Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Co false 0001580156 0001580156 2019-11-22 2019-11-22

 

 

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): November 22, 2019

 

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

001-36166

 

27-1566372

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File No.)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

125 High Street

Boston, MA

 

02110

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

(617) 351-5000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

NOT APPLICABLE

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Title of each class

 

Trading

Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Common Stock, $0.01 par value

 

HMHC

 

The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

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.

Indenture and 9.000% Senior Secured Notes due 2025

General

On November 22, 2019, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company (the “Company”) completed the sale of $306 million in aggregate principal amount of 9.000% Senior Secured Notes due 2025 (the “Notes”) in a private placement to qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and to persons outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act. The Notes were issued by the Company’s wholly owned subsidiaries, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers Inc., Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company and HMH Publishers LLC (collectively, the “Issuers”) and were issued pursuant to an indenture (the “Indenture”), among the Company, the Issuers, the subsidiaries of the Company acting as guarantors party thereto (the “Subsidiary Guarantors”), U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, and Citibank N.A., as collateral agent.

The Notes will mature on February 15, 2025 and will bear interest at a rate of 9.000% per annum. The Issuers will pay interest on the Notes semi-annually in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year, beginning on February 15, 2020.

Guarantees

The Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior secured basis by the Company and all of the direct and indirect subsidiaries of the Company that guarantee (collectively, the “Guarantors”, and such guarantees, the “guarantees”) the Issuers’ obligations under the second amended and restated senior secured term loan facility (the “New Term Loan Facility”) and the second amended and restated senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility (the “New ABL Credit Facility” and, together with the New Term Loan Facility, the “New Senior Secured Credit Facilities”), each of which are described below.

Security

The Notes and the guarantees are secured (1) on a first-priority basis by security interests in all of the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ assets securing the New Term Loan Facility (such assets, other than the assets securing the New ABL Credit Facility, the “Notes Priority Collateral”), and (2) on a second-priority basis by security interests in all of the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ assets securing the New ABL Credit Facility on a first-priority basis (the “ABL Priority Collateral” and, together with the Notes Priority Collateral, the “Notes Collateral”), equal in priority to the liens securing the New Term Loan Facility, in each case, other than any excluded assets, and are subject to intercreditor agreements. The New ABL Credit Facility is secured on a second-priority basis by the Notes Priority Collateral.

Ranking

The notes and the guarantees are the general senior secured obligations of the Issuers and the Guarantors and rank pari passu in right of payment with the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ existing and future senior indebtedness, including the New Senior Secured Credit Facilities, are senior in right of payment to all future subordinated indebtedness of the issuers and the guarantors and are effectively senior to any existing and future unsecured indebtedness of the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ to the extent of the value of the Notes Collateral. The Notes and the guarantees rank effectively equal to all of the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ future indebtedness secured by a first-priority lien on the Notes Priority Collateral (including the New Term Loan Facility), to the extent of the value of such collateral, are effectively subordinated to all of the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ future indebtedness secured by a first-priority lien on the ABL Priority Collateral (including the New ABL Credit Facility), to the extent of the value of such collateral, and are structurally subordinated to all of the existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities, including preferred stock, of existing and future subsidiaries of the Company that do not guarantee or co-issue the Notes.

Redemption

Prior to February 15, 2022, the Issuers may, at their option, in whole or in part, redeem all or a portion of the Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes plus a “make-whole” premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest, to, but excluding, the date of redemption. In addition, prior to February 15, 2022, the Issuers may, at their option, on any one or more occasions, redeem up to 40% of the then outstanding aggregate principal amount of the Notes at a redemption price equal to 109.000% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, to, but excluding, the date of redemption, with the net proceeds from certain equity offerings.

2


On or after February 15, 2022, the Issuers may, at their option, in whole or in part, or any one or more occasions, redeem the Notes at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest, to, but excluding, the date of redemption, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on February 15 of each of the years indicated below:

Dates

 

Percentage

 

2022

   

104.500

%

2023

   

102.250

%

2024 and thereafter

   

100.000

%

If the Issuers sell certain of their assets or experience certain kinds of changes of control, the Issuers must offer to purchase the notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest.

Certain Covenants

The Indenture contains covenants that limit the ability of the Company and the Issuers and the ability of the Company’s restricted subsidiaries to, among other things: (i) incur or guarantee additional debt or issue certain preferred stock; (ii) redeem, purchase or retire subordinated debt; (iii) make certain investments; (iv) create restrictions on the payment of dividends or other amounts from the Company’s restricted subsidiaries that are not Guarantors; (v) enter into certain transactions with affiliates; (vi) merge or consolidate with another person, or sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets; (vii) sell certain assets, including capital stock of the Company’s subsidiaries; (viii) designate the Company’s subsidiaries as unrestricted subsidiaries; (ix) pay dividends, redeem or repurchase capital stock or make other restricted payments; and (x) incur certain liens.

Events of Default

The Indenture provides for events of default which, if certain of them occur, would permit the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes to declare the principal, premium, if any, interest and any other monetary obligations on all the then-outstanding Notes to be due and payable immediately.

Copies of the Indenture and the Notes are attached hereto as Exhibit 4.1 and Exhibit 4.2, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description of the Indenture and the Notes does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Indenture and the Notes.

New Term Loan Facility

On November 22, 2019, concurrently with the issuance of the Notes, the Issuers and the Guarantors entered into a second amended and restated term loan credit agreement (the “New Term Loan Credit Agreement”) with the lenders party thereto and Citibank, N.A. as administrative agent and collateral agent.

Size and Availability

The New Term Loan Credit Agreement provides for the New Term Loan Facility and the loans thereunder (the “Term Loans”) in an initial aggregate principal amount of $380 million. The Issuers of the Notes (which are referred to herein as the “borrowers”) are the borrowers under the New Term Loan Facility. The full amount of the New Term Loan Facility was drawn at the closing of the New Term Loan Facility and amounts borrowed that are repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed.

The borrowers are permitted to increase the New Term Loan Facility or add one or more term loan facilities (the “Incremental Term Facilities”) or add one additional revolving credit facility (“Incremental Revolving Facility” and collectively, with the Incremental Term Facilities, the “Incremental Facilities”) in an aggregate principal amount up to the sum of (a) $125 million plus (b) an amount equal to all voluntary prepayments of the term loans under our New Term Loan Facility or any Incremental Term Facilities and permanent revolving credit commitment reductions under any Incremental Revolving Facility plus (c) an additional unlimited amount so long as we do not exceed a specified pro forma net first lien leverage ratio. The lenders under our New Term Loan Facility are not under any obligation to provide any such incremental loans or commitments, and any such addition of or increase in loans will be subject to certain customary conditions precedent and other provisions.

Use of Proceeds

The proceeds of the New Term Loan Facility will be used by the borrowers, together with the proceeds of the sale of the Notes and cash on hand, to refinance the existing term loan facility, and for working capital and other general corporate purposes, including payment of fees and expenses.

3


Interest Rate and Fees

Loans under the New Term Loan Facility bear interest at a rate per annum equal to, at the option of the borrowers, either (a) LIBOR plus a margin of 6.25% or (b) an alternate base rate plus a margin of 5.25%.

Amortization and Maturity

The New Term Loan Facility will mature five years after the closing date of the New Term Loan Facility. The term loans under the New Term Loan Facility will amortize in equal quarterly installments in an aggregate annual amount equal to 5.0% of the original principal amount of such term loans with the balance being payable on the maturity date of the New Term Loan Facility.

Refinancing

Subject to certain conditions, the New Term Loan Credit Agreement permits the borrowers to refinance Term Loans under the New Term Loan Facility or any Incremental Facility from time to time, in whole or part, with one or more new term facilities or replace commitments under any Incremental Revolving Facility with new revolving credit facilities.

Prepayments

The New Term Loan Facility contains customary mandatory prepayment requirements, including with respect to excess cash flow, proceeds from certain asset sales or dispositions of property, and proceeds from certain incurrences of indebtedness.

The New Term Loan Facility permits the borrowers to voluntarily prepay outstanding Term Loans at any time without premium or penalty, other than customary breakage costs with respect to LIBOR loans; provided, however, that any voluntary prepayment of the Term Loans under the New Term Loan Facility in connection with certain repricing transactions that occur before the date that is twelve months after the closing of the New Term Loan Facility shall be subject to a prepayment premium of 1.00% of the principal amount of the Term Loans so prepaid.

Guarantees and Security

The New Term Loan Facility is guaranteed by each of the Guarantors. All obligations under the New Term Loan Facility and the guarantees of those obligations are secured by a perfected first-priority security interest in the Notes Priority Collateral and a perfected second-priority security interest in the ABL Priority Collateral, and are subject to intercreditor agreements.

Certain Covenants and Events of Default

The New Term Loan Facility contains negative covenants that, subject to significant exceptions and qualifications, limit the borrowers’ ability and the ability of the Company and the restricted subsidiaries to, among other things: (i) sell assets; (ii) engage in mergers, consolidated, liquidations and dissolutions; (iii) pay dividends and distributions or repurchase capital stock; (iv) incur additional indebtedness; (v) make investments, loans or advances; (vi) create liens on assets; (vii) engage in certain transactions with affiliates; (viii) engage in certain sale-leaseback transactions; (ix) make certain changes to the business of the Company, the borrowers or the restricted subsidiaries; (x) enter into agreements with limit the ability of the restricted subsidiaries to incur restrictions on their ability to make distributions; (xi) make modifications to certain subordinated indebtedness; and (xii) amend or waive organizational documents.

The New Term Loan Facility also includes customary representations and warranties, affirmative covenants and events of default, including payment defaults, breach of representations and warranties, covenant defaults, cross-defaults to certain indebtedness, certain events of bankruptcy, material judgments and a change of control. If an event of default occurs, the lenders under the New Term Loan Facility are entitled to take various actions, including the acceleration of all amounts due under the New Term Loan Facility and all actions permitted to be taken by a secured creditor

A copy of the New Senior Secured Credit Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description of the New Senior Secured Credit Agreement and the New Term Loan Facility does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the New Senior Secured Credit Agreement.

New ABL Facility

On November 22, 2019, concurrently with the issuance of the Notes and the entry into the New Term Loan Credit Agreement, the Issuers and Guarantors entered into a second amended and restated revolving credit agreement (the “New Revolving Credit Agreement”) governing our New ABL Credit Facility with the lenders party thereto and Citibank, N.A. as administrative agent and collateral agent.

4


The Issuers (which are referred to herein as the “borrowers”) are the borrowers under the New ABL Credit Facility. The New ABL Credit Facility includes sub-facilities for letters of credit and short-term borrowings referred to as the swingline borrowings. In addition, the New Revolving Credit Agreement provides that we have the right at any time, subject to customary conditions, to request incremental commitments on terms set forth in the New Revolving Credit Agreement.

Size and Availability

The New ABL Credit Facility provides for a non-amortizing asset-based revolving credit facility, with amounts available from time to time (including in respect of letters of credit) equal (a) to the lesser of (i) the borrowing base, which equals 85% of the eligible accounts receivable of the borrowers and the Guarantors, and up to the lesser of 85% of the orderly liquidation value of eligible inventory and 75% of the cost of eligible inventory, in each case subject to customary eligibility criteria and less certain reserves, and (ii) the then-effective aggregate revolving credit commitments, which are initially $250 million, minus (b) the aggregate amount of outstanding borrowings and any undrawn or unreimbursed letters of credit.

The New ABL Credit Facility has (i) a letter of credit facility for letters of credit in an aggregate amount of $50 million and (ii) a discretionary swingline loan subfacility in an aggregate amount of $20 million.

The borrowers are permitted to increase the New ABL Credit Facility commitments or establish additional revolving credit facility tranches in an aggregate principal amount up to $100 million, subject to certain customary conditions. The lenders under our New ABL Credit Facility are not under any obligation to provide any such additional tranches or commitments.

Interest Rate and Fees

Borrowings under the New ABL Credit Facility bear interest at a rate per annum equal to, at the option of the borrowers, either LIBOR plus a margin between 1.50% and 2.00%, or an alternative base rate plus a margin between 0.50% and 1.00%, which margins are based on average daily availability.

