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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): August 15, 2019

 

Albertsons Companies, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

Delaware

 

333-205546

 

47-4376911

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

250 Parkcenter Blvd,

Boise, ID 83706

(Address of principal executive office and zip code)

(208) 395-6200

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A

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

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

 

Trading

Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange

on which registered

None

 

N/A

 

N/A

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 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

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.  

 

 


Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Senior Notes Issuance

On August 15, 2019, Albertsons Companies, Inc. (the “Company”), together with its subsidiaries, Safeway Inc., New Albertsons L.P. and Albertsons’s LLC (collectively, the “Subsidiary Co-Issuers” and together with the Company, the “Co-Issuers”), issued $750 million in aggregate principal amount of 5.875% senior notes due 2028 (the “Notes”). The Notes were sold in the United States to qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and outside the United States to non-U.S. persons in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act. The Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws and, unless so registered, may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

The Company used the net proceeds from the offering, together with the proceeds of a new $1,600 million Term Loan B-8 (as defined below) and approximately $832 million of cash on hand, to (i) fund the Term Loan Repayment (as defined below) and (ii) pay fees and expenses related to the Term Loan Repayment and the issuance of the Notes.

The Notes were issued pursuant to an indenture, dated August 15, 2019 (the “Indenture”), by and among the Co-Issuers, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee. The Notes will mature on February 15, 2028.

Interest.  Interest on the Notes will be payable semi-annually on February 15 and August 15 of each year, beginning on February 15, 2020.

Guarantees.  The notes will be guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by all of the Company’s existing and future direct and indirect domestic subsidiaries (other than the Subsidiary Co-Issuers) that are obligors under the Company’s asset-based revolving credit facility, the Company’s term loan facilities and the Company’s 6.625% senior notes due June 15, 2014, 5.750% senior notes due September 15, 2025 and 7.5% senior notes due March 15, 2026.

Security. The Notes are unsecured.

Optional Redemption.  Prior to August 15, 2022, the Notes may be redeemed in whole or in part at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, plus an applicable make-whole premium equal to the greater of (i) 1.0% and (ii) the excess of the sum of the present value of 104.406% of the principal amount being redeemed, plus all required interest payments due thereon through August 15, 2022 (exclusive of interest accrued to the date of redemption), discounted to the date of redemption at a rate equal to the then-current interest rate on U.S. Treasury securities of comparable maturities plus 50 basis points and, for the avoidance of doubt, assuming that the interest rate in effect on the date of redemption is the interest rate that will be in effect through August 15, 2022, over the principal amount being redeemed. In addition, subject to certain conditions, the Co-Issuers may redeem up to 40% of the Notes before August 15, 2022, with the net cash proceeds from certain equity offerings at a redemption price equal to 105.875% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to (but excluding) the redemption date.

After August 15, 2022, the Notes may be redeemed in whole or in part at the following redemption prices: (i) 104.406% if such notes are redeemed in the period from August 15, 2022 to (but not including) August 15, 2023, (ii) 102.938% if such notes are redeemed in the period from August 15, 2023 to (but not including) August 15, 2024, (iii) 101.469% if such notes are redeemed in the period from August 15, 2024 to (but not including) August 15, 2025, and (iv) at par thereafter.

Mandatory Redemption. The Notes do not require the making of any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments.

Repurchase of Notes at the Option of Holders. Upon a “change of control” transaction (which includes, subject to certain exceptions, (i) the sale, lease or transfer, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all the assets of the Company and its restricted subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to a person other than certain existing indirect stockholders of the Company, and their affiliates, related funds and managed accounts (together, the “Equity Investors”) or (ii) the Company becomes aware of the acquisition by any person or group, other than any of the Equity Investors, of more than 50% of the voting power of the Company or any of its direct or indirect parent companies and as a result thereof, a “ratings event” occurs (i.e., the Notes rating is lowered by certain of the rating agencies then rating the Notes due to such change of control by one more gradations within 60 days after the change of control or announcement of an intention to effect a change of control), the Co-Issuers are required to offer to purchase all of the Notes from the holders thereof at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount outstanding plus all accrued interest thereon.


Covenants. The Indenture contains various affirmative and negative covenants (subject to customary exceptions), including, but not limited to, restrictions on the ability of the Company and its restricted subsidiaries to: (i) dispose of assets; (ii) incur additional indebtedness, issue preferred stock and guarantee obligations; (iii) make certain restricted payments, investments and payments in respect of subordinated indebtedness; (iv) create liens on assets or agree to restrictions on the creation of liens on assets; (v) engage in mergers or consolidations; and (vi) engage in certain transactions with affiliates.

Events of Default. The Indenture contains events of default (subject to customary exceptions, thresholds and grace periods), including, without limitation: (i) nonpayment of principal, interest or premium; (ii) failure to perform or observe covenants; (iii) cross-acceleration with certain other indebtedness; (iv) certain judgments; and (v) certain bankruptcy related events.

The foregoing is a summary of the material provisions of the Indenture. It does not include all of the provisions of the Indenture, does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Indenture, which is filed herewith as Exhibit 4.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

Term Loan Agreement

On August 15, 2019, the Company repaid (i) all amounts outstanding, together with any accrued and unpaid interest, of the term loan tranche B-5, (ii) all amounts outstanding, together with any accrued and unpaid interest, of the term loan tranche B-6 and (iii) $490 million, together with any accrued and unpaid interest, of the term loan tranche B-7 (the “Term Loan B-7” and such repayment is collectively referred to as the “Term Loan Repayment”).

Substantially concurrently with the Term Loan Repayment, the Company amended the Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement, dated as of August 25, 2014 and effective as of January 30, 2015 (as amended, the “Term Loan Agreement”), to (i) reprice the Term Loan B-7, (ii) establish a new $1,600 million term loan tranche B-8 (the “Term Loan B-8”) and (iii) amend certain provisions of the Term Loan Agreement.

The Term Loan B-7 continues to have a maturity date of November 17, 2025. After giving effect to the Term Loan Repayment, there is $1,500 million principal amount outstanding of Term Loan B-7s. The Term Loan B-7 amortizes, on a quarterly basis, at a rate of 1% per annum of such principal amount (which payments will be reduced as a result of the application of prepayments in accordance with the terms therewith). The Term Loan B-7 bears interest, at the borrower’s option, at a rate per annum equal to either (i) the base rate plus 1.75% or (ii) LIBOR (subject to a 0.75% floor) plus 2.75%.

The Term Loan B-8 has a maturity date of August 17, 2026. The Term Loan B-8 amortizes, on a quarterly basis, at a rate of 1% per annum of the original principal amount of the Term Loan B-8 (which payments will be reduced as a result of the application of prepayments in accordance with the terms therewith). The Term Loan B-8 bears interest, at the borrower’s option, at a rate per annum equal to either (i) the base rate plus 1.75% or (ii) LIBOR (subject to a 0.75% floor) plus 2.75%.

The other terms of the Term Loan Agreement will remain substantially the same.

The foregoing is a summary of the material provisions of the amended Term Loan Agreement. It does not include all of the provisions of the amendment to the Term Loan Agreement, does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the amendment, which is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.1 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 set forth under Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K with respect to the Term Loan Agreement is incorporated into this Item 2.03 by reference.


Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits. The following exhibits are being filed herewith:

Exhibit
No.

   

Description

         
 

  4.1

   

Indenture, dated as of August 15, 2019, by and among Albertsons Companies, Inc., Safeway Inc., New Albertsons L.P., Albertson’s LLC, the guarantors party thereto from time to time, and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Trustee.

         
 

10.1

   

Amendment No. 8, dated as of August 15, 2019, to the Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement, dated as of August 25, 2014 and effective as of January 30, 2015, among Albertsons Companies, Inc., Albertson’s LLC, the co-borrowers party thereto, the guarantors party thereto, the parties thereto from time to time as lenders and Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, in its capacity as administrative agent and collateral agent.

         
 

104

   

Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).


SIGNATURES

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

 

 

Albertsons Companies, Inc.

(Registrant)

             

Dated: August 15, 2019

 

 

By:

 

/s/ Robert A. Gordon

 

 

Name:

 

Robert A. Gordon

 

 

Title:

 

Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Exhibit 4.1

ALBERTSONS COMPANIES, INC.,

NEW ALBERTSONS L.P.,

SAFEWAY INC. and

ALBERTSON’S LLC,

as Issuers

and the Guarantors party hereto from time to time

5.875% Senior Notes due 2028

 

 

INDENTURE

Dated as of August 15, 2019

 

 

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  
  ARTICLE 1   
  DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE   

SECTION 1.01.

 

Definitions

     1  

SECTION 1.02.

 

Other Definitions

     31  

SECTION 1.03.

 

[Reserved]

     32  

SECTION 1.04.

 

Rules of Construction

     32  
  ARTICLE 2   
    THE SECURITIES       

SECTION 2.01.

 

Amount of Securities; Issuable in Series

     33  

SECTION 2.02.

 

Form and Dating

     34  

SECTION 2.03.

 

Execution and Authentication

     34  

SECTION 2.04.

 

Registrar and Paying Agent

     35  

SECTION 2.05.

 

Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust

     36  

SECTION 2.06.

 

Holder Lists

     36  

SECTION 2.07.

 

Transfer and Exchange

     36  

SECTION 2.08.

 

Replacement Securities

     37  

SECTION 2.09.

 

Outstanding Securities

     37  

SECTION 2.10.

 

Temporary Securities

     37  

SECTION 2.11.

 

Cancellation

     38  

SECTION 2.12.

 

Defaulted Interest

     38  

SECTION 2.13.

 

CUSIP Numbers, ISINs, etc.

     38  

SECTION 2.14.

 

Calculation of Specified Percentage of Securities

     38  
  ARTICLE 3   
    REDEMPTION       

SECTION 3.01.

 

Redemption

     38  

SECTION 3.02.

 

Applicability of Article

     39  

SECTION 3.03.

 

Notices to Trustee

     39  

SECTION 3.04.

 

Selection of Securities to Be Redeemed

     39  

SECTION 3.05.

 

Notice of Optional Redemption

     39  

SECTION 3.06.

 

Effect of Notice of Redemption

     40  

SECTION 3.07.

 

Deposit of Redemption Price

     40  

SECTION 3.08.

 

Securities Redeemed in Part

     41  
  ARTICLE 4   
    COVENANTS       

SECTION 4.01.

 

Payment of Securities

     41  

SECTION 4.02.

 

Reports

     41  


SECTION 4.03.

 

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

     43  

SECTION 4.04.

 

Limitation on Restricted Payments

     48  

SECTION 4.05.

 

[Reserved]

     55  

SECTION 4.06.

 

Asset Sales

     55  

SECTION 4.07.

 

Transactions with Affiliates

     58  

SECTION 4.08.

 

Change of Control Triggering Event

     61  

SECTION 4.09.

 

Compliance Certificate

     63  

SECTION 4.10.

 

[Reserved]

     63  

SECTION 4.11.

 

Subsidiary Guarantees

     63  

SECTION 4.12.

 

Limitation on Liens

     63  

SECTION 4.13.

 

Maintenance of Office or Agency

     64  

SECTION 4.14.

 

Applicability and Discharge of Covenants

     64  
    ARTICLE 5       
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE   

SECTION 5.01.

 

Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms

     65  

SECTION 5.02.

 

Successor Issuer Substituted

     65  

SECTION 5.03.

 

Subsidiary Guarantors May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms

     65  
    ARTICLE 6       
    DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES       

SECTION 6.01.

 

Events of Default

     65  

SECTION 6.02.

 

Acceleration

     67  

SECTION 6.03.

 

Other Remedies

     68  

SECTION 6.04.

 

Waiver of Past Defaults

     68  

SECTION 6.05.

 

Control by Majority

     68  

SECTION 6.06.

 

Limitation on Suits

     69  

SECTION 6.07.

 

Right of the Holders to Receive Payment

     69  

SECTION 6.08.

 

Collection Suit by Trustee

     69  

SECTION 6.09.

 

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

     69  

SECTION 6.10.

 

Priorities

     70  

SECTION 6.11.

 

Undertaking for Costs

     70  
    ARTICLE 7       
    TRUSTEE       

SECTION 7.01.

 

Duties of Trustee

     70  

SECTION 7.02.

 

Rights of Trustee

     71  

SECTION 7.03.

 

Individual Rights of Trustee

     73  

SECTION 7.04.

 

Trustee’s Disclaimer

     73  

SECTION 7.05.

 

Notice of Defaults

     73  

SECTION 7.06.

 

[Reserved]

     73  

SECTION 7.07.

 

Compensation and Indemnity

     73  

SECTION 7.08.

 

Replacement of Trustee

     74  


SECTION 7.09.

 

Successor Trustee by Merger

     75  

SECTION 7.10.

 

Eligibility; Disqualification

     75  

SECTION 7.11.

 

Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Issuers

     75  
    ARTICLE 8       
    DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE       

SECTION 8.01.

 

Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture

     75  

SECTION 8.02.

 

Application of Trust Money

     76  

SECTION 8.03.

 

Applicability of Article

     76  

SECTION 8.04.

 

Defeasance Upon Deposit of Money or U.S. Government Obligations

     77  

SECTION 8.05.

 

Deposited Moneys and U.S. Government Obligations To Be Held in Trust

     78  

SECTION 8.06.

 

Repayment to Issuers

     78  
    ARTICLE 9       
    AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS       

SECTION 9.01.

 

Without Consent of the Holders

     78  

SECTION 9.02.

 

With Consent of the Holders

     80  

SECTION 9.03.

 

[Reserved]

     80  

SECTION 9.04.

 

[Reserved]

     80  

SECTION 9.05.

 

Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers

     80  

SECTION 9.06.

 

Notation on or Exchange of Securities

     81  

SECTION 9.07.

 

Trustee to Sign Amendments

     81  

SECTION 9.08.

 

Additional Voting Terms; Calculation of Principal Amount

     81  
    ARTICLE 10       
    GUARANTEES       

SECTION 10.01.

 

Guarantees

     81  

SECTION 10.02.

 

Limitation on Liability

     83  

SECTION 10.03.

 

Successors and Assigns

     83  

SECTION 10.04.

 

No Waiver

     83  

SECTION 10.05.

 

Modification

     84  

SECTION 10.06.

 

Execution of Supplemental Indenture for Future Guarantors

     84  

SECTION 10.07.

 

Non-Impairment

     84  

SECTION 10.08.

 

Release of a Subsidiary Guarantor.

     84  
    ARTICLE 11       
    MISCELLANEOUS       

SECTION 11.01.

 

[Reserved]

     85  

SECTION 11.02.

 

Notices

     85  

SECTION 11.03.

 

Communication by the Holders with Other Holders

     86  

SECTION 11.04.

 

Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent

     86  

SECTION 11.05.

 

Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion

     86  

SECTION 11.06.

 

When Securities Disregarded

     86  


SECTION 11.07.

 

Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar

     87  

SECTION 11.08.

 

Legal Holidays

     87  

SECTION 11.09.

  Governing Law      87  

SECTION 11.10.

 

No Recourse Against Others

     87  

SECTION 11.11.

 

Successors

     87  

SECTION 11.12.

 

Multiple Originals

     87  

SECTION 11.13.

 

Table of Contents; Headings

     87  

SECTION 11.14.

 

Indenture Controls

     87  

SECTION 11.15.

 

Severability

     87  

SECTION 11.16.

 

Waiver of Jury Trial

     88  

 

Appendix A

          

Provisions Relating to Securities

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit A

          

Form of Security

Exhibit B

          

Form of Transferee Letter of Representation

Exhibit C

          

Form of Supplemental Indenture


INDENTURE, dated as of August 15, 2019, among ALBERTSONS COMPANIES, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), NEW ALBERTSONS L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“NALP”), SAFEWAY INC., a Delaware corporation (“Safeway”), and ALBERTSON’S LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Albertsons,” together with Safeway and NALP, each a “Co-Issuer” and collectively, the “Co-Issuers” and together with the Company, each an “Issuer” and collectively, the “Issuers”), the Guarantors from time to time party hereto, and WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, as trustee (in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns in such capacity, the “Trustee”).

W I T N E S S E T H

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

NOW, THEREFORE, each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other parties and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of (a) $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Issuers’ 5.875% Senior Notes due February 15, 2028 (the “Original Securities”) issued on the date hereof and (b) any Additional Securities that may be issued after the date hereof in the form of Exhibit A (all such securities in clauses (a) and (b) being referred to collectively as the “Securities”). Subject to the conditions and compliance with the covenants set forth herein, the Issuers may issue an unlimited aggregate principal amount of Additional Securities.

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

SECTION 1.01.    Definitions.

ABL Facility” means the asset-based credit facilities as in effect on the Issue Date or any subsequent asset-based credit facility entered into, in each case, with the related documents thereto, as amended, extended, renewed, restated, refunded, replaced, refinanced, supplemented, modified or otherwise changed (in whole or in part, and without limitation as to amount, terms, conditions, covenants and other provisions) from time to time, and any one or more agreements (and related documents) governing Indebtedness, including indentures, incurred to refinance, substitute, supplement, replace or add to (including increasing the amount available for borrowing (provided that such increase is permitted under Section 4.03) or adding or removing any Person as a borrower, issuer or guarantor thereunder, in whole or in part), the borrowings and commitments then outstanding or permitted to be outstanding under such ABL Facility or one or more successors to the ABL Facility or one or more new credit agreements and whether with the same or any other agent, lender or group of lenders or holders. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the term “ABL Facility” shall include any agreement or instrument (1) changing the maturity of any Indebtedness Incurred thereunder or contemplated thereby, (2) adding additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder, (3) increasing the amount of Indebtedness Incurred thereunder or available to be borrowed thereunder (provided that such increase is permitted under Section 4.03) or (4) otherwise altering the terms and conditions thereof.

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

(1)    Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person (a) is merged with or into (or consolidated or otherwise combined with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary) or (b) became a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person, and


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

in each case, including Indebtedness Incurred as consideration in, in contemplation of, or to provide all or any portion of the funds or credit support utilized to consummate, the transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary became a Restricted Subsidiary or was otherwise acquired by such Person, or such asset was acquired by such Person, as applicable.

Additional Assets” means:

(1)      any property or assets (other than Equity Interests) used or to be used by the Company, a Restricted Subsidiary or otherwise useful in a Similar Business (it being understood that capital expenditures on property or assets already used in a Similar Business or to replace any property or assets that are the subject of such asset disposition shall be deemed an investment in Additional Assets);

(2)     the Equity Interests of a Person that is engaged in a Similar Business and becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of the acquisition of such Capital Stock by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; or

(3)     any Permitted Investment.

Additional Securities” means Securities issued from time to time under this Indenture subsequent to the Issue Date.

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.

Albertsons” means the party named as such in the preamble to this Indenture until a successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor.

Appendix” means Appendix A attached hereto.

Applicable Premium” means, with respect to any Security on any applicable redemption date, the greater of:

(1)     1.0% of the then outstanding principal amount of the Security; and

(2)     the excess of:

(a)     the present value at such redemption date of (i) the redemption price of the Security at August 15, 2022 as set forth in Paragraph 5 of the applicable Security plus (ii) all required interest payments due on such Security through August 15, 2022 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such redemption date plus 50 basis points; over

(b)     the then outstanding principal amount of the Security,in each case, as calculated by the Issuers or on behalf of the Issuers by such Persons as the Issuers may designate.

 

-2-


The Trustee shall not be responsible for calculating or verifying the calculation of the Applicable Premium.

Asset Sale” means 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 Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (in each case, other than Equity Interests of the Company and other than to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) (each referred to in this definition as a “disposition”), other than:

(a)     a disposition of cash, Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities;

(b)     the disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in a manner permitted pursuant to Section 5.01 or any disposition that constitutes a Change of Control;

(c)     any Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment that is not prohibited to be made under Section 4.04;

(d)     any disposition of assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or disposition of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary in a single transaction or series of related transactions with an aggregate Fair Market Value of less than $50 million;

(e)     dispositions of Divested Properties;

(f)     dispositions of assets received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries upon the foreclosure on a Lien;

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

(h)     dispositions of inventory and other assets in the ordinary course of business (including the lapse and abandonment of intellectual property) or dispositions of obsolete or surplus assets, worn out assets or assets no longer useful in the conduct of business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(i)     the lease, assignment or sublease of any real or personal property consistent with past practice;

(j)     a sale of accounts receivable and related assets of the type specified in the definition of “Receivables Financing” to a Receivables Subsidiary in a Qualified Receivables Financing or in factoring or similar transactions;

(k)     a transfer of accounts receivable and related assets of the type specified in the definition of “Receivables Financing” (or a fractional undivided interest therein) by a Receivables Subsidiary in a Qualified Receivables Financing;

(l)     any exchange of assets for assets (including a combination of assets and Cash Equivalents) related to a Similar Business of comparable or greater market value or usefulness to the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as a whole, as determined in good faith by the Company;

 

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(m)     the grant of any license or sublicense of patents, trademarks, know-how and any other intellectual property or other general intangibles;

(n)     the sale of any property in a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction otherwise not prohibited under this Indenture;

(o)     dispositions in connection with the granting or enforcement of Permitted Liens;

(p)     dispositions of receivables in connection with the compromise, settlement or collection thereof in the ordinary course of business or in bankruptcy or similar proceedings;

(q)     any disposition of assets that were subject to disposition pursuant to a binding agreement as of the Issue Date;

(r)      the sale or discount (with or without recourse, and on customary or commercially reasonable terms and for credit management purposes) of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising in the ordinary course of business, or the conversion or exchange of accounts receivable for notes receivable;

(s)     any disposition of Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement or other obligation with or to a Person (other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) from whom such Restricted Subsidiary was acquired, or from whom such Restricted Subsidiary acquired its business and assets (having been newly formed in connection with such acquisition), made as part of such acquisition and in each case comprising all or a portion of the consideration in respect of such sale or acquisition;

(t)      (i) dispositions of property to the extent that such property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property that is promptly purchased, (ii) dispositions of property to the extent that the proceeds of such disposition are promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement property (which replacement property is actually promptly purchased) and (iii) to the extent allowable under Section 1031 of the Code, any exchange of like property (excluding any boot thereon) for use in a Similar Business;

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

(v)     any surrender or waiver of contract rights or the settlement, release or surrender of contract, tort or other claims of any kind; and

(w)     the unwinding of any Hedging Obligations pursuant to the terms of the documentation governing such Hedging Obligations.

Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended.

Bankruptcy Law” means the Bankruptcy Code and any similar federal, state or foreign law for the relief of debtors.

 

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Board of Directors” means, as to any Person, the board of directors or managers, as applicable, of such Person (or, if such Person is a partnership or limited liability company, the board of directors or other governing body of the general partner or managing member of such Person) or any duly authorized committee thereof.

Borrowing Base” means the sum of (i) 92.5% of the book value (calculated in accordance with GAAP as in effect at such time) of the inventory of the Company and its Subsidiaries, (ii) 90% of the book value (calculated in accordance with GAAP as in effect at such time) of the accounts receivable of the Company and its Subsidiaries (in the case of clauses (i) and (ii) above, using amounts reflected on the most recent available consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries (it being understood that the inventory and accounts receivable of an acquired business may be included if such acquisition has been completed on or prior to the date of determination)) and (iii) 100% of unrestricted cash of the Company and its Subsidiaries (as shown on the most recent balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries).

Business Day” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law to close in New York City, or with respect to payments, 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.

Cash Contribution Amount” means the aggregate amount of cash contributions made to the capital of any Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor as described in the definition of “Contribution Indebtedness.”

Cash Equivalents” means:

(1)     U.S. Dollars, pounds sterling, euros, the national currency of any participating member state of the European Union or, in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary, such local currencies held by it from time to time in the ordinary course of business;

(2)     securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the government of the United States or any country that is a member of the European Union or any agency or instrumentality thereof in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition;

(3)     certificates of deposit, time deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances, in each case with maturities not exceeding one year, and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $500 million, or the foreign currency equivalent thereof, and whose long-term debt is rated “A” or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s or S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency);

 

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(4)     repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2) and (3) above entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3) above;

(5)     commercial paper issued by a corporation (other than an Affiliate of the Company) rated at least “A-1” or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s or S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency) and in each case maturing within one year after the date of acquisition;

(6)     readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision thereof having one of the two highest rating categories obtainable from either Moody’s or S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency) in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition;

(7)     Indebtedness issued by Persons (other than the Equity Investors or any of their Affiliates) with a rating of “A” or higher from S&P or “A-2” or higher from Moody’s in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition; and

(8)     investment funds investing at least 95% of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (1) through (7) above.

Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:

(1)    the Company becomes aware (by way of notice or any other filing pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, proxy, vote, written notice or otherwise) of the acquisition by any Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) including any group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of securities (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act), other than any Permitted Holder, acquires directly or indirectly, in a single transaction or in a related series of transactions, by way of merger, consolidation or other business combination or purchase of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company; or

(2)    the sale, lease or transfer, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole to a Person, other than a Restricted Subsidiary or any Permitted Holder and other than any transaction in compliance with Section 5.01.

For purposes of this definition, a Person shall not be deemed to have beneficial ownership of securities subject to a stock purchase agreement, merger agreement or similar agreement until the consummation of the transactions contemplated by such agreement.

Change of Control Triggering Event” means the occurrence of a Change of Control and a Ratings Event occurring in respect of that Change of Control.

 

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Co-Issuers” means the Persons named as the “Co-Issuers” in the preamble to this Indenture, until a Successor Co-Issuer or Co-Issuers shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter, “Co-Issuers” shall mean such Successor Co-Issuer(s).

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

Company” means the party named as such in the preamble to this Indenture until a successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor.

Consolidated” means, when used to modify a financial term, test, statement, or report of a Person, the application or preparation of such term, test, statement or report (as applicable) based upon the consolidation, in accordance with GAAP, of the financial condition or operating results of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Consolidated Interest Expense” means, for any Test Period, the sum of (a) all interest, premium payments, debt discount, fees, charges and related expenses in connection with borrowed money (including capitalized interest) or in connection with the deferred purchase price of assets, in each case to the extent treated as interest in accordance with GAAP, including, without limitation, all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and net costs under Swap Contracts and (b) the portion of rent expense with respect to such period under Finance Lease Obligations that is treated as interest in accordance with GAAP, in each case of or by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently completed Test Period, all as determined on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, and in each case, excluding (i) any additional cash interest owing pursuant to any registration rights agreement, (ii) accretion or accrual of discounted liabilities, (iii) amortization of deferred financing fees, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses, (iv) any expensing of a bridge, commitment and other financing fees, (v) interest with respect to Indebtedness of any parent of such Person appearing on the balance sheet of such Person solely by reason of push down accounting and (vi) Swap Contract costs.

Consolidated Net Income” means for any Test Period, the aggregate of the Net Income of a Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, that:

(1)     any net after-tax extraordinary, nonrecurring or unusual gains or losses shall be excluded;

(2)     the Net Income for such period shall not include the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles during such period;

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

(4)     any net after-tax gains or losses (less all fees and expenses or charges relating thereto) attributable to the early extinguishment of indebtedness shall be excluded;

(5)     the Net Income for such period of any Person that is not a Subsidiary of the referent Person, or is an Unrestricted Subsidiary, or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting, shall be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions or other payments actually paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) to the referent Person or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period;

 

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(6)     (a) the non-cash portion of “straight-line” rent expense shall be excluded and (b) the cash portion of “straight-line” rent expense which exceeds the amount expensed in respect of such rent expense shall be included;

(7)     unrealized gains and losses relating to hedging transactions and mark-to-market of Indebtedness denominated in foreign currencies resulting from the application of ASC 830 shall be excluded;

(8)     the income (or loss) of any non-consolidated entity during such Test Period in which any other Person has a joint interest shall be excluded, except to the extent of the amount of cash dividends or other distributions actually paid in cash to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period;

(9)     the income (or loss) of a Subsidiary during such Test Period and accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or is merged into or consolidated with the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or that Person’s assets are acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be excluded;

(10)     solely for the purpose of determining the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 4.04(a)(3)(A), the Net Income for such period of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Subsidiary Guarantor) shall be excluded to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Restricted Subsidiary of its Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (which has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by the operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders, unless such restrictions with respect to the payment of dividends or similar distributions have been legally waived; provided that (x) the net loss of any such Restricted Subsidiary shall be included therein and (y) the Consolidated Net Income of such Person shall be increased by the amount of dividends or other distributions or other payments actually paid in cash (or converted into cash) by any such Restricted Subsidiary to such Person, to the extent not already included therein; and

(11)     an amount equal to the maximum amount of tax distributions permitted to be made by the Company in respect of such period in accordance with Section 4.04(b)(xix) shall be included as though such amounts had been paid as income taxes directly by the Company for such period.

Consolidated Non-cash Charges” means, with respect to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period, the aggregate depreciation, amortization, impairment, compensation, rent and other non-cash expenses of such Person and its Subsidiaries reducing Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period on a consolidated basis and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP (including non-cash charges resulting from purchase accounting, in connection with any acquisition or disposition), but excluding (i) any such charge which consists of or requires an accrual of, or cash reserve for, anticipated cash charges for any future period and (ii) the non-cash impact of recording the change in fair value of any embedded derivatives under ASC 815 and related interpretations as a result of the terms of any agreement or instrument to which such Consolidated Non-cash Charges relate.

Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Debt as of such date that is then secured by Liens on property or assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of any date of determination to (b) EBITDA of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended Test Period on or prior to such date, in each case with such pro forma adjustments as are consistent with the pro forma adjustments set forth in the definition of “Interest Coverage Ratio.”

 

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Consolidated Taxes” means, with respect to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for any period, provision for taxes based on income, profits or capital, including, without limitation, state franchise and similar taxes and including, without duplication, an amount equal to the amount of tax distributions actually made in respect of such period in accordance with Section 4.04(b)(xix), which shall be included as though such amounts had been paid as income taxes directly by the Company.

Consolidated Total Debt” means, as of any date of determination, (x) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness, including, without limitation, Finance Lease Obligations, of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on such date (with respect to the ABL Facility, the principal amount of Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on such date shall be based upon the amount drawn thereunder as of the applicable date of determination) minus (y) unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (including cash restricted in favor of the lenders under any Credit Facility); provided that Consolidated Total Debt shall not include Indebtedness in respect of letters of credit, except to the extent of unreimbursed amounts thereunder.

Contribution Indebtedness” means Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of an Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor in an aggregate principal amount not greater than the aggregate amount of cash contributions (other than Excluded Contributions) made to the capital of such Issuer or such Guarantor after the Issue Date, provided that:

(1)     such Contribution Indebtedness shall be Indebtedness with a Stated Maturity later than the Stated Maturity of the Securities, and

(2)     such Contribution Indebtedness (a) is Incurred within 210 days after the making of such cash contributions and (b) is so designated as Contribution Indebtedness pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate on the Incurrence date thereof.

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

Default” means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default; provided that any Default that results solely from the taking of an action that would have been permitted but for the continuation of a previous Default will be deemed to be cured if such previous Default is cured prior to becoming an Event of Default.

Designated Non-cash Consideration” means the Fair Market Value of non-cash consideration received by the Company or one 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 Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent payment, redemption, retirement, sale or other disposition of such Designated Non-cash Consideration.

Designated Preferred Stock” means Preferred Stock of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company of the Company, as applicable (other than Disqualified Stock), that is issued for cash (other than to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to the extent funded by the Company and its

 

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Restricted Subsidiaries) and is so designated as Designated Preferred Stock, pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate, on or prior to the issuance date thereof, the cash proceeds of which are excluded from the calculation set forth in Section 4.04(a)(3).

Disinterested Director” means, with respect to any Affiliate Transaction, a member of the Board of Directors of the Company having no material direct or indirect financial interest in or with respect to such Affiliate Transaction. A member of the Board of Directors of the Company shall be deemed not to have such a financial interest by reason of such member’s holding Equity Interests or similar rights in the Company.

Disqualified Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person which, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is redeemable or exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event:

(1)     matures or is mandatorily redeemable for cash or in exchange for Indebtedness, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise (other than as a result of a change of control or asset sale; provided that the relevant asset sale or change of control provisions, taken as a whole, are no more favorable in any material respect to holders of such Capital Stock than the asset sale and change of control provisions applicable to the Securities and any purchase requirement triggered thereby may not become operative until (or contemporaneously with) compliance with the asset sale and change of control provisions applicable to the Securities (including the purchase of any Securities tendered pursuant thereto)),

(2)     is convertible or exchangeable for Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock at the option of the holder thereof, or

(3)     is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part,

in each case prior to 91 days after the maturity date of the Securities; provided, however, that only the portion of Capital Stock which so matures or is mandatorily redeemable, is so 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 to any plan for the benefit of employees of the Company 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 Company in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s termination, death or disability; provided, further, 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.

Divested Properties” means the stores required to be divested, transferred or otherwise sold by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an acquisition or Investment pursuant to an agreement with or order issued by the Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission or any similar regulatory authority; provided that the Divested Properties shall not constitute all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Domestic Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary that is not a Foreign Subsidiary.

 

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EBITDA” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period for the most recently completed Test Period plus, without duplication, to the extent the same was deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income:

(1)     Consolidated Taxes; plus

(2)     Consolidated Interest Expense; plus

(3)     Consolidated Non-cash Charges; plus

(4)     the amount of management, monitoring, consulting and advisory fees and related expenses paid to the Equity Investors (or any accruals relating to such fees and related expenses) during such period to the extent otherwise permitted under Section 4.07; plus

(5)     any premiums, expenses or charges (other than Consolidated Non-cash Charges) related to any issuance of Equity Interests, Investment, acquisition, disposition, recapitalization or the incurrence or repayment or amendment of Indebtedness (including a refinancing thereof) (whether or not successful or meeting the dollar amount thresholds specified herein), including (i) such fees, expenses or charges related to the issuance of Indebtedness, (ii) any amendment or other modification of Indebtedness and (iii) commissions, discounts, yield, premium or other fees and charges (including any interest expense) related to any Qualified Receivables Financing; plus

(6)     the amount of loss on sale of receivables and related assets to a Receivables Subsidiary in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing; plus

(7)     any costs or expense incurred pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or 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 Company or the net cash proceeds of an issuance of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) solely to the extent that such net cash proceeds are excluded from the calculation of the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 4.04(a)(3)(A); plus

(8)     the amount of any minority interest expense consisting of income of a Subsidiary attributable to minority equity interests of third parties in any non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary deducted in such period in calculating Consolidated Net Income, net of any cash distributions made to such third parties in such period; plus

(9)     the amount of “run-rate” cost savings, operating expense reductions, restructuring charges and expenses and cost-saving synergies projected by the Company in good faith to be realized as a result of actions taken or expected to be taken during, or expected to be taken within 18 months of the end of, such period (calculated on a pro forma basis as though such cost savings, operating expense reductions, restructuring charges and expenses and cost-saving 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 (1) such cost savings, operating expense reductions, restructuring charges and expenses and cost-saving synergies are reasonably identifiable and factually supportable, (2) no cost savings, operating expense reductions, restructuring charges and expenses and cost-saving synergies may be added pursuant to this clause (9) to the extent duplicative of any expenses or charges relating thereto that are either excluded in computing Consolidated Net Income or included (i.e., added back) in computing EBITDA for such period, (3) such adjustments may be incremental to (but not duplicative of) other pro forma adjustments made and (4) the aggregate amount of cost savings, operating expense reductions and cost saving synergies added pursuant to this clause (9) shall not exceed (A) 25.0% of EBITDA for such four-quarter period plus (B) the amount of any such cost savings, operating expense reductions, restructuring

 

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charges and expenses and cost-savings synergies that would be permitted to be included in financial statements prepared in accordance with Regulation S-X under the Securities Act during such four-quarter period; plus

(10)     Public Company Costs; plus

(11)     any unusual, non-recurring or extraordinary expenses, losses or charges;

less, without duplication, (i) non-cash income or gain increasing Consolidated Net Income for such period, excluding any such items to the extent they represent (1) the reversal in such period of an accrual of, or reserve for, potential cash expense in a prior period, (2) any non-cash gains with respect to cash actually received in a prior period to the extent such cash did not increase Consolidated Net Income in a prior period or (3) items representing ordinary course accruals of cash to be received in future periods; plus (ii) any net gain from discontinued operations or net gains from the disposal of discontinued operations to the extent increasing Consolidated Net Income.

In addition, to the extent not already included in Consolidated Net Income, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, EBITDA shall include the amount of net cash proceeds received by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries from business interruption insurance.

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 Investors” means individually and collectively, (a) Cerberus Capital Management, L.P., (b) Lubert-Adler Partners, L.P., (c) Klaff Realty, L.P., (d) Schottenstein Stores Corporation, and (e) Kimco Realty Corporation.

Equity Offering” means any public or private sale after the Issue Date of common stock or Preferred Stock of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company of the Company, as applicable (other than Disqualified Stock), other than public offerings with respect to the Company’s or such direct or indirect parent company’s common stock registered on Form S-8.

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

Excluded Contributions” means the net cash proceeds, Cash Equivalents and/or Investment Grade Securities or other property or assets received by the Company after the Issue Date from:

(1)     contributions to its common equity capital, and

(2)     the issuance or sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or pursuant to any Company or Restricted Subsidiary management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement) of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock and Designated Preferred Stock) of the Company,

in each case designated as Excluded Contributions pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate, the proceeds of which are excluded from the calculation set forth in Section 4.04(a)(3).

 

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Fair Market Value” means, with respect to any asset or property, the price which could be negotiated in an arm’s-length, free market transaction, for cash, between a willing seller and a willing and able buyer, neither of whom is under undue pressure or compulsion to complete the transaction, as determined by the Company in its good faith discretion. “Fair Market Value” may be (but need not be) conclusively established by means of an Officer’s Certificate or resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company setting out such Fair Market Value as determined by such Officer or such Board of Directors in good faith.

Finance Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a finance lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized and reflected as a finance lease on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) in accordance with GAAP.

Foreign Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary not organized or existing under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia and any direct or indirect Subsidiary of such Subsidiary, and any Subsidiary of such Person that otherwise would be a Domestic Subsidiary substantially all of whose assets consist of Capital Stock and/or indebtedness of one or more Foreign Subsidiaries and any other assets incidental thereto.

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, bonds and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business.

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, in the United States. For the avoidance of doubt the terms “consolidated” and “Consolidated” with respect to any Person shall mean such Person consolidated with its Restricted Subsidiaries, and shall not include any Unrestricted Subsidiary, but the interest of such Person in an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be accounted for as an Investment.

Guarantee means any guarantee of the obligations of the Issuers under this Indenture and the Securities by any Person in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

Guarantor” means any Person that Incurs a Guarantee; provided that upon the release or discharge of such Person from its Guarantee in accordance with this Indenture, such Person ceases to be a Guarantor.

Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under (1) currency exchange, interest rate or commodity swap agreements, currency exchange, interest rate or commodity cap agreements and currency exchange, interest rate or commodity collar agreements and (2) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in currency exchange, interest rates or commodity prices.

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

Incur” (including, with correlative meaning, the term “Incurrence”) means issue, assume, guarantee, incur or otherwise become liable for; provided, however, that any Indebtedness or Equity Interests of a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary (whether by merger, consolidation, acquisition or otherwise) shall be deemed to be Incurred by such Person at the time it becomes a Subsidiary.

 

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Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, without duplication: (1) the principal and premium (if any) of any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent, (a) in respect of borrowed money, (b) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances (or, without duplication, reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), with the amount of letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances being the amount equal to the amount available to be drawn, (c) representing the deferred and unpaid purchase price of any property (except trade payables and similar obligations) which purchase price is due more than one year after the later of the date of placing the property in service or taking delivery and title thereto, or (d) in respect of Finance Lease Obligations, if and to the extent that any of the foregoing indebtedness (other than letters of credit) would appear as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP; (2) to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation of such Person to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, on the Indebtedness of another Person (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business); and (3) to the extent not otherwise included, the principal component of Indebtedness of another Person secured by a Lien on any asset owned by such Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person); provided, however, that the amount of such Indebtedness will be the lesser of: (a) the Fair Market Value of such asset at such date of determination, and (b) the amount of such Indebtedness of such other Person; provided that obligations under or in respect of Receivables Financings, Hedging Obligations or any lease related to Real Property among the Company, any Restricted Subsidiary or any Person that is, directly or indirectly, controlled (as measured by total voting power) by a Parent Guarantor or the Company (or, in each case, any successor thereof), in each case, shall be deemed not to constitute Indebtedness.

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

Independent Financial Advisor” means an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of nationally recognized standing.

Initial Purchasers” means BofA Securities, Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Barclays Capital Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, MUFG Securities Americas Inc., PNC Capital Markets LLC, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. and U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.

Interest Coverage Ratio” means, with respect to Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period, the ratio of EBITDA for such period to the Consolidated Interest Expense for such period. In the event that the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary incurs, assumes, guarantees, redeems, repays, retires or extinguishes any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness incurred or repaid under any revolving credit facility unless such Indebtedness has been permanently repaid and has not been replaced) subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Interest Coverage Ratio is being calculated but prior to or simultaneously with the event for which the calculation of the Interest Coverage Ratio is made (the “Interest Coverage Ratio Calculation Date”), then the Interest Coverage Ratio shall be calculated on a pro forma basis giving effect to such incurrence, assumption, guarantee, redemption, repayment, retirement or extinguishment of Indebtedness as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period; provided, however, that the pro forma calculation of Consolidated Interest Expense shall not give effect to any Indebtedness being incurred on such date (or expected to be incurred thereafter).

For purposes of making the computation referred to above, Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations and discontinued operations (as determined in accordance with GAAP) that have been made by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to or simultaneously

 

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with the Interest Coverage Ratio Calculation Date shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations and discontinued operations (and the change in any associated Consolidated Interest Expense and the change in EBITDA resulting therefrom) had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period. If since the beginning of such period any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries since the beginning of such period shall have made any Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or discontinued operation that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then the Interest Coverage Ratio shall be calculated on a pro forma basis giving 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.

Notwithstanding anything in this definition or anything else to the contrary, when calculating the Total Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio or the Interest Coverage Ratio, as applicable, in each case in connection with a Limited Condition Acquisition, the date of determination of such ratio and of any Default or Event of Default blocker shall, at the option of the Company, be the date the definitive agreements for such Limited Condition Acquisition are entered into and such ratios shall be calculated on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such Limited Condition Acquisition and the other transactions to be entered into in connection therewith (including any incurrence of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) as if they occurred at the beginning of the four-quarter reference period, and, for the avoidance of doubt, (x) if any such ratios are exceeded as a result of fluctuations in such ratio (including due to fluctuations in EBITDA of the Company or the target company) at or prior to the consummation of the relevant Limited Condition Acquisition, such ratios will not be deemed to have been exceeded as a result of such fluctuations solely for purposes of determining whether the Limited Condition Acquisition is permitted hereunder and (y) such ratios shall not be tested at the time of consummation of such Limited Condition Acquisition or related transactions; provided further, that if the Company elects to have such determinations occur at the time of entry into such definitive agreement, any such transaction (including the related transactions to be entered into connection therewith) shall be deemed to have occurred on the date the definitive agreements are entered and outstanding thereafter for purposes of subsequently calculating any ratios under this Indenture after the date of such agreement and before the consummation of such Limited Condition Acquisition and to the extent baskets were utilized in satisfying any covenants, such baskets shall be deemed utilized, but any calculation of Total Assets or Consolidated Net Income for purposes of other incurrences of Indebtedness or Liens or making of Restricted Payments (not related to such Limited Condition Acquisition) shall not reflect such Limited Condition Acquisition until it is closed.

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 chief accounting officer of the Company. 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 Interest Coverage Ratio Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedging Obligations applicable to such Indebtedness). Interest on a Finance Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company to be the rate of interest implicit in such Finance Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of making the computation referred to above, interest on any Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility computed with a pro forma basis shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period except as set forth in the first paragraph of this definition. Interest on Indebtedness that may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a London interbank offered rate, or other rate, shall be determined to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as the Company may designate.

 

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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.

Investment Grade Securities” means:

(1)     securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government or any agency or instrumentality thereof (other than Cash Equivalents) and in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition,

(2)     securities that have a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s or BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, or, if Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Securities for reasons outside of the Issuers’ control, an equivalent rating by any other “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as such term is defined under Section 3(a)(62) under the Exchange Act selected by the Company or any parent of the Company as a replacement agency for Moody’s or S&P, as the case may be,

(3)     investments in any fund that invests at least 95% of its assets in investments of the type described in clauses (1) and (2) which fund may also hold immaterial amounts of cash pending investment and/or distribution, and

(4)     corresponding instruments in countries other than the United States customarily utilized for high quality investments and in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition.

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 and advances to customers and suppliers and commission, travel and similar advances to officers, employees and consultants 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 of the referent 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. For purposes of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary” and Section 4.04:

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

(a)     the Company’s “Investment” in such Subsidiary at the time of such designation less

(b)     the portion (proportionate to the Company’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; and

 

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(2)     any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be valued at its Fair Market Value at the time of such transfer, in each case as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company.

Issue Date” means August 15, 2019.

Issuers” means the Persons named as the “Issuers” in the preamble to this Indenture, until a Successor Company or Companies and/or Successor Co-Issuer or Co-Issuers, as applicable, shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter, “Issuers” shall mean such Successor Company(s) and/or Successor Co-Issuer(s).

Issuers Request” means a written request signed in the name of the Issuers by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President, any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President (whether or not designated by a number or a word or words added before or after the title “Vice President”), the Treasurer, the Secretary or the Assistant Secretary of each Issuer, and delivered to the Trustee.

Joint Venture” means any partnership, corporation or other entity, in which up to and including 50% of the partnership interests, outstanding voting stock or other Equity Interests is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company and/or one or more of its Subsidiaries.

Legacy Notes” means the Safeway Notes and the NALP Notes.

Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit, arrangement, encumbrance, security interest, lien (statutory or otherwise), or preference, priority or other security or similar agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including, without limitation, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing); provided that in no event shall an operating lease be deemed to constitute a Lien.

Limited Condition Acquisition” means any acquisition, including by means of a merger, amalgamation or consolidation, by the Company or one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries, the consummation of which is not conditioned upon the availability of, or on obtaining, third party financing.

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Services, Inc. or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

NALP” means the party named as such in the preamble to this Indenture until a successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor.

NALP Notes” has the meaning set forth in the Offering Memorandum.

Net Cash Proceeds” means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, any cash received in respect of or upon the sale or other disposition of any Designated Non-cash Consideration received in any Asset Sale and any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or otherwise, but only as and when received, but excluding the assumption by the acquiring Person of Indebtedness relating to the disposed assets or other consideration received in any other non-cash form), net of the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale and the sale or disposition of such Designated Non-cash Consideration (including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and brokerage and sales commissions), and any relocation expenses Incurred as a result

 

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thereof, taxes paid or payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements related thereto), amounts required to be paid to the holder of a beneficial interest in such asset or applied to the repayment of principal, premium (if any) and interest on Indebtedness required (other than pursuant to Section 4.06(b)) to be paid as a result of such transaction, and any deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the Company as a reserve in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities associated with the asset disposed of in such transaction and retained by the Company after such sale or other disposition thereof, including, without limitation, pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations associated with such transaction.

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

Non-recourse Indebtedness” means Indebtedness the terms of which provide that the lender’s claim for repayment of such Indebtedness is limited solely to a claim against the property which secures such Indebtedness.

Obligations” means any principal, interest, premium, if any, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, expenses, damages or other liabilities or amounts payable under the documentation governing or otherwise in respect of any Indebtedness.

Offering Memorandum” means the offering memorandum dated August 1, 2019 relating to the offering of the Original Securities.

Officer” means, with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President, any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President (whether or not designated by a number or a word or words added before or after the title “Vice President”), the Treasurer, the Secretary or the Assistant Secretary of such Person, or any direct or indirect parent of such Person, as applicable, or other Person performing such functions, regardless of title or designated as an “Officer” by the Board of Directors for purposes of this Indenture.

Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of each Issuer by an Officer of each Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Company.

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 Issuers or the Trustee.

Parent Entity” means any direct or indirect parent of the Company.

Pari Passu Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of an Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor that ranks equally in right of payment with the Securities or a Subsidiary Guarantee, as applicable.

Permitted Asset Swap” means the substantially concurrent purchase and sale or exchange of assets used or useful in the business or Related Business Assets or a combination of assets used or useful in the business, Related Business Assets and cash or Cash Equivalents between the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and another Person; provided that any cash or Cash Equivalents received must be applied in accordance with Section 4.06.

 

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Permitted Holders” means (i) the Equity Investors and any other Funds or managed accounts advised or managed by any Equity Investor or any of an Equity Investor’s Affiliates, (ii) any Person that has no material assets other than the Capital Stock of the Company, a parent of the Company or Capital Stock of a Person engaged in a Similar Business and, directly or indirectly, holds or acquires 100% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company, and of which no other Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), other than any Permitted Holder specified in clause (i) above, holds more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock thereof, and (iii) any group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) the members of which include any Permitted Holder specified in clause (i) above and that, directly or indirectly, hold or acquire beneficial ownership of the Voting Stock of the Company (referred to in this definition as a “Permitted Holder Group”), so long as (1) each member of the Permitted Holder Group has voting rights proportional to the percentage of ownership interests held or acquired by such member and (2) no Person or other “group” (other than a Permitted Holder specified in clause (i) above) beneficially owns more than 50% on a fully diluted basis of the Voting Stock held by the Permitted Holder Group. Any person or group, together with its Affiliates, whose acquisition of beneficial ownership constitutes a Change of Control in respect of which a Change of Control Offer is made in accordance with the requirements of this Indenture will thereafter constitute an additional Permitted Holder.

Permitted Investments” means:

(1)     any Investment in the Company (including the Securities) or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(2)     any Investment in cash or Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities;

(3)     any Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in a Person that is primarily engaged in a Similar Business if as a result of such Investment (a) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, 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 all or substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

(4)     any Investment in securities or other assets not constituting Cash Equivalents and received in connection with an Asset Sale made pursuant to Section 4.06 or any other disposition of assets not constituting an Asset Sale;

(5)     any Investment (x) existing on the Issue Date, (y) made pursuant to binding commitments (whether or not subject to conditions) in effect on the Issue Date or (z) that replaces, refinances, refunds, renews or extends any Investment described under either of the immediately preceding clauses (x) or (y), provided that any such Investment is in an amount that does not exceed the amount replaced, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended unless required by the terms of the Investment or otherwise permitted hereunder;

(6)     advances to future, current and former officers, directors, employees and consultants of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, or any direct or indirect parent company thereof, not in excess of $75 million outstanding at any one time in the aggregate;

(7)     any Investment acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) in exchange for any other Investment or accounts receivable held by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with or as a result of a bankruptcy, workout, reorganization

 

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or recapitalization of the Company or such other Investment or accounts receivable, (b) in satisfaction of judgments against other Persons, or (c) as a result of a foreclosure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default;

(8)     Hedging Obligations entered into (1) for the purpose of fixing, managing or hedging interest rate risk with respect to any Indebtedness that is permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be outstanding; (2) for the purpose of fixing, managing or hedging currency exchange rate risk with respect to any currency exchanges; or (3) for the purpose of fixing, managing or hedging commodity price risk with respect to any commodity purchases;

(9)     any Investment by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in a Similar Business (other than an Investment in an Unrestricted Subsidiary) having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (9) that are at the time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (x) $1,500 million and (y) 6.0% of Total Assets at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); provided, however, that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (9) is made in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (9) for so long as such Person continues to be a Restricted Subsidiary;

(10)     additional Investments by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (10) that are at the time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (x) $1,000 million and (y) 4.0% of Total Assets at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value);

(11)     (a) loans and advances to officers, directors and employees for business-related travel expenses, moving and relocation expenses and other similar expenses, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business, (b) extensions of credit to customers and suppliers consistent with past practice, (c) to the extent constituting an Investment, guarantees of operating leases or (d) Investments made with the assets comprising the wellness centers of the Company and its Subsidiaries;

(12)     Investments the payment for which consists of Equity Interests of an Issuer (other than Disqualified Stock) or any direct or indirect parent company of the Company, as applicable; provided, however, that such Equity Interests will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 4.04(a)(3);

(13)     any transaction to the extent it constitutes an Investment that is permitted by and made in accordance with Section 4.07(b) (except transactions described in clauses (ii), (v) and (viii)(B) of such Section);

(14)     Investments consisting of the licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons;

(15)     guarantees issued in accordance with Sections 4.03 and 4.11;

 

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(16)     any Investment by Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company in other Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company and Investments by Subsidiaries that are not Restricted Subsidiaries in other Subsidiaries that are not Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company;

(17)     Investments consisting of purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, materials and equipment or purchases of contract rights or licenses or leases of intellectual property, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

(18)     any Investment in a Receivables Subsidiary or any Investment by a Receivables Subsidiary in any other Person in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing, including Investments of funds held in accounts permitted or required by the arrangements governing such Qualified Receivables Financing or any related Indebtedness; provided, however, that any Investment in a Receivables Subsidiary is in the form of cash, a Purchase Money Note, contribution of additional receivables or an equity interest;

(19)     Investments in joint ventures of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (19) that are at the time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (x) $1,000 million and (y) 4.0% of Total Assets at the time of such Investment; plus the amount of any distributions, dividends, payments or other returns in respect of such Investments; 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 (2) above and shall not be included as having been made pursuant to this clause (19);

(20)     Investments of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company acquired after the Issue Date or of an entity merged into or consolidated with a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction that is not prohibited by Section 5.01 after the Issue Date to the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of such acquisition, merger or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger or consolidation;

(21)     Investments by an Unrestricted Subsidiary entered into prior to the day such Unrestricted Subsidiary is redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary;

(22)     Investments in receivables owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary created or acquired in the ordinary course of business;

(23)     to the extent constituting an Investment, Permitted Liens or Permitted Debt;

(24)     Investments consisting of earnest money deposits required in connection with a purchase agreement, or letter of intent, or other acquisitions to the extent not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture;

(25)     Investments consisting of licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons;

(26)     contributions to a “rabbi” trust for the benefit of employees or other grantor trust subject to claims of creditors in the case of a bankruptcy of the Company;

(27)     Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (27) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (x) $1,000 million and (y) 4.0% of Total Assets at the

 

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time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); provided that at the time of, and after giving effect to, such Investment, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof; and

(28)     Investments (other than cash or Cash Equivalents) in a Person that is, directly or indirectly, controlled (as measured by total voting power) by a Parent Guarantor or the Company (or any successor thereof).

Permitted Liens” means, with respect to any Person:

(1)    Liens existing on the Issue Date (other than pursuant to clause (19) below);

(2)    Liens affecting property of a corporation or other entity existing at the time it becomes a Subsidiary or at the time it is merged into or consolidated with an Issuer or a Subsidiary (provided that such Liens are not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such entity becoming a Subsidiary or such merger or consolidation and do not extend to or cover property of an Issuer or any Subsidiary other than property of the entity so acquired or which becomes a Subsidiary);

(3)    Liens (including purchase money Liens) existing at the time of acquisition thereof on property acquired after the date hereof or to secure Indebtedness Incurred prior to, at the time of, or within 24 months after the acquisition for the purpose of financing all or part of the purchase price of property acquired after the date hereof (provided that such Liens do not extend to or cover any property of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries other than the property so acquired);

(4)    Liens on any property acquired, developed, constructed or otherwise improved by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company (including Liens on the Equity Interests of any Subsidiary of the Company and substantially all assets of such Subsidiary, in each case to the extent such property constitutes substantially all of the business of such Subsidiary) to secure or provide for the payment of any part of the purchase price of the property or the cost of the development, construction or improvement thereof (including architectural, engineering, financing, consultant, advisor and legal fees and preopening costs), or any Indebtedness incurred to provide funds for such purposes, or any Lien on any such property existing at the time of acquisition thereof;

(5)    Liens which secure Indebtedness or other obligations of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company permitted to be Incurred in accordance with Section 4.03;

(6)    Liens on the stock, partnership or other Equity Interest of an Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in any Joint Venture or any Subsidiary that owns an Equity Interest in such Joint Venture to secure Indebtedness, provided the amount of such Indebtedness is contributed and/or advanced solely to such Joint Venture;

(7)    Liens to government entities, including pollution control or industrial revenue bond financing;

 

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(8)    Liens required by any contract or statute in order to permit the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company to perform any contract or subcontract made by it with or at the request of a governmental entity;

(9)    mechanic’s, materialman’s, carrier’s or other like Liens, arising in the ordinary course of business;

(10)    Liens for taxes or assessments and similar charges;

(11)    zoning restrictions, easements, licenses, covenants, reservations, restrictions on the use of real property and certain other minor irregularities of title;

(12)    Liens required by an escrow agreement in connection with the incurrence of Indebtedness;

(13)    pledges or deposits by such Person under workmen’s compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws or similar legislation, or good faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to which such Person is a party, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of such Person or deposits of cash or U.S. government bonds to secure surety or appeal bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as security for contested taxes or import duties or for the payment of rent, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business;

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

(15)    leases and subleases of real property which do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

(16)    Liens securing cash management services (and other “bank products”) in the ordinary course of business;

(17)    Liens on equipment of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company granted in the ordinary course of business to the Company’s or such Subsidiary’s client or supplier at which such equipment is located;

(18)    Liens securing Obligations in respect of Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03(a) (including the Non-Guarantor Exception) or clauses (v), (xiii), (xiv), (xxi), (xxv), (xxvi) or (xxvii) of Section 4.03(b); provided that, in the case of Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03(a) the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio would not exceed 3.75 to 1.00 after giving pro forma effect to such Incurrence (including the use of proceeds therefrom);

(19)    Liens securing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) of Section 4.03(b) plus in the case of any such Indebtedness that is amended, extended, renewed, restated, refunded, replaced, refinanced, supplemented, modified or otherwise changed which is secured by a Lien permitted under this clause (19) or a portion thereof, the aggregate amount of fees,

 

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underwriting discounts, accrued and unpaid interest, premiums and other costs and expenses incurred in connection with such amendment, extension, renewal, restatement, refunding, replacement, refinancing, supplement, modification or change;

(20)    Liens securing the Securities and the Subsidiary Guarantees;

(21)    Liens on assets or property of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor securing Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor;

(22)    Liens on the Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(23)    Liens on accounts receivable and related assets of the type specified in the definition of “Receivables Financing” Incurred in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing;

(24)    (a) judgment and attachment Liens and Liens arising out of decrees, orders and awards, in each case, to the extent not giving rise to an Event of Default and (b) notices of lis pendens and associated rights related to litigation being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings that have the effect of preventing the forfeiture or sale of the property or assets subject to such notices and rights and for which adequate reserves have been made to the extent required by GAAP;

(25)    [reserved];

(26)    Liens not otherwise permitted by clauses (1) through (25) above securing obligations outstanding not to exceed in the aggregate the greater of (i) $1.25 billion and (ii) 5.0% of Total Assets at the time of such Incurrence;

(27)    Liens (i) on cash advances in favor of the seller of any property to be acquired in an Investment permitted pursuant to Permitted Investments to be applied against the purchase price for such Investment, and (ii) consisting of an agreement to sell any property in an asset sale permitted under this Indenture; and

(28)    any extension, renewal, replacement, restructuring, refinancing or other modification of any Indebtedness secured by a Lien permitted by any of the foregoing clauses (1) through (27).

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

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

Public Company Costs” means (a) costs, expenses and disbursements associated with, related to or incurred in anticipation of, or preparation for compliance with (x) the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith, (y) the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable to companies with equity or debt securities held by the public, and (z) the rules of national securities exchange companies with listed equity or debt securities, (b) costs and expenses associated with investor relations, shareholder meetings and

 

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reports to shareholders or debtholders and listing fees, and (c) directors’ compensation, fees, indemnification, expense reimbursement (including legal and other professional fees, expenses and disbursements), and directors’ and officers’ insurance.

Purchase Agreement” means the Purchase Agreement, dated August 1, 2019, by and among the Issuers, the Guarantors and BofA Securities, Inc., as representative of the Initial Purchasers.

Purchase Money Note” means a promissory note of a Receivables Subsidiary evidencing a line of credit, which may be irrevocable, from the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company to a Receivables Subsidiary in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing, which note is intended to finance that portion of the purchase price that is not paid by cash or a contribution of equity.

Qualified Real Estate Financing Facility” means (i) any credit facility made available to a Real Estate Subsidiary that is non-recourse to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than Real Estate Subsidiaries party to such credit facility) and secured by the Real Property of Real Estate Subsidiaries (or secured by the Equity Interests of any Real Estate Subsidiary) and (ii) any sale and leaseback of Real Property of Real Estate Subsidiaries, as the same may be amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time or refunded, refinanced, restructured, replaced, renewed, repaid, increased or extended from time to time.

Qualified Receivables Financing” means any Receivables Financing of a Receivables Subsidiary that meets the following conditions:

(1)     the Board of Directors of the Company shall have determined in good faith that such Qualified Receivables Financing (including financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions) is in the aggregate economically fair and reasonable to the Company and the Receivables Subsidiary,

(2)     all sales of accounts receivable and related assets to and by the Receivables Subsidiary are made at Fair Market Value, and

(3)     the financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions thereof shall be market terms (as determined in good faith by the Company) and may include Standard Securitization Undertakings.

The grant of a security interest in any accounts receivable of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than a Receivables Subsidiary) to secure the ABL Facility shall not be deemed a Qualified Receivables Financing.

Rating Agency” means (1) each of Moody’s and S&P and (2) if Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Securities for reasons outside of the Issuers’ control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as such term is defined under Section 3(a)(62) under the Exchange Act selected by the Company or any parent of the Company as a replacement agency for Moody’s or S&P, as the case may be.

Ratings Decline Period” means the period that (i) begins on the occurrence of a Change of Control and (ii) ends 60 days following consummation of such Change of Control.

 

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Ratings Event” means a downgrade by one or more gradations (including gradations within ratings categories as well as between ratings categories) or withdrawal of the rating of the Securities within the Ratings Decline Period by both Rating Agencies, as a result of which the rating of the Securities on any day during such Ratings Decline Period is below the rating by the applicable Rating Agency in effect immediately preceding the first public announcement of the Change of Control (or occurrence thereof if such Change of Control occurs prior to public announcement); provided, however, that a Ratings Event otherwise arising by virtue of a particular reduction in rating by the applicable Rating Agency will not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control (and thus will not be deemed a Ratings Event for purposes of the definition of Change of Control Triggering Event) if such Rating Agency making such reduction in rating to which this definition would otherwise apply does not announce or publicly confirm or otherwise inform the trustee in writing at the Company’s request that the reduction was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprised of or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the applicable Change of Control (whether or not the applicable Change of Control has occurred at the time of the Ratings Event).

Real Estate Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that (i) does not engage in any business other than owning or leasing real property or (ii) owning directly or indirectly the Equity Interests of its Restricted Subsidiaries described in clause (i) or a holding company of any such Subsidiary.

Real Property” means all now owned and hereafter acquired real property, including leasehold interests, together with all buildings, structures, and other improvements located thereon and all licenses, easements and appurtenances relating thereto, wherever located.

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

Receivables Financing” means any transaction or series of transactions pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may sell, convey or otherwise transfer to a Person, or may grant a security interest in, any accounts receivable (whether now existing or arising in the future) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and any assets related thereto including, without limitation, all collateral securing such accounts receivable, all contracts and all guarantees or other obligations in respect of such accounts receivable, proceeds of such accounts receivable and other assets which are customarily transferred or in respect of which security interests are customarily granted in connection with asset securitization transactions involving accounts receivable and any Hedging Obligations pursuant to a Swap Contract entered into by the Company or any such Subsidiary in connection with such accounts receivable.

Receivables Repurchase Obligation” means any obligation of a seller of receivables in a Qualified Receivables Financing to repurchase receivables arising as a result of a breach of a representation, warranty or covenant or otherwise, including as a result of a receivable or portion thereof becoming subject to any asserted defense, dispute, off-set or counterclaim of any kind as a result of any action taken by, any failure to take action by or any other event relating to the seller.

 

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Receivables Subsidiary” means a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company (or other Person formed for the purposes of engaging in a Qualified Receivables Financing with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in which the Company or such Subsidiary makes an Investment and to which the Company or such Subsidiary transfers accounts receivable and related assets) which engages in no activities other than in connection with the Receivables Financing, all proceeds thereof and all rights (contractual or other), collateral and other assets relating thereto, and any business or activities incidental or related to such business and which is designated by the Board of Directors of the Company (as provided below) as a Receivables Subsidiary and:

(a)    no portion of the Indebtedness or any other obligations (contingent or otherwise) of which (i) is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding guarantees of obligations (other than the principal of, and interest on, Indebtedness) pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings), (ii) is recourse to or obligates the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than such Receivables Subsidiary) in any way other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings, or (iii) subjects any property or asset of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, to the satisfaction thereof, other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings,

(b)    with which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has any material contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding other than on terms which the Company reasonably believes to be no less favorable to the Company or such Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons that are not Affiliates of the Company or such Subsidiary, and

(c)    to which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has any obligation to maintain or preserve such entity’s financial condition or cause such entity to achieve certain levels of operating results.

Any such designation by the Board of Directors of the Company or such other Person shall be evidenced to the Trustee by delivery to the Trustee of a certified copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company or such other Person giving effect to such designation and an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing conditions.

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 Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in exchange for assets transferred by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary will not be deemed to be Related Business Assets if they consist of securities of a Person, unless upon receipt of the securities of such Person, such Person would become a Restricted Subsidiary.

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

Restricted Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any Subsidiary of such Person other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary of such Person. Unless otherwise indicated in this Indenture, all references to Restricted Subsidiaries shall mean Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company.

S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Investors Ratings Service, and any successor thereto.

Safeway” means the party named as such in the preamble to this Indenture until a successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor.

Safeway Notes” has the meaning set forth in the Offering Memorandum.

Sale and Lease-Back Transaction” means any arrangement with a person (other than the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), or to which any such person is a party, providing for the leasing to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of property which has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to such person, or to any other person (other than the Company of any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) to which funds have been or are to be advanced by such person on the security of the leased property; provided that in connection with any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, (x) the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has received cash proceeds in an amount equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value of such property and (y) on terms at least as favorable to the Company or such Subsidiary as could be obtained on an arm’s length basis from a non-Affiliate, as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company in good faith.

 

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SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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

Significant Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary that would be a “Significant Subsidiary” of the Company within the meaning of Rule 1-02 under Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC.

Similar Business” means any business conducted or proposed to be conducted by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on the Issue Date or any business that is similar, reasonably related, incidental, ancillary or complementary thereto, or is a reasonable extension, development or expansion thereof.

Standard Securitization Undertakings” means representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities and guarantees of performance entered into by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries which the Company has determined in good faith to be customary in a Receivables Financing including, without limitation, those relating to the servicing of the assets of a Receivables Subsidiary, it being understood that any Receivables Repurchase Obligation shall be deemed to be a Standard Securitization Undertaking.

Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any security, the date specified in such security as the fixed date on which the final payment of principal of such security is due and payable.

Subordinated Indebtedness” means (a) with respect to an Issuer, any Indebtedness of such Issuer which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the Securities, and (b) with respect to any Subsidiary Guarantor, any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary Guarantor which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to its Subsidiary Guarantee.

Subsidiary” of any specified Person, means any corporation, partnership or limited liability company of which at least a majority of the outstanding stock (or other Equity Interests) having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power for the election of directors (or the equivalent) of such Person (irrespective of whether or not at the time stock (or other Equity Interests) of any other class or classes of such Person shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time directly or indirectly owned by such Person, or by one or more other Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more other Subsidiaries.

Subsidiary Guarantee” means a Guarantee by a Subsidiary Guarantor of the Issuers’ Obligations with respect to the Securities.

Subsidiary Guarantor” means each Subsidiary of the Company party hereto as a Guarantor and each other Subsidiary of the Company that hereafter guarantees the Securities pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

Swap Contracts” 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

 

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forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.

Term Loan Facility” means the senior secured term loan credit agreement as in effect on the Issue Date, as amended, extended, renewed, restated, refunded, replaced, refinanced, supplemented, modified or otherwise changed (in whole or in part, and without limitation as to amount, terms, conditions, covenants and other provisions) from time to time, and any one or more agreements (and related documents) governing Indebtedness, including indentures, incurred to refinance, substitute, supplement, replace or add to (including increasing the amount available for borrowing (provided that such increase is permitted under Section 4.03) or adding or removing any Person as a borrower, issuer or guarantor thereunder, in whole or in part), the borrowings and commitments then outstanding or permitted to be outstanding under such Term Loan Facility or one or more successors to the Term Loan Facility or one or more new credit agreements and whether with the same or any other agent, lender or group of lenders of holders. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the term “Term Loan Facility” shall include any agreement or instrument (1) changing the maturity of any Indebtedness Incurred thereunder or contemplated thereby, (2) adding additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder, (3) increasing the amount of Indebtedness Incurred thereunder or available to be borrowed thereunder or (4) otherwise altering the terms and conditions thereof.

Test Period” means, for any date of determination, the latest four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Company for which financial statements are available.

TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Sections 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the Issue Date.

Total Assets” means at any date, the total assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

Total Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Debt as of such date to (b) EBITDA of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended Test Period on or prior to such date, in each case with such pro forma adjustments as are consistent with the pro forma adjustments set forth in the definition of “Interest Coverage Ratio.”

Treasury Rate” means, as of the applicable redemption date, the yield to maturity as of such redemption date of Treasury Securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15(519) that has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to such redemption date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data selected by the Company in good faith)) most nearly equal to the period from such redemption date to August 15, 2022; provided, however, that if the period from such redemption date to August 15, 2022 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded Treasury Securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year will be used.

 

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Treasury Securities” mean any obligations issued or guaranteed by the United States government or any agency thereof.

Trust Officer” means any officer within the corporate trust office of the Trustee, with direct responsibility for performing the Trustee’s duties under this Indenture and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter and this Indenture, any other officer of the Trustee to whom such matter is referred because of such person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject, and, in each case, who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

Trustee” means the party named as such in the preamble to this Indenture until a successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor.

Uniform Commercial Code” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the relevant jurisdiction from time to time.

Unrestricted Subsidiary” means:

(1)    any Subsidiary of the Company that at the time of determination shall be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Board of Directors of such Person in the manner provided below; and

(2)    any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

The Board of Directors of the Company may designate any Subsidiary of the Company (including any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary of the Company but excluding the Company and the Co-Issuers) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries owns any Equity Interests or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Lien on any property of, the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated; provided, however, that the Subsidiary to be so designated and its Subsidiaries do not at the time of designation have and do not thereafter Incur any Indebtedness pursuant to which the lender has recourse to any of the assets of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

The Board of Directors of the Company may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that immediately after giving effect to such designation:

(x)    (1) the Company could Incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.03(a) or (2) the Interest Coverage Ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries would not be less than such ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such designation, in each case on a pro forma basis taking into account such designation, and

(y)    no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

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

 

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U.S. Government Obligations” means securities that are:

(1)    direct obligations of the United States of America 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 of America the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America,

which, in each case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligations or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such U.S. Government Obligations held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depository receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligations or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the U.S. Government Obligations evidenced by such depository receipt.

Voting Stock” means, with respect to any Person as of any date, the Capital Stock of such Person that is at such date entitled to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.

Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness or Disqualified 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 redemption or similar payment with respect to such Disqualified Stock multiplied by the amount of such payment, by (2) the sum of all such payments.

Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary” means any Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary.

Wholly Owned Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, a Subsidiary of such Person 100% of the outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership 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 and one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

SECTION 1.02.    Other Definitions.

 

Term

  

Defined in

Section

“Affiliate Transaction”

   4.07(a)

“Agent Members”

   Appendix A

“Asset Sale Offer”

   4.06(b)

“Change of Control Offer”

   4.08(b)

“Clearstream”

   Appendix A

“covenant defeasance option”

   8.04

“Covenant Termination Event”

   4.14(a)

“Custodian”

   6.01

“Definitive Security”

   Appendix A

“Depository”

   Appendix A

 

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Term

  

Defined in
Section

“Discharged”

   8.04

“Euroclear”

   Appendix A

“Event of Default”

   6.01

“Excess Proceeds”

   4.06(b)

“Global Securities”

   Appendix A

“Global Securities Legend”

   Appendix A

“Guaranteed Obligations”

   10.01(a)

“IAI”

   Appendix A

“legal defeasance option”

   8.04

“Non-Guarantor Exception”

   4.03(a)

“Offer Period”

   4.06(d)

“Original Securities”

   Preamble

“Parent Guarantor”

   4.02

“Paying Agent”

   2.04(a)

“Permitted Debt”

   4.03(b)

“protected purchaser”

   2.08

“QIB”

   Appendix A

“Reference Indebtedness”

   4.11

“Refinancing Indebtedness”

   4.03(b)(xv)

“Refunding Capital Stock”

   4.04(b)(ii)(A)

“Registrar”

   2.04(a)

“Regulation S”

   Appendix A

“Regulation S Global Securities”

   Appendix A

“Regulation S Securities”

   Appendix A

“Restricted Payments”

   4.04(a)

“Restricted Period”

   Appendix A

“Restricted Securities Legend”

   Appendix A

“Retired Capital Stock”

   4.04(b)(ii)(A)

“Rule 501”

   Appendix A

“Rule 144A”

   Appendix A

“Rule 144A Global Securities”

   Appendix A

“Rule 144A Securities”

   Appendix A

“Securities”

   Preamble

“Securities Custodian”

   Appendix A

“Successor Issuer”

   5.01(a)

“Tax Group”

   4.04(b)(xix)

“Transfer Restricted Definitive Securities”

   Appendix A

“Transfer Restricted Global Securities”

   Appendix A

“Unrestricted Definitive Security”

   Appendix A

“Unrestricted Global Security”

   Appendix A

SECTION 1.03.    [Reserved].

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

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

 

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

(c)    “or” is not exclusive;

(d)    “including” means including without limitation;

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

(f)    unsecured Indebtedness shall not be deemed to be subordinate or junior to secured Indebtedness merely by virtue of its nature as unsecured Indebtedness;

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

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

(i)    unless otherwise specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all accounting determinations hereunder shall be made, and all financial statements required to be delivered hereunder shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP;

(j)    “$” and “U.S. Dollars” each refer to United States dollars, or such other money of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts;

(k)    for any periods or dates which the Company does not have historical financial statements available, it shall be entitled to use and rely on the financial statements of its predecessor or successor (as the case may be); and

(l)    for the avoidance of doubt, for the purposes of this Indenture, the term “Company” shall also refer to Albertsons Companies, LLC for the period during which Albertsons Companies, LLC was the predecessor entity to the Company.

ARTICLE 2

THE SECURITIES

SECTION 2.01.    Amount of Securities; Issuable in Series. The aggregate principal amount of Original Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture on the Issue Date is $750,000,000. The Securities may be issued in one or more series. All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination.

The Issuers may from time to time after the Issue Date issue Additional Securities under this Indenture in an unlimited principal amount, so long as (i) the Incurrence of the Indebtedness represented by such Additional Securities is at such time permitted by Section 4.03 and (ii) such Additional Securities are issued in compliance with the other applicable provisions of this Indenture. With respect to any Additional Securities issued after the Issue Date (except for Securities authenticated and delivered

 

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upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities pursuant to Sections 2.07, 2.08, 2.09, 2.10, 3.08, 4.06(g), 4.08(c) or the Appendix), there shall be (a) established in or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company and (b) (i) set forth or determined in the manner provided in an Officer’s Certificate or (ii) established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of such Additional Securities:

(1)    whether such Additional Securities shall be issued as part of a new or existing series of Securities and the title of such Additional Securities (which shall distinguish the Additional Securities of the series from Securities of any other series);

(2)    the aggregate principal amount of such Additional Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture;

(3)    the issue price and issuance date of such Additional Securities, including the date from which interest on such Additional Securities shall accrue; and

(4)    if applicable, that such Additional Securities shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such case, the respective depositaries for such Global Securities, the form of any legend or legends which shall be borne by such Global Securities in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in Exhibit A hereto and any circumstances in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in Section 2.2 of the Appendix in which any such Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Additional Securities registered, or any transfer of such Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name or names of Persons other than the depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof.

If any of the terms of any Additional Securities are established by action taken pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officer’s Certificate or the indenture supplemental hereto setting forth the terms of the Additional Securities.

SECTION 2.02.    Form and Dating. Provisions relating to the Securities are set forth in the Appendix, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The Securities and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, and any Additional Securities and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, shall each be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The Securities may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule, agreements to which any Issuer or any Guarantor is subject, if any, or usage (provided that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a form acceptable to the Issuers). Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Securities shall be issuable only in registered form without interest coupons and only in minimum denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

SECTION 2.03.    Execution and Authentication. The Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery upon a written order of the Issuers signed by one Officer of each Issuer (a) Original Securities for original issue on the date hereof in an aggregate principal amount of $750,000,000 and (b) subject to the terms of this Indenture, Additional Securities in an aggregate principal amount to be determined at the time of issuance and specified therein. Such order shall specify the amount of the Securities to be authenticated and the date on which the original issue of Securities is to be authenticated. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Appendix, any issuance

 

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of Additional Securities after the Issue Date shall be in a principal amount of at least $2,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, whether such Additional Securities are of the same or a different series than the Original Securities.

One Officer of each Issuer shall sign the Securities for the Issuers by manual or facsimile signature.

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

A Security shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee manually signs the certificate of authentication on the Security. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Indenture.

The Trustee may appoint one or more authenticating agents reasonably acceptable to the Issuers to authenticate the Securities. Any such appointment shall be evidenced by an instrument signed by a Trust Officer, a copy of which shall be furnished to the Issuers. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate Securities 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 any Registrar, Paying Agent or agent for service of notices and demands.

SECTION 2.04.    Registrar and Paying Agent.

(a)    The Issuers shall maintain (i) an office or agency where Securities may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (the “Registrar”) and (ii) an office or agency in the United States where Securities may be presented for payment (the “Paying Agent”). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Securities and of their transfer and exchange. The Issuers may have one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrars. The term “Paying Agent” includes the Paying Agent and any additional paying agents. The Issuers initially appoint the Trustee as (i) Registrar and Paying Agent in connection with the Securities and (ii) the Securities Custodian with respect to the Global Securities.

(b)    The Issuers shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Registrar or Paying Agent not a party to this Indenture. The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any such agent. If the Issuers fail to maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such and shall be entitled to appropriate compensation therefor pursuant to Section 7.07. The Company or any of its domestically organized Wholly Owned Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

(c)    The Issuers may remove any Registrar or Paying Agent upon written notice to such Registrar or Paying Agent and to the Trustee; provided, however, that no such removal shall become effective until (i) if applicable, acceptance of an appointment by a successor as evidenced by an appropriate agreement entered into by the Issuers and such successor Registrar or Paying Agent, as the case may be, and delivered to the Trustee or (ii) notification to the Trustee that the Trustee shall serve as Registrar or Paying Agent until the appointment of a successor in accordance with clause (i) above. The Registrar or Paying Agent may resign at any time upon written notice to the Issuers and the Trustee; provided, however, that the Trustee may resign as Paying Agent or Registrar only if the Trustee also resigns as Trustee in accordance with Section 7.08.

 

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SECTION 2.05.    Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust. Prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time, on each due date of the principal of and interest on any Security, the Issuers shall deposit with each Paying Agent (or if the Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary is acting as Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto) a sum sufficient to pay such principal and interest when so becoming due. The Issuers shall require each Paying Agent (other than the Trustee) to agree in writing that a Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by a Paying Agent for the payment of principal of and interest on the Securities, and shall notify the Trustee in writing of any default by the Issuers in making any such payment. If the Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate the money held by it as Paying Agent and hold it in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto. The Issuers at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed by such Paying Agent. During the continuance of a Default under this Indenture, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings relating to either of the Issuers, the Trustee will serve as Paying Agent. Upon complying with this Section 2.05, a Paying Agent shall have no further liability for the money delivered to the Trustee.

SECTION 2.06.    Holder Lists. The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Holders. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish, or cause the Registrar to furnish, to the Trustee, in writing at least five 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 Holders.

SECTION 2.07.    Transfer and Exchange. The Securities shall be issued in registered form and shall be transferable only upon the surrender of a Security for registration of transfer and in compliance with Appendix A. When a Security is presented to the Registrar with a request to register a transfer, the Registrar shall register the transfer as requested if its requirements therefor are met. When Securities are presented to the Registrar with a request to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Securities of other denominations, the Registrar shall make the exchange as requested if the same requirements are met. To permit registration of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Securities at the Registrar’s request. The Issuers may require payment of a sum sufficient to pay all taxes, assessments or other governmental charges in connection with any transfer or exchange pursuant to this Section 2.07. The Issuers shall not be required to make, and the Registrar need not register, transfers or exchanges of Securities selected for redemption (except, in the case of Securities to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not to be redeemed) or of any Securities for a period of 15 days before a selection of Securities to be redeemed.

Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Security, the Issuers, the Guarantors, the Trustee, each Paying Agent and the Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name a Security is registered as the absolute owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest, if any, on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security is overdue, and none of the Issuers, any Guarantor, the Trustee, a Paying Agent or the Registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

Any Holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Security shall, by acceptance of such beneficial interest, agree that transfers of beneficial interests in such Global Security may be effected only through a book-entry system maintained by (a) the Holder of such Global Security (or its agent) or (b) any Holder of a beneficial interest in such Global Security, and that ownership of a beneficial interest in such Global Security shall be required to be reflected in a book entry.

 

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All Securities issued upon any transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of this Indenture shall evidence the same debt and shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Securities surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.

SECTION 2.08.    Replacement Securities. If a mutilated Security is surrendered to the Registrar or if the Holder of a Security claims that the Security has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Issuers shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Security if the requirements of Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code are met, such that the Holder (a) satisfies the Issuers or the Trustee within a reasonable time after such Holder has notice of such loss, destruction or wrongful taking and the Registrar does not register a transfer prior to receiving such notification, (b) makes such request to the Issuers or the Trustee prior to the Security being acquired by a protected purchaser as defined in Section 8-303 of the Uniform Commercial Code (a “protected purchaser”) and (c) satisfies any other reasonable requirements of the Trustee. If required by the Trustee or the Issuers, such Holder shall furnish an indemnity bond sufficient in the judgment of (i) the Trustee to protect the Trustee or (ii) the Issuers, to protect the Issuers, the Trustee, a Paying Agent and the Registrar, from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Security is replaced. The Issuers and the Trustee may charge the Holder for their expenses in replacing a Security (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and disbursements in replacing such Security). In the event any such mutilated, lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Issuers in their discretion may pay such Security instead of issuing a new Security in replacement thereof.

Every replacement Security is an additional obligation of the Issuers.

The provisions of this Section 2.08 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Securities.

SECTION 2.09.    Outstanding Securities. Securities outstanding at any time are all Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation and those described in this Section 2.09 as not outstanding. Subject to Section 11.06, a Security does not cease to be outstanding because an Issuer or an Affiliate of an Issuer holds the Security.

If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.08 (other than a mutilated Security surrendered for replacement), it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee and the Issuers receive proof satisfactory to them that the replaced Security is held by a protected purchaser. A mutilated Security ceases to be outstanding upon surrender of such Security and replacement thereof pursuant to Section 2.08.

If a Paying Agent segregates and holds in trust, in accordance with this Indenture, on a redemption date or maturity date money sufficient to pay all principal and interest payable on that date with respect to the Securities (or portions thereof) to be redeemed or maturing, as the case may be, and no Paying Agent is prohibited from paying such money to the Holders on that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, then on and after that date such Securities (or portions thereof) cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.

SECTION 2.10.    Temporary Securities. In the event that Definitive Securities are to be issued under the terms of this Indenture, until such Definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Issuers may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Securities. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of Definitive Securities but may have variations that the Issuers consider appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Issuers shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate Definitive Securities and make them available for delivery in exchange for temporary Securities upon surrender of such temporary Securities at the office or agency of the Company, without charge to the Holder. Until such exchange, temporary Securities shall be entitled to the same rights, benefits and privileges as Definitive Securities.

 

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SECTION 2.11.    Cancellation. The Issuers at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and each Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Securities surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel all Securities surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment or cancellation and shall dispose of canceled Securities in accordance with its customary procedures or deliver copies of canceled Securities to the Issuers pursuant to written direction by an Officer of each Issuer. The Issuers may not issue new Securities to replace Securities they have redeemed, paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation. The Trustee shall not authenticate Securities in place of canceled Securities other than pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

SECTION 2.12.    Defaulted Interest. If the Issuers default in a payment of interest on the Securities, the Issuers shall pay the defaulted interest then borne by the Securities (plus interest on such defaulted interest to the extent lawful), in any lawful manner. The Issuers may pay the defaulted interest to the Persons who are Holders on a subsequent special record date. The Issuers shall fix or cause to be fixed any such special record date and payment date to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee and shall promptly mail or cause to be mailed to each affected Holder a notice that states the special record date, the payment date and the amount of defaulted interest to be paid.

SECTION 2.13.    CUSIP Numbers, ISINs, etc. The Issuers in issuing the Securities may use CUSIP numbers, ISINs and “Common Code” numbers (if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP numbers, ISINs and “Common Code” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided, however, that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers, either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption, that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities and that any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Issuers shall advise the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP numbers, ISINs and “Common Code” numbers.

SECTION 2.14.    Calculation of Specified Percentage of Securities. With respect to any matter requiring consent, waiver, approval or other action of the Holders of a specified percentage of the principal amount of all the Securities, such percentage shall be calculated, on the relevant date of determination, by dividing (a) the principal amount, as of such date of determination, of Securities, the Holders of which have so consented by (b) the aggregate principal amount, as of such date of determination, of the Securities then outstanding, in each case, as determined in accordance with the preceding sentence, Section 2.09 and Section 11.06 of this Indenture. Any such calculation made pursuant to this Section 2.14 shall be made by the Issuers and delivered to the Trustee pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate.

ARTICLE 3

REDEMPTION

SECTION 3.01.    Redemption.

(a)    The Securities may be redeemed at the Issuers’ option, in whole, or from time to time in part, subject to the conditions and at the redemption prices set forth in Paragraph 5 of the form of Securities set forth in Exhibit A hereto, which are hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this Indenture, together with accrued and unpaid interest to (but not including) the redemption date.

 

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(b)    The Issuers shall not be required to make any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Securities.

SECTION 3.02.    Applicability of Article. Redemption of Securities at the election of the Issuers or otherwise, as permitted or required by any provision of this Indenture or the Securities, shall be made in accordance with such provision and this Article 3.

SECTION 3.03.    Notices to Trustee. If the Issuers elect to redeem Securities pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Paragraph 5 of the applicable Security, they shall notify the Trustee in writing of (i) the Section of this Indenture and the Security pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (ii) the redemption date, (iii) the principal amount of Securities to be redeemed and (iv) the redemption price. The Issuers shall give notice to the Trustee provided for in this paragraph at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date if the redemption is pursuant to Paragraph 5 of the applicable Security, unless a shorter period is acceptable to the Trustee. Such notice shall be accompanied by an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel from the Issuers to the effect that such redemption will comply with the conditions herein. If fewer than all the Securities are to be redeemed, the record date relating to such redemption shall be selected by the Issuers and given in writing to the Trustee, which record date shall be not fewer than 15 days after the date of notice to the Trustee. Any such notice may be canceled at any time prior to notice of such redemption being sent to any Holder and shall thereby be void and of no effect.

SECTION 3.04.    Selection of Securities to Be Redeemed. In the case of any partial redemption, selection of the Securities for redemption will be made by the Trustee in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which such Securities are listed (if such listing is known to the Trustee), or if such Securities are not so listed, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate (and in such manner as complies with applicable requirements of the Depository); provided, that the Trustee shall not select Securities for redemption which would result in a Holder of Securities with a principal amount of Securities less than the minimum denomination. The Trustee shall make the selection from outstanding Securities not previously called for redemption. The Trustee may select for redemption portions of the principal of Securities that have denominations larger than $2,000. Securities and portions of them the Trustee selects shall be in amounts of $2,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Securities called for redemption also apply to portions of Securities called for redemption. The Trustee shall notify the Issuers promptly (and in any event, within 5 Business Days following receipt of the notice described in Section 3.03) of the Securities or portions of Securities to be redeemed.

SECTION 3.05.    Notice of Optional Redemption.

(a)    At least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date pursuant to Paragraph 5 of the applicable Security, the Issuers shall mail or cause to be mailed by first-class mail a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Securities are to be redeemed to such Holder’s registered address or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of the Depository, except that redemption notices may be delivered more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Securities or a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture pursuant to Article 8 hereof.

Any such notice shall identify the Securities to be redeemed and shall state:

(i)    the redemption date;

(ii)    the redemption price and the amount of accrued interest to the redemption date;

 

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(iii)    the name and address of a Paying Agent;

(iv)    that Securities called for redemption must be surrendered to a Paying Agent to collect the redemption price, plus accrued interest;

(v)    if fewer than all the outstanding Securities are to be redeemed, the certificate numbers and principal amounts of the particular Securities to be redeemed, the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be redeemed and the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be outstanding after such partial redemption;

(vi)    that, unless the Issuers default in making such redemption payment or any Paying Agent is prohibited from making such payment pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, interest on Securities (or portion thereof) called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;

(vii)    the CUSIP number, ISIN and/or “Common Code” number, if any, printed on the Securities being redeemed; and

(viii)    that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number or ISIN and/or “Common Code” number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Securities.

In addition, if such redemption is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice of redemption shall describe each such condition, and if applicable, shall state that, in the Issuers’ discretion, the redemption date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied, or such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the stated redemption date, or by the redemption date as so delayed.

(b)    At the Issuers’ request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption specified in this Section 3.05 in the Issuers’ names and at the Issuers’ expense; provided, however, that the Issuers have delivered to the Trustee, at least 45 days (unless a shorter period is acceptable to the Trustee) prior to the redemption date, an Officer’s Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice. In such event, the Issuers shall provide the Trustee in writing with the information required by this Section 3.05.

SECTION 3.06.    Effect of Notice of Redemption. Once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section 3.05, Securities called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price stated in the notice (except to the extent such redemption is conditional as set forth in Section 3.05). Upon surrender to any Paying Agent, such Securities shall be paid at the redemption price stated in the notice, plus accrued interest to the redemption date. Failure to give notice or any defect in the notice to any Holder shall not affect the validity of the notice.

SECTION 3.07.    Deposit of Redemption Price. Prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the redemption date, the Issuers shall deposit with the Paying Agent (or, if the Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary is a Paying Agent, shall segregate and hold in trust) money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on all Securities or portions thereof to be redeemed on that date other than Securities or portions of Securities called for redemption that have been delivered by the Issuers to the Trustee for cancellation. On and after the redemption date, interest shall cease to accrue on Securities or portions thereof called for redemption so long as the Issuers have deposited with the Paying

 

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Agent funds sufficient to pay the principal of, plus accrued and unpaid interest on, the Securities to be redeemed, unless a Paying Agent is prohibited from making such payment pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

SECTION 3.08.    Securities Redeemed in Part. Upon surrender of a Security that is redeemed in part, the Issuers shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder (at the Issuers’ expense) a new Security equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Security surrendered.

ARTICLE 4

COVENANTS

SECTION 4.01.    Payment of Securities. The Issuers shall promptly pay the principal of and interest, on the Securities on the dates and in the manner provided in the Securities and in this Indenture. An installment of principal of or interest shall be considered paid on the date due if by the applicable time on such date the Trustee or any Paying Agent holds in accordance with this Indenture money sufficient to pay all principal and interest then due and the Trustee or any Paying Agent, as the case may be, are not prohibited from paying such money to the Holders on that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

The Issuers shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate specified therefor in the Securities, and they shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate borne by the Securities to the extent lawful.

SECTION 4.02.    Reports.

So long as any Securities are outstanding:

(i)    the Company shall provide the Trustee and Holders of Securities with annual consolidated financial statements for each fiscal year audited by an internationally recognized firm of independent public accountants within 120 days after the end of the Company’s fiscal year and unaudited quarterly financial statements (including a balance sheet, statement of operations and statement of cash flows for the fiscal quarter and year-to-date period then ended and the corresponding fiscal quarter and year-to-date period from the prior year) within 60 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year. Such annual and quarterly financial statements will (i) be prepared in accordance with GAAP (with the exception of the absence of year-end adjustments and footnotes in the case of quarterly financial statements) and (ii) be accompanied by a “management discussion and analysis” of the results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for the periods presented in a level of detail comparable (in the reasonable judgment of the Company) to the management discussion and analysis of the results of operations of the Company contained in the Offering Memorandum. Unless otherwise publicly available, such financial statements and related discussion shall be made available to Holders of Securities and prospective investors in the Securities by posting on a password protected website accessible by all such persons, which shall announce when such items have been posted (it being understood that the Company may require a certification and customary non-disclosure agreement to access such site); and

(ii)    the Company shall furnish to the Trustee and Holders of Securities all information that would be required to be contained in filings with the SEC on Form 8-K under Items 1.01, 1.02, 1.03, 2.01, 2.05, 2.06, 4.01, 4.02 and 5.01 (but excluding, for the avoidance of

 

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doubt, financial statements and exhibits that would be required pursuant to Item 9.01 of Form 8-K, other than financial statements and pro forma financial information required pursuant to clauses (a) and (b) of Item 9.01 of Form 8-K (in each case relating to transactions required to be reported pursuant to Item 2.01 of Form 8-K) to the extent available (as determined by the Company in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive)) if the Company had been a reporting company under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that no such report will be required to be furnished if the Company determines in its good faith judgment (which determination shall be conclusive) that such event is not material to Holders of the Securities or the business, assets, operations, financial position or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or if the Company determines in its good faith judgment (which determination shall be conclusive) that such disclosure would otherwise cause material competitive or other material harm to the business, assets, operations, financial position or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided that such non-disclosure shall be limited only to those specific provisions that would cause material competitive or other material harm and not the occurrence of the event itself; provided, further, that no such report will be required to include a summary of the terms of any employment or compensatory arrangement, agreement, plan or understanding between the Company (or any of its Subsidiaries) and any director, manager or executive officer, of the Company (or any of its Subsidiaries). All information to be furnished pursuant to this clause (ii) shall be furnished within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations for non-accelerated filer reporting companies under the Exchange Act. Information to be furnished pursuant to this clause (ii) shall be made by posting on the website referred to in clause (i) above.

If after the Issue Date the Company has designated any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries, then the quarterly and annual financial information required by clauses (i) and (ii) above shall include a reasonably detailed presentation (which may be consistent with the non-guarantor information provided in the Offering Memorandum), either on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes to the financial statements and in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition” or comparable section, of the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

So long as any Securities are outstanding, the Company shall also issue a notification (which can be a notification through the website described above or by email to registered Holders of Securities) upon the posting of the information required by clauses (i) and (ii) above.

The Company shall hold a conference call for the Holders of Securities to discuss such financial information described in clause (i) above no later than 10 calendar days after delivering the annual financial information and the quarterly financial information described in clause (i) above (it being understood that such conference call may be prior to the delivery of such financial information described above and may be the same conference call as with the Company’s equity or debt investors and analysts at the time of its earnings release). The Company will issue a notification (which can be a notification through the website described above or by email to registered Holders of Securities) of any such conference call at least one Business Day in advance.

In addition, for so long as the Securities are not freely transferable under the Securities Act, the Issuers and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall furnish to the Holders and to securities analysts and prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

In the event that any direct or indirect parent of the Company is or becomes a guarantor (a “Parent Guarantor”) of the Securities, the Company may satisfy its obligations under this Section 4.02 with respect to financial information relating to the Company by furnishing financial information relating

 

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to such Parent Guarantor; provided that the same is accompanied by consolidating information that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to such Parent Guarantor and any of its Subsidiaries other than the Company and its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the information relating to the Company and the Subsidiaries of the Company on a stand-alone basis, on the other hand.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth above, if the Company, a Parent Guarantor or any Parent Entity has provided the reports described in the preceding paragraphs with respect to the Company, such Parent Guarantor or any Parent Entity, in each case, the Company shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions of this Section 4.02.

To the extent any such information, reports or other documents are filed electronically on the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering and Retrieval System (or any successor system), such filing shall be deemed to be delivered to the holders of the Securities and the Trustee.

Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Issuers’ compliance with any of their covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on an Officer’s Certificate).

SECTION 4.03.    Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock.

(a)    (i) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, Incur any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue any shares of Disqualified Stock; and (ii) the Company shall not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any shares of Preferred Stock; provided, however, that the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary may Incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock and any Restricted Subsidiary may issue shares of Preferred Stock, in each case if the Interest Coverage Ratio of the Company for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is Incurred or such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued would have been at least 2.00 to 1.00 determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been Incurred, or the Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock had been issued, as the case may be, and the application of proceeds therefrom had occurred at the beginning of such four-quarter period; provided, further, that Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors may not Incur Indebtedness or issue shares of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 4.03(a) if, after giving pro forma effect to such Incurrence or issuance (including the pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock then outstanding of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors pursuant to this Section 4.03(a) exceeds the greater of $1,250 million and 5.0% of Total Assets (the “Non-Guarantor Exception”).

