiction in order to qualify any securities covered by such registration under the securities Laws thereof, (ii) any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Securities Act or any other similar federal or state securities Laws or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder applicable to the Company and relating to action or inaction required of the Company in connection with any such registration, qualification or compliance. In addition, the Company will indemnify such Indemnified Party for any legal or any other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such losses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such losses result from, arise out of, are based upon, or relate to an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement, or omission or alleged omission, made in such registration statement, any such prospectus, preliminary prospectus or Free-Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or in any application, in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information prepared and furnished in writing to the Company by such Indemnified Party expressly for use therein or by such Indemnified Party’s failure to deliver a copy of the registration statement or prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto after the Company has furnished such Indemnified Party with a sufficient number of copies of the same. In connection with an underwritten offering, the Company will enter into a customary underwriting agreement, including an indemnity, with such underwriters, their officers and directors, and each Person who controls such underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act).

(b) By Each Security Holder . In connection with any registration statement in which a holder of Registrable Securities is participating, each such holder will furnish to the Company in writing such information as the Company reasonably requests expressly for use in connection with any such registration statement or prospectus and, to the extent permitted by

 

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Law, will indemnify the Company, its officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives, and each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses resulting from any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in the registration statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information so furnished in writing by such holder; provided that the obligation to indemnify will be individual, not joint and several, for each holder and will be limited to the net amount of proceeds received by such holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration statement.

(c) Claim Procedure . Any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder will (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give prompt notice will impair any Person’s right to indemnification hereunder only to the extent such failure has prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (ii) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party will not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). 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 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 of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim. In such instance, the conflicted indemnified parties will have a right to retain one separate counsel, chosen by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in the registration if such holders are indemnified parties, at the expense of the indemnifying party. No indemnifying party, in the defense of such claim or litigation, will, except with the consent of each Indemnified Party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement that (A) 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, (B) includes any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability, wrong doing, or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person or (C) involves criminal liability or injunctive relief.

(d) Contribution . If the indemnification provided for in this Section  1.8 is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to, or is insufficient to hold harmless, an indemnified party or is otherwise unenforceable with respect to any loss, claim, damage, liability or action referred to herein, then the indemnifying party will contribute to the amounts paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage, liability or action in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and of the indemnified party on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as well as any other relevant equitable considerations; provided that the maximum amount of liability in respect of such contribution will be limited, in the case of each seller of Registrable Securities, to an

 

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amount equal to the net proceeds actually received by such seller from the sale of Registrable Securities effected pursuant to such registration. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and of the indemnified party will be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the indemnifying party or by the indemnified party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just or equitable if the contribution pursuant to this Section  1.8 were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account such equitable considerations. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to herein will be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending against any action or claim which is the subject hereof. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) will be entitled to contribution from any Person who is not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

(e) Release . No indemnifying party will, except with the consent of the indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement that does not include as an unconditional term thereof giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.

(f) Non-exclusive Remedy; Survival . The indemnification and contribution provided for under this Agreement will be in addition to any other rights to indemnification or contribution that any indemnified party may have pursuant to Law or contract and will remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director or controlling Person of such indemnified party and will survive the transfer of Registrable Securities and the termination or expiration of this Agreement.

SECTION  1.9 Underwritten Offering .

(a) Participation . No Person may participate in any offering hereunder which is underwritten unless such Person (i) agrees to sell such Person’s securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Person or Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements (including, without limitation, pursuant to any over-allotment or “green shoe” option requested by the underwriters; provided that no holder of Registrable Securities will be required to sell more than the number of Registrable Securities such holder has requested to include) and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements; provided that no holder of Registrable Securities included in any underwritten offering will be required to make any representations or warranties to the Company or the underwriters (other than representations and warranties customarily made by selling stockholders in similar underwritten offerings) or to undertake any indemnification obligations to the Company or the underwriters with respect thereto that are materially more burdensome than those provided in Section  1.8 . Each holder of Registrable Securities will execute and deliver such other agreements as may be reasonably requested by the Company and the lead managing underwriter(s) that are consistent with such holder’s obligations under Section  1.1 and this Section  1.9(a) or that are necessary to give further effect thereto. To the extent that any such

 

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agreement is entered into pursuant to, and consistent with this Section  1.9(a) , the respective rights and obligations created under such agreement will supersede the respective rights and obligations of the holders, the Company and the underwriters created pursuant to this Section  1.9(a) .

(b) Suspended Distributions . Each Person that is participating in any registration under this Agreement, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section  1.6(a)(vi) , will immediately discontinue the disposition of its Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement until such Person’s receipt of the copies of a supplemented or amended prospectus as contemplated by Section  1.6(a)(vi) . In the event the Company has given any such notice, the applicable time period set forth in Section  1.6(a)(ii) during which a Registration Statement is to remain effective will be extended by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice pursuant to this Section  1.9(b) to and including the date when each seller of Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement will have received the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section  1.6(a)(vi) .

SECTION  1.10 Current Public Information . At all times after the Company has filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the requirements of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, the Company will file all reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and will take such further action as any holder or holders of Registrable Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent required to enable such holders to sell Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 144. Upon request, the Company will deliver to any holder of Registrable Securities a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements.

SECTION  1.11 Restrictions on Transfer of Registrable Securities . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, except in the case of (i) a transfer to the Company or (ii) a Public Offering, prior to transferring any Registrable Securities to any Person (including, without limitation, by operation of Law), the transferring holder will cause the prospective transferee to execute and deliver to the Company a Joinder agreeing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement. Any transfer or attempted transfer of any Registrable Securities in violation of any provision of this Agreement will be void, and the Company will not record such transfer on its books or treat any purported transferee of such Registrable Securities as the owner thereof for any purpose.

SECTION  1.12 Legend . Each certificate evidencing any Registrable Securities and each certificate issued in exchange for or upon the transfer of any Registrable Securities (unless such Registrable Securities would no longer be Registrable Securities after such transfer) will be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form:

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AND OTHER PROVISIONS SET FORTH IN A REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT DATED AS OF JANUARY 31, 2018 AMONG THE ISSUER OF SUCH SECURITIES (THE “COMPANY”) AND CERTAIN OF THE COMPANY’S STOCKHOLDERS, AS AMENDED. A COPY OF SUCH REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT WILL BE FURNISHED WITHOUT CHARGE BY THE COMPANY TO THE HOLDER HEREOF UPON WRITTEN REQUEST.”