In addition to paying interest on outstanding principal under the New ABL Credit Facility, the borrowers are required to a pay a commitment fee to the lenders in respect of the unutilized revolving commitments thereunder of either 0.25% or 0.375% based on average daily availability. The borrowers will pay a customary letter of credit fee for each issued letter of credit.

Maturity

Borrowings under the New ABL Credit Facility will mature, and lending commitments thereunder will terminate, on the date that is the earlier of (i) five years after the closing of the New Revolving Credit Agreement and (ii) if the debt incurred under the New Term Loan Facility has not been refinanced in full on or prior to the date that is 91 days prior to the date that is five years after the closing of the New Revolving Credit Agreement, such 91st day.

Prepayments

If, at any time, the outstanding amount under the New ABL Credit Facility exceeds the lesser of (i) the aggregate amount committed by the lenders and (ii) the borrowing base, the borrowers are required to prepay first, any protective advances and second, any outstanding revolving loans and swing line loans and/or cash collateralize letters of credit in an aggregate amount not equal to such excess, as applicable.

Subject to customary exceptions and restrictions, the borrower may voluntarily repay outstanding amounts under the New ABL Credit Facility at any time without premium or penalty. Any voluntary prepayments the borrowers make will not reduce commitments under the New ABL Credit Facility.

Guarantees and Security

The New ABL Credit Facility is guaranteed by each of the Guarantors. All obligations under the New ABL Credit Facility and the guarantees of those obligations are secured by a perfected first-priority security interest in the ABL Priority Collateral and a perfected second-priority security interest in the Notes Priority Collateral, and are subject to an intercreditor agreement.

5


Certain Covenants and Events of Default

The New ABL Credit Facility requires us to maintain a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.0 to 1.0 on a trailing four-quarter basis only during certain periods commencing when excess availability under the New ABL Credit Facility is less than certain limits prescribed by the terms of the New ABL Credit Facility.

The New ABL Credit Facility also contains negative covenants that, subject to significant exceptions and qualifications, limit the borrowers’ ability and the ability of the Company and the restricted subsidiaries to, among other things: (i) sell assets; (ii) engage in mergers, consolidated, liquidations and dissolutions; (iii) pay dividends and distributions or repurchase capital stock; (iv) incur additional indebtedness; (v) make investments, loans or advances; (vi) create liens on assets; (vii) engage in certain transactions with affiliates; (viii) engage in certain sale-leaseback transactions; (ix) make certain changes to the business of the Company, the borrowers or the restricted subsidiaries; (x) enter into agreements with limit the ability of the restricted subsidiaries to incur restrictions on their ability to make distributions; (xi) make modifications to certain subordinated indebtedness; and (xii) amend or waive organizational documents.

The New Revolving Credit Agreement also includes customary representations and warranties, affirmative covenants and events of default, including payment defaults, breach of representations and warranties, covenant defaults, cross-defaults to certain indebtedness, certain events of bankruptcy, material judgments and a change of control. If an event of default occurs, the lenders under the New Revolving Credit Agreement are entitled to take various actions, including the acceleration of all amounts due under the New Revolving Credit Agreement and all actions permitted to be taken by a secured creditor.

A copy of the New Revolving Credit Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.2 and is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description of the New Revolving Credit Agreement and the New ABL Credit Facility does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the New ABL Credit Agreement.

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 in Item 1.01 above is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

  (d) Exhibits

Exhibit
No.

   

Description

         
 

  4.1

   

Indenture, dated as of November 22, 2019, among Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, Inc., Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers Inc., Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company and HMH Publishers LLC, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto, U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, and Citibank N.A., as collateral agent.

         
 

  4.2

   

Form of 9.000% Senior Secured Notes due 2025 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit A to Exhibit 4.1 filed herewith).

         
 

10.1

   

Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of November 22, 2019, among Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, Inc., Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers Inc., Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company and HMH Publishers LLC, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto, Citibank N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent, Citigroup Global Market Inc., Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., BofA Securities, Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners, and Citizens Bank, N.A., as co-manager.

         
 

10.2

   

Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of November 22, 2019, among Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, Inc., Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers Inc., Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company and HMH Publishers LLC, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto, Citibank N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent, Citigroup Global Market Inc., Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., BofA Securities, Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners, and Citizens Bank, N.A., as co-manager.

         
 

104

   

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

6


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.

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT COMPANY

     

By:

 

/s/ William F. Bayers

Name:

 

William F. Bayers

Title:

 

Executive Vice President, Secretary & General Counsel

Dated: November 25, 2019

7

Exhibit 4.1

Reference is made to the Second Amended and Restated Term Loan / Notes / Revolving Facility Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019, among Citibank, N.A., as agent for the Revolving Facility Secured Parties referred to therein, Citibank, N.A., as agent for the Term Facility Secured Parties referred to therein, Citibank, N.A., as agent for the Notes Secured Parties referred to therein, Holdings, the Borrowers and the Subsidiary Guarantors named therein (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ABL Intercreditor Agreement”). Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, this Agreement, the Liens created hereby and the rights, remedies, duties and obligations provided for herein are subject in all respects to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement and, to the extent provided therein, the applicable Junior Secured Obligations Security Documents (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement).

INDENTURE

Dated as of November 22, 2019

among

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHERS, INC.,

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY

HMH PUBLISHERS LLC,

as the Issuers,

EACH OF THE GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO,

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee, and

CITIBANK, N.A.,

as Notes Collateral Agent

9.000% SENIOR SECURED NOTES DUE 2025


Table of Contents

 

            Page  

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS

     1  

Section 1.01

     Definitions      1  

Section 1.02

     Other Definitions      41  

Section 1.03

     Trust Indenture Act      43  

Section 1.04

     Rules of Construction      43  

Section 1.05

     Acts of Holders      44  

Section 1.06

     Certain Calculations      46  

ARTICLE II THE NOTES

     48  

Section 2.01

     Form and Dating; Terms      48  

Section 2.02

     Execution and Authentication      50  

Section 2.03

     Registrar and Paying Agent      50  

Section 2.04

     Paying Agent To Hold Money in Trust      51  

Section 2.05

     Holder Lists      51  

Section 2.06

     Transfer and Exchange      51  

Section 2.07

     Replacement Notes      62  

Section 2.08

     Outstanding Notes      62  

Section 2.09

     Treasury Notes      63  

Section 2.10

     Temporary Notes      63  

Section 2.11

     Cancellation      63  

Section 2.12

     Defaulted Interest      63  

Section 2.13

     CUSIP Numbers      64  

ARTICLE III REDEMPTION

     64  

Section 3.01

     Notices to Trustee      64  

Section 3.02

     Selection of Notes To Be Redeemed or Purchased      64  

Section 3.03

     Notice of Redemption      65  

Section 3.04

     Effect of Notice of Redemption      66  

Section 3.05

     Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price      66  

Section 3.06

     Notes Redeemed or Purchased in Part      67  

Section 3.07

     Optional Redemption      67  

Section 3.08

     Mandatory Redemption; Offers to Purchase; Open Market Purchases      68  

Section 3.09

     Offers to Repurchase by Application of Excess Proceeds or Collateral Excess Proceeds      69  

 

- i -


ARTICLE IV COVENANTS

     71  

Section 4.01

     Payment of Notes      71  

Section 4.02

     Maintenance of Office or Agency      71  

Section 4.03

     Reports and Other Information      72  

Section 4.04

     Compliance Certificate      73  

Section 4.05

     [Reserved]      74  

Section 4.06

     [Reserved]      74  

Section 4.07

     Limitation on Restricted Payments      74  

Section 4.08

     Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries.      78  

Section 4.09

     Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock      80  

Section 4.10

     Asset Sales      87  

Section 4.11

     Transactions with Affiliates      91  

Section 4.12

     [Reserved]      93  

Section 4.13

     [Reserved]      93  

Section 4.14

     Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control      93  

Section 4.15

     Limitation on Guarantees of Indebtedness by Restricted Subsidiaries      95  

Section 4.16

     [Reserved]      96  

Section 4.17

     Suspension of Covenants if the Notes Achieve Investment Grade Rating      96  

Section 4.18

     Liens      97  

ARTICLE V SUCCESSORS

     97  

Section 5.01

     Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets      97  

Section 5.02

     Successor Corporation Substituted      100  

ARTICLE VI DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

     100  

Section 6.01

     Events of Default      100  

Section 6.02

     Acceleration      104  

Section 6.03

     Other Remedies      105  

Section 6.04

     Waiver of Past Defaults      105  

Section 6.05

     Control by Majority      105  

Section 6.06

     Limitation on Suits      105  

Section 6.07

     Rights of Holders To Receive Payment      106  

Section 6.08

     Collection Suit by Trustee      106  

Section 6.09

     Restoration of Rights and Remedies      106  

Section 6.10

     Rights and Remedies Cumulative      107  

Section 6.11

     Delay or Omission Not Waiver      107  

 

- ii -


Section 6.12

     Trustee May File Proofs of Claim      107  

Section 6.13

     Priorities      108  

Section 6.14

     Undertaking for Costs      108  

ARTICLE VII TRUSTEE

     108  

Section 7.01

     Duties of Trustee      108  

Section 7.02

     Rights of Trustee      109  

Section 7.03

     Individual Rights of Trustee      111  

Section 7.04

     Disclaimer      111  

Section 7.05

     Notice of Defaults      112  

Section 7.06

     [Reserved]      112  

Section 7.07

     Compensation and Indemnity      112  

Section 7.08

     Replacement of Trustee or Agent      113  

Section 7.09

     Successor Trustee by Merger, etc      114  

Section 7.10

     Eligibility; Disqualification      114  

Section 7.11

     Security Documents; Intercreditor Agreements      115  

ARTICLE VIII LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

     115  

Section 8.01

     Option To Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance      115  

Section 8.02

     Legal Defeasance and Discharge      115  

Section 8.03

     Covenant Defeasance      116  

Section 8.04

     Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance      116  

Section 8.05

     Deposited Money and Government Securities To Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions      118  

Section 8.06

     Repayment to Issuers      118  

Section 8.07

     Reinstatement      118  

ARTICLE IX AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

     119  

Section 9.01

     Without Consent of Holders      119  

Section 9.02

     With Consent of Holders      121  

Section 9.03

     [Reserved]      123  

Section 9.04

     Revocation and Effect of Consents      123  

Section 9.05

     Notation on or Exchange of Notes      123  

Section 9.06

     Trustee and Collateral Agent To Sign Amendments, etc.      123  

ARTICLE X GUARANTEES

     124  

Section 10.01

     Guarantee      124  

Section 10.02

     Limitation on Guarantor Liability      125  

Section 10.03

     Execution and Delivery      126  

 

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Section 10.04

     Subrogation      126  

Section 10.05

     Benefits Acknowledged      126  

Section 10.06

     Release of Guarantees      127  

ARTICLE XI SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

     128  

Section 11.01

     Satisfaction and Discharge      128  

Section 11.02

     Application of Trust Money      128  

ARTICLE XII COLLATERAL

     129  

Section 12.01

     Security Documents      129  

Section 12.02

     Release of Collateral      130  

Section 12.03

     Suits to Protect the Collateral      131  

Section 12.04

     Authorization of Receipt of Funds by the Trustee Under the Security Documents      131  

Section 12.05

     Purchaser Protected      131  

Section 12.06

     Powers Exercisable by Receiver or Trustee      132  

Section 12.07

     Release Upon Termination of the Issuers’ Obligations      132  

Section 12.08

     Collateral Agent      132  

Section 12.09

     Designations      141  

Section 12.10

     No Impairment of the Security Interests      142  

Section 12.11

     [Reserved]      142  

Section 12.12

     After Acquired Property      142  

Section 12.13

     Maintenance of Property and Insurance      142  

Section 12.14

     Further Assurances      143  

ARTICLE XIII MISCELLANEOUS

     144  

Section 13.01

     [Reserved]      144  

Section 13.02

     Notices      144  

Section 13.03

     [Reserved]      146  

Section 13.04

     Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent      146  

Section 13.05

     Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion      146  

Section 13.06

     Rules by Trustee and Agents      147  

Section 13.07

     No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders      147  

Section 13.08

     Governing Law      147  

Section 13.09

     Waiver of Jury Trial      147  

Section 13.10

     Force Majeure      147  

Section 13.11

     No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements      147  

Section 13.12

     Successors      148  

 

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Section 13.13

     Severability      148  

Section 13.14

     Counterpart Originals      148  

Section 13.15

     Table of Contents, Headings, etc.      148  

Section 13.16

     Intercreditor Agreements      148  

Section 13.17

     USA Patriot Act      149  

 

Exhibit A

     Form of Note

Exhibit B

     Form of Certificate of Transfer

Exhibit C

     Form of Certificate of Exchange

Exhibit D

     Form of Supplemental Indenture To Be Delivered By Subsequent Guarantors

Exhibit E

     Form of Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement

 

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INDENTURE, dated as of November 22, 2019, among Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers Inc., a Delaware corporation, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, a Massachusetts corporation, and HMH Publishers LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Issuers”), each of the Guarantors (as defined herein) listed on the signature pages hereto, U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”) and Citibank, N.A. as notes collateral agent (the “Collateral Agent”).