(b)    The limitations set forth in Section 4.03(a) shall not apply to (collectively, “Permitted Debt”):

(i)    the Incurrence by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness under the ABL Facility in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of (x) $5,500 million and (y) the Borrowing Base;

 

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(ii)    the Incurrence by the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness under the Term Loan Facility in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $8,000 million plus an unlimited amount of additional Indebtedness under the Term Loan Facility as long as, at the time of Incurrence and after giving pro forma effect thereto (including the use of proceeds therefrom), the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio would not exceed 3.75 to 1.00 (assuming, to the extent incurred pursuant to this Section 4.03(b)(ii), that all such Indebtedness is secured whether or not so secured);

(iii)    the Incurrence by the (i) Issuers of Indebtedness represented by the Securities issued on the Issue Date and (ii) Subsidiary Guarantors of Indebtedness represented by the Subsidiary Guarantees issued on the Issue Date;

(iv)    Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock existing on the Issue Date (other than Indebtedness described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of this Section 4.03(b));

(v)    Indebtedness (including, without limitation, Finance Lease Obligations, and purchase money Indebtedness), Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock Incurred by the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to finance the acquisition, purchase, lease, construction, design, installation or improvement of property (real or personal), equipment or other asset that is used or useful in a Similar Business (whether through the direct purchase of assets or the Capital Stock of any Person owning such assets) and related taxes and transaction costs in an aggregate principal amount which, when aggregated with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness then outstanding that was Incurred pursuant to this clause (v), does not exceed the greater of (x) $1,250 million and (y) 5.0% of Total Assets at the time of Incurrence;

(vi)    Indebtedness with respect to all obligations and liabilities, contingent or otherwise, in respect of letters of credit, acceptances and similar facilities incurred in the ordinary course of business, including, without limitation, letters of credit and bank guarantees issued in the ordinary course of business, including, without limitation, letters of credit in respect of workers’ compensation claims, health, disability or other employee benefits (whether current or former) or property, casualty or liability insurance, or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement-type obligations regarding workers’ compensation claims; provided, however, that upon the drawing of such letters of credit, such obligations are reimbursed within 30 days following such drawing;

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

(viii)    Indebtedness of the Company to a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case to be an Incurrence of such Indebtedness;

(ix)    shares of Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary issued to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event that results in any Restricted Subsidiary that holds such shares of Preferred Stock of another Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such shares of Preferred Stock (except to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an issuance of shares of Preferred Stock;

 

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(x)    Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if a Subsidiary Guarantor Incurs such Indebtedness to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor such Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor; provided, further, that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any Restricted Subsidiary lending such Indebtedness ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an Incurrence of such Indebtedness;

(xi)    [reserved];

(xii)    obligations in respect of self-insurance and obligations (including reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and bank guarantees) in respect of performance, bid, appeal and surety bonds and similar instruments and performance and completion guarantees and similar obligations provided by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(xiii)    Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company and Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in an aggregate principal amount which, when aggregated with the principal amount or liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock then outstanding and Incurred pursuant to this clause (xiii) (and any refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement (or successive refinancings, refundings, extensions, renewals or replacements) as a whole, or in part, of any such obligations), does not exceed the greater of (x) $1,500 million and (y) 6.0% of Total Assets at the time of Incurrence; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained herein shall prevent the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from refinancing, refunding, extending, renewing or replacing any obligations Incurred under this clause (whether or not such obligations could be newly Incurred under this clause on the date of such refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement), so long as the obligations resulting from such refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement do not exceed the sum of (A) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of such obligations at the time such obligations became Permitted Debt under this Indenture, plus accretion of original issue discount, and (B) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement (it being understood that any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock Incurred or issued under this clause (xiii) shall cease to be deemed Incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (xiii) but shall be deemed Incurred for purposes of Section 4.03(a) from and after the first date on which the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, could have Incurred or issued such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock under Section 4.03(a) without reliance upon this clause (xiii));

(xiv)    any guarantee or co-issuance by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other obligations of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries so long as the Incurrence of such Indebtedness or other obligations by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary is not prohibited under the terms of this Indenture; provided that if such Indebtedness is by its express terms subordinated in right of payment to the Securities or the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, any such guarantee or co-issuance of such Subsidiary Guarantor with respect to such Indebtedness shall be subordinated in right of payment to such

 

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Subsidiary Guarantor’s Subsidiary Guarantee with respect to the Securities substantially to the same extent as such Indebtedness is subordinated to the Securities or the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable;

(xv)    the Incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company which serves to refund, refinance, replace, renew, extend or defease any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock Incurred as permitted under Section 4.03(a) and clauses (iii), (iv), (v), (xv) and (xvi) of this Section 4.03(b) or any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock Incurred to so refund or refinance such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, including any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock Incurred to pay premiums (including lender premiums), defeasance costs, accrued interest, fees and expenses in connection therewith (subject to the following proviso, “Refinancing Indebtedness”) prior to its respective maturity; provided, however, that such Refinancing Indebtedness:

(1)    other than with respect to the Legacy Notes, 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 refunded or refinanced, replaced, renewed, extended or defeased;

(2)    has a Stated Maturity which is no earlier than 91 days after the Stated Maturity of the Securities;

(3)    to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness refinances (x) Indebtedness junior to the Securities or the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, such Refinancing Indebtedness is junior to the Securities or the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, or (y) Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such Refinancing Indebtedness is Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock;

(4)    is Incurred in an aggregate principal amount (or if issued with original issue discount, an aggregate issue price) that is equal to or less than the aggregate principal amount (or if issued with original issue discount, the aggregate accreted value) then outstanding of the Indebtedness being refinanced plus premium and fees Incurred in connection with such refinancing; and

(5)    shall not include (x) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor that refinances Indebtedness of an Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor, or (y) Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness of an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(xvi)    Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of (i) the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary incurred or issued to finance an acquisition and (ii) Persons that are acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or merged into the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; provided, however, that after giving effect to such acquisition and the Incurrence of such Indebtedness either:

(1)    the Company would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.03(a);

 

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(2)    the Interest Coverage Ratio would not be less than immediately prior to such acquisition; or

(3)    such Indebtedness is Incurred by an Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor and does not require the payment in cash of principal (other than in respect of working capital adjustments) prior to the Stated Maturity of the Securities, has a final maturity which extends beyond the Stated Maturity of the Securities, and is subordinated to the Securities;

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

(xviii)    Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary supported by a letter of credit or bank guarantee issued pursuant to any Credit Facility, in a principal amount not in excess of the stated amount of such letter of credit or bank guarantee;

(xix)    Contribution Indebtedness;

(xx)    Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary consisting of (x) the financing of insurance premiums or (y) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;

(xxi)    Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries of the Company in an amount not to exceed the greater of (x) $750 million or (y) 3.0% of Total Assets of all Foreign Subsidiaries at the time of such Incurrence;

(xxii)    Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary Incurred in the ordinary course of business under guarantees of Indebtedness of suppliers, licensees, franchisees or customers;

(xxiii)    to the extent constituting Indebtedness, obligations in respect of (A) customer deposits and advance payments received in the ordinary course of business, (B) letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances, guarantees or other similar instruments or obligations issued or relating to liabilities or obligations Incurred in the ordinary course of business and (C) any customary cash management, cash pooling or netting or setting off arrangements or automatic clearinghouse arrangements in the ordinary course of business;

(xxiv)    Indebtedness to current or former officers, managers, consultants, directors and employees, their respective estates, spouses or former spouses to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of the Company or any other direct or indirect parent of the Company permitted by this Indenture;

(xxv)    Indebtedness in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing;

(xxvi)    Indebtedness in connection with a Qualified Real Estate Financing Facility; and

(xxvii)    Indebtedness incurred by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (i) the net proceeds of such Indebtedness will be used to prepay other outstanding Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) such Indebtedness is thereafter

 

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promptly assumed, retired or otherwise repaid by a Person (other than the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary) and upon such assumption, retirement or other repayment, such Indebtedness is non-recourse to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary.

(c)    For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.03, in the event that an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Debt or is entitled to be Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03(a), the Issuers shall, in their sole discretion, divide, classify or reclassify, or later divide, classify or reclassify, such item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock in any manner that complies with this Section 4.03 and such item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock shall be treated as having been Incurred pursuant to only one of the clauses in Section 4.03(b) or pursuant to Section 4.03(a), but may be Incurred partially under one clause and partially under one or more other clauses; provided that all (i) Indebtedness under the ABL Facility which is in existence or committed to on or prior to the Issue Date shall be deemed to have been incurred on the Issue Date pursuant to clause (i) of Section 4.03(b) and (ii) Indebtedness under the Term Loan Facility outstanding or committed to on or prior to the Issue Date shall be deemed to have been Incurred on the Issue Date pursuant to clause (ii) of Section 4.03(b) and, in each case, the Issuers shall not be permitted to reclassify all or any portion of such Indebtedness. Accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value, the amortization or accretion of original issue discount, the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, the payment of dividends on Preferred Stock in the form of additional shares of Preferred Stock of the same class, the accretion of liquidation preference and increases in the amount of Indebtedness outstanding solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies shall not be deemed to be an Incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this Section 4.03 or Section 4.12. Any Indebtedness under a revolving credit or similar facility shall only be deemed to be Incurred at the time funds are borrowed. Guarantees of, or obligations in respect of letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or similar instruments relating to, or Liens securing, Indebtedness which are 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 4.03. Indebtedness that is cash collateralized shall not be deemed to be Indebtedness hereunder to the extent of such cash collateralization. The principal amount of any Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock will be equal to the greater of the maximum mandatory redemption or repurchase price (not including, in either case, any redemption or repurchase premium) or the liquidation preference thereof.

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

SECTION 4.04.    Limitation on Restricted Payments.

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

 

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(i)    declare or pay any dividend or make any distribution on account of the Company’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests, including any payment made in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company (other than (A) dividends, payments or distributions by the Company payable solely in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or in options, warrants or other rights to purchase such Equity Interests; or (B) dividends, payments or distributions by a Restricted Subsidiary so long as, in the case of any dividend, payment or distribution payable on or in respect of any class or series of securities issued by a Restricted Subsidiary other than a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary receives at least its pro rata share of such dividend or distribution in accordance with its Equity Interests in such class or series of securities);

(ii)    purchase or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company of the Company held by any Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;

(iii)    make any principal payment on, or redeem, repurchase, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value, in each case prior to any scheduled repayment or scheduled maturity, any Subordinated Indebtedness (other than the payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, acquisition or retirement of (A) 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 such payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, acquisition or retirement and (B) Indebtedness permitted under clauses (viii) and (x) of Section 4.03(b)); 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 or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as an immediate consequence thereof;

(2)    immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis, the Company could Incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness under Section 4.03(a); and

(3)    such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date and not returned or rescinded (including Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (i), (xi)(B) and (xx) of Section 4.04(b), but excluding all other Restricted Payments permitted by Section 4.04(b)), is less than the sum of, without duplication,

(A)    50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for the period (taken as one accounting period) beginning on September 9, 2016 to the end of the Company’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment (or, in the case such Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, minus 100% of such deficit), plus

(B)    100% of the aggregate net proceeds, including cash and the Fair Market Value of property other than cash, received by the Company after September 9, 2016 from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company of the Company (excluding (without duplication) Refunding Capital Stock,

 

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Designated Preferred Stock, Cash Contribution Amount, Excluded Contributions and Disqualified Stock), including Equity Interests issued upon conversion of Indebtedness or upon exercise of warrants or options (other than an issuance or sale to a Subsidiary of the Company or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to the extent funded by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), plus

(C)    100% of the aggregate amount of contributions to the capital of the Company received in cash and the Fair Market Value of property other than cash after September 9, 2016 (other than Excluded Contributions, Refunding Capital Stock, Designated Preferred Stock, Disqualified Stock and the Cash Contribution Amount), plus

(D)    the principal amount of any Indebtedness, or the liquidation preference or maximum fixed repurchase price, as the case may be, of any Disqualified Stock, of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof issued after September 9, 2016 (other than Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock issued to a Restricted Subsidiary) which has been converted into or exchanged for Equity Interests in the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock), plus the amount of any cash and the Fair Market Value of any property received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such exchange, plus

(E)    100% of the aggregate amount received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in cash and the Fair Market Value of property other than cash received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from:

(I)    the sale or other disposition (other than to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) of Restricted Investments or Permitted Investments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and from repurchases and redemptions of such Restricted Investments or Permitted Investments from the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries by any Person (other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) and from repayments of loans or advances which constituted Restricted Investments (other than in each case to the extent that the Restricted Investment was made pursuant to clause (ix) of Section 4.04(b) or clause (27) of the definition of “Permitted Investments”),

(II)    the sale or disposition (other than to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) of the Capital Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary, or

(III)    a distribution or dividend from an Unrestricted Subsidiary, plus

(F)    in the event any Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company has been redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary or has been merged or consolidated with or into, or transfers or conveys its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, in each case after September 9, 2016, the Fair Market Value of the Investment of the Company in such Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation, combination or transfer (or of the assets transferred or conveyed, as applicable), after deducting any Indebtedness associated with the Unrestricted Subsidiary so designated or combined or any Indebtedness associated with the assets so transferred or

 

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conveyed (other than in each case to the extent that the Investment in the Unrestricted Subsidiary was made pursuant to clause (ix) of Section 4.04(b) or clause (27) of the definition of “Permitted Investments”).

(b)    The provisions of Section 4.04(a) shall not prohibit:

(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 such payment or the giving of such notice would have complied with the provisions of this Indenture (assuming, in the case of a redemption payment, the giving of such notice would have been deemed a Restricted Payment at such time and such deemed Restricted Payment would have been permitted at such time);

(ii)    (A) the redemption, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of any Equity Interests (“Retired Capital Stock”) of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company or Subordinated Indebtedness of any Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor in exchange for (including any such exchange pursuant to the exercise of a conversion right or privilege in connection with which cash is paid in lieu of fractional shares), or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company of the Company or contributions to the equity capital of the Company (other than any Disqualified Stock or any Equity Interests sold to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or to an employee stock ownership plan or any trust established by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent funded by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries) (collectively, including any such contributions, “Refunding Capital Stock”); and (B) the declaration and payment of accrued dividends on the Retired Capital Stock out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company or to an employee stock ownership plan or any trust established by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) of Refunding Capital Stock;

(iii)    the redemption, defeasance, repurchase or other acquisition or retirement of (x) Subordinated Indebtedness of an Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, new Indebtedness of an Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor or (y) Disqualified Stock of an Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor made in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of a substantially concurrent sale of, Disqualified Stock of an Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor, in either case which constitutes Refinancing Indebtedness under Section 4.03(b)(xv);

(iv)    the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition (or dividends to any direct or indirect parent of the Company to finance any such repurchase, retirement or other acquisition) or retirement for value of Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company held by any future, present or former employee, director or consultant of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company (or the relevant Person’s estate or beneficiary of such Person’s estate) pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or other agreement or arrangement; provided, however, that the aggregate amounts paid under this clause (iv) do not exceed $125 million in any calendar year (with unused amounts in any calendar year being permitted to be carried over for succeeding calendar years up to a maximum of $75 million in the aggregate in any calendar year); provided, further, however, that such amount in any calendar year may be increased by an amount not to exceed:

(A)    the cash proceeds received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company

 

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or any direct or indirect parent of the Company (to the extent contributed to the Company) to employees, members of management, directors or consultants of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries or any direct or indirect parent of the Company that occurs after the Issue Date (provided that the amount of such cash proceeds utilized for any such repurchase, retirement, other acquisition or dividend shall not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 4.04(a)(3)); plus

(B)    the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Company or any direct or indirect parent company of the Company (to the extent contributed to the Company) and its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date;

(provided that the Company may elect to apply all or any portion of the aggregate increase contemplated by clauses (A) and (B) above in any calendar year; and provided further that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from members of management, directors, employees or consultants of the Company, or any direct or indirect parent company or Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests pursuant to this clause (iv) of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment);

(v)    (a) the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Company or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and (b) the payment of any redemption price or liquidation value of any such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock when due in accordance with its terms, in each case, Incurred in accordance with Section 4.03;

(vi)    the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued after the Issue Date and the declaration and payment of dividends to any direct or indirect parent company of the Company, the proceeds of which will be used to fund the payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of any direct or indirect parent company of the Company issued after the Issue Date; provided, however, that (A) for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of issuance of such Designated Preferred Stock, after giving effect to such issuance (and the payment of dividends or distributions) on a pro forma basis, the Company would have had an Interest Coverage Ratio of at least 2.00 to 1.00 and (B) the aggregate amount of dividends declared and paid pursuant to this clause (vi) does not exceed the net cash proceeds actually received by the Company from any such sale of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued after the Issue Date;

(vii)    (a) the payment of dividends on the Company’s common stock (or the payment of dividends to any direct or indirect parent of the Company to fund the payment by any direct or indirect parent of the Company of dividends on such entity’s common stock) of up to 6.0% per annum of the net proceeds received by the Company after the Issue Date from any public offering of common stock or contributed to the Company by any direct or indirect parent of the Company from any public offering of common stock or (b) in lieu of all or a portion of dividends permitted by clause (a) above, repurchases of Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company for aggregate consideration that, when taken together with dividends permitted under clause (a), does not exceed the amount contemplated by clause (a);

(viii)    Restricted Payments that are made with Excluded Contributions;

 

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(ix)    other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed the greater of (x) $1,000 million and (y) 4.0% of Total Assets at the time of such Restricted Payment;

(x)    the distribution, as a dividend or otherwise, of shares of Capital Stock of, or Indebtedness owed to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company by, Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(xi)    the payment of dividends, other distributions or other amounts by the Company to, or the making of loans to, any direct or indirect parent, in the amount required for such parent to, if applicable:

(A)    pay amounts equal to the amounts required for such direct or indirect parent of the Company to pay fees, taxes and expenses (including franchise or similar taxes) required to maintain its corporate existence, customary salary, bonus and other benefits (including indemnification, insurance and insurance premiums) payable to officers and employees of such direct or indirect parent of the Company, if applicable, and general corporate overhead expenses of such direct or indirect parent of the Company, if applicable, in each case to the extent such fees, expenses, salaries, bonuses, benefits and indemnities are attributable to the ownership or operation of the Company, if applicable, and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(B)    pay, if applicable, amounts equal to amounts required for such direct or indirect parent of the Company, if applicable, to pay interest and/or principal on Indebtedness;

(C)    pay customary and reasonable costs and expenses of financings, acquisitions or offerings of securities of such direct or indirect parent of the Company that are not consummated;

(D)    pay costs (including all professional fees and expenses) incurred by such direct or indirect parent of the Company in connection with reporting obligations under or otherwise incurred in connection with compliance with applicable laws, rules or regulations of any governmental, regulatory or self-regulatory body or stock exchange, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument relating to Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; and

(E)    expenses Incurred by such direct or indirect parent of the Company in connection with any public offering or other sale of Capital Stock or Indebtedness:

(1)    where the net proceeds of such offering or sale are intended to be received by or contributed to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary,

(2)    in a pro-rated amount of such expenses in proportion to the amount of such net proceeds intended to be so received or contributed, or

(3)    otherwise on an interim basis prior to completion of such offering so long as such direct or indirect parent of the Company shall cause the amount of such expenses to be repaid to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary out of the proceeds of such offering promptly if completed;

 

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(xii)    the payment of cash dividends or other distributions on the Company’s Capital Stock used to (or the making of loans to any direct or indirect parent of the Company to) fund the payment of fees and expenses owed by the Company (or any direct or indirect parent company of the Company, as the case may be, or Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company) to Affiliates, in each case to the extent permitted by Section 4.07;

(xiii)    repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options or warrants or other rights if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options or warrants and payments in cash in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares;

(xiv)    purchases of receivables pursuant to a Receivables Repurchase Obligation in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing and the payment or distribution of Receivables Fees;

(xv)    the payment, purchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of Subordinated Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to provisions similar to those described under Section 4.06 and Section 4.08; provided that, prior to or concurrently with such payment, purchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value, the Issuers (or a third party to the extent permitted by this Indenture) have made a Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer, as the case may be, with respect to the Securities as a result of such Change of Control Triggering Event or Asset Sale, as the case may be, and have repurchased all Securities validly tendered and not withdrawn in connection with such Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer, as the case may be;

(xvi)    [reserved];

(xvii)    distributions required in connection with a Qualified Real Estate Financing Facility;

(xviii)    distributions or payments of Receivables Fees, sales contributions and other transfers of and purchases of assets pursuant to repurchase obligations, in each case in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing;

(xix)    with respect to any taxable period ending after the Issue Date for which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is treated as a member of a consolidated, combined or similar income tax group for U.S. federal, state, and/or local income tax purposes of which a direct or indirect parent of the Company is the common parent (a “Tax Group”), distributions to such direct or indirect parent company to pay to the portion of any consolidated, combined or similar federal, state and/or local income taxes of such Tax Group that is attributable to the taxable income of the Company and/or its applicable Subsidiaries (reduced, with respect to the taxable period beginning on or before and ending after the Issue Date, by the amount of any estimated taxes that should have been paid by the Tax Group with respect to such portion of such taxes prior to the Issue Date); provided that the amount of such payments made in respect of each such taxable period in the aggregate shall not exceed the amount that the Company and/or its applicable Subsidiaries would have been required to pay in respect of such taxes for such taxable period if the Company and/or its applicable Subsidiaries had been a stand-alone taxpayer or a stand-alone Tax Group for all taxable periods ending after the Issue Date; provided, further, that the portion of the permitted payment pursuant to this clause (xix) with respect to any Unrestricted Subsidiary for any taxable

 

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period shall be limited to the amount actually paid by such Unrestricted Subsidiary to the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors for the purposes of paying such consolidated, combined or similar taxes; and

(xx)    other Restricted Payments as long as, at the time of the making thereof and after giving pro forma effect thereto (including, without limitation, the incurrence of any Indebtedness to finance such Restricted Payments), the Total Leverage Ratio would be less than 4.00 to 1.00;

provided, however, that at the time of, and after giving effect to, any Restricted Payment permitted under clauses (vi), (vii), (ix) and (xx) of this Section 4.04(b), no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof.

(c)    The Company shall not permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary to become a Restricted Subsidiary except pursuant to the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary.” For purposes of designating any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, all outstanding Investments by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid) in the Subsidiary so designated shall be deemed to be Restricted Payments or Permitted Investments in an amount determined as set forth in the last sentence of the definition of “Investments.” Such designation shall only be permitted if a Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment in such amount would be permitted at such time and if such Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. Unrestricted Subsidiaries shall not be subject to any of the restrictive covenants set forth in this Indenture.

(d)    For purposes of this Section 4.04, if any Investment or Restricted Payment would be permitted pursuant to one or more provisions described above and/or one or more of the exceptions contained in the definition of “Permitted Investments,” the Issuers may classify such Investment or Restricted Payment in any manner that complies with this covenant and may later reclassify any such Investment or Restricted Payment so long as such Investment or Restricted Payment (as so reclassified) would be permitted to be made in reliance on the applicable exception as of the date of such reclassification.

SECTION 4.05.    [Reserved].

SECTION 4.06.    Asset Sales.

(a)    The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, cause or make an Asset Sale, unless:

(1)    the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, receives consideration (including by way of relief or by any other Person assuming responsibility for, any liabilities, contingent or otherwise) at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the Fair Market Value (as determined on the date the contractual obligation is entered into) of the assets sold or otherwise disposed of; and

(2)    except in the case of a Permitted Asset Swap, at least 75% of the consideration therefor received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of Cash Equivalents; provided that the amount of:

(i)    any liabilities (as shown on the Company’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet or in the notes thereto) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Securities) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets;

 

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(ii)    any notes or other obligations or other securities or assets received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary of the Company from such transferee that are converted by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary of the Company into cash within 180 days of the receipt thereof (to the extent of the cash received); and

(iii)    any Designated Non-cash Consideration received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Asset Sale having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Designated Non-cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (iii) that is at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (x) $1,000 million and (y) 4.0% of Total Assets at the time of the receipt of such Designated Non-cash Consideration (with the Fair Market Value of each item of Designated Non-cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value)

shall each be deemed to be Cash Equivalents for the purposes of this Section 4.06(a).

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

(i)    to repay Obligations under the Credit Facilities that are secured by a Lien (and in the case of revolving obligations, to correspondingly permanently reduce commitments with respect thereto);

(ii)    to repay either (A) Obligations under the Securities or (B) Obligations under any other Pari Passu Indebtedness (and in the case of revolving obligations, to correspondingly permanently reduce commitments with respect thereto); provided that in the case of any repayment pursuant to clause (B), the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary will reduce Obligations under the Securities on an equal or ratable basis with the Pari Passu Indebtedness repaid pursuant to clause (B) (1) on a pro rata basis as provided under Article 3 hereof, (2) through open-market purchases (to the extent such purchases are at or above 100% of the principal amount thereof) or (3) by making an offer (in accordance with the procedures set forth below for an Asset Sale Offer) to all Holders to purchase their Securities at 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus the amount of accrued but unpaid interest, if any, on the amount of Securities that would otherwise be prepaid (which offer shall be deemed to be an Asset Sale Offer for purposes hereof); and/or

(iii)    to acquire Additional Assets;

provided that in the case of clause (iii) above, a binding commitment (whether or not subject to conditions) shall be treated as a permitted application of the Net Cash Proceeds from the date of such commitment and, in the event such binding commitment is later canceled or terminated for any reason before such Net Cash Proceeds are so applied, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary enters into another binding commitment (whether or not subject to conditions) within six months of such cancellation or termination of the prior binding commitment.

Pending the final application of any such Net Cash Proceeds, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary of the Company may temporarily reduce Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility, if any, or otherwise use such Net Cash Proceeds for any purpose not prohibited by this Indenture. Any Net Cash Proceeds from any Asset Sale that are not applied as provided and within the time period set forth in the first sentence of this Section 4.06(b) shall be deemed to constitute “Excess Proceeds.”

 

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When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds (i) $150.0 million, in the case of a single transaction or a series of related transactions, or (ii) $300.0 million aggregate amount in any fiscal year, the Issuers shall make an offer (an “Asset Sale Offer”) to all Holders of Securities and to all holders of any Pari Passu Indebtedness containing provisions similar to those set forth in this Indenture with respect to Asset Sales, to purchase the maximum principal amount of such Securities and such Pari Passu Indebtedness, as appropriate, 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 (or in the event such Pari Passu Indebtedness was issued with original issue discount, 100% of the principal amount thereof), plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any (or such lesser price, if any, as may be provided 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 Section 4.06 and, in the case of Securities, is in a minimum amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. The Issuers shall commence an Asset Sale Offer with respect to Excess Proceeds within ten Business Days after the date that Excess Proceeds exceed (i) $150.0 million, in the case of a single transaction or a series of related transactions, or (ii) $300.0 million aggregate amount in any fiscal year by sending the notice required pursuant to the terms of Section 4.06(f), with a copy to the Trustee. If the aggregate principal amount of Securities or the other Pari Passu Indebtedness surrendered by such Holders and holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Issuers shall select the Securities and such other Pari Passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis based on the principal amount of the Securities or such other Pari Passu Indebtedness tendered. Upon completion of any such Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero, and in the case of an Asset Sale Offer being effected in advance of being required to do so by this Indenture, the amount of Net Cash Proceeds the Issuers are offering to apply in such Asset Sale Offer shall be excluded in subsequent calculations of Excess Proceeds.

(c)    The Issuers shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations to the extent such laws or regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Securities pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Indenture, the Issuers shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached their obligations described in this Indenture by virtue thereof.

(d)    Not later than the date upon which written notice of an Asset Sale Offer is delivered to the Trustee as provided above, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate as to (i) the amount of the Excess Proceeds, (ii) the allocation of the Net Cash Proceeds from the Asset Sale (or Asset Sales) pursuant to which such Asset Sale Offer is being made and (iii) the compliance of such allocation with the provisions of Section 4.06(b). Upon the expiration of the period for which the Asset Sale Offer remains open (the “Offer Period”), the Company shall deliver to the Trustee for cancellation the Securities or portions thereof that have been properly tendered to and are to be accepted by the Company. On such date, the Company shall also irrevocably deposit with the Paying Agent (or, if the Company or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary is acting as a Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust) a sum sufficient to pay the purchase price for the Securities or portions thereof that have been properly tendered to and are to be accepted by the Company pursuant to such Asset Sale Offer. The Trustee (or a Paying Agent, if not the Trustee) shall, on the date of purchase, mail or deliver payment to each tendering Holder in the amount of the purchase price for such Securities. In the event that the Excess Proceeds delivered by the Company to the Paying Agent is greater than the purchase price of the Securities tendered, the Trustee shall deliver the excess to the Company on the Business Day following the expiration of the Offer Period.

(e)    Holders electing to have a Security purchased shall be required to surrender the Security, with an appropriate form duly completed, to the Company at the address specified in the notice of an Asset Sale Offer at least three Business Days prior to the purchase date. Holders shall be entitled to

 

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withdraw their election if the Trustee or the Company receives, not later than two Business Days prior to the purchase date, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Security which was delivered by the Holder for purchase and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Security purchased. If at the end of the Offer Period more Securities are tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer than the Issuers are required to purchase, selection of such Securities for purchase shall be made by the Issuers in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which such Securities are listed, or if such Securities are not listed, by lot or such other method as the Issuers shall deem fair and appropriate (and in such manner as complies with applicable requirements of the Depository); provided that the Issuers shall not select Securities for purchase which would result in a Holder with a principal amount of Securities less than the minimum denomination to the extent practicable.

(f)    Notices of an Asset Sale Offer shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the purchase date to each Holder of Securities (with a copy to the Trustee) at such Holder’s registered address (or otherwise in accordance with the Depository’s procedures). If any Security is to be purchased in part only, any notice of purchase that relates to such Security shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof that has been or is to be purchased.

(g)    A new Security in principal amount equal to the unpurchased portion of any Security purchased in part shall be issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Security; provided that global Securities will be reduced in accordance with the applicable procedures of The Depository Trust Company to reflect the unpurchased portion of any such Security. On and after the purchase date, unless the Issuers default in payment of the purchase price, interest shall cease to accrue on Securities or portions thereof purchased.

SECTION 4.07.    Transactions with Affiliates.

(a)    The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, 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 or series of transactions, contract, agreement, loan, advance or guarantee with any Affiliate of the Company (each of the foregoing, an “Affiliate Transaction”) involving aggregate consideration in excess of $50 million, unless:

(i)    such Affiliate Transaction is on terms, taken as a whole, that are not materially less favorable to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that could reasonably have been obtained in a comparable transaction at the time of such transaction (or if earlier, the date on which such transaction is contractually agreed) by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person; and

(ii)    with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $75 million, the Company delivers to the Trustee a resolution adopted in good faith by the majority of the Board of Directors of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company, approving such Affiliate Transaction and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with clause (i) above (which resolution, if adopted by a majority of the Disinterested Directors shall be conclusive evidence of compliance with clause (i) above).

 

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(b)    The provisions of Section 4.07(a) shall not apply to the following:

(i)    (A) transactions between or among the Company, the Co-Issuers and/or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or any Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of the applicable transactions and (B) any merger of the Company and any direct parent of the Company; provided that such direct parent shall have no material liabilities and no material assets other than cash, Cash Equivalents and the Capital Stock of the Company (if applicable) and such merger is otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture and effected for a bona fide business purpose;

(ii)    transactions in connection with (x) Restricted Payments permitted by Section 4.04 and (y) Permitted Investments;

(iii)    the payment of reasonable and customary fees and compensation paid to, and indemnities, insurance arrangements, reimbursements, and employment and severance arrangements provided on behalf of, former, current or future, officers, directors, employees or consultants of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or any direct or indirect parent company of the Company;

(iv)    transactions in which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, delivers to the Trustee a letter from an Independent Financial Advisor stating that such transaction is fair to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or meets the requirements of clause (i) of Section 4.07(a);

(v)    payments or loans (or cancellation of loans) to employees or consultants in the ordinary course of business which are approved by a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company in good faith;

(vi)    any agreement as in effect as of the Issue Date or any amendment thereto (so long as any such agreement together with all amendments thereto, taken as a whole, is not more disadvantageous to the Holders of the Securities in any material respect than the original agreement as in effect on the Issue Date) or any transaction contemplated thereby;

(vii)    the existence of, or the performance by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of its obligations under the terms of, any stockholders agreement (including any registration rights agreement or purchase agreement related thereto) to which it is a party as of the Issue Date and any amendment thereto or similar agreements which it may enter into thereafter; provided, however, that the existence of, or the performance by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of its obligations under, any future amendment to any such existing agreement or under any similar agreement entered into after the Issue Date shall only be permitted by this clause (vii) to the extent that the terms of any such existing agreement together with all amendments thereto, taken as a whole, or new agreement are not otherwise more disadvantageous to the Holders of the Securities in any material respect than the original agreement as in effect on the Issue Date;

(viii)    (A) transactions with customers, clients, suppliers or purchasers or sellers 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 Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the reasonable determination of the Board of Directors or the senior management of the Company, and are on terms at least as favorable that could reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party (determined at the time such transaction is entered into, or, if earlier, the date such transaction is contractually agreed) or (B) transactions with joint ventures or Unrestricted Subsidiaries entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(ix)    any transaction effected as part of a Qualified Receivables Financing, including dispositions and repurchases of assets;

(x)    the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company and the granting of registration rights and other customary rights in connection therewith or any contribution to capital of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(xi)    (A) the entering into of any agreement (and any amendment or modification of any such agreement) to pay, and the payment of, annual management, consulting, monitoring and advisory fees to the Equity Investors in an aggregate amount in any fiscal year not to exceed the greater of (1) $75 million and (2) 3.0% of EBITDA for such fiscal year, plus all out-of-pocket reasonable expenses incurred by the Equity Investors or any of their Affiliates in connection with the performance of management, consulting, monitoring, advisory or other services with respect to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and (B) the payment to the Equity Investors or an Affiliate of the Equity Investors for the reasonable out-of-pocket costs of actual and necessary reasonable out-of-pocket legal, accounting, insurance, marketing, financial and similar types of services paid for by the Equity Investors or such Affiliate on behalf of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

(xii)    payments by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to the Equity Investors made for any financial advisory, financing, consulting, underwriting or placement services or in respect of other investment banking or advisory activities, including, without limitation, in connection with operations, management, acquisitions, divestitures or other financing arrangements, which payments are approved by a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company in good faith;

(xiii)    any contribution to the capital of the Company;

(xiv)    transactions permitted by, and complying with, the provisions of Section 5.01;

(xv)    transactions between the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and any Person, a director of which is also a director of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company; provided, however, that such director abstains from voting as a director of the Company or such direct or indirect parent of the Company, as the case may be, on any matter involving such other Person;

(xvi)    pledges of Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(xvii)    any employment agreements, pension plans or other employee benefit plans or arrangements entered into by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(xviii)    the issuances of securities or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment arrangements, stock option and stock ownership plans or similar employee benefit plans approved by the Board of Directors of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company or of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, as appropriate, in good faith;

 

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(xix)    in the case Section 4.04(b)(xix), the entering into any tax sharing agreement or arrangement with respect to such payments;

(xx)    transactions entered into in good faith which provide for shared employees, services and/or facilities arrangements and which provide cost savings and/or other operational efficiencies;

(xxi)    [reserved];

(xxii)    any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction;

(xxiii)    any purchases by the Company’s Affiliates of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries the majority of which Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock is purchased by Persons who are not the Company’s Affiliates; provided that such purchases by the Company’s Affiliates are on the same terms as such purchases by such Persons who are not the Company’s Affiliates; and

(xxiv)    transactions contractually agreed to between an Unrestricted Subsidiary with an Affiliate prior to the day such Unrestricted Subsidiary is redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary.

SECTION 4.08.    Change of Control Triggering Event.

(a)    Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event, each Holder shall have the right to require the Issuers to repurchase all or any part of such Holder’s Securities at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the date of repurchase (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date occurring on or prior to the redemption date), in accordance with the terms contemplated in this Section 4.08; provided, however, that notwithstanding the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event, the Issuers shall not be obligated to purchase any Securities pursuant to this Section 4.08 in the event that they have exercised their right to redeem such Securities in accordance with Article 3 of this Indenture.

(b)    Within 30 days following any Change of Control Triggering Event, except to the extent that the Issuers have exercised their right to redeem the Securities in accordance with Article 3 of this Indenture, the Issuers shall send a notice (a “Change of Control Offer”) to each Holder with a copy to the Trustee stating:

(i)    that a Change of Control Triggering Event has occurred and that such Holder has the right to require the Issuers to purchase all or a portion of such Holder’s Securities at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the date of purchase (subject to the right of Holders of record on a record date to receive interest on the relevant interest payment date);

(ii)    the circumstances and relevant facts and information regarding such Change of Control Triggering Event;

(iii)    the repurchase date (which shall be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is sent); and

(iv)    the instructions determined by the Issuers, consistent with this Section 4.08, that a Holder must follow in order to have its Securities purchased.

 

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(c)    Holders electing to have a Security purchased shall be required to surrender the Security, with an appropriate form duly completed, to the Issuers at the address specified in the Change of Control Offer at least three Business Days prior to the purchase date. The Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Trustee or the Issuers receive not later than two Business Days prior to the purchase date a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Security which was delivered for purchase by the Holder and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its election to have such Security purchased. Holders whose Securities are purchased only in part shall be issued new Securities equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Securities surrendered.

(d)    On the purchase date, all Securities purchased by the Issuers under this Section 4.08 shall be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Issuers shall pay the purchase price plus accrued and unpaid interest to the Holders entitled thereto.

(e)    Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.08, the Issuers shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control Triggering Event if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in Section 4.08(b) applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Issuers and purchases all Securities validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer.

(f)    At the time the Issuers deliver Securities to the Trustee that are to be accepted for purchase, the Issuers shall also deliver an Officer’s Certificate stating that such Securities are to be accepted by the Issuers pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of this Section 4.08. A Security shall be deemed to have been accepted for purchase at the time the Trustee or the Paying Agent, directly or through an agent, mails or delivers payment therefor to the surrendering Holder.

(g)    Prior to any Change of Control Offer, the Issuers shall deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent contained herein to the right of the Issuers to make such offer have been complied with.

(h)    The Issuers shall comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations in connection with the repurchase of Securities pursuant to this Section 4.08. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with provisions of this Section 4.08, the Issuers shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached their obligations under this Section 4.08 by virtue thereof.

(i)    A Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control Triggering Event, and conditioned upon such Change of Control Triggering Event (subject to any extensions to the extent set forth in the notice of such Change of Control Offer).

(j)    If Holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Securities validly tender and do not withdraw such Securities in a Change of Control Offer and the Issuers, or any third party making a Change of Control Offer in lieu of the Issuers, purchase all of the Securities validly tendered and not withdrawn by such Holders, the Issuers or such third party shall have the right, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, which notice must be given not more than 30 days following such purchase pursuant to the Change of Control Offer, to redeem all Securities that remain outstanding following such purchase at a price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest to but excluding the date of redemption.

 

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SECTION 4.09.    Compliance Certificate. Commencing with the Company’s 2019 fiscal year, the Issuers shall deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company an Officer’s Certificate stating that in the course of the performance by the signers of their duties as Officers of the Issuers they would normally have knowledge of any Default and whether or not the signers know of any Default that occurred during such period. If they do, the certificate shall describe the Default, its status and what action the Issuers are taking or propose to take with respect thereto.

SECTION 4.10.    [Reserved].

SECTION 4.11.    Subsidiary Guarantees. The Company shall cause each Restricted Subsidiary that is a wholly owned Domestic Subsidiary other than the Co-Issuers (unless such Subsidiary is not required to guarantee the Credit Facilities or is already a Subsidiary Guarantor) that:

(a)    guarantees any Indebtedness of the Company or any of their Restricted Subsidiaries; or

(b)    Incurs any Indebtedness or issues any shares of Disqualified Stock,

in each case, other than (i) Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to the Non-Guarantor Exception and (ii) any Permitted Debt referred to in Section 4.03(b), to execute and deliver to the Trustee, a supplemental indenture in the form of Exhibit C hereto pursuant to which such Subsidiary shall guarantee payment of the Securities. The Indebtedness and Disqualified Stock referenced in clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 4.11 shall be referred to as “Reference Indebtedness.”

SECTION 4.12.    Limitation on Liens.

(a)    Neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may issue, assume or guarantee any Indebtedness secured by a Lien (other than a Permitted Lien) upon any asset or property of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary or on any evidences of Indebtedness or shares of Capital Stock of, or other ownership interests in, any Restricted Subsidiary (regardless of whether the asset, property, Indebtedness, Capital Stock or ownership interests were acquired before or after the date hereof) without effectively providing that all of the Securities or Guarantees then outstanding, as the case may be, shall be secured equally and ratably with (or prior to) the Indebtedness so long as such Indebtedness shall be so secured.

This Section 4.12(a) will not require the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to secure the Securities if the relevant Lien consists of a Permitted Lien. Any Lien which is granted to secure the Securities or such Subsidiary Guarantee under this Section 4.12(a) shall be automatically released and discharged at the same time as the release of the Lien that gave rise to the obligation to secure the Securities or such Subsidiary Guarantee under this Section 4.12(a).

(b)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that Rule 3-16 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act requires (or is replaced with another rule or regulation or any other law, rule or regulation is adopted, which would require) the filing with the SEC (or any other governmental agency) of separate financial statements of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company due to the fact that such Restricted Subsidiary’s Capital Stock secures the Securities, then the Capital Stock of such Restricted Subsidiary shall at such time automatically be deemed not to be part of the collateral that would secure the Securities pursuant to this covenant, but only to the extent necessary to not be subject to such requirement.

 

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(c)    For purposes of this Section 4.12, if any Lien would be permitted pursuant to one or more of the exceptions contained in the definition of “Permitted Lien,” the Company may classify such Lien in any manner that complies with this covenant and may later reclassify any such Lien so long as such Lien (as so reclassified) would be permitted to be made in reliance on the applicable exception as of the date of such reclassification.

SECTION 4.13.    Maintenance of Office or Agency.

(a)    The Company shall maintain in the United States, an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee or Registrar) where Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency (in each case, if not the office of the Trustee). If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the corporate trust office of the Trustee as set forth in Section 11.02; provided, however, no service of legal process may be made on the Issuers at an office of the Trustee.

(b)    The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations. The Company 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.

(c)    The Issuers hereby designate the corporate trust office of the Trustee or its agent, as such office or agency of the Issuers in accordance with Section 2.04.

SECTION 4.14.    Applicability and Discharge of Covenants.

(a)    If on any date following the Issue Date (i) the Securities have Investment Grade Ratings from both Rating Agencies, and (ii) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture (the occurrence of the events described in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) being collectively referred to as a “Covenant Termination Event”), Section 4.03, Section 4.04, Section 4.06 and Section 4.07 shall not at any time thereafter be applicable to such Securities.

(b)    The Issuers shall provide written notice to the Trustee of the occurrence of any Covenant Termination Event, but no Default or Event of Default shall occur as a result of the failure to provide such notice. The Trustee shall have no obligation to (1) independently determine or verify if such events have occurred or (2) notify the Holders of the Securities of the occurrence of a Covenant Termination Event.

 

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ARTICLE 5

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

SECTION 5.01.    Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.

No Issuer shall (1) consolidate or merge with or into another Person or (2) sell, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in one or more related transactions, to another Person, unless:

(a)    either (i) an Issuer is the surviving Person, in the case of a merger or consolidation or (ii) the successor or transferee (the “Successor Issuer”) is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and the Successor Issuer shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto or other agreement, executed and delivered to the Trustee, all of the obligations of such Issuer under the Securities and this Indenture; provided if the Successor Issuer is not a corporation, a co-obligor of the Securities shall be a corporation;

(b)    no Default or Event of Default exists immediately after such transaction; and

(c)    the Issuers have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel conforming to the provisions of Section 11.04 hereof and each stating that such consolidation, merger, or transfer and such supplemental indenture and other agreement (if any) comply with this provision and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

SECTION 5.02.    Successor Issuer Substituted.

The Successor Issuer shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, an Issuer under this Indenture, with the same effect as if the Successor Issuer had been an original party to this Indenture, and such Issuer shall be released from all its liabilities and obligations under this Indenture and the Securities.

SECTION 5.03.    Subsidiary Guarantors May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.

No Subsidiary Guarantor shall consolidate with or merge with or into (whether or not such Subsidiary Guarantor is the surviving Person) another corporation or other Person, whether or not affiliated with such Subsidiary Guarantor unless:

(i)    subject to Section 10.08, the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Subsidiary Guarantor) assumes all the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under the Subsidiary Guarantee and this Indenture pursuant to a supplemental indenture;

(ii)    immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists; and

(iii)    the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indenture comply with this Indenture and that all conditions precedent herein provided that relate to such transaction have been complied with.

ARTICLE 6

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

SECTION 6.01.    Events of Default. “Event of Default” wherever used herein with respect to the Securities means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law, pursuant to

 

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any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

(a)    default in the payment of any interest upon the Securities when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 calendar days,

(b)    default in the payment of principal of (or premium, if any, on) the Securities at their Stated Maturity (upon acceleration, optional or mandatory redemption, upon declaration or otherwise),

(c)    [reserved],

(d)    the acceleration of the maturity of any Indebtedness of an Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor (other than Non-recourse Indebtedness), at any one time, in an amount in excess of $150 million; provided that in the event of any Event of Default specified in this clause (d), such Event of Default and all consequences thereof (excluding, however, any resulting payment default, other than as a result of the acceleration of the Securities) shall be annulled, waived and rescinded, automatically and without any action by the Trustee or the Holders of the Securities, if within 30 days after such Event of Default arose the Issuers deliver an Officer’s Certificate to the Trustee stating that (x) the Indebtedness or guarantee that is the basis for such Event of Default has been discharged or (y) 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 (z) the Default that is the basis for such Event of Default has been cured,

(e)    failure by an Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor to pay final and non-appealable judgments aggregating in excess of $150 million or its foreign currency equivalent (net of any amounts which are covered by indemnities or insurance policies issued by solvent carriers), which judgments are not discharged, waived or stayed for a period of 60 days,

(f)    default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in this Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 calendar days (or, in the case of the failure to comply with Section 4.02, 90 days) after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Issuers by the Trustee or to the Issuers and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 30% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities, a written notice specifying such Default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder,

(g)    the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company (including any Co-Issuer) pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

(i)    commences a voluntary case;

(ii)    consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case;

(iii)    consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for any substantial part of its property; or

 

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(iv)    makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors or takes any comparable action under any foreign laws relating to insolvency, or

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

(i)    is for relief against the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company (including any Co-Issuer) in an involuntary case;

(ii)    appoints a Custodian of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company (including any Co-Issuer) or for any substantial part of its property; or

(iii)    orders the winding up or liquidation of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company (including any Co-Issuer);

or any similar relief is granted under any foreign laws and, in each such case, the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 90 days.

The foregoing shall constitute Events of Default whatever the reason for any such Event of Default and whether it is voluntary or involuntary or is effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body.

The term “Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, custodian or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

SECTION 6.02.    Acceleration. If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(g) or (h) with respect to an Issuer) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee by written notice to the Issuers or the Holders of at least 30% in principal amount of outstanding Securities by written notice to the Issuers and the Trustee, may declare the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued but unpaid interest on all the Securities to be due and payable. Upon such a declaration, such principal, premium and interest shall be due and payable immediately. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(g) or (h) with respect to an Issuer occurs, the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all the Securities shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holders.

At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to the Securities has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article 6 provided, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities, by written notice to the Issuers and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:

(1)    the Issuers have paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay:

(A)    all overdue interest on the Securities,

(B)    the principal of and premium, if any, on the Securities which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and any interest thereon at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in the Securities,

 

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(C)    to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in the Securities, and

(D)    all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the compensation, reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel; and

(2)    all Events of Default with respect to the Securities, other than the non-payment of the principal of and premium, if any, on the Securities which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 6.04.

No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereto.

SECTION 6.03.    Other Remedies. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy at law or in equity to collect the payment of principal of or interest on the Securities or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Securities or this Indenture.

The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Securities or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder 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. No remedy is exclusive of any other remedy. All available remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.

SECTION 6.04.    Waiver of Past Defaults. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities by notice to the Trustee may waive an existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences except (1) in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Securities, or (2) a Default or Event of Default in respect of a provision that under Section 9.02 cannot be amended without the consent of each Holder affected, in which case each Holder so affected must waive such Default or Event of Default (but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, a payment Event of Default occurring as a result of the acceleration of the Securities, which may be rescinded pursuant to Section 6.02). When a Default or Event of Default is waived, such Default or Event of Default shall cease to exist, and any such Default or Event of Default shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any consequent right.

SECTION 6.05.    Control by Majority. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities then outstanding may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or, subject to Section 7.01, that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability; provided, however, that the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction. Prior to taking any action under this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to indemnification satisfactory to it in its sole discretion against all losses, liabilities and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.

 

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SECTION 6.06.    Limitation on Suits.

(a)    No Holder shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator or sequestrator (or similar official) or for any other remedy hereunder, unless:

(i)    the Holder gives to the Trustee written notice stating that an Event of Default is continuing;

(ii)    the Holders of at least 30% in principal amount of the Securities then outstanding make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

(iii)    such Holder or Holders offer to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense;

(iv)    the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer of security or indemnity; and

(v)    the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities do not give the Trustee a written direction inconsistent with the request prior to the expiration of such 60-day period.

(b)    A Holder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder.

SECTION 6.07.    Right of the Holders to Receive Payment. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of and interest on the Securities held by such Holder, on or after the respective due dates expressed or provided for in the Securities, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall be absolute and unconditional, and such right shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

SECTION 6.08.    Collection Suit by Trustee. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a) or (b) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Issuers or any other obligor on the Securities for the whole amount then due and owing (together with interest on overdue principal and (to the extent lawful) on any unpaid interest at the rate provided for in the Securities) and the amounts provided for in Section 7.07.

SECTION 6.09.    Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. The Trustee may 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 reasonable compensation, expenses disbursements and advances of the Trustee (including counsel, accountants, experts or such other professionals as the Trustee deems reasonably necessary, advisable or appropriate)) and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuers or any Guarantor, their creditors or their property, shall be entitled to participate as a member, voting or otherwise, of any official committee of creditors appointed in such matters and, unless prohibited by law or applicable regulations, may vote on behalf of the Holders in any election of a trustee in bankruptcy or other Person performing similar functions, and any Custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make 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 it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and its counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07. Nothing in this Indenture will be deemed to empower 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 Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

 

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SECTION 6.10.    Priorities. If the Trustee collects any money or property pursuant to this Article 6, it shall pay out the money or property in the following order:

FIRST: to the Trustee for amounts due under Section 7.07;

SECOND: to Holders for amounts due and unpaid on the Securities for principal, premium, if any, and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Securities for principal and interest, respectively; and

THIRD: to the Company or, to the extent the Trustee collects any amount for any Subsidiary Guarantor, to such Subsidiary Guarantor.

The Trustee, upon prior written notice to the Issuers and the Subsidiary Guarantors, may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to the Holders pursuant to this Section 6.10. At least 15 days before such record date, the Trustee shall send to each Holder and the Company a notice that states the record date, the payment date and amount to be paid.

SECTION 6.11.    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 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 6.11 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by an Issuer, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.07 or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the Securities then outstanding.

ARTICLE 7

TRUSTEE

SECTION 7.01.    Duties of Trustee.

(a)    If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

(b)    Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

(i)    the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture 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 certificates or opinions required by any provision hereof to be provided to it, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.

 

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(c)    The Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:

(i)    this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section 7.01;

(ii)    the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Trust Officer unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;

(iii)    the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05; and

(iv)    no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers.

(d)    Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to this Section 7.01 and Section 7.02.

(e)    The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Issuers.

(f)    Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

SECTION 7.02.    Rights of Trustee.

(a)    The Trustee may conclusively rely on any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.

(b)    Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officer’s Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel.

(c)    The Trustee may act through agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care.

(d)    The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it reasonably believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers; provided, however, that the Trustee’s conduct does not constitute willful misconduct or negligence.

(e)    The Trustee may consult with counsel of its own selection and the advice or opinion of counsel with respect to legal matters relating to this Indenture and the Securities shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, omitted or suffered by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance on the advice or opinion of such counsel.

(f)    The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture, note or other paper or document unless requested (and subject to clause (g) below) in writing to do so by the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time outstanding, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation

 

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into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Issuers, personally or by agent or attorney, at the expense of the Issuers and shall incur no liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.

(g)    The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

(h)    The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.

(i)    [Reserved].

(j)    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.

(k)    The permissive rights of the Trustee enumerated herein shall not be construed as duties.

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

(m)    The Trustee shall be under no obligation to effect or maintain insurance or to renew any policies of insurance or to inquire as to the sufficiency of any policies of insurance carried by the Issuers or any Guarantor, or to report, or make or file claims or proof of loss for, any loss or damage insured against or that may occur, or to keep itself informed or advised as to the payment of any taxes or assessments, or to require any such payment to be made.

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

(o)    Neither the Trustee nor any of its directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates shall be responsible for nor have any duty to monitor the performance or any action of the Issuers or any Guarantor, or any of their respective directors, members, officers, agents, affiliates or employee, nor shall it have any liability in connection with the malfeasance or nonfeasance by such party. The Trustee shall not be responsible for any inaccuracy in the information obtained from the Issuers or any Guarantor or for any inaccuracy or omission in the records which may result from such information or any failure by the Trustee to perform its duties as set forth herein as a result of any inaccuracy or incompleteness.

 

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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 Securities and may otherwise deal with the Issuers or their Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Paying Agent or Registrar may do the same with like rights. However, the Trustee must comply with Sections 7.10 and 7.11.

SECTION 7.04.    Trustees Disclaimer. The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture, any Guarantee or the Securities, it shall not be accountable for the Issuers’ use of the proceeds from the Securities, and it shall not be responsible for any statement of the Issuers or any Guarantor in this Indenture or in any document issued in connection with the sale of the Securities or in the Securities other than the Trustee’s certificate of authentication. The Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default under Sections 6.01(d), (e), (f), (g) or (h) of the identity of any Significant Subsidiary unless either (a) a Trust Officer shall have actual knowledge thereof or (b) the Trustee shall have received notice thereof in accordance with Section 11.02 from the Issuers, any Guarantor or any Holder.

SECTION 7.05.    Notice of Defaults. If a Default occurs and is continuing and if it is actually known to a Trust Officer, the Trustee shall send to each Holder notice of the Default within the later of 90 days after it occurs and 30 days after it is actually known to a Trust Officer or written notice of it is received by the Trustee. Except in the case of a Default in the payment of principal of, premium (if any) or interest on any Security, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a committee of its Trust Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders.

SECTION 7.06.    [Reserved].

SECTION 7.07.    Compensation and Indemnity. The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for its services. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee promptly following receipt of written request therefor upon request for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred or made by it, including costs of collection, in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the compensation and reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee’s agents, counsel (limited to one law firm and one local counsel), accountants and experts. The Issuers and each Guarantor, jointly and severally, shall indemnify and hold harmless the Trustee against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage or expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust and the performance of its duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture or Guarantee against the Issuers or a Guarantor (including this Section 7.07) and defending itself against or investigating any claim (whether asserted by any Issuer, any Guarantor, any Holder or any other Person). The Trustee shall notify the Issuers of any claim for which it may seek indemnity promptly upon obtaining actual knowledge thereof; provided, however, that any failure so to notify the Issuers shall not relieve any Issuer or any Guarantor of its indemnity obligations hereunder. The Issuers shall defend the claim and the indemnified party shall provide reasonable good faith cooperation at the Issuers’ reasonable expense in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Issuers and the Guarantors, as applicable, shall pay the fees and reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses of such counsel; provided, however, that the Issuers shall not be required to pay such fees and expenses if they assume the Trustee’s defense and, in the reasonable judgment of outside counsel to the Trustee, there is no actual or potential legal conflict of interest between the Issuers and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Trustee on the other hand, in connection with such defense. Neither the Issuers nor the Guarantors shall be required to reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense (a) incurred by an indemnified party through such party’s own willful

 

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misconduct, negligence or bad faith, or (b) if it is the result of the settlement of a claim for which indemnification may be sought hereunder and the Trustee shall have settled such claim without the Issuers’ consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld).

To secure the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ payment obligations in this Section 7.07, the Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Securities on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee other than money or property held in trust to pay principal of and interest on particular Securities.

The Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ payment obligations pursuant to this Section 7.07 shall survive the satisfaction or discharge of this Indenture, any rejection or termination of this Indenture under any bankruptcy law or the resignation or removal of the Trustee. Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, when the Trustee incurs expenses after the occurrence of a Default specified in Section 6.01(g) or (h) with respect to the Issuers, the expenses are intended to constitute expenses of administration under the Bankruptcy Law.

SECTION 7.08.    Replacement of Trustee.

(a)    The Trustee may resign at any time by so notifying the Issuers. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee in writing and may appoint a successor Trustee, with the Issuers’ written consent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld. The Issuers may remove the Trustee if:

(i)    the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;

(ii)    the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent;

(iii)    a receiver or other public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

(iv)    the Trustee otherwise becomes incapable of acting.

If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of the TIA, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the TIA and this Indenture.

(b)    If the Trustee resigns, is removed by the Issuers or by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities and such Holders do not reasonably promptly appoint a successor Trustee with the Issuers’ written consent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason (the Trustee in such event being referred to herein as the retiring Trustee), the Issuers shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee.

(c)    A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Issuers. Thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to the Holders. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.07.

(d)    If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee or the Holders of 10% in principal amount of the Securities may petition at the expense of the Issuers any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

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(e)    If the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10, unless the Trustee’s duty to resign is stayed as provided in Section 310(b) of the TIA, any Holder who has been a bona fide holder of a Security for at least six months may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(f)    Notwithstanding the replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section, the Issuers’ obligations under Section 7.07 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

SECTION 7.09.    Successor Trustee by Merger. If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all its corporate trust business or assets to, another corporation or banking association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation 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 Securities 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 Securities so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Securities shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Securities either in the name of any predecessor hereunder 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 Securities or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have.

SECTION 7.10.    Eligibility; Disqualification. The Trustee shall at all times satisfy the requirements of Section 310(a) of the TIA. The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $100,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with Section 310(b) of the TIA, subject to its right to apply for a stay of its duty to resign under the penultimate paragraph of Section 310(b) of the TIA; provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the operation of Section 310(b)(1) of the TIA any series of securities issued under this Indenture and any indenture or indentures under which other securities or certificates of interest or participation in other securities of the Issuers are outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in Section 310(b)(1) of the TIA are met.

SECTION 7.11.    Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Issuers. The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the TIA, excluding any creditor relationship listed in Section 311(b) of the TIA. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the TIA to the extent indicated.

ARTICLE 8

DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE

SECTION 8.01.    Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

This Indenture shall, upon Issuers Request, cease to be of further effect with respect to the Securities (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of the Securities herein expressly provided for and rights to receive payments of principal (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities) and the Trustee, at the expense of the Issuers, shall execute such instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when:

(a)    either

 

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(i)    all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.08, and (ii) Securities the payment for which money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Issuers and thereafter repaid to the Issuers or discharged from such trust) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(ii)    all Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation,

(1)    have become due and payable, or

(2)    will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or

(3)    are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Issuers;

(b)    the Issuers, in the case of subclause (2) or (3) of clause (a)(ii) of this Section 8.01, have irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for such purpose an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on such Securities for principal (and premium, if any) and interest (and, for the avoidance of doubt, such interest amount shall be calculated based on the interest rate in effect on the date of such deposit) to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or redemption date, as the case may be; provided, however, in the event a petition for relief under the federal bankruptcy laws, as now or hereafter constituted, or any other applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law, is filed with respect to any Issuer within 91 days after the deposit and the Trustee is required to return the deposited money to such Issuer, the obligations of the Issuers under this Indenture with respect to such Securities shall not be deemed terminated or discharged;

(c)    the Issuers have paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Issuers; and

(d)    the Issuers have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Issuers to the Trustee under Section 7.07, the obligations of the Issuers under Section 4.01, and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to clause (b) of this Section 8.01, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 8.02 (until payments are made by the Trustee thereunder), shall survive.

SECTION 8.02.    Application of Trust Money. All money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.01 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities, and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including an Issuer acting as 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.

SECTION 8.03.    Applicability of Article . Except as otherwise provided in Section 8.04, the Issuers may terminate their obligations under the Securities and this Indenture as set forth in Section 8.04.

 

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SECTION 8.04.    Defeasance Upon Deposit of Money or U.S. Government Obligations. At the Issuers’ option, either (1) the Issuers shall be deemed to have been Discharged (as defined below) from their obligations with respect to Securities and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations under their Guarantees in respect of the Securities (“legal defeasance option”) or (2) the Issuers shall cease to be under any obligation to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in Sections 4.02, 4.03, 4.04, 4.06, 4.07, 4.08, 4.11and 4.12 and the operation of Article 5 and Section 6.01(d), 6.01(f) (with respect to any Default under Sections 4.02, 4.03, 4.04, 4.06, 4.07, 4.08, 4.11 and 4.12), 6.01(g) (with respect to Significant Subsidiaries of the Company only) and 6.01(h) (with respect to Significant Subsidiaries of the Company only), in respect of the Securities (“covenant defeasance option”) at any time after the applicable conditions set forth below have been satisfied:

(a)    the Issuers shall have deposited or caused to be deposited irrevocably with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of the Securities (i) money in an amount, or (ii) U.S. Government Obligations which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii), sufficient, in the opinion (with respect to clauses (i) and (ii)) of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge each installment of principal (including any mandatory sinking fund payments) of and premium, if any, and interest (and, for the avoidance of doubt, such interest amount shall be calculated based on the interest rate in effect on the date of such deposit) on, the outstanding Securities on the dates such installments of interest or principal and premium are due;

(b)    [reserved];

(c)    such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which any Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor is a party or by which it is bound;

(d)    if the Securities are then listed on any national securities exchange, the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel or a letter or other document from such exchange to the effect that the Issuers’ exercise of their option under this Section 8.04 would not cause such Securities to be delisted;

(e)    no Event of Default or Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit and, with respect to the legal defeasance option only, no Event of Default under Section 6.01(g) or Section 6.01(h) or event which with the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of Default under Section 6.01(g) or Section 6.01(h) shall have occurred and be continuing on the 91st day after such date;

(f)    with respect to the legal defeasance option, the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel or a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service to the effect that the Holders of the Securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance or Discharge. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Issuers exercise their covenant defeasance option and an Event of Default under Section 6.01(g) or Section 6.01(h) or event which, with the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of Default under Section 6.01(g) or Section 6.01(h) shall have occurred and be continuing on the 91st day after the date of such deposit, the obligations of the Issuers and the Subsidiary Guarantors referred to under the definition of “covenant defeasance option” with respect to such Securities shall be reinstated;

 

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(g)    the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate certifying the conditions set forth in clauses (a) through (f) of this Section 8.04 have been satisfied; and

(h)    the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel (which Opinion of Counsel may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions) each stating that all conditions precedent provided for or relating to the legal defeasance or the covenant defeasance, as the case may be, have been complied with.

Discharged” means that the Issuers and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by, and obligations under, the Securities and the Guarantees in respect of the Securities and to have satisfied all the obligations under this Indenture in respect of the Securities (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Issuers, shall execute such instruments acknowledging the same), except (i) the rights of Holders of Securities to receive, from the trust fund described in clause (a) above, payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such Securities when such payments are due, (ii) the Issuers’ obligations with respect to the Securities under Sections 2.07, 2.08, 2.10 and 8.05 and (c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder.

SECTION 8.05.    Deposited Moneys and U.S. Government Obligations To Be Held in Trust. All moneys and U.S. Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.04 in respect of Securities shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including any Issuer acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities, of all sums due and to become due thereon for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

The Issuers shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the U.S. Government Obligations 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 Securities.

SECTION 8.06.    Repayment to Issuers. The Trustee and any Paying Agent shall promptly pay or return to the Issuers upon Issuers Request any moneys or U.S. Government Obligations held by them at any time that are not required for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities for which money or U.S. Government Obligations have been deposited pursuant to Section 8.04.

ARTICLE 9

AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS

SECTION 9.01.    Without Consent of the Holders. Without the consent of any Holders, the Issuers, when authorized by a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto or amendments to this Indenture to add any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Securities or the Guarantees, in each case, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:

(i)    to permit a Successor Issuer to assume the Issuers’ covenants and obligations under this Indenture and in the Securities in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;

 

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(ii)    to add to the Issuers’ covenants for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities;

(iii)    to surrender any of the Issuers’ rights or powers conferred in this Indenture;

(iv)    to add any additional Events of Default;

(v)    to supplement any of the provisions of this Indenture to the extent needed to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of the Securities in a manner that will not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of the Securities in any material respect;

(vi)    to provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor Trustee and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as is necessary to provide for the administration of the trust by more than one trustee;

(vii)    to cure any ambiguity;

(viii)    to provide for the issuance of Additional Securities in accordance with the terms hereof, which shall have terms substantially identical in all material respects to the Original Securities, and which shall be treated, together with any outstanding Securities, as a single issue of securities;

(ix)    to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein;

(x)    to add additional Guarantees or to release any Subsidiary Guarantors from Guarantees as provided by the terms of this Indenture;

(xi)    to (A) secure the Securities with collateral and (B) release collateral (if any) from the Lien when permitted or required by the terms of the applicable security documents (if any have been entered into), the intercreditor agreement (if one has been entered into) or this Indenture;

(xii)    to conform the text of this Indenture or the Securities to the “Description of Notes” section of the Offering Memorandum; or

(xiii)    to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture which shall not be inconsistent with any provision of this Indenture as long as the new provisions do not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of the Holders of the Securities.

Upon the request of the Issuers, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 9.07, the Trustee shall join with the Issuers and, if applicable, the Guarantors in the execution of such supplemental indenture. After an amendment under this Section 9.01 becomes effective, the Issuers shall mail to Holders a notice briefly describing such amendment. The failure to give such notice to all Holders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this Section 9.01.

 

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SECTION 9.02.    With Consent of the Holders.

With the written consent of the Holders of not less than at least a majority in principal amount of the Securities delivered to the Issuers and the Trustee, the Issuers, when authorized by a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company, and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto or amendments to this Indenture for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Securities or the Guarantees or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders under this Indenture, the Securities or the Guarantees; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of each Holder affected thereby:

(i)    change the Stated Maturity or reduce the principal amount or the rate of interest, or extend the time for payment of interest of the Securities or any premium payable upon the redemption of the Securities, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or after the due date thereof (including, in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date), or alter any redemption provisions in a manner adverse to the Holders of the Securities or release any Subsidiary Guarantor under any Subsidiary Guarantee (except in accordance with the terms of this Indenture or the Subsidiary Guarantee);

(ii)    reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Securities where the consent of the Holder is required for any such amendment, supplemental indenture or waiver as provided for in this Indenture; or

(iii)    modify any of the waiver provisions of this Indenture, except to increase any required percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding Security which would be affected.

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

SECTION 9.03.    [Reserved].

SECTION 9.04.    [Reserved].

SECTION 9.05.    Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers.

(a)    A consent to an amendment or a waiver by a Holder of a Security shall bind the Holder and every subsequent Holder of that Security or portion of the Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent or waiver is not made on the Security. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent or waiver as to such Holder’s Security or portion of the Security if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date on which the Trustee receives an Officer’s Certificate from the Issuers certifying that the requisite principal amount of Securities have consented. After an amendment or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every Holder. An amendment or waiver becomes effective upon the (i) receipt by the Issuers or the Trustee of consents by the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Securities, (ii) satisfaction of conditions to effectiveness as set forth in this Indenture and any indenture supplemental hereto containing such amendment or waiver and (iii) execution of such amendment or waiver (or supplemental indenture) by the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee.

 

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(b)    The Issuers may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to give their consent or take any other action described above or required or permitted to be taken pursuant to this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to give such consent or to revoke any consent previously given or to take any such action, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date.

SECTION 9.06.    Notation on or Exchange of Securities. If an amendment, supplement or waiver changes the terms of a Security, the Issuers may require the Holder of the Security to deliver it to the Trustee. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation on the Security regarding the changed terms and return it to the Holder. Alternatively, if the Issuers or the Trustee so determine, the Issuers in exchange for the Security shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a new Security that reflects the changed terms. Failure to make the appropriate notation or to issue a new Security shall not affect the validity of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

SECTION 9.07.    Trustee to Sign Amendments. The Trustee shall sign any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article 9 if the amendment 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 signing any amendment, supplement or waiver, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it and shall be provided with, and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that 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 Issuers and the Guarantors, enforceable against them in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions, and complies with the provisions hereof.

SECTION 9.08.    Additional Voting Terms; Calculation of Principal Amount. All Securities issued under this Indenture shall vote and consent together on all matters (as to which any of such Securities may vote) as one class and no series of Securities will have the right to vote or consent as a separate class on any matter. Determinations as to whether Holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Securities have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent shall be made in accordance with this Article 9 and Section 2.14.

ARTICLE 10

GUARANTEES

SECTION 10.01.    Guarantees.

(a)    Each Guarantor hereby jointly and severally, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees on a senior unsecured basis, as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety, to each Holder and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns (i) the full and punctual payment when due, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, of all obligations of the Issuers under this Indenture (including obligations to the Trustee) and the Securities, whether for payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on in respect of the Securities and all other monetary obligations of the Issuers under this Indenture and the Securities and (ii) the full and punctual performance within applicable grace periods of all other obligations of the Issuers whether for fees, expenses, indemnification or otherwise under this Indenture and the Securities (all the foregoing being hereinafter collectively called the “Guaranteed Obligations”). Each Guarantor further agrees that the Guaranteed Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice or further assent from each such Guarantor, and that each such Guarantor shall remain bound under this Article 10 notwithstanding any extension or renewal of any Guaranteed Obligation.

 

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(b)    Each Guarantor waives presentation to, demand of payment from and protest to the Issuers of any of the Guaranteed Obligations and also waives notice of protest for nonpayment. Each Guarantor waives notice of any default under the Securities or the Guaranteed Obligations. The obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be affected by (i) the failure of any Holder or the Trustee to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any right or remedy against the Issuers or any other Person under this Indenture, the Securities or any other agreement or otherwise; (ii) any extension or renewal of this Indenture, the Securities or any other agreement; (iii) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture, the Securities or any other agreement; (iv) the release of any security held by any Holder or the Trustee for the Guaranteed Obligations or any Guarantor; (v) the failure of any Holder or Trustee to exercise any right or remedy against any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations; or (vi) any change in the ownership of such Guarantor, except as provided in Section 10.08.

(c)    Each Guarantor hereby waives any right to which it may be entitled to have its obligations hereunder divided among the Guarantors, such that such Guarantor’s obligations would be less than the full amount claimed. Each Guarantor hereby waives any right to which it may be entitled to have the assets of the Company first be used and depleted as payment of the Issuers’ or such Guarantor’s obligations hereunder prior to any amounts being claimed from or paid by such Guarantor hereunder. Each Guarantor hereby waives any right to which it may be entitled to require that the Issuers be sued prior to an action being initiated against such Guarantor.

(d)    Each Guarantor further agrees that its Guarantee herein constitutes a guarantee of payment, performance and compliance when due (and not a guarantee of collection) and waives any right to require that any resort be had by any Holder or the Trustee to any security held for payment of the Guaranteed Obligations.

(e)    Except as expressly set forth in Sections 8.01, 8.04, 10.02 and 10.06, the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason, including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise, and shall not be subject to any defense of setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever or by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the obligations of each Guarantor herein shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by the failure of any Holder or the Trustee to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy under this Indenture, the Securities or any other agreement, by any waiver or modification of any thereof, by any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of the obligations, or by any other act or thing or omission or delay to do any other act or thing which may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of any Guarantor or would otherwise operate as a discharge of any Guarantor as a matter of law or equity.

(f)    Except as set forth in Sections 8.01, 8.04 and 10.02, each Guarantor agrees that its Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect until payment in full of all the Guaranteed Obligations. Except as set forth in Sections 8.01, 8.04 and 10.02, each Guarantor further agrees that its Guarantee herein shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of principal of or interest on any Guaranteed Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by any Holder or the Trustee upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company or otherwise.

 

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(g)    In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right which any Holder or the Trustee has at law or in equity against any Guarantor by virtue hereof, upon the failure of the Issuers to pay the principal of or interest on any Guaranteed Obligation when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, or to perform or comply with any other Guaranteed Obligation, each Guarantor hereby promises to and shall, upon receipt of written demand by the Trustee, forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, in cash, to the Holders or the Trustee an amount equal to the sum of (i) the unpaid principal amount of such Guaranteed Obligations, (ii) accrued and unpaid interest on such Guaranteed Obligations (but only to the extent not prohibited by applicable law) and (iii) all other monetary obligations of the Issuers to the Holders and the Trustee in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations.

(h)    Each Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to exercise any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all Guaranteed Obligations. Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between it, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (i) the maturity of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 for the purposes of any Guarantee herein, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby, and (ii) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such Guaranteed Obligations as provided in Article 6, such Guaranteed Obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by such Guarantor for the purposes of this Section 10.01.

(i)    Each Guarantor also agrees to pay any and all costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by the Trustee or any Holder in enforcing any rights under this Section 10.01.

(j)    Upon request of the Trustee, each Guarantor shall execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more effectively the purpose of this Indenture.

SECTION 10.02.    Limitation on Liability.

Any term or provision of this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, the maximum aggregate amount of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereunder by any Subsidiary Guarantor shall not exceed the maximum amount that can be hereby guaranteed without rendering this Indenture or the Subsidiary Guarantee, as each relates to such Subsidiary Guarantor, voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally.

SECTION 10.03.    Successors and Assigns. This Article 10 shall be binding upon each Guarantor and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Trustee and the Holders and, in the event of any transfer or assignment of rights by any Holder or the Trustee, the rights and privileges conferred upon that party in this Indenture and in the Securities shall automatically extend to and be vested in such transferee or assignee, all subject to the terms and conditions of this Indenture.

SECTION 10.04.    No Waiver. Neither a failure nor a delay on the part of either the Trustee or the Holders in exercising any right, power or privilege under this Article 10 shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall a single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise of any

 

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right, power or privilege. The rights, remedies and benefits of the Trustee and the Holders herein expressly specified are cumulative and not exclusive of any other rights, remedies or benefits which either may have under this Article 10 at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise.

SECTION 10.05.    Modification. No modification, amendment or waiver of any provision of this Article 10, nor the consent to any departure by any Guarantor therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Trustee, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. No notice to or demand on any Guarantor in any case shall entitle such Guarantor to any other or further notice or demand in the same, similar or other circumstances.

SECTION 10.06.    Execution of Supplemental Indenture for Future Guarantors. Each Subsidiary and each other Person that is required to become a Guarantor pursuant to Section 4.11 shall promptly execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture in the form of Exhibit D hereto pursuant to which such Subsidiary or other Person shall become a Guarantor under this Article 10 and shall guarantee the Guaranteed Obligations. Concurrently with the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture, the Issuers shall deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel and an Officer’s Certificate to the effect that such supplemental indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Subsidiary or other Person and that, subject to the application of bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or transfer and other similar laws relating to creditors’ rights generally and to the principles of equity, whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity, the Guarantee of such Guarantor is a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Guarantor, enforceable against such Guarantor in accordance with its terms.

SECTION 10.07.    Non-Impairment. The failure to endorse a Guarantee on any Security shall not affect or impair the validity thereof

SECTION 10.08.    Release of a Subsidiary Guarantor.

(a)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, a Subsidiary Guarantee as to any Subsidiary Guarantor shall automatically terminate and be of no further force or effect and such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be deemed to be released and discharged from all obligations under this Article 10 upon:

(i)    a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of any Subsidiary Guarantor, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise permitted under this Indenture;

(ii)    a sale or other disposition of all of the capital stock of any Subsidiary Guarantor permitted under this Indenture;

(iii)    the Issuers’ exercise of their legal defeasance option as described under Section 8.04 or if the Issuers’ obligations under this Indenture are discharged in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;

(iv)    such Person is the parent holding company of a Real Estate Subsidiary party to a Qualified Real Estate Financing Facility if such guaranty is prohibited by the terms of such Qualified Real Estate Financing Facility;

(v)    the Issuers designating such Subsidiary Guarantor to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the provisions set forth under Section 4.04 and the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary”;

 

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(vi)    if any such Subsidiary Guarantor no longer guarantees any Reference Indebtedness or any Reference Indebtedness of such Subsidiary Guarantor is no longer outstanding; or

(vii)    the applicable Subsidiary ceasing to be a Subsidiary as a result of any foreclosure of any pledge or security interest securing Obligations under the Credit Facilities or other exercise of remedies in respect thereof.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Subsidiary Guarantor will automatically be released from all obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee, and such Subsidiary Guarantee shall thereupon terminate and be discharged and of no further force and effect, upon the merger or consolidation of any Subsidiary Guarantor with and into an Issuer or another Subsidiary Guarantor that is the surviving Person in such merger or consolidation, or upon the liquidation or dissolution of such Subsidiary Guarantor following the transfer of all of its assets to an Issuer or another Subsidiary Guarantor.

ARTICLE 11

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 11.01.    [Reserved].

SECTION 11.02.    Notices.

(a)    Any notice or communication required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and delivered in person, via facsimile or mailed by first-class mail addressed as follows:

if to the Issuers or a Guarantor:

Albertsons Companies, Inc.

250 Parkcenter Blvd.

Boise, Idaho 83706

Facsimile: (208) 395-6349

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

with a copy to:

Albertsons Companies, Inc.

250 Parkcenter Blvd.

Boise, Idaho 83706

Facsimile: (208) 395-4625

Attention: General Counsel

if to the Trustee:

Wilmington Trust, National Association

50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1290

Minneapolis, MN 55402

Facsimile: 612-217-5651

Attn: Albertsons Companies, Inc., Administrator

The Company or the Trustee by notice to the other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

 

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(b)    Any notice or communication mailed to a Holder shall be mailed, first class mail, to the Holder at the Holder’s address as it appears on the registration books of the Registrar and shall be sufficiently given if so mailed within the time prescribed.

(c)    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, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it, except that notices to the Trustee are effective only if received.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any Security, where this Indenture or any Security provides for notice of any event (including any notice of redemption) to a Holder of a Global Security (whether by mail or otherwise), such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depository for such Security (or its designee), pursuant to the customary procedures of such Depository.

SECTION 11.03.    Communication by the Holders with Other Holders. The Holders may communicate pursuant to Section 312(b) of the TIA with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities. The Issuers, the Trustee, the Registrar and other Persons shall have the protection of Section 312(c) of the TIA.

SECTION 11.04.    Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent. Upon any request or application by the Issuers to the Trustee to take or refrain from taking any action under this Indenture, the Issuers shall furnish to the Trustee, at the request of the Trustee:

(a)    an Officer’s Certificate in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and

(b)    an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.

SECTION 11.05.    Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion. Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a covenant or condition provided for in this Indenture (other than pursuant to Section 4.09) shall include:

(a)    a statement that the individual 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 individual, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

(d)    a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such individual, such covenant or condition 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 11.06.    When Securities Disregarded. In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Securities have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Securities owned by any Issuer, any Guarantor or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled

 

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by or under direct or indirect common control with any Issuer or any Guarantor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding, except that, for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Securities which a Trust Officer of the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Subject to the foregoing, only Securities outstanding at the time shall be considered in any such determination.

SECTION 11.07.    Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of the Holders. The Registrar and a Paying Agent may make reasonable rules for their functions.

SECTION 11.08.    Legal Holidays. If a payment date is not a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day, and no interest shall accrue on any amount that would have been otherwise payable on such payment date if it were a Business Day for the intervening period. If a regular record date is not a Business Day, the record date shall not be affected.

SECTION 11.09.    Governing Law. THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

SECTION 11.10.    No Recourse Against Others. No past, present or future director, officer, employee, stockholder or incorporator, as such, of the Issuers or any successor corporation shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuers under the Securities 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 a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.

SECTION 11.11.    Successors. All agreements of the Issuers and each Guarantor in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind their respective successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors.

SECTION 11.12.    Multiple 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. One signed copy is enough to prove this Indenture. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Indenture by telecopier, facsimile or other electronic transmission (i.e., a “pdf” or “tif”) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart thereof.

SECTION 11.13.    Table of Contents; Headings. The table of contents, cross-reference sheet and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not intended to be considered a part hereof and shall not modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

SECTION 11.14.    Indenture Controls. If and to the extent that any provision of the Securities limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of this Indenture, such provision of this Indenture shall control.

SECTION 11.15.    Severability. In case any provision in this Indenture 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 and such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability.

 

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SECTION 11.16.    Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE ISSUERS, THE GUARANTORS, THE TRUSTEE, THE PAYING AGENT AND THE REGISTRAR 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 SECURITIES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

[Signature pages follow]

 

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

 

ALBERTSONS COMPANIES, INC.
By:  

/s/ Robert B. Dimond

  Name:   Robert B. Dimond
  Title:   Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

 

NEW ALBERTSONS L.P.
By:  

/s/ Robert B. Dimond

  Name:   Robert B. Dimond
  Title:   Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

 

ALBERTSON’S LLC
By:  

/s/ Robert A. Gordon

  Name:   Robert A. Gordon
  Title:   Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary

 

SAFEWAY INC.
By:  

/s/ Robert A. Gordon

  Name:   Robert A. Gordon
  Title:   Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary

[Signature Page to Indenture]


GUARANTORS:
UNITED SUPERMARKETS, L.L.C.
By:  

/s/ Bradley R. Beckstrom

  Name:   Bradley R. Beckstrom
  Title:   Group Vice President, Real Estate &
    Business Law & Assistant Secretary

 

SPIRIT ACQUISITION HOLDINGS LLC
By:  

/s/ Bradley R. Beckstrom

  Name:   Bradley R. Beckstrom
  Title:   Group Vice President, Real Estate &
    Business Law & Assistant Secretary

[Signature Page to Indenture]


NAI HOLDINGS GP LLC
By:  

/s/ Robert B. Dimond

  Name:   Robert B. Dimond
  Title:   Executive Vice President & Chief
    Financial Officer

 

ALBERTSON’S STORES SUB HOLDINGS LLC

By:  

/s/ Bradley Beckstrom

  Name:   Bradley Beckstrom
  Title:   Group Vice President, Real Estate & Business Law & Assistant Secretary

 

AB ACQUISITION LLC

By:  

/s/ Bradley Beckstrom

  Name:   Bradley Beckstrom
  Title:   Group Vice President, Real Estate & Business Law & Assistant Secretary

 

ALBERTSON’S STORES SUB LLC

By:  

/s/ Bradley Beckstrom

  Name:   Bradley Beckstrom
  Title:   Group Vice President, Real Estate & Business Law & Assistant Secretary

[Signature Page to Indenture]


AB MANAGEMENT SERVICES CORP.
By:  

/s/ Robert B. Dimond

  Name:   Robert B. Dimond
  Title:   Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

 

ABS REAL ESTATE COMPANY LLC
By:  

/s/ Robert A. Gordon

  Name:   Robert A. Gordon
  Title:   Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary

[Signature Page to Indenture]


ABS FINANCE CO., INC.
ACME MARKETS, INC.
APLC PROCUREMENT, INC.
ASC MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
ASP REALTY, LLC
CLIFFORD W. PERHAM, INC.
JEWEL COMPANIES, INC.
JEWEL FOOD STORES, INC.
OAKBROOK BEVERAGE CENTERS, INC.
SHAW’S SUPERMARKETS, INC.
SSM HOLDINGS COMPANY
STAR MARKETS COMPANY, INC.
STAR MARKETS HOLDINGS, INC.
AMERICAN STORES COMPANY, LLC
AMERICAN DRUG STORES LLC
AMERICAN PROCUREMENT AND LOGISTICS COMPANY LLC
LUCKY STORES LLC
AMERICAN PARTNERS, L.P.
JETCO PROPERTIES, INC.
SHAW’S REALTY CO.
WILDCAT MARKETS OPCO LLC
NAI SATURN EASTERN LLC
GIANT OF SALISBURY, INC.
COLLINGTON SERVICES LLC
ALBERTSONS COMPANIES SPECIALTY CARE, LLC
MEDCART SPECIALTY CARE, LLC
By:  

/s/ Gary Morton

  Name:   Gary Morton
  Title:   Vice President, Treasurer & Assistant Secretary

 

SHAW’S REALTY TRUST
By:  

/s/ Gary Morton

  Name:   Gary Morton
  Title:   Trustee

[Signature Page to Indenture]


FRESH HOLDINGS LLC
GOOD SPIRITS LLC
AMERICAN FOOD AND DRUG LLC
EXTREME LLC
NEWCO INVESTMENTS, LLC
NHI INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LP
AMERICAN STORES PROPERTIES LLC
JEWEL OSCO SOUTHWEST LLC
SUNRICH MERCANTILE LLC
ABS REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS LLC
ABS REAL ESTATE INVESTOR HOLDINGS LLC
ABS REAL ESTATE OWNER HOLDINGS LLC
ABS MEZZANINE I LLC
ABS FLA INVESTOR LLC
ABS SW INVESTOR LLC
ABS RM INVESTOR LLC
ABS DFW INVESTOR LLC
ASP SW INVESTOR LLC
ABS REALTY INVESTOR LLC
ABS FLA LEASE INVESTOR LLC
ABS SW LEASE INVESTOR LLC
ABS RM LEASE INVESTOR LLC
ASP SW LEASE INVESTOR LLC
AFDI NOCAL LEASE INVESTOR LLC
ABS NOCAL LEASE INVESTOR LLC
ABS REALTY LEASE INVESTOR LLC
ABS TX INVESTOR GP LLC
ASR TX INVESTOR GP LLC
ABS TX INVESTOR LP
ABS TX LEASE INVESTOR GP LLC
ABS TX LEASE INVESTOR LP
ASR TX INVESTOR LP
ASR LEASE INVESTOR LLC
By:  

/s/ Bradley R. Beckstrom

 

Name:

 

Bradley R. Beckstrom

 

Title:

  Group Vice President, Real Estate & Business Law & Assistant Secretary

[Signature Page to Indenture]


ABS MEZZANINE II LLC
ABS FLA OWNER LLC
ABS SW OWNER LLC
ABS SW LEASE OWNER LLC
LUCKY (DEL) LEASE OWNER LLC
SHORTCO OWNER LLC
ABS NOCAL LEASE OWNER LLC
LSP LEASE LLC
ABS RM OWNER LLC
ABS RM LEASE OWNER LLC
ABS DFW OWNER LLC
ABS DFW LEASE OWNER LLC
ASP SW OWNER LLC
ASP SW LEASE OWNER LLC
EXT OWNER LLC
SUNRICH OWNER LLC
EXT LEASE OWNER LLC
NHI TX OWNER GP LLC
NHI TX OWNER LP
NHI TX LEASE OWNER GP LLC
NHI TX LEASE OWNER LP
ASR OWNER LLC
ASR TX LEASE OWNER GP LLC
ASR TX LEASE OWNER LP
ABS TX OWNER GP LLC
ABS TX OWNER LP
ABS TX LEASE OWNER GP LLC
ABS TX LEASE OWNER LP
ABS MEZZANINE III LLC
ABS CA-O LLC
ABS CA-GL LLC
ABS ID-O LLC
ABS ID-GL LLC
ABS MT-O LLC
ABS MT-GL LLC
ABS NV-O LLC
ABS NV-GL LLC
By:  

/s/ Bradley R. Beckstrom

  Name:   Bradley R. Beckstrom
  Title:   Group Vice President, Real Estate &
Business Law & Assistant Secretary

[Signature Page to Indenture]


ABS OR-O LLC
ABS OR-GL LLC
ABS UT-O LLC
ABS UT-GL LLC
ABS WA-O LLC
ABS WA-GL LLC
ABS WY-O LLC
ABS WY-GL LLC
ABS CA-O DC1 LLC
ABS CA-O DC2 LLC
ABS ID-O DC LLC
ABS OR-O DC LLC
ABS UT-O DC LLC
By:  

/s/ Bradley R. Beckstrom

  Name:   Bradley R. Beckstrom
  Title:   Group Vice President, Real Estate & Business Law & Assistant Secretary

[Signature Page to Indenture]


USM MANUFACTURING L.L.C.
LLANO LOGISTICS, INC.

By:

 

/s/ Bradley R. Beckstrom

  Name:   Bradley R. Beckstrom
  Title:   Group Vice President, Real Estate &
Business Law & Assistant Secretary

[Signature Page to Indenture]


CAYAM ENERGY, LLC
DIVARIO VENTURES LLC
DOMINICK’S SUPERMARKETS, LLC
DOMINICK’S FINER FOODS, LLC
GFM HOLDINGS I, INC.
GFM HOLDINGS LLC
LUCERNE FOODS, INC.
EATING RIGHT LLC
LUCERNE DAIRY PRODUCTS LLC
LUCERNE NORTH AMERICA LLC
O ORGANICS LLC
RANDALL’S HOLDINGS, INC.
RANDALL’S FOOD MARKETS, INC.
SAFEWAY AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS, INC.
SAFEWAY CANADA HOLDINGS, INC.
SAFEWAY NEW CANADA, INC.
SAFEWAY CORPORATE, INC.
SAFEWAY STORES 67, INC.
SAFEWAY DALLAS, INC.
AVIA PARTNERS, INC.
SAFEWAY STORES 78, INC.
SAFEWAY STORES 79, INC.
SAFEWAY STORES 80, INC.
SAFEWAY STORES 85, INC.
SAFEWAY STORES 86, INC.
SAFEWAY STORES 87, INC.
SAFEWAY STORES 88, INC.
SAFEWAY STORES 89, INC.
SAFEWAY STORES 90, INC.
SAFEWAY STORES 91, INC.
SAFEWAY STORES 92, INC.
SAFEWAY STORES 96, INC.
SAFEWAY STORES 97, INC.
SAFEWAY STORES 98, INC.
SAFEWAY DENVER, INC.
SAFEWAY STORES 44, INC.
SAFEWAY STORES 45, INC.
SAFEWAY STORES 46, INC.
SAFEWAY STORES 47, INC.
SAFEWAY STORES 48, INC.
SAFEWAY STORES 49, INC.
By:  

/s/ Laura A. Donald

  Name:   Laura A. Donald
  Title:   Vice President & Assistant Secretary

[Signature Page to Indenture]


SAFEWAY GIFT CARDS, LLC
SAFEWAY HOLDINGS I, LLC
GROCERYWORKS.COM, LLC
GROCERYWORKS.COM OPERATING COMPANY, LLC
SAFEWAY PHILTECH HOLDINGS, INC.
SAFEWAY STORES 58, INC.
SAFEWAY SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, INC.
SAFEWAY STORES 28, INC.
THE VONS COMPANIES, INC.
SAFEWAY STORES 42, INC.
CONSOLIDATED PROCUREMENT SERVICES, INC.
SAFEWAY STORES 71, INC.
SAFEWAY STORES 72, INC.
SSI – AK HOLDINGS, INC.
CARR-GOTTSTEIN FOODS CO.
SAFEWAY HEALTH INC.
STRATEGIC GLOBAL SOURCING, LLC
By:  

/s/ Laura A. Donald

 

Name:

 

Laura A. Donald

 

Title:

 

Vice President & Assistant Secretary

[Signature Page to Indenture]


GENUARDI’S FAMILY MARKETS LP
By:   GFM HOLDINGS LLC, its general partner
By:  

/s/ Laura A. Donald

  Name:   Laura A. Donald
  Title:   Vice President & Assistant Secretary

[Signature Page to Indenture]


RANDALL’S FOOD & DRUGS LP
By: RANDALL’S FOOD MARKETS, INC., its general partner
By:  

/s/ Laura A. Donald

  Name:   Laura A. Donald
  Title:   Vice President & Assistant Secretary

[Signature Page to Indenture]


RANDALL’S MANAGEMENT COMPANY, INC.
RANDALL’S BEVERAGE COMPANY, INC.
By:  

/s/ Gary Owen

  Name:   Gary Owen
  Title:   Vice President

[Signature Page to Indenture]


RANDALL’S INVESTMENTS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Elizabeth A. Harris

  Name:   Elizabeth A. Harris
  Title:   Vice President & Secretary

[Signature Page to Indenture]


DINEINFRESH, INC.
By:  

/s/ Laura A. Donald

  Name:   Laura A. Donald
  Title:   Group Vice President, Corporate Law & Assistant Secretary

 

INFINITE AISLE LLC

By:  

/s/ Laura A. Donald

  Name:   Laura A. Donald
  Title:   Vice President & Assistant Secretary

 

JA PROCUREMENT LLC

By:  

/s/ Laura A. Donald

  Name:   Laura A. Donald
  Title:   Group Vice President, Corporate Law & Assistant Secretary

[Signature Page to Indenture]


WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By:  

/s/ Hallie E. Field

  Name:   Hallie E. Field
  Title:   Vice President

[Signature Page to Indenture]


APPENDIX A

PROVISIONS RELATING TO SECURITIES

1.    Definitions.

1.1    Definitions.

For the purposes of this Appendix A the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below:

Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, or any successor securities clearing agency.

Definitive Security” means a certificated Security (bearing the Restricted Securities Legend if the transfer of such Security is restricted by applicable law) that does not include the Global Securities Legend.

Depository” means, with respect to the Securities, The Depository Trust Company, its nominees and their respective successors.

Euroclear” means the Euroclear Clearance System or any successor securities clearing agency.

Global Securities Legend” means the legend set forth under that caption in the applicable Exhibit to this Indenture.

IAI” means an institutional “accredited investor” as described in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act.

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

Regulation S” means Regulation S under the Securities Act.

Regulation S Securities” means all Securities offered and sold outside the United States in reliance on Regulation S.

Restricted Period,” with respect to any Securities, means the period of 40 consecutive days beginning on and including the later of (a) the day on which such Securities are first offered to persons other than distributors (as defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act) in reliance on Regulation S, notice of which day shall be promptly given by the Issuers to the Trustee, and (b) the Issue Date, and with respect to any Additional Securities that are Transfer Restricted Definitive Securities, it means the comparable period of 40 consecutive days.

Restricted Securities Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.2(f)(i) of this Appendix A.

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

Rule 144A Securities” means all Securities offered and sold to QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A.


Rule 501” means Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act.

Securities Custodian” means the custodian with respect to a Global Security (as appointed by the Depository) or any successor person thereto, who shall initially be the Trustee.

Transfer Restricted Definitive Securities” means Definitive Securities and any other Securities that bear or are required to bear or are subject to the Restricted Securities Legend.

Transfer Restricted Global Securities” means Global Securities bearing the Restricted Securities Legend.

Unrestricted Definitive Security” means Definitive Securities and any other Securities that are not required to bear, or are not subject to, the Restricted Securities Legend.

Unrestricted Global Security” means a Global Security that does not bear the Restricted Securities Legend.

1.2    Other Definitions.

 

Term:    Defined in Section:  

“Agent Members”

     2.1(b)  

“Global Securities”

     2.1(b)  

“Regulation S Global Securities”

     2.1(b)  

“Rule 144A Global Securities”

     2.1(b)  

2.    The Securities.

2.1    Form and Dating; Global Securities.

(a)    The Securities issued on the date hereof will be (i) offered and sold by the Issuers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and (ii) resold, initially only to (1) QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A and (2) Persons other than U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S) in reliance on Regulation S. Such Securities may thereafter be transferred to, among others, QIBs, purchasers in reliance on Regulation S and, except as set forth below, IAIs in accordance with Rule 501. Additional Securities offered after the date hereof may be offered and sold by the Issuers from time to time pursuant to one or more purchase agreements in accordance with applicable law.

(b)    Global Securities. (i) Rule 144A Securities initially shall be represented by one or more Securities in fully registered, global form without interest coupons (collectively, the “Rule 144A Global Securities”). Regulation S Securities initially shall be represented by one or more Securities in fully registered, global form without interest coupons (collectively, the “Regulation S Global Securities”). The term “Global Securities” means, collectively, the Rule 144A Global Securities and the Regulation S Global Securities. The Global Securities shall bear the Global Security Legend. The Global Securities initially shall (i) be registered in the name of the Depository or the nominee of such Depository, in each case for credit to an account of an Agent Member, (ii) be delivered to the Trustee as custodian for such Depository and (iii) bear the Restricted Securities Legend.

Members of, or direct or indirect participants in, the Depository, Euroclear or Clearstream (“Agent Members”) shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Security

 

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held on their behalf by the Depository or under the Global Securities. The Depository may be treated by the Issuers, the Trustee and any agent of the Issuers or the Trustee as the absolute owner of the Global Securities for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Issuers, the Trustee or any agent of the Issuers or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depository or impair, as between the Depository, Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, and their respective Agent Members, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of a Holder of any Security.

(ii)    Transfers of Global Securities shall be limited to transfers in whole, but not in part, to the Depository, its successors or their respective nominees. Interests of beneficial owners in the Global Securities may be transferred or exchanged for Definitive Securities only in accordance with the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository, Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, and the provisions of Section 2.2 of this Appendix A. In addition, a Global Security shall be exchangeable for Definitive Securities if (i) the Depository (x) notifies the Issuers that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depository for such Global Security and the Issuers thereupon fail to appoint a successor depository or (y) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, or (ii) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to such Global Security and the Depository or the Issuers request the issuance of such Definitive Securities. In all cases, Definitive Securities delivered in exchange for any Global Security or beneficial interests therein shall be registered in the names, and issued in any approved denominations, requested in writing by or on behalf of the Depository, in accordance with its customary procedures.

(iii)    In connection with the transfer of a Global Security as an entirety to beneficial owners pursuant to subsection (i) of this Section 2.1(b), such Global Security shall be deemed to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Issuers shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, to each beneficial owner identified by the Depository in writing in exchange for its beneficial interest in such Global Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of Definitive Securities of authorized denominations.

(iv)    Any Transfer Restricted Definitive Security delivered in exchange for an interest in a Global Security pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Appendix A shall, except as otherwise provided in Section 2.2 of this Appendix A, bear the Restricted Securities Legend.

(v)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, through the Restricted Period, a beneficial interest in such Regulation S Global Security may be held only through Euroclear or Clearstream unless delivery is made in accordance with the applicable provisions of Section 2.2 of this Appendix A.

(vi)    The Holder of any Global Security may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Securities.

2.2    Transfer and Exchange.

(a)    Transfer and Exchange of Global Securities. A Global Security may not be transferred as a whole except as set forth in Section 2.1(b) of this Appendix A. Global Securities will not be exchanged by the Issuers for Definitive Securities except under the circumstances described in Section 2.1(b)(ii) of this Appendix A. Global Securities also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.08 and 2.10 of this Indenture. Beneficial interests in a Global Security may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 2.2(b) or 2.2(g) of this Appendix A.

 

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

(i)    Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Security. Beneficial interests in any Transfer Restricted Global Security may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Transfer Restricted Global Security in accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth in the Restricted Securities Legend; provided, however, that prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, transfers of beneficial interests in a Regulation S Global Security may not be made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser). A beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security. No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 2.2(b)(i).

(ii)    All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global Securities. In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests in any Global Security that is not subject to Section 2.2(b)(i) of this Appendix A, the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar (1) a written order from an Agent Member given to the Depository in accordance with the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository directing the Depository to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Security in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given in accordance with the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository containing information regarding the Agent Member account to be credited with such increase. Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Securities contained in this Indenture and the Securities or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the Trustee shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Security pursuant to Section 2.2(g) of this Appendix A.

(iii)    Transfer of Beneficial Interests to Another Transfer Restricted Global Security. A beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Security may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Transfer Restricted Global Security if the transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.2(b)(ii) of this Appendix A and the Registrar receives the following:

(A)    if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in a Rule 144A Global Security, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form attached to the applicable Security; and

(B)    if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in a Regulation S Global Security, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form attached to the applicable Security.

(iv)     Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in a Transfer Restricted Global Security for Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Security. A beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Security may be exchanged by any holder thereof for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in

 

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an Unrestricted Global Security if the exchange or transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.2(b)(ii) of this Appendix A and the Registrar receives the following:

(A)    if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Security proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security, a certificate from such holder in the form attached to the applicable Security; or

(B)    if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Security 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 Security, a certificate from such holder in the form attached to the applicable Security,

and, in each such case, if the Issuers so request or if the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository, Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable, so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Issuers to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Restricted Securities Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. If any such transfer or exchange is effected pursuant to this subparagraph (iv) at a time when an Unrestricted Global Security has not yet been issued, the Issuers shall issue and, upon receipt of an written order of the Issuers in the form of an Officer’s Certificate in accordance with Section 2.01, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Securities in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of beneficial interests transferred or exchanged pursuant to this subparagraph (iv).

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

(c)    Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in Global Securities for Definitive Securities. A beneficial interest in a Global Security may not be exchanged for a Definitive Security except under the circumstances described in Section 2.1(b)(ii) of this Appendix A. A beneficial interest in a Global Security may not be transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Security except under the circumstances described in Section 2.1(b)(ii) of this Appendix A.

(d)    Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Securities for Beneficial Interests in Global Securities. Transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests in the Global Securities shall require compliance with either subparagraph (i), (ii) or (iii) below, as applicable:

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

 

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(A)    if the Holder of such Transfer Restricted Definitive Security proposes to exchange such Transfer Restricted Definitive Security for a beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Security, a certificate from such Holder in the form attached to the applicable Security;

(B)    if such Transfer Restricted Definitive Security is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act, a certificate from such Holder in the form attached to the applicable Security;

(C)    if such Transfer Restricted Definitive Security is being transferred to a non-U.S. person (as defined in Regulation S) in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act, a certificate from such Holder in the form attached to the applicable Security;

(D)    if such Transfer Restricted Definitive Security is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act, a certificate from such Holder in the form attached to the applicable Security;

(E)    if such Transfer Restricted Definitive Security is being transferred to an IAI in reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than those listed in subparagraphs (B) through (D) above, a certificate from such Holder in the form attached to the applicable Security, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel, if applicable; or

(F)    if such Transfer Restricted Definitive Security is being transferred to the Issuers or a Subsidiary thereof, a certificate from such Holder in the form attached to the applicable Security;

the Trustee shall cancel the Transfer Restricted Definitive Security, and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the appropriate Transfer Restricted Global Security.

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

(A)    if the Holder of such Transfer Restricted Definitive Security proposes to exchange such Transfer Restricted Definitive Security for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security, a certificate from such Holder in the form attached to the applicable Security; or

(B)    if the Holder of such Transfer Restricted Definitive Security proposes to transfer such Transfer Restricted Definitive Security to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security, a certificate from such Holder in the form attached to the applicable Security,

and, in each such case, if the Issuers so request or if the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository, Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable, so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form

 

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reasonably acceptable to the Issuers to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Restricted Securities Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon satisfaction of the conditions of this subparagraph (ii), the Trustee shall cancel the Transfer Restricted Definitive Securities and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the Unrestricted Global Security. If any such transfer or exchange is effected pursuant to this subparagraph (ii) at a time when an Unrestricted Global Security has not yet been issued, the Issuers shall issue and, upon receipt of an written order of the Issuers in the form of an Officer’s Certificate, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Securities in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Transfer Restricted Definitive Securities transferred or exchanged pursuant to this subparagraph (ii).