 

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The Company will imprint such legend on certificates evidencing Registrable Securities outstanding prior to the date hereof. The legend set forth above will be removed from the certificates evidencing any securities that have ceased to be Registrable Securities.

ARTICLE II

MISCELLANEOUS.

SECTION  2.1 Survival . All acknowledgments, agreements and covenants of the Company set forth in this Agreement will survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement, any other Transaction Agreement or the redemption or repurchase of, or any other payment on, the Shares, in each case, for the applicable statute of limitations.

SECTION  2.2 Entire Agreement; Parties in Interest . This Agreement and the other Transaction Agreements constitute the entire agreement, and supersede all other prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement will be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each Party and their respective successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or will confer upon any other Person any rights, benefits or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement, except for the provisions of Sections 1.8 , 2.1 , 2.3 , and 2.13 which will be enforceable by the beneficiaries contemplated thereby.

SECTION  2.3 No Recourse . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, this Agreement may only be enforced by a Party against, and any Proceedings 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 by such Party against another Party and no current, former or future Affiliates of a Party, or any of the foregoing Persons’ respective Representatives (collectively, the “ Related Parties ”) will have any liability for any liabilities of a Party in respect of any claim (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) based on, in respect of, by reason of, or in connection with this Agreement. In no event will a Party or any of its Affiliates, and such Party agrees not to and to cause its Affiliates not to, seek to enforce this Agreement against, make any claims for breach of this Agreement against, or seek to recover losses or other damages from, any Related Party. Each Related Party is an intended third party beneficiary of, and will be entitled to enforce the covenants and agreements set forth in, this Section  2.3 .

SECTION  2.4 Governing Law . This Agreement, and all Proceedings (whether based in contract, tort or statute) that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Agreement or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement, will be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the Laws of the State of New York without regard to the Laws of the State of New York or any other jurisdiction that would call for the application of the substantive Laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York.

 

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SECTION  2.5 Jurisdiction . Each Party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally, for itself and its property, submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State court or Federal court of the United Stated of America sitting, in each case in the Borough of Manhattan in New York City, and any appellate court from any thereof (such courts in such jurisdictional priority, the “ Forum ”), in any Proceeding (whether based in contract, tort or statute) based upon, arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement, or any transaction contemplated hereby, and agrees that all claims in respect of such Proceeding may be heard and determined in the Forum, and each of the Parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (a) agrees not to commence any such Proceeding except in the Forum, (b) agrees that any claim in respect of any such Proceeding may be heard and determined in the Forum, (c) waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such Proceeding in the Forum, and (d) waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such Proceeding in the Forum. Each Party hereby agrees that service of summons, complaint or other process in connection with any Proceedings contemplated hereby may be made by registered or certified mail addressed to such Party at the address specified pursuant to Section 2.8, and that service so made will be effective as if personally made in the State of New York.

SECTION  2.6 Waiver of Jury Trial . EACH OF THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY PROCEEDING (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) BETWEEN OR AMONG THE PARTIES ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER TRANSACTION AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

SECTION  2.7 Specific Performance; Remedies .

(a) Each Party hereby acknowledges and agrees that the subject matter of this Agreement is unique, that the other Party would be damaged irreparably in the event any of the provisions of this Agreement are not performed in accordance with their specific terms or otherwise are breached, and that remedies at Law would not be adequate to compensate such other parties not in default or in breach. Accordingly, each Party agrees that the other Parties will be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of the provisions of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement in addition to any other remedy to which they may be entitled, at Law or in equity. The Parties waive any defense that a remedy at Law is adequate and any requirement to post bond or provide similar security in connection with actions instituted for injunctive relief or specific performance of this Agreement.

(b) All remedies available under this Agreement, at Law or otherwise, will be deemed cumulative and not alternative or exclusive of other remedies. The exercise by any Party of a particular remedy will not preclude the exercise of any other remedy.

 

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SECTION  2.8 Notices .

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, any notice or other communication required or permitted to be delivered to any Party under this Agreement will be in writing and delivered by (i) email or (ii) overnight delivery via a national courier service to, with respect to a Holder (other than the Koch Holder), the email address or physical address, as applicable, of such Holder on record for such Holder in the Company’s stock records and, with respect to the Company, the following email address or physical address, as applicable:

If to the Company:

Meredith Corporation

1716 Locust Street

Des Moines, Iowa 50309-3023

Attention: John S. Zieser

with copies (which will not constitute notice) to:

Cooley LLP

1299 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 700

Washington, DC 20004

Attention: J. Kevin Mills

Email: kmills@cooley.com

If to Purchaser (or the Koch Holder):

KED MDP Investments, LLC

c/o Koch Equity Development LLC

4111 East 37th Street North

Wichita, Kansas 67220

Attention: Brett Watson; Matthew Hewitt; Adam Schaeffer

Email: brett.watson@kochind.com; matthew.hewitt@kochind.com;

adam.schaeffer@kochps.com

with copies (which will not constitute notice) to:

Jones Day

1420 Peachtree Street

Atlanta, Georgia 30309

Attention: Bryan E. Davis

Email: bedavis@jonesday.com

(b) Notice or other communication pursuant to Section  2.8(a) will be deemed given or received when delivered, except that any notice or communication received by email transmission on a non-Business Day or on any Business Day after 5:00 p.m. addressee’s local time or by overnight delivery on a non-Business Day will be deemed to have been given and received at 9:00 a.m. addressee’s local time on the next Business Day. Any Party may specify a different address, by written notice to the other Parties. The change of address will be effective upon the other Parties’ receipt of the notice of the change of address.

 

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SECTION  2.9 Amendments; Waivers . Any provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived if, and only if, such amendment or waiver is in writing and signed, in the case of an amendment, by the Company and the holder of a majority of the Registrable Securities (including the Delayed Registrable Securities), or in the case of a waiver, by the Party against whom the waiver is to be effective. No knowledge, investigation or inquiry, or failure or delay by any Party in exercising any right hereunder will operate as a waiver thereof nor will any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise of any other right hereunder. No waiver of any right or remedy hereunder will be deemed to be a continuing waiver in the future or a waiver of any rights or remedies arising thereafter.

SECTION  2.10 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which constitutes an original, and all of which taken together constitute one instrument. A signature delivered by facsimile or other electronic transmission (including e-mail) will be considered an original signature.