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, the Issuers have duly authorized the creation of an issue of $306,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 9.000% Senior Secured Notes due 2025 (the “Initial Notes”); and

WHEREAS, the Issuers have duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Issuers, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders.

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.01    Definitions.

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

ABL Collateral Agent” means Citibank, N.A., as collateral agent under the ABL Facility.

ABL Facility” means the asset based credit facility under the credit agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, by and among the Issuers, the lenders party thereto in their capacities as lenders thereunder and Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the other agents and grantors from time to time party thereto, including any agreements, collateral documents, guarantees, instruments, mortgages and notes executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, extensions, modifications, refinancings, refundings, renewals, restatements, or supplements thereof and any one or more notes, indentures or credit facilities or commercial paper facilities with banks or other institutional lenders or investors that extend, refinance, refund, renew, replace or defease any part of the loans, notes, other credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such refinancing, refunding or replacement facility or indenture that increases the amount that may be borrowed thereunder or alters the maturity of the loans thereunder or adds Restricted Subsidiaries as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder and whether by the same or other agent, lender or group of lenders or investors.

 

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ABL Intercreditor Agreement” means the intercreditor agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, between the Collateral Agent, the collateral agent in respect of the New Senior Credit Facilities, the collateral agent in respect of the ABL Facility, and each other collateral agent from time to time party thereto, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

ABL Obligations” means “Obligations” as defined in the ABL Facility or the substantially equivalent definition under any successor agreement to the ABL Facility.

ABL Priority Collateral” means “ABL Priority Collateral” as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement.

Acquired EBITDA” means, with respect to any Acquired Entity or business or any Converted Restricted Subsidiary for any period, the amount for such period of Consolidated EBITDA of such Acquired Entity or business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, all as determined on a consolidated basis for such Acquired Entity or business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable.

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

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

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

Acquisition” means the acquisition by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary of all or substantially all the assets of a person, product line, division or line of business of such person, or not less than 100% of the Equity Interests (other than directors’ qualifying shares) not previously held by Holdings and its Subsidiaries of a person so long as such acquisition is permitted under Section 4.07.

Additional First Lien Obligations” means any Indebtedness having Pari Passu Lien Priority relative to the Notes with respect to the Collateral (which Lien is permitted under this Indenture); provided that an authorized representative of the holders of such Indebtedness shall have executed a joinder to the Security Agreement, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and other applicable Security Documents.

Additional First Lien Secured Parties” means the holders of any Additional First Lien Obligations and any trustee, authorized representative or agent of such Additional First Lien Obligations.

Additional Notes” means additional Notes (other than the Initial Notes) issued from time to time under this Indenture in accordance with Sections 2.01 and 4.09 hereof.

 

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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.

Agent” means any Registrar, Transfer Agent or Paying Agent.

Applicable Collateral Agent” has the meaning assigned to such term in the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement; provided that if the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement is terminated in accordance with the terms thereof and not replaced by an intercreditor agreement on substantially similar terms, then “Applicable Collateral Agent” shall mean the Collateral Agent.

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

(a)    1.0% of the principal amount of such Note on such Redemption Date; and

(b)    the excess, if any, of (i) the present value at such Redemption Date of (A) the redemption price of such Note at February 15, 2022 (such redemption price being set forth in Section 3.07(c) hereof and in Section 5(c) of such Note), plus (B) all required remaining interest payments (calculated based on the cash interest rate) due on such Note through February 15, 2022 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest to the Redemption Date), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such Redemption Date plus 50 basis points; over (ii) the principal amount of such Note on such Redemption Date.

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

Asset Sale” means:

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

(b)    the issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary, whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions;

in each case, other than:

(1)    any disposition of Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities or obsolete, damaged or worn out equipment, property or other assets and scrap in the ordinary course of business, any disposition of inventory or goods (or other assets) in the ordinary course of business or the disposition of property or equipment no longer used or useful in the business of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(2)    (i) the disposition of assets or properties that constitute all or substantially all of the assets or properties of Holdings and its Subsidiaries which are Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in a manner permitted pursuant to the provisions described under Section 5.01 hereof and (ii) any disposition that constitutes a Change of Control pursuant to this Indenture;

 

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

(4)    any disposition of property or assets or issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary in any transaction or series of related transactions with an aggregate fair market value of less than $30.0 million per transaction or series of related transactions and $50.0 million in the aggregate in any fiscal year;

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

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

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

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

(9)    foreclosures, condemnation, expropriation or any similar action with respect to assets, involuntary loss or damage to or destruction of any property or assets and the disposition of property or assets received upon foreclosure by Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary or the granting of Liens not prohibited by this Indenture;

(10)    any disposition of Investments in joint ventures to the extent required by, or made pursuant to, customary buy/sell arrangements between the joint venture parties as set forth in binding joint venture or similar agreements;

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

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

(13)    voluntary terminations of Hedging Agreements;

(14)    the licensing or sub-licensing of intellectual property or other general intangibles in the ordinary course of business;

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

 

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(16)    the unwinding of any Hedging Agreements;

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

(18)    dispositions in connection with Permitted Liens and related transactions; and

(19)    the disposition of any assets (including Equity Interests) (i) acquired in a transaction after the Issue Date, which assets are not useful in the core or principal business of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries, or (ii) made in connection with the approval of any applicable antitrust authority or otherwise necessary or advisable in the reasonable determination of Holdings to consummate any acquisition.

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

Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of Holdings or any duly authorized committee thereof.

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

Capital Expenditures” means, for any period, (a) the additions to property, plant and equipment and other capital expenditures of Holdings and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries that are (or should be) set forth in a consolidated statement of cash flows of Holdings for such period prepared in accordance with GAAP and (b) Capital Lease Obligations or Synthetic Lease Obligations incurred by Holdings and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries during such period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Capital Expenditures shall not include (a) the purchase price of equipment that is purchased substantially contemporaneously with the trade-in of existing equipment to the extent that the gross amount of such purchase price is reduced by the credit granted by the seller of such equipment for the equipment being traded in at such time as the proceeds of such disposition, (b) the purchase of plant, property or equipment made in accordance with the second paragraph of “Repurchase at the Option of Holders – Asset Sales” to the extent made with the Net Proceeds of such Asset Sale, (c) expenditures of proceeds of insurance settlements, condemnation awards and other settlements in respect of lost, destroyed, damaged or condemned assets, equipment or other property to the extent such expenditures are made to replace or repair such lost, destroyed, damaged or condemned assets, equipment or other property or otherwise to acquire assets or properties useful in the business of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries within 365 days of receipt of such proceeds, (d) interest capitalized during such period, (e) expenditures that are accounted for as capital expenditures of such person and that actually are paid for by a third party (excluding Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof) and for which neither Holdings nor any Restricted Subsidiary thereof has provided, or is required to provide or incur, any consideration or obligation to such third party or any other person (whether before, during or after such period), (f) the book value of any asset owned by such person prior to or during such period to the extent that such book value is included as a Capital Expenditure during such period as a result of such person reusing or beginning to reuse such asset during such period without a corresponding expenditure actually

 

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having been made in such period; provided that any expenditure necessary in order to permit such asset to be reused shall be included as a Capital Expenditure during the period that such expenditure actually is made and such book value shall have been included in Capital Expenditures when such asset was originally acquired, or (g) expenditures that constitute Permitted Acquisitions or Acquisitions. For the avoidance of doubt, Capital Expenditure will be deemed to include the capitalized portion of pre-publication and pre-production costs.

Capital Lease” means, as applied to any Person, any lease of any property (whether real, personal or mixed) by such Person as lessee, that, in conformity with GAAP, is or should be accounted for as a capital lease on the balance sheet of such Person; provided, however, that for purposes of this definition and any related calculations, all obligations of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are or would be characterized as an operating lease as determined in accordance with GAAP as in effect on December 15, 2018 (whether or not such operating lease was in effect on such date) shall continue to be accounted for as an operating lease (and not as a Capital Lease) regardless of any change in GAAP following December 15, 2018 (or any change in the implementation in GAAP for future periods that were contemplated as of December 15, 2018).

Capital Lease Obligations” of any Person shall mean the obligations of such person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as Capital Leases on a balance sheet of such person under GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, that for purposes of this definition and any related calculations, all obligations of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are or would be characterized as an operating lease as determined in accordance with GAAP as in effect on December 15, 2018 (whether or not such operating lease was in effect on such date) shall continue to be accounted for as an operating lease (and not as a Capital Lease) regardless of any change in GAAP following December 15, 2018 (or any change in the implementation in GAAP for future periods that were contemplated as of December 15, 2018).

Cash Equivalents” means:

(1)    United States dollars;

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

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

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

 

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(4)    certificates of deposit, time deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any commercial bank having capital and surplus of not less than $500,000,000 in the case of U.S. banks and $100,000,000 (or the U.S. dollar equivalent as of the date of determination) in the case of non-U.S. banks;

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

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

(7)    marketable short-term money market and similar securities having a rating of at least P-2 or A-2 from either Moody’s or S&P, respectively (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency), and in each case maturing within 12 months after the date of creation thereof;

(8)    readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof having an Investment Grade Rating from either Moody’s or S&P (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency) with maturities of 12 months or less from the date of acquisition;

(9)    Indebtedness or Preferred Stock issued by Persons with a rating of “A” or higher from S&P or “A2” or higher from Moody’s (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency) with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;

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

(11)    asset backed securities maturing within two years from the date of acquisition thereof and having, at such date of acquisition, a rating of at least AAA by S&P or Aaa by Moody’s;

(12)    municipal variable rate demand obligations maturing within two years from the date of acquisition thereof and having, at such date of acquisition, a rating of at least AA by S&P or Aa2 by Moody’s; and

(13)    investment funds investing substantially all of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (1) through (12) above.

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

 

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

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

(b)    the consummation 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) other than a Permitted Holder, 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), in a single transaction or in a related series of transactions, by way of merger, consolidation or other business combination or purchase of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) of more than 50% of the total voting power of the voting stock of Holdings or any of its direct or indirect parent companies holding directly or indirectly 100% of the total voting power of the voting stock of Holdings;

(c)    a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) of the board of directors of Holdings shall be occupied by individuals who are not Continuing Directors; or any Issuer ceases to be a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Holdings (except in a transaction permitted under this Indenture).

Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, Société Anonyme.

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor thereto.

Collateral” means (i) the “Collateral” as defined in the Security Agreement, (ii) all the “Collateral” or “Pledged Collateral” or other similar terms as defined in any other Security Document and (iii) any other assets pledged or in which a Lien is granted or purported to be granted to secure the Notes Obligations and all other property of whatever kind and nature pledged or charged, in each case, pursuant to any Security Document.

Collateral Agent” means Citibank, N.A., as collateral agent for the holders of the Notes Obligations under the Security Documents and any successor pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture and the Security Documents.