(iii)    Unrestricted Definitive Securities to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Securities. A Holder of an Unrestricted Definitive Security may exchange such Unrestricted Definitive Security for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security or transfer such Unrestricted Definitive Security to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security at any time. Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange or transfer, the Trustee shall cancel the applicable Unrestricted Definitive Security and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of one of the Unrestricted Global Securities. If any such transfer or exchange is effected pursuant to this subparagraph (iii) at a time when an Unrestricted Global Security has not yet been issued, the Issuers shall issue and, upon receipt of an written order of the Issuers in the form of an Officer’s Certificate, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Securities in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Unrestricted Definitive Securities transferred or exchanged pursuant to this subparagraph (iii).

(iv)    Unrestricted Definitive Securities to Beneficial Interests in Transfer Restricted Global Securities. An Unrestricted Definitive Security cannot be exchanged for, or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of, a beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Security.

(e)    Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Securities for Definitive Securities. Upon request by a Holder of Definitive Securities and such Holder’s compliance with the provisions of this Section 2.2(e), the Registrar shall register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Securities. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder shall present or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Securities 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 2.2(e).

(i)    Transfer Restricted Definitive Securities to Transfer Restricted Definitive Securities. A Transfer Restricted Definitive Security may be transferred to and registered in the name of a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Transfer Restricted Definitive Security if the Registrar receives the following:

(A)    if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form attached to the applicable Security;

 

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(B)    if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form attached to the applicable Security;

(C)    if the transfer will be made pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act, a certificate in the form attached to the applicable Security;

(D)    if the transfer will be made to an IAI in reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than those listed in subparagraphs (A) through (C) above, a certificate in the form attached to the applicable Security; and

(E)    if such transfer will be made to the Issuers or a Subsidiary thereof, a certificate in the form attached to the applicable Security.

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

(1)    if the Holder of such Transfer Restricted Definitive Security proposes to exchange such Transfer Restricted Definitive Security for an Unrestricted Definitive Security, a certificate from such Holder in the form attached to the applicable Security; or

(2)    if the Holder of such Transfer Restricted Definitive Security proposes to transfer such Securities to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Security, a certificate from such Holder in the form attached to the applicable Security,

and, in each such case, if the Issuers so request, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Issuers to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Restricted Securities Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

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

(iv)    Unrestricted Definitive Securities to Transfer Restricted Definitive Securities. An Unrestricted Definitive Security cannot be exchanged for, or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of, a Transfer Restricted Definitive Security.

At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Security have been exchanged for Definitive Securities or a particular Global Security has been redeemed, repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Security shall be returned to or retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.11 of this Indenture. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Security is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Security or for Definitive Securities,

 

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the principal amount of Securities represented by such Global Security shall be reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Security by the Trustee or by the Depository, 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 Security, such other Global Security shall be increased accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Security by the Trustee or by the Depository, at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.

(f)    Legend.

(i)    Except as permitted by the following paragraphs (ii), (iii) or (iv), each Security certificate evidencing the Global Securities and the Definitive Securities (and all Securities issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof) shall bear a legend in substantially the following form (each defined term in the legend being defined as such for purposes of the legend only):

“THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. 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, REGISTRATION.

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT), (B) IT IS A NON-U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS APPLICABLE TO SUCH PURCHASER IN THE JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH PURCHASE IS MADE, OR (C) IT IS AN “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND (2) AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE APPLICABLE HOLDING PERIOD WITH RESPECT TO RESTRICTED SECURITIES SET FORTH IN RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A, 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 A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHICH NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (C) 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 AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS APPLICABLE TO IT IN THE JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH PURCHASE IS MADE, (D) TO AN “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THE SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION

 

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IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S, OR REGISTRAR’S, AS APPLICABLE, RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (C), (D) OR (F) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM, AND IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES, A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS SECURITY IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEROR TO THE TRUSTEE OR REGISTRAR. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF THE APPLICABLE HOLDING PERIOD WITH RESPECT TO RESTRICTED SECURITIES SET FORTH IN RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.”

Each Regulation S Security that is a temporary Security issued pursuant to Section 2.10 shall bear a legend in substantially in the following form:

“THE RIGHTS ATTACHING TO THIS REGULATION S GLOBAL SECURITY THAT IS A TEMPORARY SECURITY, AND THE CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING ITS EXCHANGE FOR DEFINITIVE SECURITY, ARE AS SPECIFIED IN THE INDENTURE (AS DEFINED HEREIN).”

Each Definitive Security shall bear the following additional legends:

“IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS SUCH TRANSFER AGENT MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.”

Each Security issued hereunder that has more than a de minimis amount of original issue discount for U.S. Federal Income Tax purposes shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

“THIS SECURITY IS ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT FOR PURPOSES OF SECTION 1271 ET SEQ. OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE. TO OBTAIN THE ISSUE PRICE, AMOUNT OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT, ISSUE DATE AND YIELD TO MATURITY FOR SUCH SECURITIES, A HOLDER MAY SUBMIT WRITTEN REQUEST FOR SUCH INFORMATION TO THE ISSUERS AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS: ALBERTSONS COMPANIES, INC., 250 PARKCENTER BLVD., BOISE, IDAHO 83706, ATTENTION: GENERAL COUNSEL.”

(ii)    Upon any sale or transfer of a Transfer Restricted Definitive Security that is a Definitive Security, the Registrar shall permit the Holder thereof to exchange such Transfer Restricted Definitive Security for a Definitive Security that does not bear the legends set forth above and rescind any restriction on the transfer of such Transfer Restricted Definitive Security if the Holder certifies in writing to the Registrar that its request for such exchange was made in reliance on Rule 144 (such certification to be in the form set forth on the reverse of the Security).

(iii)    [Reserved].

 

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(iv)    [Reserved].

(v)    Upon a sale or transfer after the expiration of the Restricted Period of any Security acquired pursuant to Regulation S, all requirements that such Security bear the Restricted Securities Legend shall cease to apply and the requirements requiring any such Security be issued in global form shall continue to apply.

(vi)    Any Additional Securities sold in a registered offering shall not be required to bear the Restricted Securities Legend.

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

(h)    Obligations with Respect to Transfers and Exchanges of Securities.

(i)    To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Issuers shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate, Definitive Securities and Global Securities at the Company’s request, in an Issuers Request.

(ii)    No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Issuers may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax, assessments, or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes, assessments or similar governmental charge payable upon exchanges pursuant to Sections 3.06, 4.06, 4.08 and 9.05 of this Indenture).

(iii)    Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Security, the Issuers, the Trustee, a Paying Agent or the Registrar may deem and treat the person in whose name a Security is registered as the absolute owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security is overdue, and none of the Issuers, the Trustee, a Paying Agent or the Registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

(iv)    All Securities issued upon any transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of this Indenture shall evidence the same debt and shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Securities surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.

(i)    No Obligation of the Trustee.

(i)    The Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a Global Security, a member of, or a participant in the Depository or any other Person with respect to the

 

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accuracy of the records of the Depository or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Securities or with respect to the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depository) of any notice (including any notice of redemption or repurchase) or the payment of any amount, under or with respect to such Securities. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to the Holders under the Securities shall be given or made only to the registered Holders (which shall be the Depository or its nominee in the case of a Global Security). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Security shall be exercised only through the Depository subject to the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository. The Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Depository with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners.

(ii)    The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Security (including any transfers between or among Depository participants, members or beneficial owners in any Global Security) 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.

(j)    [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED].

(k)    Transfers of Securities Held by Affiliates. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.2, any certificate (i) evidencing a Security that has been transferred to an affiliate (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act) of any Issuer, as evidenced by a notation on the certificate of transfer or certificate of exchange for such transfer or in the representation letter delivered in respect thereof, or (ii) evidencing a Security that has been acquired from an affiliate (other than by an affiliate) in a transaction or a chain of transactions not involving any public offering, as evidenced by a notation on the certificate of transfer or certificate of exchange for such transfer or in the representation letter delivered in respect thereof, shall, until one year after the last date on which either any Issuer or any affiliate of any Issuer was an owner of such Security, in each case, be in the form of a permanent Definitive Security and bear the Restricted Securities Legend subject to the restrictions in this Section 2.2. The Registrar shall retain copies of all letters, notices and other written communications received pursuant to this Section 2.2(k). The Issuers, at their sole cost and expense, shall have the right to inspect and make copies of all such letters, notices or other written communications at any reasonable time upon the giving of reasonable advance written notice to the Trustee.

 

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EXHIBIT A

[FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY]

[Global Securities Legend]

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, TO THE ISSUERS OR THEIR AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS 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.

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO DTC, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.

[Restricted Securities Legend]

THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. 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, REGISTRATION.

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT), (B) IT IS A NON-U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS APPLICABLE TO SUCH PURCHASER IN THE JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH PURCHASE IS MADE, OR (C) IT IS AN “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND (2) AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE APPLICABLE HOLDING PERIOD WITH RESPECT TO RESTRICTED SECURITIES SET FORTH IN RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A, 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 A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHICH NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (C) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING

 

A-1


OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS APPLICABLE TO IT IN THE JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH PURCHASE IS MADE, (D) TO AN “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THE SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S, OR REGISTRAR’S, AS APPLICABLE, RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (C), (D) OR (F) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM, AND IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES, A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS SECURITY IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEROR TO THE TRUSTEE OR REGISTRAR. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF THE APPLICABLE HOLDING PERIOD WITH RESPECT TO RESTRICTED SECURITIES SET FORTH IN RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

[Temporary Regulation S Security Legend]

THE RIGHTS ATTACHING TO THIS REGULATION S GLOBAL SECURITY THAT IS A TEMPORARY SECURITY, AND THE CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING ITS EXCHANGE FOR DEFINITIVE SECURITY, ARE AS SPECIFIED IN THE INDENTURE (AS DEFINED HEREIN).

[OID Legend]

THIS SECURITY IS ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT FOR PURPOSES OF SECTION 1271 ET SEQ. OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE. TO OBTAIN THE ISSUE PRICE, AMOUNT OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT, ISSUE DATE AND YIELD TO MATURITY FOR SUCH SECURITIES, A HOLDER MAY SUBMIT WRITTEN REQUEST FOR SUCH INFORMATION TO THE ISSUERS AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS: ALBERTSONS COMPANIES, INC., 250 PARKCENTER BLVD., BOISE, IDAHO 83706, ATTENTION: GENERAL COUNSEL.

Each Definitive Security shall bear the following additional legend:

IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS SUCH TRANSFER AGENT MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.

 

A-2


[FORM OF SECURITY]

 

No.

   $                    

5.875% Senior Note due 2028

CUSIP No. [144A: 013092 AB7 / Reg S: U0125L AB6]

ISIN No. [144A: US013092AB74 / Reg S: USU0125LAB63]

ALBERTSONS COMPANIES, INC., a Delaware corporation, NEW ALBERTSONS L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, SAFEWAY INC., a Delaware corporation, and ALBERTSON’S LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, promise to pay to [                    ], or registered assigns, the principal sum of                    Dollars [or such greater or lesser amount as is indicated on the Schedule of Increases or Decreases in Global Security attached hereto]* on February 15, 2028.

Interest Payment Dates: February 15 and August 15.

Record Dates: February 1 and August 1.

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

 

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

 

ALBERTSONS COMPANIES, INC.

By:

 

 

  Name:
  Title:

NEW ALBERTSONS L.P.

By:

 

 

  Name:
  Title:

SAFEWAY INC.

By:

 

 

  Name:
  Title:

ALBERTSON’S LLC

By:

 

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

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Dated:

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF

AUTHENTICATION

WILMINGTON TRUST,

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee, certifies that this is

one of the Securities

referred to in the Indenture.

 

By:

 

 

 

Authorized Signatory

 

*

If the Security is to be issued in global form, add the Global Securities Legend and the attachment from Exhibit A captioned “TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL SECURITIES - SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY.”

 

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[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF SECURITY]

5.875% Senior Note due 2028

Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

 

1.

Interest

ALBERTSONS COMPANIES, INC., a Delaware corporation, NEW ALBERTSONS L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, SAFEWAY INC., a Delaware corporation, and ALBERTSON’S LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, promise to pay interest on the principal amount of this Security at the rate per annum shown above. The Issuers shall pay interest semiannually on February 15 and August 15 of each year, commencing February 15, 2020.a Interest on the Securities shall accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for or, if no interest has been paid or duly provided for, from August 15, 2019a until the principal hereof is due. Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. The Issuers shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate borne by the Securities, and it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful.

 

2.

Method of Payment

The Issuers shall pay interest on the Securities (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered Holders at the close of business on the February 1 or August 1 next preceding the interest payment date even if Securities are canceled after the record date and on or before the interest payment date (whether or not a Business Day). The Holders must surrender Securities to a Paying Agent to collect principal payments. The Issuers shall pay principal, premium, if any, and interest in money of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Payments in respect of the Securities represented by a Global Security (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by The Depository Trust Company or any successor depositary. The Issuers will make all payments in respect of a certificated Security (including principal, premium, if any, and interest), at the office of each Paying Agent, except that, at the option of the Issuers, payment of interest may be made by sending a check to the registered address of each Holder thereof; provided, however, that payments on the Securities may also be made, in the case of a Holder of at least $1,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Securities, by wire transfer to a U.S. Dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in the United States if such Holder elects payment by wire transfer by giving written notice to the Trustee or a Paying Agent to such effect designating such account no later than 30 days immediately preceding the relevant due date for payment (or such other date as the Trustee may accept in its discretion).

 

3.

Paying Agent and Registrar

Initially, Wilmington Trust, National Association (the “Trustee”) will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Issuers may appoint and change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice. The Issuers or any of their domestically incorporated Wholly Owned Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

 

a 

With respect to Securities issued on the Issue Date.

 

A-6


4.

Indenture

The Issuers issued the Securities under an Indenture dated as of August 15, 2019 (the “Indenture”), among the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee. Terms defined in the Indenture and not defined herein have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture. The Securities are subject to all terms and provisions of the Indenture, and the Holders are referred to the Indenture for a statement of such terms and provisions. To the extent any provision of this Security conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

The Securities are senior unsecured obligations of the Issuers. This Security is one of the Securities referred to in the Indenture. On and after the Issue Date, the Indenture imposes certain limitations on the ability of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries to, among other things, make certain Investments and other Restricted Payments, pay dividends and other distributions, incur Indebtedness, issue or sell shares of capital stock of the Company and such Restricted Subsidiaries, enter into or permit certain transactions with Affiliates, create or incur Liens and make asset sales. The Indenture also imposes limitations on the ability of the Company and each Guarantor to consolidate or merge with or into any other Person or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its property.

To guarantee the due and punctual payment of the principal and interest on the Securities and all other amounts payable by the Issuers under the Indenture and the Securities when and as the same shall be due and payable, whether at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, according to the terms of the Securities and the Indenture, the Guarantors have, jointly and severally, unconditionally guaranteed the Guaranteed Obligations on a senior basis pursuant to the terms of the Indenture.

 

5.

Optional Redemption

Except as set forth in this Section 5, the Securities shall not be redeemable at the option of the Issuers prior to August 15, 2022. Thereafter, the Securities shall be redeemable at the option of the Issuers, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice (except that notices of redemption may be sent more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is delivered in connection with a defeasance of the Securities or the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture), at the following redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount), plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the redemption date (subject to the right of the Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date occurring on or prior to the redemption date), if redeemed during the 12-month period commencing on August 15 of the years set forth below:

 

Year

   Redemption Price  

2022

     104.406

2023

     102.938

2024

     101.469

2025 and thereafter

     100.000

In addition, at any time prior to August 15, 2022, the Issuers may redeem the Securities at their option, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice (except that notices of redemption may be sent more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is delivered in connection with a defeasance of the Securities or the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture), at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Securities

 

A-7


redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest to, the applicable redemption date (subject to the right of the Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date occurring on or prior to the redemption date).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time and from time to time on or prior to August 15, 2022, the Issuers may redeem in the aggregate up to 40% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Securities (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of Additional Securities) with the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings (1) by the Company or (2) by any direct or indirect parent of the Company, in each case, to the extent the net cash proceeds thereof are contributed to the common equity capital of the Company or used to purchase Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company from it, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount thereof) equal to 105.875% plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date occurring on or prior to the redemption date); provided, however, that at least 50% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Securities (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of Additional Securities) must remain outstanding after each such redemption; and provided, further, that such redemption shall occur within 180 days after the date on which any such Equity Offering is consummated upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice mailed to each Holder of Securities being redeemed or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of The Depository Trust Company and otherwise in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture.

In addition, if such redemption is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice of redemption shall describe each such condition, and if applicable, shall state that, in the Issuers’ discretion, the redemption date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied, or such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the stated redemption date, or by the redemption date as so delayed.

Notice of any redemption in respect of an Equity Offering may be given prior to the completion thereof.

 

6.

Mandatory Redemption and Sinking Fund

The Securities are not subject to mandatory redemption or any sinking fund payments.

 

7.

Notice of Redemption

Notice of redemption will be mailed by first-class mail at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed at his, her or its registered address or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of The Depository Trust Company. Securities in denominations larger than $2,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $1,000 to the extent practicable. If money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued and unpaid interest on all Securities (or portions thereof) to be redeemed on the redemption date is deposited with a Paying Agent on or before the redemption date and certain other conditions are satisfied, on and after such date, interest ceases to accrue on such Securities (or such portions thereof) called for redemption.

 

8.

Repurchase of Securities at the Option of Holders upon Change of Control Triggering Event and Asset Sales

Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event, each Holder shall have the right, subject to certain conditions specified in the Indenture, to cause the Issuers to repurchase all or

 

A-8


any part of such Holder’s Securities at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, but not including, to the date of repurchase (subject to the right of the Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date occurring on or prior to the redemption date), as provided in, and subject to the terms of, the Indenture.

In accordance with Section 4.06 of the Indenture, the Issuers will be required to offer to purchase Securities upon the occurrence of certain events.

 

9.

Denominations; Transfer; Exchange

The Securities are in registered form, without coupons, in minimum denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. A Holder shall register the transfer of or exchange of Securities in accordance with the Indenture. Upon any registration of transfer or exchange, the Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements or transfer documents and to pay any taxes required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Registrar need not register the transfer of or exchange any Securities selected for redemption (except, in the case of a Security to be redeemed in part, the portion of the Security not to be redeemed) or to transfer or exchange any Securities for a period of 15 days prior to a selection of Securities to be redeemed.

 

10.

Persons Deemed Owners

The registered Holder of this Security shall be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.

 

11.

Unclaimed Money

If money for the payment of principal or interest remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee and a Paying Agent shall pay the money back to the Issuers at their written request. After any such payment, the Holders entitled to the money must look to the Issuers for payment as general creditors and the Trustee and a Paying Agent shall have no further liability with respect to such monies.

 

12.

Discharge and Defeasance

Subject to certain conditions, the Issuers at any time may terminate some of or all their obligations under the Securities and the Indenture if the Issuers deposit with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations for the payment of principal of, and interest on, the Securities to redemption or maturity, as the case may be.

 

13.

Amendment, Waiver

The Indenture and the Securities may be amended or supplemented or a Default thereunder may be waived, in each case, as provided in the Indenture.

 

14.

Defaults and Remedies

If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of an Issuer) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 30% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities, in each case, by notice to the Issuers, may declare the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued but unpaid interest on all the Securities to be due and payable. If an Event of Default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization

 

A-9


of an Issuer occurs, the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all the Securities shall become immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holders. Under certain circumstances, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities may rescind any such acceleration with respect to the Securities and its consequences.

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers under the Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless such Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense and certain other conditions are complied with. Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium (if any) or interest when due, no Holder shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to the Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator or sequestrator (or similar official) or for any other remedy under the Indenture, unless (i) such Holder has previously given the Trustee written notice that an Event of Default is continuing, (ii) the Holders of at least 30% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities have requested the Trustee in writing to pursue the remedy, (iii) such Holders have offered the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense, (iv) the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt of the request and the offer of security or indemnity and (v) the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities have not given the Trustee a written direction inconsistent with such request prior to the expiration of such 60-day period. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities are given the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the Indenture or that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability. Prior to taking any action under the Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to indemnification satisfactory to it in its sole discretion against all losses and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.

 

15.

Trustee Dealings with the Issuers

Subject to certain limitations imposed by the TIA, the Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with and collect obligations owed to it by the Issuers or their Affiliates and may otherwise deal with the Issuers or their Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.

 

16.

No Recourse Against Others

No past, present or future director, officer, employee, stockholder or incorporator, as such, of the Issuers or any successor corporation shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuers under the Securities or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.

 

17.

Authentication

This Security shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee (or an authenticating agent) manually signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Security.

 

18.

Abbreviations

Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as TEN COM (=tenants in common), TEN ENT (=tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (=joint tenants with rights of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (=custodian), and U/G/M/A (=Uniform Gift to Minors Act).

 

A-10


19.

Governing Law

THIS SECURITY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

20.

CUSIP Numbers, ISINs and Common Codes

The Issuers have caused CUSIP numbers and ISINs to be printed on the Securities and have directed the Trustee to use CUSIP numbers and ISINs. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

The Issuers will furnish to any Holder of Securities upon written request and without charge to the Holder a copy of the Indenture which has in it the text of this Security.

 

A-11


ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Security, fill in the form below:

I or we assign and transfer this Security to:

 

 

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

 

 

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. No.)

and irrevocably appoint                          agent to transfer this Security on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

 

Date:                                                  

  

Your Signature:                                                                                               

 

 

Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Security.

Signature Guarantee:

 

Date:

 

 

    
  Signature must be guaranteed by a participant in a recognized signature guaranty medallion program or other signature guarantor program reasonably acceptable to the Trustee     

Signature of Signature Guarantee

 

A-12


CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED UPON EXCHANGE OR

REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER RESTRICTED SECURITIES

This certificate relates to $             principal amount of Securities held in (check applicable space)              book-entry or              definitive form by the undersigned.

The undersigned:

 

has requested the Trustee by written order to deliver in exchange for its beneficial interest in the Global Security held by the Depository a Security or Securities in definitive, registered form of authorized denominations and an aggregate principal amount equal to its beneficial interest in such Global Security (or the portion thereof indicated above); and

check the following, if applicable:

 

 

is an affiliate of the Issuers as contemplated in Section 2.2(k) of Appendix A to the Indenture; or

 

 

is exchanging this Security in connection with an expected transfer to an affiliate of the Issuers as contemplated in Section 2.2(k) of Appendix A to the Indenture.

 

has requested the Trustee by written order to exchange or register the transfer of a Security or Securities; and

check the following, if applicable:

 

 

is an affiliate of the Issuers as contemplated in Section 2.2(k) of Appendix A to the Indenture; or

 

 

the transferee is an affiliate of the Issuers as contemplated in Section 2.2(k) of Appendix A to the Indenture.

In connection with any transfer of any of the Securities evidenced by this certificate occurring prior to the expiration of the period referred to in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, the undersigned confirms that such Securities are being transferred in accordance with its terms:

CHECK ONE BOX BELOW

 

(1)      to the Issuers, any parent of an Issuer or any Subsidiary of an Issuer; or
(2)      to the Registrar for registration in the name of the Holder, without transfer; or
(3)      pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933; or
(4)      inside the United States to a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) that purchases for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer to whom notice is given that such transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, in each case pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act; or

 

A-13


(5)      outside the United States in an offshore transaction within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act in compliance with Rule 904 under the Securities Act and such Security shall be held immediately after the transfer through Euroclear or Clearstream until the expiration of the Restricted Period (as defined in the Indenture); or
(6)      to an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act) that has furnished to the Trustee a signed letter containing certain representations and agreements; or
(7)      pursuant to another available exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act.

Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee will refuse to register any of the Securities evidenced by this certificate in the name of any Person other than the registered Holder thereof; provided, however, that if box (5), (6) or (7) is checked, the Issuers and/or the Trustee may require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Securities, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Issuers have reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

 

Date:  

 

                

 

      Your Signature
Signature Guarantee:       
Date:  

 

                

 

  Signature must be guaranteed by a participant in a recognized signature guaranty medallion program or other signature guarantor program reasonably acceptable to the Trustee     Signature of Signature Guarantee

 

 

TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (4) ABOVE IS CHECKED.

The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Security for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Issuers as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigned’s foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.

 

Dated:  

 

                

 

      NOTICE:   To be executed by an executive officer

 

A-14


[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL SECURITIES]

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY

The initial principal amount of this Global Security is set forth on the face hereof. The following increases or decreases in this Global Security have been made:

 

Date of

Exchange

  

Amount of
decrease in
Principal Amount
of this Global
Security

  

Amount of
increase in
Principal Amount
of this Global
Security

  

Principal Amount of
this Global Security
following such
decrease or increase

  

Signature of authorized
signatory of Trustee or
Securities Custodian

 

A-15


OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Security purchased by the Issuers pursuant to Section 4.06 (Asset Sale) or 4.08 (Change of Control Triggering Event) of the Indenture, check the applicable box:

 

Asset Sale  ☐

          Change of Control Triggering Event  ☐

If you want to elect to have only part of this Security purchased by the Issuers pursuant to Section 4.06 (Asset Sale) or 4.08 (Change of Control Triggering Event) of the Indenture, state the amount ($1,000 or an integral multiple thereof):

$

 

Date:

 

 

  Your Signature:  

 

      (Sign exactly as your name appears
on the other side of this Security)

Signature Guarantee:

 

 

   

Signature must be guaranteed by a participant in a recognized signature guaranty medallion program or other signature guarantor program reasonably acceptable to the Trustee

 

A-16


EXHIBIT B

Form of

Transferee Letter of Representation

Albertsons Companies, Inc.

New Albertsons L.P.

Safeway Inc.

Albertson’s LLC

c/o Wilmington Trust, National Association

50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1290

Minneapolis, MN 55402

Attn: Albertsons Companies, Inc., Administrator

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This certificate is delivered to request a transfer of $[                ] principal amount of the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2028 (the “Securities”) of ALBERTSONS COMPANIES, INC. (the “Company”), NEW ALBERTSONS L.P. (“NALP”), SAFEWAY INC. (“Safeway”) and ALBERTSON’S LLC (“Albertsons” and together with the Company, Safeway and NALP, the “Issuers”).

Upon transfer, the Securities would be registered in the name of the new beneficial owner as follows

Name:                                                        

Address:                                                    

Taxpayer ID Number:                              

The undersigned represents and warrants to you that:

1.    We are an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)), purchasing for our own account or for the account of such an institutional “accredited investor” at least $250,000 principal amount of the Securities, and we are acquiring the Securities not with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution in violation of the Securities Act. We have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of our investment in the Securities, and we invest in or purchase securities similar to the Securities in the normal course of our business. We, and any accounts for which we are acting, are each able to bear the economic risk of our or its investment.

2.    We understand that the Securities have not been registered under the Securities Act and, unless so registered, may not be sold except as permitted in the following sentence. We agree on our own behalf and on behalf of any investor account for which we are purchasing Securities to offer, sell or otherwise transfer such Securities prior to the date that is one year after the later of the date of original issue and the last date on which any Issuer or any affiliate of any Issuer was the owner of such Securities (or any predecessor thereto) (the “Resale Restriction Termination Date”) only (a) to the Issuers, (b) pursuant to a registration statement that has been declared effective under the Securities Act, (c) in a transaction

 

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complying with the requirements of Rule 144A under the Securities Act (“Rule 144A”), to a person we reasonably believe is a qualified institutional buyer under Rule 144A (a “QIB”) that is purchasing for its own account or for the account of a QIB and to whom notice is given that the transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, (d) pursuant to offers and sales that occur outside the United States within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (e) to an institutional “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act that is purchasing for its own account or for the account of such an institutional “accredited investor,” in each case in a minimum principal amount of Securities of $250,000, or (f) pursuant to any other available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, subject in each of the foregoing cases to any requirement of law that the disposition of our property or the property of such investor account or accounts be at all times within our or their control and in compliance with any applicable state securities laws. The foregoing restrictions on resale will not apply subsequent to the Resale Restriction Termination Date. If any resale or other transfer of the Securities is proposed to be made pursuant to clause (e) above prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date, the transferor shall deliver a letter from the transferee substantially in the form of this letter to the Issuers and the Trustee, which shall provide, among other things, that the transferee is an institutional “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act and that it is acquiring such Securities for investment purposes and not for distribution in violation of the Securities Act. Each purchaser acknowledges that the Issuers and the Trustee reserve the right prior to the offer, sale or other transfer prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date of the Securities pursuant to clause (d), (e) or (f) above to require the delivery of an opinion of counsel, certifications or other information satisfactory to the Issuers and the Trustee.

 

Dated:                         

     TRANSFEREE:                                                      ,
 

        

   by                                                                             

 

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EXHIBIT C

[FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE]

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “Supplemental Indenture”) dated as of [                    ], among [GUARANTOR] (the “New Guarantor”), a subsidiary of ALBERTSONS COMPANIES, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), the Co-Issuers (as defined in the Indenture referred to herein) and WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as trustee under the Indenture referred to below (the “Trustee”).

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS the Company, the Co-Issuers and the existing Guarantors have heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an Indenture (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Indenture”) dated as of August 15, 2019, providing for the issuance of 5.875% Senior Notes due 2028 (the “Securities”), initially in the aggregate principal amount of $750,000,000;

WHEREAS Section 4.11 of the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Issuers are required to cause the New Guarantor to execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the New Guarantor shall unconditionally guarantee all the Issuers’ obligations under the Securities pursuant to a Guarantee on the terms and conditions set forth herein; and

WHEREAS pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee, the Issuers and the existing Guarantors are 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 New Guarantor, the Issuers and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities as follows:

1.    Defined Terms. As used in this Supplemental Indenture, terms defined in the Indenture or in the preamble or recital hereto are used herein as therein defined. The words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereby” and other words of similar import used in this Supplemental Indenture refer to this Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular section hereof.

2.    Agreement to Guarantee. The New Guarantor hereby agrees, jointly and severally with all existing Guarantors (if any), to unconditionally guarantee the Issuers’ obligations under the Securities on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Article 10 of the Indenture and to be bound by all other applicable provisions of the Indenture and the Securities and to perform all of the obligations and agreements of a Guarantor under the Indenture.

3.    Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indentures Part of Indenture. Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every Holder of Securities heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby.

4.    Notices. All notices or other communications to the New Guarantor shall be given as provided in Section 11.02 of the Indenture.

 

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5.    Governing Law. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

6.    Trustee Makes No Representation. The Trustee makes no representation as to the recitals or the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture.

7.    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. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Supplemental Indenture by facsimile transmission or other electronic transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.

8.    Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction thereof.

 

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

 

[NEW GUARANTOR]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
ALBERTSONS COMPANIES, INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
NEW ALBERTSONS L.P.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
SAFEWAY INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
ALBERTSON’S LLC
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

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Exhibit 10.1

Execution Version

AMENDMENT NO. 8

AMENDMENT NO. 8, dated as of August 15, 2019 (this “Amendment”), to the Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement, dated as of August 25, 2014 and effective as of January 30, 2015 (as amended by that certain Amendment No. 1, dated as of December 21, 2015, that certain Amendment No. 2, dated as of December 21, 2015, that certain Amendment No. 3 and Consent, dated as of February 11, 2016, that certain Amendment No. 4, dated as of June 22, 2016, that certain Amendment No. 5, dated as of December 23, 2016, that certain Amendment No. 6, dated as of June 27, 2017, that certain Amendment No. 7, dated as of November 16, 2018 (“Amendment No. 7”) and as the same may be further amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Existing Term Loan Agreement”, and the Existing Term Loan Agreement as amended by Section 2(a) of this Amendment, the “Amended Term Loan Agreement”) among ALBERTSONS COMPANIES, INC. (as successor to Albertsons Companies, LLC by way of merger) (“ACI” or “Holdings”), ALBERTSON’S LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Parent Borrower”), the co-borrowers party thereto (together with the Parent Borrower, the “Borrowers” and each, a “Borrower”), the guarantors party thereto, the parties thereto from time to time as lenders (each individually, a “Lender” and collectively, “Lenders”) and CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, in its capacity as administrative agent and collateral agent (in such capacities, “Agent” as further defined in the Existing Term Loan Agreement).

W I T N E S S E T H

Repayment, Replacement 2019-1 Term B-7 Loans and Replacement 2019 Term B-8 Loans

WHEREAS, immediately prior to the effectiveness of this Amendment, the Borrowers have, together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, (i) $1,116,496,513.13 in aggregate principal amount of 2017-1 Term B-5 Loans (as defined in the Existing Term Loan Agreement) outstanding, (ii) $1,564,080,000.00 in aggregate principal amount of 2017-1 Term B-6 Loans (as defined in the Existing Term Loan Agreement) outstanding and (iii) $1,990,000,000.00 in aggregate principal amount of 2018 Term B-7 Loans (as defined in the Existing Term Loan Agreement) outstanding;

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 2.9 of the Existing Term Loan Agreement, the Borrowers may obtain Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness (as defined in the Existing Term Loan Agreement) by, among other things, issuing Permitted Unsecured Refinancing Debt in the form of one or more series of senior unsecured notes;

WHEREAS, on or prior to the effectiveness of this Amendment, Holdings and certain of the Borrowers will issue $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes (the “Notes Issuance”), the proceeds of which together with the 2019 Term B-8 Loans (as defined below) and $832,000,000.00 in cash on hand will be used to repay (i) all amounts outstanding, together with any accrued and unpaid interest, of the 2017-1 Term B-5 Loans, (ii) all amounts outstanding, together with any accrued and unpaid interest, of the 2017-1 Term B-6 Loans and (iii) $490,000,000.00, together with any accrued and unpaid interest, of the 2018 Term B-7 Loans (collectively, the “Repayment”, and the outstanding amount of 2018 Term B-7 Loans after the repayment, the “Non-Repaid 2018 Term B-7 Loans”);

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 2.9 and/or Section 12.3(i) of the Existing Term Loan Agreement, the Borrowers may obtain Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness by, among other things, entering into a Refinancing Amendment (as defined in the Existing Term Loan Agreement) pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Existing Term Loan Agreement with each person agreeing to provide such Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness;

 

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WHEREAS, the Borrowers have requested (i) a borrowing of Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness (such loans, the “Replacement 2019 Term B-8 Loans” and the lenders thereto, including any Lenders who have executed Consents or any Additional 2019 Term B-8 Lenders who have executed Joinders, the “Replacement 2019 Term B-8 Lenders” (for the avoidance of doubt, such term includes any assignees of the Replacement 2019 Term B-8 Lenders)), together with the net proceeds from the Notes Issuance and cash on hand, to finance the Repayment and (ii) a borrowing of Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness (such loans, the “Replacement 2019-1 Term B-7 Loans” and the lenders thereto, including any Lenders who have executed Consents or any Additional 2019-1 Term B-7 Lenders who have executed Joinders, the “Replacement 2019-1 Term B-7 Lenders” (for the avoidance of doubt, such term includes any assignees of the Replacement 2019-1 Term B-7 Lenders)) to repay the Non-Repaid 2018 Term B-7 Loans (the “2018 Term B-7 Repricing”);

WHEREAS, each 2017-1 Term B-5 Lender (as defined in the Existing Term Loan Agreement) that shall have executed and delivered a consent to this Amendment substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto (a “Consent”) and checks the “2017-1 Term B-5 Cashless Settlement Option” on such Consent will thereby (i) agree to the terms of this Amendment, (ii) be deemed, upon effectiveness of this Amendment, to have exchanged all of its 2017-1 Term B-5 Loans (or such lesser amount allocated to it by the Agent) for Replacement 2019 Term B-8 Loans and shall be deemed a Replacement 2019 Term B-8 Lender (as defined below) and (iii) agree to the terms of that certain letter agreement dated as of the date hereof among the Borrowers, the Additional 2019 Term B-8 Lender (as defined below) party thereto and the Agent (the “2019 Term B-8 Cashless Roll Letter”), and shall be deemed a party to the 2019 Term B-8 Cashless Roll Letter and be bound thereby for all purposes hereof and thereof;

WHEREAS, each 2017-1 Term B-6 Lender (as defined in the Existing Term Loan Agreement) that shall have executed and delivered a Consent and checks the “2017-1 Term B-6 Cashless Settlement Option” on such Consent will thereby (i) agree to the terms of this Amendment, (ii) be deemed, upon effectiveness of this Amendment, to have exchanged all of its 2017-1 Term B-6 Loans (or such lesser amount allocated to it by the Agent) for Replacement 2019 Term B-8 Loans and shall be deemed a Replacement 2019 Term B-8 Lender and (iii) agree to the terms of the 2019 Term B-8 Cashless Roll Letter and shall be deemed a party to the 2019 Term B-8 Cashless Roll Letter and be bound thereby for all purposes hereof and thereof;

WHEREAS, each 2018 Term B-7 Lender (as defined in the Existing Term Loan Agreement) that shall have executed and delivered a Consent and checks the “2018 Term B-7 Cashless Settlement Option” on such Consent will thereby (i) agree to the terms of this Amendment, (ii) be deemed, upon effectiveness of this Amendment, to have exchanged all of its 2018 Term B-7 Loans (or such lesser amount allocated to it by the Agent) for Replacement 2019-1 Term B-7 Loans and shall be deemed a Replacement 2019-1 Term B-7 Lender (as defined below) and (iii) agree to the terms of that certain letter agreement dated as of the date hereof among the Borrowers, the Additional 2019-1 Term B-7 Lender (as defined below) party thereto and the Agent (the “2019-1 Term B-7 Cashless Roll Letter”), and shall be deemed a party to the 2019-1 Term B-7 Cashless Roll Letter and be bound thereby for all purposes hereof and thereof;

WHEREAS, each lender that executes and delivers a joinder agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit A to this Amendment (a “Joinder”), as an “Additional Lender” thereto (an “Additional 2019-1 Term B-7 Lender” or “Additional 2019 Term B-8 Lender”, as the context may require) (i) shall be deemed to be a Replacement 2019-1 Term B-7 Lender and/or Replacement 2019 Term B-8 Lender, as applicable, and (ii) will make Replacement 2019-1 Term B-7 Loans and/or Replacement 2019 Term B-8 Loans, as applicable, in the amount set forth on the signature page of such lender’s Joinder on the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date to the Borrowers, the proceeds of which will be used by the Borrowers

 

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to repay in full any outstanding principal amount of Non-Exchanged 2017-1 Term B-5 Loans, Non-Exchanged 2017-1 Term B-6 Loans and Non-Exchanged 2018 Term B-7 Loans (each as defined in Amended Existing Term Loan Agreement) and any other amount to complete either the Repayment or the 2018 Term B-7 Repricing, as applicable;

WHEREAS, solely for purposes of this Amendment and the transactions contemplated herein (including, but not limited to, the Repayment and the 2018 Term B-7 Repricing), the parties hereto agree (i) that the prepayment notice requirements in Section 2.3(a) of the Existing Term Loan Agreement are hereby satisfied and (ii) that the Borrowers shall not be obligated to pay any “breakage” fees to any of the parties hereto pursuant to Section 3.3 of the Existing Term Loan Agreement in connection with this Amendment and the transactions contemplated hereby;

WHEREAS, on the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date after giving effect to the Repayment, the 2018 Term B-7 Repricing and the other transactions contemplated herein, the outstanding aggregate principal amount of (i) 2019-1 Term B-7 Loans (as defined in the Amended Term Loan Agreement) will be $1,500,000,000.00 and (ii) 2019 Term B-8 Loans (as defined in the Amended Term Loan Agreement) will be $1,600,000,000.00;

Proposed Amendments

WHEREAS, Section 12.3 of the Existing Term Loan Agreement provides that the Borrowers may, with consent of the Required Lenders (as defined in the Existing Term Loan Agreement) and/or each Lender directly affected thereby, amend certain provisions of the Existing Term Loan Agreement or any other Financing Agreements (as defined in the Existing Term Loan Agreement), including the Proposed Amendments (as defined below);

WHEREAS, the Borrowers are hereby requesting consents to the “Proposed Amendments” as described in Amendment No. 7 from the Replacement 2019 Term B-8 Lenders and certain other amendments, as forth in the pages of the Existing Term Loan Agreement attached as Exhibit C hereto (the “Proposed Amendments”);

WHEREAS, each Replacement 2019 Term B-8 Lender, either by the execution of a Consent or a Joinder, desires to grant a consent to such Proposed Amendments; and

WHEREAS, on the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date (as defined below), the Proposed Amendments shall become effective.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:

SECTION 1. Defined Terms. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Existing Term Loan Agreement.

SECTION 2. Amendments.

(a) Replacement 2019-1 Term B-7 Loans, Replacement 2019 Term B-8 Loans and the Proposed Amendments. Subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 3 below, the Existing Term Loan Agreement is hereby amended to delete the stricken text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following examples: stricken text or stricken text) and to add the double-underlined text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following examples: double-underlined text or double-underlined text) as set forth in the pages of the Existing Term Loan Agreement attached as Exhibit C hereto.

 

3


SECTION 3. Conditions to Effectiveness of Amendment. This Amendment shall become effective on the date (the “Amendment No. 8 Effective Date”) that the following conditions have been satisfied:

(a) the Agent shall have received a counterpart of this Amendment, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of each Loan Party (as defined in the Existing Term Loan Agreement);

(b) the Agent shall have received (i) Consents from Lenders constituting Replacement 2019-1 Term B-7 Lenders and/or Replacement 2019 Term B-8 Lenders and/or (ii) executed Joinders, each entered into by an Additional 2019-1 Term B-7 Lender and/or Additional 2019 Term B-8 Lender, Holdings and the Borrowers, and acknowledged by the Agent;

(c) the Agent shall have received a customary legal opinion (including no conflicts with all indentures and other material debt documents of the Parent Borrower and its subsidiaries) (i) from Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP, counsel to the Loan Parties and (ii) from Greenberg Traurig LLP, California, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Texas counsel to the Loan Parties, in each case addressed to the Agent and the Lenders;

(d) the Agent shall have received (i) a copy of the certificate or articles of incorporation or organization, including all amendments thereto, of each Loan Party, certified, if applicable, as of a recent date by the Secretary of State of the state of its organization, and a certificate as to the good standing (where relevant) of each Loan Party as of a recent date, from such Secretary of State or similar Governmental Authority (as defined in the Existing Term Loan Agreement) and (ii) a certificate of a duly authorized officer of each Loan Party dated the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date and certifying (A) that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of the by-laws or operating (or limited liability company) agreement of such Loan Party as in effect on the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date or, if applicable, that no modifications have been made to such documents since November 16, 2018, (B) that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of resolutions duly adopted by the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) of such Loan Party authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment and, in the case of the Borrowers, the borrowings hereunder, and that such resolutions have not been modified, rescinded or amended and are in full force and effect, and (C) as to the incumbency and specimen signature of each officer executing this Amendment on behalf of such Loan Party and countersigned by another officer as to the incumbency and specimen signature of a duly authorized officer executing the certificate pursuant to clause (ii) above;

(e) the Agent shall have received a certificate of an authorized officer of the Parent Borrower dated the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date certifying that (i) each of the representations and warranties made by any Loan Party in or pursuant to the Financing Agreements shall be, after giving effect to this Amendment, true and correct in all material respects as if made on and as of the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date, except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier time, in which case such representations and warranties were true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier time; provided that to the extent any such representation or warranty is already qualified by materiality or material adverse effect, such representation or warranty is true and correct in all respects; provided, further, that each reference to the Existing Term Loan Agreement therein shall be deemed to be a reference to the Existing Term Loan Agreement after giving effect to this Amendment; (ii) after giving effect to this Amendment, no Default or Event of Default (each as defined in the Existing Term Loan Agreement) shall have occurred and be continuing and (iii) no event shall have occurred and no condition shall exist that has or may be reasonably to be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Existing Term Loan Agreement);

 

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(f) the Parent Borrower shall have paid (or have caused to be paid), (i) to the Amendment No. 8 Arrangers (as defined below) in immediately available funds, all fees owing to the Amendment No. 8 Arrangers in connection with arranging the 2019-1 Term B-7 Loans and the 2019 Term B-8 Loans (each as defined in the Amended Term Loan Agreement) as separately agreed to in writing by Holdings and the Amendment No. 8 Arrangers and (ii) to the extent invoiced, all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses of the Amendment No. 8 Arrangers and the Agent in connection with this Amendment and the transactions contemplated hereby (but limited, in the case of legal fees and expenses, to the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP);

(g) subject to subsection (e) above, the conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.2 of the Existing Term Loan Agreement shall have been satisfied both before and after giving effect to the borrowing of Replacement 2019-1 Term B-7 Loans and Replacement 2019 Term B-8 Loans;

(h) the Agent shall have received a solvency certificate signed by the Chief Financial Officer of Holdings substantially in the form attached as Exhibit O to the Existing Term Loan Agreement;

(i) if requested by the Agent, the Agent shall have received results of searches or other evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Agent (in each case dated as of a date reasonably satisfactory to the Agent) indicating the absence of Liens (as defined in the Existing Term Loan Agreement) on the assets of the Loan Parties, except for Permitted Liens (as defined in the Existing Term Loan Agreement) and Liens for which termination statements and releases, satisfactions and releases or subordination agreements satisfactory to the Agent are being tendered concurrently with the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date or other arrangements satisfactory to the Agent for the delivery of such termination statements and releases, satisfactions and discharges have been made;

(j) the Agent shall have received a Committed Loan Notice (as defined in the Existing Term Loan Agreement) for the Replacement 2019-1 Term B-7 Loans and the Replacement 2019 Term B-8 Loans;

(k) the Agent shall have received, at least five (5) Business Days (as defined in the Existing Term Loan Agreement) prior to the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date, all documentation and other information required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations including, without limitation, the PATRIOT Act, that has been reasonably requested by the Lenders at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date;

(l) to the extent any Borrower qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230 (the “Beneficial Ownership Regulation”) and at least five (5) Business Days prior to the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date, such Borrower shall deliver to each Lender that so requests (which request is made through the Agent), a certification regarding beneficial ownership required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation (the “Beneficial Ownership Certification”) in relation to such Borrower; provided that the Agent has provided such Borrower a list of each such Lender and its electronic delivery requirements at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date;

(m) a completed “life of loan” Federal Emergency Management Agency Standard Flood Hazard Determination with respect to each Mortgaged Property (as defined in the Existing Term Loan Agreement), and to the extent any Mortgaged Property is located in a special flood hazard area, (i) a

 

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notice about special flood hazard area status and flood disaster assistance duly executed by the Parent Borrower and each Loan Party relating thereto, and (ii) evidence of flood insurance as required by Section 9.4 of the Existing Term Loan Agreement and the applicable provisions of the Collateral Documents (as defined in the Existing Term Loan Agreement); and

(n) the Repayment shall have been consummated prior to or substantially concurrently with the effectiveness of this Amendment.

SECTION 4. [Reserved].

SECTION 5. Post-Closing Obligations. The Parent Borrower and Holdings shall or shall cause to be delivered to the Agent within 180 days after the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date (or such later date as the Agent in its reasonable discretion may agree) each of the items listed on Schedule I attached hereto.

SECTION 6. Representations and Warranties. The Borrowers hereby represent and warrant that:

(a) before and after giving effect to the borrowing of Replacement 2019-1 Term B-7 Loans and/or Replacement 2019 Term B-8 Loans, (i) each of the representations and warranties made by any Loan Party in or pursuant to the Financing Agreements shall be, after giving effect to this Amendment, true and correct in all material respects as if made on and as of the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date, except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier time, in which case such representations and warranties were true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier time; provided that to the extent any such representation or warranty is already qualified by materiality or material adverse effect, such representation or warranty is true and correct in all respects; provided, further, that each reference to the Existing Term Loan Agreement therein shall be deemed to be a reference to the Existing Term Loan Agreement after giving effect to this Amendment; (ii) after giving effect to this Amendment, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (iii) no event shall have occurred and no condition shall exist that has or may reasonably be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

(b) as of the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date, the information included in any Beneficial Ownership Certification is true and correct in all material respects.

SECTION 7. Extension of Loan. The parties hereto hereby acknowledge and agree that, subject to Section 3 above, (a) the Replacement 2019-1 Term B-7 Lenders shall make the Replacement 2019-1 Term B-7 Loans available to the Parent Borrower on the date specified therefor in the related Committed Loan Notice and (b) the Replacement 2019 Term B-8 Lenders shall make the Replacement 2019 Term B-8 Loans available to the Parent Borrower on the date specified therefor in the related Committed Loan Notice, each in accordance with instructions provided by the Parent Borrower to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Agent.

SECTION 8. Effects on Financing Agreements. Except as specifically amended herein, all Financing Agreements shall continue to be in full force and effect and are hereby in all respects ratified and confirmed. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Amendment shall not operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of any Lender or the Agent under any of the Financing Agreements, nor constitute a waiver of any provision of the Financing Agreements.

SECTION 9. GOVERNING LAW; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. THIS AMENDMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND BE GOVERNED BY THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY AGREES AS SET FORTH FURTHER IN SECTION 12.1 OF THE EXISTING TERM LOAN AGREEMENT AS IF SUCH SECTION WAS SET FORTH IN FULL HEREIN.

 

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SECTION 10. Financing Agreement. This Amendment shall constitute a “Financing Agreement” for all purposes of the Existing Term Loan Agreement and the other Financing Agreements.

SECTION 11. Amendments; Execution in Counterparts; Notice. This Amendment shall not constitute an amendment of any other provision of the Existing Term Loan Agreement not referred to herein and shall not be construed as a waiver or consent to any further or future action on the part of the Loan Parties that would require a waiver or consent of the Required Lenders or the Agent. Except as expressly amended hereby, the provisions of the Existing Term Loan Agreement are and shall remain in full force and effect. This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the different parties hereto on separate counterparts, including by means of facsimile or electronic transmission, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all of which shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

SECTION 12. Roles. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that each of Credit Suisse Loan Funding LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Barclays Bank PLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC shall act as joint lead arrangers and joint lead bookrunners for the Replacement 2019-1 Term B-7 Loans and the Replacement 2019 Term B-8 Loans (collectively, the “2019 Joint Lead Arrangers”) and that each of U.S. Bank National Association, MUFG Union Bank, N.A., Royal Bank of Canada, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. and TD Securities (USA) LLC shall act as co-managers for the Replacement 2019-1 Term B-7 Loans and the Replacement 2019 Term B-8 Loans (collectively and together with the 2019 Joint Lead Arrangers, the “Amendment No. 8 Arrangers”). The parties hereto agree that Section 12.5 of the Existing Term Loan Agreement is incorporated herein mutatis mutandis as if set forth herein in full.

SECTION 13. Acknowledgement and Reaffirmation. Holdings, each Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby (i) expressly acknowledges the terms of the Existing Term Loan Agreement as amended hereby, (ii) to the extent party thereto or covered thereunder, ratifies and affirms after giving effect to this Amendment its obligations under the Financing Agreements (including guarantees, security agreements, mortgages and deeds of trusts) executed by Holdings, the Borrowers and/or such Subsidiary Guarantor and (iii) to the extent applicable, after giving effect to this Amendment, acknowledges, renews and extends its continued liability under all such Financing Agreements and agrees such Financing Agreements remain in full force and effect. This Amendment shall not constitute a novation of the Existing Term Loan Agreement or any other Financing Agreements.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

7


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed and delivered by their respective proper and duly authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

ALBERTSONS COMPANIES, INC.
By:  

/s/ Robert Dimond

  Name:   Robert Dimond
  Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
ALBERTSON’S LLC
By:  

/s/ Robert A. Gordon

  Name:   Robert A. Gordon
  Title:  

Executive Vice President, General

Counsel & Secretary

NEW ALBERTSONS L.P.
By:  

/s/ Robert Dimond

  Name:   Robert Dimond
  Title:  

Executive Vice President &

Chief Financial Officer

SAFEWAY INC.
By:  

/s/ Robert A. Gordon

  Name:   Robert A. Gordon
  Title:   Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary
UNITED SUPERMARKETS, L.L.C.
By:  

/s/ Bradley R. Beckstrom

  Name:   Bradley R. Beckstrom
  Title:   Group Vice President, Real Estate &
    Business Law & Assistant Secretary

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 8]


SPIRIT ACQUISITION HOLDINGS LLC
By:  

/s/ Bradley R. Beckstrom

  Name:   Bradley R. Beckstrom
  Title:  

Group Vice President, Real Estate &

Business Law & Assistant Secretary

NAI HOLDINGS GP LLC
By:  

/s/ Robert Dimond

  Name:   Robert Dimond
  Title:   Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
ALBERTSON’S STORES SUB HOLDINGS LLC
By:  

/s/ Bradley Beckstrom

  Name:   Bradley Beckstrom
  Title:   Group Vice President, Real Estate &
    Business Law & Assistant Secretary
AB ACQUISITION LLC
By:  

/s/ Bradley Beckstrom

  Name:   Bradley Beckstrom
  Title:   Group Vice President, Real Estate &
    Business Law & Assistant Secretary
ALBERTSON’S STORES SUB LLC
By:  

/s/ Bradley Beckstrom

  Name:   Bradley Beckstrom
  Title:   Group Vice President, Real Estate & Business Law & Assistant Secretary

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 8]


AB MANAGEMENT SERVICES CORP.
By:  

/s/ Robert Dimond

  Name:   Robert Dimond
  Title:   Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
ABS REAL ESTATE COMPANY LLC
By:  

/s/ Robert A. Gordon

  Name:   Robert A. Gordon
  Title:   Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 8]


ABS FINANCE CO., INC.
ACME MARKETS, INC.
APLC PROCUREMENT, INC.
ASC MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
ASP REALTY, LLC
CLIFFORD W. PERHAM, INC.
JEWEL COMPANIES, INC.
JEWEL FOOD STORES, INC.
OAKBROOK BEVERAGE CENTERS, INC.
SHAW’S SUPERMARKETS, INC.
SSM HOLDINGS COMPANY
STAR MARKETS COMPANY, INC.
STAR MARKETS HOLDINGS, INC.
AMERICAN STORES COMPANY, LLC
AMERICAN DRUG STORES LLC
AMERICAN PROCUREMENT AND LOGISTICS COMPANY LLC
LUCKY STORES LLC
AMERICAN PARTNERS, L.P.
JETCO PROPERTIES, INC.
SHAW’S REALTY CO.
WILDCAT MARKETS OPCO LLC
NAI SATURN EASTERN LLC
GIANT OF SALISBURY, INC.
COLLINGTON SERVICES LLC
ALBERTSONS COMPANIES SPECIALTY CARE, LLC
MEDCART SPECIALTY CARE, LLC
By:  

/s/ Gary Morton

  Name:   Gary Morton
  Title:   Vice President, Treasurer & Assistant Secretary
SHAW’S REALTY TRUST
By:  

/s/ Gary Morton

  Name:   Gary Morton
  Title:   Trustee

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 8]


FRESH HOLDINGS LLC
GOOD SPIRITS LLC
AMERICAN FOOD AND DRUG LLC
EXTREME LLC
NEWCO INVESTMENTS, LLC
NHI INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LP
AMERICAN STORES PROPERTIES LLC
JEWEL OSCO SOUTHWEST LLC
SUNRICH MERCANTILE LLC
ABS REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS LLC
ABS REAL ESTATE INVESTOR HOLDINGS LLC
ABS REAL ESTATE OWNER HOLDINGS LLC
ABS MEZZANINE I LLC
ABS FLA INVESTOR LLC
ABS SW INVESTOR LLC
ABS RM INVESTOR LLC
ABS DFW INVESTOR LLC
ASP SW INVESTOR LLC
ABS REALTY INVESTOR LLC
ABS FLA LEASE INVESTOR LLC
ABS SW LEASE INVESTOR LLC
ABS RM LEASE INVESTOR LLC
ASP SW LEASE INVESTOR LLC
AFDI NOCAL LEASE INVESTOR LLC
ABS NOCAL LEASE INVESTOR LLC
ABS REALTY LEASE INVESTOR LLC
ABS TX INVESTOR GP LLC
ASR TX INVESTOR GP LLC
ABS TX INVESTOR LP
ABS TX LEASE INVESTOR GP LLC
ABS TX LEASE INVESTOR LP
ASR TX INVESTOR LP
ASR LEASE INVESTOR LLC
By:  

/s/ Bradley R. Beckstrom

  Name:   Bradley R. Beckstrom
  Title:   Group Vice President, Real Estate & Business Law & Assistant Secretary

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 8]


ABS MEZZANINE II LLC
ABS FLA OWNER LLC
ABS SW OWNER LLC
ABS SW LEASE OWNER LLC
LUCKY (DEL) LEASE OWNER LLC
SHORTCO OWNER LLC
ABS NOCAL LEASE OWNER LLC
LSP LEASE LLC
ABS RM OWNER LLC
ABS RM LEASE OWNER LLC
ABS DFW OWNER LLC
ABS DFW LEASE OWNER LLC
ASP SW OWNER LLC
ASP SW LEASE OWNER LLC
EXT OWNER LLC
SUNRICH OWNER LLC
EXT LEASE OWNER LLC
NHI TX OWNER GP LLC
NHI TX OWNER LP
NHI TX LEASE OWNER GP LLC
NHI TX LEASE OWNER LP
ASR OWNER LLC
ASR TX LEASE OWNER GP LLC
ASR TX LEASE OWNER LP
ABS TX OWNER GP LLC
ABS TX OWNER LP
ABS TX LEASE OWNER GP LLC
ABS TX LEASE OWNER LP
ABS MEZZANINE III LLC
ABS CA-O LLC
ABS CA-GL LLC
ABS ID-O LLC
ABS ID-GL LLC
ABS MT-O LLC
ABS MT-GL LLC
ABS NV-O LLC
ABS NV-GL LLC
By:  

/s/ Bradley R. Beckstrom

  Name:   Bradley R. Beckstrom
  Title:  

Group Vice President, Real Estate &

Business Law & Assistant Secretary

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 8]


ABS OR-O LLC
ABS OR-GL LLC
ABS UT-O LLC
ABS UT-GL LLC
ABS WA-O LLC
ABS WA-GL LLC
ABS WY-O LLC
ABS WY-GL LLC
ABS CA-O DC1 LLC
ABS CA-O DC2 LLC
ABS ID-O DC LLC
ABS OR-O DC LLC
ABS UT-O DC LLC
By:  

/s/ Bradley R. Beckstrom

  Name:   Bradley R. Beckstrom
  Title:   Group Vice President, Real Estate & Business Law & Assistant Secretary

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 8]


USM MANUFACTURING L.L.C.
LLANO LOGISTICS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Bradley R. Beckstrom

  Name:   Bradley R. Beckstrom
  Title:   Group Vice President, Real Estate & Business Law & Assistant Secretary

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 8]


CAYAM ENERGY, LLC
DIVARIO VENTURES LLC
DOMINICK’S SUPERMARKETS, LLC
DOMINICK’S FINER FOODS, LLC
GFM HOLDINGS I, INC.
GFM HOLDINGS LLC
LUCERNE FOODS, INC.
EATING RIGHT LLC
LUCERNE DAIRY PRODUCTS LLC
LUCERNE NORTH AMERICA LLC
O ORGANICS LLC
RANDALL’S HOLDINGS, INC.
RANDALL’S FOOD MARKETS, INC.
SAFEWAY AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS, INC.
SAFEWAY CANADA HOLDINGS, INC.
SAFEWAY NEW CANADA, INC.
SAFEWAY CORPORATE, INC.
SAFEWAY STORES 67, INC.
SAFEWAY DALLAS, INC.
AVIA PARTNERS, INC.
SAFEWAY STORES 78, INC.
SAFEWAY STORES 79, INC.
SAFEWAY STORES 80, INC.
SAFEWAY STORES 85, INC.
SAFEWAY STORES 86, INC.
SAFEWAY STORES 87, INC.
SAFEWAY STORES 88, INC.
SAFEWAY STORES 89, INC.

SAFEWAY STORES 90, INC.

SAFEWAY STORES 91, INC.

SAFEWAY STORES 92, INC.

SAFEWAY STORES 96, INC.

SAFEWAY STORES 97, INC.

SAFEWAY STORES 98, INC.

SAFEWAY DENVER, INC.

SAFEWAY STORES 44, INC.

SAFEWAY STORES 45, INC.

SAFEWAY STORES 46, INC.

SAFEWAY STORES 47, INC.

SAFEWAY STORES 48, INC.

SAFEWAY STORES 49, INC.

By:  

/s/ Laura A. Donald

  Name:   Laura A. Donald
  Title:   Vice President & Assistant Secretary

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 8]


SAFEWAY GIFT CARDS, LLC
SAFEWAY HOLDINGS I, LLC
GROCERYWORKS.COM, LLC
GROCERYWORKS.COM OPERATING COMPANY, LLC
SAFEWAY PHILTECH HOLDINGS, INC.
SAFEWAY STORES 58, INC.
SAFEWAY SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, INC.
SAFEWAY STORES 28, INC.
THE VONS COMPANIES, INC.
SAFEWAY STORES 42, INC.
CONSOLIDATED PROCUREMENT SERVICES, INC.
SAFEWAY STORES 71, INC.
SAFEWAY STORES 72, INC.
SSI – AK HOLDINGS, INC.
CARR-GOTTSTEIN FOODS CO.
SAFEWAY HEALTH INC.
STRATEGIC GLOBAL SOURCING, LLC
By:  

/s/ Laura A. Donald

  Name:   Laura A. Donald
  Title:   Vice President & Assistant Secretary

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 8]


GENUARDI’S FAMILY MARKETS LP
By: GFM HOLDINGS LLC, its general partner
By:  

/s/ Laura A. Donald

  Name:   Laura A. Donald
  Title:   Vice President & Assistant Secretary

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 8]


RANDALL’S FOOD & DRUGS LP
By: RANDALL’S FOOD MARKETS, INC., its general partner
By:  

/s/ Laura A. Donald

  Name:   Laura A. Donald
  Title:   Vice President & Assistant Secretary

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 8]


RANDALL’S MANAGEMENT COMPANY, INC.
RANDALL’S BEVERAGE COMPANY, INC.
By:  

/s/ Gary Owen

  Name:   Gary Owen
  Title:   Vice President

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 8]


RANDALL’S INVESTMENTS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Elizabeth A. Harris

  Name:   Elizabeth A. Harris
  Title:   Vice President & Secretary

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 8]


DINEINFRESH, INC.
By:  

/s/ Laura A. Donald

  Name:   Laura A. Donald
  Title:   Group Vice President, Corporate
    Law & Assistant Secretary
INFINITE AISLE LLC
By:  

/s/ Laura A. Donald

  Name:   Laura A. Donald
  Title:   Group Vice President, Corporate
    Law & Assistant Secretary
JA PROCUREMENT LLC
By:  

/s/ Laura A. Donald

  Name:   Laura A. Donald
  Title:   Group Vice President, Corporate
    Law & Assistant Secretary

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 8]


CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, as Agent
By:  

/s/ William O’Daly

  Name:   William O’Daly
  Title:   Authorized Signatory
By:  

/s/ D. Andrew Maletta

  Name:   D. Andrew Maletta
  Title:   Authorized Signatory

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 8]


EXHIBIT A

JOINDER AGREEMENT

JOINDER AGREEMENT, dated as of August 15, 2019 (this “Agreement”), by and among [            ] (the “Additional Lender”), ALBERTSON’S LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Parent Borrower”), SAFEWAY INC., NEW ALBERTSONS L.P., UNITED SUPERMARKETS, L.L.C., SPIRIT ACQUISITION HOLDINGS LLC (the “Co-Borrowers”, and together with the Parent Borrower, the “Borrowers” and each, a “Borrower”), ALBERTSONS COMPANIES, INC. (“Holdings”), and CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH (the “Administrative Agent”).

RECITALS:

WHEREAS, reference is hereby made to the Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement, dated as of August 25, 2014 and effective as of January 30, 2015 (as amended by that certain Amendment No. 1, dated as of December 21, 2015, that certain Amendment No. 2, dated as of December 21, 2015, that certain Amendment No. 3 and Consent, dated as of February 11, 2016, that certain Amendment No. 4, dated as of June 22, 2016, that certain Amendment No. 5, dated as of December 23, 2016, that certain Amendment No. 6, dated as of June 27, 2017, that certain Amendment No. 7, dated as of November 16, 2018 and that certain Amendment No. 8, to be dated as of the date hereof (“Amendment No. 8”) and as the same may be further amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Term Loan Agreement”), among Holdings, the Borrowers, the guarantors from time to time party thereto, each lender from time to time party thereto (collectively, the “Lenders” and individually, a “Lender”), Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, as administrative agent and the other agents named therein (capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Term Loan Agreement);

WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions of the Term Loan Agreement, the Borrowers desire to establish two new tranches of Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement) that they shall designate as (i) 2019-1 Term B-7 Loans with existing 2018 Term B-7 Lenders and/or Additional 2019-1 Term B-7 Lenders (each as defined in the Term Loan Agreement) and (ii) 2019 Term B-8 Loans with existing 2017-1 Term B-5 Lenders, existing 2017-1 Term B-6 Lenders and/or Additional 2019 Term B-8 Lenders (each as defined in the Term Loan Agreement);

WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions of Amendment No. 8, the Additional Lender shall consent to Amendment No. 8, including the Proposed Amendments (as defined in Amendment No. 8) therein; and

WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions of the Term Loan Agreement, the Additional Lender shall become a Lender (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement) pursuant a joinder agreement;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and agreements, provisions and covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

The Additional Lender hereby agrees to provide the Additional 2019-1 Term B-7 Commitment and the Additional 2019 Term B-8 Commitment (each as defined in the Term Loan Agreement) set forth on its signature page hereto pursuant to and in accordance with Section 2.1(l) and Section 2.1(m), respectively, of the Term Loan Agreement. The Additional 2019-1 Term B-7 Commitments and the Additional 2019 Term B-8 Commitments provided pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to all of the terms and conditions in the Term Loan Agreement and shall be entitled to all the


benefits afforded by the Term Loan Agreement and the other Financing Agreements (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement) and shall, without limiting the foregoing, benefit equally and ratably from the Guarantees (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement) and security interests created by the Collateral Documents (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement).

The Additional Lender, Holdings, the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent acknowledge and agree that the Additional 2019-1 Term B-7 Commitments and the Additional 2019 Term B-8 Commitments provided pursuant to this Agreement shall constitute 2019-1 Term B-7 Commitments and 2019 Term B-8 Commitments (each as defined in the Term Loan Agreement), respectively, for all purposes of the Term Loan Agreement and the other applicable Financing Agreements. Each Additional Lender hereby agrees to make a 2019-1 Term B-7 Loan and a 2019 Term B-8 Loan to the Borrowers in an amount equal to its Additional 2019-1 Term B-7 Commitment Additional and 2019 Term B-8 Commitment, as applicable, on the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date (as defined in Amendment No. 8) in accordance with Section 2.1(l) of the Term Loan Agreement.

The Additional Lender (i) confirms that it has received a copy of the Term Loan Agreement and the other Financing Agreements, together with copies of the financial statements referred to therein and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement; (ii) agrees that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the Amendment No. 8 Arrangers (as defined in Amendment No. 8) or any other Additional 2019-1 Term B-7 Lender, Additional 2019 Term B-8 Lender or any other Lender or Agent Party (each as defined in the Term Loan Agreement) 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 Term Loan Agreement; (iii) appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers and discretion under the Term Loan Agreement and the other Financing Agreements as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms thereof, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto; and (iv) agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Term Loan Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

Upon (i) the execution of a counterpart of this Agreement by the Additional Lender, the Administrative Agent, Holdings and the Borrowers and (ii) the delivery to the Administrative Agent of a fully executed counterpart (including by way of telecopy or other electronic transmission) hereof, the undersigned Additional Lenders shall become an Additional 2019-1 Term B-7 Lender, an Additional 2019 Term B-8 Lender and a Lender under the Term Loan Agreement and shall have the Additional 2019-1 Term B-7 Commitment and the Additional 2019 Term B-8 Commitment set forth on its signature page hereto, effective as of the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date.

The Additional Lender shall deliver to the Administrative Agent such forms, certificates or other evidence with respect to United States federal income tax withholding matters as such Additional Lender may be required to deliver to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.1 of the Term Loan Agreement.

The Additional Lender hereto agrees (and provides a consent) to the Proposed Amendments. Each of the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that the Additional Lender and its assignees, if any, shall be deemed to have provided such consent under Amendment No. 8.

This Agreement may not be amended, modified or waived except by an instrument or instruments in writing signed and delivered on behalf of each of the parties hereto.


This Agreement shall constitute a Financing Agreement for all purposes under the Term Loan Agreement and each of the other Financing Agreements.

This Agreement, the Term Loan Agreement and the other Financing Agreements constitute the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede all other prior agreements and understandings, both written and verbal, among the parties or any of them with respect to the subject matter hereof.

THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Any term or provision of this Agreement which is invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to that jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without rendering invalid or unenforceable the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction. If any provision of this Agreement is so broad as to be unenforceable, the provision shall be interpreted to be only so broad as would be enforceable.

This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement.

[remainder of page intentionally left blank]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has caused its duly authorized officer to execute and deliver this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

[    ]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
[If a second signature is necessary:
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:]

 

Additional 2019-1 Term B-7 Commitments:
$                                                                                   
Additional 2019 Term B-8 Commitments:
$                                                                                   

[Signature Page to Joinder to Amendment No. 8]


ALBERTSONS COMPANIES, INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
ALBERTSON’S LLC
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
SAFEWAY INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
NEW ALBERTSONS L.P.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
SPIRIT ACQUISITION HOLDINGS LLC
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
UNITED SUPERMARKETS, L.L.C.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

[Signature Page to Joinder to Amendment No. 8]


Accepted:

CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH,

as Administrative Agent

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

[Signature Page to Joinder to Amendment No. 8]


EXHIBIT B

CONSENT TO AMENDMENT NO. 8

CONSENT TO AMENDMENT NO. 8 (this “Consent”) to Amendment No. 8 (the “Amendment”) to that certain Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement, dated as of August 25, 2014 and effective as of January 30, 2015 (as amended by that certain Amendment No. 1, dated as of December 21, 2015, that certain Amendment No. 2, dated as of December 21, 2015, that certain Amendment No. 3 and Consent, dated as of February 11, 2016, that certain Amendment No. 4, dated as of June 22, 2016, that certain Amendment No. 5, dated as of December 23, 2016, that certain Amendment No. 6, dated as of June 27, 2017, that certain Amendment No. 7, dated as of November 16, 2018 and as the same may be further amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Term Loan Agreement”), among ALBERTSON’S COMPANIES, INC. (“Holdings”), ALBERTSON’S LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Parent Borrower”), the co-borrowers party thereto (together with Parent Borrower, the “Borrowers” and each, a “Borrower”), the guarantors party thereto, the parties thereto from time to time as lenders (each individually, a “Lender” and collectively, “Lenders”) and CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, in its capacity as administrative agent and collateral agent (in such capacities, the “Agent”) and the other agents parties thereto. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Term Loan Agreement or the Amendment, as applicable.

2017-1 Term B-5 Lenders

The undersigned Lender hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) approves the Amendment, (ii) provides a continuing consent to the Proposed Amendments (as defined in the Amendment) and acknowledges and agrees that such continuing consent shall be binding upon any of its assignees and (iii) consents as follows:

2017-1 Term B-5 Cashless Settlement Option

 

 

to convert 100% of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the 2017-1 Term B-5 Loans (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement) held by such Lender (or such lesser amount as notified to such Lender in writing by the Agent) into Replacement 2019 Term B-8 Loans (as defined in the Amendment) in a like principal amount. By selecting this option, the undersigned Lender agrees to (i) the terms of the 2019 Term B-8 Cashless Roll Letter (as defined in the Amendment) and (ii) be deemed a party to such 2019 Term B-8 Cashless Roll Letter and be bound thereby for all purposes hereof and thereof.

2017-1 Term B-5 Assignment Settlement Option

 

 

to have 100% of the outstanding principal amount of the 2017-1 Term B-5 Loans held by such Lender repaid on the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date (as defined in the Amendment) and to purchase by assignment a like principal amount of Replacement 2019 Term B-8 Loans committed to separately by the undersigned (or such lesser amount as notified to such Lender in writing by the Agent).


2017-1 Term B-6 Lenders

The undersigned Lender hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) approves the Amendment, (ii) provides a continuing consent to the Proposed Amendments (as defined in the Amendment) and acknowledges and agrees that such continuing consent shall be binding upon any of its assignees and (iii) consents as follows:

2017-1 Term B-6 Cashless Settlement Option

 

 

to convert 100% of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the 2017-1 Term B-6 Loans (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement) held by such Lender (or such lesser amount as notified to such Lender in writing by the Agent) into Replacement 2019 Term B-8 Loans (as defined in the Amendment) in a like principal amount. By selecting this option, the undersigned Lender agrees to (i) the terms of the 2019 Term B-8 Cashless Roll Letter (as defined in the Amendment) and (ii) be deemed a party to such 2019 Term B-8 Cashless Roll Letter and be bound thereby for all purposes hereof and thereof.

2017-1 Term B-6 Assignment Settlement Option

 

 

to have 100% of the outstanding principal amount of the 2017-1 Term B-6 Loans held by such Lender repaid on the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date (as defined in the Amendment) and to purchase by assignment a like principal amount of Replacement 2019 Term B-8 Loans committed to separately by the undersigned (or such lesser amount as notified to such Lender in writing by the Agent).


2018 Term B-7 Lenders

The undersigned Lender hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) approves the Amendment and (ii) consents as follows:

2018 Term B-7 Cashless Settlement Option

 

 

to convert 100% of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the 2018 Term B-7 Loans (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement) held by such Lender (or such lesser amount as notified to such Lender in writing by the Agent) into Replacement 2019-1 Term B-7 Loans (as defined in the Amendment) in a like principal amount. By selecting this option, the undersigned Lender agrees to (i) the terms of the 2019-1 Term B-7 Cashless Roll Letter (as defined in the Amendment) and (ii) be deemed a party to such 2019-1 Term B-7 Cashless Roll Letter and be bound thereby for all purposes hereof and thereof.

2018 Term B-7 Assignment Settlement Option

 

 

to have 100% of the outstanding principal amount of the 2018 Term B-7 Loans held by such Lender repaid on the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date (as defined in the Amendment) and to purchase by assignment a like principal amount of Replacement 2019-1 Term B-7 Loans committed to separately by the undersigned (or such lesser amount as notified to such Lender in writing by the Agent).


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Consent to be executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer.

 

                                                                                  ,
(Name of Institution)
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
[If a second signature is necessary:
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:]

[Signature Page to Consent to Amendment No. 8]


EXHIBIT C

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED

TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

by and among

ALBERTSONS COMPANIES, INC.,

as Holdings,

ALBERTSON’S LLC,

as Parent Borrower,

SAFEWAY INC., NEW ALBERTSONS L.P., UNITED SUPERMARKETS, L.L.C. and SPIRIT

ACQUISITION HOLDINGS LLC

as Co-Borrowers,

THE OTHER CO-BORROWERS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO

THE GUARANTORS NAMED HEREIN

THE LENDERS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO

CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH

as Agent

and

CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED

MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.

BARCLAYS BANK PLC

and

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.

as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners

and

PNC CAPITAL MARKETS LLC

and

SUNTRUST ROBINSON HUMPHREY, INC.

as Co-Documentation Agents

Dated: August 25, 2014

Effective: January 30, 2015

As Amended on December 21, 2015

As Amended on February 11, 2016

As Amended on June 22, 2016

As Amended on December 23, 2016

As Amended on June 27, 2017


As Amended on November 16, 2018

As Amended on August 15, 2019

Deal CUSIP # 01310TAA7

Term B-2 Loan CUSIP # 01310TAC3

Term B-3 Loan CUSIP # 01310TAG4

Term B-4 Loan CUSIP # 01310TAH2

Term B-5 Loan CUSIP # 01310TAK5

2016-1 Term B-4 Loan CUSIP # 01310TAN9

2016-1 Term B-5 Loan CUSIP # 01310TAM1

Term B-6 Loan CUSIP # 01310TAL3

2016-2 Term B-4 Loan CUSIP # 01310TAP4

2016-2 Term B-5 Loan CUSIP # 01310TAQ2

2016-1 Term B-6 Loan CUSIP # 01310TAR0

2017-1 Term B-4 Loan CUSIP # 01310TAS8

2017-1 Term B-5 Loan CUSIP # 01310TAT6

2017-1 Term B-6 Loan CUSIP # 01310TAU3

2018 Term B-7 Loan CUSIP # 01310TAV1

2019-1 Term B-7 Loan CUSIP # 01310TAX7

2019 Term B-8 Loan CUSIP # 01310TAW9


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS      2  
SECTION 2. CREDIT FACILITIES      7477  

2.1

 

Loans

     7477  

2.2

 

Repayment of Loans

     8288  

2.3

 

Prepayments

     8389  

2.4

 

Termination or Reduction of Commitments

     9096  

2.5

 

Evidence of Indebtedness

     9097  

2.6

 

Payments Generally

     9197  

2.7

 

Sharing of Payments

     9299  

2.8

 

Incremental Credit Extensions

     9399  

2.9

 

Refinancing Amendments

     94101  

2.10

 

Extension of Term Loans

     95101  

2.11

 

LIBOR Discontinuation

     103  
SECTION 3. INTEREST AND FEES      97104  

3.1

 

Interest

     97104  

3.2

 

Fees

     98104  

3.3

 

Changes in Laws and Increased Costs of Loans

     98104  

3.4

 

Inability to Determine Rates

     107  
SECTION 4. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT      100107  

4.1

 

[Reserved]

     100107  

4.2

 

Conditions Precedent to All Loans

     100107  

4.3

 

Conditions to the Escrow Release Date

     101108  
SECTION 5. [RESERVED]      103110  
SECTION 6. TAXES      103110  

6.1

 

Taxes

     103110  

6.2

 

Replacement of Lenders under Certain Circumstances

     106113  
SECTION 7. [RESERVED]      106114  
SECTION 8. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES      106114  

8.1

 

Existence, Qualification and Power

     106114  

8.2

 

Authorization; No Contravention

     107114  

8.3

 

Financial Statements

     107114  

8.4

 

Ownership of Property; Liens

     108115  

8.5

 

Taxes

     108115  

8.6

 

Litigation

     108116  

8.7

 

Compliance with Laws

     109116  

8.8

 

Environmental Compliance

     109116  

8.9

 

ERISA Compliance

     109117  

8.10

 

Governmental Authorization; Other Consents

     110117  

8.11

 

Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.

     110117  

8.12

 

Subsidiaries; Equity Interests

     110118  

8.13

 

Labor Matters

     111118  

 

-i-


         Page  

8.14

 

Anti-Money Laundering

     111118  

8.15

 

Material Contracts

     111119  

8.16

 

Solvency

     112119  

8.17

 

Investment Company Act; Margin Regulations

     112119  

8.18

 

Disclosure

     112119  

8.19

 

FCPA

     112120  

8.20

 

Office of Foreign Assets Control

     112120  

8.21

 

USA PATRIOT Act Notice

     113120  

8.22

 

Use of Proceeds

     113120  

8.23

 

Deposit Accounts; Credit Card Arrangements

     113120  

8.24

 

Binding Effect

     113120  

8.25

 

No Material Adverse Effect

     113121  

8.26

 

No Default

     114121  

8.27

 

Collateral Documents

     114121  

8.28

 

Pharmaceutical Laws

     115122  

8.29

 

HIPAA Compliance

     115122  

8.30

 

Compliance With Health Care Laws

     115122  

8.31

 

Notices from Farm Products Sellers, etc.

     116123  
SECTION 9. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS      117124  

9.1

 

Preservation of Existence

     117124  

9.2

 

Compliance with Laws

     117124  

9.3

 

Payment of Obligations

     117124  

9.4

 

Insurance

     117124  

9.5

 

Financial Statements

     118125  

9.6

 

Certificates; Other Information

     119127  

9.7

 

Notices

     121128  

9.8

 

Further Assurances

     121129  

9.9

 

Additional Loan Parties

     123129  

9.10

 

Maintenance of Ratings

     123130  

9.11

 

Use of Proceeds

     123130  

9.12

 

Maintenance of Properties

     123130  

9.13

 

Environmental Laws and Insurance

     123130  

9.14

 

Books and Records; Accountants

     124131  

9.15

 

Inspection Rights

     125131  

9.16

 

Information Regarding the Collateral

     125131  

9.17

 

[Reserved]

     125131  

9.18

 

ERISA

     125131  

9.19

 

Quarterly Lender Meetings

     125132  

9.20

 

[Reserved] Beneficial Ownership Regulation

     125132  

9.21

 

Post-Closing Requirements

     125132  
SECTION 10. NEGATIVE COVENANTS      125132  

10.1

 

Liens

     126132  

10.2

 

Investments

     130137  

10.3

 

Indebtedness; Disqualified Stock

     134141  

10.4

 

Fundamental Changes

     137144  

10.5

 

Dispositions

     138145  

10.6

 

Restricted Payments

     141148  

 

-ii-


         Page  

10.7

 

Change in Nature of Business

     145152  

10.8

 

Transactions with Affiliates

     145152  

10.9

 

Burdensome Agreements

     150157  

10.10

 

Accounting Changes

     150157  

10.11

 

Prepayments Etc., of Indebtedness

     150157  

10.12

 

Permitted Activities

     152158  

10.13

 

Amendments of Organization Documents

     152159  

10.14

 

Designation of Subsidiaries

     152159  
SECTION 11. EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES      153159  

11.1

 

Events of Default

     153159  

11.2

 

Remedies

     154161  

11.3

 

Application of Proceeds

     155162  
SECTION 12. JURY TRIAL WAIVER; OTHER WAIVERS AND CONSENTS; GOVERNING LAW      156162  

12.1

 

Governing Law; Choice of Forum; Service of Process; Jury Trial Waiver

     156162  

12.2

 

Waiver of Notices

     157163  

12.3

 

Amendments and Waivers

     157164  

12.4

 

Waiver of Counterclaims

     160167  

12.5

 

Indemnification

     160167  

12.6

 

Costs and Expenses

     161168  
SECTION 13. THE AGENT      162169  

13.1

 

Appointment and Authority

     162169  

13.2

 

Rights as a Lender

     162169  

13.3

 

Exculpatory Provisions

     162169  

13.4

 

Reliance by Agent

     164170  

13.5

 

Delegation of Duties

     164170  

13.6

 

Resignation of Agent

     164171  

13.7

 

Non-Reliance on Agent and Other Lenders

     165171  

13.8

 

No Other Duties, Etc.

     165171  

13.9

 

Agent May File Proofs of Claim

     165171  

13.10

 

Collateral and Guaranty Matters

     165172  

13.11

 

Withholding Tax Indemnity

     167173  

13.12

 

Notice to Agent

     167173  

13.13

 

Intercreditor Agreements

     167173  

13.14

 

Certain ERISA Matters

     174  
SECTION 14. TERM OF AGREEMENT; MISCELLANEOUS      167175  

14.1

 

Term

     167175  

14.2

 

Interpretative Provisions

     168175  

14.3

 

Notices

     169176  

14.4

 

Partial Invalidity

     171178  

14.5

 

Confidentiality

     171178  

14.6

 

Successors

     173180  

14.7

 

Assignments; Participations

     173180  

14.8

 

Entire Agreement

     178185  

14.9

 

USA PATRIOT Act

     178185  

14.10

 

Counterparts, Etc.

     179186  

 

-iii-


         Page  

14.11

 

Payments Set Aside

     179186  

14.12

 

Guarantee

     179186  

14.13

 

Pro Forma Calculations

     185192  

14.14

 

Setoff

     187194  

14.15

 

No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies

     187194  

14.16

 

Interest Rate Limitation

     187194  

14.17

 

Survival of Representations and Warranties

     188195  

14.18

 

No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility

     188195  

14.19

 

Binding Effect

     188195  

14.20

 

Amendment and Restatement

     188195  

14.21

 

Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions

     189196  

14.22

 

Divisions

     196  

 

-iv-


INDEX

TO

EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES

 

Exhibit A    Form of Assignment and Acceptance
Exhibit B    Form of Compliance Certificate
Exhibit C    Form of Committed Loan Notice
Exhibit D    Form of Term Note
Exhibit E    Form of Security Agreement
Exhibit F    [Reserved]
Exhibit G    [Reserved]
Exhibit H-1    Form of United States Tax Compliance Certificate For Foreign Lenders That Are Not Treated As Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes
Exhibit H-2    Form of United States Tax Compliance Certificate For Foreign Lenders That Are Treated As Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes
Exhibit H-3    Form of United States Tax Compliance Certificate For Foreign Participants That Are Not Treated As Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes
Exhibit H-4    Form of United States Tax Compliance Certificate For Foreign Participants That Are Treated As Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes
Exhibit I    Form of Discounted Prepayment Option Notice
Exhibit J    Form of Lender Participation Notice
Exhibit K    Form of Discounted Voluntary Prepayment Notice
Exhibit L    Form of Affiliated Lender Assignment and Acceptance
Exhibit M    [Reserved]
Exhibit N-1    Form of ABL Intercreditor Agreement
Exhibit N-2    Form of Term Loan Intercreditor Agreement
Exhibit O    Form of Solvency Certificate
Exhibit P    Form of Escrow Agreement
Schedule I    Subsidiary Guarantors
Schedule 1.01    Commitments
Schedule 1.02    Accounting Period
Schedule 1.03    Real Estate Subsidiaries
Schedule 1.04    Unrestricted Subsidiaries
Schedule 1.05    Debt Refinancing
Schedule 8.1    Loan Parties
Schedule 8.4(b)(1)    Owned Real Estate
Schedule 8.4(b)(2)    Leased Real Estate
Schedule 8.6    Litigation
Schedule 8.8    Environmental Matters
Schedule 8.11    Intellectual Property
Schedule 8.12    Subsidiaries; Other Equity Investments
Schedule 8.13    Labor Matters
Schedule 8.15    Material Contracts
Schedule 8.23(a)    Deposit Accounts
Schedule 8.23(b)    Credit Card Agreements
Schedule 8.26    Defaults
Schedule 8.30    Participation Agreements
Schedule 9.6    Financial Reporting
Schedule 9.21    Post-Closing Matters
Schedule 10.1    Existing Liens

 

-v-


Schedule 10.2    Existing Investments
Schedule 10.3    Existing Indebtedness
Schedule 10.8    Transactions with Affiliates
Schedule 10.9    Certain Contractual Obligations
Schedule 10.14    Designation of Unrestricted Subsidiaries

 

-vi-


SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

This Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement dated as of August 25, 2014 and effective as of January 30, 2015 (as amended, amended and restated, modified or supplemented from time to time, this “Agreement”) is entered into by and among ALBERTSON’S LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Parent Borrower”), ALBERTSONS COMPANIES, INC. (“Holdings”), the parties hereto from time to time as Co-Borrowers, the other Guarantors party hereto, the parties hereto from time to time as lenders, whether by execution of this Agreement or an Assignment and Acceptance (each individually, a “Lender” and collectively, “Lenders” as hereinafter further defined) and CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, in its capacity as administrative agent and collateral agent (in such capacity, “Agent” as hereinafter further defined).

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS

WHEREAS, the Parent Borrower, Holdings, certain of the Lenders and Citibank, N.A., as agent for such lenders, are parties to the Existing Debt Facility (defined below) pursuant to which certain term loans have been made available to the Parent Borrower and the Parent Borrower has requested to amend and restate the Existing Debt Facility in its entirety;

WHEREAS, Parent Borrower and Guarantors have requested that Agent and Lenders enter into financing arrangements with Parent Borrower pursuant to which Lenders may make loans to Parent Borrower;

WHEREAS, each Lender is willing to agree severally and not jointly to make such loans to Parent Borrower on a pro rata basis according to such Lender’s Commitment as defined below on the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the other Financing Agreements and Agent is willing to act as agent for Lenders on the terms and conditions set forth herein;

WHEREAS, AB Acquisition, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“AB LLC”), Parent Borrower, Holdings, Saturn Acquisition Merger Sub, Inc., a newly formed, wholly owned subsidiary of Holdings (“Merger Sub”), and Safeway Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Safeway”) are parties to the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of March 6, 2014 (the “Safeway Merger Agreement”) pursuant to which Holdings will, directly or indirectly, acquire Safeway and its Subsidiaries (the “Safeway Acquisition”);

WHEREAS, Safeway will enter into the Membership Interest Purchase Agreement contemporaneously with the closing of the Safeway Acquisition, by and between NAI and Safeway (the “Eastern Division Sale Agreement”), pursuant to which Safeway will sell the assets, operations and real estate relating to the stores constituting the Eastern Division of Safeway (including the Equity Interests of NAI Saturn Eastern LLC, the Subsidiary of Safeway that owns such assets, the “Eastern Division Assets”) to NAI (the “Eastern Division Sale”).

WHEREAS, in connection therewith, it is intended that (a) the Sponsor will make the Equity Contribution; (b) the Parent Borrower and certain of its Affiliates will obtain Commitments in an initial aggregate principal amount of $6,000,000,000 pursuant to this Agreement; (c) the Parent Borrower and certain of its Affiliates will obtain an initial aggregate principal amount of $3,000,000,000 of loans pursuant to the ABL Credit Agreement (the “ABL Loans”); (d) Holdings and Merger Sub (to be merged with and into Safeway) will issue $1,625,000,000 of Senior Secured Notes due 2022 (the “Senior Secured Notes”) and (e) the proceeds of (i) the Equity Contribution, (ii) the proceeds of the Borrowings released from the Escrow Account, (iii) the ABL Loans, (iv) the Senior Secured Notes and (v) the Eastern Division Sale will be used to finance the Transactions.

 

-1-


WHEREAS, the Parent Borrower and the Escrow Agent entered into an Escrow Agreement, pursuant to which the proceeds of the Term B-3 Loans and the Term B-4 Loans were deposited in the Escrow Account on the Lender Funding Dates (as defined in Amendment No. 5);

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual conditions and agreements set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS

For purposes of this Agreement the following terms shall have the respective meanings given to them below:

2016-1 Term B-4 Borrowing” shall mean a borrowing consisting of 2016-1 Term B-4 Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, have the same Interest Period made by each of the 2016-1 Term B-4 Lenders pursuant to Section 2.1(b).

2016-1 Term B-4 Commitment” shall mean any Exchange 2016-1 Term B-4 Commitment or Additional 2016-1 Term B-4 Commitment, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.4 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to (i) assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance, (ii) an Incremental Amendment or (iii) an Extension Election.

2016-1 Term B-4 Lenders” shall mean, collectively, the Term Lenders with 2016-1 Term B-4 Commitments on the Amendment No. 1 (B-5) Effective Date.

2016-1 Term B-4 Loan” shall mean any Exchange 2016-1 Term B-4 Commitment or Additional 2016-1 Term B-4 Commitment.

2016-1 Term B-4 Maturity Date” shall mean August 25, 2021 or, if such date is not a Business Day, the first Business Day thereafter.

2016-1 Term B-4 Repricing Event” shall mean (i) any prepayment or repayment of 2016-1 Term B-4 Loans with the proceeds of, or any conversion of such 2016-1 Term B-4 Loans into, any new or replacement tranche of any new or additional term loans under the this Agreement that is broadly marketed or syndicated to banks and other institutional investors in similar financings (excluding indebtedness incurred in connection with a change of control or acquisition (or similar investment) not otherwise permitted under this Agreement) and bearing interest at an effective interest rate less than the effective “yield” applicable to the 2016-1 Term B-4 Loans then in effect, and excluding for the avoidance of doubt, any prepayment or repayment of the 2016-1 Term B-4 Loans made with cash on hand or the proceeds of any revolving loans under the ABL Facility and (ii) any amendment to this Agreement that reduces the effective applicable margin for the 2016-1 Term B-4 Loans.

2016-1 Term B-5 Borrowing” shall mean a borrowing consisting of 2016-1 Term B-5 Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, have the same Interest Period made by each of the 2016-1 Term B-5 Lenders pursuant to Section 2.1(c).

2016-1 Term B-5 Commitment” shall meansmean any Exchange 2016-1 Term B-5 Commitment or Additional 2016-1 Term B-5 Commitment, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.4 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to (i) assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance, (ii) an Incremental Amendment or (iii) an Extension Election.

 

-2-


2016-1 Term B-5 Lenders” shall mean, collectively, the Term Lenders with 2016-1 Term B-5 Commitments on the Amendment No. 1 (B-5) Effective Date.

2016-1 Term B-5 Loan” shall mean any Exchange 2016-1 Term B-5 Commitment or Additional 2016-1 Term B-5 Commitment.

2016-1 Term B-5 Maturity Date” shall mean December 21, 2022 or, if such date is not a Business Day, the first Business Day thereafter.

2016-1 Term B-5 Repricing Event” shall mean (i) any prepayment or repayment of 2016-1 Term B-5 Loans with the proceeds of, or any conversion of such 2016-1 Term B-5 Loans into, any new or replacement tranche of any new or additional term loans under the this Agreement that is broadly marketed or syndicated to banks and other institutional investors in similar financings (excluding indebtedness incurred in connection with a change of control or acquisition (or similar investment) not otherwise permitted under this Agreement) and bearing interest at an effective interest rate less than the effective “yield” applicable to the 2016-1 Term B-5 Loans then in effect, and excluding for the avoidance of doubt, any prepayment or repayment of the 2016-1 Term B-5 Loans made with cash on hand or the proceeds of any revolving loans under the ABL Facility and (ii) any amendment to this Agreement that reduces the effective applicable margin for the 2016-1 Term B-5 Loans.

2016-1 Term B-6 Borrowing” shall mean a borrowing consisting of 2016-1 Term B-6 Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, have the same Interest Period made by each of the 2016-1 Term B-6 Lenders pursuant to Section 2.1(g).

2016-1 Term B-6 Commitment” shall meansmean any Exchange 2016-1 Term B-6 Commitment or Additional 2016-1 Term B-6 Commitment, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.4 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to (i) assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance, (ii) an Incremental Amendment or (iii) an Extension Election.

2016-1 Term B-6 Lenders” shall mean, collectively, the Term Lenders with 2016-1 Term B-6 Commitments on the Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Effective Date.

2016-1 Term B-6 Loan” shall mean any Exchange 2016-1 Term B-6 Commitment or Additional 2016-1 Term B-6 Commitment.

2016-1 Term B-6 Maturity Date” shall mean June 22, 2023, or if such date is not a Business Day, the first Business Day thereafter.

2016-1 Term B-6 Repricing Event” shall mean (i) any prepayment or repayment of 2016-1 Term B-6 Loans with the proceeds of, or any conversion of such 2016-1 Term B-6 Loans into, any new or replacement tranche of any new or additional term loans under the this Agreement that is broadly marketed or syndicated to banks and other institutional investors in similar financings and bearing interest at an effective interest rate less than the effective “yield” applicable to the 2016-1 Term B-6 Loans then in effect, and excluding for the avoidance of doubt, any prepayment or repayment of the 2016-1 Term B-6 Loans made with cash on hand or the proceeds of any revolving loans under the ABL Facility and (ii) any amendment to this Agreement that reduces the effective applicable margin for the 2016-1 Term B-6 Loans (in each case in clauses (i) and (ii) other than in connection with a Change of Control, an initial public offering, or any acquisition or investment not otherwise permitted hereby).

 

-3-


2016-2 Term B-4 Borrowing” shall mean a borrowing consisting of 2016-2 Term B-4 Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, have the same Interest Period made by each of the 2016-2 Term B-4 Lenders pursuant to Section 2.1(e).

2016-2 Term B-4 Commitment” shall mean any Exchange 2016-2 Term B-4 Commitment or Additional 2016-2 Term B-4 Commitment, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.4 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to (i) assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance, (ii) an Incremental Amendment or (iii) an Extension Election.

2016-2 Term B-4 Lenders” shall mean, collectively, the Term Lenders with 2016-2 Term B-4 Commitments on the Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Effective Date.

2016-2 Term B-4 Loan” shall mean any Exchange 2016-2 Term B-4 Commitment or Additional 2016-2 Term B-4 Commitment.

2016-2 Term B-4 Maturity Date” shall mean August 25, 2021 or, if such date is not a Business Day, the first Business Day thereafter.

2016-2 Term B-4 Repricing Event” shall mean (i) any prepayment or repayment of 2016-2 Term B-4 Loans with the proceeds of, or any conversion of such 2016-2 Term B-4 Loans into, any new or replacement tranche of any new or additional term loans under the this Agreement that is broadly marketed or syndicated to banks and other institutional investors in similar financings and bearing interest at an effective interest rate less than the effective “yield” applicable to the 2016-2 Term B-4 Loans then in effect, and excluding for the avoidance of doubt, any prepayment or repayment of the 2016-2 Term B-4 Loans made with cash on hand or the proceeds of any revolving loans under the ABL Facility and (ii) any amendment to this Agreement that reduces the effective applicable margin for the 2016-2 Term B-4 Loans (in each case in clauses (i) and (ii) other than in connection with a Change of Control, an initial public offering, or any acquisition or investment not otherwise permitted hereby).

2016-2 Term B-5 Borrowing” shall mean a borrowing consisting of 2016-2 Term B-5 Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, have the same Interest Period made by each of the 2016-2 Term B-5 Lenders pursuant to Section 2.1(f).

2016-2 Term B-5 Commitment” shall meansmean any Exchange 2016-2 Term B-5 Commitment or Additional 2016-2 Term B-5 Commitment, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.4 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to (i) assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance, (ii) an Incremental Amendment or (iii) an Extension Election.

2016-2 Term B-5 Lenders” shall mean, collectively, the Term Lenders with 2016-2 Term B-5 Commitments on the Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Effective Date.

2016-2 Term B-5 Loan” shall mean any Exchange 2016-2 Term B-5 Commitment or Additional 2016-2 Term B-5 Commitment.

2016-2 Term B-5 Maturity Date” shall mean December 21, 2022 or, if such date is not a Business Day, the first Business Day thereafter.

 

-4-


2016-2 Term B-5 Repricing Event” shall mean (i) any prepayment or repayment of 2016-2 Term B-5 Loans with the proceeds of, or any conversion of such 2016-2 Term B-5 Loans into, any new or replacement tranche of any new or additional term loans under the this Agreement that is broadly marketed or syndicated to banks and other institutional investors in similar financings and bearing interest at an effective interest rate less than the effective “yield” applicable to the 2016-2 Term B-5 Loans then in effect, and excluding for the avoidance of doubt, any prepayment or repayment of the 2016-2 Term B-5 Loans made with cash on hand or the proceeds of any revolving loans under the ABL Facility and (ii) any amendment to this Agreement that reduces the effective applicable margin for the 2016-2 Term B-5 Loans (in each case in clauses (i) and (ii) other than in connection with a Change of Control, an initial public offering, or any acquisition or investment not otherwise permitted hereby).

2017-1 Term B-4 Borrowing” shall mean a borrowing consisting of 2017-1 Term B-4 Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, have the same Interest Period made by each of the 2017-1 Term B-4 Lenders pursuant to Section 2.1(h).

2017-1 Term B-4 Commitment” shall meansmean any Exchange 2017-1 Term B-4 Commitment or Additional 2017-1 Term B-4 Commitment, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.4 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to (i) assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance, (ii) an Incremental Amendment or (iii) an Extension Election.

2017-1 Term B-4 Lenders” shall mean, collectively, the Term Lenders with 2017-1 Term B-4 Commitments on the Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Effective Date.

2017-1 Term B-4 Loan” shall mean any Exchange 2017-1 Term B-4 Commitment or Additional 2017-1 Term B-4 Commitment.

2017-1 Term B-4 Maturity Date” shall mean August 25, 2021 or, if such date is not a Business Day, the first Business Day thereafter.

2017-1 Term B-4 Repricing Event” shall mean, other than in connection with a change of control or acquisition (or similar investment) not otherwise permitted under this Agreement, (i) any prepayment or repayment of 2017-1 Term B-4 Loans with the proceeds of, or any conversion of such 2017-1 Term B-4 Loans into, any new or replacement tranche of any new or additional term loans under this Agreement that is broadly marketed or syndicated to banks and other institutional investors in similar financings and bearing interest at an effective interest rate less than the effective “yield” applicable to the 2017-1 Term B-4 Loans then in effect, and excluding for the avoidance of doubt, any prepayment or repayment of the 2017-1 Term B-4 Loans made with cash on hand, the proceeds of any revolving loans under the ABL Facility or any loans incurred or assumed (or to be assumed) by one or more non-Guarantors and (ii) any amendment to this Agreement that reduces the effective applicable margin for the 2017-1 Term B-4 Loans.