SECTION  2.11 Assignment . This Agreement will be binding upon and will inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective permitted assigns and successors. None of the rights, privileges or obligations set forth in, arising under or created by this Agreement may be assigned or transferred by the Company without the prior written consent of the Majority Holder. The holders of Registrable Securities may assign this Agreement and the rights, privileges and obligations hereunder to any of their Affiliates or otherwise in connection with a transfer of the Registrable Securities (or the security convertible into or exercisable for such Registrable Securities), subject to compliance with the Joinder requirements under Section  1.11 . Any assignment or transfer in violation of this Section  2.11 will be null and void, except that whether or not any express assignment has been made, the provisions of this Agreement which are for the benefit of purchasers or holders of Registrable Securities (and the securities convertible into or exercisable for such Registrable Securities) are also for the benefit of, and enforceable by, any subsequent holder of Registrable Securities (and the securities convertible into or exercisable for such Registrable Securities).

SECTION  2.12 Severability . In the event that any provision of this Agreement, or the application thereof becomes or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, void, invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement will continue in full force and effect and the application of such provision to other Persons or circumstances will be interpreted so as reasonably to effect the intent of the Parties. The Parties further agree to replace such illegal, void, invalid or unenforceable provision of this Agreement with a legal, valid and enforceable provision that achieves, to the extent possible, the economic, business and other purposes of such illegal, void, invalid or unenforceable provision.

SECTION  2.13 Further Assurances . In connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, each holder of Registrable Securities will execute and deliver any additional documents and instruments and perform any additional acts that may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate and perform the provisions of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

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SECTION  2.14 No Inconsistent Agreements . The Company will not hereafter enter into any agreement with respect to its securities, which is inconsistent with or violates the rights granted to the holders of Registrable Securities in this Agreement.

ARTICLE III

DEFINITIONS

SECTION  3.1 Certain Definitions .

(a) The following capitalized terms have the meanings specified or referenced, as the case may be, in the Series A Statement of Designation.

 

Affiliate

   Options

Class A Common Stock

   Person

Closing Date

   Securities Act

Conversion Shares

   Series A Preferred Stock

Exchange Act

   Subsidiary

Law

   Warrants

(b) The following words and phrases have the meanings specified in this Section 3.1(b):

Board of Directors ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

Delayed Registrable Securities ” means the Registrable Securities identified in clauses (i)  and (iv) (but solely with respect to the Registrable Securities identified in clauses (i) ) of the definition of Registrable Securities.

FINRA ” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

Free Writing Prospectus ” means a free-writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 405.

Koch Holder ” means, collectively as of a particular time, each Holder that is Koch Industries, Inc. or is directly or indirectly controlled by or under common control with Koch Industries, Inc., in each case, then-holding a Share, Warrant, Option or Registrable Security.

Option Holders ” means the holders of the Options.

Option Shares ” means the shares of Class A Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants.

Public Offering ” means any sale or distribution by the Company and/or holders of Registrable Securities to the public of Common Stock pursuant to an offering registered under the Securities Act; provided that a Public Offering will not include an offering made in connection with a business acquisition or combination pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-4 or any similar form, or an employee benefit plan pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-8 or any similar form.

 

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Registrable Securities ” means (i) the Conversion Shares, (ii) the Warrant Shares, (iii) the Option Shares, and (iv) any Class A Common Stock issuable with respect to the securities referred to in clauses (i)  through (iii) above by way of dividend, distribution, split or combination of securities, or any recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization. As to any particular Registrable Securities, such securities will cease to be Registrable Securities when (i) they have been repurchased by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company or (ii) such securities may be sold pursuant to Rule 144 without volume limitations by the holder of such securities and all restrictive legends have been removed from such securities. For purposes of this Agreement, a Person will be deemed to be a holder of Registrable Securities, and the Registrable Securities will be deemed to be in existence, whenever such Person has the right to acquire, directly or indirectly, such Registrable Securities (upon conversion or exercise in connection with a transfer of securities or otherwise, but disregarding any restrictions or limitations, including temporal restrictions or limitations, upon the exercise of such right), whether or not such acquisition has actually been effected, and such Person will be entitled to exercise the rights of a holder of Registrable Securities hereunder; provided that a holder of Registrable Securities may only request that Registrable Securities in the form of Class A Common Stock be registered pursuant to this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, a “holder of Registrable Securities” and similar terms will be deemed for all purposes to also include each holder of a Share (notwithstanding that such Share has not been (and may be yet be eligible to be) exercised pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Statement of Designation, but without limiting the effect of the provisions of this Agreement relating to Delayed Registrable Securities), each Warrant Holder that owns the Warrant (notwithstanding that such Warrant has not yet been exercised) and each Option Holder (notwithstanding that such Option has not yet been exercised) and each such holder of Registrable Securities will be entitled to execute a Joinder.

Rule 144 ”, “ Rule 158 ”, “ Rule 405 ”, “ Rule 415 ” and “ Rule 462 ” mean, in each case, such rule promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor provision) by the Securities and Exchange Commission, as the same shall be amended from time to time, or any successor rule then in force.

Share ” means a share of Series A Preferred Stock.

Transaction Agreements ” has the meaning specified in the Series A Securities Purchase Agreement.

Warrant Holders ” means the holders of the Warrants.

Warrant Shares ” means the shares of Class A Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants.

WKSI ” means a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined under Rule 405.

 

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SECTION  3.2 Terms Defined Elsewhere in this Agreement . For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have meanings set forth in the sections indicated:

 

Term

  

Section

Agreement

   Preamble

application

   1.8(a)

Automatic Shelf Registration

   1.1(a)

Company

   Preamble

End of Suspension Notice

   1.1(h)

Forum

   2.5

Indemnified Parties

   1.8(a)

Joinder

   Preamble

Joinder

   1.11

Parties

   Preamble

Purchaser

   Preamble

Registration Expenses

   1.7(a)

Related Parties

   2.3

Series A Securities Purchase Agreement

   Preliminary Statements

Series A Statement of Designation

   Preamble

Shelf Offering

   1.1(b)

Shelf Offering Notice

   1.1(b)

Shelf Offering Request

   1.1(b)

Shelf Registrable Securities

   1.1(b)

Shelf Registration

   1.1(a)

Shelf Registration Statement

   1.1(a)

Suspension Event

   1.1(h)

Suspension Period

   1.1(g)

Violation

   1.8(a)