Collateral Requirement” means at any time, the requirement that:

(a)    the Collateral Agent shall have received each Security Document required to be delivered on the Issue Date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture (or any time after the Issue Date pursuant to Section 12.12 or Section 12.14 hereof) duly executed by the Issuers and each Guarantor on the Issue Date that is a party thereto;

(b)    the Notes Obligations and the Notes Obligations Guarantees shall have been secured pursuant to the Security Agreement or other applicable Security Documents in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent by a first-priority security interest in all Equity Interests (other than Excluded Equity) held directly by the Issuers and the Guarantors, subject to no Liens (other than Permitted Liens);

 

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(c)    except to the extent otherwise provided hereunder or under any Security Document, the Notes Obligations shall have been secured pursuant to the Security Agreement or other applicable Security Documents in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent by a perfected security interest in, and mortgages on, substantially all tangible and intangible assets of each Issuer and each Guarantor (including Material Real Property (and not any other real property or interest therein) and personal property (other than Excluded Accounts and Excluded Assets ), in each case, to the extent, and with the priority, required by the Security Documents;

(d)    none of the Collateral shall be subject to any Liens (other than Permitted Liens);

(e)    the Collateral Agent shall have received within 60 days (or such longer period as the Applicable Collateral Agent may reasonably agree) following the acquisition of any Material Real Property, a Mortgage over such property, as well as such other items as may be reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent with respect to such Mortgaged Property; provided, that the Applicable Collateral Agent and the Issuers may agree in writing that a mortgage on a parcel of Material Real Property located in the State of New York is not required if they reasonably determine that the costs or other consequence of providing such a Mortgage is excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained therefrom; provided that the same determination is made in respect of the New Senior Credit Facilities; and

(f)    except as otherwise contemplated by this Indenture or any Security Document, all certificates, agreements, documents and instruments, including UCC financing statements and filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and United States Copyright Office, required by the Security Documents or applicable law to create the Liens on the Collateral intended to be created by the Security Documents and perfect such Liens to the extent required by, and with the priority required by, the Security Documents and the other provisions of the term “Collateral Requirement,” shall have been filed, registered or recorded or delivered to the Collateral Agent for filing, registration or recording.

The foregoing definition shall not require the creation or perfection of pledges of or security interests in, or the obtaining of the title insurance or surveys with respect to, particular assets if the cost of creating or perfecting such pledges or security interests in such assets or obtaining title insurance or surveys in respect of such assets shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained therefrom as determined by the Issuers; provided that the same determination is also made by the Applicable Collateral Agent, and the agent or agents in respect of the New Senior Credit Facilities.

The Applicable Collateral Agent may grant extensions of time under the New Senior Credit Facilities for the perfection of security interests in or the obtaining of title insurance and surveys with respect to particular assets (including extensions beyond the Issue Date for the perfection of security interests in the assets of the Issuers and the Guarantors on such date) required by the Collateral Requirement where it reasonably determines, in consultation with Holdings, that perfection cannot be accomplished without undue effort or expense by the time or times at which it would otherwise be required by this Indenture or the Security Documents, and any such extensions shall apply hereunder.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this definition or anything in this Indenture or any other Security Document to the contrary:

(1)    Liens required to be granted or perfection actions to be taken from time to time pursuant to the Collateral Requirement shall be subject to exceptions and limitations set forth in this Indenture and the Security Documents and, to the extent appropriate in the applicable jurisdiction;

(2)    the Collateral Requirement shall not apply to any Excluded Assets:

(3)    subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, in no event shall any (i) actions in any jurisdiction outside of the United States or required by the laws of any jurisdiction outside of the United States, be required in order to create any security interests in assets located, titled, registered or filed outside of the United States, or to perfect such security interests (it being understood that there shall be no security agreements, pledge agreements, or share charge (or mortgage) agreements governed under the laws of any jurisdiction outside of the United States, (ii) landlord, mortgagee or bailee waivers be required, or (iii) any notice to account debtors or other contractual parties of, or relating to, any Issuer or any Guarantor be delivered;

(4)    no stock certificates evidencing Excluded Equity shall be required to be delivered to the Collateral Agent;

(5)    the requirements under the Collateral Requirement shall be subject in all respects to the Intercreditor Agreements;

(6)    the requirements under the Collateral Requirement (except for the (I) execution and delivery of the Security Agreement, and (II) to the extent that a Lien on such Collateral may be perfected (x) by the filing of a financing statement under the Uniform Credit Code or customary “short form” intellectual property filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office or (y) by the delivery of stock certificates of the Issuers) shall not be required to be in place on the Issue Date if the Issuers agree to deliver, or cause to be delivered, such requirements within ninety (90) days after the Issue Date (subject to extensions approved by the Applicable Collateral Agent or the ABL Collateral Agent (depending on the type of Collateral at issue)).

Consolidated EBITDA” means, for any period, Consolidated Net Income for such period, plus:

(a)    without duplication and to the extent deducted in determining such Consolidated Net Income, the sum of:

(1)    consolidated interest expense for such period;

(2)    provisions for taxes based on income, profits or losses (determined on a consolidated basis) during such period;

 

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(3)    all amounts attributable to depreciation and amortization for such period;

(4)    any extraordinary losses for such period;

(5)    any fees, expenses or charges for such period related to any equity offering, Investment, acquisition permitted hereunder, permitted disposition, recapitalization or the incurrence of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred hereunder including a refinancing thereof (in each case, whether or not successful) and any amendment or modification to the terms of any such transactions, deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income for such period;

(6)    any non-cash charges for such period (for the avoidance of doubt, including, but not limited to, purchase accounting adjustments, assets impairments and equity compensation charges);

(7)    restructuring charges for such period relating to current or anticipated future cash expenditures, including restructuring costs related to closure or consolidation of facilities, and severance and other separation costs and post-retirement medical expenses;

(8)    other non-recurring charges for such period (for the avoidance of doubt, including, but not limited to, acquisition related expenses, whether or not the acquisition was consummated); and

(9)    deferred financing fees (and any write-offs thereof);

provided that to the extent not reflected in Consolidated Net Income for the period in which such cash payment is made, any cash payment made with respect to any non-cash charges added back in computing Consolidated EBITDA for any prior period pursuant to clause (5) above (or that would have been added back had this Indenture been in effect during such prior period) shall be subtracted in computing Consolidated EBITDA for the period in which such cash payment is made; and minus (b) without duplication and to the extent included in determining such Consolidated Net Income:

(1)    any extraordinary gains for such period; and

(2)    any non-cash gains for such period (excluding any non-cash gain to the extent it represents the reversal of an accrual or reserve for a potential cash item that reduced Consolidated EBITDA in any prior period), in each case of clauses (a) and (b) above, all determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that Consolidated EBITDA for any period shall be calculated so as to exclude (without duplication of any adjustment referred to above) the effect of: (A) the cumulative effect of any changes in GAAP or accounting principles applied by management; (B) any gain or loss for such period that represents after-tax gains or losses attributable to any sale, transfer or other disposition or abandonment of assets by Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, other than dispositions or sales of inventory and other dispositions in the ordinary course of business; (C) any income or loss for such period attributable to the early extinguishment of Indebtedness or accounts payable; (D) any non-cash gains or losses on foreign currency derivatives and any foreign currency transaction non-cash gains or losses and any foreign currency exchange translation gains or losses that arise on consolidation of integrated operations; and (E) mark-to-market adjustments in the valuation of derivative obligations resulting from the application of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.

 

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Consolidated First Lien Debt” means, without duplication, as of any date of determination, (a) the aggregate principal amount of all Total Debt outstanding hereunder as of such date secured by Liens on the Collateral that are not junior in priority to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Notes (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the New Senior Credit Facilities and the ABL Facility) minus (b) the aggregate amount of cash and Cash Equivalents on the consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries on such date, excluding cash and Cash Equivalents which are or should be listed as “restricted” on the consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date. It is understood that the aggregate principal amount of Total Debt under the ABL Facility as of the applicable date of determination and any additional committed amounts incurred under the ABL Facility after the Issue Date shall be included in clause (a) above.

Consolidated Interest Expense” shall mean, for any period, the excess of (a) the sum of (i) the interest expense (including imputed interest expense in respect of Capital Lease Obligations and Synthetic Lease Obligations) of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period (net of cash interest income of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period), determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP plus (ii) any interest accrued during such period in respect of Indebtedness of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary that is required to be capitalized rather than included in consolidated interest expense for such period in accordance with GAAP, plus (iii) any cash payments made during such period in respect of obligations referred to in clause (b)(ii) below that were amortized or accrued in a previous period, minus (b) to the extent included in the amount determined pursuant to clause (a) above for such period, the sum of (i) non-cash amounts attributable to amortization of financing costs paid in a previous period, plus (ii) non-cash amounts attributable to amortization of debt discounts or accrued interest payable in kind for such period, plus (iii) non-cash adjustments attributed to the effects of recording debt at fair value. For purposes of the foregoing, interest expense shall be determined after giving effect to any net payments made or received by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to interest rate Hedging Agreements and without giving effect to the movement of mark-to-market valuation of obligations under Hedging Agreements or other Derivative Instruments pursuant to GAAP (for the avoidance of doubt, up-front payments made to enter into Hedging Agreements to provide interest rate protection will be spread over the period of the protection provided thereunder).

For purposes of this definition, interest on a Capital Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by such Person to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capital Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP. Unless otherwise specified, all references in this Indenture to “Consolidated Interest Expense” shall refer to the Consolidated Interest Expense of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, the net income or loss of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that, without duplication, there shall be (x) other than for purposes of calculating the Net Total Leverage Ratio to determine the amount of Restricted Payments permitted under Section 4.07,, included an amount equal to the Owned Percentage of the income of any Majority-Owned Subsidiary that is consolidated with Holdings in accordance with GAAP and (y) excluded

 

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(1)    the income of any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by the Restricted Subsidiary of that income is not at the time permitted by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to such Restricted Subsidiary;

(2)    the income or loss of any person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is merged into or consolidated with Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary or the date that such person’s assets are acquired by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(3)    the income of any person (other than any Majority-Owned Subsidiary) in which any other person (other than Holdings or a Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary or any director holding qualifying shares in accordance with applicable law) has a joint interest, except to the extent of the amount of dividends or other distributions actually paid to Holdings or a Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary by such person during such period;

(4)    any net after-tax gains or losses attributable to sales of assets out of the ordinary course of business (determined in good faith by Holdings);

(5)    any net after-tax extraordinary gains or extraordinary losses;

(6)    the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles that occurs after the Issue Date;

(7)    any net after-tax income or loss from disposed, abandoned, closed or discontinued operations and any net after-tax gain or loss on disposal of disposed, abandoned, closed or discontinued operations;

(8)    any net after-tax income or loss (less all fees and expenses or charges relating thereto) attributable to the early extinguishment of Indebtedness, Hedging Agreements or other Derivative Instruments;

(9)    effects of purchase accounting adjustments in component amounts required or permitted by GAAP, resulting from the application of purchase accounting in relation to any acquisition permitted hereunder consummated after the Issue Date;

(10)    any non-cash expenses realized or resulting from stock option plans, employee benefit plans or post-employment benefit plans, or grants or sales of stock, stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock grants or other rights to officers, directors and employees of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries;

(11)    any accruals and reserves that are established within twelve months after the Issue Date and that are so required to be established in accordance with GAAP and

 

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(12)    to the extent covered by insurance and actually reimbursed, or, so long as there exists reasonable evidence that such amount will in fact be reimbursed by the insurer and only to the extent that such amount is (i) not denied by the applicable carrier in writing within 180 days, and (ii) in fact reimbursed within 365 days of the date of such evidence (with a deduction for any amount so added back to the extent not so reimbursed within 365 days), expenses with respect to liability or casualty events or business interruption; provided that any proceeds of such reimbursement when received shall be excluded from the calculation of Consolidated Net Income to the extent the expense reimbursed was previously excluded pursuant to this clause (12).