2017-1 Term B-5 Borrowing” shall mean a borrowing consisting of 2017-1 Term B-5 Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, have the same Interest Period made by each of the 2017-1 Term B-5 Lenders pursuant to Section 2.1(i).

2017-1 Term B-5 Commitment” shall meansmean any Exchange 2017-1 Term B-5 Commitment or Additional 2017-1 Term B-5 Commitment, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.4 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to (i) assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance, (ii) an Incremental Amendment or (iii) an Extension Election.

 

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2017-1 Term B-5 Lenders” shall mean, collectively, the Term Lenders with 2017-1 Term B-5 Commitments on the Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Effective Date.

2017-1 Term B-5 Loan” shall mean any Exchange 2017-1 Term B-5 Commitment or Additional 2017-1 Term B-5 Commitment.

2017-1 Term B-5 Maturity Date” shall mean December 21, 2022 or, if such date is not a Business Day, the first Business Day thereafter.

2017-1 Term B-5 Repricing Event” shall mean, other than in connection with a change of control or acquisition (or similar investment) not otherwise permitted under this Agreement (i) any prepayment or repayment of 2017-1 Term B-5 Loans with the proceeds of, or any conversion of such 2017-1 Term B-5 Loans into, any new or replacement tranche of any new or additional term loans under the this Agreement that is broadly marketed or syndicated to banks and other institutional investors in similar financings and bearing interest at an effective interest rate less than the effective “yield” applicable to the 2017-1 Term B-5 Loans then in effect, and excluding for the avoidance of doubt, any prepayment or repayment of the 2017-1 Term B-5 Loans made with cash on hand, the proceeds of any revolving loans under the ABL Facility or any loans incurred or assumed (or to be assumed) by one or more non-Guarantors and (ii) any amendment to this Agreement that reduces the effective applicable margin for the 2017-1 Term B-5 Loans.

2017-1 Term B-6 Borrowing” shall mean a borrowing consisting of 2017-1 Term B-6 Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, have the same Interest Period made by each of the 2017-1 Term B-6 Lenders pursuant to Section 2.1(j).

2017-1 Term B-6 Commitment” shall meansmean any Exchange 2017-1 Term B-6 Commitment or Additional 2017-1 Term B-6 Commitment, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.4 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to (i) assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance, (ii) an Incremental Amendment or (iii) an Extension Election.

2017-1 Term B-6 Lenders” shall mean, collectively, the Term Lenders with 2017-1 Term B-6 Commitments on the Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Effective Date.

2017-1 Term B-6 Loan” shall mean any Exchange 2017-1 Term B-6 Commitment or Additional 2017-1 Term B-6 Commitment.

2017-1 Term B-6 Maturity Date” shall mean June 22, 2023 or, if such date is not a Business Day, the first Business Day thereafter.

2017-1 Term B-6 Repricing Event” shall mean, other than in connection with a change of control or acquisition (or similar investment) not otherwise permitted under this Agreement, (i) any prepayment or repayment of 2017-1 Term B-6 Loans with the proceeds of, or any conversion of such 2017-1 Term B-6 Loans into, any new or replacement tranche of any new or additional term loans under the this Agreement that is broadly marketed or syndicated to banks and other institutional investors in similar financings and bearing interest at an effective interest rate less than the effective “yield” applicable to the 2017-1 Term B-6 Loans then in effect, and excluding for the avoidance of doubt, any prepayment or repayment of the 2017-1 Term B-6 Loans made with cash on hand, the proceeds of any revolving loans under the ABL Facility or any loans incurred or assumed (or to be assumed) by one or more non-Guarantors and (ii) any amendment to this Agreement that reduces the effective applicable margin for the 2017-1 Term B-6 Loans.

 

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2018 Term B-7 Borrowing” shall mean a borrowing consisting of 2018 Term B-7 Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, have the same Interest Period made by each of the 2018 Term B-7 Lenders pursuant to Section 2.1(k).

2018 Term B-7 Commitment” shall meansmean any Exchange 2018 Term B-7 Commitment or Additional 2018 Term B-7 Commitment, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.4 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to (i) assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance, (ii) an Incremental Amendment or (iii) an Extension Election.

2018 Term B-7 Lenders” shall mean, collectively, the Term Lenders with 2018 Term B-7 Commitments on the Amendment No. 7 (2018) Effective Date.

2018 Term B-7 Loan” shall mean any Exchange 2018 Term B-7 Commitment or Additional 2018 Term B-7 Commitment.

2018 Term B-7 Maturity Date” shall mean November 17, 2025 or, if such date is not a Business Day, the first Business Day thereafter.

2018 Term B-7 Repricing Event” shall mean, other than in connection with (x) a change of control, (y) an acquisition (or similar investment) not otherwise permitted under this Agreement or (z) a Transformative Acquisition, (i) any prepayment or repayment of 2018 Term B-7 Loans with the proceeds of, or any conversion of such 2018 Term B-7 Loans into, any new or replacement tranche of any new or additional term loans under this Agreement that is broadly marketed or syndicated to banks and other institutional investors in similar financings and bearing interest at an effective interest rate less than the effective “yield” applicable to the 2018 Term B-7 Loans then in effect, and excluding for the avoidance of doubt, any prepayment or repayment of the 2018 Term B-7 Loans made with cash on hand, the proceeds of any revolving loans under the ABL Facility or any loans incurred or assumed (or to be assumed) by one or more non-Guarantors and (ii) any amendment to this Agreement that reduces the effective applicable margin for the 2018 Term B-7 Loans.

2019-1 Term B-7 Borrowing” shall mean a borrowing consisting of 2019-1 Term B-7 Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, have the same Interest Period made by each of the 2019-1 Term B-7 Lenders pursuant to Section 2.1(l).

2019-1 Term B-7 Commitment” shall mean any Exchange 2019-1 Term B-7 Commitment or Additional 2019-1 Term B-7 Commitment, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.4 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to (i) assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance, (ii) an Incremental Amendment or (iii) an Extension Election.

2019-1 Term B-7 Lenders” shall mean, collectively, the Term Lenders with 2019-1 Term B-7 Commitments on the Amendment No. 8 (2019) Effective Date.

2019-1 Term B-7 Loan” shall mean any Exchange 2019-1 Term B-7 Commitment or Additional 2019-1 Term B-7 Commitment.

2019-1 Term B-7 Maturity Date” shall mean November 17, 2025 or, if such date is not a Business Day, the first Business Day thereafter.

 

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2019-1 Term B-7 Repricing Event” shall mean, other than in connection with (x) a change of control, (y) an acquisition (or similar investment) not otherwise permitted under this Agreement or (z) a Transformative Acquisition, (i) any prepayment or repayment of 2019-1 Term B-7 Loans with the proceeds of, or any conversion of such 2019-1 Term B-7 Loans into, any new or replacement tranche of any new or additional term loans under this Agreement that is broadly marketed or syndicated to banks and other institutional investors in similar financings and bearing interest at an effective interest rate less than the effective “yield” applicable to the 2019-1 Term B-7 Loans then in effect, and excluding for the avoidance of doubt, any prepayment or repayment of the 2019-1 Term B-7 Loans made with cash on hand, the proceeds of any revolving loans under the ABL Facility or any loans incurred or assumed (or to be assumed) by one or more non-Guarantors and (ii) any amendment to this Agreement that reduces the effective applicable margin for the 2019-1 Term B-7 Loans.

2019 Term B-8 Borrowing” shall mean a borrowing consisting of 2019 Term B-8 Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, have the same Interest Period made by each of the 2019 Term B-8 Lenders pursuant to Section 2.1(m).

2019 Term B-8 Commitment” shall mean any Exchange 2019 Term B-8 Commitment or Additional 2019 Term B-8 Commitment, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.4 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to (i) assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance, (ii) an Incremental Amendment or (iii) an Extension Election.

2019 Term B-8 Lenders” shall mean, collectively, the Term Lenders with 2019 Term B-8 Commitments on the Amendment No. 8 (2019) Effective Date.

2019 Term B-8 Loan” shall mean any Exchange 2019 Term B-8 Commitment or Additional 2019 Term B-8 Commitment.

2019 Term B-8 Maturity Date” shall mean August 17, 2026 or, if such date is not a Business Day, the first Business Day thereafter.

2019 Term B-8 Repricing Event” shall mean, other than in connection with (x) a change of control, (y) an acquisition (or similar investment) not otherwise permitted under this Agreement or (z) a Transformative Acquisition, (i) any prepayment or repayment of 2019 Term B-8 Loans with the proceeds of, or any conversion of such 2019 Term B-8 Loans into, any new or replacement tranche of any new or additional term loans under this Agreement that is broadly marketed or syndicated to banks and other institutional investors in similar financings and bearing interest at an effective interest rate less than the effective “yield” applicable to the 2019 Term B-8 Loans then in effect, and excluding for the avoidance of doubt, any prepayment or repayment of the 2019 Term B-8 Loans made with cash on hand, the proceeds of any revolving loans under the ABL Facility or any loans incurred or assumed (or to be assumed) by one or more non-Guarantors and (ii) any amendment to this Agreement that reduces the effective applicable margin for the 2019 Term B-8 Loans.

AB LLC” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble hereto.

ABL Agent” shall mean Bank of America, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent and collateral agent under the ABL Facility Documentation, or any successor agent or under the ABL Facility Documentation.

 

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ABL Credit Agreement” shall mean the Credit Agreement, dated as of Original Closing Date,November 16, 2018, among the Parent Borrower, the other borrowers party thereto, the guarantors party thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as agent and the lenders and issuing banks from time to time party thereto, as such agreement may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time or refunded, refinanced, restructured, replaced, renewed, repaid, increased or extended from time to time.

ABL Facility” shall mean that credit facility made available to the Parent Borrower and certain of its Affiliates pursuant to the ABL Credit Agreement.

ABL Facility Documentation” shall mean the ABL Credit Agreement and all security agreements, guarantees, pledge agreements and other agreements or instruments executed in connection therewith, as the same may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time or refunded, refinanced, restructured, replaced, renewed, repaid, increased or extended from time to time.

ABL Facility Indebtedness” shall mean (i) Indebtedness of Holdings, the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary outstanding under the ABL Facility Documentation, (ii) any Swap Contract permitted pursuant to Article 10 hereof that is entered into by and between the Parent BorrowerHoldings or any Restricted Subsidiary and any Person that is a lender under the ABL Credit Agreement or an Affiliate of a lender under the ABL Credit Agreement at the time such Swap Contract is entered into and (iii) any agreement with respect to Cash Management Obligations permitted under Article 10 that is entered into by and between the Parent BorrowerHoldings or any Restricted Subsidiary and any Person that is a lender under the ABL Credit Agreement or an Affiliate of a lender under the ABL Credit Agreement at the time such agreement is entered into.

ABL Intercreditor Agreement” shall mean the intercreditor agreement dated the Original Closing Date, among the Agent, the ABL Agent, the Parent Borrower and the Guarantors, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit N-1, as amended as of the Escrow Release Date in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and as the same may be further amended, amended and restated, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.

ABL Loans” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble hereto.

Acceptable Price” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(c)(iii) hereto.

Acceptance Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(c)(ii) hereto.

Account” shall mean “accounts” as defined in the UCC, and also shall mean a right to payment of a monetary obligation, whether or not constituting “accounts” as defined in the UCC, whether or not earned by performance, (a) for property that, has been or is to be sold, leased, licensed, assigned, or otherwise disposed of, (b) for services rendered or to be rendered, or (c) arising out of the use of a credit or charge card or information contained on or for use with the card. The term “Account” includes Health-Care-Insurance Receivables (as defined in the UCC).

Accounting Period” shall mean, subject to Section 10.10, Holdings’ four (4) week accounting periods as set forth on Schedule 1.02 hereto.

ACH” shall mean automated clearing house transfers.

Acquisition” shall mean, with respect to any Person (a) a purchase of a Controlling interest in, the Equity Interests of any other Person, (b) a purchase or other acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets or properties of, another Person or of any business unit of another Person, (c) any merger or

 

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consolidation of such Person with any other Person or other transaction or series of transactions resulting in the acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets, or a Controlling interest in the Equity Interests, of any Person, or (d) any acquisition of any Store locations or other operating assets of any Person (other than Stores received in an exchange or acquired with the proceeds of a Disposition described in Section 10.5 (q)), in each case, for which the aggregate consideration payable in connection with such acquisition or group of transactions which are part of a common plan is $75,000,000 or more.

Additional 2016-1 Term B-4 Commitment” means, with respect to each Additional 2016-1 Term B-4 Lender, the obligation of such Additional 2016-1 Term B-4 Lender to make an Additional 2016-1 Term B-4 Loan on the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date, in the amount set forth on the Additional 2016-1 Term B-4 Lender Joinder Agreement. The aggregate amount of the Additional 2016-1 Term B-4 Commitments of all Additional 2016-1 Term B-4 Lenders on the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date shall equal to the outstanding principal amount of all Non-Exchanged Term B-4 Loans.

Additional 2016-1 Term B-4 Lender” means a Person with an Additional 2016-1 Term B-4 Commitment to make Additional 2016-1 Term B-4 Loans to the Borrowers on the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date, which for the avoidance of doubt may be an existing Lender.

Additional 2016-1 Term B-4 Lender Joinder Agreement” means the joinder agreement, dated as of the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date, between the Additional 2016-1 Term B-4 Lender, Holdings, the Borrowers and the Agent.

Additional 2016-1 Term B-4 Loan” means a 2016-1 Term B-4 Loan that is made pursuant to Section 2.1(b) on the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date.

Additional 2016-1 Term B-5 Commitment” means, with respect to each Additional 2016-1 Term B-5 Lender, the obligation of such Additional 2016-1 Term B-5 Lender to make an Additional 2016-1 Term B-5 Loan on the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date, in the amount set forth on the Additional 2016-1 Term B-5 Lender Joinder Agreement. The aggregate amount of the Additional 2016-1 Term B-5 Commitments of all Additional 2016-1 Term B-5 Lenders on the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date shall equal to the outstanding principal amount of all Non-Exchanged Term B-5 Loans.

Additional 2016-1 Term B-5 Lender” means a Person with an Additional 2016-1 Term B-5 Commitment to make Additional 2016-1 Term B-5 Loans to the Borrowers on the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date, which for the avoidance of doubt may be an existing Lender.

Additional 2016-1 Term B-5 Lender Joinder Agreement” means the joinder agreement, dated as of the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date, between the Additional 2016-1 Term B-5 Lender, Holdings, the Borrowers and the Agent.

Additional 2016-1 Term B-5 Loan” means a 2016-1 Term B-5 Loan that is made pursuant to Section 2.1(c) on the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date.

Additional 2016-1 Term B-6 Commitment” means, with respect to each Additional 2016-1 Term B-6 Lender, the obligation of such Additional 2016-1 Term B-6 Lender to make an Additional 2016-1 Term B-6 Loan on the Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Effective Date, in the amount set forth on the Additional 2016-1 Term B-6 Lender Joinder Agreement. The aggregate amount of the Additional 2016-1 Term B-6 Commitments of all Additional 2016-1 Term B-6 Lenders on the Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Effective Date shall equal to the outstanding principal amount of all Non-Exchanged Term B-6 Loans.

 

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Additional 2016-1 Term B-6 Lender” means a Person with an Additional 2016-1 Term B-6 Commitment to make Additional 2016-1 Term B-6 Loans to the Borrowers on the Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Effective Date, which for the avoidance of doubt may be an existing Lender.

Additional 2016-1 Term B-6 Lender Joinder Agreement” means the joinder agreement, dated as of the Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Effective Date, between the Additional 2016-1 Term B-6 Lender, Holdings, the Borrowers and the Agent.

Additional 2016-1 Term B-6 Loan” means a 2016-1 Term B-6 Loan that is made pursuant to Section 2.1(g) on the Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Effective Date.

Additional 2016-2 Term B-4 Commitment” means, with respect to each Additional 2016-2 Term B-4 Lender, the obligation of such Additional 2016-2 Term B-4 Lender to make an Additional 2016-2 Term B-4 Loan on the Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Effective Date, in the amount set forth on the Additional 2016-2 Term B-4 Lender Joinder Agreement. The aggregate amount of the Additional 2016-2 Term B-4 Commitments of all Additional 2016-2 Term B-4 Lenders on the Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Effective Date shall equal to the outstanding principal amount of all Non-Exchanged 2016-1 Term B-4 Loans.

Additional 2016-2 Term B-4 Lender” means a Person with an Additional 2016-2 Term B-4 Commitment to make Additional 2016-2 Term B-4 Loans to the Borrowers on the Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Effective Date, which for the avoidance of doubt may be an existing Lender.

Additional 2016-2 Term B-4 Lender Joinder Agreement” means the joinder agreement, dated as of the Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Effective Date, between the Additional 2016-2 Term B-4 Lender, Holdings, the Borrowers and the Agent.

Additional 2016-2 Term B-4 Loan” means a 2016-2 Term B-4 Loan that is made pursuant to Section 2.1(e) on the Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Effective Date.

Additional 2016-2 Term B-5 Commitment” means, with respect to each Additional 2016-2 Term B-5 Lender, the obligation of such Additional 2016-2 Term B-5 Lender to make an Additional 2016-2 Term B-5 Loan on the Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Effective Date, in the amount set forth on the Additional 2016-2 Term B-5 Lender Joinder Agreement. The aggregate amount of the Additional 2016-2 Term B-5 Commitments of all Additional 2016-2 Term B-5 Lenders on the Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Effective Date shall equal to the outstanding principal amount of all Non-Exchanged 2016-1 Term B-5 Loans.

Additional 2016-2 Term B-5 Lender” means a Person with an Additional 2016-2 Term B-5 Commitment to make Additional 2016-2 Term B-5 Loans to the Borrowers on the Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Effective Date, which for the avoidance of doubt may be an existing Lender.

Additional 2016-2 Term B-5 Lender Joinder Agreement” means the joinder agreement, dated as of the Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Effective Date, between the Additional 2016-2 Term B-5 Lender, Holdings, the Borrowers and the Agent.

Additional 2016-2 Term B-5 Loan” means a 2016-2 Term B-5 Loan that is made pursuant to Section 2.1(f) on the Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Effective Date.

 

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Additional 2017-1 Term B-4 Commitment” means, with respect to each Additional 2017-1 Term B-4 Lender, the obligation of such Additional 2017-1 Term B-4 Lender to make an Additional 2017-1 Term B-4 Loan on the Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Effective Date, in the amount set forth on the Additional 2017-1 Term B-4 Lender Joinder Agreement. The aggregate amount of the Additional 2017-1 Term B-4 Commitments of all Additional 2017-1 Term B-4 Lenders on the Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Effective Date shall equal to the outstanding principal amount of all Non-Exchanged 2016-2 Term B-4 Loans.

Additional 2017-1 Term B-4 Lender” means a Person with an Additional 2017-1 Term B-4 Commitment to make Additional 2017-1 Term B-4 Loans to the Borrowers on the Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Effective Date, which for the avoidance of doubt may be an existing Lender.

Additional 2017-1 Term B-4 Lender Joinder Agreement” means the joinder agreement, dated as of the Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Effective Date, between the Additional 2017-1 Term B-4 Lender, Holdings, the Borrowers and the Agent.

Additional 2017-1 Term B-4 Loan” means a 2017-1 Term B-4 Loan that is made pursuant to Section 2.1(h) on the Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Effective Date.

Additional 2017-1 Term B-5 Commitment” means, with respect to each Additional 2017-1 Term B-5 Lender, the obligation of such Additional 2017-1 Term B-5 Lender to make an Additional 2017-1 Term B-5 Loan on the Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Effective Date, in the amount set forth on the Additional 2017-1 Term B-5 Lender Joinder Agreement. The aggregate amount of the Additional 2017-1 Term B-5 Commitments of all Additional 2017-1 Term B-5 Lenders on the Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Effective Date shall equal to the outstanding principal amount of all Non-Exchanged 2016-2 Term B-5 Loans.

Additional 2017-1 Term B-5 Lender” means a Person with an Additional 2017-1 Term B-5 Commitment to make Additional 2017-1 Term B-5 Loans to the Borrowers on the Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Effective Date, which for the avoidance of doubt may be an existing Lender.

Additional 2017-1 Term B-5 Lender Joinder Agreement” means the joinder agreement, dated as of the Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Effective Date, between the Additional 2017-1 Term B-5 Lender, Holdings, the Borrowers and the Agent.

Additional 2017-1 Term B-5 Loan” means a 2017-1 Term B-5 Loan that is made pursuant to Section 2.1(i) on the Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Effective Date.

Additional 2017-1 Term B-6 Commitment” means, with respect to each Additional 2017-1 Term B-6 Lender, the obligation of such Additional 2017-1 Term B-6 Lender to make an Additional 2017-1 Term B-6 Loan on the Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Effective Date, in the amount set forth on the Additional 2017-1 Term B-6 Lender Joinder Agreement. The aggregate amount of the Additional 2017-1 Term B-6 Commitments of all Additional 2017-1 Term B-6 Lenders on the Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Effective Date shall equal to the outstanding principal amount of all Non-Exchanged 2016-1 Term B-6 Loans.

Additional 2017-1 Term B-6 Lender” means a Person with an Additional 2017-1 Term B-6 Commitment to make Additional 2017-1 Term B-6 Loans to the Borrowers on the Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Effective Date, which for the avoidance of doubt may be an existing Lender.

Additional 2017-1 Term B-6 Lender Joinder Agreement” means the joinder agreement, dated as of the Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Effective Date, between the Additional 2017-1 Term B-6 Lender, Holdings, the Borrowers and the Agent.

 

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Additional 2017-1 Term B-6 Loan” means a 2017-1 Term B-6 Loan that is made pursuant to Section 2.1(j) on the Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Effective Date.

Additional 2018 Term B-7 Commitment” means, with respect to each Additional 2018 Term B-7 Lender, the obligation of such Additional 2018 Term B-7 Lender to make an Additional 2018 Term B-7 Loan on the Amendment No. 7 (2018) Effective Date, in the amount set forth on the Additional 2018 Term B-7 Lender Joinder Agreement. The aggregate amount of the Additional 2018 Term B-7 Commitments of all Additional 2018 Term B-7 Lenders on the Amendment No. 7 (2018) Effective Date shall equal to the outstanding principal amount of all Non-Exchanged 2017-1 Term B-4 Loans.

Additional 2018 Term B-7 Lender” means a Person with an Additional 2018 Term B-7 Commitment to make Additional 2018 Term B-7 Loans to the Borrowers on the Amendment No. 7 (2018) Effective Date, which for the avoidance of doubt may be an existing Lender.

Additional 2018 Term B-7 Lender Joinder Agreement” means the joinder agreement, dated as of the Amendment No. 7 (2018) Effective Date, between the Additional 2018 Term B-7 Lender, Holdings, the Borrowers and the Agent.

Additional 2018 Term B-7 Loan” means a 2018 Term B-7 Loan that is made pursuant to Section 2.1(k) on the Amendment No. 7 (2018) Effective Date.

Additional 2019-1 Term B-7 Commitment” means, with respect to each Additional 2019-1 Term B-7 Lender, the obligation of such Additional 2019-1 Term B-7 Lender to make an Additional 2019-1 Term B-7 Loan on the Amendment No. 8 (2019) Effective Date, in the amount set forth on the Additional 2019-1 Term B-7 Lender Joinder Agreement. The aggregate amount of the Additional 2019-1 Term B-7 Commitments of all Additional 2019-1 Term B-7 Lenders on the Amendment No. 8 (2019) Effective Date shall equal to the outstanding principal amount of all Non-Exchanged 2018 Term B-7 Loans.

Additional 2019-1 Term B-7 Lender” means a Person with an Additional 2019-1 Term B-7 Commitment to make Additional 2019-1 Term B-7 Loans to the Borrowers on the Amendment No. 8 (2019) Effective Date, which for the avoidance of doubt may be an existing Lender.

Additional 2019-1 Term B-7 Lender Joinder Agreement” means the joinder agreement, dated as of the Amendment No. 8 (2019) Effective Date, between the Additional 2019-1 Term B-7 Lender, Holdings, the Borrowers and the Agent.

Additional 2019-1 Term B-7 Loan” means a 2019-1 Term B-7 Loan that is made pursuant to Section 2.1(l) on the Amendment No. 8 (2019) Effective Date.

Additional 2019 Term B-8 Commitment” means, with respect to each Additional 2019 Term B-8 Lender, the obligation of such Additional 2019 Term B-8 Lender to make an Additional 2019 Term B-8 Loan on the Amendment No. 8 (2019) Effective Date, in the amount set forth on the Additional 2019 Term B-8 Lender Joinder Agreement. The aggregate amount of the Additional 2019 Term B-8 Commitments of all Additional 2019 Term B-8 Lenders on the Amendment No. 8 (2019) Effective Date shall equal to the outstanding principal amount of all Non-Exchanged 2017-1 Term B-5 Loans and Non-Exchanged 2017-1 Term B-6 Loans.

Additional 2019 Term B-8 Lender” means a Person with an Additional 2019 Term B-8 Commitment to make Additional 2019 Term B-8 Loans to the Borrowers on the Amendment No. 8 (2019) Effective Date, which for the avoidance of doubt may be an existing Lender.

 

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Additional 2019 Term B-8 Lender Joinder Agreement” means the joinder agreement, dated as of the Amendment No. 8 (2019) Effective Date, between the Additional 2019 Term B-8 Lender, Holdings, the Borrowers and the Agent.

Additional 2019 Term B-8 Loan” means a 2019 Term B-8 Loan that is made pursuant to Section 2.1(m) on the Amendment No. 8 (2019) Effective Date.

Additional Refinancing Lender” shall mean, at any time, any bank, financial institution or other institutional lender or investor (other than any such bank, financial institution or other institutional lender or investor that is a Lender at such time) that agrees to provide any portion of Refinancing Term Loans pursuant to a Refinancing Amendment in accordance with Section 2.9, provided that each Additional Refinancing Lender shall be subject to the approval of (i) the Agent, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed, to the extent that such Additional Refinancing Lender is not then an Affiliate of a then existing Lender or an Approved Fund and (ii) the Parent Borrower.

Additional Term B-6 Commitment” means, with respect to each Additional Term B-6 Lender, the obligation of such Additional Term B-6 Lender to make an Additional Term B-6 Loan on the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date, in the amount set forth on the Additional Term B-6 Lender Joinder Agreement. The aggregate amount of the Additional Term B-6 Commitments of all Additional Term B-6 Lenders on the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date shall equal the sum of (i) the outstanding principal amount of Non-Exchanged Term B-2 Loans and (ii) the outstanding principal amount of Non-Exchanged Term B-3 Loans.

Additional Term B-6 Lender” means a Person with an Additional Term B-6 Commitment to make Additional Term B-6 Loans to the Borrowers on the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date, which for the avoidance of doubt may be an existing Lender.

Additional Term B-6 Lender Joinder Agreement” means the joinder agreement, dated as of the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date, between the Additional Term B-6 Lender, Holdings, the Borrowers and the Agent.

Additional Term B-6 Loan” means a Term B-6 Loan that is made pursuant to Section 2.1(d) on the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date.

Administrative Questionnaire” shall mean an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Agent.

Affiliate” shall mean, with respect to any Person, (a) another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified, (b) any director, officer, managing member, partner, trustee, or beneficiary of that Person, and (c) any Person which beneficially owns or holds ten percent (10%) or more of any class of Voting Stock of such Person; provided that it is understood that SVU shall not be deemed an Affiliate of any Loan Party solely due to the transactions contemplated by the Transition Services Agreement or other relationships, facts or circumstances existing on the Escrow Release Date (including, but not limited to, representation on the board of directors of SVU).

Affiliated Lender Assignment and Acceptance” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 14.7(h)(B) hereto.

 

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Agent” shall mean Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, in its capacity as administrative agent and collateral agent on behalf of Lenders pursuant to the terms hereof and any replacement or successor agent hereunder.

Agent Parties” shall mean the Agent, the Arrangers and each of their respective Related Parties.

Agent’s Office” shall mean the Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth in Section 14.3, or such other address or account as the Agent may from time to time notify to the Parent Borrower and the Lenders.

Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph hereto.

Albertson’s Credit Card” shall mean any private label credit card issued by any Loan Party to customers or prospective customers.

Albertson’s Group” shall mean, collectively, Holdings and its Subsidiaries (but excluding, for all purposes other than the financial statements, Unrestricted Subsidiaries).

Albertson’s Private Label Accounts” shall mean all Accounts (including rights to payment of finance charges, interest or fees) due to any Loan Party pursuant to an Albertson’s Credit Card and any revolving charge accounts maintained by any Loan Party for any of its retail customers.

Amendment No. 1” shall mean Amendment No. 1 to the Existing Debt Facility, dated as of May 9, 2013.

Amendment No. 1 (B-5)” shall mean Amendment No. 1 to this Agreement.

Amendment No. 1 (B-5) Effective Date” means the date on which Amendment No. 5 shall have become effective in accordance with its terms.

Amendment No. 1 Effective Date” shall mean the date on which Amendment No. 1 shall have become effective in accordance with its terms.

Amendment No. 4” means Amendment No. 4 to the Existing Debt Facility, dated as of May 5, 2014.

Amendment No. 4 (B-6)” means Amendment No. 4 to this Agreement, dated as of the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date.

Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Arrangers” means Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Barclays Bank PLC, Guggenheim Securities, LLC, RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc.

Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date” means June 22, 2016, the date on which all conditions precedent set forth in Section 4 of Amendment No. 4 (B-6) are satisfied.

Amendment No. 4 Effective Date” means the date on which Amendment No. 4 shall have become effective in accordance with its terms.

 

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Amendment No. 5” shall mean Amendment No. 5 to the Existing Debt Facility, dated as of the Restatement Effective Date, by and among Holdings, the Parent Borrower, the Guarantors, each of the lenders party thereto and Citibank, N.A.

Amendment No. 5 (2016-2)” means Amendment No. 5 to this Agreement, dated as of the Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Effective Date

Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Arrangers” means Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Barclays Bank PLC, MUFG Union Bank, N.A., RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc.

Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Effective Date” means December 23, 2016, the date on which all conditions precedent set forth in Section 3 of Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) are satisfied.

Amendment No. 6 (2017-1)” means Amendment No. 6 to this Agreement, dated as of the Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Effective Date.

Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Arrangers” means Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Barclays Bank PLC, MUFG Union Bank, N.A., Royal Bank of Canada, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc., U.S. Bank National Association and TD Securities (USA) LLC.

Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Effective Date” means June 27, 2017, the date on which all conditions precedent set forth in Section 3 of Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) are satisfied.

Amendment No. 7 (2018)” means Amendment No. 7 to this Agreement, dated as of the Amendment No. 7 (2018) Effective Date.

Amendment No. 7 (2018) Arrangers” means Credit Suisse Loan Funding LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Barclays Bank PLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, U.S. Bank National Association, MUFG Union Bank, N.A., Royal Bank of Canada, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. and TD Securities (USA) LLC.

Amendment No. 7 (2018) Effective Date” means November 16, 2018, the date on which all conditions precedent set forth in Section 3 of Amendment No. 7 (2018) are satisfied.

Amendment No. 8 (2019)” means Amendment No. 8 to this Agreement, dated as of the Amendment No. 8 (2019) Effective Date.

Amendment No. 8 (2019) Arrangers” means Credit Suisse Loan Funding LLC, BofA Securities, Inc. and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Barclays Bank PLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, U.S. Bank National Association, MUFG Union Bank, N.A., Royal Bank of Canada, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. and TD Securities (USA) LLC.

Amendment No. 8 (2019) Effective Date” means August 15, 2019, the date on which all conditions precedent set forth in Section 3 of Amendment No. 8 (2019) are satisfied.

 

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Applicable Discount” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(c)(iii) hereto.

Applicable Disposition Loan-to-Value Ratio” shall mean, as of any date of receipt of Net Proceeds from any Applicable Disposition, the ratio of (a) the aggregate principal amount of all Term Loans and other Indebtedness that is outstanding and secured by a Lien on the Pari Term Debt Priority Collateral (as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement) (ranking pari passu with the Lien thereon securing the Obligations) on such date to (b) the aggregate amount of the Valuations for each of the Mortgaged Properties that has been completed not earlier than 18 calendar months prior to such date.

Applicable Disposition Percentage” shall mean, as of the date of receipt of any Net Proceeds from any Applicable Disposition, (a) if the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recently ended four fiscal quarter period of Holdings for which financial statements have been delivered to the Agent pursuant to Section 9.5 is greater than or equal to 3.50:1.00, 100%, or (b) if the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recently ended four fiscal quarter period of Holdings for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 9.5 is less than 3.50:1.00 and (i) the Applicable Disposition Loan-to-Value Ratio as of such date is greater than 0.40:1.00, 100% or (ii) the Applicable Disposition Loan-to-Value Ratio as of such date is less than or equal to 0.40:1.00, 50%.

Applicable Dispositions” shall mean any Dispositions consummated after the Escrow Release Date, the Net Proceeds of which are required to be applied to prepay any Loans pursuant to Section 2.3(b)(ii)(1) hereto.

Applicable ECF Percentage” shall mean, for any Fiscal Year, (a) 75% if the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the applicable Excess Cash Flow Period is greater than 3.25:1.00, (b) 50% if the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the applicable Excess Cash Flow Period is less than or equal to 3.25:1.00 and greater than 2.75:1:00, (c) 25% if the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the applicable Excess Cash Flow Period is less than or equal to 2:75:1.00 and greater than 2.25:1:00 and (c) 0% if the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the applicable Excess Cash Flow Period is less than or equal to 2.25:1.00.

Applicable Margin” shall mean a percentage per annum equal to (a) (i) for Term B-2 Loans which are Eurodollar Rate Loans, 4.500%, (ii) for Term B-3 Loans which are Eurodollar Rate Loans, 4.125%, (iii) for Term B-4 Loans which are Eurodollar Loans, 4.500%, (iv) for the Term B-5 Loans that are Eurodollar Rate Loans, 4.50%, (v) for the 2016-1 Term B-4 Loans that are Eurodollar Rate Loans, 3.50%, (vi) for the 2016-2 Term B-4 Loans that are Eurodollar Rate Loans, 3.00%, (vii) for the 2017-1 Term B-4 Loans that are Eurodollar Rate Loans, 2.75%, (viii) for the 2016-1 Term B-5 Loans that are Eurodollar Rate Loans, 3.75%, (ix) for the 2016-2 Term B-5 Loans that are Eurodollar Rate Loans, 3.25%, (x) for the 2017-1 Term B-5 Loans that are Eurodollar Rate Loans, 3.00%, (xi) for the Term B-6 Loans that are Eurodollar Rate Loans, 3.75%, (xii) for the 2016-1 Term B-6 Loans that are Eurodollar Rate Loans, 3.25%, (xiii) for the 2017-1 Term B-6 Loans that are Eurodollar Rate Loans, 3.00%, (xiv) for the 2018 Term B-7 Loans that are Eurodollar Rate Loans, 3.00%, (xv) for the 2019-1 Term B-7 Loans that are Eurodollar Rate Loans, 2.75% and (xvi) for the 2019 Term B-8 Loans that are Eurodollar Rate Loans, 2.75%, and (b) (i) for Term B-2 Loans which are Base Rate Loans, 3.50 %, (ii) for Term B-3 Loans which are Base Rate Loans, 3.125%, (iii) for Term B-4 Loans which are Base Rate Loans, 3.50%, (iv) for Term B-5 Loans which are Base Rate Loans, 3.50%, (v) for the 2016-1 Term B-4 Loans that are Base Rate Loans, 2.50%, (vi) for the 2016-2 Term B-4 Loans that are Base Rate Loans, 2.00%, (vii) for the 2017-1 Term B-4 Loans that are Base Rate Loans, 1.75%, (viii) for the 2016-1 Term B-5 Loans that are Base Rate Loans, 2.75%, (ix) for the 2016-2 Term B-5 Loans that are Base Rate Loans, 2.25%, (x) for the 2017-1 Term B-5 Loans that are Base Rate Loans, 2.00%, (xi) for the Term B-6 Loans that are Base

 

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Rate Loans, 2.75%, (xii) for the 2016-1 Term B-6 Loans that are Base Rate Loans, 2.25%, (xiii) for the 2017-1 Term B-6 Loans that are Base Rate Loans, 2.00% and, (xiv) for the 2018 Term B-7 Loans that are Base Rate Loans, 2.00%, (xv) for the 2019-1 Term B-7 Loans that are Base Rate Loans, 1.75% and (xvi) for the 2019 Term B-8 Loans that are Base Rate Loans, 1.75%.

Appropriate Lender” shall mean, at any time, with respect to Loans of any Class, the Lenders of such Class.

Approved Broker” shall mean any firm nominated by the Parent Borrower and approved by the Agent.

Approved Fund” shall mean 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 any Fund that is a Lender.

Arrangers” shall mean, collectively, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., Barclays Bank PLC and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. in their capacities as joint lead arrangers and joint book managers. For purposes of Sections 12.5, 12.6, 13.7, 13.8, 13.14, 14.18 and 14.22, the reference to “Arrangers” shall include the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Arrangers and the Amendment No. 7 (20188 (2019) Arrangers.

Assignment and Acceptance” shall mean an Assignment and Acceptance substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (with blanks appropriately completed) delivered to Agent in connection with an assignment of Lender’s interest hereunder in accordance with the provisions of Section 14.7 hereof.

Attributable Indebtedness” shall mean, on any date, in respect of any CapitalFinance Lease of any Person, the capitalized amount thereof that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP.

Audited Financial Statements” shall mean the financial statements of Parent Borrower and Safeway delivered pursuant to Section 4.1(c) of the Existing Debt Facility.

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.

Bank Products” shall mean any services or facilities provided to any Loan Party by the Agent, any Arranger, any Lender, or any of their respective Affiliates (or any Person that was the Agent, an Arranger, a Lender, or an Affiliate of the Agent, an Arranger or a Lender, at the time it entered into such Bank Products or, with respect to Bank Products entered into prior to the Escrow Release Date, on the Escrow Release Date or in connection with the initial syndication of the Loans), including, without limitation, on account of (a) Swap Contracts and (b) purchase cards, but excluding Cash Management Services.

 

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Base Rate” shall mean the highest of (i) the Federal Funds Effective Rate plus 0.50%; provided that in no event shall the Base Rate be less than 1.00% plus the Eurodollar Rate applicable to one month Interest Periods on the date of determination of the Base Rate, (ii) the rate of interest determined by the Agent as its “prime rate,” as established from time to time at its New York office and notified to the Parent Borrower, subject to each increase or decrease in such prime rate, effective as of the day any such change occurs and (iii) the one-month Eurodollar Rate on each day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the preceding Business Day) plus 1.00% (after taking into account the Eurodollar Rate floor).

Base Rate Loans” shall mean any Loans or portion thereof on which interest is payable based on the Base Rate in accordance with the terms thereof.

Beneficial Ownership Certification” shall mean a certification regarding beneficial ownership required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, which certification shall be substantially similar in form and substance to the form of Certification Regarding Beneficial Owners of Legal Entity Customers published jointly, in May 2018, by the Loan Syndications and Trading Association and Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association.

Beneficial Ownership Regulation” shall mean 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.

Benefit Plan” shall mean 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 ERISA Section 3(42) 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”.

Borrower” shall mean the Parent Borrower or a Co-Borrower, as the context may require.

Borrowing” shall mean a borrowing consisting of Term Loans of the same Type and currency and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Term Lenders pursuant to Section 2.1.

Business Day” shall mean any day other than Saturday, Sunday, or other day on which commercial banks are authorized or required to close under the laws of, or are in fact closed in, the state where the Agent’s office is located, except that if determination of Business Day shall relate to any Eurodollar Rate Loans the term Business Day shall also exclude any day on which banks are closed for dealings in dollar deposits in the London interbank market or other applicable Eurodollar Rate market.

Capital Expenditures” shall mean without duplication and with respect to the Albertson’s Group for any period, all expenditures made (whether made in the form of cash or other property) or costs incurred for the acquisition or improvement of fixed or capital assets of the Albertson’s Group (excluding normal replacements and maintenance which are properly charged to current operations), in each case that are (or should be) set forth as capital expenditures in a Consolidated statement of cash flows of the Albertson’s Group for such period, in each case prepared in accordance with GAAP; provided that Capital Expenditures shall not include (i) expenditures by the Albertson’s Group in connection with the Safeway Acquisition and Permitted Acquisitions, (ii) any such expenditure made to restore, replace or rebuild property, to the extent such expenditure is made with (x) Net Proceeds from a Disposition or (y) insurance proceeds, condemnation awards or damage recovery proceeds relating to any such damage, loss, destruction or condemnation and (iii) any such expenditure funded or financed with the proceeds of Permitted Indebtedness (other than any revolving indebtedness).

 

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Capital Lease Obligation” shall mean, 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.

Capital Leases” shall mean, as applied to any Person, any lease of (or any agreement conveying the right to use) any property (whether real, personal or mixed) by such Person as lessee which in accordance with GAAP, is required to be reflected as liability on the balance sheet of such Person.

Captive Insurance Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings that is subject to regulation as an insurance company (or any Subsidiary thereof).

Casa Ley” shall mean Casa Ley, S.A. de C.V.

Cash Equivalents” shall mean:

(1) U.S. dollars, pounds sterling, euros, the national currency of any participating member state of the European Union or, in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary, such local currencies held by it from time to time in the ordinary course of business;

(2) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the government of the United States or any country that is a member of the European Union or any agency or instrumentality thereof in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition;

(3) certificates of deposit, time deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances, in each case with maturities not exceeding one year, and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $500,000,000, or the foreign currency equivalent thereof, and whose long-term debt is rated “A” or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s or S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency);

(4) repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2) and (3) above entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3) above;

(5) commercial paper issued by a corporation (other than an Affiliate of Holdings) rated at least “A-1” or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s or S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency) and in each case maturing within one year after the date of acquisition;

(6) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision thereof having one of the two highest rating categories obtainable from either Moody’s or S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency) in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition;

(7) Indebtedness issued by Persons (other than the Sponsor or any of its Affiliates) with a rating of “A” or higher from S&P or “A-2” or higher from Moody’s in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition; and

(8) investment funds investing at least 95% of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (1) through (7) above.

 

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Cash Management Obligations” shall mean obligations owed by Holdings, any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of any overdraft and related liabilities arising from treasury, depository and Cash Management Services.

Cash Management Services” shall mean any cash management services or facilities provided to any Loan Party by the Agent, any Arranger or any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates (or any Person that was an Agent, an Arranger, a Lender or an Affiliate of the Agent, an Arranger, or a Lender at the time it entered into Cash Management Services), including, without limitation: (a) ACH transactions, (b) controlled disbursement services, or treasury, depository, overdraft, and electronic funds transfer services, (c) foreign exchange facilities, (d) credit card processing services, and (e) credit or debit cards.

Casualty Event” shall mean any event that gives rise to the receipt by Holdings, any 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, restore or repair such equipment, fixed assets or real property.

CERCLA” shall mean the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. § 9601 et seq.

CERCLIS” shall mean the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Information System maintained by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

CFC” shall mean a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of Section 957 of the Code.

Change of Control” shall mean an event or series of events by which:

(a) any Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) including any group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of securities (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act), other than any Permitted Holder, acquires directly or indirectly, in a single transaction or in a related series of transactions, by way of merger, consolidation or other business combination or purchase of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the total voting power of the voting Equity Interests of Holdings; or

(b) the sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger, consolidation or other business combination transaction), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole to a Person, other than a Restricted Subsidiary or any Permitted Holder; or

(c) Holdings fails at any time to own, directly or indirectly, of record and beneficially, 100% of the Equity Interests of any Co-Borrower, free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens; provided that for purposes of this clause (c) a “Change of Control” shall not be deemed to have occurred if (i) either one or more Co-Borrowers consolidate with and into Holdings or (ii) any such Co-Borrower consolidates with and into another Co-Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

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Change of Control Purchase Offer” shall mean any offer to purchase the Existing Safeway Notes upon a “Change of Control Triggering Event” pursuant to the indenture and other documents governing the Existing Safeway Notes.

Class” (a) when used with respect to any Lender, shall refer to whether such Lender has a Loan or Commitment with respect to a particular Class of Loans or Commitments, (b) when used with respect to Commitments, refers to whether such Commitments are Term B-3 Commitments, Term B-4 Commitments, Term B-5 Commitments, 2016-1 Term B-4 Commitments, 2016-1 Term B-5 Commitments, Term B-6 Commitments, 2016-2 Term B-4 Commitments, 2016-2 Term B-5 Commitments, 2016-1 Term B-6 Commitments, 2017-1 Term B-4 Commitments, 2017-1 Term B-5 Commitments, 2017-1 Term B-6 Commitments, 2018 Term B-7 Commitments, 2019-1 Term B-7 Commitments, 2019 Term B-8 Commitments, Term Commitments, Other Term Loan Commitments or Refinancing Term Commitments of a given Refinancing Series and (c) when used with respect to Loans or a Borrowing, refers to whether such Loans, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing are Term B-2 Loans, Term B-3 Loans, Term B-4 Loans, Term B-5 Loans, 2016-1 Term B-4 Loans, 2016-1 Term B-5 Loans, Term B-6 Loans, 2016-2 Term B-4 Loans, 2016-2 Term B-5 Loans, 2016-1 Term B-6 Loans, 2017-1 Term B-4 Loans, 2017-1 Term B-5 Loans, 2017-1 Term B-6 Loans, 2018 Term B-7 Loans, 2019-1 Term B-7 Loans, 2019 Term B-8 Loans, Incremental Term Loans, Other Term Loans, Refinancing Term Loans of a given Refinancing Series or Extended Term Loans of a given Term Loan Extension Series. Term B-3 Commitments, Term B-4 Commitments, Term B-5 Commitments, 2016-1 Term B-4 Commitments, 2016-1 Term B-5 Commitments, Term B-6 Commitments, 2016-2 Term B-4 Commitments, 2016-2 Term B-5 Commitments, 2016-1 Term B-6 Commitments, 2017-1 Term B-4 Commitments, 2017-1 Term B-5 Commitments, 2017-1 Term B-6 Commitments, 2018 Term B-7 Commitments, 2019-1 Term B-7 Commitments, 2019 Term B-8 Commitments, Other Term Loan Commitments and Term Commitments (and in each case, the Loans made pursuant to such Commitments) that have different terms and conditions (including, without limitation, different maturity dates and/or interest rates) shall be construed to be in different Classes. Commitments (and, in each case, the Loans made pursuant to such Commitments) that have the same terms and conditions shall be construed to be in the same Class.

Co-Borrower” shall mean (a) New Albertsons L.P., Safeway Inc., United Supermarkets, L.L.C. and Spirit Acquisition Holdings LLC and (b) any wholly owned Domestic Subsidiary of Holdings that is a Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings and is designated by the Parent Borrower as a “Co-Borrower”; provided that such designation as a “Co-Borrower” is agreed upon in writing between the Parent BorrowerHoldings and the Agent.

Co-Documentation Agents” shall mean PNC Capital Markets LLC and SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. in their capacities as co-documentation agents.

Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Collateral” shall mean the “Collateral” as defined in the Security Agreement and all the “Collateral” or “Pledged Assets” or similar term as defined in any other Collateral Document and any other assets pledged pursuant to any Collateral Document.

Collateral and Guarantee Requirement” shall mean, at any time, the requirement that:

(a) the Agent shall have received each Collateral Document required to be delivered (i) on the Escrow Release Date, pursuant to Section 4.3 and (ii) at such time as may be designated therein, pursuant to the Collateral Documents, Section 9.8, Section 9.9 or Section 9.21, in each case, subject to the limitations and exceptions of this Agreement, duly executed by each Loan Party thereto;

 

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(b) all Obligations shall have been unconditionally guaranteed by each Guarantor, including those listed on Schedule I hereto on the Escrow Release Date; provided that, in addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, any Subsidiary of Holdings that is an obligor under any ABL Facility Indebtedness, any Junior Financing, Incremental Equivalent Debt, Permitted Unsecured Refinancing Debt, Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt, Permitted Junior Priority Refinancing Debt or any Permitted Refinancing of any thereof, shall be a Guarantor hereunder for so long as it is an obligor under such Indebtedness;

(c) on the Escrow Release Date (or with respect to Safeway and its Restricted Subsidiaries only, within 90 days after the Escrow Release Date (or such longer period as the Agent may agree in its sole discretion) with respect to Equity Interests where a security interest cannot be perfected by the filing of financing statements, delivery of the applicable certificated Equity Interests or notation on the books of the applicable issuer) the Obligations shall have been secured by a first-priority security interest in (i) all the Equity Interests of the Parent Borrower and each Co-Borrower, (ii) all Equity Interests of each Restricted Subsidiary that is not an Excluded Subsidiary and (iii) 65% of the voting Equity Interests and 100% of the nonvoting Equity Interests of each Restricted Subsidiary that is an Excluded Subsidiary described in clause (c) or (d) of the definition thereof directly owned by Parent Borrower, a Co-Borrower or any Guarantor, in each case, subject to exceptions and limitations otherwise set forth in this Agreement and the Collateral Documents (to the extent appropriate in the applicable jurisdiction);

(d) on the Escrow Release Date (or with respect to Safeway and its Restricted Subsidiaries only, within 90 days after the Escrow Release Date (or such longer period as the Agent may agree in its sole discretion) with respect to assets in which a security interest cannot be perfected by the filing of financing statements under the UCC or appropriate security agreements in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office) the Obligations shall have been secured by a perfected security interest in substantially all tangible and intangible personal property of the Loan Parties (including Equity Interests and intercompany debt, accounts, inventory, machinery and equipment, accounts receivable, chattel paper, insurance proceeds, hedge agreement documents, instruments, indemnification rights, Tax refunds, cash, investment property, contract rights, Intellectual Property in the United States, other general intangibles, and proceeds of the foregoing), in each case with the priority required by the Collateral Documents and in each case, subject to exceptions and limitations otherwise set forth in this Agreement and the Collateral Documents (to the extent appropriate in the applicable jurisdiction); and

(e) (1) within 180 days following the Original Closing Date (or such longer period as the Agent may have agreed in its sole discretion) the Agent shall have received, with respect to each Existing Mortgaged Property, to the extent customary and appropriate (as determined by the Agent in its reasonable discretion) in the applicable jurisdiction, each of the following with respect to each property noted as a mortgaged property on Schedule 7(a)(ii) to the Perfection Certificate dated as of the Original Closing Date, and (2) within 180 days after the Escrow Release Date (or such longer period as the Agent may have agreed in its sole discretion), the Agent shall have received each of the following with respect to each property noted as a mortgaged property on Schedule 7(a)(ii) to the Perfection Certificate dated as of the Escrow Release Date, as such Perfection Certificate may be supplemented in accordance with Section 9.21 and (3) otherwise in accordance with Section 9.8(c), the Agent shall receive with respect to

 

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each Material Real Property each of the following in each of the cases set forth in clauses (1), (2) and (3) of this clause (e), subject to the limitations and exceptions of this Agreement and the Collateral Documents: (i) counterparts of a Mortgage with respect to such Mortgaged Property duly executed and delivered by the record owner or leasehold holder of such property in form suitable for filing or recording in all filing or recording offices that the Agent may reasonably deem necessary in order to create a valid and subsisting perfected first-priority Lien (subject only to Permitted Liens and other exceptions reasonably acceptable to the Agent) on the Mortgaged Property and/or rights described therein in favor of the Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties and otherwise approved by the applicable local counsel for filing in the appropriate jurisdiction (which approval may be provided in the form of an electronic mail acknowledgment in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent), and evidence that all filing and recording taxes and fees have been paid or otherwise provided for in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Agent (it being understood that if a mortgage tax will be owed on the entire amount of the indebtedness evidenced hereby, then the amount secured by the Mortgage shall be limited to the Fair Market Value of the property at the time the Mortgage is entered into if such limitation results in such mortgage tax being calculated based upon such Fair Market Value), (ii) in the case of any such Mortgaged Property located in the United States or to the extent customary in the jurisdiction of where such Mortgaged Property is located, fully paid policies of title insurance (or marked-up title insurance commitments having the effect of policies of title insurance) on the Mortgaged Property naming the Agent as the insured for its benefit and that of the Secured Parties and respective successors and assigns (the “Mortgage Policies”) issued by a nationally recognized title insurance company selected by the Parent Borrower and reasonably acceptable to the Agent (it being agreed that Fidelity National Title Company and First American Title Insurance Company are acceptable to the Agent) in form and substance and in an amount reasonably acceptable to the Agent (not to exceed the Fair Market Value of the real properties covered thereby), insuring the Mortgages to be valid subsisting first-priority Liens on the property described therein, free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens and other Liens reasonably acceptable to the Agent, each of which shall (A) contain a “tie-in” or “cluster” endorsement, if available under applicable law (i.e., policies which insure against losses regardless of location or allocated value of the insured property up to a stated maximum coverage amount) and at commercially reasonable rates and (B) have been supplemented by such endorsements as shall be reasonably requested by the Agent if available in the jurisdiction in which the Mortgaged Property is located and if available on commercially reasonable terms; provided, however, the applicable Loan Party shall not be obligated to obtain a “creditor’s rights” or zoning endorsement; it being understood, however, that a “use verification” from the Planning & Zoning Resource Corporation will be provided in lieu thereof with respect to each Mortgaged Property in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Agent), (iii) customary, favorable opinions of counsel to the Loan Parties with respect to the valid existence, corporate power and authority of such Loan Parties with respect to the granting of the Mortgages, each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent (consistent with those required by Section 4.3(a)(xi)), (iv) (A) in the case of any such Mortgaged Property located in the United States having a Fair Market Value less than $15,000,000, either (i) such documentation required by the title insurance company or (ii) a survey or express map (or an existing survey or express map together with an “affidavit of no change”) of each Mortgaged Property, each sufficient in form to delete the standard survey exception in the title insurance policy insuring the Mortgage and provide the Agent with a “location” endorsement to such policy as shall be reasonably requested by the Agent to the extent customary in the jurisdiction where the Mortgaged Property is located and available at commercially reasonable rates and (B) in the case of any such Mortgaged Property located in the United States having a Fair Market Value equal to or in excess of $15,000,000, a survey or express map (or an existing survey or express map together with an “affidavit of no change”) of each Mortgaged Property, each sufficient in form to delete the

 

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standard survey exception in the title insurance policy and provide the Agent with endorsements to such policy as shall be reasonably requested by the Agent to the extent customary in the jurisdiction where the Mortgaged Property is located and available at commercially reasonable rates, (v) a completed “life of loan” Federal Emergency Management Agency Standard Flood Hazard Determination with respect to each Mortgaged Property (together with a notice about special flood hazard area status and flood disaster assistance duly executed by the Parent Borrower and each Loan Party relating thereto), duly executed and acknowledged by the appropriate Loan Parties, and (vi) in the case of any such Mortgaged Property located in the United States or to the extent customary in the jurisdiction of where such Mortgaged Property is located, a copy of a certificate as to coverage under the insurance policies required by Section 9.4, including, without limitation, flood insurance policies and the applicable provisions of the Collateral Documents, each of which shall be endorsed or otherwise amended to include a “Standard” or “New York” lender’s loss payable or mortgage endorsement (as applicable) and shall name the Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, as additional insured, and such other evidence of insurance related thereto, in each case, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent; and (vii) with respect to any ground leased properties, to the extent they are required by the applicable lease and can be obtained with commercially reasonable efforts, estoppel and consent agreements executed by each of the lessors of the ground leased Material Real Properties along with (1) a memorandum of lease in recordable form with respect to such leasehold interest, executed and acknowledged by the owner of the affected real property, as lessor, or (2) reasonable evidence that the applicable lease with respect to such leasehold interest or a memorandum thereof has been recorded in all places necessary or desirable, in the Agent’s reasonable judgment, to give constructive notice to third party purchasers of such leasehold interest, or (3) if such leasehold interest was acquired or subleased from the holder of a recorded leasehold interest, the applicable assignment or sublease document, executed and acknowledged by such holder, in each case in form sufficient to give such constructive notice upon recordation and otherwise in form satisfactory to the Agent;

provided, however, that the foregoing definition shall not require, and the Financing Agreements shall not contain, any requirements as to the creation or perfection of pledges of, security interests in, Mortgages on, or the obtaining of title insurance, surveys, abstracts or appraisals or taking other actions with respect to any Excluded Property and any real property that does not constitute Material Real Property.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this definition or anything in this Agreement or any other Financing Agreement to the contrary, the foregoing provisions of this definition shall not require the creation or perfection of pledges of or security interests in, or the delivery of Mortgages, obtaining of title insurance, legal opinions or other deliverables with respect to, particular assets of the Loan Parties, or the provision of Guarantees by any Restricted Subsidiary, if, and for so long as the Agent and the Parent Borrower reasonably agree in writing that the cost of creating or perfecting such pledges or security interests in such assets, or delivery of Mortgages, obtaining such title insurance, legal opinions or other deliverables in respect of such assets, or providing such Guarantees (taking into account any adverse tax consequences to Holdings and its Affiliates (including the imposition of withholding or other material taxes)), shall be excessive or commercially unreasonable in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Lenders therefrom.

The Agent may grant extensions of time for the perfection of security interests in, or the delivery of the Mortgages and the obtaining of title insurance and surveys with respect to, particular assets and the delivery of assets (including extensions beyond the Escrow Release 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 Parent 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.

 

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No actions in any non-U.S. jurisdiction or required by the Laws of any non-U.S. jurisdiction shall be required in order to create any security interests in assets located, titled, registered or filed outside of the U.S. or to perfect such security interests (it being understood that there shall be no security agreements or pledge agreements governed under the Laws of any non-U.S. jurisdiction).

Collateral Documents” shall mean, collectively, the Escrow Agreement, the Security Agreement, each of the Mortgages, the Intercreditor Agreements, collateral assignments, security agreements, pledge agreements, intellectual property security agreements or other similar agreements delivered to the Agent pursuant to Section 4.3, Section 9.8, Section 9.9 or Section 9.21, and each of the other agreements, instruments or documents that creates or purports to create a Lien in favor of the Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

Committed Loan Notice” shall mean a notice of (a) a Borrowing, (b) a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, pursuant to Section 2.1(a), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto.

Commitment” shall mean an Incremental Term Loan Commitment, Term B-3 Commitment, Term B-4 Commitment, Term B-5 Commitment, 2016-1 Term B-4 Commitment, 2016-2 Term B-4 Commitment, 2017-1 Term B-4 Commitment, 2016-1 Term B-5 Commitment, 2016-2 Term B-5 Commitment, 2017-1 Term B-5 Commitment, Term B-6 Commitment, 2016-1 Term B-6 Commitment, 2017-1 Term B-6 Commitment, 2018 Term B-7 Commitment, 2019-1 Term B-7 Commitment, 2019 Term B-8 Commitment, Term Commitment, Other Term Loan Commitment, Refinancing Term Commitment of a given Refinancing Series or Extended Term Loan of a given Term Loan Extension Series, as the context may require.

Company Material Adverse Effect” shall mean (with each capitalized term other than “Safeway Merger Agreement” in this definition being defined pursuant to its definition in the Safeway Merger Agreement) any change, event, occurrence, development, effect, condition, circumstance or matter that, individually or in the aggregate, (i) has materially and adversely affected the assets, properties, business, financial condition or results of operation of the Company and Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (ii) would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially impair or delay the performance by the Company prior to the Effective Time of its obligations to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Safeway Merger Agreement; provided, however, that any change, event, occurrence, development, effect, condition, circumstance or matter resulting from or relating to any of the following shall not be considered, or taken into account in determining whether there has been a Company Material Adverse Effect: (a) except as it relates to clause (ii) above, the pendency, negotiation, consummation or public announcement of the Merger, including the impact thereof on relationships, contractual or otherwise, with customers, suppliers, distributors, Governmental Entities or employees; (b) global or national economic, monetary or financial conditions, including changes or developments in credit markets (including changes in prevailing interest or exchange rates), financial or securities markets (including the disruption thereof and any decline in the price of any security or market index), or economic, business or regulatory conditions anywhere in the world; (c) national or international political or social conditions; (d) the commencement, continuation or escalation of a war, armed hostilities or other international or national emergency, calamity or act of terrorism or any weather-related or other force majeure event or natural disaster or act of God or other comparable events or the worsening thereof; (e) any change in applicable Laws, GAAP, applicable stock exchange listing requirements, accounting principles or in the interpretation or enforcement thereof, in each case, after the date of the Safeway Merger Agreement; (f) the industries in which the Company and the Company Subsidiaries operate; (g) any failure to meet any internal or external projections, forecasts, guidance, estimates, milestones, budgets or internal or published financial or operating predictions of revenue, earnings, cash flow or cash position (except that the underlying cause of any such failure may be considered and taken into account in

 

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determining whether there has been a Company Material Adverse Effect); (h) any action taken or not taken by the Company or the Company Subsidiaries pursuant to the Safeway Merger Agreement (except as it relates to clause (ii) above) or at Ultimate Parent’s written request; (i) the identity of, or any facts or circumstances relating to, the Parent Entities or their respective Subsidiaries or (j) any change, event, occurrence, development, effect, condition, circumstance or matter arising out of or relating to any action taken in compliance with Section 5.9 of the Safeway Merger Agreement; provided, that the incremental extent of any disproportionate change, event, occurrence, development, effect, condition, circumstance or matter described in clauses (b), (c), (d), (e) or (f) with respect to the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to other similarly situated Persons in the food and drug retail business may be considered and taken into account in determining whether there has been a Company Material Adverse Effect.

Compensation Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.6(c)(ii) hereto.

Compliance Certificate” shall mean a compliance certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto.

Consolidated” shall mean, when used to modify a financial term, test, statement, or report of a Person, the application or preparation of such term, test, statement or report (as applicable) based upon the consolidation, in accordance with GAAP, of the financial condition or operating results of such Person and its Subsidiaries.

Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Debt as of such date that is then secured by Liens on property or assets of the Albertson’s Group but excluding any such Indebtedness (other than obligations under the ABL Facility) in which the applicable Liens are expressly subordinated or junior to the Liens securing the Obligations, as of any date of determination to (b) EBITDA of the Albertson’s Group for the most recently ended Test Period on or prior to such date.

Consolidated Interest Expense” shall mean, for any Test Period, the sum of (a) all interest, premium payments, debt discount, fees, charges and related expenses in connection with borrowed money (including capitalized interest) or in connection with the deferred purchase price of assets, in each case to the extent treated as interest in accordance with GAAP, including, without limitation, all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and net costs under Swap Contracts, but excluding any non-cash or deferred interest or Swap Contract costs and (b) the portion of rent expense with respect to such period under CapitalFinance Lease Obligations that is treated as interest in accordance with GAAP, in each case of or by the Albertson’s Group for the most recently completed Test Period, all as determined on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Net Income” shall mean for any Test Period, the aggregate of the Net Income of the Albertson’s Group for such period, determined on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, that:

(1) any net after-tax extraordinary, nonrecurring or unusual gains or losses shall be excluded;

(2) the Net Income for such period shall not include the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles during such period;

 

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

(4) any net after-tax gains or losses (less all fees and expenses or charges relating thereto) attributable to the early extinguishment of indebtedness shall be excluded;

(5) the Net Income for such period of any Person that is not a Subsidiary of such Person, or is an Unrestricted Subsidiary, or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting, shall be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions or other payments paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) to the referent Person or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period;

(6) an amount equal to the maximum amount of tax distributions permitted to be made to the holders of Equity Interests of such Person or any parent company of such Person in respect of such period in accordance with Section 10.6(i) shall be included as though such amounts had been paid as income taxes directly by such Person for such period;

(7) (a) the non-cash portion of “straight-line” rent expense shall be excluded and (b) the cash portion of “straight-line” rent expense which exceeds the amount expensed in respect of such rent expense shall be included;

(8) unrealized gains and losses relating to hedging transactions and mark-to-market of Indebtedness denominated in foreign currencies resulting from the application of ASC 830 shall be excluded;

(9) the income (or loss) of any non-consolidated entity during such Test Period in which any other Person has a joint interest shall be excluded, except to the extent of the amount of cash dividends or other distributions actually paid in cash to any of Albertson’s Group during such period; and

(10) the income (or loss) of a Subsidiary during such Test Period and accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary of any of Albertson’s Group or is merged into or consolidated with any of Albertson’s Group or that Person’s assets are acquired by any of Albertson’s Group shall be excluded.

Consolidated Non-cash Charges” shall mean, with respect to Albertson’s Group for any period, the aggregate depreciation, amortization, impairment, compensation, rent and other non-cash expenses of such Person and its Subsidiaries reducing Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period on a consolidated basis and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP (including non-cash charges resulting from purchase accounting in connection with the Original Closing Transactions, the Transactions or with any Acquisition or Disposition that is consummated after the Original Closing Date), but excluding (i) any such charge which consists of or requires an accrual of, or cash reserve for, anticipated cash charges for any future period and (ii) the non-cash impact of recording the change in fair value of any embedded derivatives under ASC 815 and related interpretations as a result of the terms of any agreement or instrument to which such Consolidated Non-cash Charges relate.

Consolidated Taxes” shall mean, with respect to Albertson’s Group on a consolidated basis for any period, provision for taxes based on income, profits or capital, including, without limitation, state franchise and similar taxes and including, without duplication, an amount equal to the amount of tax distributions actually made to the holders of Equity Interests of such Person or any direct or indirect parent of such Person in respect of such period in accordance with Section 10.6(i), which shall be included as though such amounts had been paid as income taxes directly by such Person.

 

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Consolidated Total Debt” shall mean, as of any date of determination, (x) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness, including, without limitation, CapitalFinance Lease Obligations, of the Albertson’s Group outstanding on such date (with respect to the ABL Facility, the principal amount of Indebtedness of the Albertson’s Group outstanding on such date shall be based upon the amount drawn thereunder as of the applicable date of determination) minus (y) unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents of the Albertson’s Group of up to $500,000,000 in aggregate principal amount (including cash restricted in favor of the Lenders and/or the lenders under the ABL Facility); provided (the “Dollar Cap”); provided that with respect to any calculation of “Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio”, “Consolidated Total Secured Net Leverage Ratio” or “Total Leverage Ratio”, as applicable, in connection with any Investments made pursuant to Section 10.2(w), Restricted Payments made pursuant to Section 10.6(s) or prepayments of Junior Financings made pursuant to Section 10.11(a)(vi), the Dollar Cap stated in clause (y) shall be $750,000,000; provided, further, that Consolidated Total Debt shall not include Indebtedness in respect of letters of credit, except to the extent of unreimbursed amounts thereunder.

Consolidated Total Secured Net Leverage Ratio” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Debt as of such date that is then secured by Liens on property or assets of the Albertson’s Group as of any date of determination to (b) EBITDA of the Albertson’s Group for the most recently ended Test Period on or prior to such date.

Consolidated Working Capital” shall mean, with respect to the Albertson’s Group on a consolidated basis at any date of determination, Current Assets at such date of determination minus Current Liabilities at such date of determination; provided that, increases or decreases in Consolidated Working Capital shall be calculated without regard to any changes in Current Assets or Current Liabilities as a result of (a) any reclassification in accordance with GAAP of assets or liabilities, as applicable, between current and noncurrent or (b) the effects of purchase accounting.

Contractual Obligation” shall mean, as to any Person, any provision 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.

Contribution Indebtedness” means Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount not greater than the aggregate amount of cash contributions made to the capital of Holdings, the Borrowers or the Guarantors, provided that:

(1) such Contribution Indebtedness shall be Indebtedness with a stated maturity later than the stated maturity of the Term Loans at such time, and

(2) such Contribution Indebtedness (a) is incurred within 210 days after the making of such cash contributions and (b) is so designated as Contribution Indebtedness.

Control” shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.

Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness” shall mean (a) Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt, (b) Permitted Junior Priority Refinancing Debt or (c) Permitted Unsecured Refinancing Debt, in each case, issued, incurred or otherwise obtained (including by means of the extension or

 

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renewal of existing Indebtedness) in exchange for, or to extend, renew, replace, repurchase, retire or refinance, in whole or part, existing Term Loans, or any then-existing Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness (“Refinanced Debt”); provided that (i) such Indebtedness has a maturity no earlier, and a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater, than 91 days after the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Indebtedness is incurred, (ii) such Indebtedness shall not have a greater principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) than the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Refinanced Debt plus accrued interest, fees, premiums (if any) and penalties thereon and reasonable fees and expenses associated with the refinancing, (iii) the terms and conditions of such Indebtedness (except as otherwise provided in clause (ii) above and with respect to pricing, rate floors, discounts, premiums and optional prepayment or redemption terms) are substantially identical to, or (taken as a whole) are no more favorable to the lenders or holders providing such Indebtedness, than those applicable to the Refinanced Debt being refinanced (except for covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date at the time of incurrence of such Indebtedness) (provided that a certificate of a Responsible Officer delivered to the Agent at least five (5) Business Days prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, together with a reasonably detailed description of the material terms and conditions of such Indebtedness or drafts of the documentation relating thereto, stating that the Parent Borrower has determined in good faith that such terms and conditions satisfy the requirement of this clause (iii) shall be conclusive evidence that such terms and conditions satisfy such requirement unless the Agent notifies the Parent Borrower within such five (5) Business Day period that it disagrees with such determination (including a description of the basis upon which it disagrees)), and (iv) such Refinanced Debt shall be repaid, repurchased, retired, defeased or satisfied and discharged, and all accrued interest, fees, premiums (if any) and penalties in connection therewith shall be paid, on the date such Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness is issued, incurred or obtained.

Credit Card Issuer” shall mean any Person (other than a Loan Party) who issues or whose members issue credit cards or debit cards, including, without limitation, MasterCard or VISA bank credit or debit cards or other bank credit or debit cards issued through MasterCard International, Inc., Visa, U.S.A., Inc. or Visa International and American Express, Discover, Diners Club, Carte Blanche and other non-bank credit or debit cards, including, without limitation, credit or debit cards issued by or through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. or Discover Financial Services, Inc.

Credit Card Processor” shall mean any servicing or processing agent or any factor or financial intermediary who facilitates, services, processes or manages the credit authorization, billing transfer and/or payment procedures with respect to any Loan Party’s sales transactions involving credit card or debit card purchases by customers using credit cards or debit cards issued by any Credit Card Issuer.

Credit Suisse” shall mean Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch.

Cumulative Credit” shall mean, at any date, an amount, not less than zero in the aggregate, determined on a cumulative basis equal to, without duplication:

(a) 50% of Consolidated Net Income for the period (treated as one accounting period) beginning the first day of the fiscal quarter after May 31, 2016 to the end of the most recent Test Period; plus

(b) the cumulative amount of100% of the aggregate proceeds, including cash and Cash Equivalent proceedsEquivalents and the Fair Market Value of property other than cash, received from (i) the sale of Qualified Capital Stock of Holdings or of any direct or indirect parent of Holdings after the Escrow Release Date and on or prior to such time (including upon exercise of warrants or options) which proceeds have been contributed as common equity to the capital of Holdings and (ii) the Qualified Capital Stock of a Borrower (or of Holdings or of any direct or indirect parent of Holdings) issued upon

 

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conversion of Indebtedness incurred after the Escrow Release Date of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary owed to a Person other than Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary, in the case of each of subclause (i) and subclause (ii), not previously applied for a purpose other than use in the Cumulative Credit; plus

(c) 100% of the aggregate amount of contributions to the common capital of Holdings (other than from a Restricted Subsidiary) received in cash and Cash Equivalents and the Fair Market Value of property other than cash after the Escrow Closing Date; plus

(d) the Net Proceeds of the sale or other Disposition of any Unrestricted Subsidiary received by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary; plus;

(e) Investments of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in any Unrestricted Subsidiary that has been re-designated as a Restricted Subsidiary or that has been merged or consolidated with or into Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (up to the greater of (i) the Fair Market Value of the Investments of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries in such Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time of such re-designation or merger or consolidation and (ii) the Fair Market Value of the original Investment by Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Unrestricted Subsidiary); plus;

(f) to the extent not included in Consolidated Net Income, dividends or other distributions or returns on capital received from Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary from an Unrestricted Subsidiary; plus

(g) returns, profits, distributions and similar amounts received in cash orand Cash Equivalents and the Fair Market Value of property other than cash or from Permitted Investments by Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries made using the Cumulative Credit;(h) minus

(h) any amount of the Cumulative Credit used to make Restricted Payments pursuant to Section 10.6(f) after the Escrow Release Date and prior to such time.;

provided that the use of the Cumulative Credit shall be subject to compliance with a minimum Interest Coverage Ratio of at least 2.00 to 1.00, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis.

Cumulative Retained Disposition Amount” shall mean, at any date, an amount, not less than zero in the aggregate, determined on a cumulative basis equal to (a) the aggregate cumulative sum of the Retained Disposition Amounts with respect to all Applicable Dispositions after the Escrow Release Date and prior to such date minus (b) any amount of the Cumulative Retained Disposition Amount used to make Restricted Payments pursuant to Section 10.6(c) after the Escrow Release Date and prior to such date.

Cumulative Retained Excess Cash Flow Amount” shall mean, at any date, an amount, not less than zero in the aggregate, determined on a cumulative basis equal to the aggregate cumulative sum of the Retained Percentage of Excess Cash Flow for all Excess Cash Flow Periods ending after the Escrow Release Date and prior to such date.

Current Assets” shall mean, with respect to the Albertson’s Group on a consolidated basis at any date of determination, all assets (other than cash and Cash Equivalents) that would, in accordance with GAAP, be classified on a consolidated balance sheet of the Albertson’s Group as current assets at such date of determination, other than amounts related to current or deferred Taxes based on income or profits (but excluding assets held for sale, loans (permitted) to third parties, Pension Plan assets, deferred bank fees and derivative financial instruments).

 

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Current Liabilities” shall mean, with respect to the Albertson’s Group on a consolidated basis at any date of determination, all liabilities that would, in accordance with GAAP, be classified on a consolidated balance sheet of the Albertson’s Group as current liabilities at such date of determination, other than (a) the current portion of any Indebtedness, (b) the current portion of interest, (c) accruals for current or deferred Taxes based on income or profits, (d) accruals of any costs or expenses related to restructuring reserves and (e) deferred revenue.

DDA” shall mean each checking, savings or other demand deposit account maintained by any of the Loan Parties. All funds in each DDA shall be conclusively presumed to be Collateral and proceeds of Collateral and the Agent and the Lenders shall have no duty to inquire as to the source of the amounts on deposit in any DDA.

Debt Fund Affiliate” shall mean any Affiliate of any Sponsor that is primarily engaged in, or advises funds or other investment vehicles that are engaged in, making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans, bonds and similar extensions of credit or securities in the ordinary course.

Debt Refinancing” means all obligations under any Indebtedness of Safeway and its Subsidiaries other than Indebtedness set forth on Schedule 1.05 hereto shall have been repaid on the Escrow Release Date, and all Liens securing such indebtedness shall have been released.

Debtor Relief Laws” shall mean the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.

Default” shall mean an act condition or event which with notice or passage of time or both would constitute an Event of Default.

Designated Non-Cash Consideration” means the Fair Market Value of non-cash consideration received by a BorrowerHoldings or one 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 payment, redemption, retirement, sale or other disposition of such Designated Non-Cash Consideration. A particular item of Designated Non-Cash Consideration will no longer be considered to be outstanding when and to the extent it has been paid, redeemed or otherwise retired or sold or otherwise disposed of in compliance with Section 10.5.

Discount Range” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(c)(ii) hereto.

Discounted Prepayment Option Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(c)(ii) hereto.

Discounted Voluntary Prepayment” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(c)(i) hereto.

Discounted Voluntary Prepayment Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(c)(v) hereto.

Disposition” or “Dispose” shall mean the sale, transfer, assignment, exclusive license, lease or other disposition (including any sale and leaseback transaction or by division) (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) of any property by any Person, including (i) any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith and (ii) any sale, transfer, assignment, or other disposition of any Equity Interests of another Person, but, for the avoidance of doubt, not the issuance by such Person of its Equity Interests).

 

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Disqualified Stock” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any Equity Interests that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable, in each case at the option of the holder thereof), or upon the happening of any event:

(1) matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Equity Interests that do not constitute Disqualified Stock), pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise,

(2) is convertible or exchangeable for Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock at the option of the holder thereof, or

(3) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part,

in each case prior to 91 days after the Latest Maturity Date; provided, however, that only the portion of Equity Interests which so matures or is mandatorily redeemable, is so 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 Equity Interests is issued to any employee or to any plan for the benefit of employees of Holdings or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Equity Interests shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by Holdings in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s termination, resignation, death or disability; provided, further, that any class of Equity Interests of such Person that by its terms authorizes such Person to satisfy its obligations thereunder by delivery of Equity Interests that is not Disqualified Stock shall not be deemed to be Disqualified Stock. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any Equity Interest that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the holders thereof have the right to require Holdings or its Subsidiaries to repurchase such Equity Interest upon the occurrence of a change of control or an asset sale shall not constitute Disqualified Stock.

Divested Properties” shall mean the stores required to be divested, transferred or otherwise sold by the Albertson’s Group in connection with the Safeway Acquisition pursuant to an agreement with or order issued by the Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission or similar regulatory authority.

Dollar” and “$” shall mean lawful money of the United States.

Domestic Subsidiary” shall mean any Subsidiary of a BorrowerHoldings that is organized under the Laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

Earn-Out Obligations” shall mean, with respect to any Acquisition, all obligations of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof to make any cash earn-out payment, performance payment or similar obligation that is payable only in the event certain future performance goals are achieved with respect to the assets or business acquired pursuant to the documentation relating to such Acquisition, but excluding any working capital adjustments, indemnity obligations or payments for services or licenses provided by such sellers in such Acquisition.

Eastern Division Assets” shall have the meaning given to such term in the recitals to this Agreement.

Eastern Division Sale” shall mean the sale of the Eastern Division Assets to NAI pursuant to the Eastern Division Sale Agreement.

 

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Eastern Division Sale Agreement” shall have the meaning given to such term in the recitals to this Agreement.

EBITDA” shall mean at any date of determination, an amount equal to the Consolidated Net Income of Albertson’s Group for the most recently completed Test Period plus, without duplication, to the extent the same was deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income:

(1) Consolidated Taxes; plus

(2) Consolidated Interest Expense; plus

(3) Consolidated Non-cash Charges; plus

(4) the amount of management, monitoring, consulting and advisory fees and related expenses paid to the Sponsor (or any accruals relating to such fees and related expenses) during such period to the extent otherwise permitted under Section 10.8; plus

(5) the Original Closing Date Transaction Payments and the Escrow Release Date Transaction Payments; plus

(6) any expenses or charges (other than Consolidated Non-cash Charges) related to any issuance of Equity Interests, Investment, Acquisition, Disposition, recapitalization or the incurrence or repayment or amendment of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred hereunder (including a refinancing thereof) (whether or not successful or meeting the dollar amount thresholds specified herein), including (i) such fees, expenses or charges related to the issuance of the Term Loans or ABL Facility Indebtedness, (ii) any amendment or other modification of this Agreement or other Indebtedness, and (iii) commissions, discounts, yield or other fees and charges (including any interest expense) related to any Qualified Receivables Financing; plus

(7) the amount of loss on sale of receivables and related assets to a Receivables Subsidiary in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing; plus

(8) any costs or expense incurred pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or 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 Parent Borrower or SafewayHoldings or the net cash proceeds of an issuance of Equity Interests of the Parent Borrower or SafewayHoldings (other than Disqualified Stock); plus

(9) the amount of any minority interest expense consisting of income of a Subsidiary attributable to minority equity interests of third parties in any non-wholly owned Subsidiary deducted in such period in calculating Consolidated Net Income, net of any cash distributions made to such third parties in such period; plus

(10) the amount of “run-rate” cost savings, operating expense reductions, restructuring charges and expenses and cost-saving synergies projected by the BorrowerHoldings in good faith to be realized as a result of actions taken or expected to be taken during, or expected to be taken within 18 months of the end of, such period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as though such cost savings, operating expense reductions, restructuring charges and expenses and cost-saving 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 (1) such cost savings,

 

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operating expense reductions, restructuring charges and expenses and cost-saving synergies are reasonably identifiable and factually supportable, (2) no cost savings, operating expense reductions, restructuring charges and expenses and cost-saving synergies may be added pursuant to this clause (10) to the extent duplicative of any expenses or charges relating thereto that are either excluded in computing Consolidated Net Income or included (i.e., added back) in computing EBITDA for such period, (3) such adjustments may be incremental to (but not duplicative of) pro forma adjustments made pursuant to Section 14.13 and (4) the aggregate amount of cost savings, operating expense reductions, restructuring charges and expenses and cost saving synergies added pursuant to this clause (10) shall not exceed (A) 25.0% of EBITDA for such four-quarter period plus (B) the amount of any such cost savings, operating expense reductions, restructuring charges and expenses and cost-savings synergies that would be permitted to be included in financial statements prepared in accordance with Regulation S-X under the Securities Act during such four-quarter period; plus

(11) Public Company Costs; plus

(12) any unusual, non-recurring or extraordinary expenses, losses or charges;

less, without duplication, (i) non-cash income or gain increasing Consolidated Net Income for such period, excluding any such items to the extent they represent (1) the reversal in such period of an accrual of, or reserve for, potential cash expense in a prior period, (2) any non-cash gains with respect to cash actually received in a prior period to the extent such cash did not increase Consolidated Net Income in a prior period or (3) items representing ordinary course accruals of cash to be received in future periods; plus (ii) any net gain from discontinued operations or net gains from the disposal of discontinued operations to the extent increasing Consolidated Net Income.

In addition, to the extent not already included in the Consolidated Net Income of Albertson’s Group, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, EBITDA shall include the amount of net cash proceeds received by Albertson’s Group from business interruption insurance.

EEA Financial Institution” means (a) any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.

EEA Member Country” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

EEA Resolution Authority” means any public administrative authority or any person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.

Effective Yield” shall mean, as to any Loans of any Class, the effective yield on such Loans, taking into account the applicable interest rate margins, any interest rate floors or similar devices and all fees, including upfront or similar fees or original issue discount (amortized over the shorter of (x) the original stated life of such Loans and (y) the four years following the date of incurrence thereof) payable generally to Lenders making such Loans, but excluding any arrangement, structuring or other fees payable in connection therewith that are not generally shared ratably with all relevant Lenders and consent fees paid generally to consenting Lenders.

 

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Eligible Person” shall mean Holdings or any Borrower.

Eligible Transferee” shall mean (a) a Person that is a Lender, a U.S. based Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; (b) any other Person with the prior written consent of (i) the Agent (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld) and (ii) unless an Event of Default under Section 11.1(a)(i), 11.1(a)(ii), 11.1(g) or 11.1(h) exists, the Parent Borrower (such approval by the Parent Borrower, when required, not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed and to be deemed given by the Parent Borrower if no objection is received by the assigning Lender and Agent from the Parent Borrower within the earlier to occur of (x) three (3) Business Days after notice of such proposed assignment has been provided by the assigning Lender as set forth in Section 14.7 of this Agreement and acknowledged by the Parent Borrower or (y) five (5) Business Days after such notice has been provided to the Parent Borrower); provided that no consent of the Parent Borrower shall be required prior to the completion of primary syndication settlement of the Term B Loans; provided, further that no Person shall be an Eligible Transferee pursuant to this clause (b) if such Person is a direct competitor of any Loan Party identified in writing to the Agent by the Borrower prior to the effective time of the applicable assignment (unless at the time of assignment there is in process a liquidation of all or substantially all of the assets of the Parent Borrower, whether conducted by the Parent Borrower, Agent, a trustee for the Parent Borrower or a representative of creditors of the Parent Borrower), or is a Person identified as an ineligible transferee on a written list of such Persons that is delivered by the Parent Borrower to Agent prior to the Restatement Effective Date and (c) Sponsor, as provided in Section 14.7(h). Except as set forth in Section 2.3(c) and Section 14.7(h), no Loan Party shall be an Eligible Transferee. No natural person shall be an Eligible Transferee.

Environmental Laws” shall mean any and all applicable 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 the release of any materials into the environment, including those related to Hazardous Materials, air emissions and waste water discharges.

Environmental Liability” shall mean any liability, obligation, damage, loss, claim, action, suit, judgment, order, fine, penalty, fee, expense, or cost, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, natural resource damages, costs of environmental remediation, regulatory oversight fees, fines, penalties or indemnities), of any Loan Party or any of their respective Subsidiaries 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.

Equipment” shall have the meaning set forth in the UCC.

Equity Contribution” shall mean the new cash contributions (directly or indirectly) by the Sponsor to AB LLC, in an amount equal to $1,250,000,000 which will be contributed to Holdings as common and/or preferred equity of Holdings (provided that any such preferred equity shall be reasonably acceptable to the Arrangers).

Equity Interests” shall mean with respect to any Person, all of the shares of capital stock of (or other ownership interests in) such Person, all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of shares of capital stock of (or other ownership interests in) such Person, all of the securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other ownership interests in) such Person or warrants, rights or options for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of such shares (or such other ownership interests), and all of the other ownership or profit interests in such Person (including partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting.

 

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ERISA” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

ERISA Affiliate” shall mean any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control with Holdings within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code (and Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code for purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the Code).

ERISA Event” shall mean (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) a withdrawal by Holdings 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; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by a Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is insolvent or in reorganization (within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA); (d) 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; (e) an event or condition which constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (f) with respect to a Pension Plan, a failure to satisfy the minimum funding standard under Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, whether or not waived, a failure to make by its due date a required installment under Section 430(j) of the Code with respect to a Pension Plan or a failure to make a required contribution to a Multiemployer Plan; (g) a determination that a Pension Plan is, or is expected to be, in “at-risk” status (as defined in Section 430(i)(4) of the Code or Section 303(i)(4) of ERISA); or (h) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon a Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate.

Escrow Account” shall mean the escrow account established with the Escrow Agent pursuant to the Escrow Agreement.

Escrow Account Funds” shall mean all cash, securities and other property held in or credited to the Escrow Account.

Escrow Agent” shall mean Wilmington Trust, National Association.

Escrow Agreement” shall mean the Escrow Agreement dated as of the Restatement Effective Date among the Parent Borrower, the Agent and the Escrow Agent, substantially in the form of Exhibit P.

Escrow Collateral” shall mean “Collateral” as defined in the Escrow Agreement.

Escrow Release Date Transaction Payments” shall mean transaction closing fees in an aggregate amount of $35,000,000 payable contemporaneously with the Escrow Release Date to the Sponsor (directly, or indirectly through AB LLC) and to management of the Loan Parties.

Escrow Release Conditions” shall mean, collectively, the conditions set forth in Section 4.3.

Escrow Release Date” shall mean the date on which the conditions set forth in Section 4.3 are satisfied and the proceeds of the Term B-3 Loans and the Term B-4 Loans are released from the Escrow Account to the Parent Borrower.

 

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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.

Eurodollar Rate” (a) for any Interest Period with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the rate per annum equal to (i) the ICE Benchmark Administration LIBOR Raterate (“ICE LIBOR”), as published by Reuters (or such other commercially available source providing quotations of ICE LIBOR as may be designated by the Agent from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two London Banking Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, for Dollar deposits (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period or (ii) if such rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the “Eurodollar Rate” for such Interest Period shall be the rate per annum determined by the Agent to be the rate at which deposits in Dollars for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period in same day funds in the approximate amount of the Eurodollar Rate Loan being made, continued or converted by Credit Suisse and with a term equivalent to such Interest Period would be offered by Credit Suisse’s London Branch to major banks in the London interbank eurodollar market at their request at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period; and (b) for any interest calculation with respect to a Base Rate Loan on any date, the rate per annum equal to (i) ICE LIBOR, at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time determined on such date for Dollar deposits being delivered in the London interbank market for a term of one month commencing that day or (ii) if such published rate is not available at such time for any reason, the rate per annum determined by the Agent to be the rate at which deposits in Dollars for delivery on the date of determination in same day funds in the approximate amount of the Base Rate Loan being made or maintained and with a term equal to one month would be offered by Credit Suisse’s London Branch to major banks in the London interbank Eurodollar market at their request at the date and time of determination; provided, in each case, that Eurodollar Rate shall not be less than 0.75% per annum.

Eurodollar Rate Loans” shall mean any Loans or portion thereof on which interest is payable based on the Eurodollar Rate in accordance with the terms hereof.

Event of Default” shall mean the occurrence and continuation or existence of any event or condition described in Section 11.1 hereof after giving effect to the giving of any notice or any passage of time or both specified in such section with respect to such event or condition.

Excess Cash Flow” shall mean, for any period, an amount equal to:

(a) the sum, without duplication, of

(i) Consolidated Net Income for such period,

(ii) an amount equal to the amount of all Consolidated Non-cash Charges to the extent deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income,

(iii) decreases in Consolidated Working Capital of the Albertson’s Group for such period (other than any such decreases arising from acquisitions or dispositions by the Albertson’s Group completed during such period including, without limitation, as a result of the Transactions), and

(iv) an amount equal to the aggregate net non-cash loss on Dispositions by the Albertson’s Group during such period (other than sales in the ordinary course of business) to the extent deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income minus

 

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(b) the sum, without duplication, of

(i) an amount equal to the amount of all non-cash credits included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income and cash charges excluded pursuant to clauses (1) through (10) of the definition of “Consolidated Net Income,”

(ii) without duplication of amounts deducted pursuant to clause (xi) below in prior Fiscal Years, the amount of Capital Expenditures accrued or made in cash during such period, to the extent that such Capital Expenditures or acquisitions were financed with Internally Generated Cash,

(iii) the aggregate amount of all principal payments of Indebtedness of the Albertson’s Group (including (A) the principal component of payments in respect of CapitalFinance Leases and (B) the amount of any scheduled repayment of Loans pursuant to Section 2.2 and any mandatory prepayment of Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.3(b)(ii) to the extent required due to a Disposition that resulted in an increase to Consolidated Net Income and not in excess of the amount of such increase, but excluding (X) all other voluntary and mandatory prepayments of Loans and (Y) all payments in respect of the ABL Credit Agreement or any other revolving credit facility made during such period (except to the extent there is an equivalent permanent reduction in commitments thereunder), to the extent financed with Internally Generated Cash,

(iv) an amount equal to the aggregate net non-cash gain on Dispositions by the Albertson’s Group during such period (other than Dispositions in the ordinary course of business) to the extent included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income,

(v) increases in Consolidated Working Capital of the Albertson’s Group for such period (other than any such increases arising from acquisitions or dispositions by the Albertson’s Group during such period including, without limitation, as a result of the Transactions),

(vi) scheduled cash payments by the Albertson’s Group during such period in respect of long-term liabilities of the Albertson’s Group other than Indebtedness,

(vii) without duplication of amounts deducted pursuant to clause (xi) below in prior Fiscal Years, the amount of Investments and acquisitions made during such period by the Albertson’s Group pursuant to Section 10.2, and any expense for deferred compensation and bonuses, deferred purchase price or earn-out obligations paid in cash in connection with any such Investments or acquisitions, to the extent that such Investments and acquisitions were financed with Internally Generated Cash,

(viii) the amount of Restricted Payments paid during such period pursuant to Sections 10.6(e), 10.6(f)(x), 10.6(g) and 10.6(h) to the extent such Restricted Payments were financed with Internally Generated Cash,

(ix) the aggregate amount of expenditures actually made by the Albertson’s Group with Internally Generated Cash during such period (including expenditures for the payment of financing fees) to the extent that such expenditures are not expensed during such period,

 

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(x) the aggregate amount of any premium, make-whole or penalty payments actually paid in cash by the Albertson’s Group during such period that are required to be made in connection with any prepayment of Indebtedness,

(xi) without duplication of amounts deducted from Excess Cash Flow in prior periods, the aggregate consideration including related fees and expenses required to be paid in cash by the Albertson’s Group pursuant to binding contracts or executed letters of intent (the “Contract Consideration”) entered into prior to or during such period relating to acquisitions and Investments permitted pursuant to Section 10.2, Permitted Acquisitions or Capital Expenditures or acquisitions of intellectual property to be consummated or made to the extent not expensed, plus any restructuring cash expenses, pension payments or tax contingency payments that have been added to Excess Cash Flow pursuant to clause (a)(ii) above required to be made, in each case during the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of Holdings following the end of such period; provided that to the extent the aggregate amount of Internally Generated Cash actually utilized to finance such acquisitions, Investments, Permitted Acquisitions, Capital Expenditures or acquisitions of Intellectual Property during such period of four consecutive fiscal quarters is less than the Contract Consideration, the amount of such shortfall shall be added to the calculation of Excess Cash Flow at the end of such period of four consecutive fiscal quarters,

(xii) the amount of cash taxes paid in such period to the extent they exceed the amount of tax expense deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period and any cash taxes to be paid within six months after the close of such Excess Cash Flow Period, (xiii) cash expenditures in respect of Swap Contracts during such Fiscal Year to the extent not deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income and

(xiii) any payment of cash to be amortized or expensed over a future period and recorded as a long-term asset.

Notwithstanding anything in the definition of any term used in the definition of “Excess Cash Flow” to the contrary, all components of Excess Cash Flow shall be computed for the Albertson’s Group on a consolidated basis.

Excess Cash Flow Period” shall mean each Fiscal Year of Holdings commencing with and including the Fiscal Year ending February 26, 2015 (but in the case of the Fiscal Year ending February 26, 2015, the period starting on the first day of the first full Quarterly Accounting Period commencing after the Escrow Release Date and ending February 26, 2015).

Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Exchange 2016-1 Term B-4 Commitment” means, with respect to a 2016-1 Term B-4 Lender, the agreement of such 2016-1 Term B-4 Lender to exchange the entire principal amount of its 2016-1 Term B-4 Loans (or such lesser amount allocated to it by the Administrative Agent) for an equal principal amount of Exchange 2016-2 Term B-4 Loans on the Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Effective Date.

Exchange 2016-1 Term B-4 Lender” means a 2016-1 Term B-4 Lender with an Exchange 2016-1 Term B-4 Commitment to exchange 2016-1 Term B-4 Loans into Exchange 2016-2 Term B-4 Loans on the Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Effective Date.

 

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Exchange 2016-1 Term B-4 Loan” means a Loan that is deemed made pursuant to Section 2.1(b).

Exchange 2016-1 Term B-5 Commitment” means, with respect to a 2016-1 Term B-5 Lender, the agreement of such 2016-1 Term B-5 Lender to exchange the entire principal amount of its 2016-1 Term B-5 Loans (or such lesser amount allocated to it by the Administrative Agent) for an equal principal amount of Exchange 2016-2 Term B-5 Loans on the Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Effective Date.

Exchange 2016-1 Term B-5 Lender” means a 2016-1 Term B-5 Lender with an Exchange 2016-1 Term B-5 Commitment to exchange 2016-1 Term B-5 Loans into Exchange 2016-2 Term B-5 Loans on the Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Effective Date.

Exchange 2016-1 Term B-5 Loan” means a Loan that is deemed made pursuant to Section 2.1(c).

Exchange 2016-1 Term B-6 Commitment” means, with respect to a 2016-1 Term B-6 Lender, the agreement of such 2016-1 Term B-6 Lender to exchange the entire principal amount of its 2016-1 Term B-6 Loans (or such lesser amount allocated to it by the Administrative Agent) for an equal principal amount of Exchange 2017-1 Term B-6 Loans on the Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Effective Date.

Exchange 2016-1 Term B-6 Lender” means a 2016-1 Term B-6 Lender with an Exchange 2016-1 Term B-6 Commitment to exchange 2016-1 Term B-6 Loans into Exchange 2017-1 Term B-6 Loans on the Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Effective Date.

Exchange 2016-1 Term B-6 Loan” means a Loan that is deemed made pursuant to Section 2.1(g).

Exchange 2016-2 Term B-4 Commitment” means, with respect to a 2016-2 Term B-4 Lender, the agreement of such 2016-2 Term B-4 Lender to exchange the entire principal amount of its 2016-2 Term B-4 Loans (or such lesser amount allocated to it by the Administrative Agent) for an equal principal amount of Exchange 2017-1 Term B-4 Loans on the Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Effective Date.

Exchange 2016-2 Term B-4 Lender” means a 2016-2 Term B-4 Lender with an Exchange 2016-2 Term B-4 Commitment to exchange 2016-2 Term B-4 Loans into Exchange 2017-1 Term B-4 Loans on the Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Effective Date.

Exchange 2016-2 Term B-4 Loan” means a Loan that is deemed made pursuant to Section 2.1(e).

Exchange 2016-2 Term B-5 Commitment” means, with respect to a 2016-2 Term B-5 Lender, the agreement of such 2016-2 Term B-5 Lender to exchange the entire principal amount of its 2016-2 Term B-5 Loans (or such lesser amount allocated to it by the Administrative Agent) for an equal principal amount of Exchange 2017-1 Term B-5 Loans on the Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Effective Date.

Exchange 2016-2 Term B-5 Lender” means a 2016-2 Term B-5 Lender with an Exchange 2016-2 Term B-5 Commitment to exchange 2016-2 Term B-5 Loans into Exchange 2017-1 Term B-5 Loans on the Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Effective Date.

Exchange 2016-2 Term B-5 Loan” means a Loan that is deemed made pursuant to Section 2.1(f).

 

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Exchange 2017-1 Term B-4 Commitment” means, with respect to a 2017-1 Term B-4 Lender, the agreement of such 2017-1 Term B-4 Lender to exchange the entire principal amount of its 2017-1 Term B-4 Loans (or such lesser amount allocated to it by the Administrative Agent) for an equal principal amount of Exchange 2018 Term B-7 Loans on the Amendment No. 7 (2018) Effective Date.

Exchange 2017-1 Term B-4 Lender” means a 2017-1 Term B-4 Lender with an Exchange 2017-1 Term B-4 Commitment to exchange 2017-1 Term B-4 Loans into Exchange 2018 Term B-7 Loans on the Amendment No. 7 (2018) Effective Date.

Exchange 2017-1 Term B-4 Loan” means a Loan that is deemed made pursuant to Section 2.1(h).

Exchange 2017-1 Term B-5 Commitment” means, with respect to a 2017-1 Term B-5 Lender, the agreement of such 2017-1 Term B-5 Lender to exchange the entire principal amount of its 2017-1 Term B-5 Loans (or such lesser amount allocated to it by the Administrative Agent) for an equal principal amount of Exchange 2019 Term B-8 Loans on the Amendment No. 8 (2019) Effective Date.

Exchange 2017-1 Term B-5 Lender” means a 2017-1 Term B-5 Lender with an Exchange 2017-1 Term B-5 Commitment to exchange 2017-1 Term B-5 Loans into Exchange 2019 Term B-8 Loans on the Amendment No. 8 (2019) Effective Date.

Exchange 2017-1 Term B-5 Loan” means a Loan that is deemed made pursuant to Section 2.1(i).

Exchange 2017-1 Term B-6 Commitment” means, with respect to a 2017-1 Term B-6 Lender, the agreement of such 2017-1 Term B-6 Lender to exchange the entire principal amount of its 2017-1 Term B-6 Loans (or such lesser amount allocated to it by the Administrative Agent) for an equal principal amount of Exchange 2019 Term B-8 Loans on the Amendment No. 8 (2019) Effective Date.

Exchange 2017-1 Term B-6 Lender” means a 2017-1 Term B-6 Lender with an Exchange 2017-1 Term B-6 Commitment to exchange 2017-1 Term B-6 Loans into Exchange 2019 Term B-8 Loans on the Amendment No. 8 (2019) Effective Date.

Exchange 2017-1 Term B-6 Loan” means a Loan that is deemed made pursuant to Section 2.1(j).

Exchange 2018 Term B-7 Commitment” means, with respect to a 2018 Term B-7 Lender, the agreement of such 2018 Term B-7 Lender to exchange the entire principal amount of its 2018 Term B-7 Loans (or such lesser amount allocated to it by the Administrative Agent) for an equal principal amount of Exchange 2019-1 Term B-7 Loans on the Amendment No. 8 (2019) Effective Date.

Exchange 2018 Term B-7 Lender” means a 2018 Term B-7 Lender with an Exchange 2018 Term B-7 Commitment to exchange 2018 Term B-7 Loans into Exchange 2019-1 Term B-7 Loans on the Amendment No. 8 (2019) Effective Date.