SECTION  3.3 Construction . The Parties intend that each representation, warranty, covenant and agreement contained in this Agreement will have independent significance. The headings are for convenience only and will not be given effect in interpreting this Agreement. References to sections, articles or exhibits are to the sections, articles and exhibits contained in, referred to by or attached to this Agreement, unless otherwise specified. The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in this Agreement, refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” in this Agreement mean “include/includes/including without limitation . ” All references to $, currency, monetary values and dollars set forth herein means U.S. dollars. The use of the masculine, feminine or neuter gender or the singular or plural form of words will not limit any provisions of this Agreement. References to a Person also include its permitted assigns and successors. Any reference to a statute refers to the statute, any amendments or successor legislation and all rules and regulations promulgated under or implementing the statute, as in effect at the relevant time. The word “extent” in the phrase “to the extent” will mean the degree to which a subject or other thing extends, and such phrase will not mean simply “if.” Whenever this Agreement refers to a number of days, such number will refer to calendar days unless Business Days are specified. Whenever any action must be taken hereunder on or by a day that is not a Business Day, then such action may be validly taken on or by the next day that is a Business Day. Any reference herein to any

 

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Law, contract, agreement or other instrument, including the governing documents of any Person will be construed as referring to such Law, contract, agreement or instrument as amended or modified or, in the case of a Law, codified or reenacted, in each case, in whole or in part, and as in effect from time to time. The Parties acknowledge and agree that (a) each Party and its counsel has reviewed, or has had the opportunity to review, the terms and provisions of this Agreement, (b) any rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguities are resolved against the drafting Party will not be used to interpret this Agreement and (c) the provisions of this Agreement will be construed fairly as to all Parties and not in favor of or against any Party, regardless of which Party was generally responsible for the preparation of this Agreement and no presumption or burden of proof will arise favoring or disfavoring any Party by virtue of such previous drafts of this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Agreement or the fact that any clauses have been added, deleted or otherwise modified from any prior drafts of this Agreement or any other Transaction Agreement.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

COMPANY:
MEREDITH CORPORATION
By:   /s/ Joseph H. Ceryanec
  Name: Joseph H. Ceryanec
  Title: Chief Financial Officer


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

PURCHASER
KED MDP INVESTMENTS, LLC
By:   /s/ Matthew Hewitt
  Name: Matthew Hewitt
  Title: Vice President


EXHIBIT A

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

JOINDER

The undersigned is executing and delivering this Joinder pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of January 31, 2018 (as the same may hereafter be amended, the “ Registration Agreement ”), among Meredith Corporation, an Iowa corporation (the “ Company ”), and the other person named as parties therein.

By executing and delivering this Joinder to the Company, the undersigned hereby agrees to become a party to, to be bound by, and to comply with the provisions of the Registration Agreement as a holder of Registrable Securities [and as a holder of Warrants / as a holder of Options]in the same manner as if the undersigned were an original signatory to the Registration Agreement[, and the undersigned’s Conversion Shares, Warrant Shares or Option Shares shall be included as Registrable Securities under the Registration Agreement.]

Accordingly, the undersigned has executed and delivered this Joinder as of the ___ day of ____________, ____.

 

 

 

   

 

Signature of Stockholder
 

 

   

 

Print Name of Stockholder
Address:    
   
   

Agreed and Accepted as of

                                              .

Meredith Corporation

 

By:      
Its:      

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

MEREDITH CORPORATION ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF TIME INC. ACQUISITION

AND REPORTS FISCAL 2018 SECOND QUARTER AND FIRST HALF RESULTS

DES MOINES, IA (January 31, 2018 ) – Meredith Corporation (NYSE: MDP; meredith.com) announced today it has completed its acquisition of Time Inc., and that February 1, 2018, will be the first day of operations for the combined company. Time Inc. shareholders received $18.50 per share in an all-cash transaction valued at $2.8 billion originally announced on November 26, 2017.

Meredith also announced fiscal 2018 second quarter and first half results today. The details are included later in this release.

“With this acquisition, we are creating a premier media and marketing company serving 200 million American consumers that’s positioned for growth across industry-leading digital, television, print, video, mobile, and social platforms,” said Meredith Corporation Chairman and CEO Stephen M. Lacy. “The combined portfolio joins the rich content-creation capabilities of many of the media industry’s strongest national brands with a powerful local television business that is generating record earnings.”

“I want to welcome our new employees to Meredith,” said Meredith President and Chief Operating Officer Tom Harty. “Together, we are eager to start serving consumers and advertisers alike with trusted, premium multi-platform content and innovative marketing solutions. Since our announcement, teams from Meredith and Time have been developing an integration plan that has positioned us to hit the ground running. We look forward to delivering on our pledge to achieve the identified synergies and grow shareholder value.”

Key Strategic and Financial Benefits of the Time Inc. Acquisition:

 

    Creates an unparalleled portfolio of national media brands with greater scale and efficiency – Combined, Meredith’s brands now have a readership of more than 135 million and paid circulation of nearly 60 million, with leading positions in entertainment, food, lifestyle, news and sports, parenting, and home content creation, as well as enhanced positions in the beauty, fashion, and luxury advertising categories.

 

    Continues the strong and growing contribution from Meredith’s Local Media Group Meredith’s portfolio of 17 high-performing television stations in 12 markets is a consistent generator of strong cash flow. Meredith’s stations — which reach 11 percent of U.S. television households — are primarily Big 4 network affiliates located in fast-growing markets.

 

    Advances Meredith’s digital position by adding significant scale – Meredith is now a Top 10 digital media company with approximately 170 million monthly unique visitors in the U.S., over 10 billion annual video views, and nearly $700 million in annualized digital advertising revenues. Meredith is well-positioned to benefit from fast-growing advertising platforms, including native, video, shopper marketing, programmatic and social. It now operates the No. 1 premium content digital network for American consumers with unmatched reach to Millennials, including 85 percent of U.S. Millennial women.

 

    Provides consumer revenue diversification and growth – Meredith expects to increase consumer revenue from diversified streams, including bundled circulation activities that leverage its reach to nearly 60 million individual magazine subscribers; brand licensing; and e-commerce.

 

1


    Enhances financial strength and flexibility – Meredith expects the acquisition will be accretive to free cash flow in the first full year of operations. Meredith anticipates generating annual cost synergies at the high end of its previously stated range of $400 million to $500 million in the first two full years of combined operations. Meredith has an excellent track record of achieving cost synergies with prior acquisitions, and is confident in its ability to optimize the cost structure of the combined business.