Consolidated Secured Debt” means, without duplication, as of any date of determination, (a) the aggregate principal amount of all Total Debt outstanding as of such date, secured by Liens on any assets or property of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary minus (b) the aggregate amount of cash and Cash Equivalents on the consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries on such date, excluding cash and Cash Equivalents which are or should be listed as “restricted” on the consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date. It is understood that the aggregate principal amount of Total Debt under the ABL Facility as of the applicable date of determination and any additional committed amounts incurred under the ABL Facility after the Issue Date shall be included in clause (a) above.

Continuing Directors” shall mean (i) the directors of Holdings on the Issue Date, and (ii) each other director (A) whose election or nomination to the board of directors was approved by individuals referred to in clause (i) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of the board of directors or (B) whose election or nomination to the board was approved by individuals referred to in clauses (i) and (ii)(A) above (or individuals previously approved under this clause (B)) constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of the board (in each case, with such approval either by a specific vote or by approval of Holdings’ proxy statement in which such member was named as a nominee for election as a director).

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 ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and the terms “Controlling” and “Controlled” shall have meanings correlative thereto.

Converted Restricted Subsidiary” shall mean any Unrestricted Subsidiary that is converted into a Restricted Subsidiary during such period.

Convertible Bond Hedge Transactions” means any bond hedge, capped call or similar option transaction (including warrants) entered into in connection with the issuance of Convertible Bond Indebtedness.

Convertible Bond Indebtedness” means any notes, bonds, debentures or similar instruments issued by Holdings, the Issuers or one of their Subsidiaries that are convertible into or exchangeable for (x) cash, (y) shares of Holdings’ common stock or preferred stock or other Equity Interests of Holdings other than Disqualified Stock or (z) a combination thereof.

 

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Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, in the case of any Convertible Bond Indebtedness for which the embedded conversion obligation must be settled by paying solely cash, so long as substantially concurrently with the offering of such Convertible Bond Indebtedness, Holdings, the Issuers or a Subsidiary enters into a cash-settled Convertible Bond Hedge Transaction relating to such Convertible Bond Indebtedness, notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, for so long as such Convertible Bond Hedge Transaction (or a portion thereof corresponding to the amount of outstanding Convertible Bond Indebtedness) remains in effect, all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made as if the amount of Indebtedness represented by such Convertible Bond Indebtedness were equal to the face principal amount thereof without regard to any mark-to-market derivative accounting for such Indebtedness.

Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee” shall be at the address of the Trustee specified in Section 13.02 hereof or such other address as to which the Trustee may give notice to the Holders and the Issuers.

Credit Facilities” means, with respect to Holdings, the Issuers or any of their Restricted Subsidiaries, one or more debt or credit facilities, including the New Senior Credit Facilities and the ABL Facility, or other financing arrangements (including commercial paper facilities or indentures) providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, letters of credit or other long-term indebtedness, including any notes, mortgages, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements or refundings thereof and any notes, indentures or credit facilities or commercial paper facilities that replace, refund or refinance any part of the loans, notes, other credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such replacement, refunding or refinancing facility or indenture that increases the amount permitted to be borrowed thereunder or alters the maturity thereof (provided that such increase in borrowings is permitted under Section 4.09 hereof) or adds Restricted Subsidiaries as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder and whether by the same or any other agent, lender or group of lenders.

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

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

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

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

 

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Derivative Instrument” with respect to a Person, means any contract, instrument or other right to receive payment or delivery of cash or other assets to which such Person or any Affiliate of such Person that is acting in concert with such Person in connection with such Person’s investment in the Notes (other than a Screened Affiliate) is a party (whether or not requiring further performance by such Person), the value and/or cash flows of which (or any material portion thereof) are materially affected by the value and/or performance of the Notes and/or the creditworthiness of the Issuers and/or any one or more of the Guarantors (the “Performance References”).

Designated Non-Cash Consideration” means the fair market value of non-cash consideration received by Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with an Asset Sale that is designated as Designated Non-Cash Consideration pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate, setting forth the basis of such valuation (which amount will be reduced by the fair market value of the portion of the non-cash consideration converted to cash and Cash Equivalents in connection with a subsequent sale or collection of such non-cash consideration).

Disqualified Stock” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any Equity Interest that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event, (a) matures (excluding any maturity as the result of an optional redemption by the issuer thereof) or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, or requires the payment of any cash dividend or any other scheduled payment constituting a return of capital, in each case, in each case prior to the maturity date of the Notes or the date the Notes are no longer outstanding, or (b) is convertible into or exchangeable (unless at the sole option of the issuer thereof) for (i) debt securities or (ii) any Equity Interest referred to in clause (a) above, in each case at any time prior to the maturity date of the Notes or the date the Notes are no longer outstanding.

Domestic Subsidiary” means all Subsidiaries incorporated or organized under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia.

Employee Equity Sales” means the issuance or sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of Holdings after the Issue Date to any present or former officer or employee of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary.

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

Equity Interests” means shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity interests in any person, and any option, warrant or other right entitling the holder thereof to purchase or otherwise acquire any such equity interest; provided, however, that Convertible Bond Indebtedness permitted under Section 4.09 and Convertible Bond Hedge Transactions entered into as a part of, or in connection with, an issuance of such Convertible Bond Indebtedness shall in no event be deemed an Equity Interest hereunder.

 

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Equity Offering” means any public or private sale of common stock or Preferred Stock of Holdings or of a direct or indirect parent of Holdings (excluding Disqualified Stock), other than:

(1)    public offerings with respect to any such Person’s common stock registered on Form S-8; and

(2)    issuances to the Issuers or any Subsidiary of the Issuers.

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

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

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

Excluded Accounts” shall mean (a) payroll accounts, employee benefit accounts, withholding tax and other fiduciary accounts, escrow accounts in respect of arrangements with non-affiliated third parties, customs accounts, cash collateral accounts subject to Liens permitted under this Agreement and accounts held by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors and (b) such other deposit accounts and other bank or securities accounts held by the Issuers and/or Guarantors the balance of all of which is less than $10,000,000 in the aggregate at any time.

Excluded Assets” means:

(1)    any lease, license, general intangible, contract or agreement to which any Grantor is a party or any of its rights or interests thereunder to the extent that (and for as long as) (i) such lease, license, general intangible, contract or agreement, or assets subject thereto, are (x) not assignable, (y) a grant of a security interest therein would violate or invalidate, or create a right of termination under (in favor of any other party thereto other than a Grantor), any such agreement, or (z) is not capable of being encumbered as a matter of law or under the terms of the lease, license, franchise, charter, authorization, general intangible, contract or agreement applicable thereto (but, in each case of the foregoing, solely to the extent that any such restriction shall be enforceable under applicable law, including Sections 9-406, 9-407, 9-408 or 9-409 of the New York UCC, in respect of the grant of a security interest hereunder), without the consent of the licensor or lessor thereof, or governmental authority, or other applicable party thereto and (ii) such consent has not been obtained;

(2)    any intent-to-use application for a trademark to the extent that, and solely during the period in which, the grant of a security interest therein would impair the validity or enforceability of such intent-to-use application for a trademark under federal law;

(3)    any vehicle or other assets owned by any Grantor that is subject to a certificate of title;

(4)    any Excluded Equity;

 

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(5)    assets that are subject to or secured by Liens (i) permitted under clauses (4), (7) and (13) of the definition of “Permitted Liens,” (ii) permitted under clause (19) of the definition of “Permitted Liens” securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 4.09(b)(8) (but only to the extent that (x) the documentation pursuant to which such Liens were granted prohibits the granting of a Lien hereunder, (y) such documentation and Liens were in effect prior to such acquisition and (z) such Liens were not incurred, and such documentation was not entered into, by a Grantor in anticipation of such acquisition), or (iii) securing a purchase money obligation or Capital Lease Obligations permitted to be incurred pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, in each case to the extent the documentation relating to such Lien prohibits, or requires any consent for, any other Lien on such asset;

(6)    any governmental licenses or state or local franchises, charters and authorizations, to the extent security interests in such licenses, franchises, charters or authorizations are prohibited or restricted thereby;

(7)    any letter of credit rights to the extent perfection of a Lien in such letter of credit rights cannot be obtained by filing financing statements;

(8)    any commercial tort claims which are reasonably estimated by Holdings not to exceed $5.0 million;

(9)    any fee owned real property with a fair market value of less than $5.0 million on the date of acquisition (or on the date of substantial completion of any material improvement thereon or new construction thereof) or that is located in a special flood hazard area (as determined by Holdings) and all real property leasehold interests and any owned real property as of the Issue Date;

(10)    any property with respect to which the Applicable Collateral Agent and Holdings reasonably agree in writing that the costs or other consequences of granting or perfecting a security interest therein is excessive in view of the benefits of the security to be afforded thereby;

(11)    any property to the extent a security interest in such assets could reasonably be expected to result in adverse tax consequences to Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries as determined in good faith by Holdings;

(12)    any property the pledge of which or security interest in is prohibited by applicable law, rule or regulation, or which could require governmental (including regulatory) consent, approval, license or authorization to be pledged (unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received);

(13)    assets subject to liens securing permitted securitization financings (including receivables financings);

(14)    any accounts or funds held or received on behalf of third parties; and

(15)    other customary exclusions to be agreed by Holdings and Collateral Agent under applicable local law or in applicable local jurisdictions.

 

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With respect to any provision or restriction affecting the Collateral the reason for which such Collateral constitutes an Excluded Asset, immediately upon the ineffectiveness, lapse or termination of such provision or restriction with respect to such Excluded Asset, the Collateral shall include, and such Grantor shall be deemed to have granted a security interest in, the rights and interests in such Collateral as if such provision or restriction had never been in effect and if and when such property shall cease to be an Excluded Asset, such property shall be deemed at all times from and after the date thereof to constitute Collateral.

Excluded Equity” means “Excluded Pledged Stock” (as defined in the Security Agreement).

First Lien Intercreditor Agreement” means the intercreditor agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, between the Collateral Agent and the collateral agent in respect of the New Senior Credit Facilities (as the same may be amended from time to time) with respect to the Collateral.

First Lien Obligations” means, collectively, (1) the Senior Secured Credit Facility Obligations, (2) the Notes Obligations and (3) each series of Additional First Lien Obligations.

Fixed Asset Collateral” means all “Fixed Assets Priority Collateral” as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement.

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

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States which are in effect from time to time; provided that the amount of any Indebtedness under GAAP with respect to Capital Lease Obligations shall be determined in accordance with the definition of Capital Lease Obligations.

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

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

Government Securities” 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 either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuers thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act), as custodian with respect to any such Government Securities or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such Government Securities held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depository receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such

 

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custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government Securities or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the Government Securities evidenced by such depository receipt.

Grantors” means the Issuers and any Guarantors.

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

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

Guarantor” means, each Person that Guarantees the Notes in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

Hedging Agreement” means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of Holdings, the Restricted Subsidiaries or any of their Affiliates shall be a Hedging Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent entered into in connection with Convertible Bond Indebtedness, Convertible Bond Hedge Transactions shall not constitute Hedging Agreements.

HMComeans Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, a corporation organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

HMH IP Company” means Houghton Mifflin Harcourt IP LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware.

HMHP” means HMH Publishers LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware.

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

Holdings” means Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, a company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware.

Immaterial Subsidiary” means, at any date of determination, any Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings (a) whose total assets (when combined with the assets of such Restricted Subsidiary’s Subsidiaries, after eliminating intercompany obligations) are an amount equal to or less than 5% of the consolidated total assets of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such date and (b) whose gross revenues (when combined with the revenues of such Restricted

 

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Subsidiary’s Subsidiaries, after eliminating intercompany obligations) are an amount equal to or less than 5% of the consolidated gross revenues of Holdings, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP.

Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, without duplication, all of the following:

(a)    all obligations of such Person for borrowed money;

(b)    all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments;

(c)    all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property or assets purchased by such Person;

(d)    all obligations of such person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding earnouts (unless such earnout is not paid after it becomes due and payable in accordance with the terms thereof), trade accounts payable and accrued obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business);

(e)    all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such person, whether or not the obligations secured thereby have been assumed;

(f)    all guarantee obligations of such Person of Indebtedness of others,

(g)    Capital Lease Obligations and Synthetic Lease Obligations of such Person;

(h)    all obligations of such Person (including contingent obligations) as an account party in respect of letters of credit;

(i)    all obligations of such Person in respect of bankers’ acceptances; and

(j)    all net payments that such Person would have to make in the event of any early termination, on the date Indebtedness is being determined, in respect of outstanding Hedging Agreements; and

(k)    all obligations of such Person in respect of Disqualified Stock.

The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership in which such Person is a general partner to the extent such person is liable therefor as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such partnership, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness expressly provide that such Person is not liable therefor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness will be deemed not to include obligations under, or in respect of Qualified Capital Stock. Indebtedness of any Person shall exclude Indebtedness incurred in advance of, and the proceeds of which are to be applied in connection with such redemption, repurchase, defeasance, satisfaction and discharge or repayment of indebtedness solely to the extent the proceeds thereof are and continue to be held in an escrow and are not otherwise made available to such person.

 

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

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

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

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

Initial Purchasers” means Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., BofA Securities, Inc., Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Citizens Capital Markets, Inc.

Intercreditor Agreements” means the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreements, and any intercreditor agreement entered into after the Issue Date setting forth the relative priority of Liens on the Collateral securing the Notes Obligations and any other Obligations in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee.

Interest Payment Date” means February 15 and August 15 of each year to stated maturity.

Investment Grade Event” means the Notes have achieved an Investment Grade Rating by both of the Rating Agencies.

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 United States government or any agency or instrumentality thereof (other than Cash Equivalents);

(2)    debt securities or debt instruments with an Investment Grade Rating, but excluding any debt securities or instruments constituting loans or advances among Holdings and the Subsidiaries of Holdings;

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

 

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

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

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

(i)    Holdings’ direct or indirect “Investment” in such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; less

(ii)    the portion (proportionate to the Holdings’ direct or indirect equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the fair market value of the net assets of such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation;

(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 Holdings;

(3)    if Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary issues, sells or otherwise disposes of Equity Interests of a Person that is a Restricted Subsidiary such that, after giving effect thereto, such Person is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary, any investment by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in such Person remaining after giving effect thereto shall not be deemed to be an Investment at such time.

The amount of any Investment outstanding at any time shall be the original cost of such Investment, reduced by any dividend, distribution, interest payment, return of capital, repayment or other amount received in cash and Cash Equivalents by Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary in respect of such Investment to the extent such amounts do not increase any other baskets under this Indenture.

Issue Date” means November 22, 2019.

Issuers” has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

 

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Joint Venture” means any Person in which Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries beneficially own any Equity Interest that is not a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary.

Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement” means any intercreditor agreement setting forth the relative priority of Liens securing the First Lien Obligations, on the one hand, and Obligations secured by the Collateral with Junior Lien Priority, on the other, substantially in the form of Exhibit E and reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee.

Junior Lien Priority” means Indebtedness that is secured by a Lien on the Collateral that is junior in priority to the Liens on the Collateral securing the First Lien Obligations as permitted by this Indenture and is subject to a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

Legal Holiday” means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which commercial banking institutions are not required to be open in the State of New York.

Lien” means, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, encumbrance, charge or security interest in or on such asset, (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset and (c) in the case of securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such securities; provided that in no event shall an operating lease be deemed to constitute a Lien.

Limited Condition Transaction” means (a) any Acquisition or similar material Investment, the consummation of which is not conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third party financing or (b) any redemption or repayment of Indebtedness requiring irrevocable advance notice or any irrevocable offer to purchase Indebtedness that is not subject to obtaining third party financing.

Long Derivative Instrument” means a Derivative Instrument (i) the value of which generally increases, and/or the payment or delivery obligations under which generally decrease, with positive changes to the Performance References and/or (ii) the value of which generally decreases, and/or the payment or delivery obligations under which generally increase, with negative changes to the Performance References.

Majority-Owned Subsidiary” shall mean a Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings of which securities (except for directors’ qualifying shares) or other ownership interests representing a majority of the aggregate outstanding Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary are, at the time any determination is being made, owned, Controlled or held by Holdings or one or more wholly owned Restricted Subsidiaries of Holdings or by Holdings and one or more wholly owned Restricted Subsidiaries of Holdings.

Material Real Property” shall mean any parcel of owned real property with a fair market value of at least $5,000,000.

Material Subsidiary” means, at any date of determination, each Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings that is not an Immaterial Subsidiary (but including, in any case, any Restricted Subsidiary that has been designated as a Material Subsidiary as provided in, or has been designated as an Immaterial Subsidiary in a manner that does not comply with, the definition of “Immaterial Subsidiary”).

 

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

Mortgage” means, collectively, the deeds of trust, trust deeds, deeds of hypothecation, security deeds, and mortgages creating and evidencing a Lien on a Mortgaged Property made by an Issuer or Guarantor in favor or for the benefit of the Collateral Agent.

Mortgaged Property” means each real property owned by an Issuer or Guarantor, if any, which shall be subject to a Mortgage.

Net First Lien Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated First Lien Debt as of the last day of the test period most recently ended on or prior to such date of determination to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters ending immediately prior to such date for which internal financial statements are available.

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

Net Proceeds” means the aggregate cash proceeds received by Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale, including any cash received upon the sale or other disposition of any Designated Non-Cash Consideration received in any Asset Sale, net of the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale and the sale or disposition of such Designated Non-Cash Consideration, including legal, accounting and investment banking fees, payments made in order to obtain a necessary consent or required by applicable law, and brokerage and sales commissions, any relocation expenses incurred as a result thereof, other fees and expenses, including title and recordation expenses, taxes paid or payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements), amounts required to be applied to the repayment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on unsubordinated Indebtedness (other than under the ABL Facility or the New Senior Credit Facilities) required (other than as required by Section 4.10(b)(1) or (2)) to be paid as a result of such transaction and any deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a reserve in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities associated with the asset disposed of in such transaction and retained by Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries after such sale or other disposition thereof, including pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations associated with such transaction, and in the case of any Asset Sale by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Holdings, a portion of the aggregate cash proceeds equal to the portion of the outstanding Equity Interests of such non-Wholly-Owned Subsidiary owned by Persons other than Holdings and any other Restricted Subsidiary (to the extent such proceeds are committed to be distributed to such Persons).

 

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Net Secured Leverage Ratio” means as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Secured Debt as of the last day of the test period most recently ended on or prior to such date of determination to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters ending immediately prior to such date for which internal financial statements are available.

Net Short” means, with respect to a Holder or beneficial owner, as of a date of determination, either (i) the value of its Short Derivative Instruments exceeds the sum of the (x) the value of its Notes plus (y) the value of its Long Derivative Instruments as of such date of determination or (ii) it is reasonably expected that such would have been the case were a Failure to Pay or Bankruptcy Credit Event (each as defined in the 2014 International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Credit Derivatives Definitions) to have occurred with respect to any Issuer or any Guarantor immediately prior to such date of determination.

Net Total Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Total Debt minus the aggregate amount of cash and Cash Equivalents on the consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries on such date, excluding cash and Cash Equivalents which are or should be listed as “restricted” on the consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date as of the last day of the test period most recently ended on or prior to such date of determination to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters ending immediately prior to such date for which internal financial statements are available.

New Senior Credit Facilities” means the credit agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, by and among Holdings, the Issuers, the lenders party thereto in their capacities as lenders thereunder and Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, including any agreements, collateral documents, guarantees, instruments, mortgages and notes executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, extensions, modifications, refinancings, refundings, renewals, restatements, or supplements thereof and any one or more notes, indentures or credit facilities or commercial paper facilities with banks or other institutional lenders or investors that extend, refinance, refund, renew, replace or defease any part of the loans, notes, other credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such refinancing, refunding or replacement facility or indenture that increases the amount that may be borrowed thereunder or alters the maturity of the loans thereunder or adds Restricted Subsidiaries as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder and whether by the same or other agent, lender or group of lenders or investors.

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

Not for Profit Subsidiaries” means, collectively, Foundation for Marine Animal Husbandry, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Florida, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Foundation, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and any other Subsidiary of Holdings that is exempt from U.S. federal income taxation under Section 501(a) of the Code.

Notes” means the 9.000% Senior Secured Notes due 2025 issued by the Issuers on the Issue Date under this Indenture and, unless the context otherwise requires, any Additional Notes that are actually issued.

 

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Notes Obligations” means Obligations in respect of the Notes, the Guarantees, this Indenture and the Security Documents.

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

Offering Memorandum” means the final offering memorandum, dated November 19, 2019, relating to the sale of the Notes issued on the Issue Date.

Officer” means the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President, the Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of Holdings or any other Person, as applicable.

Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of Holdings by an Officer.

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 Holdings, an Issuer or the Trustee.

Owned Percentage” means, with respect to any Majority-Owned Subsidiary, the percentage of Equity Interests in such Majority-Owned Subsidiary owned by Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Pari Passu Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of the Issuers which ranks equally in right of payment to the Notes or of any Guarantor if such Indebtedness ranks equally in right of payment to the Guarantees of the Notes.

Pari Passu Lien Priority” means, relative to specified Indebtedness, having equal Lien priority on specified Collateral and subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

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

Permitted Acquisition” means the acquisition by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary of all or substantially all the assets of a person or line of business of such Person, or not less than 100% of the Equity Interests (other than directors’ qualifying shares) not previously held by Holdings and its Subsidiaries of a Person (referred to herein as the “Acquired Entity”); provided that (a) the Acquired Entity shall be in a engaged in a Permitted Business; (b) at the time of such transaction, both before and after giving effect thereto, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; (c) the aggregate amount of Permitted Acquisitions made after the Issue Date

 

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pursuant to clause (4) of the definition of Permitted Investments by the Issuers and Guarantors in Persons that are not Issuers or Guarantors or do not become Issuers or Guarantors upon consummation of such acquisition (valued at the time made and without regard to any write-downs or write-offs of such Investments) shall not exceed the greater of $125.0 million and 31% of the Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended four consecutive fiscal quarter period; and (d) all persons which are Domestic Subsidiaries in which Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary shall hold any Investment as a result of such acquisition shall become a Guarantor to the extent, and within the time frame, required by this Indenture and the Security Documents.

Permitted Asset Swap” means the substantially concurrent purchase and sale or exchange of Related Business Assets or a combination of Related Business Assets and cash or Cash Equivalents between Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and another Person.

Permitted Business” means (a) any business or business activity conducted by Holdings and its Subsidiaries on the Issue Date and (b) any other business that is a natural outgrowth or reasonable extension, development or expansion of any such business or any business similar, reasonably related, incidental, complementary or ancillary to any of the foregoing.

Permitted Holder” means any person or group whose acquisition of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) constitutes a Change of Control in respect of which a Change of Control Offer is made in accordance with the requirements of Section 4.14 hereof (or would result in a Change of Control Offer in the absence of the waiver of such requirement by Holders in accordance with Section 4.14 hereof) shall thereafter, together with its Affiliates, constitute a Permitted Holder.