Exchange 2018 Term B-7 Loan” means a Loan that is deemed made pursuant to Section 2.1(k).

Exchange 2019-1 Term B-2/B-3 Commitment7 Loan” means a Loan that is deemed made pursuant to Section 2.1(l).

 

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Exchange 2019 Term B-8 Loan” means a Loan that is deemed made pursuant to Section 2.1(m).

Exchange Term B-2/B-3 Commitment” means, with respect to a Term B-2 Lender or a Term B-3 Lender, the agreement of such Term B-2 Lender or Term B-3 Lender to exchange the entire principal amount of its Term B-2 Loans and/or or Term B-3 Loans (or, in each case, such lesser amount allocated to it by the Administrative Agent) for an equal principal amount of Exchange Term B-6 Loans on the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date.

Exchange Term B-2 Lender” means a Term B-2 Lender with an Exchange Term B-2/B-3 Commitment to exchange its Term B-2 Loans into Exchange Term B-6 Loans on the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date.

Exchange Term B-3 Lender” means a Term B-3 Lender with an Exchange Term B-2/B-3 Commitment to exchange Term B-3 Loans into Exchange Term B-6 Loans on the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date.

Exchange Term B-4 Commitment” means, with respect to a Term B-4 Lender, the agreement of such Term B-4 Lender to exchange the entire principal amount of its Term B-4 Loans (or such lesser amount allocated to it by the Administrative Agent) for an equal principal amount of Exchange 2016-1 Term B-4 Loans on the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date.

Exchange Term B-4 Lender” means a Term B-4 Lender with an Exchange Term B-4 Commitment to exchange Term B-4 Loans into Exchange 2016-1 Term B-4 Loans on the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date.

Exchange Term B-5 Commitment” means, with respect to a Term B-5 Lender, the agreement of such Term B-5 Lender to exchange the entire principal amount of its Term B-5 Loans (or such lesser amount allocated to it by the Administrative Agent) for an equal principal amount of Exchange 2016-1 Term B-5 Loans on the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date.

Exchange Term B-5 Lender” means a Term B-5 Lender with an Exchange Term B-5 Commitment to exchange Term B-5 Loans into Exchange 2016-1 Term B-5 Loans on the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date.

Exchange Term B-6 Commitment” means, with respect to a Term B-6 Lender, the agreement of such Term B-6 Lender to exchange the entire principal amount of its Term B-6 Loans (or such lesser amount allocated to it by the Administrative Agent) for an equal principal amount of Exchange 2016-1 Term B-6 Loans on the Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Effective Date.

Exchange Term B-6 Lender” means a Term B-6 Lender with an Exchange Term B-6 Commitment to exchange Term B-6 Loans into Exchange 2016-1 Term B-6 Loans on the Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Effective Date.

Exchange Term B-6 Loan” means a Loan that is deemed made pursuant to Section 2.1(d).

Exchanged 2016-1 Term B-4 Loan” means each 2016-1 Term B-4 Loan as to which the Lender thereof has consented to exchange into an Exchange 2016-2 Term B-4 Loan and the Administrative Agent has allocated into an Exchange 2016-2 Term B-4 Loan.

 

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Exchanged 2016-1 Term B-5 Loan” means each Term 2016-1 B-5 Loan as to which the Lender thereof has consented to exchange into an Exchange 2016-2 Term B-5 Loan and the Administrative Agent has allocated into an Exchange 2016-2 Term B-5 Loan.

Exchanged 2016-1 Term B-6 Loan” means each 2016-1 Term B-6 Loan as to which the Lender thereof has consented to exchange into an Exchange 2017-1 Term B-6 Loan and the Administrative Agent has allocated into an Exchange 2017-1 Term B-6 Loan.

Exchanged 2016-2 Term B-4 Loan” means each 2016-2 Term B-4 Loan as to which the Lender thereof has consented to exchange into an Exchange 2017-1 Term B-4 Loan and the Administrative Agent has allocated into an Exchange 2017-1 Term B-4 Loan.

Exchanged 2016-2 Term B-5 Loan” means each 2016-2 Term B-5 Loan as to which the Lender thereof has consented to exchange into an Exchange 2017-1 Term B-5 Loan and the Administrative Agent has allocated into an Exchange 2017-1 Term B-5 Loan.

Exchanged 2017-1 Term B-4 Loan” means each 2017-1 Term B-4 Loan as to which the Lender thereof has consented to exchange into an Exchange 2018 Term B-7 Loan and the Administrative Agent has allocated into an Exchange 2018 Term B-7 Loan.

Exchanged 2017-1 Term B-5 Loan” means each 2017-1 Term B-5 Loan as to which the Lender thereof has consented to exchange into an Exchange 2019 Term B-8 Loan and the Administrative Agent has allocated into an Exchange 2019 Term B-8 Loan.

Exchanged 2017-1 Term B-6 Loan” means each 2017-1 Term B-6 Loan as to which the Lender thereof has consented to exchange into an Exchange 2019 Term B-8 Loan and the Administrative Agent has allocated into an Exchange 2019 Term B-8 Loan.

Exchanged 2018 Term B-7 Loan” means each 2018 Term B-7 Loan as to which the Lender thereof has consented to exchange into an Exchange 2019-1 Term B-7 Loan and the Administrative Agent has allocated into an Exchange 2019-1 Term B-7 Loan.

Exchanged Term B-2 Loan” means each Term B-2 Loan as to which the Lender thereof has consented to exchange into an Exchange Term B-6 Loan and the Administrative Agent has allocated into an Exchange Term B-6 Loan.

Exchanged Term B-3 Loan” means each Term B-3 Loan as to which the Lender thereof has consented to exchange into an Exchange Term B-6 Loan and the Administrative Agent has allocated into an Exchange Term B-6 Loan.

Exchanged Term B-4 Loan” means each Term B-4 Loan as to which the Lender thereof has consented to exchange into an Exchange 2016-1 Term B-4 Loan and the Administrative Agent has allocated into an Exchange 2016-1 Term B-4 Loan.

Exchanged Term B-5 Loan” means each Term B-5 Loan as to which the Lender thereof has consented to exchange into an Exchange 2016-1 Term B-5 Loan and the Administrative Agent has allocated into an Exchange 2016-1 Term B-5 Loan.

Exchanged Term B-6 Loan” means each Term B-6 Loan as to which the Lender thereof has consented to exchange into an Exchange 2016-1 Term B-6 Loan and the Administrative Agent has allocated into an Exchange 2016-1 Term B-6 Loan.

 

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Excluded Contributions” means the net cash proceeds, property or assets received by Holdings or its Restricted Subsidiaries from: (1) contributions to its common equity capital, and (2) the issuance or sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings or to Holdings or Restricted Subsidiary management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement) of Equity Interests of Holdings.

Excluded Property” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Security Agreement.

Excluded Subsidiary” shall mean (a) any Immaterial Subsidiary, (b) any Subsidiary acquired following the Original Closing Date that is prohibited from guaranteeing the Obligations by applicable Law or Contractual Obligations that are in existence at the time of acquisition and not entered into in contemplation thereof or if guaranteeing the Obligation would require governmental (including regulatory) consent, approval, license or authorization (unless such consent, approval license or authorization has been obtained), (c) any Foreign Subsidiary, (d) any Domestic Subsidiary that is treated as a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes and that has no material assets other than the stock of one or more Foreign Subsidiaries that are CFCs, (e) any Domestic Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary, (f) any non-for-profit Subsidiaries, (g) any Unrestricted Subsidiaries, (h) any special purpose securitization vehicle (or similar entity), including any Receivables Subsidiary, (i) any Real Estate Financing Loan Party, (j) at Parent Borrower’sHoldings’ election, any Domestic Subsidiary that is not a wholly owned Subsidiary of Holdings, (k) any Captive Insurance Subsidiary, and (l) any other Subsidiary with respect to which, in the reasonable judgment of the Agent and the Parent BorrowerHoldings, the burden or cost (including any adverse tax consequences) of providing the guarantee shall outweigh the benefits to be obtained by the Lenders therefrom; provided that no Subsidiary that guarantees the ABL Credit Agreement, Permitted Ratio Debt, Incremental Equivalent Debt, Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness or any other Junior Financing shall be deemed to be an Excluded Subsidiary at any time any such guarantee is in effect; provided further that in no event shall any Co-Borrower be an Excluded Subsidiary.

Excluded Swap Obligation” shall mean, 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 to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder (determined after giving any “keepwell, support or other agreement” for the benefit of such Guarantor and any and all guarantees of such Guarantor’s Swap Obligations by other Loan Parties) at the time such guarantee or grant of a security interest by such Guarantor becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation. If a Swap Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to swaps for which such guarantee or security interest is or becomes excluded in accordance with the first sentence of this definition.

Excluded Taxes” shall mean, with respect to any Agent, any Lender, or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party hereunder or under any other Financing Agreement, (a) taxes imposed on or measured by such recipient’s net income (however denominated), franchise taxes and branch profits taxes, in each case imposed by a jurisdiction as a result of such recipient being organized or having its principal office located in or, in the case of any Lender, having its applicable Lending Office located in, such jurisdiction or as a result of any other present or former connection between such recipient and such jurisdiction (other than a 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

 

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to, and/or enforced, any Financing Agreements, or sold or assigned any interest in any Loan or Financing Agreement), (b) in the case of a Lender (other than any Lender becoming a party hereto pursuant to a request by any Loan Party under Section 6.2), any U.S. federal withholding tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such Lender pursuant to a law in effect at the time such Lender becomes a party hereto (or designates a new Lending Office), except to the extent that such Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, immediately prior to the designation of a new Lending Office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from the Loan Parties with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to Section 6.1, (c) any taxes attributable to a Lender’s failure to comply with Section 6.1(d), and (d) any U.S. federal withholding taxes imposed under FATCA.

Executive Order” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.20.

Existing Debt Facility” shall mean the Term Loan Agreement, dated as of March 21, 2013, by and among the Parent Borrower, Holdings, the guarantors party thereto, the lenders party thereto and Citibank, N.A., as agent, as amended, restated, amended and restated or otherwise modified before the Escrow Release Date.

Existing Mortgaged Property” shall mean eachthose certain Mortgaged PropertyProperties encumbered by a Mortgage as of the date hereofMortgages on the Original Closing Date.

Existing NALP Notes” shall mean, to the extent not otherwise retired, repaid, redeemed, discharged or defeased, NALP’s 6.52% to 7.15% Medium-Term Notes due July 2027—July 2028, 7.75% Debentures due June 2026, 7.45% Senior Debentures due August 2029, 8.70% Senior Debentures due May 2030 and 8.00% Senior Debentures due May 2031.

Existing Safeway Debentures” shall mean, to the extent not otherwise retired, repaid, redeemed, discharged or defeased, Safeway’s 7.45% Debentures due 2027 and 7.25% Debentures due 2031.

Existing Safeway Notes” shall mean, to the extent not otherwise retired, repaid, redeemed, discharged or defeased, Safeway’s 5.00% Senior Notes due 2019, 3.95% Notes due 2020, 4.75% Senior Notes due 2021 and not more than $80,000,000 in principal amount of Safeway’s 3.40% Senior Notes due 2016 and not more than $100,000,000 in principal amount of Safeway’s 6.35% Senior Notes due 2017.

Existing Term Loan Tranche” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(a) hereto.

Existing Term Loans” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(a) hereto.

Extended Term Loan” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(a) hereto.

Extending Term Lender” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(b) hereto.

Extension Amendment” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(c) hereto.

Extension Election” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(b) hereto.

Facility” shall mean the Term B-2 Loans, the Term B-3 Loans, the Term B-4 Loans, the Term B-5 Loans, the 2016-1 Term B-4 Loans, the 2016-2 Term B-4 Loans, the 2017-1 Term B-4 Loans, the 2016-1 Term B-5 Loans, the 2016-2 Term B-5 Loans, 2017-1 Term B-5 Loans, the Term B-6 Loans, the 2016-1 Term B-6 Loans, 2017-1 Term B-6 Loans, 2018 Term B-7 Loans, 2019-1 Term B-7 Loans, 2019 Term B-8 Loans, a given Refinancing Series of Refinancing Term Loans, a given Term Loan Extension Series of Extended Term Loans or a given Class of Incremental Term Loans, as the context may require.

 

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Fair Market Value” shall mean, with respect to any asset or property, the price which could be negotiated in an arm’s-length, free market transaction, for cash, between a willing seller and a willing and able buyer, neither of whom is under undue pressure or compulsion to complete the transaction as determined by the Parent BorrowerHoldings in its good faith discretion. Fair Market Value may be (but need not be) conclusively established by means of an officer’s certificate or resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Parent BorrowerHoldings setting out such Fair Market Value as determined by such Officer or such Board of Directors in good faith.

Farm Products” shall mean crops, livestock, supplies used or produced in a farming operation and products of crops or livestock and including farm products as such term is defined in the Food Security Act and the UCC.

FATCA” shall mean Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code as in effect on the Original Closing Date (and as amended or successor version thereof that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future United States Treasury Department regulations or other official administrative interpretations thereof, any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b) of the current Code (or any amended or successor version described above) and any intergovernmental agreements (and any related laws or official administrative guidance) implementing the foregoing.

Federal Funds Effective Rate” shall mean on any day, the rate per annum (rounded upward, if necessary, to the next higher 1/100th of 1%) equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by federal funds brokers on such day, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day, provided that (i) if the day for which such rate is to be determined is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Effective Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next succeeding Business Day, and (ii) if such rate is not so published for any day, the Federal Funds Effective Rate for such day shall be the average rate charged to Credit Suisse on such day on such transactions, as determined in good faith by Credit Suisse.

Fee Letter” shall mean the second amended and restated Fee Letter agreement, dated April 3, 2014, as amended on April 24, 2014, by and among Holdings, the Arrangers, the Co-Documentation Agents, Bank of America, N.A., Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank AG Cayman Islands Branch, Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, PNC Bank National Association, U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc., U.S. Bank National Association and SunTrust Bank.

Finance Lease Obligation” shall mean, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a Finance 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.

Finance Leases” shall mean, as applied to any Person, any lease of (or any agreement conveying the right to use) any property (whether real, personal or mixed) by such Person as lessee which in accordance with GAAP, is required to be reflected as a finance lease on the balance sheet of such Person.

Financing Agreements” shall mean, collectively, this Agreement, the Collateral Documents, and all notes, guarantees, security agreements, deposit account control agreements, investment property control agreements, other intercreditor agreements and all other agreements, documents and instruments now or at any time hereafter executed and/or delivered by any Loan Party in connection with this Agreement.

 

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Fiscal Intermediary” shall mean any qualified insurance company or other Person that has entered into an ongoing relationship with any Governmental Authority to make payments to payees under Medicare, Medicaid or any other federal, state or local public health care or medical assistance program pursuant to any of the Health Care Laws.

Fiscal Month” shall mean any four (4) week Accounting Period of Holdings.

Fiscal Year” shall mean, subject to Section 10.10, any period of 13 consecutive Accounting Periods ending on or about the Thursday closest Saturday to the last day of February 28th (or February 29th, as the case may be) of each calendar year.

Fixtures” shall have the meaning set forth in the UCC.

Flood Insurance Laws” means, collectively, (i) the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, (ii) the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, (iii) the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994, (iv) the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004, (v) the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 and (vi) the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014, as now or hereafter in effect, or, in each case, any successor statute thereto.

Food Security Act” shall mean the Food Security Act of 1985, 7 U.S.C. Section 1631 et. seq., as the same now exists or may hereafter from time to time be amended, modified, recodified or supplemented, together with all rules and regulations thereunder.

Foreign Assets Control Regulations” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.20 hereto.

Foreign Lender” shall mean any Lender that is not a “United States person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

Foreign Subsidiary” shall mean any Subsidiary of a BorrowerHoldings which is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

FRB” shall mean the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.

Fund” shall mean any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans, bonds and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business.

Funding Bank” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(a) hereof.

GAAP” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied.

 

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Governmental Authority” shall mean any nation or government, any state, county, provincial, municipal, local or other political subdivision thereof, any central bank (or similar monetary or regulatory authority) thereof, and any agency, authority or instrumentality (including any bilateral or multilateral agency authority or instrumentality formed by treaty) exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory, administrative, military, peacekeeping or police powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

Granting Lender” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 14.7(k) hereto.

Guaranteed Obligations” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 14.12(a) hereto.

Guarantor Allocable Percentage” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 14.12(c)(ii) hereof.

Guarantors” shall mean Holdings and the Subsidiaries of Holdings (other than any (i) any Restricted Subsidiary that has been designated as a Co-Borrower, (ii) the Parent Borrower and (ii)iii) any Excluded Subsidiary) and New Holdings (as applicable) and any other Subsidiary that issues a Guarantee of the Obligations after the Escrow Release Date.

Guaranty” shall mean, collectively, the guaranty of the Guaranteed Obligations by the Guarantors pursuant to Section 14.12 of this Agreement.

Hazardous Materials” shall mean all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature which in each case are regulated pursuant to, or which could not reasonably be expected to result in liability under, any Environmental Law.

Health Care Laws” shall mean all federal, state and local laws, rules, regulations, interpretations, guidelines, ordinances and decrees primarily relating to patient healthcare, any health care provider, medical assistance and cost reimbursement program, as now or at any time hereafter in effect, including, but not limited to, the Social Security Act, the Social Security Amendments of 1972, the Medicare-Medicaid Anti-Fraud and Abuse Amendments of 1977, the Medicare and Medicaid Patient and Program Protection Act of 1987, HIPAA, the Federal False Claim Act, the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute, and the Patient Protection and Afford Care Act, as amended.

Hedging Obligations” shall mean, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under (1) currency exchange, interest rate or commodity swap agreements, currency exchange, interest rate or commodity cap agreements and currency exchange, interest rate or commodity collar agreements and (2) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in currency exchange, interest rates or commodity prices.

HIPAA” shall mean the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended by the Health Information, Technology, Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009 (HITECH), as the same now exists or may hereafter from time to time be amended, modified, recodified or supplemented, together with all rules and regulations thereunder.

HIPAA Compliance Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.29 hereto.

HIPAA Compliance Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.29 hereto.

HIPAA Compliant” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.29 hereto.

 

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Holdings” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the introductory paragraph herein.

Immaterial Subsidiary” means each Restricted Subsidiary designated in writing by the Parent BorrowerHoldings to the Agent at any time or from time to time as an Immaterial Subsidiary, that, as of the last day of the Fiscal Year of Holdings most recently ended, or, if organized or acquired after the end of such Fiscal Year, at the date of designation, had revenues or total assets for such year in an amount that is less than 2.0% of the consolidated revenues or total assets, as applicable, of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such year (which, for any Immaterial Subsidiary or proposed Immaterial Subsidiary organized or acquired since such date, shall be determined on a pro forma basis as if such Subsidiary were in existence or acquired on such date); provided that all such Immaterial Subsidiaries, taken together, as of the last day of the Fiscal Year of Holdings most recently ended, shall not have revenues or total assets for such year in an amount that is equal to or greater than 5.0% of the consolidated revenues or total assets, as applicable, of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such year (which, for any Immaterial Subsidiary or proposed Immaterial Subsidiary organized or acquired since such date, shall be determined on a pro forma basis as if such Subsidiary were in existence on such date). Any Restricted Subsidiary that executes a Guarantee of the Obligations shall not be deemed an Immaterial Subsidiary and shall be excluded from the calculations above.

Increased Amount Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(a) hereto.

Incremental Amendment” shall mean an Incremental Amendment among the applicable Borrower, the Agent and one or more Incremental Term Lenders entered into pursuant to Section 2.8.

Incremental Amount” shall mean the sum of (x) (i) $750,000,000 plus voluntary prepayments of the Loans (other than prepayments funded with the proceeds of long-term Indebtedness (other than the prepayment of the Term B-2 Loans and Term B-3 Loans prior to the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date)) pursuant to Section 2.3(a) or (c) made on or prior to the date of determination (plus accrued interest, fees, premiums (if any) and penalties thereon and reasonable fees and expenses associated with such voluntary prepayments), plus (y) an unlimited amount as long as, at the time of the incurrence and after giving pro forma effect thereto, the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio would be less than 3.75:1.00 (assuming that all Incremental Term Loans are secured on a first-priority basis whether or not so secured and shall be deemed to constitute Consolidated Total Debt and excluding the cash proceeds of any such Incremental Term Loans for the purposes of netting) with the Parent Borrower being permitted to determine whether the Incremental Term Loan Commitments are obtained under clause (x) or (y) of this definition; minus (z) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Incremental Equivalent Debt; provided that at the time of incurrence in no event shall the aggregate principal amount of Incremental Term Loans together with the principal amount of Incremental Equivalent Debt exceed such Incremental Amount.

Incremental Equivalent Debt” shall mean secured or unsecured Indebtedness of the Albertsons Group in the form of senior secured first lien term loans or notes or junior lien term loans or notes, subordinated term loans or notes or senior unsecured term loans or notes, or any bridge facility; provided that: (a) the terms of such debt securities do not provide for any scheduled repayment, mandatory redemption or sinking fund obligations prior to the Latest Maturity Date at the time of incurrence of such debt securities (other than customary offers to repurchase upon a change of control, asset sale or event of loss and customary acceleration rights after an event of default), (b) other than with respect to a customary bridge facility, the covenants, events of default, guarantees, collateral and other terms of which (other than interest rate and redemption premiums), taken as a whole, are not more restrictive to the Parent BorrowerHoldings and its Restricted Subsidiaries than those in this Agreement unless (i) the Term Lenders holding the Term B Loans also receive the benefit of such restrictive terms, (ii) such terms are not effective until the Latest Maturity Date of the then existing Term B Loans or (iii) such other terms are

 

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reasonably satisfactory to the Agent; provided that a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Parent BorrowerHoldings delivered to the Agent at least three Business Days (or such shorter period as the Agent may reasonably agree) prior to the incurrence of such Incremental Equivalent Debt, stating that the Parent BorrowerHoldings has determined in good faith that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirement shall be conclusive evidence that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirement, (c) no Subsidiary of Holdings (other than the Parent Borrower, a Co-Borrower or Guarantor) shall be an obligor, (d) no Incremental Equivalent Debt shall be secured by any collateral other than the Collateral, (e) such Indebtedness has an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the Incremental Amount as of the date of incurrence and (f) such Incremental Equivalent Debt shall be subject to the requirements set forth in the second proviso of Section 2.8(b) to the extent such Indebtedness is in the form of term loans (other than a customary bridge facility) that are secured on a pari passu basis with the Term Loans, other than such Incremental Equivalent Debt in an aggregate principal amount outstanding not in excess of $750,000,000 with a final maturity date that is at least two years after the Latest Maturity Date at the time of incurrence.

Incremental Term Lender” shall mean a Lender with an Incremental Term Loan Commitment or an outstanding Incremental Term Loan.

Incremental Term Loan Commitment” shall mean the commitment of any Lender, established pursuant to Section 2.8, to make Incremental Term Loans to a Borrower.

Incremental Term Loans” shall mean Terms Loans made by one or more Lenders to a Borrower pursuant to Section 2.8. Incremental Term Loans may be made in the form of additional Term Loans or, to the extent permitted by Section 2.8 and provided for in the relevant Incremental Amendment, Other Term Loans.

Incur” shall mean issue, assume, guarantee, incur or otherwise become liable for; provided, however, that any Indebtedness or Equity Interests of a Person existing at the time such person becomes a Subsidiary (whether by merger, consolidation, acquisition or otherwise) shall be deemed to be Incurred by such Person at the time it becomes a Subsidiary.

Indebtedness” shall mean, as to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all of the following, whether or not included as indebtedness or liabilities in accordance with GAAP:

(a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money and all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments;

(b) the maximum amount of all direct or contingent obligations of such Person arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments;

(c) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade payables and similar obligations) which purchase price is due more than one year after the later of the date of placing the property in service or taking delivery and title thereto;

(d) indebtedness (excluding prepaid interest thereon) secured by a Lien on property owned or being purchased by such Person (including indebtedness arising under conditional sales or other title retention agreements), whether or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse; provided, however, that the amount of such Indebtedness will be the lesser of the Fair Market Value of such asset at such date of determination, and the amount of such Indebtedness of such other Person;

 

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(e) all Attributable Indebtedness of such Person;

(f) all obligations of such Person in respect of Disqualified Stock; and

(g) to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation of such Person to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, on the Indebtedness of another Person of the type described in clauses (a) through (f) (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business);

; provided, that obligations under or in respect of Receivables Financings or Hedging Obligations shall be deemed not to constitute Indebtedness. The amount of any Indebtedness that has been defeased or for which funds have been irrevocably deposited with the applicable trustee for redemption shall be deemed to be $0. Accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value, the amortization or accretion of original issue discount, the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, the accretion of liquidation preference and increases in the amount of Indebtedness outstanding solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies will not be deemed to be Indebtedness. Guarantees of, or obligations in respect of letters of credit bankers’ acceptances or similar instruments relating to, or Liens securing, 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 covenant. Indebtedness that is cash collateralized shall not be deemed to be Indebtedness hereunder to the extent of such cash collateralization.

Indemnified Taxes” shall mean all Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.

Indemnitee” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 12.5 hereof.

Independent Financial Advisor” shall mean an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of nationally recognized standing.

Information” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 14.5(a) hereto.

Intellectual Property” shall mean United States and non-United States: (a) patents and patent applications; (b) trademarks, service marks, trade names, trade dress, business names, designs, logos, indicia of origin, and other source and/or business identifiers; (c) Internet domain names and associated websites; (d) copyrights, including copyrights in computer software; (e) industrial designs, databases, data, trade secrets, know-how, technology, unpatented inventions and other confidential or proprietary information; (f) all registrations or applications for registrations which have heretofore been or may hereafter be issued thereon throughout the world; (g) all tangible and intangible property embodying the copyrights and unpatented inventions (whether or not patentable); (h) license agreements related to any of the foregoing and income therefrom; (i) books, records, writings, computer tapes or disks, flow diagrams, specification sheets, computer software, source codes, object codes, executable code, data, databases and other physical manifestations, embodiments or incorporations of any of the foregoing; (j) all other intellectual property; and (k) all common law and other rights throughout the world in and to all of the foregoing.

“Intercreditor Agreements” shall mean the ABL Intercreditor Agreement together with the Term Loan Intercreditor Agreement.

 

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Interest Coverage Ratio” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) EBITDA to (b) Consolidated Interest Expense, in each case, of the Albertson’s Group for the most recently ended Test Period on or prior to such date.

Interest Period” shall mean, as to each Eurodollar Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such Eurodollar Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Rate Loan and ending on the date one week or one, two, three or six months thereafter or, to the extent agreed by each Lender of such Eurodollar Rate Loan, twelve months, as selected by the applicable Borrower in its Committed Loan Notice; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any Interest Period may end on a date that is less than one week from the commencement of such period if mutually agreed upon by the Parent Borrower and Agent; provided further.

(i) any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;

(ii) any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and

(iii) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date of the Facility under which such Loan was made.

“Interest Rate” shall mean,

(a) Subject to clause (b) of this definition below:

(i) as to Base Rate Loans, a rate equal to the then Applicable Margin for Base Rate Loans under the applicable Facility on a per annum basis plus the Base Rate, and

(ii) as to Eurodollar Rate Loans, a rate equal to the then Applicable Margin for Eurodollar Rate Loans under the applicable Facility on a per annum basis plus the Eurodollar Rate.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Agent may, at its option, and Agent shall, at the direction of the Required Lenders, increase the Applicable Margin otherwise used to calculate the Interest Rate for Base Rate Loans and Eurodollar Rate Loans, by two percent (2%) per annum, with respect to any portion of the Loans and other Obligations outstanding that is not paid on the due date thereof (whether due at stated maturity, on demand, upon acceleration or otherwise) until such amount due is paid in full.

Internally Generated Cash” shall mean, with respect to any Person, cash funds of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries not constituting (x) proceeds of the issuance of (or contributions in respect of) Equity Interests of such Person and (y) proceeds of the incurrence of Indebtedness (other than extensions of credit under the ABL Facility or any other revolving credit or similar facility) by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

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Inventory” has the meaning given that term in the UCC, and shall also include, without limitation, all: (a) goods which (i) are leased by a Person as lessor, (ii) are held by a Person for sale or lease or to be furnished under a contract of service, (iii) are furnished by a Person under a contract of service, or (iv) consist of raw materials, work in process, or materials used or consumed in a business; (b) goods of said description in transit; (c) goods of said description which are returned, repossessed or rejected; and (d) packaging, advertising, and shipping materials related to any of the foregoing.

Investment” shall mean, as to any Person, any direct or indirect acquisition or investment by such Person in another Person, whether by means of (a) the purchase or other acquisition of Equity Interests of another Person, (b) a loan, advance or capital contribution to, Guarantee or assumption of debt of, or purchase or other acquisition of any other debt or interest in, another Person, (c) any Acquisition, or (d) any other investment of money or capital in another Person in order to obtain a profitable return. For purposes of covenant compliance, the amount of any outstanding Investment shall be the amount actually invested, without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment, net of any repayments thereof.

IPO Reorganization” shall mean the transactions taken in connection with and reasonably related to the consummation of an initial public offering of the common Equity Interests of Holdings or any parent of Holdings so long as that after giving effect to all such transactions the security interests of the Lenders in the Collateral and Guarantees of the Secured Obligations, taken as whole, would not be materially impaired.

Junior Financing” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.11(a) hereto.

Latest Maturity Date” shall mean, at any date of determination, the latest Maturity Date applicable to any Loan or Commitment hereunder at such time, including the latest maturity date of any Refinancing Term Loan, any Refinancing Term Commitment, any Extended Term Loan or any Incremental Term Loans, in each case as extended in accordance with this Agreement from time to time.

Laws” shall mean, 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.

Lease” shall mean any written agreement, pursuant to which a Loan Party is entitled to the use or occupancy of any real property for any period of time.

Lender Participation Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(c)(iii) hereto.

Lenders” shall mean the financial institutions who are signatories hereto as Lenders, other persons made a party to this Agreement as a Lender in accordance with Section 14.7 hereof and any other persons made a party to this Agreement as a Lender in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, and their respective successors and assigns.

Lending Office” shall mean, with respect to any Lender, the office of such Lender maintaining such Lender’s Loan.

Lien” shall mean any interest in property securing an obligation owed to, or a claim by, a Person other than the owner of the property, whether such interest is based on common law, statute or contract. The term “Lien” shall also include reservations, exceptions, encroachments, easements, rights-of-way, covenants, conditions, restrictions, leases and other title exceptions and encumbrances affecting property.

 

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For the purpose of this Agreement, each Person shall be deemed to be the owner of any property that it has acquired or holds subject to a conditional sale agreement or other arrangement pursuant to which title to the property has been retained by or vested in some other Person for security purposes. In no event shall the term “Lien” be deemed to include any license of Intellectual Property unless such license contains a grant of a security interest in such Intellectual Property.

Liquidity Condition” shall mean, at any time, the sum of (x) unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents of the Albertson’s Group (including cash restricted in favor of the Lenders and/or the lenders under the ABL Facility) and (y) undrawn and then available amounts under the ABL Facility, to the extent such sum equals or exceeds $450,000,000.

Loan” shall mean an extension of credit under Section 2 by a Lender to a Borrower in the form of a Term Loan.

Loan Component” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of Loan-to-Value Ratio.

Loan-to-Value Ratio” shall mean, as of any date, the ratio of (a)(x) in the case of Indebtedness to be secured by a Lien on Mortgaged Properties ranking pari passu with the Liens securing the Obligations, the total amount of Consolidated Total Debt included in clause (a) of the definition of “Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio” and (y) in the case of Indebtedness to be secured by a Lien on Mortgaged Properties ranking junior to the Liens securing the Obligations, the total amount of Consolidated Total Debt secured by any Liens on assets of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries (in each case, as applicable, the “Loan Component”) to (b) the aggregate amount of the Valuations for each of the Mortgaged Properties that has been completed in the 18 calendar month period immediately prior to such date (the “Value Component”). On the Escrow Release Date, the Value Component shall be an amount to be provided by the Parent Borrower to the Agent pursuant to an officer’s certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent setting forth the Value Component and the basis of such valuation and, which shall be calculated using the same methodology used to calculate the Value Component under the Existing Debt Facility.

Loan Parties” shall mean collectively the Borrowers and each Guarantor (other than Holdings).

LTIP Agreements” shall mean the AB Acquisition LLC Long Term Incentive Plan, as amended and the AB Acquisition LLC Senior Executive Retention Plan, as amended.

Management Services Agreement” shall mean the Management Services Agreement by and between AB Management Services Corp. and the Parent Borrower, dated as of the Original Closing Date, as the same may be hereafter amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated, or replaced, in each case so long as not materially adverse to the Lenders.

Margin Stock” shall have the meaning set forth in Regulation U.

Material Adverse Effect” shall mean (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the operations, business, assets, properties, liabilities, or financial condition of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the rights and remedies of the Agent or any Lender under the Financing Agreements, or of the ability of the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, to perform their obligations under the Financing Agreements; or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, of this Agreement or the Collateral Documents.

 

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Material Contract” shall mean with respect to any Person, each contract (other than the Financing Agreements) to which such Person is a party as to which the breach, nonperformance, or cancellation by any party thereto would have a Material Adverse Effect.

Material Indebtedness” shall mean Indebtedness (other than the Obligations) of the Loan Parties in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $150,000,000. For purposes of determining the amount of Material Indebtedness at any time, (a) undrawn committed or available amounts shall be excluded and (b) all amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit arrangement shall be included.

Material Real Property” shall mean (i) any fee owned or ground leased real property, as the case may be, of any Loan Party with a Fair Market Value of $500,000 or greater (at the Original Closing Date or, with respect to real property acquired after the Original Closing Date, at the time of acquisition, in each case, as determined by the most recent appraisal undertaken by an independent appraiser engaged by Holdings or the Parent Borrower and reasonably acceptable to the Agent) or, (ii) solely in the case of real property acquired following the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date, any fee owned or ground leased real property, as the case may be, of any Loan Party with a Fair Market Value of $3,000,000 or greater (determined at the time of acquisition, as determined by the most recent appraisal undertaken by an independent appraiser engaged by Holdings or the Parent Borrower and reasonably acceptable to the Agent); provided, however, no “surplus property” as determined in good faith by Holdings or the Parent Borrower or Excluded Property shall constitute Material Real Property.

Maturity Date” shall mean the Term B-2 Maturity Date, Term B-3 Maturity Date, the Term B-4 Maturity Date, the Term B-5 Maturity date, the 2016-1 Term B-4 Maturity Date, the 2016-2 Term B-4 Maturity Date, the 2017-1 Term B-4 Maturity Date, the 2016-1 Term B-5 Maturity Date, the 2016-2 Term B-5 Maturity Date, the 2017-1 Term B-5 Maturity Date, the Term B-6 Maturity Date, the 2016-1 Term B-6 Maturity Date, the 2017-1 Term B-6 Maturity Date, the 2018 Term B-7 Maturity Date, the 2019-1 Term B-7 Maturity Date, the 2019 Term B-8 Maturity Date or the stated maturity date of any other Facility, as the case may be.

Maximum Rate” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 14.16 hereto.

Medicaid” shall mean the health care program jointly financed and administered by the federal and state governments under Title XIX of the Social Security Act.

Medicare” shall mean the health care program under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act.

Merger Sub” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble hereto.

MoneyGram” shall mean MoneyGram Payment Systems, Inc., together with its successors and assigns.

MoneyGram Agreement” shall mean that certain Master Trust Agreement, from time to time in effect, by and between the Parent Borrowerany Loan Party and MoneyGram.

Moody’s” shall mean Moody’s Investors Services, Inc. and any successor thereto.

Mortgage” shall mean a deed of trust, trust deed, deed to secure debt, mortgage, leasehold mortgage or leasehold deed of trust, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and its counsel and covering a Mortgaged Property (together with the fixture filings and Assignments of Leases and Rents referred to therein), duly executed by the appropriate Loan Party.

 

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Mortgaged Property” shall mean (a) the fee owned and ground leased real property identified on Schedule 8.4(b)(1) and Schedule 8.4(b)(2) hereto and Schedule 7(a)(ii) to the Perfection Certificate, as amended and restated as of the Escrow Release Date and as further supplemented pursuant to Section 9.21 hereto, and (b) each Material Real Property, if any, which shall be subject to a Mortgage delivered after the Escrow Release Date pursuant to Section 9.8 and Section 9.9.

Multiemployer Plan” shall mean any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which Holdings 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.

NAI” shall mean New Albertson’s, Inc., an Ohio corporation.

NAI Purchase Agreement” shall mean the Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of January 10, 2013 by and among SVU, AB LLC, and NAI.

NAI Services Agreement” shall mean the Services Agreement by and between NAI and Parent Borrower dated as of the Original Closing Date, as the same may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced, in each case so long as not materially adverse to the Lenders.

NALP” shall mean New Albertsons L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (as successor to NAI).

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

Net Proceeds” shall mean:

(a) 100% of the cash proceeds actually received by a BorrowerHoldings or any of their Restricted Subsidiaries (including any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or purchase price adjustment receivable or otherwise and including casualty insurance settlements and condemnation awards, but in each case only as and when received) from any 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, other customary expenses and brokerage, consultant and other customary fees actually incurred in connection therewith, (ii) any amount required to repay (x) Indebtedness (other than pursuant to the Financing Agreements or under any Bank Products or Cash Management Services) that is secured by a Lien on the assets disposed of and which ranks prior to the Lien securing the Obligations or (y) Indebtedness or other obligations of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary that is disposed of in such transaction, (iii) in the case of any Disposition or Casualty Event by a non-wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary, the pro rata portion of the Net Proceeds thereof (calculated without regard to this clause (iii)) attributable to non-controlling interests or not available for distribution to or for the account of a BorrowerHoldings or a wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary as a result thereof, (iv) taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be payable as a result thereof, and (v) 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 a BorrowerHoldings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries including, without limitation, Pension Plan 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

 

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(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 no Specified Default exists at the time of thea proposed reinvestment (or such proposed reinvestment is made pursuant to a binding commitment entered into at a time when no Specified Default was continuing), the BorrowersHoldings and theirits Restricted Subsidiaries may reinvest any portion of such proceeds (other than proceeds from any disposition of Divested Properties) in assets (other than current assets) useful for its business within 1218 months of such receipt, and such portion of such proceeds shall not constitute Net Proceeds except to the extent such proceeds are not so used or contractually committed to be so used within 1218 months of such receipt (it being understood that if any portion of such proceeds are not so used within such 12 18-month period but within such 1218-month period are contractually committed to be used, then upon the termination of such contract or if such Net Proceeds are not so used within 1824 months of initial receipt, such remaining portion shall constitute Net Proceeds as of the date of such termination or expiry without giving effect to this proviso; provided, however, that such reinvested amount shall not exceed $750,000,000 in any Fiscal Year); provided, further, that no proceeds realized in a single transaction or series of related transactions shall constitute Net Proceeds unless (x) such proceeds net of the amounts described in clauses (i) through (v) above shall exceed $7,500,000 or (y) the aggregate amount of such net proceeds from dispositions resulting in net proceeds in excess of the threshold set forth in the foregoing clause (x) exceeds $150,000,000 in any Fiscal Year (and thereafter only net cash proceeds in excess of the amount specified in clause (y) of this proviso shall constitute Net Proceeds under this clause (a)), and

(b) 100% of the cash proceeds from the incurrence, issuance or sale by a BorrowerHoldings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of any Indebtedness, net of all taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be payable as a result thereof and fees (including investment banking fees and discounts), commissions, costs and other expenses, in each case incurred in connection with such incurrence, issuance or sale.

For purposes of calculating the amount of Net Proceeds, fees, commissions and other costs and expenses payable to a BorrowerHoldings or any Restricted Subsidiary shall be disregarded.

New Holdings” shall mean any parent entity of Holdings that is or becomes a Loan Party.

Non-Consenting Lender” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 12.3(c).

Non-Debt Fund Affiliate” shall mean an Affiliate of Holdings that is not a Debt Fund Affiliate or a Purchasing Borrower Party.

Non-Exchanged 2016-1 Term B-4 Loan” means each 2016-1 Term B-4 Loan other than an Exchanged 2016-1 Term B-4 Loan.

Non-Exchanged 2016-1 Term B-5 Loan” means each 2016-1 Term B-5 Loan other than an Exchanged 2016-1 Term B-5 Loan.

Non-Exchanged 2016-1 Term B-6 Loan” means each 2016-1 Term B-6 Loan other than an Exchanged 2016-1 Term B-6 Loan.

Non-Exchanged 2016-2 Term B-4 Loan” means each 2016-2 Term B-4 Loan other than an Exchanged 2016-2 Term B-4 Loan.

 

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Non-Exchanged 2016-2 Term B-5 Loan” means each 2016-2 Term B-5 Loan other than an Exchanged 2016-2 Term B-5 Loan.

Non-Exchanged 2017-1 Term B-4 Loan” means each 2017-1 Term B-4 Loan other than an Exchanged 2017-1 Term B-4 Loan.

Non-Exchanged 2017-1 Term B-5 Loan” means each 2017-1 Term B-5 Loan other than an Exchanged 2017-1 Term B-5 Loan.

Non-Exchanged 2017-1 Term B-6 Loan” means each 2017-1 Term B-6 Loan other than an Exchanged 2017-1 Term B-6 Loan.

Non-Exchanged 2018 Term B-7 Loan” means each 2018 Term B-7 Loan other than an Exchanged 2018 Term B-7 Loan.

Non-Exchanged Term B-2 Loan” means each Term B-2 Loan other than an Exchanged Term B-2 Loan.

Non-Exchanged Term B-3 Loan” means each Term B-3 Loan other than an Exchanged Term B-3 Loan.

Non-Exchanged Term B-4 Loan” means each Term B-4 Loan other than an Exchanged Term B-4 Loan.

Non-Exchanged Term B-5 Loan” means each Term B-5 Loan other than an Exchanged Term B-5 Loan.

Non-Exchanged Term B-6 Loan” means each Term B-6 Loan other than an Exchanged Term B-6 Loan.

NPL” shall mean the National Priorities List under CERCLA.

Obligations” shall mean (i) any and all Term Loans and all other obligations, liabilities and indebtedness of every kind, nature and description owing by any Loan Party to Agent or any Lender, including principal, interest, charges, fees, costs and expenses, however evidenced, whether as principal, surety, endorser, guarantor or otherwise, arising under this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements whether now existing or hereafter arising, whether arising before, during or after the initial or any renewal term of this Agreement or after the commencement of any case with respect to such Loan Party under the United States Bankruptcy Code or any similar statute (including the payment of interest and other amounts which would accrue and become due but for the commencement of such case, whether or not such amounts are allowed or allowable in whole or in part in such case), whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, joint or several, due or not due, primary or secondary, liquidated or unliquidated, or secured or unsecured and (ii) the Other Liabilities.

Offered Loans” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(c)(iii) hereto.

Organization Documents” shall mean (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement; (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of

 

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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; and (d) in each case, all shareholder or other equity holder agreements, voting trusts and similar arrangements to which such Person is a party or which is applicable to its Equity Interests and all other arrangements relating to the Control or management of such Person.

Original Closing Date” shall mean March 21, 2013.

Original Closing Date Transaction Payments” shall mean transaction closing fees in aggregate amount of $20,000,000 payable contemporaneously with the Original Closing Date to the Sponsor (directly, or indirectly through AB LLC) and to management of the Parent Borrower.

Original Closing Date Transactions” shall mean “Transactions” as defined in the Existing Debt Facility.

Other Applicable Indebtedness” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(b)(ii) hereto.

Other Liabilities” means any obligation on account of (a) any Cash Management Services furnished to any of the Loan Parties and/or (b) any Bank Product furnished to any of the Loan Parties, as each may be amended from time to time, but in each case only if and to the extent that the provider of such Bank Product or Cash Management Service has furnished the Agent with notice thereof as required under Section 13.12 hereof.

Other Taxes” shall mean all present or future stamp or documentary Taxes or any other excise or property Taxes, charges or similar levies, arising from any payment made hereunder or under any other Financing Agreement or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to this Agreement or any other Financing Agreement, excluding, however, any such amounts imposed as a result of an assignment (“Assignment Taxes”), but only to the extent such Assignment Taxes (i) do not relate to an assignment made at the request of the Parent Borrower pursuant to Section 6.2 and (ii) are imposed as a result of a present or former connection between the assignor or assignee and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than a connection arising from such assignor or assignee 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 Financing Agreement, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Financing Agreement.

Other Term Loan Commitments” shall mean one or more Classes of term loan commitments hereunder that result from a Refinancing Amendment.

Other Term Loans” shall mean one or more Classes of Term Loans that result from a Refinancing Amendment.

Outstanding Amount” shall mean, on a particular date, the outstanding principal amount of Term Loans after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Term Loans occurring on such date.

Overnight Rate” shall mean, for any day, the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and an overnight rate determined by the Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

 

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PACA” shall mean the Perishable Agriculture Commodities Act, 1930 and all regulations promulgated thereunder, as amended from time to time.

Parent Borrower” shall have the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph hereto.

Parent Borrower Materials” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.6(c) hereto.

Participant” shall mean any financial institution that acquires and holds participation in the interest of any Lender in any of the Loans in conformity with the provisions of Section 14.7 of this Agreement governing participations.

Participant Register” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 14.7(e) hereto.

PASA” shall mean the Packers and Stockyard Act, 1921 and all regulations promulgated thereunder, as amended from time to time.

PATRIOT Act” shall mean the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (Public Law 107-56).

Paying Guarantor” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 14.12(c).

PBGC” shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

PCAOB” shall mean the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board or any successor organization thereto.

PDC” shall mean the subsidiaries of Safeway comprised of (i) Property Development Centers LLC, (ii) PDC I, Inc., (iii) Association of Unit Owners Safeway Beretania, (iv) Eureka Land Management, LLC and (v) Paradise Development, LLC, and each of their respective Subsidiaries.

PEL Policy” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.13(b) hereto.

Pension Plan” shall mean 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 Holdings or a Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or to which Holdings or a Borrower 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” shall have the meaning set forth in the Security Agreement.

Perishable Inventory” shall mean Inventory included in the following categories as reported by the Loan Parties consistent with then-current industry practices: bakeries, produce, floral, dairy, fresh seafood, meat and deli.

Permitted Acquisition” shall mean an Acquisition of property and assets or businesses of any Person or of assets constituting a business unit, a line of business or division of such Person in which all of the following conditions are satisfied:

(a) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom (other than in respect of any Permitted Acquisition made pursuant to a legally binding commitment entered into at a time when no Default exists or would result therefrom);

 

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(b) Any acquired or newly formed Subsidiary shall not be liable for any Indebtedness except for Permitted Indebtedness;

(c) Such Acquisition shall have been approved by the board of directors of the Person (or similar governing body if such Person is not a corporation) which is the subject of such Acquisition and such Person shall not have announced that it will oppose such Acquisition or shall not have commenced any action which alleges that such Acquisition shall violate applicable Law; and

(d) If the Person which is the subject of such Acquisition will be maintained as a Restricted Subsidiary of a Loan Party, or if the assets acquired in an Acquisition will be transferred to a Restricted Subsidiary which is not then a Loan Party, such Restricted Subsidiary shall have been joined as a “Borrower” hereunder or as a Guarantor, as the Parent Borrower and the Agent shall agree, and the Agent shall have received a first priority (subject, in each case, to Permitted Liens having priority over the Lien of the Agent by operation of applicable Law) security and/or mortgage interest in such Restricted Subsidiary’s Equity Interests and property of such Restricted Subsidiary and of the same nature as constitutes Collateral under the Collateral Documents.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Safeway Acquisition shall be deemed to be a “Permitted Acquisition”.

Permitted Disposition” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.5 hereto.

Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt” shall mean any secured Indebtedness (including any Registered Equivalent Notes) incurred by Holdings and/or the Parent Borrower and, if applicable, any Co-Borrower, in the form of one or more series of senior secured notes or loans; provided that (i) such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis (but without regard to the control of remedies) with the Obligations and is not secured by any property or assets of a BorrowerHoldings or any Restricted Subsidiary other than the Collateral, (ii) such Indebtedness is not at any time guaranteed by any Subsidiaries other than Subsidiaries that are Co-Borrowers or Guarantors, (iii) such Indebtedness does not mature or have scheduled amortization or payments of principal (other than customary offers to repurchase upon a change of control, asset sale or event of loss and a customary acceleration right after an event of default) prior to the date that is 91 days after the Latest Maturity Date of any Loan outstanding at the time such Indebtedness is incurred or issued, (iv) the security agreements relating to such Indebtedness are substantially the same as or more favorable to the Loan Parties than the Collateral Documents (with such differences as are reasonably satisfactory to the Agent) and (v) a Senior Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness shall have become party to or otherwise subject to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreements. Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt will include any Registered Equivalent Notes issued in exchange therefor.

Permitted Holders” means (i) the Sponsors and any other Funds or managed accounts advised or managed by any Sponsor or any of a Sponsor’s Affiliates, (ii) any person that has no material assets other than the Equity Interests of Holdings, a parent of Holdings or Equity Interests of a Person engaged in a Similar Business and, directly or indirectly, holds or acquires 100% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of Holdings, and of which no other Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), other than any Permitted Holder specified in clause (i) above, holds more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock thereof, and (iii) any group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) the members of which include any Permitted Holder specified in clause (i) above and that, directly or indirectly, hold or acquire beneficial ownership of the Voting Stock of

 

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Holdings (a “Permitted Holder Group”), so long as (1) each member of the Permitted Holder Group has voting rights proportional to the percentage of ownership interests held or acquired by such member and (2) no Person or other “group” (other than a Permitted Holder specified in clause (i) above) beneficially owns more than 50% on a fully diluted basis of the Voting Stock held by the Permitted Holder Group.

Permitted Indebtedness” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.3 hereto.

Permitted Investment” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.2 hereto.

Permitted Junior Priority Refinancing Debt” shall mean secured Indebtedness (including any Registered Equivalent Notes) incurred by Holdings and/or the Parent Borrower, and if applicable, any Co-Borrower, in the form of one or more series of junior priority secured notes or junior priority secured loans; provided that (i) such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a second priority (or other junior priority) basis to the liens securing the Obligations and the obligations in respect of any Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt and is not secured by any property or assets of a BorrowerHoldings or any Restricted Subsidiary other than the Collateral, (ii) such Indebtedness may be secured by a Lien on the Collateral that is junior to the Liens securing the Obligations and the obligations in respect of any Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in the definition of “Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness,” (iii) a Senior Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness shall have become party to or otherwise subject to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreements, (iv) such Indebtedness does not mature or have scheduled amortization payments of principal or payments of principal and is not subject to mandatory redemption, repurchase, prepayment or sinking fund obligations (except customary asset sale or change of control provisions that provide for the prior repayment in full of the Loans and all other Obligations), in each case prior to 91 days after the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Indebtedness is incurred, (v) such Indebtedness is not at any time guaranteed by any Subsidiaries other than Subsidiaries that are Co-Borrowers or Guarantors and (vi) 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 Agent). Permitted Junior Priority Refinancing Debt will include any Registered Equivalent Notes issued in exchange therefor.

Permitted Liens” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.1 hereto.

Permitted Ratio Debt” shall mean Indebtedness of the Albertson’s Group, provided that immediately after giving pro forma effect thereto and to the use of the proceeds thereof, (i) no Event of Default shall be continuing or result therefrom, (ii) the Total Leverage Ratio on a Pro Forma Basis is no greater than 5.00:1.00, (iii) if such Indebtedness is secured by Liens ranking pari passu with the Term Loans, the Loan-to-Value Ratio is no greater than 0.65:1.00, (iv) if such Indebtedness is secured by Liens ranking junior to the Liens securing the Term Loans, the Loan-to-Value Ratio is no greater than 0.75:1.00, (v) such Indebtedness does not mature prior to the date that is ninety-one (91) days after the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Indebtedness is incurred, (vi) such Indebtedness shall not have any financial maintenance covenants, (vii) if such Indebtedness is incurred or guaranteed on a secured basis by a Loan Party, the Liens securing such Indebtedness are subject to the Intercreditor Agreements or another intercreditor agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, (viii) if such Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment with the Term Loans, such Indebtedness shall contain subordination provisions reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and (ix) the aggregate amount of any such Indebtedness incurred or guaranteed by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party does not exceed the greater of $500,000,000 and 2.25% of Total Assets at such time.

 

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Permitted Refinancing” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal, replacement or extension of any Indebtedness of such Person; provided that (a) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) thereof does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness so modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended except by an amount equal to unpaid accrued interest and premium (including any customary tender premiums) thereon plus other amounts paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal, replacement or extension and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder, (b) such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal, replacement or extension has a final maturity date equal to or later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended, (c) at the time thereof, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (d) to the extent such Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations, such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal, replacement or extension is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations on terms at least as favorable to the Lenders as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended; provided that a certificate of a Responsible Officer delivered to the Agent stating that the Parent Borrower has determined in good faith that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirement shall be conclusive evidence that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirement and (e) such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal, replacement or extension is incurred by the Person who is the obligor or guarantor of the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended (except in the case of the Existing Safeway Notes and, the Existing Safeway Debentures and the Existing NALP Notes).

Permitted Unsecured Refinancing Debt” shall mean unsecured Indebtedness (including any Registered Equivalent Notes) incurred by Holdings and/or the Parent Borrower and, if applicable, any Co-Borrower, in the form of one or more series of senior unsecured notes or loans; provided that (i) such Indebtedness constitutes Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness, (ii) such Indebtedness does not mature or have scheduled amortization payments of principal or payments of principal and is not subject to mandatory redemption, repurchase, prepayment or sinking fund obligations (except customary asset sale or change of control provisions that provide for the prior repayment in full of the Loans and all other Obligations), in each case prior to 91 days after the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Indebtedness is incurred and (iii) such Indebtedness is not at any time guaranteed by any Subsidiaries other than Subsidiaries that are Co-Borrowers or Guarantors.

Person” or “person” shall mean any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, limited partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.

Pharmaceutical Laws” shall mean federal, state and local laws, rules or regulations, codes, orders, decrees, judgments or injunctions issued, promulgated, approved or entered, relating to dispensing, storing or distributing prescription medicines or products, including laws, rules or regulations relating to the qualifications of Persons employed to do the same.

Plan” shall mean an “employee benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) established or maintained by Holdings or a Borrower 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” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.6 hereto.

 

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Preferred Stock” shall mean any Equity Interest with preferential right of payment of dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up.

Pro Forma Basis” shall mean, with respect to compliance with any test or covenant or the calculation of any ratio hereunder, the determination of such test, covenant or ratio (including in connection with Specified Transactions) in accordance with Section 14.13.

Pro Rata Share” shall mean, with respect to each Lender, at any time a fraction (expressed as a percentage, carried out to the ninth decimal place), the numerator of which is the amount of the Commitments and, if applicable and without duplication, Term Loans of such Lender under the applicable Facility or Facilities at such time and the denominator of which is the amount of the Aggregate Commitments under the applicable Facility or Facilities and, if applicable and without duplication, Term Loans under the applicable Facility or Facilities at such time.

Property” shall mean any interest of any kind in any property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, or tangible or intangible.

Proposed Discounted Prepayment Amount” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(c)(ii) hereto.

Protected Incremental Term Loan” shall mean any Incremental Term Loan, other than Incremental Term Loans in an aggregate principal amount outstanding not in excess of $750,000,000 with a final maturity date that is at least two years after the Latest Maturity Date at the time of incurrence.

PTE” shall mean 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 Company Costs” shall mean (a) costs, expenses and disbursements associated with, related to or incurred in anticipation of, or preparation for compliance with (x) the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith, (y) the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable to companies with equity or debt securities held by the public, and (z) the rules of national securities exchange companies with listed equity or debt securities, (b) costs and expenses associated with investor relations, shareholder meetings and reports to shareholders or debtholders and listing fees, and (c) directors’ compensation, fees, indemnification, expense reimbursement (including legal and other professional fees, expenses and disbursements), and directors’ and officers’ insurance.

Public Lender” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.6 hereto.

Purchasing Borrower Party” shall mean Holdings, a Borrower or any other Subsidiary of the Borrowers that (x) makes a Discounted Voluntary Prepayment pursuant to Section 2.3(c) or (y) becomes an Eligible Transferee or Participant pursuant to Section 14.7(h).

Qualified Capital Stock” shall mean any Equity Interests that is not Disqualified Stock.

Qualified ECP Guarantor” shall mean, at any time, each Loan Party with total assets exceeding $10,000,000 or that qualifies at such time as an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act and can cause another person to qualify as an “eligible contract participant” at such time under §1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

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Qualified IPO” means the issuance by Holdings or any direct or indirect parent of Holdings of its common Equity Interests (i) pursuant to an effective registration statement (other than a Form S-8) filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in accordance with the Securities Act or (ii) after which the common Equity Interests of Holdings or any direct or indirect parent of Holdings are listed on an internationally recognized securities exchange or dealer quotation system.

Qualified Real Estate Financing Facility” shall mean (i) any credit facility made available to a Real Estate Subsidiary that is non-recourse to a Borrower, Holdings or any of its other Subsidiaries (other than Real Estate Subsidiaries party to such credit facility) and secured by the Real Property of Real Estate Subsidiaries (or secured by the Equity Interests of a Real Estate Subsidiary) and (ii) any sale and leaseback of Real Property of Real Estate Subsidiaries, as the same may be amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time or refunded, refinanced, restructured, replaced, renewed, repaid, increased or extended from time to time.

Qualified Receivables Financing” shall mean any Receivables Financing of a Receivables Subsidiary that meets the following conditions:

(1) the board of directors of the Parent BorrowerHoldings shall have determined in good faith that such Qualified Receivables Financing (including financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions) is in the aggregate economically fair and reasonable to the Parent BorrowerHoldings and the Receivables Subsidiary,

(2) all sales of accounts receivable and related assets to and by the Receivables Subsidiary are made at Fair Market Value, and

(3) the financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions thereof shall be market terms (as determined in good faith by the Parent BorrowerHoldings) and may include Standard Securitization Undertakings.

The grant of a security interest in any accounts receivable of Albertson’s Group (other than a Receivables Subsidiary) to secure the ABL Credit Agreement shall not be deemed a Qualified Receivables Financing.

Qualifying Lenders” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(c)(iv) hereto.

Qualifying Loans” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(c)(iv) hereto.

Quarterly Accounting Period” shall mean any period of three (3) or four (4) consecutive Accounting Periods designated as a “Quarterly Accounting Period” on Schedule 1.02 hereto.

Ratably Secured Notes” shall mean the Existing Safeway Notes and the Existing Safeway Debentures.

Real Estate Financing Loan Parties” shall mean any Real Estate Subsidiaries that are borrowers or guarantors under a Qualified Real Estate Financing Facility.

Real Estate Subsidiary” shall mean any Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings (i) that does not engage in any business other than owning or leasing real property or (ii) owning directly or indirectly the Equity Interests of its Restricted Subsidiaries described in clause (i) or a holding company of any such Subsidiary. As of the Escrow Release Date, the Persons listed on Schedule 1.03 constitute all of the Real Estate Subsidiaries.

 

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Real Property” shall mean all now owned and hereafter acquired real property of each Loan Party, including leasehold interests, together with all buildings, structures, and other improvements located thereon and all licenses, easements and appurtenances relating thereto, wherever located.

Receivables Financing” shall mean any transaction or series of transactions pursuant to which Albertson’s Group may sell, convey or otherwise transfer to (a) a Receivables Subsidiary (in the case of a transfer by Albertson’s Group), and (b) any other Person (in the case of a transfer by a Receivables Subsidiary), or may grant a security interest in, any accounts receivable (whether now existing or arising in the future) of a BorrowerHoldings or any of its Subsidiaries, and any assets related thereto including, without limitation, all collateral securing such accounts receivable, all contracts and all guarantees or other obligations in respect of such accounts receivable, proceeds of such accounts receivable and other assets which are customarily transferred or in respect of which security interests are customarily granted in connection with asset securitization transactions involving accounts receivable and any Hedging Obligations pursuant to a Swap Contract entered into by such BorrowerHoldings or any such Subsidiary in connection with such accounts receivable.

Receivables Repurchase Obligation” shall mean any obligation of a seller of receivables in a Qualified Receivables Financing to repurchase receivables arising as a result of a breach of a representation, warranty or covenant or otherwise, including as a result of a receivable or portion thereof becoming subject to any asserted defense, dispute, off-set or counterclaim of any kind as a result of any action taken by, any failure to take action by or any other event relating to the seller.

Receivables Subsidiary” shall mean a wholly owned Subsidiary of a BorrowerHoldings (or other Person formed for the purposes of engaging in a Qualified Receivables Financing with a BorrowerHoldings or its Subsidiaries in which a BorrowerHoldings or any of its Subsidiaries makes an Investment and to which a BorrowerHoldings or any of their respective Subsidiaries transfers accounts receivable and related assets) which engages in no activities other than in connection with the Receivables Financing, all proceeds thereof and all rights (contractual or other), collateral and other assets relating thereto, and any business or activities incidental or related to such business and which is designated by the board of directors of the Parent Borrower or Safeway (as provided below)Holdings as a Receivables Subsidiary and:

(a) no portion of the Indebtedness or any other obligations (contingent or otherwise) of which (i) is guaranteed by a BorrowerHoldings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding guarantees of obligations (other than the principal of, and interest on, Indebtedness) pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings), (ii) is recourse to or obligates a BorrowerHoldings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than such Receivables Subsidiary) in any way other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings, or (iii) subjects any property or asset of a BorrowerHoldings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, to the satisfaction thereof, other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings,

(b) with which neither a BorrowerHoldings nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has any material contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding other than on terms which such BorrowerHoldings reasonably believes to be no less favorable to such BorrowerHoldings or such Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons that are not Affiliates of such BorrowerHoldings or such Subsidiary, and

(c) to which neither a BorrowerHoldings nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has any obligation to maintain or preserve such entity’s financial condition or cause such entity to achieve certain levels of operating results.

 

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Any such designation by the board of directors of the Parent BorrowerHoldings or such other Person shall be evidenced to the Agent by delivery to the Agent of a certified copy of the resolution of the board of directors of the Parent BorrowerHoldings or such other Person giving effect to such designation and a certificate executed by a Responsible Officer certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing conditions.

Refinanced Term Loans” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 12.3(i) hereto.

Refinancing Amendment” shall mean an amendment to this Agreement executed by each of (a) the Borrowers, (b) the Agent, (c) each Additional Refinancing Lender and (d) each Lender that agrees to provide any portion of Refinancing Term Loans in accordance with Section 2.9.

Refinancing Series” shall mean all Refinancing Term Loans or Refinancing Term 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 Refinancing Term Loans or Refinancing Term Commitments provided for therein are intended to be a part of any previously established Refinancing Series) and that provide for the same Effective Yield and amortization schedule.

Refinancing Term Commitments” shall mean one or more term loan commitments hereunder that fund Refinancing Term Loans of the applicable Refinancing Series hereunder pursuant to a Refinancing Amendment.

Refinancing Term Loans” shall mean one or more term loans hereunder that result from a Refinancing Amendment.

Register” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 14.7(b) hereto.

Registered Equivalent Notes” shall mean, 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.

Registered Public Accounting Firm” has the meaning specified by the Securities Laws and shall be independent of the Albertson’s Group as prescribed by the Securities Laws.

Related Parties” shall mean, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and of such Person’s Affiliates.

Reportable Event” shall mean any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than events for which the 30 day notice period has been waived.

Repricing Transaction” shall mean (1) the incurrence by the Parent Borrower or Safeway or any of their respective Restricted Subsidiaries of any Indebtedness (including, without limitation, any new or additional term loans under this Agreement, whether incurred directly or by way of the conversion of Term B Loans into a new tranche of Replacement Term Loans under this Agreement) that is broadly marketed or syndicated to banks and other institutional investors in financings similar to the facilities provided for in this Agreement (i) having an Effective Yield for the respective Type of such Indebtedness that is less than the Effective Yield for Term B Loans of the respective Type (with the comparative determinations to be made in the reasonable judgment of the Agent consistent with generally accepted

 

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financial practices, and without taking into account any fluctuations in ICE LIBOR or comparable rate), but excluding Indebtedness incurred in connection with a Change of Control and (ii) the proceeds of which are used to prepay (or, in the case of a conversion, deemed to prepay or replace), in whole or in part, outstanding principal of Term B Loans, excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any prepayment made with cash on hand or the proceeds of any revolving loans under the ABL Facility or any Qualified Real Estate Financing Facility or (2) any effective reduction in the Applicable Margin for Term Loans (e.g., by way of amendment, waiver or otherwise) (with such determination to be made in the reasonable judgment of the Agent, consistent with generally accepted financial practices). Any such determination by the Agent as contemplated by preceding clauses (1) and (2) shall be conclusive and binding on all Lenders holding Term B Loans absent manifest error.

Required Lenders” shall mean, as of any date of determination, Lenders having more than 50% of the sum of the Total Outstandings.

Responsible Officer” shall mean the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, vice president, treasurer or assistant treasurer of a Loan Party (or any individual performing substantially similar functions regardless of his or her title) or any of the other individuals designated in writing to the Agent by an existing Responsible Officer of a Loan Party as an authorized signatory of any certificate or other document to be delivered hereunder. 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 on behalf of such Loan Party.

Restatement Effective Date” shall mean August 25, 2014.

Restricted Payment” shall mean the declaration or payment of any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) on account of any Equity Interests of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, defeasance, acquisition, cancellation, termination of, or other acquisition for value of, any such Equity Interests.

Restricted Subsidiary” shall mean, at any time, any direct or indirect Subsidiary of Holdings that is not then an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided that upon an Unrestricted Subsidiary ceasing to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary, such Subsidiary shall be included in the definition of “Restricted Subsidiary”.

Retained Disposition Amount” shall mean, with respect to any Applicable Disposition, (a) 100% of the Net Proceeds of such Applicable Disposition minus (b) the amount of such Net Proceeds applied to prepay the Loans pursuant to Section 2.3(b)(ii).

Retained Percentage” shall mean, with respect to any Excess Cash Flow Period, (a) 100% minus (b) the Applicable ECF Percentage with respect to such Excess Cash Flow Period.

S&P” shall mean Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and any successor thereto.

Safeway” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble hereto.

Safeway Acquisition” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble hereto.

Safeway Merger Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble hereto.

 

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Safeway Notes Repurchases” means any purchase, redemption, defeasance, discharge, or retirement of the Existing Safeway Notes pursuant to the Change of Control Purchase Offers or otherwise.

Safeway Services Agreement” shall mean one or more services agreement between Safeway and NAI to be entered into contemporaneously with or subsequent to the Safeway Acquisition.

Same Day Funds” shall mean immediately available funds.

Sarbanes-Oxley” means the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

SEC” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority which may be substituted therefor.

Secured Party” or “Secured Parties” shall mean (a) individually, (i) each Lender, (ii) the Agent, any Arranger, any Lender, or any of their respective Affiliates which has provided Bank Products or Cash Management Services to the Loan Parties (or any Person that was the Agent, an Arranger or a Lender, or an Affiliate of the Agent, an Arranger or a Lender, at the time it entered into such Bank Products or Cash Management Services or, with respect to Bank Products or Cash Management Services entered into prior to the Escrow Release Date, on the Escrow Release Date or in connection with the initial syndication of the Loans), (iii) the Agent, (iv) each Arranger, (v) each beneficiary of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Loan Party under any Financing Agreement, Bank Product or Cash Management Service, (vi) any other Person to whom Obligations under this Agreement and other Financing Agreement are owing, and (vii) the successors and assigns of each of the foregoing, and (b) collectively, all of the foregoing.

Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, together with all rules, regulations and interpretations thereunder or related thereto.

Securities Laws” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Sarbanes-Oxley, and the applicable accounting and auditing principles, rules, standards and practices promulgated, approved or incorporated by the SEC or the PCAOB.

Security Agreement” shall mean the Second Amended and Restated Security Agreement, dated as of Escrow Release Date, among the Parent Borrower, the other grantors party thereto and the Agent in the form of Exhibit E hereto.

Senior Safeway Acquisition Debt” means any Indebtedness of the Loan Parties in the form of senior secured notes, senior secured credit facilities, or any combination thereof to be issued in connection with the consummation of the Safeway Acquisition in an aggregate principal amount of up to (x) $1,145,000,000 minus (y) the positive difference, if any, between (i) $645,000,000, and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of the Existing Safeway Notes purchased on (or within 90 days after) the date the Safeway Acquisition is consummated.

Senior Representative” shall mean, with respect to any series of Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt or Permitted Junior Priority Refinancing Debt, the trustee, 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.

Senior Secured Notes” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble hereto.

 

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Senior Secured Agent” shall mean Wilmington Trust, National Association, as notes collateral agent under the indenture for the Senior Secured Notes.

Shareholders’ Equity” shall mean, as of any date of determination, consolidated shareholders’ equity of the Albertson’s Group as of that date determined in accordance with GAAP.

Similar Business” means any business conducted or proposed to be conducted by Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries on the Escrow Release Date or any business that is similar, reasonably related, incidental, ancillary or complementary thereto, or is a reasonable extension, development or expansion thereof.

Solvent” and “Solvency” shall mean, with respect to any Person on a particular date, that on such date (a) at fair valuation, all of the properties and assets of such Person are greater than the sum of the debts, including contingent liabilities, of such Person, (b) the present fair saleable value of the properties and assets of such Person will be greater than the amount that would be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts and other liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as they become absolute and matured, (c) such Person is able to realize upon its properties and assets and pay its debts and other liabilities, contingent obligations and other commitments as they mature in the normal course of business, (d) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts beyond such Person’s ability to pay as such debts mature, and (e) such Person is not engaged in a business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in a business or transaction, for which such Person’s properties and assets would constitute unreasonably small capital after giving due consideration to the prevailing practices in the industry in which such Person is engaged. The amount of all guarantees at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in light of all the facts and circumstances existing at the time, can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

Solvency Certificate” shall mean a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit O executed by the chief financial officer of Holdings.

SPC” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 14.7(k) hereto.

Specified Acquisition Agreement Representations” shall mean (i) with respect to the Safeway Acquisition, the representations and warranties covered by the condition in Section 6.2(a) of the Safeway Merger Agreement (but only with respect to the representations and warranties that are material to the interest of the Lenders, and only to the extent that AB LLC (or its applicable Affiliate) has the right to terminate its obligations under the Safeway Merger Agreement or decline to consummate the Safeway Acquisition as a result of a breach of such representations and warranties and (ii) with respect to any Permitted Acquisition or Investment permitted hereunder to be financed in any part by the proceeds of Incremental Term Loan Commitments, the representations and warranties set forth in the definitive agreement therefor that are material to the interest of the Incremental Term Lenders, and only to the extent that the applicable Loan Party has the right to terminate its obligations under such agreement or decline to consummate the Permitted Acquisition or Investment as a result of a breach of such representations and warranties.

Specified Default” shall mean an Event of Default under Section 11.1(a), (g) or (h).

Specified Representations” shall mean the representations set forth in Sections 8.1(a), 8.1(b)(ii), 8.2(a), 8.2(d), 8.16, 8.17, 8.19, 8.20, 8.21, 8.22, 8.24 and 8.27 (subject to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement).

 

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Specified Transaction” shall mean any incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness (other than for working capital purposes) or Investment or capital contribution that results in a Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary, any acquisition or any disposition that results in a Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Subsidiary of a BorrowerHoldings, any Investment constituting an acquisition of assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division of another Person, or any Disposition of a business unit, line of business or division of Holdings, a Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary, in each case whether by merger, consolidation, amalgamation or otherwise.

Sponsor” shall mean, individually and collectively, (a) Cerberus Capital Management L.P., (b) Lubert-Adler Real Estate Fund V, L.P. (or Lubert-Adler Partners, LP), (c) Klaff Realty, L.P., (d) Schottenstein Stores Corporation, and (e) Kimco Realty Corporation.

Standard Securitization Undertakings” shall mean representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities and guarantees of performance entered into by Albertson’s Group which the Parent BorrowerHoldings has determined in good faith to be customary in a Receivables Financing including, without limitation, those relating to the servicing of the assets of a Receivables Subsidiary, it being understood that any Receivables Repurchase Obligation shall be deemed to be a Standard Securitization Undertaking.

Store” shall mean any retail store (which may include any real property, fixtures, equipment, inventory and other property related thereto) operated, or to be operated, by any Loan Party.

Subordinated Indebtedness” means Indebtedness which is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of the Obligations pursuant to subordination provisions in form and on terms reasonably approved in writing by the Agent.

Subsidiary” or “subsidiary” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership or other limited or general partnership, trust, association or other business entity of which an aggregate of at least a majority of the outstanding Equity Interests or other interests entitled to vote in the election of the board of directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether, at the time, Equity Interests of any other class or classes of such corporation shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency), managers, trustees or other controlling persons, or an equivalent controlling interest therein, of such Person is, at the time, directly or indirectly, owned by such Person and/or one or more subsidiaries of such Person.

Subsidiary Guarantor” shall mean each Subsidiary of Holdings (other than a Borrower) that is a Guarantor hereunder.

Successor Company” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.4(d) hereto.

SVU” shall have the meaning set forth in the Existing Debt Facility.

Swap Contract” shall mean (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and

 

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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 any obligation under a Swap Contract.

Swap Termination Value” shall mean, in respect of any one or more Swap Contracts, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Swap Contracts, (a) for any date on or after the date such Swap Contracts have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the mark-to-market value(s) for such Swap Contracts, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Swap Contracts (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).

Synthetic Lease Obligation” shall mean the monetary obligation of a Person under (a) a so-called synthetic, off-balance sheet or tax retention lease, or (b) an agreement for the use or possession of property (including sale and leaseback transactions), in each case, creating obligations that do not appear on the balance sheet of such Person but which, upon the application of any Debtor Relief Laws to such Person, would be characterized as the indebtedness of such Person (without regard to accounting treatment).

Target” shall mean any other Person or business unit or asset group of any other Person acquired or proposed to be acquired in a Permitted Acquisition or a Permitted Investment.

Tax Group” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.6(i) hereto.

Tax Indemnitee” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(e) hereto.

Taxes” shall mean all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings, assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

Term B Loans” shall mean, collectively, the Term B-2 Loans, the Term B-3 Loans, the Term B-4 Loans, the Term B-5 Loans, the 2016-1 Term B-4 Loans, the 2016-2 Term B-4 Loans, the 2017-1 Term B-4 Loans, the 2016-1 Term B-5 Loans, the 2016-2 Term B-5 Loans, the 2017-1 Term B-5 Loans, the Term B-6 Loans, the 2016-1 Term B-6 Loans, the 2017-1 Term B-6 Loans and, the 2018 Term B-7 Loans, the 2019-1 Term B-7 Loans and the 2019 Term B-8 Loans.

Term B-2 Lenders” shall mean, collectively, the Term Lenders with Term B-2 Loans on the Restatement Effective Date.

Term B-2 Loans” shall mean, collectively, (i) the term loans made by the Lenders and reclassified and continued on the Amendment No. 1 Effective Date pursuant to Section 2.1 in respect of the amount set forth under the caption “Term B-2 Commitment” in such Lender’s Lender Addendum (as defined in Amendment No. 1) to Amendment No. 1 or in the Assignment and Acceptance 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 2.8) or as allocated by the Agent and (ii) the term loans made by the Lenders and reclassified and continued on the Amendment No. 4 Effective Date pursuant to Section 2.1 in respect of the amount set forth under the caption “Term B-2 Commitment” in

 

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such Lender’s Lender Addendum (as defined in Amendment No. 4) to Amendment No. 4 or in the Assignment and Acceptance 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 2.8) or as allocated by the Agent. The aggregate amount of the Term B-2 Loans on the Restatement Effective Date is $1,437,032,166.71.

Term B-2 Maturity Date” shall mean March 21, 2019.

Term B-3 Commitments” shall mean, as to each Lender, its obligation to make a Term B-3 Loans to the Parent Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1(a) in an aggregate amount not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name in Schedule 1.01 (as in effect on the Escrow Release Date) under the caption “Term B-3 Commitment” or in the Assignment and Acceptance 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 2.8). The initial aggregate amount of the Term B-3 Commitments is $950,000,000.

Term B-3 Lenders” shall mean, collectively, the Term Lenders with Term B-3 Commitments on the Restatement Effective Date.

Term B-3 Loans” shall mean, collectively, the Term Loans made by the Term B-3 Lenders pursuant to Section 2.1.

Term B-3 Maturity Date” shall mean the date that is five (5) years from the Restatement Effective Date.

Term B-4 Commitments” shall mean, as to each Lender, its obligation to make a Term B-4 Loans to the Parent Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1(a) in an aggregate amount not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name in Schedule 1.01 (as in effect on the Escrow Release Date) under the caption “Term B-4 Commitment” or in the Assignment and Acceptance 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 2.8). The initial aggregate amount of the Term B-4 Commitments is $3,609,000,000.

Term B-4 Lenders” shall mean, collectively, the Term Lenders with Term B-4 Commitments on the Restatement Effective Date.

Term B-4 Loans” shall mean, collectively, the Term Loans made by the Term B-4 Lenders pursuant to Section 2.1.

Term B-4 Maturity Date” shall mean the date that is seven (7) years from the Restatement Effective Date.

Term B-5 Commitments” shall mean, as to each Lender, its obligation to make a Term B-5 Loan to the Parent Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1(a). The initial aggregate amount of the Term B-5 Commitments is $1,145,000,000.

Term B-5 Lenders” shall mean, collectively, the Term Lenders with Term B-5 Commitments on the Amendment No. 1 (B-5) Effective Date.

Term B-5 Loans” shall mean, collectively, the Term Loans made by the Term B-5 Lenders pursuant to Section 2.1(a).

 

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Term B-5 Maturity Date” shall mean December 21, 2022.

Term B-5 Repricing Event” shall mean (i) any prepayment or repayment of Term B-5 Loans with the proceeds of, or any conversion of such Term B-5 Loans into, any new or replacement tranche of any new or additional term loans under the Term Loan Agreement that is broadly marketed or syndicated to banks and other institutional investors in similar financings (excluding indebtedness incurred in connection with a change of control or acquisition (or similar investment) not otherwise permitted under this Agreement) and bearing interest at an effective interest rate less than the effective “yield” applicable to the Term B-5 Loans then in effect, and excluding for the avoidance of doubt, any prepayment or repayment of the Term B-5 Loans made with cash on hand or the proceeds of any revolving loans under the ABL Facility, and (ii) any amendment to this Agreement that reduces the effective applicable margin for the Term B-5 Loans.

Term B-6 Borrowing” shall mean a borrowing consisting of Term B-6 Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, an Interest Period as determined by the Parent Borrower in consultation with the Administrative Agent, pursuant to Section 2.1(d).

Term B-6 Commitment” shall meansmean any Exchange Term B-6 Commitment or Additional Term B-6 Commitment, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.4 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to (i) assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance, (ii) an Incremental Amendment or (iii) an Extension Election.

Term B-6 Loan” shall mean any Exchange Term B-6 Commitment or Additional Term B-6 Commitment.

Term B-6 Maturity Date” shall mean the date that is seven years from the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date.

Term B-6 Repricing Event” shall mean (i) any prepayment or repayment of Term B-6 Loans with the proceeds of, or any conversion of such Term B-6 Loans into, any new or replacement tranche of any new or additional term loans under the this Agreement that is broadly marketed or syndicated to banks and other institutional investors in similar financings (excluding indebtedness incurred in connection with a change of control or acquisition (or similar investment) not otherwise permitted under this Agreement) and bearing interest at an effective interest rate less than the effective “yield” applicable to the Term B-6 Loans then in effect, and excluding for the avoidance of doubt, any prepayment or repayment of the Term B-6 Loans made with cash on hand or the proceeds of any revolving loans under the ABL Facility and (ii) any amendment to this Agreement that reduces the effective applicable margin for the Term B-6 Loans.

Term Commitment” shall mean, as to each Lender, its obligation to make a Term Loan to the Parent Borrower hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum principal amount of the Term Loan to be made by such Lender under this Agreement, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.3 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to (i) assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance, (ii) an Incremental Amendment, (iii) a Refinancing Amendment or (iv) an Extension Amendment. The initial amount of each Lender’s Commitment is set forth in Schedule 1.01 under the caption “Term B-3 Commitment”, “Term B-4 Commitment” or, otherwise, in the Assignment and Acceptance, Incremental Amendment or Refinancing Amendment pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Commitment, as the case may be.

 

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Term Lender” shall mean any Lender that had a Term Commitment or any Lender that has purchased a Term Loan pursuant to one or more Assignment and Acceptance in accordance with the terms hereof.

Term Loan” shall mean any Term B Loan, Incremental Term Loan, Other Term Loan or Extended Term Loan, as the context may require.

Term Loan Extension Request” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(a) hereto.

Term Loan Extension Series” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(a) hereto.

Term Loan Intercreditor Agreement” shall mean the intercreditor agreement to be dated the date of the Escrow Release Date among the Agent, the Senior Secured Agent, the Parent Borrower and the Guarantors, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit N-2 hereto, as the same may be amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.

Term Note” shall mean a note evidencing Loans in the form of Exhibit D.

Test Period” shall mean, for any date of determination under this Agreement, the latest four consecutive Quarterly Accounting Periods of Holdings for which financial statements have been delivered to the Agent on or prior to the Escrow Release Date and/or for which financial statements are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 9.5, as applicable.

Third Party Payors” shall mean any private health insurance company that is obligated to reimburse or otherwise make payments to pharmacies which sell prescription drugs to eligible patients under Medicare, Medicaid or any insurance contract with such private health insurer.

Total Assets” shall mean the total consolidated assets of the Albertson’s Group, as shown on the most recent financial statements of Holdings that Agent has received in accordance with Section 9.5 hereof (or of the Parent Borrower and Safeway and shown on the Audited Financial Statements delivered pursuant to Section 4.1 of the Existing Debt Facility, as applicable).

Total Leverage Ratio” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Debt as of such date to (b) EBITDA of the Albertson’s Group for the most recently ended Test Period on or prior to such date.

Total Outstandings” shall mean the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans.

Trading with the Enemy Act” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.20.

Transactions” shall mean, collectively, (a) the Equity Contribution, (b) the Debt Refinancing and the Safeway Notes Repurchases, (c) the consummation of the Safeway Acquisition and the other transactions contemplated by the Safeway Merger Agreement, (d) the incurrence of the initial Term Loans hereunder (including the entering into of the Escrow Agreement, the funding of the Escrow Account and the release of the funds therefrom), the ABL Facility Indebtedness and Secured Safeway Acquisition Debt incurred on or prior to the Escrow Release Date, (e) the securing of the Ratably Secured Notes on a second lien basis and (f) the payment of the fees and expenses (including OID and upfront fees) incurred in connection with any of the foregoing.

 

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Transformative Acquisition” shall mean any merger, investment or acquisition that is either (a) not permitted by the terms of this Agreement immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction or (b) if permitted by the terms of this Agreement immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction, would not provide Holdings, the Borrowers or the Restricted Subsidiaries with adequate flexibility under this Agreement for the continuation and/or expansion of their combined operations following such consummation, as determined by the Parent BorrowerHoldings acting in good faith.

Transition Services Agreement” shall mean the Transition Services Agreement, dated of the Original Closing Date, by and between the Parent Borrower and SVU, as the same may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced.

Trust Funds” shall have the same meaning assigned to it in the MoneyGram Agreement (as in effect on the Escrow Release Date).

Type” shall mean, with respect to a Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a Eurodollar Rate Loan.

UCC” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York, and any successor statute, as in effect from time to time (except that terms used herein which are defined in the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York on the Escrow Release Date shall continue to have the same meaning notwithstanding any replacement or amendment of such statute except as Agent may otherwise determine); provided, however, that at any time, if by reason of mandatory provisions of law, any or all of the perfections or priority of Agent’s security interest in any item or portion of the Collateral is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in a jurisdiction other than the State of New York, the term “UCC” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in such other jurisdictions and any successor statute, as in effect from time to time, for purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such perfection or priority or for purposes of definitions relating to such provisions.

United States Tax Compliance Certificate” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(d)(2)(C) hereto.

Unrestricted Subsidiary” shall mean (i) as of the Escrow Release Date, each Subsidiary of Holdings listed on Schedule 1.04, (ii) any Subsidiary of Holdings (other than the Parent Borrower or Safeway) designated by the Board of Directors of Holdings as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 10.14 subsequent to the Escrow Release Date, (iii) each Receivables Subsidiary and (iv) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

U.S. Lender” shall mean any Lender that is a “United States person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

Valuation” shall mean, in relation to any Mortgaged Property, a valuation of such Mortgaged Property made at any relevant time by an Approved Broker, on the basis of a sale for prompt delivery for cash at arms’ length on customary commercial terms as between a willing seller and a willing buyer. If any Approved Broker shall deliver a Valuation indicating a range of values for a Mortgaged Property, the Valuation for such Mortgaged Property shall be the arithmetic mean of the two endpoints of such range.

Value Component” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of Loan-to-Value Ratio.

 

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Voting Stock” shall mean with respect to any Person, (a) one (1) or more classes of Equity Interests of such Person having general voting powers to elect at least a majority of the board of directors, managers or trustees of such Person, irrespective of whether at the time Equity Interests of any other class or classes have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency, and (b) any Equity Interests of such Person convertible or exchangeable without restriction at the option of the holder thereof into Equity Interests of such Person described in clause (a) of this definition.

Weighted Average Life to Maturity” shall mean, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the quotient obtained by dividing (i) 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 multiplied by the amount of such payment, by (ii) the sum of all such payments.

Wellness Center Assets” means the personal property assets comprising the wellness centers of Holdings and its Subsidiaries.

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 2. CREDIT FACILITIES

2.1 Loans.

(a) Prior to (i) the Restatement Effective Date, the Lenders made Term B-2 Loans and (ii) the Escrow Release Date, the Lenders made Term B-3 Loans and Term B-4 Loans to the Parent Borrower. Upon the Escrow Release Date, such existing Term B-2 Loans, Term B-3 Loans and Term B-4 Loans shall be deemed to have been made under this Agreement. On the Amendment No. 1 (B-5) Effective Date, the Lenders made the Term B-5 Loans. Amounts borrowed under this Section 2.1(a) and repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans as further provided herein.

(b) The 2016-1 Term B-4 Borrowings

(i) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and set forth in Amendment No. 4 (B-6), each Exchange Term B-4 Lender severally agrees to exchange its Exchanged Term B-4 Loans for a like principal amount of Exchange 2016-1 Term B-4 Loans on the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date. Exchange 2016-1 Term B-4 Loans repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. Exchange 2016-1 Term B-4 Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein. All Exchange 2016-1 Term B-4 Loans exchanged on the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date by Lenders of Exchanged Term B-4 Loans will initially have the same Type of Loan and Interest Period applicable to such Exchanged Term B-4 Loans (which may be an Interest Period ending on the same date as the Interest Period applicable to such Exchanged Term B-4 Loans being refinanced, notwithstanding the required periods set forth in the definition of Interest Period).

(ii) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and set forth in Amendment No. 4 (B-6), each Additional 2016-1 Term B-4 Lender severally agrees to make an Additional 2016-1 Term B-4 Loan to the Borrowers on the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date in the principal amount equal to its Additional 2016-1 Term B-4 Commitment on the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date. The Borrowers shall prepay the Non-Exchanged Term B-4 Loans with a like amount of the gross proceeds of the Additional 2016-1 Term B-4 Loans, concurrently with the receipt thereof. Amounts

 

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borrowed under this clause (ii) and repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. Additional 2016-1 Term B-4 Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein. All Additional 2016-1 Term B-4 Loans will have the Type of Loan and Interest Period specified in the Committed Loan Notice delivered in connection therewith (which may be an Interest Period ending on the same date as the Interest Period applicable to such Non-Exchanged Term B-4 Loans being refinanced, notwithstanding the required periods set forth in the definition of Interest Period).

(iii) The Borrowers shall pay to each Term B-4 Lender, substantially concurrently with the effectiveness of Amendment No. 4 (B-6), all accrued and unpaid interest on its Term B-4 Loans, as applicable, to, but not including, the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date on such Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date.

(c) The 2016-1 Term B-5 Borrowings

(i) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and set forth in Amendment No. 4 (B-6), each Exchange Term B-5 Lender severally agrees to exchange its Exchanged Term B-5 Loans for a like principal amount of Exchange 2016-1 Term B-5 Loans on the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date. Exchange 2016-1 Term B-5 Loans repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. Exchange 2016-1 Term B-5 Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein. All Exchange 2016-1 Term B-5 Loans exchanged on the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date by Lenders of Exchanged Term B-5 Loans will initially have the same Type of Loan and Interest Period applicable to such Exchanged Term B-5 Loans (which may be an Interest Period ending on the same date as the Interest Period applicable to such Exchanged Term B-5 Loans being refinanced, notwithstanding the required periods set forth in the definition of Interest Period).

(ii) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and set forth in Amendment No. 4 (B-6), each Additional 2016-1 Term B-5 Lender severally agrees to make an Additional 2016-1 Term B-5 Loan to the Borrowers on the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date in the principal amount equal to its Additional 2016-1 Term B-5 Commitment on the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date. The Borrowers shall prepay the Non-Exchanged Term B-5 Loans with a like amount of the gross proceeds of the Additional 2016-1 Term B-5 Loans, concurrently with the receipt thereof. Amounts borrowed under this clause (ii) and repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. Additional 2016-1 Term B-5 Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein. All Additional 2016-1 Term B-5 Loans will have the Type of Loan and Interest Period specified in the Committed Loan Notice delivered in connection therewith (which may be an Interest Period ending on the same date as the Interest Period applicable to such Non-Exchanged Term B-5 Loans being refinanced, notwithstanding the required periods set forth in the definition of Interest Period).

(iii) The Borrowers shall pay to each Term B-5 Lender, substantially concurrently with the effectiveness of Amendment No. 4 (B-6), all accrued and unpaid interest on its Term B-5 Loans, as applicable, to, but not including, the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date on such Amendment No. 4 Effective Date.

(d) The Term B-6 Borrowings

(i) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and set forth in Amendment No. 4 (B-6), each Exchange Term B-2 Lender and Exchange Term B-3 Lender severally agrees to exchange its Exchanged Term B-2 Loans or Exchanged Term B-3 Loans, as applicable, for a like principal amount of Exchange Term B-6 Loans on the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date. Exchange Term B-6 Loans repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. Exchange Term B-6 Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein. All Exchange Term B-6 Loans exchanged on

 

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the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date by Lenders of Exchanged Term B-2 Loans or Exchanged Term B-3 Loans, as applicable, will initially be a Type and have an Interest Period as determined by the Parent Borrower in consultation with the Administrative Agent (which may be an Interest Period ending on the same date as the Interest Period applicable to the Exchanged Term B-2 Loans or Exchanged Term B-3 Loans being refinanced, notwithstanding the required periods set forth in the definition of Interest Period).

(ii) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and set forth in Amendment No. 4 (B-6), each Additional Term B-6 Lender severally agrees to make an Additional Term B-6 Loan to the Borrowers on the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date in the principal amount equal to its Additional Term B-6 Commitment on the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date. The Borrowers shall prepay the Non-Exchanged Term B-2 Loans and Non-Exchanged Term B-3 Loans with a like amount of the gross proceeds of the Additional Term B-6 Loans, concurrently with the receipt thereof. Amounts borrowed under this clause (ii) and repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. Additional Term B-6 Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein. All Additional Term B-6 Loans will have the Type of Loan and Interest Period specified in the Committed Loan Notice delivered in connection therewith (which may be an Interest Period ending on the same date as the Interest Period applicable to the Non-Exchanged Term B-2 Loans or Non-Exchanged Term B-3 Loans being refinanced, notwithstanding the required periods set forth in the definition of Interest Period).

(iii) The Borrowers shall pay to each Term B-2 Lender and Term B-3 Lender, substantially concurrently with the effectives of Amendment No. 4 (B-6), all accrued and unpaid interest on its Term B-2 Loans or Term B-3 Loans, as applicable, to, but not including, the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date on such Amendment No. 4 Effective Date.

(e) The 2016-2 Term B-4 Borrowings

(i) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and set forth in Amendment No. 5 (2016-2), each Exchange 2016-1 Term B-4 Lender severally agrees to exchange its Exchanged 2016-1 Term B-4 Loans for a like principal amount of Exchange 2016-2 Term B-4 Loans on the Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Effective Date. Exchange 2016-2 Term B-4 Loans repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. Exchange 2016-2 Term B-4 Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein. All Exchange 2016-2 Term B-4 Loans exchanged on the Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Effective Date by Lenders of Exchanged 2016-1 Term B-4 Loans will initially have the same Type of Loan and Interest Period applicable to such Exchanged 2016-1 Term B-4 Loans (which may be an Interest Period ending on the same date as the Interest Period applicable to such Exchanged 2016-1 Term B-4 Loans being refinanced, notwithstanding the required periods set forth in the definition of Interest Period).

(ii) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and set forth in Amendment No. 5 (2016-2), each Additional 2016-2 Term B-4 Lender severally agrees to make an Additional 2016-2 Term B-4 Loan to the Borrowers on the Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Effective Date in the principal amount equal to its Additional 2016-2 Term B-4 Commitment on the Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Effective Date. The Borrowers shall prepay the Non-Exchanged 2016-1 Term B-4 Loans with a like amount of the gross proceeds of the Additional 2016-2 Term B-4 Loans, concurrently with the receipt thereof. Amounts borrowed under this clause (ii) and repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. Additional 2016-2 Term B-4 Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein. All Additional 2016-2 Term B-4 Loans will have the Type of Loan and Interest Period specified in the Committed Loan Notice delivered in connection therewith (which may be an Interest Period ending on the same date as the Interest Period applicable to such Non-Exchanged 2016-1 Term B-4 Loans being refinanced, notwithstanding the required periods set forth in the definition of Interest Period).

 

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(iii) The Borrowers shall pay to each 2016-1 Term B-4 Lender, substantially concurrently with the effectiveness of Amendment No. 5 (2016-2), all accrued and unpaid interest on its 2016-1 Term B-4 Loans, as applicable, to, but not including, the Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Effective Date on such Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Effective Date.

(f) The 2016-2 Term B-5 Borrowings

(i) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and set forth in Amendment No. 5 (2016-2), each Exchange 2016-1 Term B-5 Lender severally agrees to exchange its Exchanged 2016-1 Term B-5 Loans for a like principal amount of Exchange 2016-2 Term B-5 Loans on the Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Effective Date. Exchange 2016-2 Term B-5 Loans repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. Exchange 2016-2 Term B-5 Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein. All Exchange 2016-2 Term B-5 Loans exchanged on the Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Effective Date by Lenders of Exchanged 2016-1 Term B-5 Loans will initially have the same Type of Loan and Interest Period applicable to such Exchanged 2016-1 Term B-5 Loans (which may be an Interest Period ending on the same date as the Interest Period applicable to such Exchanged 2016-1 Term B-5 Loans being refinanced, notwithstanding the required periods set forth in the definition of Interest Period).

(ii) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and set forth in Amendment No. 5 (2016-2), each Additional 2016-2 Term B-5 Lender severally agrees to make an Additional 2016-2 Term B-5 Loan to the Borrowers on the Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Effective Date in the principal amount equal to its Additional 2016-2 Term B-5 Commitment on the Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Effective Date. The Borrowers shall prepay the Non-Exchanged 2016-1 Term B-5 Loans with a like amount of the gross proceeds of the Additional 2016-2 Term B-5 Loans, concurrently with the receipt thereof. Amounts borrowed under this clause (ii) and repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. Additional 2016-2 Term B-5 Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein. All Additional 2016-2 Term B-5 Loans will have the Type of Loan and Interest Period specified in the Committed Loan Notice delivered in connection therewith (which may be an Interest Period ending on the same date as the Interest Period applicable to such Non-Exchanged 2016-1 Term B-5 Loans being refinanced, notwithstanding the required periods set forth in the definition of Interest Period).

(iii) The Borrowers shall pay to each 2016-1 Term B-5 Lender, substantially concurrently with the effectiveness of Amendment No. 5 (2016-2), all accrued and unpaid interest on its 2016-1 Term B-5 Loans, as applicable, to, but not including, the Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Effective Date on such Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Effective Date.

(g) The 2016-1 Term B-6 Borrowings

(i) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and set forth in Amendment No. 5 (2016-2), each Exchange Term B-6 Lender severally agrees to exchange its Exchanged Term B-6 Loans for a like principal amount of Exchange 2016-1 Term B-6 Loans on the Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Effective Date. Exchange 2016-1 Term B-6 Loans repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. Exchange 2016-1 Term B-6 Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein. All Exchange 2016-1 Term B-6 Loans exchanged on the Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Effective Date by Lenders of Exchanged Term B-6 Loans will initially be a Type and have an Interest Period as determined by the Parent Borrower in consultation with the Administrative Agent (which may be an Interest Period ending on the same date as the Interest Period applicable to the Exchanged Term B-6 Loans being refinanced, notwithstanding the required periods set forth in the definition of Interest Period).

 

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(ii) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and set forth in Amendment No. 5 (2016-2), each Additional 2016-1 Term B-6 Lender severally agrees to make an Additional 2016-1 Term B-6 Loan to the Borrowers on the Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Effective Date in the principal amount equal to its Additional 2016-1 Term B-6 Commitment on the Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Effective Date. The Borrowers shall prepay the Non-Exchanged Term B-6 Loans with a like amount of the gross proceeds of the Additional 2016-1 Term B-6 Loans, concurrently with the receipt thereof. Amounts borrowed under this clause (ii) and repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. Additional 2016-1 Term B-6 Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein. All Additional 2016-1 Term B-6 Loans will have the Type of Loan and Interest Period specified in the Committed Loan Notice delivered in connection therewith (which may be an Interest Period ending on the same date as the Interest Period applicable to the Non-Exchanged Term B-6 Loans being refinanced, notwithstanding the required periods set forth in the definition of Interest Period).

(iii) The Borrowers shall pay to each Term B-6 Lender, substantially concurrently with the effectives of Amendment No. 5 (2016-2), all accrued and unpaid interest on its Term B-6 Loans to, but not including, the Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Effective Date on such Amendment No. 5 (2016-2) Effective Date.

(h) The 2017-1 Term B-4 Borrowings

(i) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and set forth in Amendment No. 6 (2017-1), each Exchange 2016-2 Term B-4 Lender severally agrees to exchange its Exchanged 2016-2 Term B-4 Loans for a like principal amount of Exchange 2017-1 Term B-4 Loans on the Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Effective Date. Exchange 2017-1 Term B-4 Loans repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. Exchange 2017-1 Term B-4 Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein. All Exchange 2017-1 Term B-4 Loans exchanged on the Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Effective Date by Lenders of Exchanged 2016-2 Term B-4 Loans will initially have the same Type of Loan and Interest Period applicable to such Exchanged 2016-2 Term B-4 Loans (which may be an Interest Period ending on the same date as the Interest Period applicable to such Exchanged 2016-2 Term B-4 Loans being refinanced, notwithstanding the required periods set forth in the definition of Interest Period).

(ii) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and set forth in Amendment No. 6 (2017-1), each Additional 2017-1 Term B-4 Lender severally agrees to make an Additional 2017-1 Term B-4 Loan to the Borrowers on the Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Effective Date in the principal amount equal to its Additional 2017-1 Term B-4 Commitment on the Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Effective Date. The Borrowers shall prepay the Non-Exchanged 2016-2 Term B-4 Loans with a like amount of the gross proceeds of the Additional 2017-1 Term B-4 Loans, concurrently with the receipt thereof. Amounts borrowed under this clause (ii) and repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. Additional 2017-1 Term B-4 Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein. All Additional 2017-1 Term B-4 Loans will have the Type of Loan and Interest Period specified in the Committed Loan Notice delivered in connection therewith (which may be an Interest Period ending on the same date as the Interest Period applicable to such Non-Exchanged 2016-2 Term B-4 Loans being refinanced, notwithstanding the required periods set forth in the definition of Interest Period).

(iii) The Borrowers shall pay to each 2016-2 Term B-4 Lender, substantially concurrently with the effectiveness of Amendment No. 6 (2017-1), all accrued and unpaid interest on its 2016-2 Term B-4 Loans, as applicable, to, but not including, the Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Effective Date on such Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Effective Date.