 

    Increases Total Shareholder Return Meredith remains committed to delivering top-third Total Shareholder Return. On January 27, 2018, Meredith raised its annual dividend 4.8 percent to $2.18 per share, the 25 th straight year it has raised its dividend. Meredith has now paid a dividend for 71 consecutive years.

“This portfolio of media assets offers advertisers and marketers unparalleled reach to American consumers,” Harty said. “In particular, we are creating a powerful digital media business that enhances Meredith’s leadership position in reaching Millennials.”

Financing Highlights:

To finance the transaction, Meredith secured the following:

 

    $1.8 billion of senior secured term loans (Term Loan B) maturing in 2025 and priced at LIBOR plus 3.00 percent

 

    $1.4 billion of senior unsecured notes maturing in 2026 and priced at 6.875 percent

 

    $350 million of a five-year senior secured revolving credit facility that is currently undrawn  

 

    $650 million investment from a private equity firm

These proceeds were used to finance the acquisition, refinance existing debt and pay transaction costs.

MEREDITH REPORTS FISCAL 2018 SECOND QUARTER AND FIRST HALF RESULTS

Meredith today reported fiscal 2018 second quarter earnings per share were $3.49, compared to $1.58 per share in the prior-year period. Fiscal 2018 second quarter results included the following special items:

 

    A benefit of $2.92 per share related to changes to the U.S. corporate income tax rate

 

    Transaction expenses of $0.23 per share related to Meredith’s acquisition of Time Inc .

 

    A charge of $0.34 per share related to the impairment of a trademark and a realignment in Meredith’s National Media Group

Excluding these special items, fiscal 2018 second quarter earnings per share were $1.14. This compares to earnings per share excluding special items of $1.30 in the prior-year period. As expected in an off-election year, Meredith recorded $38 million, or $0.52 per share, less of high-margin incremental political advertising revenues in the second quarter of fiscal 2018 than in the prior year. ( See Tables 1-4 for supplemental disclosures regarding non-GAAP financial measures.)

“We were quite pleased to report record earnings per share for a non-political second quarter and first half, driven by strong growth in non-political advertising revenue in our Local Media Group, along with record digital performance and solid expense discipline in our National Media Group,” said Lacy.

 

2


Looking more closely at Meredith’s fiscal 2018 second quarter results compared to the prior-year period:

 

    Local Media Group revenues were $170 million. Non-political advertising revenues grew 13 percent to $104 million, driven by strong performance in the Phoenix, Atlanta and Las Vegas markets. Other revenues increased 25 percent, primarily due to growth in retransmission revenues. Operating profit was $51 million, a record for a non-political second quarter.

 

    National Media Group revenues were $247 million. Operating profit was $12 million, compared to $47 million. Excluding special items in both periods, operating profit increased 2 percent to $35 million, driven primarily by lower operating expenses in Meredith’s magazine business, along with revenue growth from its digital and circulation activities.

 

    Total Company digital advertising revenues were a record for any fiscal quarter. Traffic across Meredith’s digital properties averaged 89 million monthly unique visitors. Digital advertising revenues accounted for 44 percent of the National Media Group’s advertising revenues.

 

    Total revenues were $418 million, compared to $443 million in the prior-year period, reflecting the absence of $38 million of political advertising revenue.

Fiscal 2018 first half earnings per share were $4.23, or $1.83 excluding special items. In comparison, prior-year earnings per share were $2.33, or $2.05 excluding special items. Meredith recorded $53 million, or $0.72 per share, less of high-margin incremental political advertising revenues in the first half of fiscal 2018 than in the prior year, as expected in an off-election year. Total company revenues were $810 million, compared to $843 million in the prior-year period.

All earnings-per-share figures in the text of this release are diluted. Both basic and diluted earnings per share can be found in the attached Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings. All fiscal 2018 second quarter and first half comparisons are against the comparable prior-year period unless otherwise stated.

IMPACT OF TAX REFORM

The “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017” (the Act) was signed into law on December 22, 2017. The Act reduces the federal corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent effective for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2018. Meredith will have a blended federal rate of 28 percent retroactive to the beginning of its fiscal 2018.

The reduced rate resulted in an adjustment to lower fiscal 2018 first quarter tax expense by $4 million. Meredith recorded this adjustment in its fiscal 2018 second quarter. In addition, absent the Act, Meredith estimates that second quarter tax expense on second quarter earnings would have been $4 million higher.

Also as a result of the Act, Meredith remeasured its deferred tax assets, deferred tax liabilities, and tax reserves during its second fiscal quarter, resulting in a net tax benefit of $133 million that Meredith reported as a special item.

OUTLOOK

Meredith is temporarily altering its outlook practices due to the following factors:

 

    The ongoing review of the combined Company’s media portfolio, following today’s closing of its acquisition of Time Inc.

 

    The impact of tax reform on the combined company

 

    The timing of the identified synergies

 

    Evaluation of Time Inc.’s balance sheet as part of the purchase accounting process, including performing fair value calculations

 

3


Meredith expects to resolve these items and provide a more definitive outlook, including expectations for revenue and profit for the balance of its fiscal 2018, when it reports fiscal 2018 third quarter results in late April.

Meredith expects to return to its traditional guidance methodology in July when it reports full year fiscal 2018 results and updates expectations for its fiscal 2019.

CONFERENCE CALL WEBCAST

Meredith will host a conference call on January 31, 2018, at 4:30 pm EST to discuss the closing and integration of the Time Inc. acquisition and fiscal 2018 second quarter results. A live webcast will be accessible to the public on the Company’s website, and a replay will be available for two weeks. A transcript will be available within 48 hours of the call at meredith.com.

 

4


RATIONALE FOR USE AND ACCESS TO NON-GAAP RESULTS

Management uses and presents GAAP and non-GAAP results to evaluate and communicate its performance. Non-GAAP measures should not be construed as alternatives to GAAP measures. EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, EBITDA margin and adjusted EBITDA margin are common supplemental measures of performance used by investors and financial analysts. Management believes that EBITDA provides an additional analytical tool to clarify the Company’s results from core operations and delineate underlying trends. Management does not use EBITDA as a measure of liquidity or funds available for management’s discretionary use because it excludes certain contractual and non-discretionary expenditures. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA excluding special items.

Results excluding special items are supplemental non-GAAP financial measures. While these adjusted results are not a substitute for reported results under GAAP, management believes this information is useful as an aid in further understanding Meredith’s current performance, performance trends and financial condition. Reconciliations of GAAP to non-GAAP measures are attached to this press release and available at meredith.com.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release contains certain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These statements are based on management’s current knowledge and estimates of factors affecting the Company and its operations. Statements in this release that are forward-looking include, but are not limited to, the expected benefits of the acquisition of Time Inc., including the expected synergies from the transaction and the combined company’s prospects for growth and increasing shareholder value.

Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated. Factors that could adversely affect future results include, but are not limited to, downturns in national and/or local economies; a softening of the domestic advertising market; world, national or local events that could disrupt broadcast television; increased consolidation among major advertisers or other events depressing the level of advertising spending; the unexpected loss or insolvency of one or more major clients or vendors; the integration of acquired businesses; changes in consumer reading, purchasing and/or television viewing patterns; increases in paper, postage, printing, syndicated programming or other costs; changes in television network affiliation agreements; technological developments affecting products or methods of distribution; changes in government regulations affecting the Company’s industries; increases in interest rates; the consequences of acquisitions and/or dispositions; the risks associated with the Company’s recent acquisition of Time Inc., including: (1) litigation challenging the acquisition; (2) the Company’s ability to retain key personnel; (3) competitive responses to the acquisition; (4) unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the acquisition; (5) adverse reactions or changes to business relationships resulting from the acquisition; (6) the Company’s ability to realize the benefits of the acquisition of Time Inc.; (7) delays, challenges and expenses associated with integrating the businesses; and (8) the Company’s ability to comply with the terms of the debt and equity financings entered into in connection with the acquisition; and the risk factors contained in the Company’s most recent Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

ABOUT MEREDITH CORPORATION

Meredith Corporation (NYSE: MDP; meredith.com) has been committed to service journalism for more than 115 years. Today, Meredith uses multiple distribution platforms — including broadcast television, print, digital, mobile and video — to provide consumers with content they desire and to deliver the messages of its advertising and marketing partners.

 

5


Meredith’s National Media Group reaches nearly 200 million unduplicated American consumers every month, including 85 percent of U.S. Millennial women. Meredith is a leader in creating content across media platforms and life stages in key consumer interest areas such as entertainment, food, lifestyle, home, parenting, beauty, fashion, news and sports. Meredith also features robust brand licensing activities including more than 3,000 SKUs of branded products at 5,000 Walmart stores across the U.S. and at walmart.com, as well as innovative business-to-business marketing solutions provided by Meredith Xcelerated Marketing.

Meredith’s Local Media Group includes 17 television stations reaching more than 11 percent of U.S. households. Meredith’s portfolio is concentrated in large, fast-growing markets, with seven stations in the nation’s Top 25 and 13 in Top 50 markets. Meredith’s stations produce more than 700 hours of local news and entertainment content each week, and operate leading local digital destinations.

— # # # # —

 

Shareholder/Financial Analyst Contact:    Media Contact:
Mike Lovell    Art Slusark
Director of Investor Relations    Chief Communications Officer
Phone: (515) 284-3622    Phone: (515) 284-3404
E-mail: Mike.Lovell@meredith.com    E-mail: Art.Slusark@meredith.com

 

6


Meredith Corporation and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Unaudited)

 

     Three Months     Six Months  

Periods ended December 31,

   2017     2016     2017     2016  
(In thousands except per share data)                         

Revenues

        

Advertising

   $ 231,815     $ 267,129     $ 441,064     $ 493,018  

Circulation

     67,672       66,805       136,599       135,473  

All other

     118,211       108,708       232,806       214,030  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

     417,698       442,642       810,469       842,521  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating expenses

        

Production, distribution, and editorial

     158,746       148,625       314,548       298,853  

Selling, general, and administrative

     189,384       170,643       357,005       345,636  

Depreciation and amortization

     12,458       13,549       25,008       27,445  

Impairment of long-lived assets

     19,765       —         19,765       —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     380,353       332,817       716,326       671,934  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from operations

     37,345       109,825       94,143       170,587  

Interest expense, net

     (5,171     (4,679     (10,249     (9,428
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings before income taxes

     32,174       105,146       83,894       161,159  

Income tax benefit (expense)

     127,134       (33,341     108,855       (55,381
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earnings

   $ 159,308     $ 71,805     $ 192,749     $ 105,778  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share

   $ 3.55     $ 1.61     $ 4.30     $ 2.38  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic average shares outstanding

     44,857       44,511       44,818       44,535  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per share

   $ 3.49     $ 1.58     $ 4.23     $ 2.33  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted average shares outstanding

     45,601       45,378       45,603       45,385  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Dividends paid per share

   $ 0.520     $ 0.495     $ 1.040     $ 0.990  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

7


Meredith Corporation and Subsidiaries

Segment Information (Unaudited)

 

     Three Months     Six Months  

Periods ended December 31,

   2017     2016     2017     2016  
(In thousands)                         

Revenues

        

National media

        

Advertising

   $ 125,770     $ 135,103     $ 245,853     $ 260,455  

Circulation

     67,672       66,805       136,599       135,473  

Other revenues

     53,999       57,437       103,949       110,710  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total national media

     247,441       259,345       486,401       506,638  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Local media

        

Non-political advertising

     103,951       91,958       191,736       176,142  

Political advertising

     2,094       40,068       3,475       56,421  

Other revenues

     64,212       51,271       128,857       103,320  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total local media

     170,257       183,297       324,068       335,883  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

   $ 417,698     $ 442,642     $ 810,469     $ 842,521  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating profit

        

National media

   $ 12,247     $ 46,757     $ 40,503     $ 70,868  

Local media

     50,515       76,815       91,457       127,437  

Unallocated corporate

     (25,417     (13,747     (37,817     (27,718
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from operations

   $ 37,345     $ 109,825     $ 94,143     $ 170,587  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

        

National media

   $ 3,789     $ 4,330     $ 7,776     $ 8,848  

Local media

     7,886       8,865       15,824       17,855  

Unallocated corporate

     783       354       1,408       742  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total depreciation and amortization

   $ 12,458     $ 13,549     $ 25,008     $ 27,445  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

EBITDA 1

        

National media

   $ 16,036     $ 51,087     $ 48,279     $ 79,716  

Local media

     58,401       85,680       107,281       145,292  

Unallocated corporate

     (24,634     (13,393     (36,409     (26,976
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total EBITDA 1

   $ 49,803     $ 123,374     $ 119,151     $ 198,032  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

1   EBITDA is net earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization.

 

8


Meredith Corporation and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

 

Assets

   December 31,
2017
    June 30,
2017
 
(In thousands)             