Permitted Investments” means:

(1)    Investments as of the Issue Date in Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary and Investments made after the Issue Date in Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (i) the aggregate amount of Investments made after the Issue Date by any Issuer or Guarantor in, and Guarantees by any Issuer or Guarantor of Indebtedness or other obligations of, Restricted Subsidiaries that are not an Issuer or Guarantor (determined at the time of the making thereof without regard to any write-downs or write-offs of such Investments) shall not exceed the greater of (A) $75.0 million and (B) and 23% of the Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended four fiscal quarter period ending with a fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are required to have been delivered under this Indenture and (ii) no Event of Default under clauses (1), (2), or (6) of the first paragraph under “Events of Default and Remedies” shall have occurred and be continuing; provided further that, for purposes of determining compliance with the foregoing limitation in clause (i) above as of any date, the amount of each Investment made on or prior to such date pursuant to this clause (b) that is subject to such limitation shall be deemed reduced (to not less than zero) by the aggregate amount of cash, dividends, interest, returns of principal or capital, repayments or other distributions returned to the applicable Issuer or Guarantor in respect of such Investment prior to the date of determination;

(2)    Capital Expenditures;

 

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(3)    (i) Loans and advances to officers, directors and employees of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries made in the ordinary course of business in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $13.0 million in the aggregate at any time outstanding (calculated without regard to write-downs or write-offs thereof); provided that any such loans with a principal amount in excess of $3.0 million shall be approved by the board of directors of Holdings and (ii) advances of payroll payments and expenses to employees in the ordinary course of business;

(4)    Permitted Acquisitions;

(5)    any Investment acquired by any Issuer or Guarantor (x) in exchange for any other Investment or accounts receivable held by any Issuer or Guarantor in connection with or as a result of a bankruptcy, workout, reorganization or recapitalization of the Person in which such other Investment is made or which is the obligor with respect to such accounts receivable, (y) as a result of a foreclosure by any Issuer or Guarantor with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default or (z) as a result of litigation, arbitration or other disputes with Persons who are not Affiliates;

(6)    accounts receivable arising and trade credit granted in the ordinary course of business and any securities received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from financially troubled account debtors to the extent reasonably necessary in order to prevent or limit loss and prepayments and other credits to suppliers made in the ordinary course of business consistent with the past practices of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries;

(7)    Investments held by a Person acquired in a Permitted Acquisition or an Acquisition so long as such Investment is not made in anticipation or contemplation of such acquisition;

(8)    Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries may enter into and perform their obligations under (i) Hedging Agreements or other Derivative Instruments entered into in the ordinary course of business and so long as any such Hedging Agreement or other Derivative Instrument is not speculative in nature and (ii) to the extent constituting Investments, Convertible Bond Hedge Transactions entered into in connection with Convertible Bond Indebtedness;

(9)    Investments existing as of the Issue Date;

(10)    Investments arising out of the receipt by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary of non-cash consideration with respect to sales of assets permitted under Section 4.10;

(11)    Investments resulting from pledges and deposits referred to in the definition of Permitted Liens;

(12)    Investments in the ordinary course of business consisting of purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, material or equipment or the licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing, joint development or similar arrangements with other Persons;

 

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(13)    any advances, loans, extensions of credit to suppliers, customers and vendors or other Investments in receivables owing to a Restricted Subsidiary, if created or acquired in the ordinary course of business and payable or dischargeable in accordance with customary trade terms; provided, however, that such trade terms may include such concessionary trade terms as such Restricted Subsidiary deems reasonable under the circumstances;

(14)    Investments in Restricted Subsidiaries that are not an Issuer or Guarantor or a series of Investments from one Restricted Subsidiary to another solely to provide a Restricted Subsidiary that is consummating a Permitted Acquisition or an Acquisition with funds to pay the consideration in respect thereof in an aggregate amount not to exceed the amount of such consideration;

(15)    Investments in HMH IP Company in the ordinary course of business in respect of operating expenses of HMH IP Company and other expenses incurred by HMH IP Company in connection with the digital development of intellectual property owned by the Issuers and the Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that the amounts of such Investments shall be no more than amounts that would be otherwise payable to an unaffiliated third party providing such digital development services and in the aggregate shall not exceed $175.0 million in any fiscal year;

(16)    Investments in joint ventures in an amount (determined at the time of the making thereof without regard to any write-downs or write-offs of such Investments) not to exceed the greater of (i) $80.0 million and (ii) 23% of the Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended four fiscal quarter period ending with a fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are required to have been delivered pursuant to this Indenture; provided that, both before and after giving effect thereto, on a pro forma basis, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; provided, further that, for purposes of determining compliance with the foregoing limitation as of any date, the amount of each Investment made on or prior to such date pursuant to this clause (16) shall be deemed reduced (to not less than zero) by the aggregate amount of cash, dividends, interest, returns of principal or capital, repayments or other distributions returned to the applicable person in respect of such Investment prior to the date of determination; provided, further, that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (16) is made in any person that was not a Subsidiary on the date on which such Investment was made but becomes a wholly owned Subsidiary thereafter, then such Investment may, at the option of the Issuers, upon such person becoming a wholly owned Subsidiary and so long as such person remains a wholly owned Subsidiary, be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) (to the extent permitted by the proviso thereto in the case of any Subsidiary that is not an Issuer or Guarantor) and not in reliance on this clause (16);

(17)    any Investment in cash, Cash Equivalents and Investment Grade Securities;

(18)    other Investments so long as on a pro forma basis after giving effect thereto, (i) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (ii) the Net Total Leverage Ratio is not greater than 2.25:1.00;

(19)    guarantees of obligations of Subsidiaries that are not an Issuer or Guarantor in an aggregate amount not to exceed $50.0 million; and

 

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(20)    other Investments in an aggregate amount not to exceed $100.0 million.

Permitted Liens” means, with respect to any Person:

(1)    Liens on property or assets of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary existing on the Issue Date (excluding Liens securing the ABL Facility, the New Senior Credit Facilities and the Notes);

(2)    Liens securing the Notes issued on the Issue Date and the Guarantees with respect thereto;

(3)    statutory and contractual Liens of landlords, banks (and rights of set-off), carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, repairmen, workmen and materialmen, and other Liens imposed by law (other than any such Lien imposed pursuant to Section 401(a)(29) or 412(n) of the Code or by ERISA), in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business (i) for amounts not yet overdue or (ii) for amounts that are overdue and that (in the case of any such amounts overdue for a period in excess of 30 days) are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, so long as such reserves or other appropriate provisions, if any, as shall be required by GAAP shall have been made for any such contested amounts;

(4)    Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security, or to secure the performance of tenders, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, bids, leases, government contracts, trade contracts, performance and return-of-money bonds and other similar obligations (exclusive of obligations for the payment of borrowed money or other Indebtedness), so long as no foreclosure, sale or similar proceedings have been commenced with respect to any portion of the Collateral on account thereof;

(5)    with respect to real property of the Restricted Subsidiaries, covenants, conditions, easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, encroachments, encumbrances and other imperfections or irregularities in title, in each case which were not incurred in connection with and do not secure Indebtedness for borrowed money and do not or will not interfere in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of the business of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or with the use of such real property for its intended use;

(6)    any interest or title of a lessor or sublessor under any lease of property permitted hereunder, and any Lien to which such interest or title is subject;

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

(8)    purported Liens evidenced by the filing of precautionary UCC financing statements relating solely to operating leases of personal property entered into in the ordinary course of business and Liens created in connection with a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction permitted hereunder;

 

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

(10)    licenses of patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, service marks, tradenames and any other intellectual property rights granted by Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and not interfering in any material respect with the conduct of the business of Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary;

(11)    construction liens arising in the ordinary course of business, including liens for work performed for which payment has not been made, securing obligations that are not due and payable or, in the case of any amounts overdue for a period in excess of 30 days, are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and in respect of which, if applicable, Holdings or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary thereof shall have set aside on its books reserves as shall be required by GAAP;

(12)    Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges or levies not yet delinquent, or which are for less than $7.0 million in the aggregate, or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or for property taxes on property (other than Mortgaged Property or property that, pursuant to the terms hereof, is required to become Mortgaged Property) that Holdings or one of the Restricted Subsidiaries has determined to abandon if the sole recourse for such tax, assessment, charge, levy or claim is to such property;

(13)    deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts (other than for Indebtedness), leases (other than Capital Leases), statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature made or incurred in the ordinary course of business, including those incurred to secure health, safety and environmental obligations in the ordinary course of business;

(14)    zoning restrictions, easements, trackage rights, leases (other than Capital Leases), licenses, special assessments, rights-of-way, restrictions on use of real property and other similar encumbrances incurred in the ordinary course of business which were not incurred in connection with and do not secure Indebtedness for borrowed money, and, individually or in the aggregate, do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or with the use of such real property for its intended use;

(15)    Liens securing obligations under Indebtedness permitted to be incurred (and so incurred and so classified) pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(12) of; provided that (i) such Liens are incurred, and the Indebtedness secured thereby is created, within 270 days after such acquisition (or construction), (ii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed 100% of the cost of such equipment or other property or improvements at the time of such acquisition (or construction), including transaction costs incurred by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such acquisition (or construction), and (iii) such Liens do not apply to any other property or assets of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than to accessions to such equipment or other property or improvements; provided that individual financings of equipment provided by a single lender may be cross-collateralized to other financings of equipment provided solely by such lender);

 

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(16)    Liens arising out of operating lease or Capital Lease transactions permitted under Section 4.09(b)(12), so long as such Liens attach only to the property sold and being leased in such transaction and any accessions thereto or proceeds thereof and related property;

(17)    Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under clause (5) under “Events of Default and Remedies”;

(18)    Liens that are contractual rights of setoff (i) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness or (ii) pertaining to pooled deposit and/or sweep accounts of Holdings and/or any Restricted Subsidiary to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries;

(19)    any Lien on any property or asset of Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary securing Indebtedness permitted by Section 4.09(b)(8); provided that such Liens are not created or incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition and such Lien does not apply to any other property or assets of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries not securing such Indebtedness at the date of the acquisition of such property or asset (other than after acquired property subjected to a Lien securing Indebtedness and other obligations incurred prior to such date and permitted hereunder which contains a requirement for the pledging of after acquired property, it being agreed that such after acquired property shall not include property of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries, other than any such acquired Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings, that would have been included but for such acquisition);

(20)    Liens to secure any refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement (or successive refinancing, refunding, extensions, renewals or replacements) as a whole, or in part, of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien permitted above; provided that such Lien shall not cover any property other than the property that was subject to such Lien prior to such refinancing, refunding, extension or renewal or replacement; provided further, that the Indebtedness and other obligations secured by such refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement Lien are permitted by this Indenture;

(21)    Liens on the Collateral securing Indebtedness or other obligations under any Credit Facilities permitted to be incurred (and so incurred and classified) pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(1)(ii); provided that, (i) in the case of Indebtedness in an amount not to exceed $350 million permitted to be incurred under Section 4.09(b)(1)(ii), such Liens may rank senior in priority to the Liens on the ABL Priority Collateral securing the Notes but in such case shall rank junior in priority to the Liens on the Fixed Asset Collateral securing the Notes, and (ii) in the case of any other Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under Section 4.09(b)(1)(ii), such Liens shall rank on parity with the Liens securing the Notes;

(22)    Liens on any property or asset of a Person that is not an Issuer or Guarantor securing Indebtedness of a Person that is not an Issuer or Guarantor permitted by Section 4.09;

 

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(23)    Liens encumbering reasonable customary initial deposits and margin deposits and similar Liens attaching to brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practices and not for speculative purposes;

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

(25)    Liens that are contractual rights of set-off relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of Holdings, any Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(26)    Liens of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the UCC on items in the course of collection;

(27)    Liens securing obligations in connection with Hedging Agreements permitted to be incurred under this Indenture;

(28)    Liens securing obligations owed by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary to any lender under any Credit Facilities or any Affiliate of such a lender, in each case, in the ordinary course of business in respect of any overdraft and related liabilities arising from treasury, depository and cash management services provided by, or any automated clearing house transfers of funds with, lenders under such Credit Facilities or any Affiliate of such a lender;

(29)    Liens in favor of any Issuer or any Guarantor;

(30)    Liens on cash and Cash Equivalents used to satisfy or discharge Indebtedness; provided that, such satisfaction or discharge is permitted under this Indenture;

(31)    Liens not otherwise permitted by this definition of “Permitted Liens;” provided that, the aggregate amount of Indebtedness and other obligations secured thereby does not exceed $175.0 million at any time; and

(32)    Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations (including any Additional Notes), provided, that at the time of incurrence of the Indebtedness or other obligations secured thereby, in the case of (x) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations on the Collateral that are pari passu with the Lien on the Collateral securing the Notes Obligations, the Net First Lien Leverage Ratio does not exceed 2.50 to 1.0, (y) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations on the Collateral that are junior to the Lien on the Collateral securing the Notes Obligations, the Net Secured Leverage Ratio does not exceed 2.50 to 1.0 and (z) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations on assets that are not Collateral, the Net Total Leverage Ratio does not exceed 4.0 to 1.0 most recently ended four fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available.