 

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(i) The 2017-1 Term B-5 Borrowings

(i) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and set forth in Amendment No. 6 (2017-1), each Exchange 2016-2 Term B-5 Lender severally agrees to exchange its Exchanged 2016-2 Term B-5 Loans for a like principal amount of Exchange 2017-1 Term B-5 Loans on the Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Effective Date. Exchange 2017-1 Term B-5 Loans repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. Exchange 2017-1 Term B-5 Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein. All Exchange 2017-1 Term B-5 Loans exchanged on the Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Effective Date by Lenders of Exchanged 2016-2 Term B-5 Loans will initially have the same Type of Loan and Interest Period applicable to such Exchanged 2016-2 Term B-5 Loans (which may be an Interest Period ending on the same date as the Interest Period applicable to such Exchanged 2016-2 Term B-5 Loans being refinanced, notwithstanding the required periods set forth in the definition of Interest Period).

(ii) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and set forth in Amendment No. 6 (2017-1), each Additional 2017-1 Term B-5 Lender severally agrees to make an Additional 2017-1 Term B-5 Loan to the Borrowers on the Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Effective Date in the principal amount equal to its Additional 2017-1 Term B-5 Commitment on the Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Effective Date. The Borrowers shall prepay the Non-Exchanged 2016-2 Term B-5 Loans with a like amount of the gross proceeds of the Additional 2017-1 Term B-5 Loans, concurrently with the receipt thereof. Amounts borrowed under this clause (ii) and repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. Additional 2017-1 Term B-5 Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein. All Additional 2017-1 Term B-5 Loans will have the Type of Loan and Interest Period specified in the Committed Loan Notice delivered in connection therewith (which may be an Interest Period ending on the same date as the Interest Period applicable to such Non-Exchanged 2016-2 Term B-5 Loans being refinanced, notwithstanding the required periods set forth in the definition of Interest Period).

(iii) The Borrowers shall pay to each 2016-2 Term B-5 Lender, substantially concurrently with the effectiveness of Amendment No. 6 (2017-1), all accrued and unpaid interest on its 2016-2 Term B-5 Loans, as applicable, to, but not including, the Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Effective Date on such Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Effective Date.

(j) The 2017-1 Term B-6 Borrowings

(i) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and set forth in Amendment No. 6 (2017-1), each Exchange 2016-1 Term B-6 Lender severally agrees to exchange its Exchanged 2016-1 Term B-6 Loans for a like principal amount of Exchange 2017-1 Term B-6 Loans on the Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Effective Date. Exchange 2017-1 Term B-6 Loans repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. Exchange 2017-1 Term B-6 Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein. All Exchange 2017-1 Term B-6 Loans exchanged on the Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Effective Date by Lenders of Exchanged 2016-1 Term B-6 Loans will initially have the same Type of Loan and Interest Period applicable to such Exchanged 2016-1 Term B-6 Loans (which may be an Interest Period ending on the same date as the Interest Period applicable to such Exchanged 2016-1 Term B-6 Loans being refinanced, notwithstanding the required periods set forth in the definition of Interest Period).

 

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(ii) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and set forth in Amendment No. 6 (2017-1), each Additional 2017-1 Term B-6 Lender severally agrees to make an Additional 2017-1 Term B-6 Loan to the Borrowers on the Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Effective Date in the principal amount equal to its Additional 2017-1 Term B-6 Commitment on the Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Effective Date. The Borrowers shall prepay the Non-Exchanged 2016-1 Term B-6 Loans with a like amount of the gross proceeds of the Additional 2017-1 Term B-6 Loans, concurrently with the receipt thereof. Amounts borrowed under this clause (ii) and repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. Additional 2017-1 Term B-6 Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein. All Additional 2017-1 Term B-6 Loans will have the Type of Loan and Interest Period specified in the Committed Loan Notice delivered in connection therewith (which may be an Interest Period ending on the same date as the Interest Period applicable to such Non-Exchanged 2016-1 Term B-6 Loans being refinanced, notwithstanding the required periods set forth in the definition of Interest Period).

(iii) The Borrowers shall pay to each 2016-1 Term B-6 Lender, substantially concurrently with the effectiveness of Amendment No. 6 (2017-1), all accrued and unpaid interest on its 2016-1 Term B-6 Loans, as applicable, to, but not including, the Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Effective Date on such Amendment No. 6 (2017-1) Effective Date.

(k) The 2018 Term B-7 Borrowings

(i) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and set forth in Amendment No. 7 (2018), each Exchange 2017-1 Term B-4 Lender severally agrees to exchange its Exchanged 2017-1 Term B-4 Loans for a like principal amount of Exchange 2018 Term B-7 Loans on the Amendment No. 7 (2018) Effective Date. Exchange 2018 Term B-7 Loans repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. Exchange 2018 Term B-7 Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein. All Exchange 2018 Term B-7 Loans exchanged on the Amendment No. 7 (2018) Effective Date by Lenders of Exchanged 2017-1 Term B-4 Loans will initially have the same Type of Loan and Interest Period applicable to such Exchanged 2017-1 Term B-4 Loans (which may be an Interest Period ending on the same date as the Interest Period applicable to such Exchanged 2017-1 Term B-4 Loans being refinanced, notwithstanding the required periods set forth in the definition of Interest Period).

(ii) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and set forth in Amendment No. 7 (2018), each Additional 2018 Term B-7 Lender severally agrees to make an Additional 2018 Term B-7 Loan to the Borrowers on the Amendment No. 7 (2018) Effective Date in the principal amount equal to its Additional 2018 Term B-7 Commitment on the Amendment No. 7 (2018) Effective Date. The Borrowers shall prepay the Non-Exchanged 2017-1 Term B-4 Loans with a like amount of the gross proceeds of the Additional 2018 Term B-4 Loans, concurrently with the receipt thereof. Amounts borrowed under this clause (ii) and repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. Additional 2018 Term B-7 Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein. All Additional 2018 Term B-7 Loans will have the Type of Loan and Interest Period specified in the Committed Loan Notice delivered in connection therewith (which may be an Interest Period ending on the same date as the Interest Period applicable to such Non-Exchanged 2017-1 Term B-4 Loans being refinanced, notwithstanding the required periods set forth in the definition of Interest Period).

(iii) The Borrowers shall pay to each 2017-1 Term B-4 Lender, substantially concurrently with the effectiveness of Amendment No. 7 (2018), all accrued and unpaid interest on its 2017-1 Term B-4 Loans, as applicable, to, but not including, the Amendment No. 7 (2018) Effective Date on such Amendment No. 7 (2018) Effective Date.

 

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(l) The 2019-1 Term B-7 Borrowings

(i) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and set forth in Amendment No. 8 (2019), each Exchange 2018 Term B-7 Lender agrees to exchange its Exchanged 2018 Term B-7 Loans for a like principal amount of Exchange 2019-1 Term B-7 Loans on the Amendment No. 8 (2019) Effective Date. Exchange 2019-1 Term B-7 Loans repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. Exchange 2019-1 Term B-7 Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein. All Exchange 2019-1 Term B-7 Loans exchanged on the Amendment No. 8 (2019) Effective Date by Lenders of Exchanged 2018 Term B-7 Loans will initially have the same Type of Loan and Interest Period applicable to such Exchanged 2018 Term B-7 Loans (which may be an Interest Period ending on the same date as the Interest Period applicable to such Exchanged 2018 Term B-7 Loans being refinanced, notwithstanding the required periods set forth in the definition of Interest Period).

(ii) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and set forth in Amendment No. 8 (2019), each Additional 2019-1 Term B-7 Lender severally agrees to make an Additional 2019-1 Term B-7 Loan to the Borrowers on the Amendment No. 8 (2019) Effective Date in the principal amount equal to its Additional 2019-1 Term B-7 Commitment on the Amendment No. 8 (2019) Effective Date. The Borrowers shall prepay the Non-Exchanged 2018 Term B-7 Loans with a like amount of the gross proceeds of the Additional 2019-1 Term B-7 Loans, concurrently with the receipt thereof. Amounts borrowed under this clause (ii) and repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. Additional 2019-1 Term B-7 Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein. All Additional 2019-1 Term B-7 Loans will have the Type of Loan and Interest Period specified in the Committed Loan Notice delivered in connection therewith (which may be an Interest Period ending on the same date as the Interest Period applicable to such Non-Exchanged 2018 Term B-7 Loans being refinanced, notwithstanding the required periods set forth in the definition of Interest Period).

(iii) The Borrowers shall pay to each 2018 Term B-7 Lender substantially concurrently with the effectiveness of Amendment No. 8 (2019), all accrued and unpaid interest on its 2018 Term B-7 Loans to, but not including, the Amendment No. 8 (2019) Effective Date on such Amendment No. 8 (2019) Effective Date.

(m) The 2019 Term B-8 Borrowings

(i) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and set forth in Amendment No. 8 (2019), each Exchange 2017-1 Term B-5 Lender and Exchange 2017-1 Term B-6 Lender severally agrees to exchange its Exchanged 2017-1 Term B-5 Loans or Exchanged 2017-1 Term B-6 Loans, respectively, for a like principal amount of Exchange 2019 Term B-8 Loans on the Amendment No. 8 (2019) Effective Date. Exchange 2019 Term B-8 Loans repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. Exchange 2019 Term B-8 Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein. All Exchange 2019 Term B-8 Loans exchanged on the Amendment No. 8 (2019) Effective Date by Lenders of Exchanged 2017-1 Term B-5 Loans or Exchanged 2017-1 Term B-6 Loans will initially have the same Type of Loan and Interest Period applicable to such Exchanged 2017-1 Term B-5 Loans or Exchanged 2017 Term B-6 Loans, respectively, (which may be an Interest Period ending on the same date as the Interest Period applicable to such Exchanged 2017-1 Term B-5 Loans or Exchanged 2017-1 Term B-6 Loans, as applicable, being refinanced, notwithstanding the required periods set forth in the definition of Interest Period).

(ii) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and set forth in Amendment No. 8 (2019), each Additional 2019 Term B-8 Lender severally agrees to make an Additional 2019 Term B-8 Loan to the Borrowers on the Amendment No. 8 (2019) Effective Date in the principal amount equal to its Additional 2019 Term B-8 Commitment on the Amendment No. 8 (2019) Effective Date. The Borrowers shall prepay the Non-Exchanged 2017-1 Term B-5 Loans or Non-Exchanged 2017-1 Term B-6 Loans, as applicable, with a like amount of the gross proceeds of the Additional 2019 Term B-8 Loans,

 

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concurrently with the receipt thereof. Amounts borrowed under this clause (ii) and repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. Additional 2019 Term B-8 Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein. All Additional 2019 Term B-8 Loans will have the Type of Loan and Interest Period specified in the Committed Loan Notice delivered in connection therewith (which may be an Interest Period ending on the same date as the Interest Period applicable to such Non-Exchanged 2017-1 Term B-5 Loans or Non-Exchanged 2017-1 Term B-6 Loans, as applicable, being refinanced, notwithstanding the required periods set forth in the definition of Interest Period).

(iii) The Borrowers shall pay to each 2017-1 Term B-5 Lender and 2017-1 Term B-6 Lender substantially concurrently with the effectiveness of Amendment No. 8 (2019), all accrued and unpaid interest on its 2017-1 Term B-5 Loans and 2017-1 Term B-6 Loans, as applicable, to, but not including, the Amendment No. 8 (2019) Effective Date on such Amendment No. 8 (2019) Effective Date.

(n) (l) Each Borrowing, each conversion of Term Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be made upon the applicable Borrower’s irrevocable written notice, to the Agent. Each such notice must be received by the Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (New York, New York time) (1) three (3) Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans or any conversion of Base Rate Loans to Eurodollar Rate Loans, and (2) on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans. Except as provided in Section 2.8, each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a minimum principal amount of $1,000,000, or a whole multiple of $100,000, in excess thereof. Except as provided in Section 2.8, each Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be in a minimum principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. Each Committed Loan Notice shall specify (i) whether the applicable Borrower is requesting a Borrowing, a conversion of Term Loans from one Type to the other or a continuation of Eurodollar 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 are to be converted, (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto and (vi) wire instructions of the account(s) to which funds are to be disbursed (it being understood, for the avoidance of doubt, that the amount to be disbursed to any particular account may be less than the minimum or multiple limitations set forth above so long as the aggregate amount to be disbursed to all such accounts pursuant to such Borrowing meets such minimums and multiples); provided that in the case of the Borrowings on the Restatement Effective Date such accounts were the Escrow Account. If the applicable Borrower fails to specify a Type of Loan in a Committed Loan Notice or fail to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Term 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 Eurodollar Rate Loans. If the applicable Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans in any such Committed Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one (1) month.

(o) (m) Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, the Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement of the applicable Class of Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the applicable Borrower, the Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans or continuation described in Section 2.1(b). In the case of each Borrowing, each Lender shall make the amount of its Loan available to the Agent in Same Day Funds at the Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice. The Agent shall make all funds so received available to the applicable Borrower in like funds as received by the Agent either by (i) crediting the account(s) of the applicable Borrower on the books of the Agent with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided by the applicable Borrower to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Agent.

 

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(p) (n) Except as otherwise provided herein, a Eurodollar Rate Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurodollar Rate Loan unless the applicable Borrower pays the amount due, if any, under Section 3.3 in connection therewith. During the occurrence and continuation of an Event of Default, the Agent or the Required Lenders may require that no Loans may be converted to or continued as Eurodollar Rate Loans.

(q) (o) The Agent shall promptly notify the Borrowers and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Eurodollar Rate Loans upon determination of such interest rate. The determination of the Eurodollar Rate by the Agent shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. At any time that Base Rate Loans are outstanding, the Agent shall notify the Borrowers and the Lenders of any change in Credit Suisse’s prime rate used in determining the Base Rate promptly following the public announcement of such change.

(r) (p) After giving effect to all Borrowings, all conversions of Term Loans from one Type to the other and all continuations of Term Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than six (6) Interest Periods in effect; provided that after the establishment of any new Class of Loans pursuant to a Refinancing Amendment or Extension Amendment, the number of Interest Periods otherwise permitted by this Section 2.1(lr) shall increase by three (3) Interest Periods for each applicable Class so established.

(s) (q) The failure of any Lender to make the Loan to be made by it as part of any Borrowing shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation, if any, hereunder to make its Loan on the date of such Borrowing, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make the Loan to be made by such other Lender on the date of any Borrowing.

(t) (r) Unless the Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Agent such Lender’s Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement of such Borrowing, the Agent may assume that such Lender has made such Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement available to the Agent on the date of such Borrowing in accordance with paragraph (b) above, and the Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the applicable Borrower on such date a corresponding amount. If the Agent shall have so made funds available, then, to the extent that such Lender shall not have made such portion available to the Agent, each of such Lender and the applicable Borrower severally agree to repay to the Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is made available to the applicable Borrower until the date such amount is repaid to the Agent at (i) in the case of a Borrower, the interest rate applicable at the time to the Loans comprising such Borrowing and (ii) in the case of such Lender, the Overnight Rate plus any administrative, processing, or similar fees customarily charged by the Agent in accordance with the foregoing. A certificate of the Agent submitted to any Lender with respect to any amounts owing under this Section 2.1(rt) shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. If the applicable Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Agent shall promptly remit to such Borrower the amount of such interest paid by such Borrower for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Borrowing to the Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing. Any payment by a Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim such Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Agent.

 

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2.2 Repayment of Loans. The Borrowers jointly and severally agree to repay to the Agent for the ratable account of the Lenders (i) on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing on the first full Quarterly Accounting Period of Holdings after the Escrow Release Date, an aggregate amount equal to 0.25% of the aggregate principal amount of all Term B-2 Loans outstanding on the Amendment No. 4 Effective Date (which payments shall be reduced as a result of the application of prepayments in accordance with the order of priority set forth in Section 2.3(b)), (ii) on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing on the last day of the first full Quarterly Accounting Period of Holdings after the Escrow Release Date, the respective percentage of the aggregate principal amount of all Term B-3 Loans outstanding on the Restatement Effective Date (which payments shall be reduced as a result of the application of prepayments in accordance with the order of priority set forth in Section 2.3(b)):

 

Date

   Percentage  

1st-4th Quarterly Accounting Periods after Restatement Effective Date

     1.250

5th-8th Quarterly Accounting Periods after Restatement Effective

     1.875

9th-12th Quarterly Accounting Periods after Restatement Effective

     3.125

13th-19th Quarterly Accounting Periods after Restatement Effective

     3.750

(iii) on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing on the last day of the first full Quarterly Accounting Period of Holdings after the Escrow Release Date, an aggregate amount equal to 0.25% of the aggregate principal amount of all Term B-4 Loans outstanding on the Restatement Effective Date (which payments shall be reduced as a result of the application of prepayments in accordance with the order of priority set forth in Section 2.3(b)), (iv) on the Term B-2 Maturity Date, the aggregate principal amount of all Term B-2 Loans outstanding on such date, (v) on the Term B-3 Maturity Date, the aggregate principal amount of all Term B-3 Loans outstanding on such date, (vi) on the Term B-4 Maturity Date, the aggregate principal amount of all Term B-4 Loans outstanding on such date, (vii) on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing on March 31, 2016, an aggregate amount equal to 0.25% of the aggregate principal amount of all Term B-5 Loans (which payments shall be reduced as a result of the application of prepayments in accordance with the order of priority set forth in Section 2.3(b)), (viii) on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing on the last day of the first full Quarterly Accounting Period after the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date, an aggregate amount equal to 0.25% of the aggregate principal amount of all 2016-1 Term B-4 Loans (which payments shall be reduced as a result of the application of prepayments in accordance with the order of priority set forth in Section 2.3(b)); (ix) on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing on the last day of the first full Quarterly Accounting Period after the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date, an aggregate amount equal to 0.25% of the aggregate principal amount of all 2016-1 Term B-5 Loans (which payments shall be reduced as a result of the application of prepayments in accordance with the order of priority set forth in Section 2.3(b)), (x) on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing on the last day of the first full Quarterly Accounting Period after the Amendment No. 4 (B-6)

 

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Effective Date, an aggregate amount equal to 0.25% of the aggregate principal amount of all Term B-6 Loans (which payments shall be reduced as a result of the application of prepayments in accordance with the order of priority set forth in Section 2.3(b)), (xi) on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing on March 31, 2017, an aggregate amount equal to 0.25% of the aggregate principal amount of all 2016-2 Term B-4 Loans (which payments shall be reduced as a result of the application of prepayments in accordance with the order of priority set forth in Section 2.3(b)), (xii) on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing on March 31, 2017, an aggregate amount equal to 0.25% of the aggregate principal amount of all 2016-2 Term B-5 Loans (which payments shall be reduced as a result of the application of prepayments in accordance with the order of priority set forth in Section 2.3(b)), (xiii) on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing on March 31, 2017, an aggregate amount equal to 0.25% of the aggregate principal amount of all 2016-1 Term B-6 Loans (which payments shall be reduced as a result of the application of prepayments in accordance with the order of priority set forth in Section 2.3(b)), (xiv) on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing on September 29, 2017, an aggregate amount equal to 0.25% of the aggregate principal amount of all 2017-1 Term B-4 Loans (which payments shall be reduced as a result of the application of prepayments in accordance with the order of priority set forth in Section 2.3(b)), (xv) on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing on September 29, 2017, an aggregate amount equal to 0.25% of the aggregate principal amount of all 2017-1 Term B-5 Loans (which payments shall be reduced as a result of the application of prepayments in accordance with the order of priority set forth in Section 2.3(b)), (xvi) on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing on September 29, 2017, an aggregate amount equal to 0.25% of the aggregate principal amount of all 2017-1 Term B-6 Loans (which payments shall be reduced as a result of the application of prepayments in accordance with the order of priority set forth in Section 2.3(b)) and, (xvii) on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing on March 29, 2019, an aggregate amount equal to 0.25% of the aggregate principal amount of all 2018 Term B-7 Loans (which payments shall be reduced as a result of the application of prepayments in accordance with the order of priority set forth in Section 2.3(b)), (xviii) on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing on December 31, 2019, an aggregate amount equal to 0.25% of the aggregate principal amount of all 2019-1 Term B-7 Loans (which payments shall be reduced as a result of the application of prepayments in accordance with the order of priority set forth in Section 2.3(b)) and (xix) on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing on December 31, 2019, an aggregate amount equal to 0.25% of the aggregate principal amount of all 2019 Term B-8 Loans (which payments shall be reduced as a result of the application of prepayments in accordance with the order of priority set forth in Section 2.3(b)). To the extent not previously paid, each Class of Term B Loans shall be due and payable on the applicable Term Maturity Date, together with accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount to the date of payment.

2.3 Prepayments.

(a) Optional.

(i) The Borrowers may, upon notice to the Agent, at any time or from time to time thereafter, without premium or penalty except as provided in clause (d) below, voluntarily prepay the Loans in whole or in part; provided that (1) such notice must be received by the Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. (New York City time) (A) three (3) Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans and (B) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Loans; (2) any prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a minimum principal amount of $1,000,000, or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof; and (3) any prepayment of Base Rate Loans shall be in a minimum principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof; or, in the case of clause (2) or (3) of this proviso, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding. Each such notice shall specify the

 

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date and amount of such prepayment and whether such Loan is Eurodollar Rate Loan or a Base Rate Loan and the order of Loan(s) to be prepaid. The Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share or, if such prepayment is being made pursuant to Section 2.3(c) or Section 14.7(h), such Lender’s share, of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Borrowers, the Borrowers shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein. Any prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest thereon, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.3. In the case of each prepayment of the Loans pursuant to this Section 2.3(a), the Borrowers may in their sole discretion select the Loan or Loans (and the order of maturity of principal payments) to be repaid, and such payment shall be paid to the Appropriate Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares (other than if pursuant to Section 2.3(c) or Section 14.7(h)).

(ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Borrowers may rescind any notice of prepayment under Section 2.3(a)(i) if such prepayment would have resulted from a refinancing of all of the Facilities or other transaction, which refinancing or other transaction shall not be consummated or shall otherwise be delayed. Each prepayment of Loans pursuant to Section 2.3(a) shall be applied in an order of priority to repayments thereof required pursuant to Section 2.2 as directed by the Parent Borrower and, absent such direction, shall be applied in direct order of maturity to repayments thereof required pursuant to Section 2.2.

(b) Mandatory.

(i) Within five (5) Business Days after financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 9.5(a) and the related Compliance Certificate has been delivered, the Parent Borrower shall cause to be prepaid an aggregate amount of Loans in an amount equal to (A) the Applicable ECF Percentage of Excess Cash Flow, if any, for the Excess Cash Flow Period covered by such financial statements (commencing with the Fiscal Year ending February 26, 2015) minus (B) the sum of (1) all voluntary prepayments of Loans during such Fiscal Year pursuant to Section 2.3(a), (2) the amount expended by any Purchasing Borrower Party to prepay any Loans pursuant to Section 2.3(c) or Section 14.7(h), and (3) all voluntary prepayments of loans under the ABL Facility during such Fiscal Year to the extent the commitments under the ABL Facility are permanently reduced by the amount of such payments and, in the case of each of the immediately preceding clauses (1), (2) and (3), to the extent such prepayments are funded with Internally Generated Cash.

(ii) If (1) a BorrowerHoldings or any Restricted Subsidiary of a Borrower Disposes of any property or assets (other than any Disposition of any property or assets permitted by Section 10.5(a), (b), (c), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i) (to the extent the Disposition is to a Restricted Subsidiary and the property or assets continue to secure the Obligations with the same priority as prior to such Disposition), (k), (l), (o), (q), (r) or (t)-(v), (x)-(aabb)), or (2) any Casualty Event occurs, which results in the realization or receipt by a BorrowerHoldings or any Restricted Subsidiary of Net Proceeds, the Parent Borrower shall, subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements, cause to be prepaid on or prior to the date which is ten (10) Business Days after the date of the realization or receipt by a BorrowerHoldings or any Restricted Subsidiary of such Net Proceeds an aggregate principal amount of Loans in an amount equal to (x) in the case of Dispositions described in clause (1) above, an amount equal to the Applicable Disposition Percentage of all Net Proceeds received from such Disposition (excluding the proceeds from the disposition of the Equity Interests in or assets of Casa Ley and (y) in the case of Casualty Events described in clause (2) above, an amount equal to 100% of such Net Proceeds received in connection with such Casualty Events; provided that (x) if any Incremental Equivalent Debt have been issued in compliance with Sections 10.1 and 10.3 with Liens ranking pari passu with the Liens securing the Obligations pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreements, then the Parent Borrower may cause Loans to be prepaid and, to the extent required pursuant to the terms of the documentation governing such Incremental

 

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Equivalent Debt, cause such Incremental Equivalent Debt to be purchased (at a purchase price no greater than par plus accrued and unpaid interest) on a pro rata basis in accordance with the respective principal amounts thereof and (y) if at the time that any such prepayment would be required, the Parent BorrowerHoldings is required to offer to repurchase or to prepay Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt (or any Permitted Refinancing thereof that is secured on a pari passu basis with the Obligations) pursuant to the terms of the documentation governing such Indebtedness with the net proceeds of such Disposition or Casualty Event (such Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt (or Permitted Refinancing thereof) required to be offered to be so repurchased or prepaid, “Other Applicable Indebtedness”), then the Parent Borrower may apply (or cause to be applied) 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 2.3(b)(ii) shall be reduced accordingly; provided, further, that to the extent the holders of Other Applicable Indebtedness decline to have such Other Applicable Indebtedness repurchased or prepaid, the declined amount shall promptly (and in any event within ten (10) Business Days after the date of such rejection) be applied to prepay the Term Loans in accordance with the terms hereof.

(iii) If a BorrowerHoldings or any Restricted Subsidiary incurs or issues any Indebtedness after the Escrow Release Date (x) that is intended to be Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness, (y) that is not otherwise permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 10.3 or (z) notwithstanding clause (y), that is Indebtedness permitted by Section 10.3(v) (other than (A) Indebtedness the proceeds of which are applied to repay Indebtedness previously incurred under Section 10.3(v), (B) Indebtedness incurred under a Qualified Real Estate Financing Facility to finance the acquisition of Material Real Property after the Escrow Release Date so long as such Indebtedness is incurred within 180 days of the acquisition of such Material Real Property and (C) Indebtedness the proceeds of which are used by a Real Estate Subsidiary to pay the purchase price to Holdings, the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary for any Real Property to the extent such proceeds constituted Net Proceeds of a Disposition subject to clause (b) (ii) above), the Parent Borrower shall cause to be prepaid an aggregate principal amount of Loans in an amount equal to 100% of all Net Proceeds received therefrom on or prior to the date which is five (5) Business Days after the receipt by such BorrowerHoldings or such Restricted Subsidiary of such Net Proceeds.

(iv) Except with respect to Loans incurred in connection with any Refinancing Amendment, Term Loan Extension Request or any Incremental Amendment (to the extent set forth in such Refinancing Amendment, Term Loan Extension Request or Incremental Amendment as contemplated below), (A) each prepayment of Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.3(b) shall be applied to the next eight succeeding scheduled principal installments to each Class of Term Loans and then ratably to the remaining installments of each Class of Term Loans then outstanding (provided that (i) any prepayment of Term Loans with the Net Proceeds of Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness shall be applied solely to each applicable Class of Refinanced Debt and (ii) any Class of Incremental Term Loans, Extended Term Loans or Other Term Loans may specify that one or more other Classes of Loans may be prepaid prior to such Class of Incremental Term Loans, Extended Term Loans or Other Term Loans and (B) each such prepayment shall be paid to the applicable Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares of such prepayment.

 

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(c) (i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 2.3(a), 2.6(a) or 2.7 (which provisions shall not be applicable to Section 2.3(c)), any Purchasing Borrower Party shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay Loans to the Lenders at a discount to the par value of such Loans and on a non pro rata basis (each, a “Discounted Voluntary Prepayment”) pursuant to the procedures described in Section 2.3(c); provided that (A) any Discounted Voluntary Prepayment shall be offered to all Lenders with Loans of a specified Class on a pro rata basis, (B) such Purchasing Borrower Party shall deliver to the Agent a certificate stating that (1) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from the Discounted Voluntary Prepayment (after giving effect to any related waivers or amendments obtained in connection with such Discounted Voluntary Prepayment), (2) each of the conditions to such Discounted Voluntary Prepayment contained in Section 2.3(c) has been satisfied, (3) such Purchasing Borrower Party does not have any material non-public information (“MNPI”) with respect to Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries that (a) has not been disclosed to the Lenders (other than Lenders that do not wish to receive MNPI with respect to Holdings, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates) prior to such time and (b) could reasonably be expected to have a material effect upon, or otherwise be material, (i) to a Lender’s decision to participate in any Discounted Voluntary Prepayment or (ii) to the market price of the Loans.

(ii) To the extent a Purchasing Borrower Party seeks to make a Discounted Voluntary Prepayment, such Purchasing Borrower Party will provide written notice to the Agent substantially in the form of Exhibit I hereto (each, a “Discounted Prepayment Option Notice”) that such Purchasing Borrower Party desires to prepay Loans of a specified Class in an aggregate principal amount specified therein by the Purchasing Borrower Party (each, a “Proposed Discounted Prepayment Amount”), in each case at a discount to the par value of such Loans as specified below. The Proposed Discounted Prepayment Amount of Loans shall not be less than $10,000,000. The Discounted Prepayment Option Notice shall further specify with respect to the proposed Discounted Voluntary Prepayment: (A) the Proposed Discounted Prepayment Amount of Loans, (B) a discount range (which may be a single percentage) selected by the Purchasing Borrower Party with respect to such proposed Discounted Voluntary Prepayment (representing the percentage of par of the principal amount of Loans to be prepaid) (the “Discount Range”), and (C) the date by which Lenders are required to indicate their election to participate in such proposed Discounted Voluntary Prepayment which shall be at least five Business Days following the date of the Discounted Prepayment Option Notice (the “Acceptance Date”).

(iii) Upon receipt of a Discounted Prepayment Option Notice in accordance with Section 2.3(c)(ii), the Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the applicable Class thereof. On or prior to the Acceptance Date, each Lender may specify by written notice substantially in the form of Exhibit J hereto (each, a “Lender Participation Notice”) to the Agent (A) a minimum price (the “Acceptable Price”) within the Discount Range (for example, 80% of the par value of the Loans to be prepaid) and (B) a maximum principal amount (subject to rounding requirements specified by the Agent) of Loans with respect to which such Lender is willing to permit a Discounted Voluntary Prepayment at the Acceptable Price (“Offered Loans”). Based on the Acceptable Prices and principal amounts of Loans of the applicable Class specified by the Lenders in the applicable Lender Participation Notice, the Agent, in consultation with the Purchasing Borrower Party, shall determine the applicable discount for Loans (the “Applicable Discount”), which Applicable Discount shall be (A) the percentage specified by the Purchasing Borrower Party if the Purchasing Borrower Party has selected a single percentage pursuant to Section 2.3(c)(ii) for the Discounted Voluntary Prepayment or (B) otherwise, the lowest Acceptable Price at which the Purchasing Borrower Party can pay the Proposed Discounted Prepayment Amount in full (determined by adding the principal amounts of Offered Loans commencing with the Offered Loans with the lowest Acceptable Price); provided, however, that in the event that such Proposed Discounted Prepayment Amount cannot be repaid in full at any Acceptable Price, the Applicable Discount shall be the highest Acceptable Price specified by the Lenders that is within the Discount Range. The Applicable Discount shall be applicable for all Lenders who have offered to participate in the Discounted Voluntary Prepayment and have Qualifying Loans (as defined below). Any Lender with outstanding Loans of the applicable Class whose Lender Participation Notice is not received by the Agent by the Acceptance Date shall be deemed to have declined to accept a Discounted Voluntary Prepayment of any of its Loans at any discount to their par value within the Applicable Discount.

 

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(iv) The Purchasing Borrower Party shall make a Discounted Voluntary Prepayment by prepaying those Loans of the applicable Class (or the respective portions thereof) offered by the Lenders (“Qualifying Lenders”) that specify an Acceptable Price that is equal to or lower than the Applicable Discount (“Qualifying Loans”) at the Applicable Discount; provided that if the aggregate proceeds required to prepay all Qualifying Loans (disregarding any interest payable at such time) would exceed the amount of aggregate proceeds required to prepay the Proposed Discounted Prepayment Amount, such amounts in each case calculated by applying the Applicable Discount, the Purchasing Borrower Party shall prepay such Qualifying Loans ratably among the Qualifying Lenders based on their respective principal amounts of such Qualifying Loans (subject to rounding requirements specified by the Agent). If the aggregate proceeds required to prepay all Qualifying Loans (disregarding any interest payable at such time) would be less than the amount of aggregate proceeds required to prepay the Proposed Discounted Prepayment Amount, such amounts in each case calculated by applying the Applicable Discount, the Purchasing Borrower Party shall prepay all Qualifying Loans.

(v) Each Discounted Voluntary Prepayment shall be made within five Business Days after the Acceptance Date (or such other date as the Agent shall reasonably agree, given the time required to calculate the Applicable Discount and determine the amount and holders of Qualifying Loans), without premium or penalty (but subject to Section 3.3), upon irrevocable notice substantially in the form of Exhibit K hereto (each a “Discounted Voluntary Prepayment Notice”), delivered to the Agent no later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time), two Business Days prior to the date of such Discounted Voluntary Prepayment, which notice shall specify the date and amount of the Discounted Voluntary Prepayment and the Applicable Discount determined by the Agent. Upon receipt of any Discounted Voluntary Prepayment Notice the Agent shall promptly notify each relevant Lender thereof. If any Discounted Voluntary Prepayment Notice is given, the amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable to the applicable Lenders, subject to the Applicable Discount on the applicable Loans, on the date specified therein together with accrued interest (on the par principal amount) to but not including such date on the amount prepaid.

(vi) To the extent not expressly provided for herein, each Discounted Voluntary Prepayment shall be consummated pursuant to reasonable procedures (including as to timing, rounding and calculation of Applicable Discount in accordance with Section 2.3(c)(iii) above) established by the Agent in consultation with the Parent Borrower.

(vii) Prior to the delivery of a Discounted Voluntary Prepayment Notice, upon written notice to the Agent, the Purchasing Borrower Party may withdraw its offer to make a Discounted Voluntary Prepayment pursuant to any Discounted Prepayment Option Notice.

(d) Prepayment Premium.

(i) At the time of the effectiveness of any Repricing Transaction that is consummated prior to the date that is one year and 31 days following the Start Dates (as defined in Amendment No. 5), the Borrowers agree to pay to the Agent, for the ratable account of each Lender with outstanding Term B-2 Loans, Term B-3 Loans and/or Term B-4 Loans, as applicable, which are repaid or prepaid pursuant to such Repricing Transaction (including each Lender that withholds its consent to such Repricing Transaction and is replaced as a Non-Consenting Lender under Section 12.3(c)), a fee in an amount equal to 1.0% of (x) in the case of a Repricing Transaction of the type described in clause (1) of the definition thereof, the aggregate principal amount of all Term B Loans prepaid (or converted) in connection with such Repricing

 

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Transaction and (y) in the case of a Repricing Transaction described in clause (2) of the definition thereof, the aggregate principal amount of all Term B Loans outstanding on such date that are subject to an effective reduction of the Applicable Margin applicable to the Term B Loans pursuant to such Repricing Transaction. Such fees shall be due and payable upon the date of the effectiveness of such Repricing Transaction.

(ii) If, on or prior to the date that is six months after the Amendment No. 1 (B-5) Effective Date, the Borrowers effect an amendment of the Term Loan Agreement that results in a Term B-5 Repricing Event, the Borrowers shall pay to the Agent, for the ratable account of each Term B-5 Lender with outstanding Term B-5 Loans that are repaid, prepaid or amended pursuant to such Term B-5 Repricing Event, a fee equal to 1.0% of the aggregate principal amount of the affected Term B-5 Loans of such Term B-5 Lender outstanding immediately prior to the date of effectiveness of such Term B-5 Repricing Event.

(iii) If, on or prior to the date that is six months after the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date, the Borrowers effect an amendment of this Agreement that results in a 2016-1 Term B-4 Repricing Event, the Borrowers shall pay to the Agent, for the ratable account of each 2016-1 Term B-4 Lender with outstanding 2016-1 Term B-4 Loans that are repaid, prepaid or amended pursuant to such 2016-1 Term B-4 Repricing Event, a fee equal to 1.0% of the aggregate principal amount of the affected 2016-1 Term B-4 Loans of such 2016-1 Term B-4 Lender outstanding immediately prior to the date of effectiveness of such 2016-1 Term B-4 Repricing Event.

(iv) If, on or prior to the date that is six months after the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date, the Borrowers effect an amendment of this Agreement that results in a 2016-1 Term B-5 Repricing Event, the Borrowers shall pay to the Agent, for the ratable account of each 2016-1 Term B-5 Lender with outstanding 2016-1 Term B-5 Loans that are repaid, prepaid or amended pursuant to such 2016-1 Term B-5 Repricing Event, a fee equal to 1.0% of the aggregate principal amount of the affected 2016-1 Term B-5 Loans of such 2016-1 Term B-5 Lender outstanding immediately prior to the date of effectiveness of such 2016-1 Term B-5 Repricing Event.

(v) If, on or prior to the date that is six months after the Amendment No. 4 (B-6) Effective Date, the Borrowers effect an amendment of this Agreement that results in a Term B-6 Repricing Event, the Borrowers shall pay to the Agent, for the ratable account of each Term B-6 Lender with outstanding Term B-6 Loans that are repaid, prepaid or amended pursuant to such Term B-6 Repricing Event, a fee equal to 1.0% of the aggregate principal amount of the affected Term B-6 Loans of such Term B-6 Lender outstanding immediately prior to the date of effectiveness of such Term B-6 Repricing Event.

(vi) If, on or prior to June 23, 2017, the Borrowers effect an amendment of this Agreement that results in a 2016-2 Term B-4 Repricing Event, the Borrowers shall pay to the Agent, for the ratable account of each 2016-2 Term B-4 Lender with outstanding 2016-2 Term B-4 Loans that are repaid, prepaid or amended pursuant to such 2016-2 Term B-4 Repricing Event, a fee equal to 1.0% of the aggregate principal amount of the affected 2016-2 Term B-4 Loans of such 2016-2 Term B-4 Lender outstanding immediately prior to the date of effectiveness of such 2016-2 Term B-4 Repricing Event.

 

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(vii) If, on or prior to June 23, 2017, the Borrowers effect an amendment of this Agreement that results in a 2016-2 Term B-5 Repricing Event, the Borrowers shall pay to the Agent, for the ratable account of each 2016-2 Term B-5 Lender with outstanding 2016-2 Term B-5 Loans that are repaid, prepaid or amended pursuant to such 2016-2 Term B-5 Repricing Event, a fee equal to 1.0% of the aggregate principal amount of the affected 2016-2 Term B-5 Loans of such 2016-2 Term B-5 Lender outstanding immediately prior to the date of effectiveness of such 2016-2 Term B-5 Repricing Event.

(viii) If, on or prior to June 23, 2017, the Borrowers effect an amendment of this Agreement that results in a 2016-1 Term B-6 Repricing Event, the Borrowers shall pay to the Agent, for the ratable account of each 2016-1 Term B-6 Lender with outstanding 2016-1 Term B-6 Loans that are repaid, prepaid or amended pursuant to such 2016-1 Term B-6 Repricing Event, a fee equal to 1.0% of the aggregate principal amount of the affected 2016-1 Term B-6 Loans of such 2016-1 Term B-6 Lender outstanding immediately prior to the date of effectiveness of such 2016-1 Term B-6 Repricing Event.

(ix) If, on or prior to December 26, 2017, the Borrowers effect an amendment of this Agreement that results in a 2017-1 Term B-4 Repricing Event, the Borrowers shall pay to the Agent, for the ratable account of each 2017-1 Term B-4 Lender with outstanding 2017-1 Term B-4 Loans that are repaid, prepaid or amended pursuant to such 2017-1 Term B-4 Repricing Event, a fee equal to 1.00% of the aggregate principal amount of the affected 2017-1 Term B-4 Loans of such 2017-1 Term B-4 Lender outstanding immediately prior to the date of effectiveness of such 2017-1 Term B-4 Repricing Event.

(x) If, on or prior to December 26, 2017, the Borrowers effect an amendment of this Agreement that results in a 2017-1 Term B-5 Repricing Event, the Borrowers shall pay to the Agent, for the ratable account of each 2017-1 Term B-5 Lender with outstanding 2017-1 Term B-5 Loans that are repaid, prepaid or amended pursuant to such 2017-1 Term B-5 Repricing Event, a fee equal to 1.00% of the aggregate principal amount of the affected 2017-1 Term B-5 Loans of such 2017-1 Term B-5 Lender outstanding immediately prior to the date of effectiveness of such 2017-1 Term B-5 Repricing Event.

(xi) If, on or prior to December 26, 2017, the Borrowers effect an amendment of this Agreement that results in a 2017-1 Term B-6 Repricing Event, the Borrowers shall pay to the Agent, for the ratable account of each 2017-1 Term B-6 Lender with outstanding 2017-1 Term B-6 Loans that are repaid, prepaid or amended pursuant to such 2017-1 Term B-6 Repricing Event, a fee equal to 1.00% of the aggregate principal amount of the affected 2017-1 Term B-6 Loans of such 2017-1 Term B-6 Lender outstanding immediately prior to the date of effectiveness of such 2017-1 Term B-6 Repricing Event.

(xii) If, on or prior to the date that is six months after the Amendment No. 7 (2018) Effective Date, the Borrowers effect an amendment of this Agreement that results in a 2018 Term B-7 Repricing Event, the Borrowers shall pay to the Agent, for the ratable account of each 2018 Term B-7 Lender with outstanding 2018 Term B-7 Loans that are repaid, prepaid or amended pursuant to such 2018 Term B-7 Repricing Event, a fee equal to 1.00% of the aggregate principal amount of the affected 2018 Term B-7 Loans of such 2018 Term B-7 Lender outstanding immediately prior to the date of effectiveness of such 2018 Term B-7 Repricing Event.

(xiii) If, on or prior to the date that is six months after the Amendment No. 8 (2019) Effective Date, the Borrowers effect an amendment of this Agreement that results in a 2019-1 Term B-7 Repricing Event, the Borrowers shall pay to the Agent, for the ratable account of each 2019-1 Term B-7 Lender with outstanding 2019-1 Term B-7 Loans that are repaid, prepaid or amended pursuant to such 2019-1 Term B-7 Repricing Event, a fee equal to 1.00% of the aggregate principal amount of the affected 2019-1 Term B-7 Loans of such 2019-1 Term B-7 Lender outstanding immediately prior to the date of effectiveness of such 2019-1 Term B-7 Repricing Event.

 

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(xiv) If, on or prior to the date that is six months after the Amendment No. 8 (2019) Effective Date, the Borrowers effect an amendment of this Agreement that results in a 2019 Term B-8 Repricing Event, the Borrowers shall pay to the Agent, for the ratable account of each 2019 Term B-8 Lender with outstanding 2019 Term B-8 Loans that are repaid, prepaid or amended pursuant to such 2019 Term B-8 Repricing Event, a fee equal to 1.00% of the aggregate principal amount of the affected 2019 Term B-8 Loans of such 2019 Term B-8 Lender outstanding immediately prior to the date of effectiveness of such 2019 Term B-8 Repricing Event.

(e) Funding Losses, Etc. All prepayments under Section 2.3 shall be made together with, in the case of any such prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan on a date other than the last day of an Interest Period therefor, any amounts owing in respect of such Eurodollar Rate Loan pursuant to Section 3.3. Notwithstanding any of the other provisions of Section 2.3(b), so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, if any prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans is required to be made under Section 2.3(b) prior to the last day of the Interest Period therefor, the Parent 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 Agent shall be authorized (without any further action by or notice to or from the Parent Borrower or any other Loan Party) to apply such amount to the prepayment of such Loans in accordance with Section 2.3(b). Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, the Agent shall also be authorized (without any further action by or notice to or from the Parent Borrower or any other Loan Party) to apply such amount to the prepayment of the outstanding Loans in accordance with Section 2.3(b).

2.4 Termination or Reduction of Commitments. (i) The Term B-3 Commitment of each Term B-3 Lender was reduced to $0 upon the funding of Term B-3 Loans made by it pursuant to Amendment No. 5, (ii) the Term B-4 Commitment of each Term B-4 Lender was reduced to $0 upon the funding of Term B-4 Loans made by it pursuant to Amendment No. 5, (iii) the Term B-5 Commitment of each Term B-5 Lender was reduced to $0 upon the funding of Term B-5 Loans made by it pursuant to Section 2.1(a), (iv) the 2016-1 Term B-4 Commitment of each 2016-1 Term B-4 Lender was reduced to $0 upon the making of 2016-1 Term B-4 Loans made by it pursuant to Section 2.1(b), (v) the 2016-1 Term B-5 Commitment of each 2016-1 Term B-5 Lender was reduced to $0 upon the making of 2016-1 Term B-5 Loans made by it pursuant to Section 2.1(c), (vi) the Term B-6 Commitment of each Term B-6 Lender was automatically and permanently reduced to $0 upon the making of Term B-6 Loans pursuant to Section 2.1(d), (vii) the 2016-2 Term B-4 Commitment of each 2016-2 Term B-4 Lender was reduced to $0 upon the making of 2016-2 Term B-4 Loans made by it pursuant to Section 2.1(e), (viii) the 2016-2 Term B-5 Commitment of each 2016-2 Term B-5 Lender was be reduced to $0 upon the making of 2016-2 Term B-5 Loans made by it pursuant to Section 2.01(f), (ix) the 2016-1 Term B-6 Commitment of each 2016-1 Term B-6 Lender was automatically and permanently reduced to $0 upon the making of 2016-1 Term B-6 Loans pursuant to Section 2.1(g), (x) the 2017-1 Term B-4 Commitment of each 2017-1 Term B-4 Lender was reduced to $0 upon the making of 2017-1 Term B-4 Loans made by it pursuant to Section 2.1(h), (xi) the 2017-1 Term B-5 Commitment of each 2017-1 Term B-5 Lender was reduced to $0 upon the making of 2017-1 Term B-5 Loans made by it pursuant to Section 2.1(i), (xi) the 2017-1 Term B-6 Commitment of each 2017-1 Term B-6 Lender was automatically and permanently reduced to $0 upon the making of 2017-1 Term B-6 Loans pursuant to Section 2.1(j) and, (xii) the 2018 Term B-7 Commitment of each 2018 Term B-7 Lender shall bewas automatically and permanently reduced to $0 upon the making of 2018 Term B-7 Loans pursuant to Section 2.1(k), (xiii) the 2019-1 Term B-7 Commitment of each 2019-1 Term B-7 Lender shall be automatically and permanently reduced to $0 upon the making of 2019-1 Term B-7 Loans pursuant to Section 2.1(l) and (xiv) the 2019 Term B-8 Commitment of each 2019 Term B-8 Lender shall be automatically and permanently reduced to $0 upon the making of 2019 Term B-8 Loans pursuant to Section 2.1(m).

 

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2.5 Evidence of Indebtedness.

(a) The Loans made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more entries in the Register maintained by the Agent, acting solely for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 5f.103-1(c), as non-fiduciary agent for the Borrowers. The accounts or records maintained by the Agent shall be conclusive evidence absent manifest error of the amount of the Loans made by the Lenders to the Borrowers 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 Borrowers 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 pursuant to Section 2.5(b) and the accounts and records of the Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error. Upon the request of any Lender made through the Agent, the applicable Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Agent) a Term Note payable to such Lender, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to its Term Note and endorse thereon the date, Class, Type (if applicable), amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.

(b) Entries made in good faith by the Agent in the Register pursuant to Section 2.5(a), and by each Lender in its account or accounts pursuant to this Section 2.5(b), shall be prima facie evidence of the amount of principal and interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrowers to, in the case of the Register, each Lender and, in the case of such account or accounts, such Lender, under this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements, absent manifest error; provided that the failure of the Agent or such Lender to make an entry, or any finding that an entry is incorrect, in the Register or such account or accounts shall not limit or otherwise affect the obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements.

2.6 Payments Generally.

(a) All payments to be made by the Borrowers shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrowers hereunder shall be made to the Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the applicable Agent’s Office in Dollars and in Same Day Funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date specified herein. The Agent will promptly distribute to each Appropriate Lender its Pro Rata Share (or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s applicable Lending Office. All payments received by the Agent after 2:00 p.m., shall in each case, at the option of the Agent, be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue.

(b) If any payment to be made by a 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 Eurodollar Rate Loans to be made in the next succeeding calendar month, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day.

 

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(c) Unless the Parent Borrower or any Lender has notified the Agent, prior to the date any payment is required to be made by it to the Agent hereunder, that the applicable Borrower or such Lender, as the case may be, will not make such payment, the Agent may assume that the applicable Borrower or such Lender, as the case may be, has timely made such payment and may (but shall not be so required to), in reliance thereon, make available a corresponding amount to the Person entitled thereto. If and to the extent that such payment was not in fact made to the Agent in Same Day Funds, then:

(i) if the Parent Borrower or applicable Co-Borrower failed to make such payment, each Lender shall forthwith on demand repay to the Agent the portion of such assumed payment that was made available to such Lender in Same Day Funds, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such amount was made available by the Agent to such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Agent in Same Day Funds at the applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect; and

(ii) if any Lender failed to make such payment, such Lender shall forthwith on demand pay to the Agent the amount thereof in Same Day Funds, together with interest thereon for the period from the date such amount was made available by the Agent to the applicable Borrower to the date such amount is recovered by the Agent (the “Compensation Period”) at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect. When such Lender makes payment to the Agent (together with all accrued interest thereon), then such payment amount (excluding the amount of any interest which may have accrued and been paid in respect of such late payment) shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in the applicable Borrowing. If such Lender does not pay such amount within one Business Day upon the Agent’s demand therefor, the Agent may make a demand therefor upon the applicable Borrower, and the applicable Borrower shall pay such amount to the Agent, together with interest thereon for the Compensation Period at a rate per annum equal to the rate of interest applicable to the applicable Borrowing. Nothing herein shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fulfill its Commitment or to prejudice any rights which the Agent or the Borrowers may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder.

A notice of the Agent to any Lender or the applicable Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this Section 2.6(c) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

(d) If any Lender makes available to the Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Section 2, and such funds are not made available to the applicable Borrower by the Agent because the conditions to the applicable Loan set forth in Section 4 are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.

(e) Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner.

(f) Whenever any payment received by the Agent under this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements is insufficient to pay in full all amounts due and payable to the Agent and the Lenders under or in respect of this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements on any date, such payment shall be distributed by the Agent and applied by the Agent and the Lenders in the order of priority set forth in Section 11.3. If the Agent receives funds for application to the Obligations of the Loan Parties under or in respect of the Financing Agreements under circumstances for which the Financing Agreements do not specify the manner in which such funds are to be applied, the 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 Outstanding Amount of all Loans outstanding at such time in repayment or prepayment of such of the outstanding Loans or other Obligations then owing to such Lender.

 

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2.7 Sharing of Payments. If, other than as expressly provided elsewhere herein, any Lender shall obtain payment in respect of any principal or interest on account of the Loans made by it any payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise of any right of setoff, or otherwise) in excess of its ratable share (or other share contemplated hereunder) thereof, such Lender shall immediately (a) notify the Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase from the other Lenders such participations in the Loans made by them as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender to share the excess payment in respect of any principal or interest on such Loans or such participations, as the case may be, pro rata with each of them; provided that if all or any portion of such excess payment is thereafter recovered from the purchasing Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 14.11 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the purchasing Lender in its discretion), such purchase shall to that extent be rescinded and each other Lender shall repay to the purchasing Lender the purchase price paid therefor, together with an amount equal to such paying Lender’s ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such paying Lender’s required repayment to (ii) the total amount so recovered from the purchasing Lender) of any interest or other amount paid or payable by the purchasing Lender in respect of the total amount so recovered, without further interest thereon. For avoidance of doubt, the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to (A) any payment made by the Parent Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement as in effect from time to time or (B) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans to any assignee or participant permitted hereunder. The Parent Borrower agrees that any Lender so purchasing a participation from another Lender may, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, exercise all its rights of payment (including the right of setoff, but subject to Section 14.14) with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were the direct creditor of the Parent Borrower in the amount of such participation. The Agent will keep records (which shall be conclusive and binding in the absence of manifest error) of participations purchased under this Section 2.7 and will in each case notify the Lenders following any such purchases or repayments. Each Lender that purchases a participation pursuant to this Section 2.7 shall from and after such purchase have the right to give all notices, requests, demands, directions and other communications under this Agreement with respect to the portion of the Obligations purchased to the same extent as though the purchasing Lender were the original owner of the Obligations purchased.

2.8 Incremental Credit Extensions.

(a) One or more Borrowers (which shall include all existing Borrowers with respect to an existing Class of Term B Loans for which Incremental Term Commitments are requested) may, by written notice to the Agent (whereupon the Agent shall promptly deliver a copy to each of the Lenders) from time to time after the Escrow Release Date, request Incremental Term Loan Commitments, as applicable, in an aggregate amount not to exceed the Incremental Amount from one or more Incremental Term Lenders (which, in each case, may include any existing Lender) willing to provide such Incremental Term Loans, as the case may be, in their own discretion. Such notice shall set forth (i) the amount of the Incremental Term Loan Commitments being requested (which shall be in minimum increments of $1,000,000 and a minimum amount of $25,000,000 or equal to the remaining Incremental Amount), (ii) the date on which such Incremental Term Loan Commitments are requested to become effective (the “Increased Amount Date”), and (iii) whether such Incremental Term Loan Commitments are to be Term Commitments or commitments to make term loans with interests rates and/or amortization and/or maturity and/or other terms different from the Term B Loans (“Incremental Term Loans”). The proceeds of any Incremental Term Loans shall not be used to make Restricted Payments or prepayments of Subordinated Indebtedness pursuant to Section 10.6, Section 10.11 or otherwise.

 

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(b) The applicable Borrowers and each Incremental Term Lender shall execute and deliver to the Agent an Incremental Amendment and such other documentation as the Agent shall reasonably specify to evidence the Incremental Term Loan Commitment of such Incremental Term Lender. Each Incremental Amendment shall specify the terms of the applicable Incremental Term Loans; provided that (i) except as to pricing, amortization and final maturity date (which shall, subject to clause (ii) and (iii) of this proviso, be determined by the applicable Borrowers and the Incremental Term Lenders in their sole discretion), the Incremental Term Loans shall have no more restrictive terms, when taken as a whole, than the Term Loans except (x) if the Term Lenders holding the Term Loans also receive the benefit of such restrictive terms, (y) such terms are not effective until the Latest Maturity Date of the then existing Term Loans or (z) such other terms as shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, (ii) the final maturity date of any Incremental Term Loans shall be no earlier than the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Incremental Term Loans are established, and, (iii) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any Incremental Term Loans shall be no shorter than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Term B Loans; provided, further that, with respect to any Protected Incremental Term LoansLoan, if the Effective Yield in respect of any such Protected Incremental Term Loan exceeds the Applicable Margin of any Term B Loans by more than 2550 basis points, such Applicable Margin shall be increased so that the Effective Yield in respect of such Protected Incremental Term Loan is no more than 2550 basis points higher than the Effective Yield for such Term B Loans and if the lowest permissible Eurodollar Rate is greater than 1.00% or the lowest permissible Base Rate is greater than 2.00% for such Protected Incremental Term Loan, the difference between such “floor” and 1.00% in the case of Eurodollar Rate Incremental Term Loans (or 2.00% in the case of Base Rate Incremental Term Loans), shall be equated to interest rate margin for purposes of this proviso. The Incremental Term Loans shall have the same guarantees as and rank pari passu in right of payment and security with the Term B Loans.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, but subject to the last paragraph of Section 4.2 and Section 14.13(e), no Incremental Term Loan Commitment shall become effective under this Section 2.8 unless (i) both at the time of any such request and upon the effectiveness of any Incremental Amendment, no Event of Default shall exist and at the time that any such Incremental Term Loan is made (and after giving effect thereto) no Event of Default shall be continuing; (ii) after giving effect to such Incremental Term Loan Commitments, the conditions of Section 4.2(a) shall be satisfied (it being understood that all references to “the date of the making of such Loan” or similar language in such Section 4.2(a) shall be deemed to refer to the effective date of such Incremental Amendment) (except, to the extent the proceeds of the Incremental Term Loans are to be used to finance an Acquisition, such representations shall be limited to the Specified Representations and Specified Acquisition Agreement Representations) and (iii) the Agent shall have received customary legal opinions, board resolutions and officers’ certificates consistent with those delivered on the Original Closing Date other than changes to such legal opinion resulting from a change in law, change in fact or change to counsel’s form of opinion reasonably satisfactory to the Agent. The Agent shall promptly notify each Lender as to the effectiveness of each Incremental Amendment. Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that, upon the effectiveness of any Incremental Amendment, this Agreement shall be amended to the extent (but only to the extent) necessary to reflect the existence and terms of the Incremental Term Loan Commitments evidenced thereby. Any such deemed amendment may be memorialized in writing by the Agent with the applicable Borrower’s consent (not to be unreasonably withheld) and furnished to the other parties hereto.

(d) The Incremental Amendment may, without the consent of Parent Borrower, or any other Loan Party, Agent or Lenders, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Agent and the Parent Borrower, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.8. The applicable Borrowers will use the proceeds of the Incremental Term Loans for any purpose not prohibited by this Agreement. Incremental Term Loans may be made by any existing Lender (but each existing Lender will not have an obligation to make a portion of any Incremental Term Loan) or by any other bank or other financial institution; provided that any such bank or financial institution shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and the Parent Borrower. No Lender shall be obligated to provide any Incremental Term Loans unless it so agrees.

 

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This Section 2.8 shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.7 or 12.3 to the contrary.

2.9 Refinancing Amendments.

(a) On one or more occasions after the Escrow Release Date, the Borrowers may obtain, from any Lender or any Additional Refinancing Lender, Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of all or any portion of the Term Loans then outstanding under this Agreement (which for purposes of this clause (a) will be deemed to include any then outstanding Other Term Loans or Incremental Term Loans) in the form of Other Term Loans or Other Term Loan Commitments pursuant to a Refinancing Amendment.

(b) The effectiveness of any Refinancing Amendment shall be subject to the satisfaction on the date thereof of each of the conditions set forth in Section 4.2 and, to the extent reasonably requested by the Agent, receipt by the Agent of (i) customary legal opinions, board resolutions and officers’ certificates consistent with those delivered on the Original Closing Date other than changes to such legal opinion resulting from a change in law, change in fact or change to counsel’s form of opinion reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and (ii) reaffirmation agreements and/or such amendments to the Collateral Documents as may be reasonably requested by the Agent in order to ensure that such Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness is provided with the benefit of the applicable Financing Agreements.

(c) Each issuance of Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness under Section 2.9(a) shall be in an aggregate principal amount that is (x) not less than $25,000,000 and (y) an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof.

(d) Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements 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, (ii) make such other changes to this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements consistent with the provisions and intent of Section 12.3(g) (without the consent of the Required Lenders called for therein) and (iii) effect such other amendments to this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Agent and the Parent Borrower, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.9, and the Required Lenders hereby expressly authorize the Agent to enter into any such Refinancing Amendment.

(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the 2016-1 Term B-4 Loans, 2016-2 Term B-4 Loans, the 2017-1 Term B-4 Loans, 2016-1 Term B-5 Loans, 2016-2 Term B-5 Loans, the 2017-1 Term B-5 Loans, the 2016-1 Term B-6 Loans, the 2017-1 Term B-6 Loans and, the 2018 Term B-7 Loans, the 2019-1 Term B-7 Loans and the 2019 Term B-8 Loans shall be permitted under this Agreement.

2.10 Extension of Term Loans.

(a) Extension of Term Loans. The applicable Borrowers may at any time and from time to time request that all or a portion of the Term Loans of a given Class (each, an “Existing Term Loan Tranche”) be amended to extend the scheduled maturity date(s) with respect to all or a portion of any principal amount of such Term Loans (any such Term Loans which have been so amended, “Extended Term Loans”) and to provide for other terms consistent with this Section 2.10. In order to establish any Extended Term Loans, the Parent Borrower shall provide a notice to the Agent (who shall provide a copy of such notice to each of the Lenders under the applicable Existing Term Loan Tranche) (each, a “Term Loan Extension Request”) setting forth the proposed terms of the Extended Term Loans to be

 

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established, which shall (x) be identical as offered to each Lender under such Existing Term Loan Tranche (including as to the proposed interest rates and fees payable) and offered pro rata to each Lender under such Existing Term Loan Tranche and (y) be identical to the Term Loans under the Existing Term Loan Tranche from which such Extended Term Loans are to be amended, except that: (i) all or any of the scheduled amortization payments of principal of the Extended Term Loans may be delayed to later dates than the scheduled amortization payments of principal of the Term Loans of such Existing Term Loan Tranche, to the extent provided in the applicable Extension Amendment; (ii) the Effective Yield with respect to the Extended Term Loans (whether in the form of interest rate margin, upfront fees, original issue discount or otherwise) may be different than the Effective Yield for the Term Loans of such Existing Term Loan Tranche, in each case, to the extent provided in the applicable Extension Amendment; (iii) the Extension Amendment may provide for other covenants and terms that apply solely to any period after the Latest Maturity Date that is in effect on the effective date of the Extension Amendment (immediately prior to the establishment of such Extended Term Loans); and (iv) Extended Term Loans may have call protection as may be agreed by the Parent Borrower and the Lenders thereof; provided that no Extended Term Loans may be optionally prepaid prior to the date on which all Term Loans with an earlier final stated maturity (including Term Loans under the Existing Term Loan Tranche from which they were amended) are repaid in full, unless such optional prepayment is accompanied by a pro rata optional prepayment of such other Term Loans; provided, however, that (A) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time a Term Loan Extension Request is delivered to Lenders, (B) in no event shall the final maturity date of any Extended Term Loans of a given Term Loan Extension Series at the time of establishment thereof be earlier than the then Latest Maturity Date of any other Term Loans hereunder, (C) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any Extended Term Loans of a given Term Loan Extension Series at the time of establishment thereof shall be no shorter (other than by virtue of amortization or prepayment of such Indebtedness prior to the time of incurrence of such Extended Term Loans) than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any Existing Term Loan Tranche, (D) any such Extended Term Loans (and the Liens securing the same) shall be permitted by the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements, (E) all documentation in respect of such Extension Amendment shall be consistent with the foregoing and (F) any Extended Term Loans may participate on a pro rata basis or less than a pro rata basis (but not greater than a pro rata basis) in any voluntary or mandatory repayments or prepayments hereunder, in each case as specified in the respective Term Loan Extension Request. Any Extended Term Loans amended pursuant to any Term Loan Extension Request shall be designated a series (each, a “Term Loan Extension Series”) of Extended Term Loans for all purposes of this Agreement; provided that any Extended Term Loans amended from an Existing Term Loan Tranche may, to the extent provided in the applicable Extension Amendment, be designated as an increase in any previously established Term Loan Extension Series with respect to such Existing Term Loan Tranche. Each Term Loan Extension Series of Extended Term Loans incurred under this Section 2.10 shall be in an aggregate principal amount that is not less than $25,000,000.

(b) Extension Request. The Parent Borrower shall provide the applicable Term Loan Extension Request at least five (5) Business Days prior to the date on which Lenders under the Existing Term Loan Tranche are requested to respond, and shall agree to such procedures, if any, as may be established by, or acceptable to, the Agent, in each case acting reasonably to accomplish the purposes of this Section 2.10. No Lender shall have any obligation to agree to have any of its Term Loans of any Existing Term Loan Tranche amended into Extended Term Loans pursuant to any Term Loan Extension Request. Any Lender holding a Loan under an Existing Term Loan Tranche (each, an “Extending Term Lender”) wishing to have all or a portion of its Term Loans under the Existing Term Loan Tranche subject to such Term Loan Extension Request amended into Extended Term Loans shall notify the Agent (each, an “Extension Election”) on or prior to the date specified in such Term Loan Extension Request of the amount of its Term Loans under the Existing Term Loan Tranche which it has elected to request be amended into Extended Term Loans (subject to any minimum denomination requirements imposed by the Agent). In the event that the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans under the Existing Term Loan

 

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Tranche in respect of which applicable Term Lenders shall have accepted the relevant Term Loan Extension Request exceeds the amount of Extended Term Loans requested to be extended pursuant to the Term Loan Extension Request, Term Loans subject to Extension Elections shall be amended to Extended Term Loans on a pro rata basis (subject to rounding by the Agent, which shall be conclusive) based on the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans included in each such Extension Election.

(c) Extension Amendment. Extended Term Loans shall be established pursuant to an amendment (each, a “Extension Amendment”) to this Agreement among Holdings, the Loan Parties, the Agent and each Extending Term Lender providing an Extended Term Loan thereunder, which shall be consistent with the provisions set forth in Section 2.10(a) above, respectively (but which shall not require the consent of any other Lender). The effectiveness of any Extension Amendment shall be subject to the satisfaction on the date thereof of each of the conditions set forth in Section 4.2 and, to the extent reasonably requested by the Agent, receipt by the Agent of (i) legal opinions, board resolutions and officers’ certificates consistent with those delivered on the Original Closing Date other than changes to such legal opinion resulting from a change in law, change in fact or change to counsel’s form of opinion reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and (ii) reaffirmation agreements and/or such amendments to the Collateral Documents as may be reasonably requested by the Agent in order to ensure that the Extended Term Loans are provided with the benefit of the applicable Financing Agreements. The Agent shall promptly notify each Lender as to the effectiveness of each Extension Amendment. Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements may be amended pursuant to an Extension Amendment, without the consent of any other Lenders, to the extent (but only to the extent) necessary to (i) reflect the existence and terms of the Extended Term Loans incurred pursuant thereto, (ii) modify the scheduled repayments set forth in Section 2.2 with respect to any Existing Term Loan Tranche subject to an Extension Election to reflect a reduction in the principal amount of the Term Loans thereunder in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Extended Term Loans amended pursuant to the applicable Extension Amendment (with such amount to be applied ratably to reduce scheduled repayments of such Term Loans required pursuant to Section 2.2), (iii) modify the prepayments set forth in Section 2.3 to reflect the existence of the Extended Term Loans and the application of prepayments with respect thereto, (iv) make such other changes to this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements consistent with the provisions and intent of Section 12.3(g) (without the consent of the Required Lenders called for therein) and (v) effect such other amendments to this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Agent and the Parent Borrower, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.10, and the Required Lenders hereby expressly authorize the Agent to enter into any such Extension Amendment.

(d) No conversion of Loans pursuant to any Extension Amendment in accordance with this Section 2.10 shall constitute a voluntary or mandatory payment or prepayment for purposes of this Agreement.

2.11 LIBOR Discontinuation. If at any time the Agent or the Borrowers determine (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that (i) the circumstances set forth in Section 3.4 have arisen and such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary or (ii) the circumstances set forth in Section 3.4 have not arisen but the supervisor for the administrator of the applicable Eurodollar Rate or a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Agent has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which the applicable Eurodollar Rate shall no longer be used for determining interest rates for loans, then the Agent and the Borrowers shall endeavor to establish an alternate rate of interest to the appropriate Eurodollar Rate 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; provided that such alternate rate of interest shall not be less than the “floor” as in effect at the time of such amendment. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 12.3, such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement so long as the 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, written notice from the Required Lenders stating that such Required Lenders object to such amendment.

 

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SECTION 3. INTEREST AND FEES

3.1 Interest.

(a) The Borrowers shall pay to Agent, for the benefit of Lenders, interest on the outstanding principal amount of the Loans at the Interest Rate. All interest accruing hereunder shall be payable on demand: (i) on and after the date of any Event of Default, following the Agent’s election to increase the Interest Rate pursuant to clause (b) of the definition thereof and from time to time thereafter, and (ii) on and after the date of termination hereof.

(b) Interest shall be payable by the Borrowers to Agent, for the account of Lenders, with respect to Base Rate Loans on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and the Latest Maturity Date of the Facility under which such Loan was made, which shall be calculated on the basis of three hundred sixty-five (365) or three hundred sixty-six (366) day year, as applicable, and actual days elapsed. Interest shall be payable by the Borrowers to Agent, for the account of Lenders, with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Loans on the last day of each applicable Interest Period with respect to such Loans, or, in the case of Interest Periods longer than three months, on the date that is three months after the commencement of such Interest Period, which shall be calculated on the basis of a three hundred sixty (360) day year and actual days elapsed. The interest rate on non-contingent Obligations (other than Eurodollar Rate Loans) shall increase or decrease by an amount equal to each increase or decrease in the Base Rate effective on the date any change in such Base Rate is effective. In no event shall charges constituting interest payable by the Borrowers to Agent and Lenders exceed the maximum amount or the rate permitted under any applicable law or regulation, and if any such part or provision of this Agreement is in contravention of any such law or regulation, such part or provision shall be deemed amended to conform thereto.

3.2 Fees. The Parent Borrower shall pay to Agent and Credit Suisse the other fees and amounts set forth in the Fee Letter in the amounts and at the times specified therein or as has otherwise been agreed by or on behalf of Parent Borrower. To the extent payment in full of the applicable fee is received by Agent from Parent Borrower on or about the Escrow Release Date, Agent shall pay to each Lender its share of such fees in accordance with the terms of the arrangements of Agent with such Lender.

3.3 Changes in Laws and Increased Costs of Loans.

(a) If after the Escrow Release Date, either (i) with respect to Eurodollar Rate Loans, any change in, or in the interpretation of, any Law is introduced, including, without limitation, with respect to reserve requirements, applicable to any Lender or any banking or financial institution from whom any Lender borrows funds or obtains credit (a “Funding Bank”), or (ii) with respect to Eurodollar Rate Loans, a Funding Bank or any Lender complies with any future guideline or request from any central bank or other Governmental Authority or (iii) a Funding Bank or any Lender determines that the adoption of any applicable law, rule or regulation regarding capital adequacy, or any change therein, or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof has or would have the effect described below, or a Funding Bank or any Lender complies with any request or directive regarding capital adequacy (whether or not having the force of law) of any such authority, central bank or comparable

 

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agency, and in the case of any event set forth in this clause (iii), such adoption, change or compliance has or would have the direct or indirect effect of reducing the rate of return on any Lender’s capital as a consequence of its obligations hereunder to a level below that which such Lender could have achieved but for such adoption, change or compliance (taking into consideration the Funding Bank’s or Lender’s policies with respect to capital adequacy) by an amount deemed by such Lender to be material, or (iv) a Funding Bank or any Lender determines that any change in, or in the interpretation of, any law or regulation shall subject such Funding Bank or such Lender to any Tax of any kind whatsoever with respect to this Agreement or any Loan made by it, or change the basis in Taxation of payments to such Funding Bank or such Lender in respect thereof (except for any Excluded Taxes, or Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes indemnifiable under Section 6.1); and the result of any of the foregoing events described in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) is an increase in the cost to any Lender of funding or maintaining the Loans, then Parent Borrower and Guarantors shall from time to time upon demand by Agent pay to Agent additional amounts sufficient to indemnify such Lender, as the case may be, against such increased cost on an after-Tax basis (after taking into account applicable deductions and credits in respect of the amount indemnified). A certificate as to the amount of such increased cost shall be submitted to the Parent Borrower by Agent or the applicable Lender and shall be conclusive, absent manifest error. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, for all purposes under this Agreement (including Section 3.3(a)), (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 regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a change in Law after the Escrow Release Date, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.

(b) If prior to the first day of any Interest Period, (i) Agent shall have determined in good faith (which determination shall be conclusive and binding upon Parent Borrower and Guarantors) that, by reason of circumstances affecting the relevant market, adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period, or (ii) Agent has received notice from the Required Lenders that the Eurodollar Rate determined or to be determined for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to Lenders of making or maintaining Eurodollar Rate Loans during such Interest Period, Agent shall give telecopy or telephonic notice thereof to the Parent Borrower as soon as practicable thereafter, and will also give prompt written notice to the Parent Borrower when such conditions no longer exist. If such notice is given (A) any Eurodollar Rate Loans requested to be made on the first day of such Interest Period shall be made as Base Rate Loans, (B) any Loans that were to have been converted on the first day of such Interest Period to or continued as Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be converted to or continued as Base Rate Loans and (C) each outstanding Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be converted, on the last day of the then-current Interest Period thereof, to Base Rate Loans. Until such notice has been withdrawn by Agent, no further Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be made or continued as such, nor shall the Parent Borrower have the right to convert Base Rate Loans to Eurodollar Rate Loans.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision herein, if the adoption of or any change in any law, treaty, rule or regulation or final, non-appealable determination of an arbitrator or a court or other Governmental Authority or in the interpretation or application thereof occurring after the Escrow Release Date shall make it unlawful for Agent or any Lender to make or maintain Eurodollar Rate Loans as contemplated by this Agreement (i) Agent or such Lender shall promptly give written notice of such circumstances to the Parent Borrower (which notice shall be withdrawn whenever such circumstances no longer exist), (ii) the commitment of such Lender hereunder to make Eurodollar Rate Loans, continue Eurodollar Rate Loans as such and convert Base Rate Loans to Eurodollar Rate Loans shall forthwith be canceled and, until such time as it shall no longer be unlawful for such Lender to make or maintain Eurodollar Rate Loans, such Lender shall then have a commitment only to make a Base Rate Loan when

 

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a Eurodollar Rate Loan is requested and (iii) such Lender’s Loans then outstanding as Eurodollar Rate Loans, if any, shall be converted automatically to Base Rate Loans on the respective last days of the then current Interest Periods with respect to such Loans or within such earlier period as required by law. If any such conversion of a Eurodollar Rate Loan occurs on a day which is not the last day of the then current Interest Period with respect thereto, Parent Borrower and Guarantors shall pay to such Lender such amounts, if any, as may be required pursuant to Section 3.3(d) below.

(d) Parent Borrower and Guarantors shall indemnify Agent and each Lender and hold Agent and each Lender harmless from any loss or expense which Agent or such Lender may sustain or incur as a consequence of (i) default by the Parent Borrower in making a borrowing of, conversion into or extension of Eurodollar Rate Loans after Parent Borrower has given a notice requesting the same in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, (ii) default by the Parent Borrower in making any prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan after Parent Borrower has given a notice thereof in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, and (iii) the making of a prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans on a day which is not the last day of an Interest Period with respect thereto. With respect to Eurodollar Rate Loans, such indemnification may include an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (A) the amount of interest which would have accrued on the amount so prepaid, or not so borrowed, converted or extended, for the period from the date of such prepayment or of such failure to borrow, convert or extend to the last day of the applicable Interest Period (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or extend, the Interest Period that would have commenced on the date of such failure) in each case at the applicable rate of interest for such Eurodollar Rate Loans provided for herein (excluding the Applicable Margin) over (B) the amount of interest (as determined by such Agent or such Lender) which would have accrued to Agent or such Lender on such amount by placing such amount on deposit for a comparable period with leading banks in the interbank Eurodollar market. This covenant shall survive the termination or non-renewal of this Agreement and the payment of the Obligations.

(e) Any Agent or any Lender claiming compensation under this Section 3 shall deliver a certificate to the Parent Borrower setting forth the additional amount or amounts to be paid to it hereunder which shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. In determining such amount, such Agent or such Lender may use any reasonable averaging and attribution methods.

(f) With respect to any Lender’s claim for compensation under Section 3.3(a), (b) or (c), the Parent Borrower shall not be required to compensate such Lender for any amount incurred more than one hundred and eighty (180) days prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Parent Borrower of the event that gives rise to such claim; provided that, if the circumstance giving rise to such claim is retroactive, then such 180-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.

(g) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.3(a), (b) or (c), then such Lender will, if requested by the Parent Borrower, use commercially reasonable efforts to designate another Lending Office for any Loan affected by such event; provided that such efforts are made on terms that, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, cause such Lender and its Lending Office(s) to suffer no material economic, legal or regulatory disadvantage, and provided, further, that nothing in this Section 3.3(g) shall affect or postpone any of the Obligations of the Parent Borrower or the rights of such Lender pursuant to Section 3.3(a), (b) or (c).

 

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3.4 Inability to Determine Rates. If the Agent reasonably determines that for any reason in connection with any request for a Eurodollar Rate Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof that:

(a) Dollar deposits are not generally being offered to banks in the London interbank Eurodollar market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Eurodollar Rate Loan;

(b) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the Eurodollar Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Loan or in connection with an existing or proposed Base Rate Loan; or

(c) the Eurodollar Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan;

the Agent will promptly so notify the Borrowers and each Lender. Thereafter, (i) the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended, and (ii) in the event of a determination described in the preceding sentence with respect to the Eurodollar Rate component of the Base Rate, the utilization of the Eurodollar Rate component in determining the Base Rate shall be suspended, in each case until the Agent (upon the instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrowers may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans or, failing that, solely in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans denominated in Dollars, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein.

SECTION 4. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

4.1 [Reserved].

4.2 Conditions Precedent to All Loans. The obligation of Lenders to make Loans (other than the initial Term B Loans, the Term B-3 Loans, the Term B-4 Loans, the Term B-5 Loans, the 2016-1 Term B-4 Loans, the 2016-1 Term B-5 Loans, the Term B-6 Loans, the 2016-2 Term B-4 Loans, the 2016-2 Term B-5 Loans, the 2016-1 Term B-6 Loans, the 2017-1 Term B-4 Loans, the 2017-1 Term B-5 Loans, the 2017-1 Term B-6 Loans and, the 2018 Term B-7 Loans, the 2019-1 Term B-7 Loans and the 2019 Term B-8 Loans) is subject to the further satisfaction of, or waiver of, immediately prior to or concurrently with the making of each such Loan of each of the following conditions precedent:

(a) all representations and warranties contained herein and in the other Financing Agreements shall be true and correct in all material respects (except where qualified by materiality, in which case such representations and warranties that are qualified by materiality shall be true and correct in all respects) with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on and as of the date of the making of each such Loan and after giving effect thereto, except to the extent that such representations and warranties expressly relate solely to an earlier date (in which case such representations and warranties shall have been true and accurate on and as of such earlier date);

(b) no event shall have occurred and no condition shall exist that has or may be reasonably be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

(c) no Default or Event of Default shall exist or have occurred and be continuing on and as of the date of the making of such Loan and after giving effect thereto.

 

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Notwithstanding anything in this Section 4.2 and in Section 2.8 to the contrary, to the extent that the proceeds of Incremental Term Loans are to be used to finance a Permitted Acquisition or Investment permitted hereunder, the only conditions precedent to the funding of such Incremental Term Loan shall be (i) the conditions precedent set forth in the related Incremental Amendment, (ii) that the Specified Representations and the Specified Acquisition Agreement Representations with respect to the Target of such Permitted Acquisition or Investment permitted hereunder shall be true and correct and (iii) no Event of Default under Section 11.1(a)(i), (a)(ii), (g) or (h) shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom.

4.3 Conditions to the Escrow Release Date. The Parent Borrower agrees that it shall not direct the Escrow Agent to release the Escrow Account Funds, and the Escrow Release Date shall not occur, until satisfaction of, or waiver of, each of the following conditions precedent on or prior to the earliest of:

(a) The Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals, telecopies or other electronic image scan transmission (e.g., “pdf” or “tif” via e-mail) (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party or the Lenders, as applicable, each dated the Escrow Release Date (or, in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before the Escrow Release Date) and each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent:

(i) executed counterparts of Amendment No. 5;

(ii) a Note executed by the Parent Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting a Note;

(iii) such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party as the Agent may require evidencing (A) the authority of each Loan Party to enter into this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements to which such Loan Party is a party or is to become a party and (B) the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements to which such Loan Party is a party or is to become a party;

(iv) copies of each Loan Party’s Organization Documents (or a certification that such Organization Documents have not been amended since the date such Organization Documents were previously delivered to the Agent under the Existing Debt Facility) and such other documents and certifications as the Agent may reasonably require to evidence that each Loan Party is duly organized or formed, and that each Loan Party is validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except to the extent that failure to so qualify in such jurisdiction could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(v) evidence that, on the Escrow Release Date (or within 120 days after the Escrow Release Date) pursuant to arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, all principal and accrued interest and fees have been paid in full so that (x) no more than $80,000,000 of principal amount remains outstanding thereafter with respect to Safeway’s 3.40% Senior Notes due 2016 and (y) no more than $100,000,000 of principal amount remains outstanding thereafter with respect to Safeway’s 6.35% Senior Notes due 2017;

 

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(vi) a solvency certificate signed by the Chief Financial Officer of the Parent Borrower substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit O;

(vii) the Security Agreement and certificates evidencing any stock being pledged thereunder, together with undated stock powers executed in blank, each duly executed by the applicable Loan Parties (provided, that with respect to Security Agreement to be executed by Safeway and its Subsidiaries, such Security Agreement may be executed and delivered after the release of the Term B-3 Loans and the Term B-4 Loans from the Escrow Account but not later than 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the Escrow Release Date);

(viii) a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of Safeway certifying that Safeway has assumed, or concurrently with the Escrow Release Date shall assume, all the obligations of Merger Sub under the Financing Agreements;

(ix) results of searches or other evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Agent (in each case dated as of a date reasonably satisfactory to the Agent) indicating the absence of Liens on the assets of the Loan Parties, except for Permitted Liens and Liens for which termination statements and releases, satisfactions and releases or subordination agreements reasonably satisfactory to the Agent are being tendered concurrently with the Escrow Release Date or other arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Agent for the delivery of such termination statements and releases, satisfactions and discharges have been made;

(x) Uniform Commercial Code financing statements required by Law or reasonably requested by the Agent to be filed, registered or recorded to create or perfect the first priority Liens intended to be created under the Financing Agreements and all such documents and instruments shall have been (or have been authorized by the Loan Parties to be) so filed, registered or recorded to the satisfaction of the Agent;

(xi) a customary legal opinion (including no conflicts with all indentures and other material debt documents of the Parent Borrower) (A) from Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP, counsel to the Loan Parties, (B) from Greenberg Traurig LLP, California, Illinois and Texas counsel to the Loan Parties and (C) from Bodman PLC, Michigan counsel to the Loan Parties, in each case addressed to the Agent and each Lender;

(xii) a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Parent Borrower substantially in form and substance of Exhibit A to the Escrow Agreement, certifying as to the conditions set forth therein;

(xiii) a completed “Life-of-Loan” Federal Emergency Management Agency Standard Flood Hazard Determination with respect to each Existing Mortgaged Property (together with a notice about special flood hazard area status and flood disaster assistance duly executed by the Parent Borrower and each Loan Party relating thereto) and evidence of flood insurance as set forth in Section 9.4 hereof;

(xviii) a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Parent Borrower certifying as to the conditions set forth in clauses (h) and (i) of this Section 4.3; and

(xiv) the amended and restated Perfection Certificate, dated as of the Escrow Release Date, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Agent.

 

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(b) Prior to or substantially simultaneously with the release of funds from the Escrow Account on the Escrow Release Date, Holdings shall have received the Equity Contribution.

(c) The Safeway Acquisition shall have been or, substantially concurrently with the initial borrowing under this Agreement, shall be consummated in accordance with the terms of the Safeway Merger Agreement.

(d) All fees required to be paid on the Escrow Release Date pursuant to the Fee Letter and this Agreement and reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses required to be paid on the Escrow Release Date pursuant to this Agreement, in each case to the extent invoiced at least two Business Days prior to the Escrow Release Date, shall have been paid (which amounts may be offset against the proceeds of the Loans).

(e) The Specified Acquisition Agreement Representations shall be true and correct in all material respects.

(f) The ABL Facility Documentation shall have been duly executed and delivered by each party thereto, and shall be in full force and effect.

(g) The ABL Intercreditor Agreement and the Term Loan Intercreditor Agreement shall have been duly executed and delivered by each party thereto and shall be in full force and effect.

(h) Since December 28, 2013, there shall not have occurred any Company Material Adverse Effect.

(i) The Specified Representations shall be true and correct in all material respects.

SECTION 5. [RESERVED]

SECTION 6. TAXES

6.1 Taxes.

Any and all payments by or on account of any Loan Party hereunder or under any other Financing Agreement shall (except to the extent required by applicable Laws) be made free and clear of, and without any deduction or withholding on account of, any Taxes.

(a) If any Loan Party, the Agent or any other applicable withholding agent shall be required by applicable law to deduct or withhold any Tax from or in respect of any sum paid or payable by any Loan Party under any of the Financing Agreements, then (i) the applicable Loan Party or other applicable withholding agent shall make such deduction or withholding and pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Laws any such Tax before the date on which penalties attach thereto, (ii) if the Tax in question is an Indemnified Tax or Other 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 or withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 6.1), each Lender (or, in the case of a payment made to an Agent for its own account, such Agent) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions or withholdings been made, and (iii) within thirty days after paying any sum from which it is required by applicable Laws to make any deduction or withholding, if a Loan Party is the applicable withholding agent, the Parent Borrower shall deliver to the Agent evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Agent of such deduction or withholding and of the timely remittance thereof to the relevant Governmental Authority.

 

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(b) Without limiting the provisions of Sections 6.1(a) and (b), the Parent Borrower shall pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Laws.

(c) Each Lender shall, at such times as are reasonably requested by the Parent Borrower or the Agent, provide the Parent Borrower and the Agent with any documentation prescribed by applicable Laws or reasonably requested by the Parent Borrower or the Agent certifying as to any entitlement of such Lender to an exemption from, or reduction in, any applicable withholding Tax with respect to any payments to be made to such Lender under any Financing Agreement. Each such Lender shall, whenever a lapse in time or change in circumstances renders any such documentation (including any specific documentation required below in this Section 6.1(d)) obsolete, expired or inaccurate in any respect, deliver promptly to the Parent Borrower and the Agent updated or other appropriate documentation (including any new documentation reasonably requested by the Parent Borrower or the Agent) or promptly notify the Parent Borrower and the Agent in writing of its legal ineligibility to do so.

Without limiting the foregoing:

(1) Each U.S. Lender shall deliver to the Parent Borrower and the Agent on or before the date on which it becomes a party to this Agreement two properly completed and duly signed original copies of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding.

(2) Each Foreign Lender shall deliver to the Parent Borrower and the Agent on or before the date on which it becomes a party to this Agreement whichever of the following is applicable:

(A) two properly completed and duly signed original copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or any successor forms) claiming eligibility for the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party,

(B) two properly completed and duly signed original copies of IRS Form W-8ECI (or any successor forms),

(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 signed certificates substantially in the form of Exhibit H-1, Exhibit H-2, Exhibit H-3 or Exhibit H-4 (any such certificate, a “United States Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (B) two properly completed and duly signed original copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or any successor forms),

(D) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner (for example, where the Foreign Lender is a partnership or a participating Lender), IRS Form W-8IMY (or any successor forms) of the Foreign Lender, accompanied by a Form W-8ECI, W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E, United States Tax Compliance Certificate, Form W-9, Form W-8IMY or any other required information (or any successor forms) from each beneficial owner that would be required under this Section 6.1(d) if such beneficial owner were a Lender, as applicable (provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership (and not a participating Lender) and one or more direct or indirect partners are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, the United States Tax Compliance Certificate may be provided by such Foreign Lender on behalf of such direct or indirect partner(s)), or

 

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(E) two properly completed and duly signed original copies of any other form prescribed by applicable U.S. federal income tax laws (including the Treasury Regulations) as a basis for claiming a complete exemption from, or a reduction in, United States federal withholding Tax on any payments to such Lender under the Financing Agreements.

(3) If a payment made to a Lender under any Financing Agreement 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 Parent Borrower and the Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Parent Borrower or the Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable Laws (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Parent Borrower or the Agent as may be necessary for the Parent Borrower and the Agent to comply with their FATCA obligations, to determine whether such Lender has or has not complied with such Lender’s FATCA obligations and, if necessary, to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this Section 6.1(d)(3), “FATCA” includes any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1(d), a Lender shall not be required to deliver any documentation that such Lender is not legally eligible to deliver.

(d) The Loan Parties shall, within ten (10) days after written demand therefor, jointly and severally, indemnify the Agent and each Lender (each a “Tax Indemnitee”) for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes and Other Taxes (including any Indemnified Taxes and Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 6.1) paid or payable by such Tax Indemnitee, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability prepared in good faith and delivered by a Tax Indemnitee (or by Agent on behalf of a Tax Indemnitee), shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(e) If and to the extent that a Tax Indemnitee determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section 6.1, then such Tax Indemnitee shall pay to the relevant Loan Party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, under this Section 6.1 with respect to the Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including any Taxes) of the Tax Indemnitee and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund); provided that the applicable Loan Party, upon the request of the Tax Indemnitee, agrees to promptly repay the amount paid over pursuant to this Section 6.1(f) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to such Tax Indemnitee in the event that such Tax Indemnitee is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. This Section 6.1(f) shall not be construed to require any Tax Indemnitee to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes which it deems confidential) to any Loan Party or any other Person.

 

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(f) Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreements of any Loan Party hereunder or under any other Financing Agreement, the agreements and obligations of Loan Parties contained in this Section 6.1 shall survive the termination of this Agreement, the payment in full of the Obligations, resignation of the Agent and any assignment of rights by, or replacement of, any Lender.

(g) Upon the written request of Parent Borrower, any Lender or Agent claiming any additional amounts or indemnification payments payable pursuant to this Section 6.1 shall use its reasonable efforts to mitigate or reduce the additional amounts payable, which reasonable efforts may include a change in the jurisdiction of its Lending Office (or any other measures reasonably requested by the Parent Borrower) if such a change or other measures would reduce any such additional amounts (or any similar amount that may thereafter accrue) and would not, in the sole determination of such Lender, result in any unreimbursed cost or expense or be otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender.

6.2 Replacement of Lenders under Certain Circumstances.

(a) If at any time a Borrower becomes obligated to pay additional amounts or indemnity payments described in Section 6.1 or 3.3 as a result of any condition described in such Sections or any Lender ceases to make any Eurocurrency Rate Loans as a result of any condition described in Section 3.3, then the Parent Borrower may, on ten (10) Business Days’ prior written notice to the Agent and such Lender, (x) replace such Lender by causing such Lender to (and such Lender shall be obligated to) assign pursuant to Section 14.7(a) (with the assignment fee to be paid by the Parent Borrower in such instance) all of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (in respect of any applicable Facility) to one or more Eligible Transferees; provided that neither the Agent nor any Lender shall have any obligation to the Parent Borrower to find a replacement Lender or other such Person; and provided, further, that in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.3 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 6.1, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments; or (y) terminate the Commitment of such Lender and repay or cause to be repaid all Obligations of the Borrowers owing to such Lender relating to the Loans and participations held by such Lender as of such termination date.

(b) Any Lender being replaced pursuant to Section 6.2(a) above shall (i) execute and deliver an Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such Lender’s applicable Commitment and outstanding Loans in respect thereof, and (ii) deliver any Term Notes evidencing such Loans to the Parent Borrower or Agent. Pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance, (A) the assignee Lender shall acquire all or a portion, as the case may be, of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and outstanding Loans, (B) all obligations of the Borrowers owing to the assigning Lender relating to the Loans, Commitments and participations so assigned shall be paid in full by the assignee Lender to such assigning Lender concurrently with such Assignment and Acceptance and (C) upon such payment and, if so requested by the assignee Lender, delivery to the assignee Lender of the appropriate Term Note or Term Notes executed by the applicable Borrowers, the assignee Lender shall become a Lender hereunder and the assigning Lender shall cease to constitute a Lender hereunder with respect to such assigned Loans, Commitments and participations, except with respect to indemnification provisions under this Agreement, which shall survive as to such assigning Lender. In connection with any such replacement, if any such Non-Consenting Lender does not execute and deliver to the Agent a duly executed Assignment and Assumption reflecting such replacement within five (5) Business Days of the date on which the assignee Lender executes and delivers such Assignment and Acceptance to such Non-Consenting Lender, then such Non-Consenting Lender shall be deemed to have executed and delivered such Assignment and Acceptance without any action on the part of the Non-Consenting Lender.

 

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SECTION 7. [RESERVED]

SECTION 8. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

To induce the Agent and the Lenders to enter into this Agreement and to make Loans, each Loan Party represents and warrants to the Agent and the Lenders that:

8.1 Existence, Qualification and Power. Each Loan Party and each Restricted Subsidiary thereof (a) is a corporation, limited liability company, partnership or limited partnership, duly incorporated, organized or formed, validly existing and, where applicable, in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, organization or formation, (b) has all requisite power and authority and all requisite governmental licenses, permits, authorizations, consents and approvals to (i) own or lease its assets and carry on its business and (ii) execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Financing Agreements to which it is a party, and (c) is duly qualified and is licensed and, where applicable, in good standing under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification or license; except in each case referred to in clause (b)(i) or (c), to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Schedule 8.1 annexed hereto sets forth, as of the Escrow Release Date, each Loan Party’s name as it appears in official filings in its state of incorporation or organization, its state of incorporation or organization, organization type, organization number, if any, issued by its state of incorporation or organization, and its federal employer identification number.

8.2 Authorization; No Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Financing Agreement to which such Person is or is to be a party, has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and does not and will not (a) contravene the terms of any of such Person’s Organization Documents; (b) conflict with or result in any breach, termination, or contravention of, or constitute a default under, or require any payment to be made under (i) any Material Contract or any Material Indebtedness to which such Person is a party or affecting such Person or the properties of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or (ii) any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Person or its property is subject; (c) result in or require the creation of any Lien upon any asset of any Loan Party (other than Liens in favor of the Agent under the Collateral Documents); or (d) violate any Law.

8.3 Financial Statements.

(a) The Audited Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; (ii) fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries and Safeway and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; and (iii) to the extent required by GAAP, show all Material Indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries and Safeway and its Subsidiaries, respectively, as of the dates thereof, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness.

(b) The unaudited Consolidated balance sheet of Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries, dated as of November 27, 2014 and Safeway and its Subsidiaries, dated as of November 27, 2014, and the related Consolidated statements of income or operations, Shareholders’ Equity and cash flows for the Quarterly Accounting Period ended on those dates (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein, and (ii) fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries and Safeway and its Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby, subject, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), to the absence of footnotes and to normal year-end audit adjustments.

 

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(c) The Consolidated forecasted balance sheets and statements of income and cash flows of the Albertson’s Group delivered pursuant to Section 9.5(e) were prepared in good faith on the basis of the assumptions stated therein, which assumptions were reasonable in light of the conditions existing at the time of delivery of such forecasts, and represented, at the time of delivery, the Loan Parties’ good faith estimate of its future financial performance (it being understood that such forecasted financial information is subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of the Loan Parties, that no assurance is given that any particular forecasts will be realized, that actual results may differ and that such differences may be material).

8.4 Ownership of Property; Liens.

(a) Each of the Loan Parties and each Restricted Subsidiary thereof has good record and valid title in fee simple to or valid leasehold interests in, all real property necessary or used in the ordinary conduct of its business, except for Permitted Liens and such defects in title or failure to have such title or other interest as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each of the Loan Parties and each Restricted Subsidiary has good and valid title to, valid leasehold interests in, or valid licenses or other rights to use all personal property and assets material to the ordinary conduct of its business, except for Permitted Liens or as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) To the knowledge of the Loan Parties, Schedule 8.4(b)(1) sets forth the address of all Material Real Property that is owned by the Loan Parties and each of their Restricted Subsidiaries on the Escrow Release Date. Each Loan Party has good and valid fee simple title to the real property owned by such Loan Party, free and clear of all Liens, other than Permitted Liens and such defects in title as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Loan Parties, Schedule 8.4(b)(2) sets forth the address of all Leases of Material Real Property of the Loan Parties and each of their Restricted Subsidiaries on the Escrow Release Date, together with the name of each lessor with respect to each such Lease as of the Escrow Release Date. Each of such Leases is in full force and effect and, to the knowledge of the Loan Parties, the Loan Parties are not in default of the terms thereof, except, in each case, as could not individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) The property of each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries is subject to no Liens, other than Permitted Liens and such defects in title as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(d) Schedule 10.2 sets forth a complete and accurate list of all Investments of the type under Section 10.2(b) held by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of a Loan Party on the Escrow Release Date, showing as of the Escrow Release Date the amount, obligor or issuer and maturity, if any, thereof.

(e) Schedule 10.3 sets forth a complete and accurate list of all Material Indebtedness of the type under Section 10.3(a) of each Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary of a Loan Party on the Escrow Release Date, showing as of the Escrow Release Date the amount, obligor or issuer and maturity thereof.

8.5 Taxes. Except for failures that could not reasonably be expected, either individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect, the Loan Parties and each of their Restricted Subsidiaries have filed all Tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all Taxes levied or imposed upon them or their properties, income or assets or otherwise due and payable (including in the

 

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capacity of withholding agent), except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings being diligently conducted, for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP, as to which Taxes no Liens (other than Permitted Liens on account thereof) have been filed and which contest effectively suspends the collection of the contested obligation and the enforcement of any Lien securing such obligation. There is no current, pending or proposed Tax audit, deficiency, assessment or other claim or proceeding with respect to any Loan Party or any of their Subsidiaries that, individually, or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

8.6 Litigation. There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of the Loan Parties after commercially reasonable investigation, 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 its properties or revenues that (a) purport to affect or pertain to this Agreement or any other Financing Agreement, or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, or (b) except as disclosed on Schedule 8.6 on the Escrow Release Date, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

8.7 Compliance with Laws. Each of the Loan Parties and each Restricted Subsidiary is in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its properties, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted or (b) the failure to comply therewith, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

8.8 Environmental Compliance.

(a) Except for any matters that could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, no Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof: (i) is in violation of any Environmental Law or has failed to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law at any Material Property, (ii) is subject to any Environmental Liability, (iii) is in receipt of any pending written notice of claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or (iv) is presently aware of any basis for any Environmental Liability;

(b) Except as otherwise set forth on Schedule 8.8 on the Escrow Release Date and to the knowledge of the Loan Parties: (i) none of the Material Real Properties 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) except for any matters that could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, there are no and never have been any underground or above-ground 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 of the Material Real Properties; and (iii) except for any matters that could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, no Hazardous Materials have been released, discharged or disposed of on any of the Material Real Properties or to the knowledge of any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary, on any property formerly owned or operated by any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof; and

(c) Except as otherwise set forth on Schedule 8.8 on the Escrow Release Date, no Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof is undertaking, and no Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof has completed, either individually or together with other potentially responsible parties, any investigation or assessment or remedial or response action relating to any actual or threatened release, discharge or disposal of Hazardous Materials at any site, location or operation, either voluntarily or pursuant to the order of any Governmental Authority or the requirements of any Environmental Law, which investigation, assessment, remedial or response action could not individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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8.9 ERISA Compliance.

(a) Each Plan is in compliance with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other Federal or state Laws, except where non-compliance could not individually or in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Lien imposed under the Code or ERISA exists or is likely to arise on account of any Plan that individually or in the aggregate could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) There are no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Parent Borrower, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan that individually or in the aggregate could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There has been no prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan that has resulted or individually or in the aggregate could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) (i) No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that individually or in the aggregate could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) neither any Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan (other than premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA) that individually or in the aggregate could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (iii) neither any Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability (and to the best knowledge of the Parent Borrower, no event has occurred which, with the giving of notice under Section 4219 of ERISA, would result in such liability) under Sections 4201 or 4243 of ERISA with respect to a Multiemployer Plan that individually or in the aggregate could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (iv) neither any Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Sections 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA that individually or in the aggregate could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

8.10 Governmental Authorization; Other Consents. No approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is necessary or required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Financing Agreements to which such Person is a party, except for (a) the perfection or maintenance of the Liens created under the Collateral Documents (including the first priority nature thereof) or (b) such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect.