Current assets

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 34,976     $ 22,287  

Accounts receivable, net

     297,388       289,052  

Inventories

     21,410       21,890  

Current portion of subscription acquisition costs

     141,155       144,896  

Current portion of broadcast rights

     16,453       7,853  

Other current assets

     31,531       19,275  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     542,913       505,253  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Property, plant, and equipment

     555,265       549,536  

Less accumulated depreciation

     (354,395     (359,670
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net property, plant, and equipment

     200,870       189,866  

Subscription acquisition costs

     77,384       79,740  

Broadcast rights

     23,397       21,807  

Other assets

     69,056       69,616  

Intangible assets, net

     926,809       955,883  

Goodwill

     907,558       907,458  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 2,747,987     $ 2,729,623  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

    

Current liabilities

    

Current portion of long-term debt

   $ 65,625     $ 62,500  

Current portion of long-term broadcast rights payable

     16,847       9,206  

Accounts payable

     83,919       66,598  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     105,087       116,907  

Current portion of unearned subscription revenues

     202,249       204,459  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     473,727       459,670  

Long-term debt

     631,552       635,737  

Long-term broadcast rights payable

     24,623       22,454  

Unearned subscription revenues

     107,901       106,506  

Deferred income taxes

     263,242       384,726  

Other noncurrent liabilities

     100,104       124,558  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     1,601,149       1,733,651  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity

    

Common stock

     39,625       39,433  

Class B stock

     5,109       5,119  

Additional paid-in capital

     58,926       54,726  

Retained earnings

     1,060,614       915,703  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (17,436     (19,009
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total shareholders’ equity

     1,146,838       995,972  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 2,747,987     $ 2,729,623  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

9


Meredith Corporation and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

 

Six months ended December 31,

   2017     2016  
(In thousands)             

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 101,572     $ 117,281  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities

    

Acquisitions of and investments in businesses

     (3,000     (11,819

Additions to property, plant, and equipment

     (28,809     (10,949

Proceeds from disposition of assets, net of cash sold

     2,193       —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (29,616     (22,768
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities

    

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

     60,000       270,000  

Repayments of long-term debt

     (61,250     (288,125

Dividends paid

     (47,196     (44,823

Purchases of Company stock

     (24,532     (26,453

Proceeds from common stock issued

     17,812       16,988  

Payment of acquisition related contingent consideration

     (4,000     (4,000

Excess tax benefits from share-based payments

     —         2,883  

Other

     (101     (1,465
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in financing activities

     (59,267     (74,995
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     12,689       19,518  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     22,287       24,970  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 34,976     $ 44,488  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

10


Table 1

Meredith Corporation and Subsidiaries

Supplemental Disclosures Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Special Items - The following tables show results of operations as reported under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) and excluding the special items. Results of operations excluding the special items are non-GAAP measures. Management’s rationale for presenting non-GAAP measures is included in the text of this earnings release.

 

Three months ended December 31, 2017

   National
Media
    Local
Media
     Unallocated
Corporate
    Total  
(In thousands except per share data)                          

Operating profit

   $ 12,247     $ 50,515      $ (25,417   $ 37,345  

Special items

         

Transaction costs

     —         —          12,059       12,059  

Write-down of impaired assets

     19,765       —          —         19,765  

Severance and related benefit costs

     2,956       —          —         2,956  

Reversal of previously accrued restructuring costs

     (242     —          —         (242

Other

     125       —          —         125  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total special items

     22,604       —          12,059       34,663  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating profit excluding special items (non-GAAP)

   $ 34,851     $ 50,515      $ (13,358   $ 72,008  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per share

 

  $ 3.49  

Per share impact of special items

 

Per share impact of remeasurement of deferred tax assets and liabilities

 

    (2.92

Per share impact of special items of $34,663 ($25,802 after tax)

 

    0.57  
 

 

 

 

Total per share impact of special items

 

    (2.35
 

 

 

 

Earnings per share excluding special items (non-GAAP)

 

  $ 1.14  
 

 

 

 

 

11


Six months ended December 31, 2017

   National
Media
    Local
Media
     Unallocated
Corporate
    Total  
(In thousands except per share data)                          

Operating profit

   $ 40,503     $ 91,457      $ (37,817   $ 94,143  

Special items

         

Transaction costs

     —         —          12,059       12,059  

Write-down of impaired assets

     19,765       —          —         19,765  

Severance and related benefit costs

     2,956       —          —         2,956  

Gain on sale of Family Circle Cup Tennis Center

     (3,282     —          —         (3,282

Reversal of previously accrued restructuring costs

     (242     —          —         (242

Other

     125       —          —         125  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total special items

     19,322       —          12,059       31,381  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating profit excluding special items (non-GAAP)

   $ 59,825     $ 91,457      $ (25,758   $ 125,524  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per share

          $ 4.23  

Per share impact of special items

         

Per share impact of remeasurement of deferred tax assets and liabilities

            (2.92

Per share impact of special items of $31,381 ($23,784 after tax)

            0.52  
         

 

 

 

Total per share impact of special items

            (2.40
         

 

 

 

Earnings per share excluding special items (non-GAAP)

          $ 1.83  
         

 

 

 

 

12


Table 2

Meredith Corporation and Subsidiaries

Supplemental Disclosures Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Special Items - The following tables show results of operations as reported under (GAAP) and excluding the special items. Results of operations excluding special items are non-GAAP measures. Management’s rationale for presenting non-GAAP measures is included in the text of this earnings release.

 

13


Three months ended December 31, 2016

   National
Media
    Local
Media
     Unallocated
Corporate
    Total  
(In thousands except per share data)                          

Operating profit

   $ 46,757     $ 76,815      $ (13,747   $ 109,825  

Special items

         

Write-down of contingent consideration payable

     (19,580     —          —         (19,580

Severance and related benefit costs

     6,695       445        438       7,578  

Write-down of impaired assets

     —         1,678        —         1,678  

Other

     397       —          —         397  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total special items

     (12,488     2,123        438       (9,927
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating profit excluding special items (non-GAAP)

   $ 34,269     $ 78,938      $ (13,309   $ 99,898  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per share

          $ 1.58  

Per share impact of special items

         

Per share impact of the resolution of certain federal and state tax matters

            (0.15

Per share impact of special items of $9,927 ($6,105 after tax)

            (0.13
         

 

 

 

Total per share impact of special items

            (0.28
         

 

 

 

Earnings per share excluding special items (non-GAAP)

          $ 1.30  
         

 

 

 