8.11 Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc. Except, in each case, as could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries own, or possess the right to use, all of the Intellectual Property that is reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses as currently conducted. Except, in each case, as could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, the operation of their respective businesses by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary does not violate, dilute, or misappropriate and has not, in the past three (3), years infringed, any Intellectual Property rights held by any other Person, and except as disclosed in Schedule 8.11 on the Escrow Release Date, no claim or litigation regarding any of the foregoing is pending or, to the knowledge of the Parent Borrower, threatened in writing against any Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary, which, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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8.12 Subsidiaries; Equity Interests. As of the Escrow Release Date: (a) the Loan Parties have no Subsidiaries other than those specifically disclosed in Part (a) of Schedule 8.12, which Schedule sets forth, as of the Escrow Release Date, the legal name, jurisdiction of incorporation or formation and outstanding Equity Interests of each such Restricted Subsidiary, (b) all of the outstanding Equity Interests in such Restricted Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, and are owned by a Loan Party (or a Restricted Subsidiary of a Loan Party) in the amounts specified on Part (a) of Schedule 8.12 free and clear of all Liens except for Liens in favor of the Agent under the Financing Agreements and Permitted Liens which do not have priority over the Liens of the Agent. Except as set forth in Schedule 8.12, as of the Escrow Release Date, there are no outstanding rights to purchase any Equity Interests in any Restricted Subsidiary. As of the Escrow Release Date, the Loan Parties have no equity investments in any other Person other than those specifically disclosed in Schedule 10.2. The copies of the Organization Documents of each Loan Party and each amendment thereto provided pursuant to Section 4.3 are true and correct copies of each such document, each of which is valid and in full force and effect as of the Escrow Release Date.

8.13 Labor Matters. There are no strikes, lockouts, slowdowns or other labor disputes against any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof pending or, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, threatened that individually or in the aggregate could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The hours worked by and payments made to employees of the Loan Parties comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act and any other applicable federal, state, local or foreign Law dealing with such matters except to the extent that any such violation could not individually or in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Loan Party or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has incurred any liability or obligation under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act or similar state Law that has not been satisfied that individually or in the aggregate could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, all payments due from any Loan Party and its Restricted Subsidiaries, or for which any claim may be made against any Loan Party or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, on account of wages and employee health and welfare insurance and other benefits, have been paid or properly accrued in accordance with GAAP as a liability on the books of such Loan Party. There are no representation proceedings pending or, to any Loan Party’s knowledge, threatened to be filed with the National Labor Relations Board, and no labor organization or group of employees of any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary has made a pending demand for recognition that individually or in the aggregate could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There are no complaints, unfair labor practice charges, grievances, arbitrations, unfair employment practices charges or any other claims or complaints against any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary pending or, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, threatened to be filed with any Governmental Authority or arbitrator based on, arising out of, in connection with, or otherwise relating to the employment or termination of employment of any employee of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries which individually or in the aggregate could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Financing Agreements will not give rise to any right of termination or right of renegotiation on the part of any union under any collective bargaining agreement to which any Loan Party or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is bound that individually or in the aggregate could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

8.14 Anti-Money Laundering. Neither Holdings, any Loan Party, any of their Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of senior management of each Loan Party, any of their Affiliates and or any of the respective officers, directors, brokers or agents of such Loan Party, such Subsidiary or Affiliate (i) has violated or is in violation of any applicable anti-money laundering law or (ii) has engaged or engages in any transaction, investment, undertaking or activity that conceals the identity, source or destination of the proceeds from any category of offenses designated in any applicable law, regulation or other binding measure implementing the “Forty Recommendations” and “Nine Special Recommendations” published by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering.

 

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8.15 Material Contracts. Schedule 8.15 sets forth all Material Contracts to which any Loan Party is a party as of the Escrow Release Date. The Loan Parties have delivered true, correct and complete copies of such Material Contracts to the Agent on or before the Escrow Release Date, subject to confidentiality restrictions contained therein. The Loan Parties are not in breach or in default of or under any Material Contract which would reasonably likely result in a Material Adverse Effect and have not received any written notice of the intention of any other party thereto to terminate any Material Contract prior to the end of its current term.

8.16 Solvency. Immediately after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and before and after giving effect to each Borrowing, the Loan Parties, on a Consolidated basis, are Solvent. No transfer of property has been or will be made by any Loan Party and no obligation has been or will be incurred by any Loan Party in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Financing Agreements with the intent to hinder, delay, or defraud either present or future creditors of any Loan Party.

8.17 Investment Company Act; Margin Regulations.

(a) No Loan Party is engaged or will be engaged, 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), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock. None of the proceeds of the Borrowings shall be used directly or indirectly for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin stock, for the purpose of reducing or retiring any Indebtedness that was originally incurred to purchase or carry any margin stock or for any other purpose that might cause any of the Credit Extensions to be considered a “purpose credit” within the meaning of Regulations T, U, or X issued by the FRB.

(b) None of the Loan Parties, any Person Controlling any Loan Party, or any Subsidiary is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

8.18 Disclosure. Each Loan Party has disclosed to the Agent and the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which it or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, and all other matters known to it, that, individually or in the aggregate, on the Escrow Release Date, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No report, financial statement, certificate or other factual written information furnished in writing by or on behalf of any Loan Party to the Agent or any Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder or under any other Financing Agreement (excluding projected financial information, forward-looking statements and general industry or general economic data) (in each case, as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) and taken as a whole, contains (to the knowledge of the Loan Parties, in the case of any document or information provided to the Loan Parties pursuant to the NAI Purchase Agreement or the Safeway Acquisition Agreement) any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Loan Parties represent only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time (it being understood that such projected financial information is subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of the Loan Parties, that no assurance is given that any particular projections will be realized, that actual results may differ and that such differences may be material).

 

 

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8.19 FCPA. No part of the proceeds of the Loans will be used, directly or indirectly, for any payments to any governmental official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for political office, or anyone else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.

8.20 Office of Foreign Assets Control. Neither the advance of the Loans nor the use of the proceeds of the Loans will violate the Trading With the Enemy Act (50 U.S.C. § 1 et seq., as amended) (the “Trading with the Enemy Act”) or the Foreign Assets Control Regulations of the United States Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) (31 C.F.R., Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) (the “Foreign Assets Control Regulations”) or any enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto that is administered by OFAC (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include but shall not be limited to Executive Order 13224 of September 21, 2001 Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism (66 Fed. Reg. 49079 (2001)) (the “Executive Order”). None of the Loan Parties or their Subsidiaries and Unrestricted Subsidiaries (a) is a Specially Designated National as described in the Executive Order, the Trading With the Enemy Act or the Foreign Assets Control Regulations or (b) engages in any dealings or transactions with any Specially Designated Nationals in violation of the Executive Order.

8.21 USA PATRIOT Act Notice. Each Loan Party is in compliance, in all material respects, with the PATRIOT Act, to the extent each Loan Party is legally required to comply with the PATRIOT Act.

8.22 Use of Proceeds. On the Escrow Release Date, the proceeds from the Term B-3 Loans and Term B-4 Loans will be used to finance a portion of the Transactions (it being understood that the proceeds of the initial Term B-3 Loans and Term B-4 Loans were deposited into the Escrow Account on the Restatement Effective Date and will be released from the Escrow Account on the Escrow Release Date). After the Escrow Release Date, the proceeds from the Term Loans will be used for any purpose, including, to pay costs and expenses related to the Transactions and for general corporate purposes and working capital needs.

8.23 Deposit Accounts; Credit Card Arrangements.

(a) Annexed hereto as Schedule 8.23 (a) is a list of all DDAs maintained by the Loan Parties as of the Escrow Release Date, which Schedule includes, with respect to each DDA (i) the name and address of the depository; (ii) the account number(s) maintained with such depository; (iii) a contact person at such depository, and (iv) the identification of each Blocked Account Bank (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement).

(b) Annexed hereto as Schedule 8.23(b) is a list describing all arrangements as of the Escrow Release Date to which any Loan Party is a party with respect to the processing and/or payment to such Loan Party of the proceeds of any credit card charges and debit card charges for sales made by such Loan Party.

8.24 Binding Effect. This Agreement has been, and each other Financing Agreement, when delivered, will have been, duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party that is party thereto. This Agreement constitutes, and each other Financing Agreement when so delivered will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against each Loan Party that is party thereto in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

 

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8.25 No Material Adverse Effect.

(a) Since the Escrow Release Date, there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

8.26 No Default. No Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Financing Agreement.

8.27 Collateral Documents.

(a) The Security Agreement creates in favor of the Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties referred to therein, a legal, valid, and enforceable security interest in the Collateral (as defined in the Security Agreement), the enforceability of which is subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law. Upon the filing of UCC financing statements in proper form, and delivery to the Agent of all possessory collateral required to be delivered by the Security Agreement and/or the obtaining of “control” (as defined in the UCC) by the Agent (or, so long as the ABL Intercreditor Agreement is in effect and the ABL Agent is acting as agent for the Agent pursuant thereto for purposes of obtaining possession of or establishing control over certain Collateral, to or by the ABL Agent), the Agent will have a perfected Lien on, and security interest in, to and under all right, title and interest of the grantors thereunder in all Collateral (other than those DDAs for which the Agents have not required a Blocked Account Agreement) that may be perfected under the UCC (in effect on the date this representation is made) by filing, recording or registering a financing statement or by obtaining control or possession, in each case prior and superior in right to any other Person to the extent required by the Financing Agreements, subject to Permitted Liens having priority under applicable Law.

(b) When the Security Agreement (or a short form thereof) in proper form is filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office and when financing statements, releases and other filings in appropriate form are filed in the offices specified on Schedule II of the Security Agreement, the Agent shall have a fully perfected Lien on, and security interest in, all right, title and interest of the applicable Loan Parties in the Intellectual Property Collateral (as defined in the Security Agreement) in which a security interest may be perfected by filing, recording or registering a security agreement, financing statement or analogous document in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office, as applicable, in each case prior and superior in right to any other Person to the extent required by the Financing Agreements, subject to Permitted Liens having priority under applicable Law (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 trademarks, trademark applications and copyrights acquired by the Loan Parties after the Escrow Release Date).

(c) The Mortgages when granted shall create in favor of the Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties referred to therein, a legal, valid, continuing and enforceable first priority Lien in the Mortgaged Property (as defined in the Mortgages), the enforceability of which is subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law. Upon the filing or recording of the Mortgages in proper form with the appropriate Governmental Authorities and the payment of any mortgage recording taxes of fees, the Agent will have a perfected first priority Lien on, and security interest in, to and under all right, title and interest of the grantors thereunder in all Mortgaged Property that may be perfected by such filing or recording (including without limitation the proceeds of such Mortgaged Property), in each case prior and superior in right to any other Person to the extent required by the Financing Agreements, subject to Permitted Liens having priority under applicable Law.

 

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8.28 Pharmaceutical Laws.

(a) The Loan Parties have obtained all permits, licenses and other authorizations which are required with respect to the ownership and operations of their businesses under any Pharmaceutical Law, except where the failure to obtain such permits, licenses or other authorizations would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) The Loan Parties are in compliance with all terms and conditions of all such permits, licenses, orders and authorizations, and are also in compliance with all Pharmaceutical Laws, including all other limitations, restrictions, conditions, standards, prohibitions, requirements, obligations, schedules and timetables contained in the Pharmaceutical Laws, except where the failure to comply with such terms, conditions or laws would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) None of the Loan Parties has any liabilities, claims against it or presently outstanding notices imposed or based upon any provision of any Pharmaceutical Law, except for such liabilities, claims, citations or notices which individually or in the aggregate would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

8.29 HIPAA Compliance. To the extent that and for so long as a Loan Party is a “covered entity” within the meaning of HIPAA, such Loan Party (i) has undertaken or will promptly undertake all applicable surveys, audits, inventories, reviews, analyses and/or assessments (including any required risk assessments) of all areas of its business and operations required by HIPAA; (ii) has developed or will promptly develop a detailed plan and time line for becoming HIPAA Compliant (a “HIPAA Compliance Plan”); and (iii) has implemented or will implement those provisions of such HIPAA Compliance Plan in all material respects necessary to ensure that such Loan Party is or becomes HIPAA Compliant.

For purposes hereof, “HIPAA Compliant” shall mean that a Loan Party to the extent legally required (i) is or will use commercially reasonable efforts to be in compliance in all material respects with each of the applicable requirements of the so-called “Administrative Simplification” provisions of HIPAA on and as of each date that any part thereof, or any final rule or regulation thereunder, becomes effective in accordance with its or their terms, as the case may be (each such date, a “HIPAA Compliance Date”) and (ii) is not and could not reasonably be expected to become, as of any date following any such HIPAA Compliance Date, the subject of any civil or criminal penalty, process, claim, action or proceeding, or any administrative or other regulatory review, survey, process or proceeding (other than routine surveys or reviews conducted by any government health plan or other accreditation entity) that could result in any of the foregoing or that has or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

8.30 Compliance With Health Care Laws.

(a) Each Loan Party is in compliance with all Health Care Laws, including all Medicare and Medicaid program rules and regulations applicable to it, except where the failure to so comply does not have or could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no Loan Party has received notice of any violation of any provisions of the Medicare and Medicaid Anti-Fraud and Abuse or Anti-Kickback Amendments of the Social Security Act (presently codified in Section 1128(B)(b) of the Social Security Act) or the Medicare and Medicaid Patient and Program Protection Act of 1987.

 

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(b) Each Loan Party has maintained all records required to be maintained by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the Food and Drug Administration, Drug Enforcement Agency and State Boards of Pharmacy and the Federal and State Medicare and Medicaid programs as required by the Health Care Laws or other applicable Law or regulation, except where the failure to maintain such records does not have or could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each Loan Party has all necessary permits, licenses, franchises, certificates and other approvals or authorizations of Governmental Authority as are required under Health Care Laws and under such HMO or similar licensure laws and such insurance laws and regulations, as are applicable thereto, and with respect to those facilities and other businesses that participate in Medicare and/or Medicaid, to receive reimbursement under Medicare and Medicaid, except where the failure to obtain could not reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) Each Loan Party which is a Certified Medicare Provider or Certified Medicaid Provider has in a timely manner filed all requisite cost reports, claims and other reports required to be filed in connection with all Medicare and Medicaid programs due on or before the Escrow Release Date, all of which are complete and correct in all material respects. There are no claims to the best of each Loan Party’s knowledge, actions or appeals pending (and no Loan Party has filed any claims or reports which should result in any such claims, actions or appeals) before any Third Party Payor or Governmental Authority, including without limitation, any Fiscal Intermediary, the Provider Reimbursement Review Board or the Administrator of HCFA, with respect to any Medicare or Medicaid cost reports or claims filed by any Loan Party on or before the Escrow Release Date. No validation review or program integrity review related to a Loan Party which could reasonably likely have a Material Adverse Effect has been conducted by any Third Party Payor or Governmental Authority in connection with Medicare or Medicare programs, and to the best of each Loan Party’s knowledge, no such reviews are scheduled, pending or threatened against or affecting any Loan Party, or any of its assets, or, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby. To the best of each Loan Party’s knowledge, there currently exist no restrictions, deficiencies, required plans of correction actions or other such remedial measures with respect to Federal and State Medicare and Medicaid certifications or licensure against such parties.

(d) Schedule 8.30 hereto sets forth an accurate, complete and current list, as of the Escrow Release Date, of all participation agreements of the Loan Parties with health maintenance organizations, insurance programs, preferred provider organizations and other Third Party Payors and all such agreements are in full force and effect and no material default exists thereunder.

8.31 Notices from Farm Products Sellers, etc.

(a) Parent Borrower has not, within the one (1) year period prior to the Escrow Release Date, received any written notice pursuant to the applicable provisions of the PASA, PACA, the Food Security Act, the UCC or any other applicable local laws from (i) any supplier or seller of Farm Products or (ii) any lender to any such supplier or seller or any other Person with a security interest in the assets of any such supplier or seller, or (iii) the Secretary of State (or equivalent official) or other Governmental Authority of any state, commonwealth or political subdivision thereof in which any Farm Products purchased by such Loan Party are produced, in any case advising or notifying Parent Borrower of the intention of such supplier or seller or other Person to preserve the benefits of any trust applicable to any assets of Parent Borrower established in favor of such supplier, seller or other Person under the provisions of any law or claiming a Lien with respect to any perishable agricultural commodity or any other Farm Products which may be or have been purchased by Parent Borrower or any related or other assets of Parent Borrower.

(b) Parent Borrower is not a “live poultry dealer” (as such term is defined in the PASA) or otherwise purchases or deals in live poultry of any type whatsoever. The Loan Parties do not purchase livestock pursuant to cash sales as such term is defined in the PASA. Parent Borrower is not engaged in, and shall not engage in, raising, cultivating, propagating, fattening, grazing or any other farming, livestock or agricultural operations.

 

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SECTION 9. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, or any Loan or other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied (other than contingent indemnification claims for which a claim has not been asserted), the Loan Parties shall, and shall (except in the case of the covenants set forth in Sections 9.5, 9.6 and 9.7) cause each Subsidiary to:

9.1 Preservation of Existence. (a) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence (and, except to the extent the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, good standing) under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization or formation except in a transaction permitted by Section 10.4 or 10.5; (b) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges, permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) preserve or renew all of its Intellectual Property, except to the extent such Intellectual Property is no longer used or useful in the conduct of the business of the Loan Parties or that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

9.2 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 in such instances in which (a) (i) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and with respect to which adequate reserves have been set aside and maintained by the Loan Parties in accordance with GAAP; and (ii) such contest effectively suspends enforcement of the contested Laws; or (b) the failure to comply therewith could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

9.3 Payment of Obligations. Pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable, all its obligations and liabilities, including (x) all Tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it or its properties or assets (including in its capacity as a withholding agent); (y) all lawful claims (including, without limitation, claims of landlords, warehousemen, customs brokers, carriers and suppliers, sellers, or agents of Perishable Inventory and Farm Products) which, if unpaid, would by Law become a Lien upon its property; and (z) all Indebtedness, as and when due and payable, but subject to any subordination provisions contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing such Indebtedness, except, in each case, where (a)(i) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, (ii) such Loan Party has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP, (iii) such contest effectively suspends collection of the contested obligation and enforcement of any Lien securing such obligation, and (iv) no Lien has been filed with respect thereto (other than Permitted Liens) or (b) the failure to make payment pending such contest could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

9.4 Insurance.

(a) Maintain insurance substantially consistent with past practices and as disclosed to the Agent prior to the Escrow Release Date (including a program of self-insurance) and as is customarily carried under similar circumstances by other Persons in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations, and as is reasonably acceptable to the Agent. Fire and extended coverage or “all-risk” policies maintained with respect to any Collateral shall be endorsed to include (i) a non-

 

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contributing mortgage clause (regarding improvements to Real Property) and a lenders’ loss payable clause (regarding personal property), in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, which endorsements shall provide that none of the Parent Borrower, the Agent or any other party shall be a coinsurer and such other provisions as the Agent may reasonably require from time to time to protect the interests of the Lenders and all first party property insurance covering the properties shall name the Agent as additional insured or loss payee, as applicable.

(b) If at any time the area in which any Material Real Property is located is designated (i) a “special flood hazard area” in any Flood Insurance Rate Map published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (or any successor agency), obtain flood insurance (with a financially sound and reputable insurer) in such total amount as is reasonable and customary for companies engaged in the business of operating supermarkets and otherwise sufficient to comply with all applicable rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to the Flood Insurance Laws, 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 and deliver to the Agent, evidence of such compliance in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Agent, including, without limitation, annual reviews of such insurance, or (ii) a “Zone 1” area, obtain earthquake insurance in such total amount as is reasonable and customary for companies engaged in a similar business.

9.5 Financial Statements. Deliver to the Agent, in form and detail satisfactory to the Agent:

(a) as soon as available, but in any event within 120 days after the end of each Fiscal Year of Holdings, (x) a Consolidated balance sheet of the Albertson’s Group as at the end of such Fiscal Year, and the related Consolidated statements of income or operations, Shareholders’ 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, such Consolidated statements to be audited and accompanied by a report and unqualified opinion of a Registered Public Accounting Firm of nationally recognized standing reasonably acceptable to the Agent, 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 and (y) a copy of management’s discussion and analysis with respect to the financial statements of such Fiscal Year, all of which shall be in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Agent;

(b) as soon as available, but in any event within 60 days after the end of each of the first three Quarterly Accounting Periods of each Fiscal Year of Holdings, (x) a Consolidated balance sheet of the Albertson’s Group as at the end of such Quarterly Accounting Period, and the related Consolidated statements of income or operations, Shareholders’ Equity and cash flows for such Quarterly Accounting Period and for the portion of Holdings’ Fiscal Year then ended, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for (A) the corresponding Accounting Period of the previous Fiscal Year and (B) the corresponding portion of the previous Fiscal Year, all in reasonable detail, such Consolidated statements to be certified by a Responsible Officer of Holdings as fairly presenting in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, Shareholders’ Equity and cash flows of the Albertson’s Group as of the end of such Quarterly Accounting Period in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of purchase accounting adjustments resulting from the consummation of the Transactions and the absence of footnotes and that prior Fiscal Year results are not required to be restated for changes in discontinued operations and (y) a copy of management’s discussion and analysis with respect to the financial statements of such Quarterly Accounting Period, all of which shall be in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Agent;

 

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(c) [reserved];

(d) [reserved];

(e) as soon as available, but in any event no more than 60 days after the end of each Fiscal Year of Holdings (or, in the case of the first Fiscal Year of Holdings ended after the Escrow Release Date, 120 days), detailed consolidated budget and forecasts prepared by management of Holdings, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, of the Consolidated balance sheets and statements of income or operations and cash flows of the Albertson’s Group on a quarterly basis for the immediately following Fiscal Year (including the Fiscal Year in which the Latest Maturity Date occurs); it being understood and agreed that (i) any forecasts furnished hereunder are subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, which may be beyond the control of the Loan Parties, (ii) no assurance is given by the Loan Parties that the results or forecast in any such projections will be realized and (iii) the actual results may differ from the forecasted results set forth in such projections and such differences may be material;

(f) concurrently with the execution of any agreement to dispose of any Divested Property, an officer’s certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Parent Borrower in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Agent setting forth the Fair Market Value of such Divested Property and the basis of such valuation;

(g) no later than five (5) days after the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Section 9.5(a) and (b), a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of Holdings; and

(h) together with the delivery of each annual Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 9.5(g), a list of each Subsidiary of Holdings that identifies each Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary as of the date of delivery of such Compliance Certificate (to the extent that there have been any changes in the identity of such Subsidiaries since the Escrow Release Date or the most recent list provided).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, (I) the obligations in paragraphs (a) or (b) of this Section 9.5 may be satisfied with respect to financial information of the Albertson’s Group by furnishing (A) the applicable consolidated financial statements of any direct or indirect parent of Holdings that, directly or indirectly, holds all of the Equity Interests of Holdings or (B) Holdings’ (or any direct or indirect parent thereof, as applicable) Form 10-K or 10-Q, as applicable, filed with the SEC; provided that, with respect to each of clauses (A) and (B) (i) such information is accompanied by consolidating information that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to Holdings (or a parent of Holdings, if such information relates to such a parent), on the one hand, and the information relating to Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a standalone basis, on the other hand and (ii), to the extent such information is in lieu of information required to be provided under this Section 9.5, such materials are accompanied by a report and opinion an independent registered public accounting firm of nationally recognized standing, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP and consistent with the requirements of Section 9.5 and (II) in connection with the foregoing clause (I), the consolidated budget and forecasts required under paragraph (e) of this Section 9.5 may be prepared by management of any direct or indirect parent of Holdings that, directly or indirectly, holds all the Equity Interests of Holdings.

 

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9.6 Certificates; Other Information. Deliver to the Agent, in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Section 9.5, a certificate of its Registered Public Accounting Firm certifying such financial statements;

(a) promptly upon receipt, 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 any Loan Party by its Registered Public Accounting Firm in connection with the accounts or books of the Loan Parties or any Restricted Subsidiary, or any audit of any of them;

(b) without duplication of any other reports required hereunder, the financial and collateral reports described on Schedule 9.6 of the Existing Debt Facility, at the times set forth in such Schedule;

(c) promptly, such additional information regarding the business affairs, financial condition or operations of any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of the Financing Agreements, as the Agent (or any Lender acting through the Agent) may from time to time reasonably request; and

(d) evidence of insurance renewals as required under Section 9.4 hereunder in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Agent.

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 9.5(a), (b), (c), (g) or (h) or Section 9.6(c) may (but shall not be required to) be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Parent Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Parent Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address listed in Section 14.3; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Parent Borrower’s behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Agent has access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Agent); provided that: (i) the Parent Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Agent if the Agent requests the Parent Borrower to deliver such paper copies until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Agent or such Lender and (ii) the Parent Borrower shall notify the Agent (by telecopier or electronic mail) of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents. The Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery or to maintain copies of the documents referred to above. The Loan Parties hereby acknowledge that (a) the Agent and/or the Arranger will make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Loan Parties hereunder (collectively, “Parent Borrower Materials”) by posting the Parent 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 Loan Parties or their 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 they will use commercially reasonable efforts to identify that portion of the Parent Borrower Materials that may be distributed to the Public Lenders and that (w) all such Parent 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; (x) by marking Parent Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Loan Parties shall be deemed to have authorized the Agent, the Arrangers, and the Lenders to treat such Parent Borrower Materials as only containing either publicly available information, or information concerning the Parent BorrowerAlbertsons Group, its subsidiaries, or its or their respective securities that (in the reasonable judgment of the Company) would be publicly available if the Company or any of its subsidiaries were required to be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, or is not material information (although it may be sensitive and proprietary) with respect to the Company or its securities for purposes of United States federal and state securities laws; provided that to the extent such Parent Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 14.5; (y) all Parent Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Side Information”; and (z) the Agent and each Arranger shall be entitled to treat any Parent 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 Parent Borrower shall not be under any obligation to mark any Parent Borrower Materials “PUBLIC.”

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, (I) the obligations in paragraphs (a), (b) or (c) of this Section 9.5 may be satisfied with respect to financial information of the Albertson’s Group by furnishing (A) the applicable consolidated financial statements of any direct or indirect parent of Holdings that, directly or indirectly, holds all of the Equity Interests of Holdings or (B) Holding’s (or any direct or indirect parent thereof, as applicable) Form 10-K or 10-Q, as applicable, filed with the SEC; provided that, with respect to each of clauses (A) and (B) (i) such information is accompanied by consolidating information that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to Holdings (or a parent of Holdings, if such information relates to such a parent), on the one hand, and the information relating to Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a standalone basis, on the other hand and (ii), to the extent such information is in lieu of information required to be provided under this Section 9.5, such materials are accompanied by a report and opinion an independent registered public accounting firm of nationally recognized standing, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP and consistent with the requirements of Section 9.5 and (II) in connection with the foregoing clause (I), the consolidated budget and forecasts required under paragraph (e) of this Section 9.5 may be prepared by management of any direct or indirect parent of Holdings that, directly or indirectly, holds all the Equity Interests of Holdings.

9.7 Notices. Promptly after any Responsible Officer of the Parent Borrower obtains knowledge thereof, notify the Agent:

(a) of the occurrence of any Default;

(b) of any matter that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

(c) [reserved];

(d) of the occurrence of any ERISA Event that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(e) the receipt of any written notice from a supplier, seller, or agent pursuant to the Food Security Act, PACA or PASA of the intention of such Person to preserve the benefits of any trust applicable to any assets of any Loan Party under the provisions of the PASA, PACA or any other statute and such Loan Party shall promptly provide the Agent with a true, correct and complete copy of such notice and other information delivered to or on behalf of such Loan Party pursuant to the Food Security Act; or

(f) of the commencement of, or any material development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in each case 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 statement of a Responsible Officer of the Parent Borrower setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Parent Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

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9.8 Further Assurances.

(a) Execute any and all further documents, financing statements, agreements and instruments, and take all such further actions (including the filing and recording of financing statements and other documents), that may be required under any Law, or, subject to the limitations and exceptions set forth in this Agreement (including, without limitation, the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement), to which the Agent may reasonably request, to effectuate the transactions contemplated by the Financing Agreements or to grant, preserve, protect or perfect the Liens created or intended to be created by the Collateral Documents or the validity or priority of any such Lien, all at the expense of the Loan Parties, provided that no such document, financing statement, agreement, instrument or action taken shall, in the Loan Parties’ good faith determination, materially increase the obligations or liabilities of the Loan Parties hereunder or have any Material Adverse Effect on the Loan Parties.

(b) If any material assets of the type constituting Collateral (other than Material Real Properties) are acquired by any Loan Party after the Escrow Release Date (other than assets constituting Collateral under the Collateral Documents that become subject to the Lien of the Collateral Documents upon acquisition thereof), notify the Agent thereof, and the Loan Parties will, within sixty (60) days after such acquisition cause, such assets to be subjected to a Lien securing the Obligations and will take such actions as shall be reasonably necessary to perfect such Liens, including actions described in paragraph (a) of this Section 9.8, all at the expense of the Loan Parties. In no event shall compliance with this Section 9.8(b) waive or be deemed a waiver or consent to any transaction giving rise to the need to comply with this Section 9.8(b) if such transaction was not otherwise expressly permitted by this Agreement or constitute.

(c) If, on or after the Escrow Release Date, subject to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, any Loan Party acquires or ground leases any Material Real Property (including, without limitation, (i) any Material Real Property acquired in connection with the Safeway Acquisition and (ii) any Divested Property that has not been disposed of pursuant to Section 5.9 of the Safeway Merger Agreement within 90 days of the Escrow Release Date) or any Restricted Subsidiary that was not a Loan Party and that owns Material Real Property shall become a Guarantor or Co-Borrower, the applicable Loan Party shall provide the Agent with respect to such Material Real Property within one hundred and eighty (180) days (or such longer period as the Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion) of the acquisition or lease of such Material Real Property with:

(i) the documents listed in clause (e) of the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement”; and

(ii) an officer’s certificate in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Agent certifying that (i) the attached updated Schedule 8.4(b)(1) sets forth the address of all Material Real Property that is owned by the Loan Parties and (ii) the attached updated Schedule 8.4(b)(2) sets for the address of all Leases of Material Real Property of the Loan Parties in effect as of the date thereof, together with the name of each lessor with respect to each such Lease as of such date.

9.9 Additional Loan Parties. (a) Notify the Agent promptly after any Person becomes a Subsidiary (other than any Excluded Subsidiary but including any Unrestricted Subsidiary being reclassified as a Restricted Subsidiary), and promptly thereafter (and in any event within fifteen (15) Business Days) if requested by the Agent, (i) cause any such Person to become a Co-Borrower or Guarantor, as applicable, by executing and delivering to the Agent a joinder agreement to this Agreement or a counterpart of the Guaranty or such other document as the Agent shall deem reasonably appropriate for such purpose, (ii) grant a perfected Lien to the Agent on such Person’s assets on the same types of

 

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assets which constitute Collateral under the Collateral Documents to secure the Obligations, and (iii) deliver to the Agent documents of the types referred to in clauses (ii) and (iii) of Section 4.3(a) and if requested by the Agent, favorable opinions of counsel to such Person (which shall cover, among other things, the legality, validity, binding effect and enforceability of the documentation referred to in clause (a)), and (b) if any Equity Interests or Indebtedness of such Person are owned by or on behalf of any Loan Party, to pledge such Equity Interests and promissory notes evidencing such Indebtedness, in each case in form, content and scope reasonably satisfactory to the Agent. In no event shall compliance with this Section 9.9 waive or be deemed a waiver or consent to any transaction giving rise to the need to comply with this Section 9.9 if such transaction was not otherwise expressly permitted by this Agreement or constitute or be deemed to constitute, with respect to any Subsidiary, an approval of such Person as a Borrower or Guarantor.

9.10 Maintenance of Ratings. Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain (i) a public corporate credit rating (but not any specific rating) from S&P and Moody’s in respect of Holdings and (ii) a public rating (but not any specific rating) in respect of the Term Loans from S&P and Moody’s.

9.11 Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Borrowings will be used, directly or indirectly (a) on the Escrow Release Date, in a manner consistent with the uses set forth in the preliminary statements to this Agreement and (b) after the Escrow Release Date, for any purpose not prohibited by this Agreement, including, to pay costs and expenses related to the Transactions and for general corporate purposes and working capital needs (including Permitted Acquisitions).

9.12 Maintenance of Properties. (a) Maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear and casualty or condemnation events excepted; and (b) make all necessary repairs thereto and renewals and replacements thereof except, in each case of clauses (a) and (b), where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

9.13 Environmental Laws and Insurance.

(a) Except, in each case, where failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect (i) conduct its operations and keep and maintain its Material Real Properties in compliance with all Environmental Laws; (ii) obtain and renew all environmental permits necessary for its operations and Material Real Properties; and (iii) implement any and all investigation, remediation, removal and response actions that are necessary to comply with Environmental Laws pertaining to the presence, generation, treatment, storage, use, disposal, transportation or release of any Hazardous Materials on, at, in, under, above, to, from or about any of its Material Real Properties; provided, however, that neither a Loan Party nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to undertake any such cleanup, removal, remedial or other action to the extent that its obligation to do so is being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings and adequate reserves have been set aside and are being maintained by the Loan Parties with respect to such circumstances in accordance with GAAP.

(b) Maintain and renew as necessary until the Latest Maturity Date (unless this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements are sooner terminated pursuant to the terms hereof or thereof, as applicable) the Premises Environmental Liability insurance policy for the benefit of Safeway and its applicable subsidiaries as the first named insured and as underwritten by Great American E & S Insurance Company, Policy Number PEL 1849464 01 (policy period - July 1, 2013 to July 1, 2016) (the “PEL Policy”) covering all of Safeway’s U.S. locations per the “Safeway Property Schedule Report” referenced in the PEL Policy, or a renewal or replacement thereof with the same or another qualified insurer with the same material coverage, terms and conditions as the PEL Policy.

 

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(c) Arrange to name the Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, as additional insured on the PEL Policy, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent.

9.14 Books and Records; Accountants.

(a) Maintain proper books of record and account, in which full, true and correct entries in all material respects in conformity with GAAP consistently applied shall be made of all financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of the Albertson’s Group; and (ii) maintain such books of record and account in material conformity with all applicable requirements of any Governmental Authority having regulatory jurisdiction over the Albertson’s Group.

(b) At all times retain a Registered Public Accounting Firm which is reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and shall instruct such Registered Public Accounting Firm to cooperate with, and be available to, the Agent or its representatives to discuss the Loan Parties’ financial performance, financial condition, operating results, controls, and such other matters, within the scope of the retention of such Registered Public Accounting Firm, as may be raised by the Agent; provided that an officer of the Parent Borrower shall be entitled to participate in any such discussions.

9.15 Inspection Rights. Permit representatives and independent contractors of the Agent to visit and inspect any of its properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, officers, and Registered Public Accounting Firm, all at the expense of the Loan Parties and at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice to the Parent Borrower; provided, however, that when an Event of Default exists the Agent (or any of its representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Loan Parties at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice.

9.16 Information Regarding the Collateral. Furnish to the Agent at least fifteen (15) days (or such shorter period as the Agent may agree) prior written notice of any change in: (i) any Loan Party’s legal name; (ii) the location of any Loan Party’s chief executive office, its principal place of business, any office in which it maintains books or records relating to Collateral owned by it or any office or facility at which Collateral owned by it is located (including the establishment of any such new office or facility, but excluding in-transit Collateral); (iii) any Loan Party’s organizational structure or jurisdiction of incorporation or formation; or (iv) any Loan Party’s Federal Taxpayer Identification Number or organizational identification number assigned to it by its state of organization. The Loan Parties shall not effect or permit any change referred to in the preceding sentence unless the Loan Parties have undertaken all such action, if any, reasonably requested by the Agent under the UCC or otherwise that is required in order for the Agent to continue at all times following such change to have a valid, legal and perfected first priority security interest in all the Collateral for its own benefit and the benefit of the other Secured Parties.

9.17 [Reserved].

9.18 ERISA. The Parent Borrower will furnish to the Agent promptly following receipt thereof, copies of any documents described in Sections 101(k) or 101(l) of ERISA that a Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate may request with respect to any Multiemployer Plan; provided that if a Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate has not requested such documents or notices from the administrator or sponsor of the applicable Multiemployer Plan, then, upon reasonable request of the Agent, a Borrower and/or the ERISA Affiliate shall promptly make a request for such documents or notices from such administrator or sponsor and shall provide copies of such documents and notices to the Agent promptly after receipt thereof.

 

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9.19 Quarterly Lender Meetings. Quarterly, at a time mutually agreed with the Agent that is promptly after delivery of the information referred to in Section 9.5(a) or 9.5(b), as applicable, participate in a conference call for Lenders to discuss the financial condition and results of operations of the Albertson’s Group for the most recently-ended period for which financial statements have been delivered.

9.20 [Reserved]Beneficial Ownership Regulation. Promptly following any request therefor, provide information and documentation reasonably requested by the Agent or any Lender for purposes of compliance with applicable “know your customer” requirements under the PATRIOT Act, the Beneficial Ownership Regulation or other applicable anti-money laundering laws.

9.21 Post-Closing Requirements. The Parent Borrower agrees to deliver or cause to be delivered such documents and instruments, and take or cause to be taken such other actions as may be reasonably necessary to provide the perfected security interests and to satisfy such other conditions within the applicable time periods following the Escrow Release set forth on Schedule 9.21, as such time periods may be extended by the Agent, in its sole discretion.

SECTION 10. NEGATIVE COVENANTS

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, or any Loan or other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied (other than contingent indemnification claims for which a claim has not been asserted), no Loan Party shall, nor shall it permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, and with respect to Section 10.12 only, New Holdings will not, directly or indirectly:

10.1 Liens. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired; sign or suffer to exist any security agreement authorizing any Person thereunder to file a financing statement; sell any of its property or assets subject to an understanding or agreement (contingent or otherwise) to repurchase such property or assets with recourse to it or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or assign as security or otherwise transfer as security any accounts or other rights to receive income, other than, as to all of the above, (each, a “Permitted Lien”):

(a) Liens imposed by law for Taxes that are not yet due or are being contested in compliance with Section 9.3 (other than clause (a)(iv) of such section);

(b) Carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s and other like Liens imposed by applicable Laws, arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations that are not overdue by more than thirty (30) days or are being contested in compliance with Section 9.3 (other than clause (a)(iv) of such section);

(c) Pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations, other than any Lien imposed by ERISA; provided, however, that Permitted Liens shall not include any pledges or deposits to secure California workers’ compensation self-insurance liabilities of, or originally incurred by, SVU, NAI or any of their current or former Subsidiaries attributable to periods prior to the Original Closing Date.

(d) Pledges and deposits to secure or relating to the performance of bids, trade contracts, government contracts and leases (other than Indebtedness), statutory obligations, surety, stay, customs and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(e) (i) Liens in respect of judgments that would not constitute an Event of Default hereunder, and (ii) notices of lis pendens and associated rights related to litigation being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings that have the effect of preventing the forfeiture or sale of the property or assets subject to such notices and rights and for which adequate reserves have been made to the extent required by GAAP;

(f) (i) Easements, covenants, conditions, restrictions, building code laws, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way and similar encumbrances on real property that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the affected property or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Loan Parties taken as a whole and such other minor title defects or survey matters that are disclosed by current surveys that, in each case, do not materially interfere with the current use of the real property; (ii) mortgages, liens, security interests, restrictions, encumbrances or any other matters of record that have been placed by any government, statutory or regulatory authority, developer, landlord or other third party (in each case, other than Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary) on property over which Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings has easement rights or on any leased property with respect to which Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary is the tenant and subordination or similar arrangements relating thereto and (iii) any condemnation or eminent domain proceedings affecting any real property;

(g) Liens existing on the Escrow Release Date and listed on Schedule 10.1 and any renewals or extensions thereof, provided that (i) the property covered thereby is not changed, (ii) the amount secured or benefited thereby is not increased (other than as permitted as “Permitted Indebtedness”), (iii) the direct or any contingent obligor with respect thereto is not changed, and (iv) any renewal or extension of the obligations secured or benefited thereby is otherwise permitted hereunder) (provided that clauses (i) and (iii) shall not apply to Indebtedness incurred to refinance, refund, extend, renew or replace the Existing Safeway Notes);

(h) Liens on fixed or capital assets acquired by any Loan Party securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 10.3(c) so long as such Liens shall not extend to any other property or assets of the Loan Parties, other than replacements thereof and additional and accessions to such property and the products and proceeds thereof;

(i) Liens pursuant to any Financing Agreements;

(j) Landlords’ and lessors’ Liens in respect of rent not in default for more than any applicable grace period, not to exceed thirty (30) days;

(k) Possessory Liens in favor of brokers and dealers arising in connection with the acquisition or disposition of Investments owned as of the Escrow Release Date and Permitted Investments, provided that such liens (a) attach only to such Investments and (b) secure only obligations arising in connection with the acquisition or disposition of such Investments and not any obligation in connection with margin financing;

(l) Liens arising solely by virtue of any statutory or common law provisions relating to banker’s liens, liens in favor of securities intermediaries, rights of setoff or similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts or securities accounts or other funds maintained with depository institutions and securities intermediaries and other Liens securing cash management services and “bank products” in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(m) Liens arising from precautionary UCC filings regarding “true” operating leases or, to the extent permitted under the Financing Agreement, the consignment of goods to a Loan Party or Liens on equipment of the BorrowersHoldings and theirits Subsidiaries granted in the ordinary course of business to a client or supplier at which such equipment is located;

(n) Voluntary Liens on property in existence at the time such property is acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition or other Permitted Investment or on such property of a Restricted Subsidiary of a Loan Party in existence at the time such Restricted Subsidiary is acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition or other Permitted Investment (or otherwise acquisition not prohibited hereunder) or is otherwise merged or consolidated with a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, that such Liens are not incurred in connection with or in anticipation of such Permitted Acquisition or other Permitted Investment and do not attach to any other assets of any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(o) Liens in favor of customs and revenues authorities imposed by applicable Laws arising in the ordinary course of business in connection with the importation of goods and securing obligations (i) that are not overdue by more than thirty (30) days, or (ii)(A) that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (B) the applicable Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP and (C) such contest effectively suspends collection of the contested obligation and enforcement of any Lien securing such obligation;

(p) Liens consisting of claims under PACA or PASA;

(q) Liens on cash collateral deposited into any escrow account issued in connection with any Acquisition pursuant to customary escrow arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Agent to the extent such cash collateral represents the proceeds of such financing and additional amounts to pay accrued interest and/or the redemption price of such securities;

(r) Liens securing Permitted Ratio Debt and any Permitted Refinancing thereof;

(s) Liens or rights of setoff against credit balances of Loan Parties or Restricted Subsidiaries with Credit Card Issuers or Credit Card Processors or amounts owing by such Credit Card Issuers or Credit Card Processors to such Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business, but not Liens on or rights of setoff against any other property or assets of Loan Parties or Restricted Subsidiaries to secure the obligations of Loan Parties or Restricted Subsidiaries to the Credit Card Issuers or Credit Card Processors as a result of fees and chargebacks;

(t) Security interests in investments in purchasing cooperatives permitted by Section 10.2, which are granted to the applicable cooperative to secure obligations of a Loan Party to such cooperative arising in connection with purchases from such cooperative or other customary transactions between such Loan Party and such cooperative;

(u) The security or other interests of MoneyGram in the Trust Funds, which are granted to MoneyGram to secure the obligations of the Loan Parties arising under the MoneyGram Agreement; provided that such security interest of MoneyGram in the Trust Funds is subordinate to that of the Agent and does not extend to any of the property of the Loan Parties other than the Trust Funds;

 

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(v) Liens described in Schedule B of the Mortgage Policies insuring Mortgages (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include Liens on Real Property described in Schedule 10.1);

(w) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by a BorrowerHoldings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement permitted hereunder or consisting of an agreement to sell any property (including liens on assets deemed to arise as a result thereof);

(x) Liens on accounts receivable and related assets of the type specified in the definition of “Receivables Financing” arising in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing;

(y) Liens on Collateral securing ABL Facility Indebtedness permitted by Section 10.3(t) which Liens shall at all times be subject to the ABL Intercreditor Agreement;

(z) 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;

(aa) Deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure liability to insurance carriers and Liens arising by operation of law or contract on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof to secure premiums thereunder, and Liens, pledges and deposits in the ordinary course of business securing liability for premiums or reimbursement or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees for the benefits of) insurance carriers;

(bb) any interest or title of a lessor, sublessor, licensor or sublicensor under leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses (including software and other technology licenses) entered into by a BorrowerHoldings or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(cc) Liens on the assets of, and Equity Interests in, Real Estate Financing Loan Parties pursuant to a Qualified Real Estate Financing Facility;

(dd) Liens in favor of any Loan Party;

(ee) Liens incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party securing any Permitted Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party

(ff) Liens on the Collateral securing Incremental Equivalent Debt issued pursuant to Section 10.3(u) so long as such Liens are subject to (i) customary intercreditor agreements as Liens securing “Additional Senior Debt” if such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis (but without regard to the control of remedies) with the Liens securing the Obligations, or (ii) a customary intercreditor agreement as Liens securing “Additional Junior Debt” or equivalent term if such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a junior priority basis to the Liens securing the Obligations;

 

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(gg) Liens on the Collateral securing obligations in respect of Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt or Permitted Junior Priority Refinancing Debt and any Permitted Refinancing of any of the foregoing; provided that (x) any such Liens securing any Permitted Refinancing in respect of Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt are subject to the Intercreditor Agreements as Liens securing “Additional Senior Debt” and (y) any such Liens securing any Permitted Refinancing in respect of Permitted Junior Priority Refinancing Debt are subject to a customary intercreditor agreement as Liens securing “Additional Junior Debt” or equivalent term;

(hh) Liens not otherwise permitted by any one or more of the foregoing clauses; provided that (i) the aggregate principal amount of obligations secured thereby does not exceed $500,000,000 at any time and (ii) if any such Lien is granted over any of the Collateral, such Lien must be subject to the Intercreditor Agreements and junior in all respects to the Liens in favor of the Obligations under this Agreement;

(ii) Liens securing Senior Safeway Acquisition Debt incurred pursuant to clause (x) of the definition of “Permitted Indebtedness,” and Permitted Refinancings thereof so long as such Liens are subject to the Term Loan Intercreditor Agreement;

(jj) Liens securing Existing Safeway Notes and Existing Safeway Debentures permitted under clause (y) of the definition of “Permitted Indebtedness,” and Permitted Refinancings thereof so long as such Liens are subject to the Term Loan Intercreditor Agreement;

(kk) Liens on cash deposits, securities or other property in deposit or securities accounts in connection with the redemption, defeasance, repurchase or other discharge of any notes issued by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries;

(ll) Liens on the assets of, or Equity Interests in, PDC and Casa Ley;

(mm) Liens securing the 2037 ASC Debentures (as defined in the Security Agreement) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $143,000;

(nn) 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;

(oo) Liens on Excluded Property;

(pp) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 10.3(d), (e), (l), (m), (n) (to the extent the related Permitted Indebtedness is permitted to be secured), (o) and (p); and

(qq) Liens existing on the Amendment No 8 (2019) Effective Date (other than Liens permitted under clauses (g), (i) or (y) above) or any renewals or extensions thereof;

(rr) Liens to secure any refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement (or successive refinancings, refundings, extensions, renewals or replacements) as a whole, or in part, of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien referred to in the foregoing clauses; provided, however, that (x) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property that was encumbered by the original Lien (plus improvements on such property) or could have been encumbered by the original Lien (provided, that this clause (x) shall not apply to Indebtedness incurred to refinance, refund, extend, renew or replace the Existing Safeway Notes (or any successive refinancings, refundings, extensions, renewals or replacements thereof), and (y) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (A) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the Indebtedness described under such

 

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clause at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien, plus accretion of original issue discount, and (B) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement; provided that nothing contained herein shall prevent Holdings, a Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary from pledging any asset to secure any Indebtedness (including refinancing Indebtedness) of Safeway and its Subsidiaries.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 10.1, in the event that a Lien meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Liens described in clauses (a) through (rr) above, the Parent Borrower shall, in its sole discretion, classify and reclassify or later divide, classify or reclassify such Lien (or any portion thereof) in one or more of the above clauses.

10.2 Investments . Make or hold any Investments, except (each, a “Permitted Investment”):

(a) Investments by a BorrowerHoldings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in Cash Equivalents (including subsequent monetizations thereof);

(b) Investments (x) existing on the Escrow Release Date, and set forth on Schedule 10.2, (y) made pursuant to binding commitments (whether or not subject to conditions) in effect on the Escrow Release Date or (z) that replace, refinance, refund, renew or extend any Investment described under either of the immediately preceding clauses (x) or (y) but not any increase in the amount thereof unless required by the terms of the Investment or otherwise permitted hereunder;

(c) (i) Investments in a Borrowerany Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary (or Persons that become Loan Parties); provided that the aggregate outstanding amount of all Investments made pursuant to this clause (i) in Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties shall not exceed $500,000,000; and (ii) Investments by Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties in other Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties;

(d) Investments consisting of extensions of credit in the nature of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising from the grant of trade credit in the ordinary course of business, and Investments received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from financially troubled account debtors to the extent reasonably necessary in order to prevent or limit loss;

(e) Guarantees constituting Permitted Indebtedness;

(f) Investments by any Loan Party in Swap Contracts permitted hereunder;

(g) Investments received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of, or settlement of delinquent accounts and disputes with, customers and suppliers, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

(h) loans or advances to officers, directors and employees of any Loan Party (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) or any of its Subsidiaries (i) for reasonable and customary business-related travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary business purposes, (ii) in connection with such Person’s purchase of Equity Interests of Holdings, AB LLC or any direct or indirect parent thereof (provided that the proceeds of the purchases made with such loans and advances shall be contributed to the Parent BorrowerHoldings in cash as common equity) and (iii) for any other purposes not described in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii); provided that the aggregate principal amount outstanding at any time under clause (iii) above shall not exceed $50,000,000;

 

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(i) advances of payroll payments to employees in the ordinary course of business and Investments made pursuant to employment and severance arrangements of officers and employees in the ordinary course of business and transactions pursuant to stock option plans and employee benefit plans and arrangements in the ordinary course of business;

(j) (i) Investments constituting Permitted Acquisitions and (ii) the acquisition of any property locations from any Person for which the aggregate consideration payable in connection with such acquisition is less than $250,000,000;

(k) Investments consisting of deposits, prepayments and other credits to customers and suppliers in the ordinary course of business;

(l) Obligations of retail account debtors to any Borrower or Guarantor arising from Albertson’s Private Label Accounts;

(m) the endorsement of instruments for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business;

(n) intercompany loans and advances by any Loan Party to the Real Estate Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount outstanding at any time not to exceed $56,250,000, resulting from payments made by such Loan Party on account of expenses and liabilities (other than Indebtedness) of the Real Estate Subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of business (including in respect of maintenance and repairs of Real Property), so long as each such loan or advance is repaid upon the earlier to occur of (i) ninety (90) days after the date such Loan Party pays such expense or liability or (ii) the date such Real Estate Subsidiary is no longer a Subsidiary of any Loan Party;

(o) Investments arising from the contribution of Real Property of a Loan Party to the Real Estate Subsidiaries in connection with a Qualified Real Estate Financing Facility on or after the Escrow Release Date; provided that any transfer of Real Estate constituting Collateral pursuant to this clause (o) shall only be permitted to the extent that (i) such Real Estate Subsidiary shall be a Loan Party or (ii) the Parent BorrowerHoldings has determined that such transfer is reasonably required to obtain any applicable Qualified Real Estate Financing Facility and immediately before and after giving effect thereto, the Loan-to-Value Ratio as of such date (calculated on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such transaction, including the use of proceeds thereof) is less than or equal to 0.70:1.00;

(p) Investments in the Equity Interests of, or in obligations of, a purchasing or distribution cooperative of which a Loan Party is a member in the ordinary course of its business;

(q) Investments consisting of non-cash consideration received in connection with the Permitted Dispositions;

(r) any Investment in a Receivables Subsidiary or any Investment by a Receivables Subsidiary in any other Person in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing, including Investments of funds held in accounts permitted or required by the arrangements governing such Qualified Receivables Financing or any related Indebtedness;

(s) Investments the payment for which consists of Equity Interests of Holdings (other than Disqualified Stock) or any other direct or indirect parent of Holdings or a Borrower;

 

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(t) Investments of a Restricted Subsidiary acquired after the Original Closing Date or of an entity merged into or consolidated with a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 10.4 after the Original Closing Date to the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of such acquisition, merger or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger or consolidation;

(u) any Investment consisting of intercompany current liabilities in connection with the cash management, tax and accounting operations of the Albertson’s Group or any transaction permitted under Section 10.8;

(v) Investments in joint ventures (other than Investments in an Unrestricted Subsidiary made after its designation pursuant to Section 10.14) made after the Escrow Release Date in an aggregate outstanding amount not to exceed the greater of $1,000,000,000 and 4.00% of Total Assets at the time of such Investment;

(w) additional Investments; provided that, as of the date of such Investment and after giving pro forma effect thereto and any related transactions, (x) no Default or Event of Default shall exist or have occurred and be continuing and (y) the Total Leverage Ratio would be less than 3.50:1.00;

(x) so long as of the date of such Investment and after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall exist or have occurred and be continuing, other Investments not specifically described herein (other than the purchase or other acquisition of property and assets or businesses of any Person or of assets constituting a business unit, a line of business or division of such Person or Equity Interests in a Person that, upon the consummation thereof, will be a Restricted Subsidiary (including as a result of a merger or consolidation)) in an aggregate amount outstanding pursuant to this clause (x) at any time not to exceed the greater of $1,000,000,000 and 4.00% of Total Assets at the time of such Investment plus the Cumulative Credit;

(y) Investments required pursuant to Section 5.4(c) of the Safeway Merger Agreement (including the transfer of the real property listed in Disclosure Schedule 8.3(i) from Safeway to PDC pursuant to the Safeway Merger Agreement upon the consummation of the Safeway Acquisition);

(z) Investments consisting of (i) purchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of any notes issued by a BorrowerHoldings or any of its Subsidiaries, or (ii) cash, securities or other property in deposit or securities accounts created in connection with the redemption, defeasance, repurchase, satisfaction or discharge of any such notes or any Permitted Refinancing in respect thereof;

(aa) Investments in a Similar Business (other than an Investment in an Unrestricted Subsidiary) having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (aa) that are at the time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $1,500,000,000 and 6.0% of Total Assets, at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); provided, however, that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (aa) is made in any Person that is not a Loan Party at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes a Loan Party after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (c) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (aa) for so long as such Person continues to be a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

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(bb) any Investment made with (a) Wellness Center Assets having a Fair Market Value not in excess of $300,000,000 or (b) Excluded Property, including, in each case, any such Investment made in an Unrestricted Subsidiary or joint venture (or similar entity);

(cc) Investments consisting of the licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons;

(dd) Investments in connection with an IPO Reorganization;

(ee) Investments consisting of purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, materials and equipment or purchases of contract rights or licenses or leases of intellectual property, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

(ff) Investments made in connection with the Transactions;

(gg) Investments by an Unrestricted Subsidiary entered into prior to the day such Unrestricted Subsidiary is redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary;

(hh) Investments in receivables owing to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary created or acquired in the ordinary course of business;

(ii) to the extent constituting an Investment, Permitted Liens or Permitted Indebtedness;

(jj) Investments consisting of earnest money deposits required in connection with a purchase agreement, or letter of intent, or other acquisitions to the extent not otherwise prohibited hereunder;

(kk) contributions to a “rabbi” trust for the benefit of employees or other grantor trust subject to claims of creditors in the case of a bankruptcy of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries; and

(ll) Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (ll) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $1,000,000,000 and 4.00% of Total Assets at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); and

(mm) Investments (x) existing on the Amendment No. 8 (2019) Effective Date, (y) made pursuant to binding commitments (whether or not subject to conditions) in effect on the Amendment No. 8 (2019) Effective Date or (z) that replace, refinance, refund, renew or extend any Investment described under either of the immediately preceding clauses (x) or (y) but not any increase in the amount thereof unless required by the terms of the Investment or otherwise permitted hereunder.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 10.2, in the event that an Investment meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Investments described in clauses (a) through (ll) above, the Parent Borrower shall, in its sole discretion, classify and reclassify or later divide, classify or reclassify such Investment (or any portion thereof) in one or more of the above clauses.

 

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10.3 Indebtedness; Disqualified Stock. (a) Issue Disqualified Stock or (b) create, incur, assume, guarantee, suffer to exist or otherwise become or remain liable with respect to, any Indebtedness, except (each, “Permitted Indebtedness”);

(a) Indebtedness outstanding on the Escrow Release Date and listed on Schedule 10.3 and any Permitted Refinancing thereof;

(b) Indebtedness among the Parent Borrower, SafewayLoan Parties and their Restricted Subsidiaries;

(c) Without duplication of Indebtedness described in clause (g) of this Section, purchase money Indebtedness of any Loan Party incurred after the Escrow Release Date to finance the acquisition, lease, construction or improvement of any fixed or capital assets, including Attributable Indebtedness under CapitalFinance Lease Obligations and Synthetic Lease Obligations, and any Indebtedness assumed in connection with the acquisition of any such assets or secured by a Lien on any such assets prior to the acquisition thereof, and Permitted Refinancings thereof, provided, however, that (i) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness permitted by this clause (c) shall not exceed the greater of $1,250,000,000 and 5.00% of Total Assets at the time of incurrence, (ii) such Indebtedness is incurred prior to or within two hundred and seventy (270) days after such acquisition, lease, construction or improvement (other than Permitted Refinancing thereof), and (iii) such Indebtedness does not exceed the cost of acquisition, lease, construction or improvement of such fixed or capital assets;

(d) obligations (contingent or otherwise) of any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof existing or arising under any Swap Contract, provided that such obligations are (or were) entered into by such Person in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of directly mitigating risks associated with fluctuations in interest rates or foreign exchange rates, and not for purposes of speculation or taking a “market view”;

(e) obligations in respect of self-insurance and obligations (including reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and bank guarantees) in respect of performance, bid, appeal and surety bonds and similar instruments and performance and completion guarantees and similar obligations, in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(f) Permitted Ratio Debt and any Permitted Refinancing thereof;

(g) Indebtedness with respect to the deferred purchase price for any Permitted Acquisition or other Permitted Investment, provided that such Indebtedness (other than Earn-Out Obligations) does not require the payment in cash of principal (other than in respect of working capital adjustments) prior to the Latest Maturity Date, has a final maturity which extends beyond the Latest Maturity Date, and is subordinated to the Obligations on terms reasonably acceptable to the Agents; provided, further, that any such Indebtedness constituting Earn-Out Obligations is paid within 30 days after such amount becomes due;

(h) Indebtedness of any Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of a Loan Party in a Permitted Acquisition, Permitted Investment (or other acquisition not prohibited hereunder) , which Indebtedness is existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of a Loan Party (other than Indebtedness incurred solely in contemplation of such Person’s becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of a Loan Party) and Permitted Refinancings thereof;

(i) the Obligations;

 

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(j) Indebtedness arising from indemnification obligations in favor of SVU pursuant to the NAI Purchase Agreement;

(k) [reserved];Indebtedness existing on the Amendment No. 8 (2019) Effective Date (other than Indebtedness permitted under clauses (i), (t) and (u)) and Permitted Refinancings thereof;

(l) Indebtedness arising pursuant to appeal bonds or similar instruments required in connection with judgments that do not result in a Default or Event of Default;

(m) obligations in respect of letters of credit existing as of the Escrow Release Date to secure obligations of the type described in Sections 10.1(c) and 10.1(d);

(n) Guarantees of Indebtedness described in Section 10.3;

(o) Indebtedness incurred by a Receivables Subsidiary in a Qualified Receivables Financing that is not recourse (except for Standard Securitization Undertakings) to a BorrowerHoldings or any of its Subsidiaries;

(p) Indebtedness with respect to all obligations and liabilities, contingent or otherwise, in respect of letters of credit, acceptances and similar facilities incurred in the ordinary course of business, including, without limitation, letters of credit in respect of workers’ compensation claims, health, disability or other employee benefits (whether current or former) or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance, or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement-type obligations regarding workers’ compensation claims;

(q) Indebtedness to current or former officers, managers, consultants, directors and employees, their respective estates, spouses or former spouses to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of the Parent Borrower, Holdings or any other direct or indirect parent of Holdings or a Borrower permitted by Section 10.6;

(r) Indebtedness consisting of (i) the financing of insurance premiums or (ii) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;

(s) (A) Cash Management Obligations and other Indebtedness in respect of netting services, automatic clearinghouse arrangements or (B) Indebtedness arising from the honoring of a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business, provided that such Indebtedness is extinguished within ten Business Days of its incurrence;

(t) ABL Facility Indebtedness; provided that the outstanding amount thereof (excluding in respect of Swap Contracts and Cash Management Obligations constituting ABL Facility Indebtedness) shall not exceed the greater of (x) $3,750,000,0005,500,000,000 and (y) the Borrowing Base (measured at the time of incurrence thereof) (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement as in effect on the Escrow ReleaseAmendment No. 8 (2019) Effective Date);

(u) Incremental Equivalent Debt in an aggregate principal amount, when aggregated with the amount of Incremental Term Loans incurred pursuant to Section 2.8, not to exceed the Incremental Amount and any Permitted Refinancings thereof; provided that (A) subject to Section 14.13(e), both at the time of any such incurrence (and after giving effect thereto), no Event of

 

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Default shall exist and (B) in the case of any Incremental Equivalent Debt that is unsecured or that is secured on a second priority (or other junior priority) basis to the Liens securing the Obligations, for purposes of determining the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, such Incremental Equivalent Debt shall be deemed to be secured on a pari passu basis to the Liens securing the Obligations both at the time of incurrence and at all times such Incremental Equivalent Debt remain outstanding;

(v) Indebtedness of Real Estate Financing Loan Parties under a Qualified Real Estate Financing Facility; provided that, immediately before and after giving effect thereto, the Loan-to-Value Ratio as of such date (calculated on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such transaction, including the use of proceeds thereof) is less than or equal to 0.70:1.00;

(w) Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness;

(x) Senior Safeway Acquisition Debt and Permitted Refinancings thereof;

(y) Indebtedness in respect of Existing Safeway Notes and, Existing Safeway Debentures and Existing NALP Notes and Permitted Refinancings thereof; provided that if such Indebtedness is secured by a Lien, such Lien shall rank junior to the Liens securing the Obligations;

(z) Indebtedness owing by Casa Ley and/or PDC (whether or not owing to Holdings, any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and Permitted Refinancings thereof);

(aa) Indebtedness secured by cash deposits, securities or other property in deposit or securities accounts in connection with the redemption, defeasance, repurchase or other discharge of any notes;

(bb) [reserved];

(cc) Indebtedness of a BorrowerLoan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary incurred in the ordinary course of business under guarantees of Indebtedness of suppliers, licensees, franchisees or customers in an aggregate amount not to exceed $150,000,000 at any one time outstanding;

(dd) Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries of a BorrowerHoldings in an amount not to exceed the greater of (x) $750,000,000 or (y) 3.00% of Total Assets of all Foreign Subsidiaries at the time of such Incurrence and any Permitted Refinancing thereof;

(ee) Indebtedness not specifically described herein in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of (x) $1,000,000,000 or (y) 4.00% of Total Assets at any time outstanding and any Permitted Refinancing thereof;

(ff) to the extent constituting Indebtedness, obligations in respect of (i) customer deposits and advance payments received in the ordinary course of business; (ii) letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances, guarantees or other similar instruments or obligations issued or relating to liabilities or obligations Incurred in the ordinary course of business and (iii) any customary cash management, cash pooling or netting or setting off arrangements or automatic clearinghouse arrangements in the ordinary course of business; and

(gg) Contribution Indebtedness and any Permitted Refinancing thereof.

 

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For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 10.3, in the event that an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Indebtedness described in clauses (a) through (gg) above, the Parent Borrower shall, in its sole discretion, classify and reclassify or later divide, classify or reclassify such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness in one or more of the above clauses; provided that (i) all Indebtedness outstanding under the Financing Agreements will at all times be deemed to be outstanding in reliance only on the exception in clause (i) of Section 10.3, and (ii) all Indebtedness under the ABL Facility will be deemed to be outstanding in reliance only on the exception in clause (st) of Section 10.3.

10.4 Fundamental Changes. Merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person, or Dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person, except that:

(a) (i) any Restricted Subsidiary may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with a Borrower or Holdings (including a merger, the purpose of which is to reorganize a Borrower or Holdings into a new jurisdiction in the United States); provided that such Borrower or Holdings (as a newly recognized entity) shall be the continuing or surviving Person and (ii) any Restricted Subsidiary may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with one or more other Restricted Subsidiaries); provided that when any Person that is a Loan Party is merging with a Restricted Subsidiary, a Loan Party shall be the continuing or surviving Person;

(b) (i) any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with or into any other Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party and (ii) any Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve or Holdings, the Parent Borrower, Safeway or any Subsidiary may change its legal form if the Parent BorrowerHoldings determines in good faith that such action is in the best interest of Albertson’s Group and if not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders (it being understood that in the case of any change in legal form, (x) any Borrower shall remain a Borrower and (y) a Subsidiaryany Person that is a Guarantor will remain a Guarantor unless such Guarantor is otherwise permitted to cease being a Guarantor hereunder);

(c) any Restricted Subsidiary may Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to Holdings or to another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if the transferor in such a transaction is a Guarantor, then (i) the transferee must be a Guarantor (other than Holdings) or a Borrower or (ii) to the extent constituting an Investment, such Investment must be a Permitted Investment in or Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary which is not a Loan Party in accordance with Sections 10.2 (other than Section 10.2(e)) and 10.3, respectively;

(d) so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom, a Borroweran Eligible Person may merge with any other Person; provided that (i) such BorrowerEligible Person shall be the continuing or surviving corporation or (ii) if the Person formed by or surviving any such merger or consolidation is not a Borrowersuch Eligible Person (any such Person, the “Successor Company”), (A) the Successor Company shall be an entity organized or existing under the Laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof, (B) the Successor Company shall expressly assume all the obligations of such BorrowerEligible Person under this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements to which such BorrowerEligible Person is a party pursuant to a supplement hereto or thereto in form reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, (C) each Loan Party, unless it is the other party to such merger or consolidation, shall have confirmed that its obligations under the Loan Documents, including the Guarantee, shall continue to apply to the Successor Company’s obligations under the Financing Agreements, (D) each Loan

 

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Party, unless it is the other party to such merger or consolidation, shall have by a supplement to the Security Agreement and other applicable Collateral Documents confirmed that its obligations thereunder shall apply to the Successor Company’s obligations under the Financing Agreements, (E) if requested by the Agent, each mortgagor of a Mortgaged Property, unless it is the other party to such merger or consolidation, shall have by an amendment to or restatement of the applicable Mortgage (or other instrument reasonably satisfactory to the Agent) confirmed that its obligations thereunder shall apply to the Successor Company’s obligations under the Financing Agreements, and (F) the Parent Borrower shall have delivered to the Agent an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such merger or consolidation and such supplement to this Agreement or any Collateral Document comply with this Agreement; provided further that if the foregoing are satisfied, the Successor Company will succeed to, and be substituted for, such BorrowerEligible Person under this Agreement;

(e) so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom (in the case of a merger involving a Loan Party), any Restricted Subsidiary may merge with any other Person in order to effect an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 10.2; provided that the continuing or surviving Person shall be a Restricted Subsidiary, Holdings or a Borrower, which together with each of its Restricted Subsidiaries, shall have complied with the requirements of Section 9.9 to the extent required pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement;

(f) so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom, a merger, dissolution, liquidation, consolidation or Disposition, the purpose of which is to effect a Disposition permitted pursuant to Section 10.5; and

(g) any merger, dissolution, liquidation, consolidation or Disposition in connection with the Transactions or in connection with an IPO Reorganization, in each case, shall be permitted.

10.5 Dispositions. Make any Disposition, except (each, a “Permitted Disposition”):

(a) Dispositions of (i) inventory in the ordinary course of business, (ii) goods held for sale in the ordinary course of business and (iii) other assets (including allowing any registrations or any applications for registration of any immaterial Intellectual Property to lapse or become abandoned but excluding any Real Property) having Fair Market Value not exceeding (x) $150,000,000 per Fiscal Year for any such Disposition and (y) $250,000,000 in the aggregate for all such Dispositions, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;

(b) non-exclusive licenses of Intellectual Property of a Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, provided that such licenses shall not interfere with the ability of the Agent to exercise any of its rights and remedies with respect to any of the Collateral or have a material adverse effect on the value of the Intellectual Property;

(c) licenses for the conduct of licensed departments within the Loan Parties’ Stores and leases or other occupancy agreements for banks and for other uses customarily located in the Loan Parties’ Stores, in each case in the ordinary course of business, but only to the extent that such licenses, leases and occupancy agreements do not have a Material Adverse Effect on the operations of such Stores;

(d) Dispositions of Equipment (including abandonment of or other failures to maintain and preserve) so long as after giving effect to such Disposition, no Default or Event of Default shall exist or have occurred and be continuing;

 

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(e) Dispositions among the Loan Parties or by any Restricted Subsidiary to a Loan Party;

(f) Dispositions by any Restricted Subsidiary which is not a Loan Party to another Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party;

(g) contributions of real property by a Loan Party to a Real Estate Subsidiary; provided that any transfer of Real Estate constituting Collateral pursuant to this clause (g) shall only be permitted to the extent that such Real Estate Subsidiary shall be a Loan Party or the Parent BorrowerHoldings has determined that such transfer is reasonably required to obtain any applicable Qualified Real Estate Financing Facility; provided that, immediately before and after giving effect thereto, the Loan-to-Value Ratio as of such date (calculated on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such transaction, including the use of proceeds thereof) is less than or equal to 0.70:1.00;

(h) any Disposition which constitutes a Permitted Investment, Restricted Payment hereunder or Permitted Lien (or an enforcement thereof) or a transaction permitted by Section 10.4;

(i) Dispositions by any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary of its right, title and interest in and to any Real Property and related Fixtures, including, without limitation, Dispositions to any other Restricted Subsidiary or in connection with sale-leaseback transactions;

(j) Dispositions of the Equity Interests of any Real Estate Financing Loan Party or Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(k) (i) Dispositions consisting of the compromise, settlement or collection of accounts receivable in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice, (ii) sales of assets received by a BorrowerHoldings or any Subsidiary upon foreclosure of a Permitted Lien, and (iii) the sale or discount (with or without recourse, and on customary or commercially reasonable terms and for credit management purposes) of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising in the ordinary course of business, or the conversion or exchange of accounts receivable for notes receivable;

(l) Dispositions consisting of (i) leases, assignments or subleases in the ordinary course of business, including leases of closed Stores, and (ii) the grant of any license or sublicense of patents, trademarks, know-how and any other intellectual property or other general intangibles;

(m) Dispositions in connection with an IPO Reorganization;

(n) Dispositions of other assets outside of the ordinary course of business;

(o) (i) a sale of accounts receivable and related assets of the type specified in the definition of “Receivables Financing” to a Receivables Subsidiary in a Qualified Receivables Financing or in factoring or similar transactions, and (ii) a transfer of accounts receivable and related assets of the type specified in the definition of “Receivables Financing” (or a fractional undivided interest therein) by a Receivables Subsidiary in a Qualified Receivables Financing;

(p) Dispositions of obsolete, surplus or worn out property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business and Dispositions in the ordinary course of business of property no longer used or useful in the conduct of the business of a BorrowerHoldings or any of its Subsidiaries;

 

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(q) Dispositions of property to the extent that (i) such property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property or (ii) the proceeds of such Disposition are promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement property (including to the extent allowable under Section 1031 of the Code, any exchange of like property (excluding any boot thereon) for use in a Similar Business;

(r) any exchange of assets for assets or services (other than current assets) related to a similar business of comparable or greater market value or usefulness to the business of Albertson’s Group as a whole, as determined in good faith by the Parent BorrowerHoldings;

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

(t) any disposition of Excluded Property (or the Equity Interests of Persons substantially all of the assets of which constitute Excluded Property);

(u) Dispositions to effectuate Section 5.4 of the Safeway Merger Agreement;

(v) Dispositions of the Eastern Division Assets pursuant to the Eastern Division Sale Agreement;

(w) Dispositions of Divested Properties required pursuant to Section 5.9 of the Safeway Merger Agreement;

(x) Dispositions of the assets of, and the Equity Interests in, PDC and Casa Ley;

(y) any disposition of capital stock of a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement or other obligation with or to a Person (other than a BorrowerHoldings or a Restricted Subsidiary) from whom such Restricted Subsidiary was acquired, or from whom such Restricted Subsidiary acquired its business and assets (having been newly formed in connection with such acquisition), made as part of such acquisition and in each case comprising all or a portion of the consideration in respect of such sale or acquisition;

(z) any surrender or waiver of contract rights or the settlement, release or surrender of contract, tort or other claims of any kind; and

(aa) the unwinding of any Hedging Obligations or Swap Contracts pursuant to its terms.; and

(bb) Dispositions made on or prior to the Amendment No. 8 (2019) Effective Date (including Dispositions subject to a binding agreement in effect on the Amendment No. 8 (2019) Effective Date);

provided, that to the extent any Collateral is Disposed of in a Permitted Disposition to any Person other than any Loan Party and the Net Proceeds therefrom are applied in accordance with this Agreement, such Collateral shall be sold free and clear of all Liens created by the Financing Agreements; provided further that in connection with any Disposition of Material Real Property permitted under this Agreement, the

 

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Parent Borrower shall cause the Loan Parties to deliver promptly to Agent a supplement to Schedule 8.4(b)(1) which shall set forth the address of all Material Real Property that is owned by the Loan Parties and each of their Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date after giving effect to such Disposition; provided further that any Disposition of any property pursuant to Sections 10.5(d), (g), (i), (j) (as it relates to Real Estate Subsidiaries) and (n) having a Fair Market Value in excess of $25,000,000, (i) shall be for no less than Fair Market Value of such property at the time of such Disposition, and (ii) either (x) at least 75% of the consideration (other than (A) the assumption by the transferee of Indebtedness or other liabilities contingent or otherwise of the BorrowerHoldings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and the valid release of the BorrowerHoldings or such Restricted Subsidiary, by all applicable creditors in writing, from all liability on such Indebtedness or other liability in connection with such Disposition, (B) securities, notes or other obligations received by the BorrowerHoldings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from the transferee that are converted by the BorrowerHoldings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries into cash or Cash Equivalents within 180 days following the closing of such Disposition, (C) Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary that is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such Disposition, to the extent that the BorrowerHoldings and each other Restricted Subsidiary are released from any Guarantee of payment of such Indebtedness in connection with such Disposition, (D) consideration consisting of Indebtedness of the BorrowerHoldings (other than Subordinated Indebtedness) received after the Escrow Release Date from Persons who are not the BorrowerHoldings or any Restricted Subsidiary and (E) in connection with an asset swap, all of which shall be deemed “cash”) received is cash or Cash Equivalents or Designated Non-Cash Consideration to the extent that all Designated Non-Cash Consideration at such time does not exceed the greater of $750,000,000 and 2.25% of Total Assets (with the Fair Market Value of each item of Designated Non-Cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value) and all of the consideration received is at least equal to the Fair Market Value of the assets sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of, or (y) such Disposition results in a Loan Party or a Restricted Subsidiary of a Loan Party acquiring (whether by purchase, exchange, merger, consolidation, amalgamation or other business combination) assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division of another Person or Equity Interests in any Person that is in the same line of business as the Loan Parties, or a business that is reasonably related, complementary, ancillary or incidental to the business of the Loan Parties in a transaction that is permitted by (1) if the Person acquired will become a Loan Party or the assets acquired will be owned by a Loan Party or otherwise pledged as Collateral, Section 10.2(o), or (2) in all other cases, any clause of Section 10.2 (other than clause (o)).

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 10.5, in the event that a Disposition meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Dispositions described in clauses (a) through (bb) above, the Parent Borrower shall, in its sole discretion, classify and reclassify or later divide, classify or reclassify such Disposition (or any portion thereof) in one or more of the above clauses.

10.6 Restricted Payments. Declare or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, except that:

(a) each Restricted Subsidiary of a Loan Party may make Restricted Payments to any Loan Party;

(b) each Restricted Subsidiary of a Loan Party which is not a Loan Party may make Restricted Payments to another Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party;

(c) Holdings may make Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed the Cumulative Retained Disposition Amount, so long as on the date that Holdings elects to apply this clause (c), such election shall be specified in a written notice of a Responsible Officer of Holdings calculating in reasonable detail the amount of the Cumulative Retained Disposition Amount immediately prior to such election and the amount thereof elected to be so applied;

 

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(d) Loan Parties and their Restricted Subsidiaries may make Restricted Payments permitted by Section 10.2, Section 10.4 or Section 10.8;

(e) the Loan Parties may repurchase Equity Interests from, or pay dividends and make distributions to Holdings, and Holdings may repurchase Equity Interests from, or pay dividends and make distributions to, AB LLC, to enable AB LLC to, and may make a Restricted Payment to any direct or indirect parent to allow such parent to, repurchase Equity Interests, held by a current or former employee, officer or director upon the termination, retirement or death of any such employee, officer or director, provided, that, as to any such repurchase, each of the following conditions is satisfied: (i) as of the date of the payment for such repurchase and after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall exist or have occurred and be continuing, (ii) such repurchase shall be paid with funds legally available therefor, and (iii) the aggregate amount of all payments for such repurchases in any Fiscal Year shall not exceed $85,000,000, plus amounts of such repurchases permitted to have been made in prior Fiscal Years but not made, up to a maximum carry forward amount in any Fiscal Year of $60,000,000; plus the Net Proceeds received by a BorrowerHoldings or any of its Subsidiaries from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of a BorrowerHoldings or any direct or indirect parent of a BorrowerHoldings (to the extent contributed to a BorrowerHoldings) to members of management, directors or consultants of the Parent Borrower, SafewayHoldings or any of theirits Subsidiaries or any direct or indirect parent of the Parent Borrower or SafewayHoldings that occurs after the Escrow Release Date); plus the Net Proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Parent Borrower or SafewayHoldings or any other direct or indirect parent of the Parent Borrower or SafewayHoldings (in each case, to the extent contributed to a BorrowerHoldings) and their Subsidiaries after the Escrow Release Date; less the amount of any Restricted Payments previously made with the cash proceeds described in clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 10.6(e); (provided that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to a BorrowerHoldings or any Restricted Subsidiary from members of management, directors, employees or consultants of Holdings, or any direct or indirect parent company or Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests pursuant to this clause (e) of Holdings or any direct or indirect parent company will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment);

(f) so long as of the date of such Restricted Payment and after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall exist or have occurred and be continuing, a BorrowerHoldings or its Restricted Subsidiaries may make Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed the (x) the greater of (A) $1,000,000,000 and (B) 4.0% of Total Assets plus, (y) the Cumulative Credit on the date of such election that the Parent Borrower elects to apply to this clause (f), such election to be specified in a written notice of a Responsible Officer of the Parent Borrower calculating in reasonable detail the amount of Cumulative Credit immediately prior to such election and the amount thereof elected to be so applied, less (z) the aggregate amount of payments made pursuant to Section 10.11(a)(iii) at the time of such Restricted Payment;

(g) Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries may declare and make (i) dividend payments or other Restricted Payments payable solely in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) on a pro rata basis to their equity holders, and (ii) Restricted Payments payable in Equity Interests or with the proceeds of a sale of Equity Interests of a BorrowerHoldings or any direct or indirect parent thereof, any capital contribution or the issuance of Subordinated Indebtedness or Disqualified Capital Stock;

 

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(h) Loan Parties and their Restricted Subsidiaries may make repurchases of Equity Interests in Holdings (or in any direct or indirect parent thereof) or any Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options or warrants if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options or warrants;

(i) (1) with respect to any taxable period ending after the Escrow Release Date for which a Borrower is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, distributions to a Borrower’s equity owners, as applicable, in an aggregate amount equal to the product of (A) the taxable income of a Borrower for such taxable period, reduced by any cumulative net taxable loss with respect to all prior taxable periods ending after the Escrow Release Date (determined as if all such taxable periods were one taxable period) to the extent such cumulative net taxable loss would have been deductible by the partners against such taxable income if such loss had been incurred in the taxable period in question (assuming that the partners have no items of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit other than through a Borrower) and (B) the highest combined marginal U.S. federal, state and local income and Medicare tax rate applicable to any equity owner of a Borrower for such taxable period (taking into account the character of the taxable income in question (long term capital gain, qualified dividend income, etc.) and the deductibility of state and local income taxes for U.S. federal income tax purposes (and any applicable limitation thereon)), and (2) with respect to any taxable period ending before the Escrow Release Date for which a Borrower was treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, distributions to such Borrower’s equity owners, as applicable, in an aggregate amount equal to the product of (A) any additional taxable income for such taxable period resulting from a tax audit adjustment made after the Escrow Release Date and (B) the highest combined marginal U.S. federal, state and local income tax rate applicable to any equity owner of a Borrower, or applicable, for such taxable period (taking into account the character of the additional taxable income in question (long term capital gain, qualified dividend income, etc.) and the deductibility of state and local income taxes for U.S. federal income tax purposes (and any applicable limitations thereon)) plus any penalties, additions to tax or interest that may be imposed as a result of such audit adjustment;with respect to any taxable period ending after the Escrow Release Date for which Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries is treated as a member of a consolidated, combined or similar income tax group for U.S. federal, state, and/or local income tax purposes of which a direct or indirect parent of Holdings is the common parent (a “Tax Group”), distributions to such direct or indirect parent company to pay to the portion of any consolidated, combined or similar federal, state and/or local income taxes of such Tax Group that is attributable to the taxable income of Holdings and/or its applicable Subsidiaries (reduced, with respect to the taxable period beginning on or before and ending after the Escrow Release Date, by the amount of any estimated taxes that should have been paid by the Tax Group with respect to such portion of such taxes prior to the Escrow Release Date); provided that the amount of such payments made in respect of each such taxable period in the aggregate shall not exceed the amount that Holdings and/or its applicable Subsidiaries would have been required to pay in respect of such taxes for such taxable period if Holdings and/or its applicable Subsidiaries had been a stand-alone taxpayer or a stand-alone Tax Group for all taxable periods ending after the Escrow Release Date; provided, further, that the portion of the permitted payment pursuant to this clause (i) to any Unrestricted Subsidiary for any taxable period shall be limited to the amount actually paid by such Unrestricted Subsidiary to Holdings or any Guarantor for the purposes of paying such consolidated, combined or similar taxes;

(j) a BorrowerHoldings may make Restricted Payments to any direct or indirect parent of such BorrowerHoldings, (i) to pay amounts equal to the fees and expenses (including franchise and similar Taxes) required to maintain the existence of Holdings or any other direct or indirect parent or holding company of such BorrowerHoldings, the customary salary, bonus and

 

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other benefits (including indemnification, insurance and insurance premiums) payable to, and indemnities provided on behalf of, officers and employees of Holdings or any other direct or indirect parent or holding company of such BorrowerHoldings, and the general corporate operating and overhead expenses of Holdings or any other direct or indirect parent or holding company such Borrowerof Holdings, in each case to the extent such fees, expenses, salaries, bonuses, benefits and indemnities are attributable to the ownership or operation of such BorrowerHoldings and its Subsidiaries; (ii) to pay, if applicable, amounts equal to amounts required for any direct or indirect parent of such BorrowerHoldings, to pay interest and/or principal on Indebtedness the proceeds of which have been permanently contributed to such BorrowerHoldings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; (iii) amounts necessary to pay customary and reasonable costs and expenses of financings, acquisitions or offerings of securities of any direct or indirect parent of such BorrowerHoldings that are not consummated; (iv) costs (including all professional fees and expenses) incurred by any direct or indirect parent of such BorrowerHoldings in connection with reporting obligations under or otherwise incurred in connection with compliance with applicable laws, rules or regulations of any governmental, regulatory or self-regulatory body or stock exchange, the indenture or any other agreement or instrument relating to Indebtedness of such BorrowerHoldings or any Restricted Subsidiary; (v) expenses Incurred by any direct or indirect parent of such BorrowerHoldings in connection with any public offering or other sale of Equity Interests or Indebtedness: (A) where the net proceeds of such offering or sale are intended to be received by or contributed to a BorrowerHoldings or a Restricted Subsidiary, (B) in a pro-rated amount of such expenses in proportion to the amount of such net proceeds intended to be so received or contributed, or (C) otherwise on an interim basis prior to completion of such offering so long as direct or indirect parent of a BorrowerHoldings shall cause the amount of such expenses to be repaid to a BorrowerHoldings or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary out of the proceeds of such offering promptly if completed; (vi) to permit Holdings to make payments in respect of interest, principal and other amounts in connection with any Indebtedness incurred in connection with the Transactions and any Permitted Refinancing thereof; and (vii) to permit Holdings or any direct or indirect parent of Holdings to pay any amounts required to be paid by it in connection with or related to its ownership of Holdings, the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries, as applicable.

(k) Subject to the Liquidity Condition, at any time after the consummation of any Qualified Real Estate Financing Facility, the Parent Borrower or SafewayHoldings and its Restricted Subsidiaries may make Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount equal to (x) 0.35 times the Value Component then applicable on a Pro Forma Basis (including, but not limited, giving effect to such transactions and the release of Mortgaged Properties in connection therewith) minus (y) the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans and other Indebtedness secured on a pari passu basis with the Term Loans outstanding on such date after giving effect to any prepayment of the Term Loans in connection with Qualified Real Estate Financing Facilities minus (z) all Restricted Payments made prior to such date in reliance on this clause (k);

(l) the Parent Borrower or Safeway may make Restricted Payments to any direct or indirect parent of the Parent Borrower or Safeway, as applicable, to pay amounts equal to the fees and expenses related to the Safeway Acquisition and other payments to be made in connection with the Transactions;

(m) Holdings, the Parent Borrower or Safeway may make Restricted Payments used in connection with the termination of the LTIP Agreements;

 

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(n) the Parent Borrower or Safeway may make payments of all amounts under the contingent value rights to be issued under the Safeway Merger Agreement from the net proceeds of any sale of the Equity Interests in Casa Ley or of the Equity Interests in or assets of PDC;

(o) Restricted Payments made with Excluded Contributions; and

(p) the distribution, as a dividend or otherwise, of shares of Equity Interests of, or Indebtedness owed to Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings by, Unrestricted Subsidiaries or Excluded Property.

(q) purchases of receivables pursuant to a Receivables Repurchase Obligation, the payment or distribution of Receivables Fees, sales, contributions and other transfers of and purchases of assets pursuant to repurchase obligations, in each case in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing;

(r) distributions required in connection with (x) a Qualified Real Estate Financing Facility and (y) an IPO Reorganization; and

(s) the BorrowerHoldings or its Restricted Subsidiaries may make additional Restricted Payments; provided that, as of the date of such Restricted Payment and after giving pro forma effect thereto and any related transactions (including the incurrence of Indebtedness related thereto), (x) no Default or Event of Default shall exist or have occurred and be continuing and (y) the Total Leverage Ratio would be less than 3.50:1.00.1.00; and

(t) Restricted Payments made on or prior to the Amendment No. 8 (2019) Effective Date.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 10.6, in the event that a Restricted Payment meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Restricted Payments described in clauses (a) through (t) above, the Parent Borrower shall, in its sole discretion, classify and reclassify or later divide, classify or reclassify such Restricted Payment (or any portion thereof) in one or more of the above clauses; provided that any amount of Cumulative Credit applied pursuant to subclause (y) of clause (f) on or prior to the Amendment No. 7 (2018) Effective Date may not be reclassified.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein contained, (i) the foregoing limitations shall not apply to any Restricted Payments made by any Person which is not a Loan Party as long as no Loan Party has Guaranteed or may otherwise be liable for any obligations of such Person, and (ii) any Restricted Payment permitted to be made by a BorrowerHoldings or a Restricted Subsidiary may be made through New Holdings (and New Holdings shall be permitted to make any such payment).

10.7 Change in Nature of Business. Engage in any material line of business other than a Similar Business.

10.8 Transactions with Affiliates.

(a) Purchase, acquire or lease any property from, or sell, transfer or lease any property to, any officer, shareholder, director or other Affiliate of Holdings or Restricted Subsidiary involving aggregate consideration in excess of $50,000,000, except:

(i) on fair and reasonable terms that are not materially less favorable to the Parent Borrower, SafewayHoldings and theirits Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as would be obtainable by the Parent Borrower, Safeway or theirHoldings and its Restricted Subsidiaries with a Person other than an Affiliate at the time of such transaction (or, if earlier, at the time such transaction is contractually agreed);

 

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(ii) Real Property leased by the Parent Borrower, SafewayHoldings and theirits Restricted Subsidiaries from the Real Estate Subsidiaries;

(iii) Real Property leased by the Parent Borrower, SafewayHoldings and theirits Restricted Subsidiaries from the Sponsor (or its Affiliates) on the Escrow Release Date;

(iv) Permitted Dispositions and Permitted Investments;

(v) transactions between or among the Parent Borrower, SafewayHoldings and theirits Restricted Subsidiaries or any Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is merged or consolidated with a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction;

(vi) transactions to effect the Original Closing Date Transactions, the Transactions or an IPO Reorganization;

(vii) transactions for which the board of directors has received a written opinion from an Independent Financial Advisor to the effect that the financial terms of such transaction are fair, from a financial standpoint, to Albertson’s Group or not less favorable to Albertson’s Group than could reasonably be expected to be obtained at the time in an arm’s-length transaction with a Person who was not an Affiliate;

(viii) any agreement (other than with Sponsor) as in effect as of the Escrow Release Date and set forth on Schedule 10.8 or any amendment thereto (so long as any such agreement together with all amendments thereto, taken as a whole, is not more disadvantageous to the Lenders in any material respect than the original agreement as in effect on the Escrow Release Date) or any transaction contemplated thereby;

(ix) (i) the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of a Borrower toor Holdings or to any director, officer, employee or consultant thereof, (ii) the issuance of Equity Interests of Holdings and the granting of registration rights and other customary rights in connection therewith, or (iii) any contribution to the capital of Holdings, a Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable;

(x) (i) transactions with Affiliates that are customers, clients, suppliers or purchasers or sellers 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 Albertson’s Group in the reasonable determination of the board of directors or the senior management of the Parent Borrower or SafewayHoldings, and are on terms at least as favorable as might reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party and (ii) transactions with joint ventures and Unrestricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(xi) the existence of, or the performance by Albertson’s Group of its obligations under the terms of any stockholders agreement (including any registration rights agreement or purchase agreement related thereto) to which it is a party as of the Escrow Release Date and any amendment thereto or similar agreements which it may enter into thereafter; provided, however, that the existence of, or the performance by Albertson’s Group of its obligations under any future amendment to any such existing agreement or under any similar agreement entered into after the

 

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Escrow Release Date shall only be permitted by this clause (xi) to the extent that the terms of any such existing agreement together with all amendments thereto, taken as a whole, or new agreement are not otherwise more disadvantageous to the Lenders in any material respect than the original agreement as in effect on the Escrow Release Date;

(xii) transactions between Albertson’s Group and any Person that is an Affiliate solely due to the fact that a director of such Person is also a director of the ParentHoldings, a Borrower, Safeway or any other direct or indirect parent of a Borrower; provided, however, that such director abstains from voting as a director of Holdings or such Borrower or such direct or indirect parent of such Borrower, as the case may be, on any matter involving such other Person;

(xiii) transactions pursuant to the NAI Services Agreement and the Safeway Services Agreement;

(xiv) transactions pursuant to Section 10.3, 10.4 or 10.6; or

(xv) transactions required pursuant to the Safeway Merger Agreement or contingent value rights agreements entered into in connection with the Safeway Merger Agreement; or

(xvi) the Eastern Division Sale and other transactions contemplated by the Eastern Division Sale Agreement;

(xvii) pledges of Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(xviii) transactions entered into in good faith which provide for shared employees, services and/or facilities arrangements and which provide cost savings and/or other operational efficiencies;

(xix) [reserved];

(xx) (xix) (a) sales and purchase arrangements, joint purchasing arrangements and other service agreements in the ordinary course of business between, on the one hand, the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries and, on the other hand, NAI and its Subsidiaries, for the sale and purchase, at cost, of inventory, equipment and supplies, (b) leases between NAI and/or its Subsidiaries and a Borrower and/or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, (c) certain transactions between NAI and/or its Subsidiaries and Holdings and/or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to self-insurance matters and residual pharmacy transactions, (d) services provided by the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries to NAI and its Subsidiaries in the areas of finance, legal, human resources and public affairs, store development, information technology, marketing, merchandising, asset protection, customer services, supply chain, risk management and insurance, separation and store closings, store operations and strategic procurement, (e) pharmacy operation services provided by NAI and its Subsidiaries to the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries, (f) license agreements between Safeway and NAI, (g) sales of electricity between Safeway and NAI, and (h) arrangements for the use of certain IT and other infrastructure between Safeway and NAI;(xx) (a) sales and purchase arrangements, joint purchasing arrangements and other service agreements in the ordinary course of business between, on the one hand, the Borrowers and theirHoldings and its Restricted Subsidiaries and, on the other hand, SVU and its Subsidiaries, for the sale and purchase, at cost, of inventory, equipment and supplies, and leases between SVU and Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, and (b) one-time payments to be made in connection with the termination and/or transition of certain services under the transition services agreement between such Persons;

 

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(xxi) any purchases by Holdings’ Affiliates of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of a BorrowerHoldings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries the majority of which Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock is purchased by Persons who are not Holdings’ Affiliates; provided that such purchases by Holdings’ Affiliates are on the same terms as such purchases by such Persons who are not Holdings’ Affiliates;

(xxii) transactions contractually agreed to between an Unrestricted Subsidiary with an Affiliate prior to the day such Unrestricted Subsidiary is redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary; and

(xxiii) transactions permitted by clause (b) below.

(b) make any payments (whether by dividend, loan or otherwise) to any officer, shareholder, director or other Affiliate of a BorrowerHoldings or any Restricted Subsidiary in excess of $50,000,000, including, without limitation, on account of management, consulting or other fees for management or similar services, or pay or reimburse expenses incurred by any officer, shareholder, director or other Affiliate of such BorrowerHoldings or such Restricted Subsidiary, except:

(i) reasonable compensation to, and indemnity provided on behalf of, current, former and future officers, employees and directors for services rendered to such BorrowerHoldings or such Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business (including the issuances of securities or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment arrangements, stock option and stock ownership plans or similar employee benefit plans approved by the Board of Directors of Holdings or any direct or indirect parent of a BorrowerHoldings or of a Restricted Subsidiary, as appropriate, in good faith);

(ii) payments by Holdings, such Borrower or any such Restricted Subsidiary to New Holdings and AB LLC and for actual and necessary reasonable out-of-pocket legal and accounting, insurance, marketing, payroll and similar types of services paid for by New Holdings and AB LLC on behalf of such BorrowerHoldings or such Restricted Subsidiary, in the ordinary course of their respective businesses as the same may be directly attributable to such BorrowerHoldings or such Restricted Subsidiary and actual and necessary reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for the maintenance of the corporate existence of New Holdings and AB LLC;

(iii) payments by such BorrowerHoldings or any such Restricted Subsidiary to Sponsor or an Affiliate of Sponsor for the reasonable out-of-pocket costs of actual and necessary reasonable out-of-pocket legal and accounting, insurance, marketing, financial and similar types of services paid for by Sponsor or such Affiliate on behalf of such BorrowerHoldings or such Restricted Subsidiary;

(iv) any payments required to be made pursuant to the Eastern Division Sale Agreement or the Safeway Merger Agreement;

(v) amounts payable to SB Capital Group LLC in respect of out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with liquidation services provided to the Borrowers and Guarantors as provided in Section 3.7 of the Operating Agreement for AB LLC (as in effect on the Escrow Release Date);

 

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(vi) amounts payable pursuant to employment and severance arrangements between Albertson’s Group and their respective current, former and future officers and employees in the ordinary course of business and transactions pursuant to stock option plans and employee benefit plans and arrangements in the ordinary course of business and payments or loans (or cancellation of loans) to employees or consultants in the ordinary course of business which are approved by a majority of the Board of Directors of Holdings in good faith;

(vii) payments by Albertson’s Group to the Sponsor made for any financial advisory, financing, underwriting or placement services or in respect of other investment banking activities, including, without limitation, in connection with acquisitions or divestitures, which payments are approved by a majority of the board of directors of Holdings and/or AB LLC or any other direct or indirect parent of Holdings in good faith;

(viii) amounts payable pursuant to the Management Services Agreement, including any guarantees of compensation to Service Provider Personnel (as defined in the Management Services Agreement) up to the amounts payable thereunder;

(ix) payments of all fees and expenses related to the Original Closing Date Transactions and the Transactions;

(x) payments of the Original Closing Date Transaction Payments and the Escrow Release Date Transaction Payments;

(xi) (a) the entering into of any agreement (and any amendment or modification of any such agreement) to pay, and the payment of, annual management, consulting, monitoring and advisory fees to the Sponsor (directly, or indirectly through AB LLC) in an aggregate amount in any Fiscal Year not to exceed $20,000,000 plus all out-of-pocket reasonable expenses incurred by the Sponsor or any of its Affiliates in connection with the performance of management, consulting, monitoring, advisory or other services with respect to Albertson’s Group; and (b) the payment to Sponsor or an Affiliate of Sponsor for the reasonable out-of-pocket costs of actual and necessary reasonable out-of-pocket legal, accounting, insurance, marketing, financial and similar types of services paid for by Sponsor or such Affiliate on behalf of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(xii) payments resulting from transactions for which the board of directors has received a written opinion from an Independent Financial Advisor to the effect that the financial terms of such transaction are fair, from a financial standpoint, to Albertson’s Group or not less favorable to Albertson’s Group than could reasonably be expected to be obtained at the time in an arm’s-length transaction with a Person who was not an Affiliate;

(xiii) payments permitted pursuant to Section 10.6;

(xiv) amounts payable pursuant to the NAI Services Agreement or the Safeway Services Agreement;

(xv) payments between or among the Parent Borrower, SafewayHoldings and theirits Restricted Subsidiaries;

(xvi) payments pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or transaction described in clause (a), or meeting the requirements specified in clause (a)(i).

 

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10.9 Burdensome Agreements. Enter into or permit to exist any Contractual Obligation (other than this Agreement or any other Financing Agreement) that limits the ability of (a) any Restricted Subsidiary of a BorrowerHoldings that is not a Guarantor to make Restricted Payments to any Loan Party or (b) any Loan Party to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on property of such Person for the benefit of the Lenders with respect to the Facilities and the Obligations or under the Financing Agreements; provided that the foregoing clauses (a) and (b) shall not apply to Contractual Obligations which (i) (x) exist on the Escrow Release Date and (to the extent not otherwise permitted by this Section 10.9) are listed on Schedule 10.9 hereto and (y) to the extent Contractual Obligations permitted by clause (x) are set forth in an agreement evidencing Indebtedness, are set forth in any agreement evidencing any permitted modification, replacement, renewal, extension or refinancing of such Indebtedness so long as such modification, replacement, renewal, extension or refinancing does not expand the scope of such Contractual Obligation, (ii) are binding on a Restricted Subsidiary at the time such Restricted Subsidiary first becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of a BorrowerHoldings, so long as such Contractual Obligations were not entered into solely in contemplation of such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of a BorrowerHoldings; provided further that this clause (ii) shall not apply to Contractual Obligations that are binding on a Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 10.14, (iii) represent Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary of a BorrowerHoldings which is not a Loan Party which is permitted by Section 10.3 to the extent applying only to such Restricted Subsidiary, (iv) arise in connection with any Disposition permitted by Section 10.4 or 10.5 and relate solely to the assets or Person subject to such Disposition, (v) are customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements applicable to joint ventures permitted under Section 10.2 and applicable solely to such joint venture, (vi) are negative pledges and restrictions on Liens in favor of any holder of Indebtedness permitted under Section 10.3 but solely to the extent any negative pledge relates to the property financed by such Indebtedness, (vii) are customary restrictions on leases, subleases, licenses or asset or stock sale agreements otherwise permitted hereby so long as such restrictions relate to the assets or Subsidiary subject thereto, (viii) comprise restrictions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 10.3(c), (f) or (t) and to the extent that such restrictions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness or to the Restricted Subsidiaries incurring or guaranteeing such Indebtedness, (ix) are customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing a leasehold interest of a BorrowerHoldings or any Restricted Subsidiary, (x) are customary provisions restricting assignment of any agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business, (xi) are restrictions on cash or other deposits imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business, (xii) are customary restrictions contained in the ABL Credit Agreement and, in each case, any Permitted Refinancing thereof or (xiii) arise in connection with cash or other deposits permitted under Sections 10.1 and 10.2 and limited to such cash or deposit.

10.10 Accounting Changes. Holdings shall not make any change in (a) accounting policies or reporting practices, except as permitted by GAAP, or (b) fiscal quarter or fiscal year; provided, however, that Holdings may, upon written notice to the Agent, change its Quarterly Accounting Periods and fiscal year to any other quarterly accounting periods or fiscal year, as applicable, reasonably acceptable to the Agent, in which case the Parent Borrower and the Agent will, and are hereby authorized by the Lenders to, make any adjustments to this Agreement that are necessary to reflect such change in fiscal year.

10.11 Prepayments Etc., of Indebtedness.

(a) Directly or indirectly, prepay, redeem, purchase, defease or otherwise satisfy prior to the scheduled maturity thereof in any manner (it being understood that payments of regularly scheduled interest and principal shall be permitted and prepayment of the Senior Secured notes shall be permitted) any subordinated Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 10.3, or any other Indebtedness for borrowed money of a Loan Party that is subordinated to the Obligations expressly by its terms (other than Indebtedness among the Parent Borrower, SafewayHoldings and theirits Restricted Subsidiaries), any Indebtedness that is secured by a Lien on the Collateral ranking junior to the Lien securing the Obligations (including any Incremental Equivalent Debt, Permitted Ratio Debt or Permitted Junior

 

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Priority Refinancing Debt (collectively, “Junior Financing”) or make any payment in violation of any subordination terms of any Junior Financing documentation, except (i) the refinancing thereof with the Net Proceeds of any Indebtedness constituting a Permitted Refinancing; provided that if such Indebtedness was originally incurred under Section 10.3(f), such Permitted Refinancing is permitted pursuant to Section 10.3(f), (ii) the conversion of any Junior Financing to Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of a Borrower, Holdings or any other direct or indirect parent of a Borrower or the repayment of Junior Financing with the proceeds of an issuance of Equity Interests of a Borrower, Holdings or any other direct or indirect parent of a Borrower, (iii) prepayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasances and other payments in respect of Junior Financings prior to their scheduled maturity in an aggregate amount not to exceed $500,000,000 plus the Cumulative Credit less the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made pursuant to Section 10.6(f) at the time of such prepayment, redemption, purchase, defeasance or other payment, (iv) the purchase, redemption, acquisition, retirement, defeasance or discharge of the Existing Safeway Notes or any of its subsidiaries within 120 days of the Escrow Release Date and any Permitted Refinancing in respect thereof; (v) redemptions or redemptions of Indebtedness secured by Liens permitted by clause (mm) of the definition of “Permitted Liens” solely from the amounts included in the escrow account, and (vi) prepayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasances and other payments in respect of Junior Financings prior to their scheduled maturity; provided that, as of the date of such payment after giving pro forma effect thereto and any related transactions (including the incurrence of Indebtedness related thereto), (x) no Default or Event of Default shall exist or have occurred and be continuing and (y) the Total Leverage Ratio would be less than 3.50:1.00.1.00, and (vii) any such prepayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasance, satisfaction or payments with respect any Junior Financing made on or prior to the Amendment No. 8 (2019) Effective Date; provided that for purposes of determining compliance with this clause (a), in the event that any transaction described in subclause (iii) above meets the criteria of the transaction described in subclause (vii) above, the Parent Borrower shall, in its sole discretion, classify and reclassify or later divide, classify or reclassify such transaction (or any portion thereof) in either of the above subclauses (iii) and (vii); provided, further, that any amount of Cumulative Credit applied pursuant to subclause (iii) on or prior to the Amendment No. 8 (2019) Effective Date may not be reclassified. For the avoidance of doubt, Indebtedness under the ABL Facility shall not constitute Junior Financing.

(b) Amend, modify or waive any document governing any Material Indebtedness (other than on account of any Permitted Refinancing) to the extent that such amendment, modification or waiver would result in a Default or Event of Default under any of the Financing Agreements or would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

10.12 Permitted Activities. New Holdings shall not engage in any material operating or business activities; provided that the following shall be permitted in any event: (i) its ownership of the Equity Interests of Holdings, the Borrowers and its other Subsidiaries and activities incidental thereto, (ii) the maintenance of its legal existence (including the ability to incur fees, costs and expenses relating to such maintenance), (iii) the performance of its obligations with respect to the Financing Agreements and any other Indebtedness, (iv) any public offering of its common stock or any other issuance or sale of its Equity Interests, (v) financing activities, including the issuance of securities, incurrence of debt, payment of dividends, making contributions to the capital of Holdings, the Borrowers and its other Subsidiaries and guaranteeing the obligations of Holdings, the Borrowers and its other Subsidiaries, (vi) participating in tax, accounting and other administrative matters as a member of the consolidated group of New Holdings and Holdings, the Borrowers and its other Subsidiaries, (vii) holding any cash or property (but not operating any property), (viii) providing indemnification to officers, managers and directors, (ix) the performance of its obligations under and in connection with its Organizational Documents, the ABL Facility Documentation, the NAI Purchase Agreement, the Eastern Division Sale Agreement, the other agreements contemplated by the NAI Purchase Agreement and the Eastern Division Sale Agreement, the Original Closing Date Transactions, the Safeway Merger Agreement, the Transactions, any agreements

 

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contemplated by Section 10.8(b)(ii) and any other agreements contemplated hereby and thereby (including any related to its Subsidiaries other than the Borrowers), and (x) any activities related, complementary or incidental to the foregoing. New Holdings shall not incur any Liens on Equity Interests of Holdings or the Borrowers other than those for the benefit of the Obligations, Senior Safeway Acquisition Debt, the obligations under the ABL Facility, Incremental Equivalent Debt, Permitted Ratio Debt, Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt and Permitted Junior Priority Refinancing Debt.

10.13 Amendments of Organization Documents. No Loan Party shall amend any of its Organization Documents in a manner that would be materially adverse to the Loan Parties.

10.14 Designation of Subsidiaries. The Parent BorrowerHoldings may at any time after the Escrow Release Date designate any Restricted Subsidiary (other than a Co-Borrower) an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (i) immediately before and after such designation, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (ii) at the time of such designation and after giving pro forma effect thereto, the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio would be less than 3.75:1.00 and (iii) no Restricted Subsidiary may be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary if it is a “Restricted Subsidiary” for the purpose of the ABL Facility, Permitted Ratio Debt, Incremental Equivalent Debt, any Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness or any Junior Financing, as applicable. The Parent BorrowerHoldings shall be deemed to have designated the entities comprising PDC and their Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries effective on the Escrow Release Date. Other than with respect to Subsidiaries designated as Unrestricted Subsidiaries on the Escrow Release Date, the designation of any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary after the Escrow Release Date shall constitute an Investment by the Parent BorrowerHoldings therein at the date of designation in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the Parent Borrower’s investment therein. Other than with respect to Subsidiaries designated as Unrestricted Subsidiaries on the Escrow Release Date, the designation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary shall constitute (i) the incurrence at the time of designation of any Investment, Indebtedness or Liens of such Subsidiary existing at such time and (ii) a return on any Investment by the Parent BorrowerHoldings in Unrestricted Subsidiaries pursuant to the preceding sentence in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value at the date of such designation of the Parent Borrower’sHoldings’ Investment in such Subsidiary. The amount of the Parent Borrower’sHoldings’ Investment in the entities constituting PDC at the time of designation as an Unrestricted Subsidiary and at the time of any subsequent redesignation as a Restricted Subsidiary shall be zero. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither a Borrower nor any direct or indirect parent of a Borrower shall be permitted to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary. As of the Escrow Release Date, the Unrestricted Subsidiaries are specified on Schedule 10.14.

SECTION 11. EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

11.1 Events of Default. The occurrence or existence of any one or more of the following events are referred to herein individually as an “Event of Default,” and collectively as “Events of Default”:

(a) (i) any Loan Party fails to pay any principal amount of any Loan when due, (ii) any Loan Party fails to pay within five (5) Business Days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan or any other Obligation other than a principal payment on a Loan, (iii) any Loan Party fails to perform any of the terms or covenants contained in Sections 9.1(a), 9.4, 9.7, 9.9, 9.15 or Article 10 of this Agreement, or (iv) any Loan Party fails to perform any of the terms, covenants, conditions or provisions contained in this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements (other than those described in Sections 11.1(a)(i), 11.1(a)(ii) or 11.1(a)(iii) above) and such failure continues for 30 days after the earlier of the date such Loan Party obtains knowledge of a breach or any such covenant or agreement or the Parent Borrower’s receipt from the Agent of any such breach;

 

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(b) any representation, warranty or statement of fact made by any Loan Party to Agent in this Agreement, the other Financing Agreements or any other written agreement, schedule, confirmatory assignment or otherwise shall when made or deemed made be false or misleading in any material respect;

(c) [reserved];

(d) any judgment for the payment of money is rendered against any Loan Party in excess of $150,000,000 in the aggregate (to the extent not covered by insurance where the insurer has assumed responsibility in writing for such judgment) and shall remain undischarged or unvacated for a period in excess of thirty (30) consecutive days or execution thereon shall at any time not be effectively stayed, or any judgment other than for the payment of money, or injunction, attachment, garnishment or execution is rendered against any Loan Party that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or against any of the Collateral having a value in excess of $150,000,000 (to the extent not covered by insurance where the insurer has assumed responsibility in writing for such judgment), and any such judgment shall remain undischarged or unvacated for a period in excess of thirty (30) consecutive days or execution thereon shall at any time not be effectively stayed;

(e) except as otherwise expressly permitted hereunder, any Loan Party which is a partnership, limited liability company, limited liability partnership or a corporation, dissolves or there is a cessation of any substantial part of any Loan Party’s business for a period of time which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(f) any Loan Party makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors, makes or sends notice of a bulk transfer or calls a meeting of its creditors or principal creditors in connection with a moratorium or adjustment of the Indebtedness due to them;

(g) a case or proceeding under the bankruptcy laws of the United States of America now or hereafter in effect or under any insolvency, reorganization, receivership, readjustment of debt, dissolution or liquidation law or statute of any jurisdiction now or hereafter in effect (whether at law or in equity) is filed against any Loan Party or all or any part of its properties and such petition or application is not dismissed within sixty (60) days after the date of its filing or any Loan Party shall file any answer admitting or not contesting such petition or application or indicates its consent to, acquiescence in or approval of, any such action or proceeding or the relief requested is granted sooner;

(h) a case or proceeding under the bankruptcy laws of the United States of America now or hereafter in effect or under any insolvency, reorganization, receivership, readjustment of debt, dissolution or liquidation law or statute of any jurisdiction now or hereafter in effect (whether at a law or equity) is filed by any Loan Party or for all or any part of its property;

(i) any default in respect of any Indebtedness of any Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor (other than Indebtedness owing to Agent and Lenders hereunder), in an amount in excess of $150,000,000 (including any required mandatory prepayment or “put” of such Indebtedness to such Loan Party), which default continues for more than the applicable cure period, if any, with respect thereto and/or is not waived in writing by the other parties thereto, or any acceleration or demand for payment with respect to any Indebtedness in an amount in excess of $150,000,000; provided that, with respect to a default caused by the breach of the financial covenant within Section 7.16 of the ABL Facility, such default shall only constitute an Event of Default if the lenders under the ABL Facility have accelerated the obligations thereunder;

 

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(j) any material provision hereof or of any of the other Financing Agreements shall for any reason cease to be valid, binding and enforceable with respect to any party hereto or thereto (other than Agent) in accordance with its terms, or any such party shall challenge the enforceability hereof or thereof, or shall assert in writing, or take any action or fail to take any action based on the assertion that any provision hereof or of any of the other Financing Agreements has ceased to be or is otherwise not valid, binding or enforceable in accordance with its terms, or any security interest provided for herein or in any of the other Financing Agreements shall cease to be a valid and perfected security interest in any of the Collateral (or a valid and perfected security interest in any other Collateral having the priority for such Collateral required hereunder) purported to be subject thereto (except as otherwise permitted herein or therein);

(k) (i) an ERISA Event shall occur with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan which has resulted in or could reasonably be expected to result in liability of any Loan Party under Title IV of ERISA to a Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC which would be reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) a Loan Party 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 which would be reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

(l) any Change of Control;

(m) [reserved]; or

(n) The termination or attempted termination of any Guaranty except as expressly permitted hereunder or under any other Financing Agreement.

11.2 Remedies.

(a) At any time an Event of Default exists or has occurred and is continuing, Agent and Lenders shall have all rights and remedies provided in this Agreement, the other Financing Agreements, the UCC and other applicable law, all of which rights and remedies may be exercised without notice to or consent by any Loan Party, except as such notice or consent is expressly provided for hereunder or required by applicable law. All rights, remedies and powers granted to Agent and Lenders hereunder, under any of the other Financing Agreements, the UCC or other applicable law, are cumulative, not exclusive and enforceable, in Agent’s discretion, alternatively, successively, or concurrently on any one or more occasions. Subject to Section 13 hereof, Agent may, and at the direction of the Required Lenders shall, at any time or times, proceed directly against any Loan Party to collect the Obligations without prior recourse to the Collateral.

(b) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, at any time an Event of Default exists or has occurred and is continuing, Agent may, at its option and shall upon the direction of the Required Lenders, upon notice to the Parent Borrower, accelerate the payment of all Obligations and demand immediate payment thereof to Agent for itself and the benefit of Lenders (provided that, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default described in Sections 11.1(g) and 11.1(h), all Obligations shall automatically become immediately due and payable and any other obligation of the Agent and the Lenders hereunder shall automatically terminate).

 

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11.3 Application of Proceeds. Subject to the Intercreditor Agreements and the Security Agreement, after the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 11.2 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable as set forth in the proviso to Section 11.2(b)), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall be applied by the Agent in the following order (to the fullest extent permitted by mandatory provisions of applicable Law):

First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations (excluding the Other Liabilities) constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (other than principal and interest, but including costs and expenses payable under Section 12.6 and amounts payable under Section 3.3 and Section 6) payable to the 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 Secured Parties (including costs and expenses payable under Section 12.6 and amounts payable under Section 3.3 and Section 6), ratably among them in proportion to the amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;

Third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Obligations 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 Obligations (and termination payments and other amounts under secured Swap Contracts and ordinary course settlement payments under secured Swap Contracts), ratably among the Secured Parties in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them;

Fifth, to the payment of all other Obligations of the Loan Parties that are due and payable to the Agent and the other Secured Parties on such date, ratably based upon the respective aggregate amounts of all such Obligations owing to the Agent and the other Secured Parties on such date; and

Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been paid in full, to the Parent Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.

SECTION 12. JURY TRIAL WAIVER; OTHER WAIVERS AND CONSENTS; GOVERNING LAW

12.1 Governing Law; Choice of Forum; Service of Process; Jury Trial Waiver.

(a) The validity, interpretation and enforcement of this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements (except as otherwise provided therein) and any dispute arising out of the relationship between the parties hereto, whether in contract, tort, equity or otherwise, shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of New York but excluding any principles of conflicts of law or other rule of law that would cause the application of the law of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of New York.

(b) Holdings, the Parent Borrower, the other Loan Parties, Agent and Lenders irrevocably consent and submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York and the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, whichever Agent may elect, and waive any objection based on venue or forum non conveniens with respect to any action instituted therein arising under this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements or in any way connected with or related or incidental to the dealings of the parties hereto in respect of this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements or the transactions related hereto or thereto, in each case whether now existing or

 

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hereafter arising, and whether in contract, tort, equity or otherwise, and agree that any dispute with respect to any such matters shall be heard only in the courts described above (except that Agent and Lenders shall have the right to bring any action or proceeding against Holdings, the Parent Borrower, any other Loan Party or its or their property in the courts of any other jurisdiction which Agent deems necessary or appropriate in order to realize on the Collateral or to otherwise enforce its rights against Holdings, the Parent Borrower, any other Loan Party or its or their property).

(c) Holdings, the Parent Borrower and the other Loan Parties hereby waive personal service of any and all process upon it and consents that all such service of process may be made by certified mail (return receipt requested) directed to its address set forth herein and service so made shall be deemed to be completed five (5) days after the same shall have been so deposited in the U.S. mails, or, at Agent’s option, by service upon Holdings, the Parent Borrower and any other Loan Party in any other manner provided under the rules of any such courts.

(d) HOLDINGS, THE PARENT BORROWER, THE OTHER LOAN PARTIES, AGENT AND LENDERS EACH HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER FINANCING AGREEMENTS OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO IN RESPECT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER FINANCING AGREEMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED HERETO OR THERETO IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, EQUITY OR OTHERWISE. HOLDINGS, THE PARENT BORROWER, THE OTHER LOAN PARTIES, AGENT AND LENDERS EACH HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY AND THAT HOLDINGS, THE BORROWER, THE OTHER LOAN PARTIES, AGENT AND ANY LENDER MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OF A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE PARTIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

(e) Agent and Secured Parties shall not have any liability to Holdings, the Parent Borrower or any other Loan Party (whether in tort, contract, equity or otherwise) for losses suffered by Holdings, the Parent Borrower or such other Loan Party in connection with, arising out of, or in any way related to the transactions or relationships contemplated by this Agreement, or any act, omission or event occurring in connection herewith, unless it is determined by a final and non-appealable judgment or court order of competent jurisdiction binding on Agent, or such Secured Party or Secured Parties, that the losses were the result of acts or omissions constituting gross negligence, bad faith, willful misconduct or material breach of its obligations under any Financing Agreement. Holdings, the Parent Borrower and each other Loan Party: (i) certifies that neither Agent nor any Lender nor any representative, agent or attorney acting for or on behalf of Agent or any Lender has represented, expressly or otherwise, that Agent or the Lenders would not, in the event of litigation, seek to enforce any of the waivers provided for in this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements and (ii) acknowledges that in entering into this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements, Agent and the Lenders are relying upon, among other things, the waivers and certifications set forth in this Section 12.1 and elsewhere herein and therein.

12.2 Waiver of Notices. Holdings, the Parent Borrower and each other Loan Party hereby expressly waives demand, presentment, protest and notice of protest and notice of dishonor with respect to any and all instruments and chattel paper, included in or evidencing any of the Obligations or the Collateral, and any and all other demands and notices of any kind or nature whatsoever with respect to the Obligations, the Collateral and this Agreement, except such as are expressly provided for herein. No notice to or demand on Holdings, the Parent Borrower or any other Loan Party which Agent or any Lender may elect to give shall entitle Holdings, the Parent Borrower and such other Loan Party to any other or further notice or demand in the same, similar or other circumstances.

 

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12.3 Amendments and Waivers.

(a) Neither this Agreement nor any other Financing Agreement nor any terms hereof or thereof may be amended, waived, discharged or terminated unless such amendment, waiver, discharge or termination is in writing signed by (x) the Required Lenders and Agent (acting at the direction of the Required Lenders), or (y) at Agent’s option, by Agent with the authorization or consent of the Required Lenders and by the Parent Borrower and such amendment, waiver, discharge or termination shall be effective and binding as to all Lenders only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given, except, that, no such amendment, waiver, discharge or termination shall:

(i) reduce the interest rate or any fees or extend the time of scheduled payment of principal, interest or any fees or reduce the principal amount of any Loan, in each case without the consent of each Lender directly affected thereby, it being understood that the waiver of (or amendment to the terms of) any mandatory prepayment of the Loans shall not constitute a postponement of any date scheduled for the payment of principal or interest and it further being understood that any change to the definition of “Total Leverage Ratio,” “Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio” or “Consolidated Total Secured Net Leverage Ratio” or, in each case, in the component definitions thereof, shall not constitute a reduction or forgiveness in any rate of interest,

(ii) extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender over the amount thereof then in effect or provided hereunder, in each case without the consent of the Lender directly affected thereby,

(iii) amend, modify or waive any terms of Section 14.9 hereof, in each case without the consent of each Lender directly affected thereby,

(iv) release all or substantially all of the Collateral (except as expressly required hereunder or under any of the other Financing Agreements or applicable law and except as permitted under Section 13.10 hereof), without the consent of all Lenders,

(v) amend the definitions of “Pro Rata Share” or “Required Lenders,” or any provision of this Agreement obligating Agent to take certain actions at the direction of the Required Lenders, or amend or modify the provisions of Section 2.7, in each case without the consent of all Lenders,

(vi) consent to the assignment or transfer by any Loan Party of any of their rights and obligations under this Agreement, or release the Parent Borrower, any Co-Borrower or any Guarantor from liability for any of the Obligations other than as expressly set forth herein, without the consent of the Lenders,

(vii) release all or substantially all of the value of the Guarantees without the consent of the Lenders;

(viii) amend, modify or waive any terms of this Section 12.3, without the consent of all Lenders, or

 

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(ix) amend, modify or waive any terms of Section 3.3 hereof, in each case without the consent of each Lender directly affected thereby.

(b) Agent and any Lender shall not, by any act, delay, omission or otherwise be deemed to have expressly or impliedly waived any of its or their rights, powers and/or remedies unless such waiver shall be in writing and signed as provided herein. Any such waiver shall be enforceable only to the extent specifically set forth therein. A waiver by Agent or any Lender of any right, power and/or remedy on any one occasion shall not be construed as a bar to or waiver of any such right, power and/or remedy which Agent or any Lender would otherwise have on any future occasion, whether similar in kind or otherwise.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 12.3(a) above, in connection with any amendment, waiver, discharge or termination for which the consent of all Lenders or each Lender directly affected thereby was required, in the event that any Lender shall fail to consent or fail to consent in a timely manner (each such Lender being referred to herein as a “Non-Consenting Lender”), but the consent of the Required Lenders to such amendment, waiver, discharge or termination is obtained, then Agent or the Parent Borrower shall have the right, but not the obligation, at any time thereafter, and upon the exercise by Agent or the Parent Borrower of such right to require each such Non-Consenting Lender, and each such Non-Consenting Lender shall have the obligation, to sell, assign and transfer to Agent or such Eligible Transferee as Agent or the Parent Borrower may specify, all of such Non-Consenting Lender’s Commitments and all rights and interests of such Non-Consenting Lender pursuant thereto. Each such purchase and sale shall be pursuant to the terms of an Assignment and Acceptance (whether or not executed by the Non-Consenting Lender), except that on the date of such purchase and sale) Agent, or such Eligible Transferee specified by Agent or the Parent Borrower, shall pay to the Non-Consenting Lender (except as Agent or the Parent Borrower and such Non-Consenting Lender(s) may otherwise agree) the amount equal to: (i) the principal balance of the Loans held by the Non-Consenting Lender outstanding as of the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the effective date of such purchase and sale, plus (ii) amounts accrued and unpaid in respect of interest and fees payable to the Non-Consenting Lender to the effective date of the purchase (including amounts payable under Section 3.3(c) as if the Eurodollar Rate Loans of such Non-Consenting Lender were being prepaid on the purchase date but in no event shall the Non-Consenting Lender be deemed entitled to any early termination fee). In connection with any such replacement, if any such Non-Consenting Lender does not execute and deliver to the Agent a duly executed Assignment and Acceptance reflecting such replacement within five (5) Business Days of the date on which the assignee Lender executes and delivers such Assignment and Acceptance to such Non-Consenting Lender, then such Non-Consenting Lender shall be deemed to have executed and delivered such Assignment and Acceptance without any action on the part of the Non-Consenting Lender. Such purchase and sale shall be effective on the date of the payment of such amount to the Non-Consenting Lender and the Commitment of the Non-Consenting Lender shall terminate on such date.

(d) The consent of Agent shall be required for any amendment, waiver or consent affecting the rights or duties of Agent hereunder or under any of the other Financing Agreements, in addition to the consent of the Lenders otherwise required by this Section. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 12.3(a) above, (i) in the event that Agent shall agree that any items otherwise required to be delivered to Agent as a condition of releasing the Loans from the Escrow Account hereunder may be delivered after the Escrow Release Date, Agent may, in its discretion, agree to extend the date for delivery of such items or take such other action as Agent may deem appropriate as a result of the failure to receive such items as Agent may determine or may waive any Event of Default as a result of the failure to receive such items, in each case without the consent of any Lender and (ii) Agent may consent to any change in the type of organization, jurisdiction of organization or other legal structure of any Loan Party and amend the terms hereof or of any of the other Financing Agreements as may be necessary or desirable to reflect any such change, in each case without the approval of any Lender.

 

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(e) [Reserved.]

(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto.

(g) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Lender consent is required to effect any amendment or supplement to the Intercreditor Agreements or other intercreditor agreement or arrangement permitted under this Agreement that is for the purpose of adding the holders of Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt, or Permitted Junior Priority Refinancing Debt, as expressly contemplated by the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements or such other intercreditor agreement or arrangement permitted under this Agreement, as applicable (it being understood that any such amendment or supplement may make such other changes to the applicable intercreditor agreement as, in the good faith determination of the Agent, are required to effectuate the foregoing and provided that such other changes are not adverse, in any material respect, to the interests of the Lenders); provided, further, that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Agent hereunder or under any other Financing Agreement without the prior written consent of the Agent.

(h) Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be amended (or amended and restated) with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Agent and the Parent Borrower (a) to add one or more additional credit facilities to this Agreement and to permit the extensions of credit from time to time outstanding thereunder and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof to share ratably in the benefits of this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements with the Term 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.

(i) In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be amended with the written consent of the Agent, the Parent Borrower and the Lenders providing the Replacement Term Loans (as defined below) to permit the refinancing of all outstanding Term Loans of any Class (“Refinanced Term Loans”) with replacement term loans (“Replacement Term Loans”) hereunder; provided that (a) the aggregate principal amount of such Replacement Term Loans shall not exceed the aggregate principal amount of such Refinanced Term Loans, (b) the Applicable Margin for such Replacement Term Loans shall not be higher than the Applicable Margin for such Refinanced Term Loans unless the maturity of the Replacement Term Loans is at least one year later than the maturity of the Refinanced Term Loans, (c) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of Replacement Term Loans shall not be shorter than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such Refinanced Term Loans, at the time of such refinancing (except by virtue of amortization or prepayment of the Refinanced Term Loans prior to the time of such incurrence) and (d) all other terms applicable to such Replacement Term Loans shall be substantially identical to, or less favorable to the Lenders providing such Replacement Term Loans than, those applicable to such Refinanced Term Loans except to the extent necessary to provide for covenants and other terms applicable to any period after the Latest Maturity Date of the Term Loans in effect immediately prior to such refinancing.

(j) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 12.3, Guarantees, Collateral Documents and related documents executed by Subsidiaries in connection with this Agreement may be in a form reasonably determined by the Agent and may be, together with this Agreement, amended and waived with the consent of the Agent at the request of the Parent Borrower without the need to obtain the consent of any other Lender if such amendment or waiver is delivered in order (i) to comply with local Law or advice of local counsel or (ii) to cause such guarantee, collateral security document or other document to be consistent with this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements.

 

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(k) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 12.3, the Parent Borrower shall be permitted to appoint one or more Restricted Subsidiaries as “Co-Borrower” hereunder, in each case with the consent of, and pursuant to an amendment reasonably satisfactory to, the Agent.

(l) If the Administrative Agent and Holdings shall have jointly identified an obvious error (including, but not limited to, an incorrect cross-reference) or any error or omission of a technical or immaterial nature, in each case, in any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any exhibit, schedule or other attachment to any Loan Document), then the Administrative Agent (acting in its sole discretion) and the Borrowers or any other relevant Loan Party shall be permitted to amend such provision and such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to any Loan Document (unless the Required Lenders object to such amendment within five Business Days of notification of such amendment is made to the Lenders). Notification of such amendment shall be made by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders on or prior to five Business Days prior to the amendment becoming effective.

12.4 Waiver of Counterclaims. Each Loan Party waives all rights to interpose any claims, deductions, setoffs or counterclaims of any nature (other than compulsory counterclaims) in any action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement, the Obligations, the Collateral or any matter arising therefrom or relating hereto or thereto.

12.5 Indemnification. Each Loan Party shall, jointly and severally, indemnify and hold Agent, each Arranger and each Lender, and their respective officers, directors, agents, employees, advisors and counsel and their respective Affiliates, successor and assigns (each such person being an “Indemnitee”), harmless from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs or expenses (including reasonable and reasonably documented attorneys’ fees and expenses) imposed on, incurred by or asserted against any of them in connection with any litigation, investigation, claim or proceeding commenced or threatened related to the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery, enforcement, performance or administration of this Agreement, any other Financing Agreements, the use or proposed use of proceeds of any Loan, or any undertaking or proceeding related to any of the transactions contemplated hereby or any act, omission, event or transaction related or attendant thereto, including amounts paid in settlement, court costs, and the reasonable and reasonably documented fees and expenses of counsel, regardless of whether such Indemnitee is a party to such commenced or threatened litigation, investigation, claim or proceeding and regardless of whether such matter is initiated by a third party or by the Parent Borrower or any of its affiliates or equity holders, except that the Loan Parties shall not have any obligation under this Section 12.5 to indemnify an Indemnitee with respect to a matter covered hereby (i) resulting from the gross negligence, bad faith, willful misconduct or material breach of the obligations under any Financing Agreement of such Indemnitee as determined pursuant to a final, non-appealable order of a court of competent jurisdiction (but without limiting the obligations of the Loan Parties as to any other Indemnitee) or (ii) resulting from a cause of action brought by an Indemnitee against any other Indemnitee (other than (a) claims against an Indemnitee in its capacity or fulfilling its role as an Agent or an arranger or a similar role and (b) claims arising out of any act or omission of the Sponsor, Holdings, the Parent Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Parent Borrower); provided that, the Loan Parties’ obligation with respect to fees and expenses of counsel, shall be limited to the reasonable and reasonably documented fees, disbursements and other charges of out-of-pocket fees and legal expenses of one firm of counsel for all Indemnitees and, if necessary, one firm of local counsel and one firm of special counsel in each appropriate jurisdiction, in each case for all Indemnitees (and, in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest where the Indemnitee affected by such conflict informs the Parent Borrower of such conflict and thereafter, retains its own counsel, of another firm of counsel for such affected Indemnitee). To the extent that the undertaking to indemnify, pay and hold harmless set forth in this Section may be unenforceable because it violates any law or public policy, the Loan Parties shall pay the maximum portion which it is permitted to pay under applicable law to Agent and Lenders in satisfaction of

 

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indemnified matters under this Section. To the extent permitted by applicable law, no Loan Party, Agent or Lender shall assert, and each Loan Party, Agent and Lender hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, Loan Party, Agent and Lender, 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 of the other Financing Agreements or any undertaking or transaction contemplated hereby; provided that the foregoing shall not limit any Loan Party’s indemnity obligations to the extent special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages are included in any third party claim in connection with which such Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder. No Indemnitee referred to above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed by it through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements or the transaction contemplated hereby or thereby. All amounts due under this Section shall be payable upon demand. The foregoing indemnity shall survive the resignation of the Agent or the replacement of any Lender, the payment of the Obligations and the termination or non-renewal of this Agreement.

12.6 Costs and Expenses. The Parent Borrower shall pay (or cause to be paid) (a) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Agent, the Arrangers and their respective Affiliates, in connection with this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements, including without limitation (i) the reasonable and documented fees, charges and disbursements of (A) outside counsel for the Agent and its Affiliates limited to one law firm and any local counsel reasonably deemed necessary by the Agent, (B) outside consultants for the Agent, (C) appraisers, (D) commercial finance examiners, and (E) all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of the Obligations, and (F) environmental site assessments, (ii) in connection with (A) the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, (B) the preparation, negotiation, administration, management, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (C) the enforcement or protection of their rights in connection with this Agreement or the Financing Agreements or efforts to preserve, protect, collect, or enforce the Collateral or in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws, or (D) any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of any Obligations, and (b) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Loan Parties who are not the Agent or any of its Affiliate, after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, provided that such Loan Parties shall be entitled to reimbursement for no more than one counsel representing all such Loan Parties (absent a conflict of interest in which case the Loan Parties may engage and be reimbursed for additional counsel).

To the extent that any Loan Party for any reason fails to indefeasibly pay any amount required under Section 12.5 or Section 12.6 to be paid by it to the Agent (or any sub-agent thereof) or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Agent (or any such sub-agent) or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s Pro Rata Share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount, provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Agent (or any such sub-agent) in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Agent (or any such sub-agent) in connection with such capacity.

 

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SECTION 13. THE AGENT

13.1 Appointment and Authority.

(a) Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints Credit Suisse to act on its behalf as the Agent hereunder and under the other Financing Agreements and authorizes the Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Agent, the Lenders, and neither the Parent Borrower, any Co-Borrower nor any Guarantor shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.

(b) The Agent shall also act as the “collateral agent” under the Financing Agreements, and each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Agent to act as the agent of such Lender for purposes of acquiring, holding and enforcing any and all Liens on Collateral granted by the Parent Borrower, any Co-Borrower or any Guarantor to secure any of the Obligations, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto. In this connection, the Agent, as “collateral agent” and any co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact appointed by the Agent pursuant to Section 13.5 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 Agent), shall be entitled to the benefits of all provisions of this Section 13 and Section 12 (including the second paragraph of Section 12.5 and 12.6), as though such co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact were the “collateral agent” under the Financing Agreements) as if set forth in full herein with respect thereto. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Lenders hereby expressly authorize the Agent to execute any and all documents (including releases) with respect to the Collateral and the rights of the Secured Parties with respect thereto, as contemplated by and in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the Collateral Documents and acknowledge and agree that any such action by any Agent shall bind the Lenders.

(c) The Lenders hereby authorize the Agent to enter into the Intercreditor Agreements or other intercreditor agreement or arrangement permitted under this Agreement and any such intercreditor agreement is binding upon the Lenders.

13.2 Rights as a Lender. The Person serving as the 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 Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the 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 Holdings, the Parent Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

13.3 Exculpatory Provisions. The Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Financing Agreements. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Agent:

(a) shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;

 

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(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 Financing Agreements that the 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 Financing Agreements), provided that the Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Financing Agreements or applicable law;

(c) shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Financing Agreements, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Parent Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity;

(d) The Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 14.7 and 11.2) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence, bad faith, willful misconduct or material breach of its obligations under any Financing Agreement. The Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until written notice describing such Default is given to the Agent by the Parent Borrower or a Lender; and

(e) The 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 Financing Agreements, (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 Financing Agreements 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 (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Section 4 or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Agent.

13.4 Reliance by Agent. The Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. The Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender, the Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender unless the Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender prior to the making of such Loan. The Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Parent 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.

13.5 Delegation of Duties. The Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Financing Agreements by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Agent. The Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Section 13 shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the 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 Agent.

 

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13.6 Resignation of Agent. The Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders and the Parent Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right 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 which appointment of a successor agent shall be consented to by the Parent Borrower at all times other than during the existence of an Event of Default under Sections 11.1(a)(i), 11.1(a)(ii), 11.1(g) or 11.1(h) (which consent of the Parent Borrower shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed). If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Agent may on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above; provided that if the Agent shall notify the Parent Borrower and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (a) the retiring Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Financing Agreements (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Agent on behalf of the Lenders under any of the Financing Agreements, the retiring Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Agent is appointed) and (b) all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Agent as provided for above in this Section 13.6. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Agent, and the retiring Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Financing Agreements (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section 13.6). The fees payable by the Parent Borrower to a successor Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Parent Borrower and such successor. After the retiring Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Financing Agreements, the provisions of this Section 13 and Sections 12.5 and 12.6 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring 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 Agent was acting as Agent.

13.7 Non-Reliance on Agent and Other Lenders. Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Agent or the Arrangers 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 also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Agent or the Arrangers 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 Financing Agreements or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

13.8 No Other Duties, Etc. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Agent, Arrangers, bookrunners or other agents listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Agent or a Lender hereunder.

13.9 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 Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Agent shall have made any demand on the Parent Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise.

 

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(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders and the Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders and the Agent under Sections 3.2, 12.5 and 12.6) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

(b) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender to make such payments to the Agent and, if the Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, to pay to the Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Agent under Sections 3.2, 12.5 and 12.6.

Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender to authorize the Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender or in any such proceeding.

13.10 Collateral and Guaranty Matters. Each of the Lenders irrevocably authorizes and directs the Agent, and Agent shall,

(a) release any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Agent under any Financing Agreement (i) upon payment in full of all Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations), (ii) at the time the property subject to such Lien is disposed or to be disposed, as part of or in connection with any disposition permitted hereunder or under any other Financing Agreement to a Person that is not a Loan Party, (iii) (A) if the Lien encumbers property that secures or will secure a Qualified Real Estate Financing Facility or (B) any pledge by a parent holding company of the stock of a Real Estate Subsidiary securing a Qualified Real Estate Financing Facility if such pledge is prohibited by the terms of such Qualified Real Estate Financing Facility, or (iv) subject to Section 12.3, if the release of such Lien is approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Lenders;

(b) release or subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Agent under any Financing Agreement to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted by Section 10.1(j) to the extent required by the holder of, or pursuant to the terms of any agreement governing, the obligations secured by such Liens; and

(c) release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty if such Person (i) ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary or becomes an Excluded Subsidiary as a result of a transaction or designation permitted hereunder, including, without limitation, for the avoidance of doubt, as a result of a Disposition of a Subsidiary permitted hereunder or (ii) is the parent holding company of a Real Estate Subsidiary party to a Qualified Real Estate Financing Facility if such guaranty is prohibited by the terms of such Qualified Real Estate Financing Facility; provided that no such release shall occur if such Guarantor continues to be a guarantor in respect of the ABL Credit Agreement, any Incremental Equivalent Debt, any Permitted Ratio Debt, any Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt, any Permitted Junior Priority Refinancing Debt, any Permitted Unsecured Refinancing Debt, any Junior Financing or any Permitted Refinancing of any of the foregoing.

 

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Upon request by the Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Agent’s authority to release or subordinate its interest in particular types or items of property, or to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty pursuant to this Section 13.10. In each case as specified in this Section 13.10, the Agent will, at the Parent Borrower’s expense, execute and deliver to the Parent Borrower and applicable Guarantor such documents as the Parent Borrower may reasonably request to evidence the release of such 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 such Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Financing Agreements and this Section 13.10.

13.11 Withholding Tax Indemnity. To the extent required by any applicable Laws (as determined in good faith by the Agent), the Agent may withhold from any payment to any Lender under any Financing Agreement an amount equivalent to any applicable withholding Tax. Without limiting or expanding the provisions of Section 6.1, each Lender shall indemnify and hold harmless the Agent against, and shall make payable 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 Agent) incurred by or asserted against the Agent by the IRS or any other Governmental Authority as a result of the failure of the Agent to properly withhold Tax from any 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 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 Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under this Agreement or any other Financing Agreement against any amount due the Agent under this Section 13.11. The agreements in this Section 13.11 shall survive the resignation and/or replacement of the Agent, any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all other Obligations.

13.12 Notice to Agent. By signing this Agreement, each Secured Party agrees to notify the Agent promptly upon the furnishing of any Bank Product or Cash Management Service and thereafter at such frequency as the Agent may reasonably request furnish a summary of all Other Liabilities due or to become due to such Secured Party. In connection with any distributions to be made hereunder, the Agent shall be entitled to assume that no amounts are due to any Secured Party on account of Other Liabilities unless the Agent has received written notice thereof from such Secured Party.

13.13 Intercreditor Agreements. The Agent is hereby authorized to enter into any usual and customary Intercreditor Agreement to the extent contemplated by the terms hereof, and the parties hereto acknowledge that such Intercreditor Agreement is binding upon them. Each Lender (a) hereby agrees that it will be bound by and will take no actions contrary to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreements and (b) hereby authorizes and instructs the Agent to enter into the usual and customary Intercreditor Agreements and to subject the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations to the provisions thereof. In addition, but in conformance with the terms hereof, each Lender hereby authorizes the Agent to enter into (i) any amendments to any Intercreditor Agreements, and (ii) any other intercreditor arrangements, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), to the extent required to give effect to the establishment of intercreditor rights and privileges as contemplated and required by of this Agreement. Each Lender waives any conflict of interest, now contemplated or arising hereafter, in connection therewith and agrees not to assert against any Agent or any of its affiliates any claims, causes of action, damages or liabilities of whatever kind or nature relating thereto.

 

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13.14 Certain ERISA Matters.

(a) 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 Agent, each Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrowers 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 with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of any Loans, Commitments or this Agreement;

(ii) the 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 with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of any Loans, 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 any Loans, Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of any Loans, 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 any Loans, Commitments and this Agreement; or

(iv) such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.

(b) In addition, unless either (1) subclause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or (2) such Lender has provided another representation, warranty any covenant in accordance with sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), 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 Agent, each Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrowers or any other Loan Party, that the Agent is not a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender involved in such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of any Loans, Commitments and this Agreement (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Agent under this Agreement, any Financing Agreement or any documents related hereto or thereto).

 

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SECTION 14. TERM OF AGREEMENT; MISCELLANEOUS

14.1 Term.

(a) This Agreement and the other Financing Agreements shall become effective as of the date set forth on the first page hereof and shall continue in full force and effect for a term ending on the Latest Maturity Date, unless sooner terminated pursuant to the terms hereof. In addition, Parent Borrower may terminate this Agreement at any time upon ten (10) days prior written notice to Agent subject to clause (b) below, (which notice shall be irrevocable) and Agent may, at its option, and shall at the direction of required Lenders, terminate this Agreement at any time on or after an Event of Default. Upon the Latest Maturity Date or any other effective date of termination of the Financing Agreements, Parent Borrower shall pay to Agent all outstanding and unpaid Obligations (except for contingent obligations of Loan Parties under provisions of this Agreement that survive terminations of the Commitments).

(b) No termination of the Commitments, this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements shall relieve or discharge any Loan Party of its respective duties, obligations and covenants under this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements until all Obligations (except for contingent obligations of Loan Parties under indemnifications that survive terminations of the Commitments), have been fully and finally paid.

14.2 Interpretative Provisions.

(a) All terms used herein which are defined in Article 1, Article 8 or Article 9 of the UCC shall have the meanings given therein unless otherwise defined in this Agreement.

(b) All references to the plural herein shall also mean the singular and to the singular shall also mean the plural unless the context otherwise requires.

(c) All references to Holdings, the Parent Borrower, a Co-Borrower, Guarantor, Agent and Lenders pursuant to the definitions set forth in the recitals hereto, or to any other person herein, shall include their respective successors and permitted assigns. All references to statutes and related regulations shall include any amendments of same and any successor statutes and regulations. All references to any of the Financing Agreements shall include any and all amendment or modifications thereto and any and all restatements, extensions or renewals thereof.

(d) The words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereunder,” “this Agreement” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not any particular provision of this Agreement and as this Agreement now exists or may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced.

(e) The word “including” when used in this Agreement shall mean “including, without limitation” and the word “will” when used in this Agreement shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.”

(f) All references to the term “good faith” used herein when applicable to Agent or any Lender shall mean, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in the UCC, honesty in fact in the conduct or transaction concerned. The Loan Parties shall have the burden of proving any lack of good faith on the part of Agent or any Lender alleged by any Loan Party at any time.

 

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(g) Any accounting term used in this Agreement shall have, unless otherwise specifically provided herein, the meaning customarily given in accordance with GAAP, and all financial computations hereunder shall be computed, unless otherwise specifically provided herein, in accordance with GAAP as consistently applied and using the same method for inventory valuation as used in the preparation of the financial statements of the Loan Parties most recently received by Agent on or prior to the Escrow Release Date and without including the effect of any changes to lease accounting that requires the assets and liabilities arising under operating leases to be recognized in any statement of financial position. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in GAAP or any interpretations or other pronouncements by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or otherwise, the term “unqualified opinion” as used herein to refer to opinions or reports provided by accountants shall mean an opinion or report that is unqualified as to going concern or the scope of the audit.

(h) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” shall mean “from and including,” the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding” and the word “through” shall mean “to and including.”

(i) Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (i) references herein to any agreement, document or instrument shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, modifications, supplements, extensions, renewals, restatements or replacements with respect thereto, but only to the extent the same are not prohibited by the terms hereof or of any other Financing Agreement, and (ii) references to any statute or regulation are to be construed as including all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, recodifying, supplementing or interpreting the statute or regulation.

(j) The captions and headings of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.

(k) This Agreement and other Financing Agreements may use several different limitations, tests or measurements to regulate the same or similar matters. All such limitations, tests and measurements are cumulative and shall each be performed in accordance with their terms.

(l) This Agreement and the other Financing Agreements are the result of negotiations among and have been reviewed by counsel to Agent and the other parties, and are the products of all parties. Accordingly, this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements shall not be construed against Agent or Lenders merely because of Agent’s or any Lender’s involvement in their preparation.

14.3 Notices.

(a) All notices, requests and demands hereunder shall be in writing and deemed to have been given or made: if delivered in person, immediately upon delivery; if by telex, telegram or facsimile transmission, immediately upon sending and upon confirmation of receipt; if by nationally recognized overnight courier service with instructions to deliver the next Business Day, one (1) Business Day after sending; and if by certified mail, return receipt requested, five (5) days after mailing. Notices delivered through electronic communications shall be effective to the extent set forth in Section 14.3(b) below. All notices, requests and demands upon the parties are to be given to the following addresses (or to such other address as any party may designate by notice in accordance with this Section):

 

If to any Loan Party:

   Albertson’s LLCAlbertsons Companies, Inc.
   250 Parkcenter Blvd.
   PO Box 20
   Boise, Idaho 83706
   Attention: Chief Financial Officer
   Telephone No.: (208) 395-5463    

 

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  Telecopy No.: (208) 395-4625
 

with a copy to:

  Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP
  919 Third Avenue
  New York, NY 10022
  Attention:       Ronald RisdonAntonio Diaz-Albertini, Esq.
  Telephone:     (212) 756-2203
  Facsimile:      (212) 593-5955
  E-mail:           ronald.risdon@srz.comAntonio.Diaz-Albertini@srz.com

If to Agent:

  Agent’s Office
  Credit Suisse AG
  Eleven Madison Avenue, 23rd Floor
  New York, NY 10010
  Attention:       Loan Operations – Agency Manager
  Telephone:     (919) 994-6369
  Facsimile:      (212) 322-2291
  E-mail:           agency.loanops@credit-suisse.com

(b) Notices and other communications to Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by Agent or as otherwise determined by Agent (and shall be considered to be in writing for such purposes), provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender pursuant to Section 2 hereof if such Lender, as applicable, has notified Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Section by electronic communication. Unless Agent otherwise requires, (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 given during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice 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 communications is available and identifying the website address therefor.

(c) The Platform. THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” THE AGENT PARTIES 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 PARENT BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM. In no event shall the Agent Parties have any liability to the Loan Parties, any Lender or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Parent Borrower’s or the

 

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Agent’s transmission of Parent 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, bad faith, willful misconduct or material breach of the obligations under any Financing Agreement of such Agent Party; provided, however, that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to the Loan Parties, any Lender 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 Parent BorrowerHoldings and the Agent may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Parent Borrower and the Agent. In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Agent from time to time to ensure that the 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 Parent 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 Holdings or the Parent Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal or state securities laws.

(e) Reliance by Agent and Lenders. The Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Committed Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Parent 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 Parent Borrower shall indemnify the Agent, 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 Parent Borrower. All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Agent may be recorded by the Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

14.4 Partial Invalidity. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not invalidate this Agreement as a whole, but this Agreement shall be construed as though it did not contain the particular provision held to be invalid or unenforceable and the rights and obligations of the parties shall be construed and enforced only to such extent as shall be permitted by applicable law.

14.5 Confidentiality.

(a) Agent and each Lender shall keep confidential, in accordance with its customary procedures for handling confidential information and safe and sound lending practices, any non-public information (“Information”) supplied to it by any Loan Party pursuant to the Financing Agreements, provided that nothing contained herein shall limit the disclosure of any such information: (i) to its Affiliates and its and its Affiliates’ managers, administrators, directors, officers, employees, trustees, partners, investors, investment advisors and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (ii) to the extent requested by any Governmental Authority or self-regulatory authority having or asserting

 

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jurisdiction over such Person (including any Governmental Authority regulating any Lender or its Affiliates), provided that the Agent or such Lender, as applicable, agrees that it will notify the Parent Borrower as soon as practicable in the event of any such disclosure by such Person (other than at the request of a regulatory authority) unless such notification is prohibited by law, rule or regulation, (iii) to the extent required by applicable Laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, provided that the Agent or such Lender, as applicable, agrees that it will notify the Parent Borrower as soon as practicable in the event of any such disclosure by such Person (other than at the request of a regulatory authority) unless such notification is prohibited by law, rule or regulation, (iv) to any Lender or Participant (or prospective Lender or Participant consented to by the Parent Borrower to the extent an assignment of a Loan to such Person would require the Parent Borrower’s consent pursuant to Section 14.7 hereof) or to any Affiliate of any Lender so long as such Lender, Participant (or prospective Lender or Participant) or Affiliate shall have been instructed to treat such information as confidential in accordance with this Section 14.5, (v) subject to an agreement containing provisions at least as restrictive as those of this Section 14.5 (or as may otherwise be reasonably acceptable to the Parent Borrower), to any pledgee referred to in Section 14.7(l), direct or indirect contractual counterparty to a Swap Contract, Eligible Transferee of or Participant in, or any prospective Eligible Transferee of or Participant in any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement, (vi) with the written consent of the Parent Borrower, (vii) to any rating agency when required by it in connection with rating the Loan Parties or their Subsidiaries or any Facility hereunder (it being understood that, prior to any such disclosure, such rating agency shall undertake to preserve the confidentiality of any Information relating to Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries received by it from such Lender), (viii) [reserved], (ix) to market data collectors, similar service providers to the lending industry and service providers to the Agent in connection with the administration and management of this Agreement and the Financing Agreements (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) or (x) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder, under any other Financing Agreement or the enforcement of its rights hereunder or thereunder;

(b) In the event that Agent or any Lender receives a request or demand to disclose any Information pursuant to any subpoena or court order, Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, agrees (i) to the extent permitted by applicable Law or if permitted by applicable Law, to the extent Agent or such Lender determines in good faith that it will not create any risk of liability to Agent or such Lender, Agent or such Lender will promptly notify the Parent Borrower of such request so that the Parent Borrower may seek a protective order or other appropriate relief or remedy and (ii) if disclosure of such information is required, disclose such information and, subject to reimbursement by Parent Borrower of Agent’s or such Lender’s expenses, cooperate with the Parent Borrower in the reasonable efforts to obtain an order or other reliable assurance that confidential treatment will be accorded to such portion of the disclosed information which the Parent Borrower so designates, to the extent permitted by applicable Law or if permitted by applicable Law, to the extent Agent or such Lender determines in good faith that it will not create any risk of liability to Agent or such Lender. In no event shall this Section 14.5 or any other provision of this Agreement, any of the other Financing Agreements or applicable law be deemed: (i) to apply to or restrict disclosure of information that has been or is made public by any Loan Party or any third party or otherwise becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure in violation hereof, (ii) to apply to or restrict disclosure of information that was or becomes available to Agent or any Lender (or any Affiliate of any Lender) on a non-confidential basis from a person other than a Loan Party, (iii) to require Agent or any Lender to return any materials furnished by a Loan Party to Agent or a Lender or prevent Agent or a Lender from responding to routine informational requests in accordance with applicable industry standards relating to the exchange of credit information. The obligations of Agent and Lenders under this Section 14.5 shall supersede and replace the obligations of Agent and Lenders under any confidentiality letter signed prior to the Escrow Release Date or any other arrangements concerning the confidentiality of information provided by any Loan Party to Agent or any Lender.

 

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14.6 Successors. This Agreement, the other Financing Agreements and any other document referred to herein or therein shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Agent, Lenders, Loan Parties and their respective successors and assigns, except that the Parent Borrower or any Co-Borrower may not assign its rights under this Agreement, the other Financing Agreements and any other document referred to herein or therein without the prior written consent of Agent and Lenders. Any such purported assignment without such express prior written consent shall be void. No Lender may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of Agent, except as provided in Section 14.7 below. The terms and provisions of this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements are for the purpose of defining the relative rights and obligations of Loan Parties, Agent and Lenders with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby and there shall be no third party beneficiaries of any of the terms and provisions of this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements.

14.7 Assignments; Participations.

(a) (i) Subject to the conditions set forth in clause (ii) below, each Lender may assign all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitments and the Loans at the time owing to it) (w) to one or more Eligible Transferees (but not including for this purpose any assignments in the form of a participation), each of which assignees shall become a party to this Agreement as a Lender by execution of an Assignment and Acceptance, (x) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of Section 14.7(e), (y) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of Section 14.7(f) or (z) to an SPC in accordance with the provisions of Section 14.7(k) (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void).

(ii) Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:

(A) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment or Loans of any Class, the amount of the Commitment or Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Agent) shall not be less than an amount of $1,000,000, and shall be in increments of an amount of $1,000,000 in excess thereof unless each of the Parent Borrower and the Agent otherwise consents, provided that such amounts shall be aggregated in respect of each Lender and its Affiliates or Approved Funds, if any;

(B) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver via an electronic settlement system acceptable to the Agent or, if previously agreed with the Agent, manually execute and deliver to the Agent, an Assignment and Acceptance, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500; provided that the Agent, in its sole discretion, may elect to waive such processing and recordation fee;

(C) the Assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Agent an Administrative Questionnaire; and

(D) on or before the date on which it becomes a party to this Agreement, the Assignee shall deliver to the Parent Borrower and the Agent the forms or certifications, as applicable, described in Section 6.1(d), to the extent required thereby.

This paragraph (a) shall not prohibit any Lender from assigning all or a portion of its rights and obligations among separate Facilities on a non-pro rata basis among such Facilities.

 

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(b) Agent, acting solely for these purposes as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrowers, shall maintain a register of the names and addresses of Lenders, their Commitments and the principal amount (and related interest amounts) of their Loans (the “Register”). Agent shall also maintain a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to and accepted by it and shall modify the Register to give effect to each Assignment and Acceptance. The entries in the Register shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error, and Loan Parties, Agent and Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Parent Borrower and any Lender at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Agent be obligated to ascertain, monitor or inquire as to whether any Lender is an Affiliated Lender nor shall the Agent be obligated to monitor the aggregate amount of Term Loans or Incremental Term Loans held by Affiliated Lenders. Upon request by the Agent, the Parent Borrower shall (i) promptly (and in any case, not less than 5 Business Days (or shorter period as agreed to by the Agent) prior to the proposed effective date of any amendment, consent or waiver pursuant to Section 12.3) provide to the Agent, a complete list of all Affiliated Lenders holding Term Loans or Incremental Term Loans at such time and (ii) not less than 5 Business Days (or shorter period as agreed to by the Agent) prior to the proposed effective date of any amendment, consent or waiver pursuant to Section 12.3, provide to the Agent, a complete list of all Debt Fund Affiliates holding Term Loans or Incremental Term Loans at such time.

(c) Subject to the acceptance and recording thereof by the Agent pursuant to Section 14.7(b), upon such execution, delivery, acceptance and recording, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance, the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and to the other Financing Agreements and, to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder have been assigned to it pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender hereunder and thereunder and the assigning Lender shall, to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder have been assigned by it pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance, relinquish its rights and be released from its obligations under this Agreement but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.3, 6, 12.5 and 12.6 (subject to the limitations and requirements of such Sections) with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this clause (c) shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with Section 14.7(e).

(d) By execution and delivery of an Assignment and Acceptance, the assignor and assignee thereunder confirm to and agree with each other and the other parties hereto as follows: (i) other than as provided in such Assignment and Acceptance, the assigning Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements or the execution, legality, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements furnished pursuant hereto, (ii) the assigning Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to the financial condition of any Loan Party or the performance or observance by any Loan Party of any of the Obligations; (iii) such assignee confirms that it has received a copy of this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements, together with such other documents and information it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into such Assignment and Acceptance, (iv) such assignee will, independently and without reliance upon the assigning Lender, Agent 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 this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements, (v) such assignee appoints and authorizes Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements as are delegated to Agent by the terms hereof and thereof, together with such powers as are reasonably

 

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incidental thereto, and (vi) such assignee agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements are required to be performed by it as a Lender. Agent and Lenders may furnish any information concerning any Loan Party in the possession of Agent or any Lender from time to time to assignees (subject to such assignee executing and delivering a confidentiality agreement in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Agent and the Parent Borrower).

(e) Each Lender may sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (other than a natural person, Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries) (each, a “Participant”) in or to all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements (including, without limitation, all or a portion of its Commitments and the Loans owing to it, without the consent of Agent or the other Lenders); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement (including, without limitation, its Commitment hereunder) and the other Financing Agreements shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations, and (iii) the Parent Borrower, each Co-Borrower the Guarantors, the other Lenders and Agent shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or the other Financing Agreements; 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 Section 12.3(a)(i), (ii) or (iv) that requires the affirmative vote of such Lender. The Parent Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.3 and 6 (subject to the requirements and limitations of such Sections, including Section 6.1(d), and the requirements of Sections 6.2(a) and 6.1(h), and it being understood that the documentation required under Section 6.1(d) shall be delivered solely to the Granting Lender) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section 14.7(c). A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 6.1 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, except to the extent that the Participant’s right to a greater payment results from a change in any Laws after the Participant became a Participant. Each Lender that sells a participation agrees, at the Parent Borrower’s request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Parent Borrower to effectuate the provisions of Section 6.2(a) with respect to any Participant. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting as a non-fiduciary agent of the Parent 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 manifest error, and the Parent 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 Financing Agreement) to any Person expect to the extent that such disclosure is necessary in connection with a Tax audit or other proceeding to establish that any loans are in registered form for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The Loan Parties and each Non-Debt Fund Affiliate (by its acquisition of a participation in any Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement) hereby agree that if a case under Title 11 of the United States Code is commenced against any Loan Party, to the extent that any Non-Debt Fund Affiliate would have the right to direct any Participant to vote with respect to any plan of reorganization of any Loan Party (or to directly vote on such plan of reorganization) as a result of any participation taken by such Non-Debt Fund Affiliate pursuant to this Section 14.7(e), such Loan Party shall seek (and each Non-Debt Fund Affiliate shall consent) to provide that the vote of any Non-Debt Fund Affiliate (in its capacity as a Participant) with

 

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respect to any plan of reorganization of such Loan Party shall not be counted except that such Non-Debt Fund Affiliate’s vote (in its capacity as a Participant) may be counted to the extent any such plan of reorganization proposes to treat the participation in any Obligations held by such Non-Debt Fund Affiliate in a manner that is less favorable in any material respect to such Non-Debt Fund Affiliate than the proposed treatment of similar Obligations held by Lenders or Participants that are not Affiliates of the Parent Borrower. Each Non-Debt Fund Affiliate hereby irrevocably appoints the Agent (such appointment being coupled with an interest) as such Non-Debt Fund Affiliate’s attorney-in-fact, with full authority in the place and stead of such Non-Debt Fund Affiliate and in the name of such Non-Debt Fund Affiliate (solely in respect of Loans and participations therein and not in respect of any other claim or status such Non-Debt Fund Affiliate may otherwise have), from time to time in the Agent’s discretion to take any action and to execute any instrument that the Agent may deem reasonably necessary to carry out the provisions of this paragraph.

(f) Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or prohibit any Lender from pledging its Loans hereunder to a Federal Reserve Bank or other central bank having jurisdiction over such Lender in support of borrowings made by such Lenders from such Federal Reserve Bank or other central bank; provided that no such pledge shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee for such Lender as a party hereto.

(g) Upon request, and the surrender by the assigning Lender of its Note, the Parent Borrower and any applicable Co-Borrowers (at their expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender.

(h) Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary contained in this Agreement, any Lender may assign all or a portion of its Loans to any Non-Debt Fund Affiliate or Purchasing Borrower Party in accordance with Section 14.7(a); provided that:

(A) no Default or Event of Default has occurred or is continuing or would result therefrom;

(B) the assigning Lender and Non-Debt Fund Affiliate or Purchasing Borrower Party purchasing such Lender’s Loans, as applicable, shall execute and deliver to the Agent an assignment agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit L hereto (an “Affiliated Lender Assignment and Acceptance”) in lieu of an Assignment and Acceptance;

(C) any Loans assigned to any Purchasing Borrower Party shall be automatically and permanently cancelled upon the effectiveness of such assignment and will thereafter no longer be outstanding for any purpose hereunder;

(D) each Purchasing Borrower Party represents and warrants as of the date of any assignment to such Purchasing Borrower Party pursuant to this Section 14.7(h), that neither the Purchasing Borrower Party nor any of its Affiliates has any MNPI with respect to Holdings or the Albertson’s Group that either (a) has not been disclosed to the Lenders (other than Lenders that do not wish to receive MNPI with respect to Holdings, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates) prior to such time and (b) could reasonably be expected to have a material effect upon, or otherwise be material to (i) a Lender’s decision to participate in any assignment pursuant to this Section 14.7(h) or (ii) the market price of the Loans;

(E) no Loan may be assigned to a Non-Debt Fund Affiliate pursuant to this Section 14.7(h), if after giving effect to such assignment, Non-Debt Fund Affiliates in the aggregate would own in excess of 20% of all Loans then outstanding; and

 

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(F) no Loan may be assigned to a Purchasing Borrower Party pursuant to this Section 14.7(h), if after giving effect to such assignment, the Purchasing Borrower Parties in the aggregate would own or have retired in excess of 15% of all Loans then outstanding (it being understood, for the avoidance of doubt, that such limitation does not apply to prepayments pursuant to Section 2.3(c)).

(i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, no Non-Debt Fund Affiliate shall have any right to (i) attend (including by telephone) any meeting or discussions (or portion thereof) among the Agent or any Lender to which representatives of the Parent Borrower are not invited, and (ii) receive any information or material prepared by Agent or any Lender or any communication by or among Agent and/or one or more Lenders, except to the extent such information or materials have been made available to the Parent 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 Section 2), (iii) make or bring (or participate in, other than as a passive participant in or recipient of its pro rata benefits of) any claim, in its capacity as a Lender, against Agent, the Agent or any other Lender with respect to any duties or obligations or alleged duties or obligations of such Agent or any other such Lender under the Financing Agreements or (iv) advice from counsel to the Lenders or the Agent or a right to challenge any related attorney-client privilege of any Lender or the Agent;

(j) Notwithstanding anything in Section 12.3 or the definition of “Required Lenders” to the contrary, for purposes of determining whether the Required Lenders have (i) consented (or not consented) to any amendment, modification, waiver, consent or other action with respect to any of the terms of any Financing Agreement or any departure by any Loan Party therefrom, (ii) otherwise acted on any matter related to any Financing Agreement, or (iii) directed or required the Agent, or any Lender to undertake any action (or refrain from taking any action) with respect to or under any Financing Agreement, all Loans held by any Non-Debt Fund Affiliate shall be deemed to have voted in the same proportion as non-affiliated lenders voting on such matters for all purposes of calculating whether the Required Lenders have taken any actions.

Additionally, the Loan Parties and each Non-Debt Fund Affiliate hereby agree that if a case under Title 11 of the United States Code is commenced against any Loan Party, such Loan Party shall seek (and each Non-Debt Fund Affiliate shall consent) to provide that the vote of any Non-Debt Fund Affiliate (in its capacity as a Lender) with respect to any plan of reorganization of the such Loan Party shall not be counted except that such Non-Debt Fund Affiliate’s vote (in its capacity as a Lender) may be counted to the extent any such plan of reorganization proposes to treat the Obligations held by such Non-Debt Fund Affiliate in a manner that is less favorable in any material respect to such Non-Debt Fund Affiliate than the proposed treatment of similar Obligations held by Lenders that are not Affiliates of the Parent Borrower. Each Non-Debt Fund Affiliate hereby irrevocably appoints the Agent (such appointment being coupled with an interest) as such Non-Debt Fund Affiliate’s attorney-in-fact, with full authority in the place and stead of such Non-Debt Fund Affiliate and in the name of such Non-Debt Fund Affiliate (solely in respect of Loans and participations therein and not in respect of any other claim or status such Non-Debt Fund Affiliate may otherwise have), from time to time in the Agent’s discretion to take any action and to execute any instrument that the Agent may deem reasonably necessary to carry out the provisions of this paragraph.

(k) 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 Agent and the Parent 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, and (ii) if an SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to make all or any part of such

 

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Loan, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to make such Loan pursuant to the terms hereof. Each party hereto hereby agrees that (i) an SPC shall be entitled to the benefit of Sections 3.3 and 6 (subject to the requirements and the limitations of such Sections, including the requirement to provide the forms and certificates pursuant to Section 6.1(d) and the requirements of Sections 6.2(a) and 6.1(h), and it being understood that the documentation required under Section 6.1(d) shall be delivered solely to the Granting Lender), but neither the grant to any SPC nor the exercise by any SPC of such option shall increase the costs or expenses or otherwise increase or change the obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement, except to the extent such entitlement to a greater amount results from a change in any applicable Laws after the grant to the SPC was made, (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 Financing Agreement, remain the lender of record hereunder. Each Granting Lender, at the Parent Borrower’s request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Parent Borrower to effectuate the provisions of Section 6.2(a) with respect to any SPC. The making of a Loan by an SPC hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent, and as if, such Loan were made by such Granting Lender. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any SPC may (i) with notice to, but without prior consent of the Parent Borrower and the Agent and with the payment of a processing fee of $3,500, assign all or any portion of its right to receive payment with respect to any Loan to the Granting Lender and (ii) disclose on a confidential basis any non-public information relating to its funding of Loans to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of any surety or Guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPC.

(l) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, without the consent of the Parent Borrower or the Agent, (1) any Lender may in accordance with applicable Law create a security interest in all or any portion of the Loans owing to it and the Term Note, if any, held by it and (2) any Lender that is a Fund may create a security interest in all or any portion of the Loans owing to it and the Term Note, if any, held by it to the trustee for holders of obligations owed, or securities issued, by such Fund as security for such obligations or securities; provided that unless and until such trustee actually becomes a Lender in compliance with the other provisions of this Section 14.7, (i) no such pledge shall release the pledging Lender from any of its obligations under the Financing Agreements and (ii) such trustee shall not be entitled to exercise any of the rights of a Lender under the Financing Agreements even though such trustee may have acquired ownership rights with respect to the pledged interest through foreclosure or otherwise.

14.8 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the other Financing Agreements, any supplements hereto or thereto, and any instruments or documents delivered or to be delivered in connection herewith or therewith represents the entire agreement and understanding concerning the subject matter hereof and thereof between the parties hereto, and supersede all other prior agreements, understandings, negotiations and discussions, representations, warranties, commitments, proposals, offers and contracts concerning the subject matter hereof, whether oral or written. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms of this Agreement and any schedule or exhibit hereto, the terms of this Agreement shall govern; provided that the inclusion of supplemental rights or remedies in favor of the Agent or the Lenders in any other Financing Agreement shall not be deemed a conflict with this Agreement. Each Financing Agreement 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.

14.9 USA PATRIOT Act. Each Lender subject to the PATRIOT Act hereby notifies the Loan Parties that pursuant to the requirements of the PATRIOT Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each person or corporation who opens an account and/or enters into a business relationship with it, which information includes the name and address of the Loan Parties and other information that will allow such Lender to identify such person in accordance with the PATRIOT Act and any other applicable law. The Loan Parties are hereby advised that any Loans hereunder are subject to satisfactory results of such verification.

 

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14.10 Counterparts, Etc. This Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements by telefacsimile or other electronic method of transmission shall have the same force and effect as the delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Agreement or any of such other Financing Agreements. Any party delivering an executed counterpart of any such agreement by telefacsimile or other electronic method of transmission shall also deliver an original executed counterpart, but the failure to do so shall not affect the validity, enforceability or binding effect of such agreement.

14.11 Payments Set Aside. To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of any Loan Party is made to the Agent or any Lender, or the Agent or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Agent or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the 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 Federal Funds Effective Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Lenders under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

14.12 Guarantee.

(a) The Guarantors hereby jointly and severally, and unconditionally and absolutely, guarantee to Secured Parties the due and punctual payment, performance and discharge (whether upon stated maturity, demand, acceleration or otherwise in accordance with the terms thereof) of all of the Obligations whether created directly to, or acquired by assignment or otherwise by, any Secured Party, and whether the Parent Borrower or any Co-Borrower may be liable individually or jointly with others, regardless of whether recovery upon any of such Obligations becomes barred by any statute of limitations, is void or voidable under any law, is or becomes invalid or unenforceable for any other reason (collectively as to each Guarantor, the “Guaranteed Obligations”); provided, with respect to any Guarantor at any time, the definition of “Guaranteed Obligations” shall exclude Excluded Swap Obligations with respect to such Guarantor at such time including all such Guaranteed Obligations which shall become due but for the operation of any Debtor Relief Law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the term “Guaranteed Obligations” as used herein shall include interest, fees or other charges constituting Obligations accrued in any such bankruptcy, whether or not any such interest, fees or other charges are recoverable from the Parent Borrower or any Co-Borrower or its estate under 11 U.S.C. § 506. Each Guarantor agrees that its guarantee is a primary, immediate and original obligation of such Guarantor and is an absolute, unconditional, continuing and irrevocable guarantee of payment and not of collectability only, and is not contingent upon the exercise or enforcement by Agent or any Lender of any rights or remedies against the Parent Borrower or others, or the enforcement of any Lien or realization upon any Collateral or other security.

(b) Each Guarantor agrees that its guarantee shall continue in full force and effect until the Guaranteed Obligations have been fully paid and discharged and all Commitments have been terminated.

 

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Each Guarantor acknowledges that there may be future advances by Agent or any Lender to the Parent Borrower or a Co-Borrower hereunder (although Secured Parties may be under no obligation to make such advances) and that the number and amount of the Guaranteed Obligations are unlimited and may fluctuate from time to time hereafter, and its guarantee shall remain in force at an times hereafter, whether there are any Guaranteed Obligations outstanding from time to time or not. Guarantors’ obligations under this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect without regard to future changes in conditions, including any change of law or any invalidity or unenforceability of any Guaranteed Obligations or agreements evidencing same. Each Guarantor agrees that its guarantee shall be in addition to any other present or future guaranty or other security for any of the Guaranteed Obligations, shall not be prejudiced or unenforceable by the invalidity of any such other guaranty or security, and is not conditioned upon or subject to the execution by any other Person of any other guaranty or suretyship agreement.

(c) (i) If a Guarantor shall make a payment under a guarantee (a “Paying Guarantor”), then such Paying Guarantor shall have the right to obtain contribution, in an amount determined as set forth below, from each of the other Guarantors that have not made payments under their respective guaranties at least proportionately equal (on the basis of their respective Guarantor Allocable Percentages, as such term is hereinafter defined) in amount to the payments made by the Paying Guarantor seeking contribution. The liability of Guarantors hereunder to make contribution to any Paying Guarantor as aforesaid shall be absolute and shall not be affected or impaired by (A) any defense, counterclaim or setoff that the Parent Borrower, any Co-Borrower or any Guarantor may have or assert against any Secured Party, (B) any failure, neglect or omission on the part of any Secured Party to realize upon any Collateral or to enforce payment of any of the Guaranteed Obligations from any Person, (C) the release or discharge of any Collateral, (D) the release or discharge of the applicable Borrower from its obligations, or (E) the release or discharge of any Guarantor from its obligations under its guarantee (whether, in any such event, such release is agreed to by any Secured Party or occurs by operation of applicable law). Any proceeds received by any Secured Party from any enforcement action with respect to any assets of a Guarantor securing payment of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be deemed to be a payment by such Guarantor for purposes hereof.

(ii) Any Paying Guarantor entitled to contribution hereunder shall be entitled to receive from each of the other Guarantors an amount equal to (A) the product derived by multiplying the sum of all payments made by all Guarantors to Agent or any other Secured Party under the guaranties by the Guarantor Allocable Percentage of the Guarantor from whom contribution is sought, less (B) the amount, if any, actually paid to Agent or any other Secured Party by the Guarantor from whom contribution is sought (said last mentioned amount which is to be subtracted from the aforesaid product shall be decreased by any amount theretofore paid by such Guarantor by way of contribution hereunder, and shall be decreased by any amounts theretofore received by such Guarantor by way of contribution); provided, however, that a Paying Guarantor’s recovery of contribution from the other Guarantors hereunder shall be limited, exclusive of interest, to that amount paid by the Paying Guarantor in excess of the Guarantor Allocable Percentage of such Paying Guarantor of all payments made by all Guarantors to Agent or any other Secured Party under the guaranties. Amounts due by way of contribution hereunder shall bear interest, until paid, at a variable rate of interest equal to the Base Rate in effect from time to time. As used herein, the term “Guarantor Allocable Percentage” shall mean, on any date of determination thereof, a fraction, the denominator of which shall be equal to the number of Guarantors who are parties to this Agreement on such date and the numerator of which shall be one; provided further, however, that such percentages shall be modified in the event that contribution from a Guarantor is not possible by reason of any insolvency proceeding involving such Guarantor or otherwise by reducing the Guarantor Allocable Percentage of such Guarantor to zero and by increasing the Guarantor Allocable Percentages of all remaining Guarantors proportionately so that the Guarantor Allocable Percentages of all remaining Guarantors at all times equals 100%. Each Guarantor liable to a Paying Guarantor for contribution, whether pursuant to the provisions of this guarantee or under applicable law, hereby assigns in favor of

 

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each Paying Guarantor any claim that such Guarantor liable to make contribution has or hereafter may have against the applicable Borrower, and authorizes any payments that may be due on any such claim to be made to the Paying Guarantor that is entitled to receive contribution for application to the satisfaction of amounts due by way of contribution.

(iii) Guarantors agree, jointly and severally, absolutely and unconditionally, that each shall at all times indemnify each of the other Guarantors and hold and save each of them harmless from and against any and all actions and causes of actions, claims, demands, liabilities, losses, damages or expenses of whatever kind and nature, including attorneys’ fees, which any Guarantor may at any time sustain or incur in any action, suit or other proceeding instituted to enforce the obligations of such Guarantor under its guarantee in excess of the amount equal to the Guarantor Allocable Percentage of such Guarantor of personal liability under the terms hereof.

(iv) Each Guarantor acknowledges that the right to contribution and indemnification hereunder shall each constitute an asset in favor of the Guarantor to which such contribution or indemnification is at any time owing.

(d) (i) If for any reason the Parent Borrower or applicable Co-Borrower has no legal existence or is under no legal obligation to discharge any of the Guaranteed Obligations, or if any of the Guaranteed Obligations become unrecoverable from the Parent Borrower or applicable Co-Borrower by reason of such Borrower’s insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization or by other operation of law or for any other reason, each Guarantor shall nevertheless be bound to the same extent as if such Guarantor had at all times been the principal obligor on all such Guaranteed Obligations. If acceleration of the time for payment of any of the Guaranteed Obligations is stayed upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution or reorganization of debt or for any other reason, all such amounts otherwise subject to acceleration under the terms of any Financing Agreements or other instrument or agreement evidencing or securing the payment of the Guaranteed Obligations shall nevertheless be immediately due and payable by each Guarantor.

(ii) If a Guarantor should dissolve or become insolvent (within the meaning of UCC), or if a petition for an order for relief with respect to a Guarantor should be filed by or against such Guarantor under any chapter of the United States Bankruptcy Code, or if a receiver, trustee, conservator or other custodian should be appointed for a Guarantor or any property of a Guarantor, or if any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, then, in any such event and whether or not any of the Guaranteed Obligations are then due and payable or the maturity thereof has been accelerated or demand for payment thereof has been made, Agent, on behalf of Secured Parties, may, without notice to any Guarantor, make the Guaranteed Obligations immediately due and payable hereunder as to any Guarantor and Agent and Lenders shall be entitled to enforce the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder as if the Guaranteed Obligations were then due and payable in full. If any of the Guaranteed Obligations are collected by or through an attorney at law, Guarantors agree to jointly and severally pay Secured Parties’ reasonable attorneys’ fees and court costs. Guarantors shall be obligated to make multiple payments under their guarantees to the extent necessary to cause full payment of the Guaranteed Obligations.

(iii) If and to the extent Agent or any Lender receives any payment on account of any of the Guaranteed Obligations (whether from the Parent Borrower or a Co-Borrower, Guarantor or a third party obligor or from the sale or other disposition of any Collateral) and such payment or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other Person under any state, federal or foreign bankruptcy or other insolvency law, common law or equitable cause, then the part of the Guaranteed Obligations intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if said payment had not been made. The foregoing provisions of this paragraph shall survive payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

 

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(iv) Agent and Lenders shall have the right to seek recourse against each Guarantor to the full extent provided for herein and against the Parent Borrower and any Co-Borrowers to the full extent provided for herein or in any of the Financing Agreements. No election to proceed in one form of action or proceeding, or against any Person, or on any obligation, shall constitute a waiver of Agent’s or any Lender’s right to proceed in any other form of action or proceeding or against any other Person. Specifically, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no action or proceeding by Agent or any Lender against the Parent Borrower and any Co-Borrower under the Financing Agreements or any other instrument or agreement evidencing or securing Guaranteed Obligations shall serve to diminish the liability of any Guarantor for the balance of the Guaranteed Obligations.

(v) Each Guarantor acknowledges that Agent is authorized and empowered to enforce such Guarantor’s guarantee for the benefit of Secured Parties and to collect from such Guarantor the amount of the Guaranteed Obligations from time to time, in Agent’s own name and without the necessity of joining any other Secured Party in any action, suit or other proceeding to enforce its guarantee.

(e) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor hereby waives and renounces (for itself and its successors):

(i) notice of each Secured Party’s acceptance hereof and reliance hereon; notice of the extension of credit from time to time by Secured Parties to the Parent Borrower and Co-Borrowers and the creation, existence or acquisition of any Guaranteed Obligations; notice of the amount of Guaranteed Obligations of the Parent Borrower and Co-Borrowers to Secured Parties from time to time (subject, however, to Guarantor’s right to make inquiry of Agent to ascertain the amount of Guaranteed Obligations at any reasonable time); notice of any adverse change in the Borrower’s financial condition or of any other fact that might increase such Guarantor’s risk; notice of presentment for payment, demand, protest and notice thereof as to any instrument; notice of default or acceleration; all other notices and demands to which such Guarantor might otherwise be entitled; any right such Guarantor may have, by statute or otherwise, to require Secured Parties to institute suit against the Parent Borrower or applicable Co-Borrower after notice or demand from such Guarantor or to seek recourse first against the Parent Borrower or a Co-Borrower or otherwise, or to realize upon any security for the Guaranteed Obligations, as a condition to enforcing such Guarantor’s liability and obligations hereunder; any defense that the Parent Borrower or applicable Co-Borrower may at any time have or assert based upon the statute of limitations, the statute of frauds, failure of consideration, fraud, bankruptcy, lack of legal capacity, usury, or accord and satisfaction; any defense that other indemnity, guaranty, or security was to be obtained; any defense or claim that any Person purporting to bind the Parent Borrower applicable Co-Borrower to the payment of any of the Guaranteed Obligations did not have actual or apparent authority to do so; any right to contest the commercial reasonableness of the disposition of any Collateral; any defense or claim that any other act or failure to act by any Secured party had the effect of increasing such Guarantor’s risk of payment; and any other legal or equitable defense to payment under this guarantee;

(ii) any and all rights or defenses arising by reason of any one action or “anti-deficiency” law which would otherwise prevent Secured Parties from bringing any action, including any claim for a deficiency; or exercising any other right or remedy (including any right of setoff) against such Guarantor before or after any Secured Party’s commencement or completion of any foreclosure action, whether by judicial action, by exercise of power of sale or otherwise, or any other law which in any other manner would otherwise require any election of remedies by any Secured Party; and any right that such Guarantor may have to claim or recover in any litigation arising out of this guarantee or any of the other Financing Agreements) any special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages or any damages other than, or in addition to, actual damages; and

 

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(iii) any right that such Guarantor may have to terminate or revoke its guarantee hereunder. If, notwithstanding the foregoing waiver, any Guarantor shall nevertheless have any right under applicable law to terminate or revoke its guarantee hereunder, which right cannot be waived by such Guarantor, such termination or revocation shall not be effective until a written notice of such termination or revocation, specifically referring to this guarantee and signed by such Guarantor, is actually received by an officer of Agent who is familiar with Parent Borrower’s account and this guarantee; but any such termination or revocation shall not affect the obligation of such Guarantor or such Guarantor’s successors or assigns with respect to any of the Guaranteed Obligations and existing at the time of the receipt by Agent of such revocation or to arise out of or in connection with any transactions theretofore entered into by Secured Parties with or for the account of Parent Borrower. If Agent or any Lender grants loans or other extensions of credit to or for the benefit of a Borrower or takes other action after the termination or revocation by any Guarantor but prior to Agent’s receipt of such written notice of termination or revocation, then the rights of such Secured Party hereunder with respect thereto shall be the same as if such termination or revocation had not occurred.

(f) (i) Each Guarantor consents and agrees that, without notice to or by such Guarantor and without reducing, releasing, diminishing, impairing or otherwise affecting the liability or obligations of such Guarantor under its guarantee, Secured Parties may (with or without consideration) compromise or settle any of the Guaranteed Obligations; accelerate the time for payment of any of the Guaranteed Obligations; extend the period of duration or the time for the payment, discharge or performance of any of the Guaranteed Obligations; increase the amount of the Guaranteed Obligations; refuse to enforce, or release all or any Persons liable for the payment of, any of the Guaranteed Obligations; increase, decrease or otherwise alter the rate of interest payable with respect to the principal amount of any of the Guaranteed Obligations or grant other indulgences to the Parent Borrower and Co-Borrowers in respect thereof; amend, modify, terminate, release, or waive any Financing Agreements or any other documents or agreements evidencing, securing or otherwise relating to the Guaranteed Obligations (other than this Agreement); release, surrender, exchange, modify or impair, or consent to the sale, transfer or other disposition of, any Collateral or other property at any time securing (directly or indirectly) any of the Guaranteed Obligations or on which Secured Parties may at any time have a Lien; fail or refuse to perfect (or to continue the perfection of) any Lien granted or conveyed to any Secured Party with respect to any Collateral, or to preserve rights to any Collateral, or to exercise care with respect to any Collateral in any Secured Party’s possession; extend the time of payment of any Collateral consisting of accounts, notes, chattel paper, payment intangibles or other rights to the payment of money; refuse to enforce or forbear from enforcing its rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral or any Person liable for any of the Guaranteed Obligations or make any compromise or settlement or agreement therefor in respect of any Collateral or with any party to the Guaranteed Obligations; release or substitute any one or more of the endorsers or guarantors of the Guaranteed Obligations, whether parties to this Agreement or not; subordinate payment of any of the Guaranteed Obligations to the payment of any other liability of the Parent Borrower and any Co-Borrowers; or apply any payments or proceeds of Collateral received to the liabilities of the Parent Borrower and any Co-Borrowers to any Secured Party regardless of whether such liabilities consist of Guaranteed Obligations and regardless of the manner order or of any such application.

 

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(ii) Each Guarantor is fully aware of the financial condition of the Parent Borrower. Each Guarantor delivers the guarantee set forth in this Agreement based solely upon Guarantor’s own independent investigation and in no part upon any representation or statement of any Secured Party with respect thereto. Each Guarantor is in a position to and hereby assumes fun responsibility for obtaining any additional information concerning the Parent Borrower’s financial condition as such Guarantor may deem material to such Guarantor’s obligations hereunder and such Guarantor is not relying upon, nor expecting any Secured Party to furnish such Guarantor, any information in any Secured Party’s possession concerning the Parent Borrower’s financial condition. If any Secured Party, in its sole discretion, undertakes at any time or from time to time to provide any information to any Guarantor regarding Parent Borrower, any of the Collateral or any transaction or occurrence in respect of any of the Financing Agreements, such Secured Party shall be under no obligation to update any such information or to provide any such information to any Guarantor on any subsequent occasion. Each Guarantor hereby knowingly accepts the full range of risks encompassed within a contract of “guaranty” which risks include, without limitation, the possibility that Parent Borrower will contract additional Guaranteed Obligations for which such Guarantor may be liable hereunder after Parent Borrower’s financial condition or ability to pay their lawful debts when they fall due has deteriorated.

(g) (i) Notwithstanding any provision of this guarantee to the contrary, (a) all rights of each Guarantor under clause (c) of this guarantee and all other rights of indemnity, contribution, subrogation or exoneration with respect to the Obligations shall be fully subordinated to the full payment of the Obligations and (b) no such right shall be exercised until full payment of the Guaranteed Obligations. If any amount shall be paid to any Paying Guarantor on account of any such indemnity, contribution, exoneration or subrogation rights at any time that fun payment of the Guaranteed Obligation has not occurred, such amount shall be held in trust for the benefit of Secured Parties and shall be forthwith paid to Agent to be credited and applied to the Guaranteed Obligations (whether matured or unmatured). No failure on the part of the Parent Borrower, any Co-Borrower or any Guarantor to make payments required pursuant to clause (c) (or any other payments required under applicable law) shall in any respect limit or otherwise affect the obligations or liabilities of any Guarantor under this guarantee, and each Guarantor shall remain fully liable to Secured Parties for all of the obligations of such Guarantor hereunder.

(ii) The provisions of this Agreement shall be supplemental to and not in derogation of any rights and remedies of any Secured Party or any affiliate of any Secured Party under any separate subordination agreement that such Secured Party or such affiliate may at any time or from time to time enter into with any Guarantor.

(h) The execution and delivery to any Secured Party and such Secured Party’s acceptance of any guaranty in addition to each Guarantor’s guarantee hereunder shall not be deemed in lieu of or to supersede, terminate or diminish any guarantee hereunder, but shall be construed as an additional or supplementary guaranty unless otherwise expressly provided in such additional or supplementary guaranty; and if, prior to the Escrow Release Date, any Guarantor or any other Person has given to any Secured Party a previous guaranty or guaranties, each Guarantor’s guarantee hereunder shall be construed to be an additional or supplementary guaranty and not to be in lieu thereof or to supersede, terminate or diminish such previous guaranty or guaranties.

(i) Unless otherwise required by applicable law or a specific agreement to the contrary, all payments received by Secured Parties from the Parent Borrower or any Co-Borrowers, Guarantors or any other Person with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations or from proceeds of the Collateral may be applied (or reversed and reapplied) by Secured Parties to the Guaranteed Obligations in accordance with this Agreement, without affecting in any manner any Guarantor’s liability hereunder.

 

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(j) To the extent any performance of this guarantee would violate any applicable usury statute or other applicable law, the obligation to be fulfilled shall be reduced to the limit legally permitted, so that this guarantee shall not require any performance in excess of the limit legally permitted, but such obligations shall be fulfilled to the limit of legal validity. Nothing in this guarantee shall be construed to authorize Secured Parties to collect from Guarantors any interest that has not yet accrued, is unearned or subject to rebate or is otherwise not entitled to be collected by Secured Parties under applicable law. The provisions of this paragraph shall control every other provision of this guarantee.

(k) Each Loan Party that is a Qualified ECP Guarantor at the time the Guaranteed Obligations or the grant of the security interest under the Financing Agreements, in each case, by any Specified Loan Party, becomes effective with respect to any Swap Contract, hereby jointly and severally, absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes to provide such funds or other support to each Specified Loan Party with respect to such Swap Contract as may be needed by such Specified Loan Party from time to time to honor all of its obligations under its Guaranty and the other Financing Agreements in respect of such Swap Contract (but, in each case, only up to the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without rendering such Qualified ECP Guarantor’s obligations and undertakings under this clause (k) voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not for any greater amount). The obligations and undertakings of each Qualified ECP Guarantor under this clause (k) shall remain in full force and effect until the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid and performed in full. Each Qualified ECP Guarantor intends this clause (k) to constitute, and this Section shall be deemed to constitute, a guarantee of the obligations of, and a “keepwell, support, or other agreement” for the benefit of, each Specified Loan Party for all purposes of the Commodity Exchange Act.

14.13 Pro Forma Calculations.

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Total Leverage Ratio and the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio shall be calculated in the manner prescribed by this Section 14.13; provided that notwithstanding anything to the contrary in clauses (b), (c) or (d) of this Section 14.13, when calculating the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio for purposes of the Applicable ECF Percentage of Excess Cash Flow, the events described in this Section 14.13 that occurred subsequent to the end of the applicable Test Period shall not be given pro forma effect.

(b) For purposes of calculating the Total Leverage Ratio and the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, Specified Transactions (and the incurrence or repayment of any Indebtedness in connection therewith) that have been made (i) during the applicable Test Period and (ii) subsequent to such Test Period and prior to or simultaneously with the event for which the calculation of any such ratio is made shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Specified Transactions (and any increase or decrease in EBITDA and the component financial definitions used therein attributable to any Specified Transaction) had occurred on the first day of the applicable Test Period. If since the beginning of any applicable Test Period any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into the Parent BorrowerHoldings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries since the beginning of such Test Period shall have made any Specified Transaction that would have required adjustment pursuant to this Section 14.13, then the Total Leverage Ratio and the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio shall be calculated to give pro forma effect thereto in accordance with this Section 14.13.

(c) Whenever pro forma effect is to be given to a Specified Transaction, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Parent BorrowerHoldings to the extent consistent with Regulation S-X or are otherwise reasonably identifiable and factually supportable, including the amount of cost savings, operating expense reductions and synergies that have been realized or are expected to be realized within 12 months after the closing date of such Specified Transaction (calculated on a pro forma basis as though such cost savings, operating expense reductions and synergies had been realized on the first day of such period as if such cost savings,

 

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operating expense reductions and synergies were realized during the entirety of such period) relating to such Specified Transaction, net of the amount of actual benefits realized during such period from such actions; provided that the aggregate amount of cost savings, operating expense reductions and synergies included in such calculations for the Safeway Acquisition shall not exceed $285,000,000 for the 12 month period following the Escrow Release Date.

(d) In the event that the Parent BorrowerHoldings or any of its Restricted Subsidiary incurs (including by assumption or guarantees) or repays (including by redemption, repayment, retirement or extinguishment) any Indebtedness included in the calculations of the Total Leverage Ratio and the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, as the case may be (in each case, other than Indebtedness incurred or repaid under any revolving credit facility in the ordinary course of business for working capital purposes), (i) during the applicable Test Period and (ii) subsequent to the end of the applicable Test Period and prior to or simultaneously with the event for which the calculation of any such ratio is made, then the Total Leverage Ratio and the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness, to the extent required, as if the same had occurred on the last day of the applicable Test Period. Interest on a CapitalFinance Lease shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Parent Borrower to be the rate of interest implicit in such CapitalFinance Lease in accordance with GAAP. Interest on Indebtedness that may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a London interbank offered rate, or other rate, shall be determined to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as Holdings, the Parent Borrower or Restricted Subsidiary may designate.

(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, for purposes of (i) determining compliance with this Agreement which requires the calculation of any ratio (including the EBITDA component of any such ratio), (ii) determining compliance with representations, warranties, Defaults or Events of Default or (iii) testing availability under the baskets set forth in this Agreement (including baskets measured as a percentage of Total Assets), in each case, in connection with an Acquisition (or similar Investment) of incurrence of any Indebtedness (including Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Equivalent Debt) by one or more of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries of any assets, business or person permitted to be acquired by this Agreement, in each case whose consummation is not conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining third party financing (any such acquisition, a “Limited Condition Acquisition”), at the option of the Parent Borrower (the Parent Borrower’sHoldings (Holdings’ election to exercise such option in connection with any Limited Condition Acquisition, an “LCA Election”), the date of determination of whether any such action is permitted hereunder, 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 the Limited Condition Acquisition and the other transactions to be entered into in connection therewith as if they had occurred at the beginning of the most recent Test Period ending prior to the LCA Test Date, Holdings could have taken such action on the relevant LCA Test Date in compliance with such ratio or basket, such ratio or basket shall be deemed to have been complied with. If Holdings has made an LCA Election, then in connection with any subsequent calculation of any ratio 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 and (ii) the date the definitive agreement for such Limited Condition Acquisition expires without consummation of such Limited Condition Acquisition, any such ratio or basket shall be calculated on Pro Forma Basis assuming such Limited Condition Acquisition and other transactions in connection therewith (including any incurrence of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) have been consummated until such time as the applicable Limited Condition Acquisition has actually closed or the definitive agreement with respect thereto has been terminated.

 

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14.14 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 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 Parent Borrower, any such notice being waived by the Parent Borrower (on its own behalf and on behalf of each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held by, and other Indebtedness at any time owing by, such Lender and its Affiliates or the Agent to or for the credit or the account of the respective Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries against any and all Obligations owing to such Lender and its Affiliates or the Agent hereunder or under any other Financing Agreement, 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 Financing Agreement 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 Parent Borrower and the 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 Agent and each Lender under this Section 14.14 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that the Agent and such Lender may have at Law.

14.15 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure by any Lender or the Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Financing Agreement 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 Financing Agreement, 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 Financing Agreement, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Financing Agreements 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, subject to the Intercreditor Agreements, exclusively by, the Agent in accordance with Section 13.2 for the benefit of all the Lenders; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Agent) hereunder and under the other Financing Agreements, (b) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 14.14 (subject to the terms of Section 2.7), or (c) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to any Loan Party under any Debtor Relief Law; and provided, further, that if at any time there is no Person acting as Agent hereunder and under the other Financing Agreements, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Agent pursuant to Section 11.2 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b) and (c) of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 2.7, 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.

14.16 Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Financing Agreement, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Financing Agreements shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “Maximum Rate). If any Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Parent Borrower. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by an Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.

 

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14.17 Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Financing Agreement 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 Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any funding of Loans, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied shall remain outstanding.

14.18 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Financing Agreement), each Loan Party acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that: (i) (A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Agent and the other Arrangers are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Agent, the other Arrangers and the Lenders, on the other hand, (B) each Loan Party has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) each Loan Party is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Financing Agreements; (ii) (A) the Agent, each other Arranger and each Lenders each 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 each Loan Party or any of their respective Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) neither the Agent, any other Arranger nor any Lender has any obligation to the Loan Parties or any of their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Financing Agreements; and (iii) the Agent, the other Arrangers, the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates, and neither the Agent nor any other Arranger nor any Lender has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Loan Parties or any of their respective Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by law, each Loan Party hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Agent, the other 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.

14.19 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Loan Parties and the Agent shall have been notified by each Lender that each such Lender has executed it and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Loan Parties, each Agent and each Lender and their respective successors and assigns, in each case in accordance with Section 14.7 (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 10.4.

14.20 Amendment and Restatement.

(a) The Loan Parties, the Agent, and the Lenders hereby agree that upon the effectiveness of this Agreement, the terms and provisions of the Existing Debt Facility shall be and hereby are amended and restated in their entirety by the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and provisions of the Existing Debt Facility, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement (including, without limitation, clause (b) of this Section 14.20), shall be superseded by this Agreement and all commitments of the Lenders thereunder shall terminate and be replaced by the Commitments hereunder.

 

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(b) Notwithstanding the amendment and restatement of the Existing Debt Facility by this Agreement, the Loan Parties shall continue to be liable to each Indemnitee with respect to agreements on their part under the Existing Debt Facility to indemnify and hold harmless such Indemnitee from and against all claims, demands, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, charges and expenses to which the Agent and the Lenders may be subject arising in connection with the Existing Debt Facility. This Agreement is given as a substitution of, and not as a payment of, the obligations of the Loan Parties under the Existing Debt Facility and is not intended to constitute a novation of the Existing Debt Facility.

(c) By execution of this Agreement all parties hereto agree that (i) each of the Collateral Documents and the other Financing Agreements is hereby amended such that all references to the Existing Debt Facility and the Loans and Commitments thereunder shall be deemed to refer to this Agreement and the Loans and Commitments hereunder, (ii) all obligations under the Collateral Documents are reaffirmed and remain in full force and effect on a continuous basis after giving effect to this Agreement and (iii) all security interests and liens granted under the Collateral Documents are reaffirmed and shall continue and secure the Obligations hereunder and the obligations of the Guarantors under this Agreement after giving effect to this Agreement.

14.21 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Financing Agreement 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 Financing Agreement, 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 undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Financing Agreement; 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.

14.22 Divisions. For all purposes under this Agreement and any other Financing Agreement, in connection with any division or plan of division under Delaware law (or any comparable event under a different jurisdiction’s laws): (i) if any asset, right, obligation or liability of any Person becomes the asset, right, obligation or liability of a different Person, then it shall be deemed to have been transferred from the original Person to the subsequent Person, and (ii) if any new Person comes into existence, such new Person shall be deemed to have been organized on the first date of its existence by the holders of its Equity Interests at such time.

 

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SCHEDULE I

Action to be taken within 180 days1 of the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date

unless otherwise noted

(unless waived or extended in the Agent’s reasonable discretion)

 

  1)

With respect to each existing Mortgaged Property, in each case in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Agent, as shall confirm the enforceability, validity and perfection of the lien in favor of the Secured Parties, including, without limitation:

either:

i) an amendment to each existing Mortgage (the “Mortgage Amendment”) duly executed and acknowledged by the applicable Loan Party, and in form for recording in the recording office where such Mortgage was recorded, together with such certificates, affidavits, questionnaires or returns as shall be required in connection with the recording or filing thereof under applicable law, in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent;

ii) a favorable opinion, addressed to the Agent and the Secured Parties covering, among other things, the due authorization, execution and delivery of the applicable Mortgage Amendment and written confirmation (which confirmation may be provided in the form of an electronic mail acknowledgement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent) by local counsel in the applicable jurisdiction in which the applicable Mortgaged Property is located as to the adequacy and effectiveness under local law of the applicable Mortgage and lien granted thereunder as amended by the Mortgage Amendment and the lien granted thereunder, in each case;

iii) reasonable evidence of payment by the Borrowers of all search and examination charges escrow charges and related charges, mortgage recording taxes, fees, charges, costs and expenses required for the recording of the Mortgage Amendment referred to above;

iv) a date down endorsement (or other title product, including, without limitation, a new title policy, where such date down endorsement is not available) to each existing title insurance policy (each, a “Mortgage Policy”) insuring the lien of such existing Mortgaged Property, which shall reasonably assure the Agent as of the date of such endorsement that the Mortgaged Property subject to the lien of the applicable Mortgage is free and clear of all defects and encumbrances except those Liens permitted under such Mortgage; and

v) such affidavits, certificates, information and instruments of indemnification as shall be required to induce the title insurance company to issue the endorsement (or other title product) to each Mortgage Policy contemplated in this Schedule I and reasonable evidence of payment of all applicable title insurance premiums, search and examination charges, mortgage recording taxes and related charges required for the issuance of the endorsement to such Mortgage Policy (or the issuance of the other title product where such date down endorsement is not available) contemplated in this Schedule I;

or:

 

1 

For the avoidance of doubt, the 180 day deadline for such deliverables shall supersede the deadline for such deliverables that is set forth in Amendment No. 7 dated as of November 16, 2018.


confirmation (which confirmation may be provided in the form of an electronic mail acknowledgement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent) from local counsel in each jurisdiction in which any Mortgaged Property is located substantially to the effect that:

i) the recording of the existing Mortgage is the only filing or recording necessary to give constructive notice to third parties of the lien created by such Mortgage as security for the Obligations, including the Obligations evidenced by the Term Loan Agreement, as amended pursuant to this Amendment, and the other documents executed in connection therewith, for the benefit of the Secured Parties; and

ii) no other documents, instruments, filings, recordings, re-recordings, re-filings or other actions, including, without limitation, the payment of any mortgage recording taxes or similar taxes, are necessary or appropriate under applicable law in order to maintain the continued enforceability, validity or priority of the lien created by such Mortgage as security for the Obligations, including the Obligations evidenced by the Term Loan Agreement, as amended pursuant to this Amendment, and the other documents executed in connection therewith, for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

 

  2)

With respect to each Material Real Property that is not an existing Mortgaged Property as of the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date, the Parent Borrower must deliver or cause to be delivered to the Agent the documents listed in clause (e) of the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement”.

Notwithstanding anything in this Schedule I to the contrary, the foregoing provisions shall not require the delivery of Mortgages, Mortgage Amendments, obtaining of title insurance, legal opinions or other deliverables with respect to particular assets of the Loans Parties, if, and for so long as, the Agent and the Parent Borrower reasonably agree in writing that the cost of delivery of Mortgages, Mortgage Amendments, obtaining such title insurance, legal opinions or other deliverables in respect of such assets, shall be excessive or commercially unreasonable in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Lenders therefrom.