Six Months Ended December 31, 2016

   National
Media
    Local
Media
     Unallocated
Corporate
    Total  
(In thousands except per share data)                          

Operating profit

   $ 70,868     $ 127,437      $ (27,718   $ 170,587  

Special items

         

Write-down of contingent consideration payable

     (19,580     —          —         (19,580

Severance and related benefit costs

     6,695       445        438       7,578  

Write-down of impaired assets

     —         1,678        —         1,678  

Other

     397       —          —         397  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total special items

     (12,488     2,123        438       (9,927
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating profit excluding special items (non-GAAP)

   $ 58,380     $ 129,560      $ (27,280   $ 160,660  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per share

          $ 2.33  

Per share impact of special items

         

Per share impact of the resolution of certain federal and state tax matters

            (0.15

Per share impact of special items of $9,927 ($6,105 after tax)

            (0.13
         

 

 

 

Total per share impact of special items

            (0.28
         

 

 

 

Earnings per share excluding special items (non-GAAP)

          $ 2.05  
         

 

 

 

 

14


Table 3

Meredith Corporation and Subsidiaries

Supplemental Disclosures Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures

EBITDA

Consolidated EBITDA, which is reconciled to net earnings in the following table, is defined as net earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization.

Segment EBITDA is a measure of segment earnings before depreciation and amortization.

Segment EBITDA margin is defined as segment EBITDA divided by segment revenues.

Adjusted EBITDA

Consolidated adjusted EBITDA, which is reconciled to net earnings in the following table, is defined as net earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, and special items.

Segment adjusted EBITDA is a measure of segment earnings before depreciation, amortization, and special items.

Segment adjusted EBITDA margin is defined as segment adjusted EBITDA divided by segment revenues.

 

Three months ended December 31, 2017

   National
Media
    Local
Media
    Unallocated
Corporate
    Total  
(In thousands)                         

Revenues

   $ 247,441     $ 170,257     $ —       $ 417,698  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earnings

 

  $ 159,308  

Net interest expense

 

    5,171  

Income tax benefit

 

    (127,134
 

 

 

 

Operating profit

   $ 12,247     $ 50,515     $ (25,417     37,345  

Depreciation and amortization

     3,789       7,886       783       12,458  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

EBITDA

     16,036       58,401       (24,634     49,803  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Special items

        

Transaction costs

     —         —         12,059       12,059  

Write-down of impaired assets

     19,765       —         —         19,765  

Severance and related benefit costs

     2,956       —         —         2,956  

Reversal of previously accrued restructuring costs

     (242     —         —         (242

Other

     125       —         —         125  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total special items

     22,604       —         12,059       34,663  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 38,640     $ 58,401     $ (12,575   $ 84,466  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Segment EBITDA margin

     6.5     34.3    
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

Segment adjusted EBITDA margin

     15.6     34.3    
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

15


Six Months Ended December 31, 2017

   National
Media
    Local
Media
    Unallocated
Corporate
    Total  
(In thousands)                         

Revenues

   $ 486,401     $ 324,068     $ —       $ 810,469  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earnings

 

  $ 192,749  

Net interest expense

 

    10,249  

Income tax benefit

 

    (108,855
 

 

 

 

Operating profit

   $ 40,503     $ 91,457     $ (37,817     94,143  

Depreciation and amortization

     7,776       15,824       1,408       25,008  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

EBITDA

     48,279       107,281       (36,409     119,151  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Special items

        

Transaction costs

     —         —         12,059       12,059  

Write-down of impaired assets

     19,765       —         —         19,765  

Severance and related benefit costs

     2,956       —         —         2,956  

Gain on sale of Family Circle Cup Tennis Center

     (3,282     —         —         (3,282

Reversal of previously accrued restructuring costs

     (242     —         —         (242

Other

     125       —         —         125  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total special items

     19,322       —         12,059       31,381  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 67,601     $ 107,281     $ (24,350   $ 150,532  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Segment EBITDA margin

     9.9     33.1    
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

Segment adjusted EBITDA margin

     13.9     33.1    
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

16


Table 4

Meredith Corporation and Subsidiaries

Supplemental Disclosures Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures

EBITDA

Consolidated EBITDA, which is reconciled to net earnings in the following table, is defined as net earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization.

Segment EBITDA is a measure of segment earnings before depreciation and amortization.

Segment EBITDA margin is defined as segment EBITDA divided by segment revenues.

 

Three months ended December 31, 2016

   National
Media
    Local
Media
    Unallocated
Corporate
    Total  
(In thousands)                         

Revenues

   $ 259,345     $ 183,297     $ —       $ 442,642  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earnings

 

  $ 71,805  

Net interest expense

 

    4,679  

Income taxes

 

    33,341  
 

 

 

 

Operating profit

   $ 46,757     $ 76,815     $ (13,747     109,825  

Depreciation and amortization

     4,330       8,865       354       13,549  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

EBITDA

   $ 51,087     $ 85,680     $ (13,393   $ 123,374  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Special items

        

Write-down of contingent consideration payable

     (19,580     —         —         (19,580

Severance and related benefit costs

     6,695       445       438       7,578  

Write-down of impaired assets

     —         1,678       —         1,678  

Other

     397       —         —         397  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total special items

     (12,488     2,123       438       (9,927
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 38,599     $ 87,803     $ (12,955   $ 113,447  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Segment EBITDA margin

     19.7     46.7    
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

Segment adjusted EBITDA margin

     14.9     47.9    
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

17


Six Months Ended December 31, 2016

   National
Media
    Local
Media
    Unallocated
Corporate
    Total  
(In thousands)                         

Revenues

   $ 506,638     $ 335,883     $ —       $ 842,521  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earnings

 

  $ 105,778  

Net interest expense

 

    9,428  

Income taxes

 

    55,381  
 

 

 

 

Operating profit

   $ 70,868     $ 127,437     $ (27,718     170,587  

Depreciation and amortization

     8,848       17,855       742       27,445  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

EBITDA

     79,716       145,292       (26,976     198,032  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Special items

        

Write-down of contingent consideration payable

     (19,580     —         —         (19,580

Severance and related benefit costs

     6,695       445       438       7,578  

Write-down of impaired assets

     —         1,678       —         1,678  

Other

     397       —         —         397  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total special items

     (12,488     2,123       438       (9,927
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 67,228     $ 147,415     $ (26,538   $ 188,105  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Segment EBITDA margin

     15.7     43.3    
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

Segment adjusted EBITDA margin

     13.3     43.9    
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

18