 

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

Post-Acquisition Period” means, with respect to any Permitted Acquisition or the conversion of any Unrestricted Subsidiary into a Restricted Subsidiary, the period beginning on the date such Permitted Acquisition or conversion is consummated and ending on the last day of the fourth full consecutive fiscal quarter immediately following the date on which such Permitted Acquisition or conversion is consummated.

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

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

Pro Forma Adjustment” means, for any four consecutive fiscal quarter period that includes all or any part of a fiscal quarter included in any Post-Acquisition Period, with respect to the Acquired EBITDA of the applicable Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary or the Consolidated EBITDA, (a) the pro forma increase or decrease in such Acquired EBITDA or such Consolidated EBITDA, as the case may be, that is expected to have a continuing impact and (b) additional good faith pro forma adjustments arising out of cost savings initiatives attributable to such transaction and additional costs associated with the combination of the operations of such Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary with the operations of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case being given pro forma effect, which actions (i) have been taken or (ii) will be taken or implemented within the succeeding twelve (12) months following such transaction and, in each case, including, but not limited to, (w) reduction in personnel expenses, (x) reduction of costs related to administrative functions, (y) reductions of costs related to leased or owned properties and (z) reductions from the consolidation of operations and streamlining of corporate overhead) taking into account, for purposes of determining such compliance, the historical financial statements of the Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary and the consolidated financial statements of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries, assuming such Permitted Acquisition or conversion, and all other Permitted Acquisitions or conversions that have been consummated during the period, and any Indebtedness or other liabilities repaid in connection therewith had been consummated and incurred or repaid at the beginning of such period (and assuming that such Indebtedness to be incurred bears interest during any portion of the applicable measurement period prior to the relevant acquisition at the interest rate which is or would be in effect with respect to such Indebtedness as at the relevant date of determination); provided that, so long as such actions are initiated during such Post-Acquisition Period or such costs are incurred during such Post-Acquisition Period, as applicable, for purposes of projecting such pro forma increase or decrease to such Acquired EBITDA or such Consolidated EBITDA, as the case may be, it may be assumed that such cost savings will be realizable during the entirety of such four consecutive fiscal quarter period, or such additional costs, as applicable, will be incurred during the entirety of such four consecutive fiscal quarter period; provided further that all such anticipated adjustments for cost savings shall not exceed in the aggregate, for any four

 

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consecutive fiscal quarters, an amount equal to 15% of Consolidated EBITDA for such four fiscal quarter period before giving effect to such cost savings; provided further that at the election of Holdings, such Pro Forma Adjustment shall not be required to be determined for any Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary to the extent the aggregate consideration paid in connection with such acquisition was less than $5.0 million.

Qualified Capital Stock” of any person shall mean any Equity Interest of such person that is not Disqualified Stock.

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

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

Record Date” for the interest payable on any applicable Interest Payment Date means the February 1 or August 1 (whether or not a Business Day) next preceding such Interest Payment Date.

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

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

Regulation S Permanent Global Note” means a permanent Global Note in the form of Exhibit A bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note upon expiration of the Restricted Period.

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

Regulation S Temporary Global Note Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(g)(3) hereof.

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

 

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Responsible Officer” means, when used with respect to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, any officer in the office of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, as identified in Section 13.02 of the Indenture responsible for administration of the transactions contemplated by the Indenture and the Security Documents, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent to whom a particular matter is referred because of such Person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

S&P” means S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global Inc., and any successor to its rating agency business.

Sale and Lease-Back Transaction” means any arrangement, directly or indirectly, with any Person whereby Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall sell or transfer any property, real or personal, used or useful in its business, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and thereafter rent or lease such property or other property which it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property being sold or transferred.

Screened Affiliate” means any Affiliate of a Holder (i) that makes investment decisions independently from such Holder and any other Affiliate of such Holder that is not a Screened Affiliate, (ii) that has in place customary information screens between it and such Holder and any other Affiliate of such Holder that is not a Screened Affiliate and such screens prohibit the sharing of information with respect to Holdings or its Subsidiaries, (iii) whose investment policies are not directed by such Holder or any other Affiliate of such Holder that is acting in concert with such Holder in connection with its investment in the Notes, and (iv) whose investment decisions are not influenced by the investment decisions of such Holder or any other Affiliate of such Holder that is acting in concert with such Holders in connection with its investment in the Notes.

 

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

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

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

Security Agreement” means that certain Security Agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, among the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Collateral Agent.

Security Documents” means, collectively, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the Security Agreement, other security or intercreditor agreements relating to the Collateral and instruments filed and recorded in appropriate jurisdictions to preserve and protect the Liens on the Collateral (including, without limitation, financing statements under the UCC of the relevant states applicable to the Collateral), each for the benefit of the Collateral Agent, as amended, amended and restated, modified, renewed or replaced from time to time.

Senior Secured Credit Facility Obligations” means “Obligations” (as defined in the New Senior Credit Facilities).

Short Derivative Instrument” means a Derivative Instrument (i) the value of which generally decreases, and/or the payment or delivery obligations under which generally increase, with positive changes to the Performance References and/or (ii) the value of which generally increases, and/or the payment or delivery obligations under which generally decrease, with negative changes to the Performance References.

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

Similar Business” means any business conducted or proposed to be conducted by Holdings and its Subsidiaries on the Issue Date or any business that is similar, reasonably related, incidental or ancillary thereto.

Specified Transaction” means any Investment, disposition, Incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness, Restricted Payment or Subsidiary designation that by the terms of this Indenture requires a test to be calculated on a “pro forma basis” or after giving “pro forma effect.

Subordinated Indebtedness” means:

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

 

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

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person (herein referred to as the “parent”), any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association or other business entity (a) of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, at the time any determination is being made, owned, Controlled or held, or (b) that is, at the time any determination is made, otherwise Controlled, by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of Holdings.

Synthetic Lease” shall mean, as to any Person, any lease (including leases that may be terminated by the lessee at any time) of any property (whether real, personal or mixed) (a) that is accounted for as an operating lease under GAAP and (b) in respect of which the lessee retains or obtains ownership of the property so leased for U.S. federal income tax purposes, other than any such lease under which such person is the lessor.

Synthetic Lease Obligations” shall mean, as to any person, an amount equal to the capitalized amount of the remaining lease payments under any Synthetic Lease that would appear on a balance sheet of such person in accordance with GAAP if such obligations were accounted for as Capital Lease Obligations.

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

Total Debt” means, at any time, the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding at such time; provided that (i) such Indebtedness shall not be included if it would not be reflected on a consolidated balance sheet of Holdings at such time in accordance with GAAP or to the extent such Indebtedness is Indebtedness under Hedging Agreements and (ii) if such Indebtedness were to be required to be reflected on a consolidated balance sheet of Holdings at such time in accordance with GAAP, the amount thereof that shall constitute Total Debt shall equal the principal amount outstanding at such time, including any portion of such principal amount outstanding that would not be required to be reflected on a consolidated balance sheet of Holdings in accordance with GAAP at such time as a result of original issue discount.

Transactions” means (i) the offering and issuance of the Notes for cash on the Issue Date, (ii) the entry into the New Senior Credit Facilities on the Issue Date and the initial borrowings thereunder, (iii) the entry into the ABL Facility on the Issue Date, and (iv) transactions related to any of the foregoing on or prior to the Issue Date and the payment of fees and expenses related to any of the foregoing.

 

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

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

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

UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect, from time to time, in the State of New York; provided, that, if perfection or the effect of perfection or non-perfection or the priority of any security interest in any Collateral is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in a jurisdiction other than the State of New York, “UCC” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in such other jurisdiction for purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such perfection, effect of perfection or non-perfection or priority.

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

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

Unrestricted Subsidiary” means:

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

(2)    any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary

(3)    such designation complies with Section 4.07.

Holdings may designate any Subsidiary (including any existing Subsidiary and any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary but excluding any Issuer) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided that:

(1)    such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries owns any Equity Interests or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Lien on, any property of, Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than solely any Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated); and

 

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(2)    no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Net Total Leverage Ratio shall be less than 2.50:1.00 on a pro forma basis.

Holdings may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that:

(1)    such Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Issuers; and

(2)    no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom and the Net Total Leverage Ratio shall be less than 2.50:1.00 on a pro forma basis.

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

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

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

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

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

(2)    the sum of all such payments.

Wholly-Owned Subsidiary” of any Person shall mean a Subsidiary of such Person of which securities (except for directors’ qualifying shares) or other ownership interests representing 100% of the Equity Interests are, at the time any determination is being made, owned, Controlled or held by such Person or one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries of such Person or by such Person and one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

Section 1.02    Other Definitions.

 

Term    Defined in
Section
 

“Action”

     12.08 (x) 

“Affiliate Transaction”

     4.11 (a) 

 

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Term    Defined in
Section
 

“Asset Sale Offer”

     4.10 (f) 

“Authentication Order”

     2.02  

“CERCLA”

     12.08 (s) 

“Change of Control Offer”

     4.14 (a) 

“Change of Control Payment”

     4.14 (a) 

“Change of Control Payment Date”

     4.14 (a)(2) 

“Collateral Asset Sale Offer”

     4.10 (d) 

“Collateral Excess Proceeds”

     4.10 (c) 

“Covenant Defeasance”

     8.03  

“Defeased Covenants”

     8.03  

“DTC”

     2.03  

“Event of Default”

     6.01 (a) 

“Excess Proceeds”

     4.10 (c) 

“Fixed Amounts”

     1.06 (d)(1) 

“incur” or “incurrence”

     4.09 (a) 

“Incurrence Based Amounts”

     1.06 (d)(1) 

“Legal Defeasance”

     8.02  

“Note Register”

     2.03  

“Offer Amount”

     3.09 (b) 

“Offer Period”

     3.09 (b) 

“Paying Agent”

     2.03  

“Purchase Date”

     3.09 (b) 

“Redemption Date”

     3.07 (b) 

 

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Term    Defined in
Section
 

“Refinancing Indebtedness”

     4.09 (b) 

“Refunding Capital Stock”

     4.07 (b)(2) 

“Registrar”

     2.03  

“Related Person”

     12.08 (b) 

“Restricted Payment”

     4.07 (a) 

“Reversion Date”

     4.17 (b) 

“Security Document Order”

     12.08 (t) 

“Successor Issuer”

     5.01 (a)(1) 

“Successor Person”

     5.01 (c)(1)(i) 

“Suspended Covenants”

     4.17 (a) 

“Suspension Date”

     4.17 (a)(2) 

“Suspension Period”

     4.17 (b) 

“Transfer Agent”

     2.03  

Section 1.03    Trust Indenture Act.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Trust Indenture Act is not applicable to this Indenture.

Section 1.04    Rules of Construction.

Unless the context otherwise requires:

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

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

(c)    “or” is not exclusive;

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

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

 

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(f)    provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

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

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

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

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

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

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

(m)    subordination shall refer to contractual payment subordination and not to structural subordination.

Section 1.05    Acts of Holders.

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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Section 1.06    Certain Calculations.

(a)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, for purposes of determining compliance with any test contained in this Indenture with respect to any period during which any Specified Transactions occur or, subsequent to such period and prior to or simultaneously with the event for which the calculation is made, the Net First Lien Leverage Ratio, the Net Secured Leverage Ratio, the Net Total Leverage Ratio and Consolidated EBITDA and any other financial calculation shall be calculated with respect to such period and such Specified Transactions on a “pro forma basis” and shall be calculated for the applicable period of measurement based on the most recently completed period of four consecutive fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of such event; provided, that for the avoidance of doubt, the amount of Consolidated Net Income available for Restricted Payments under Section 4.07(a) shall not be calculated on a “pro forma basis”.

(b)    For all purposes under this Indenture, with respect to compliance with any test for an applicable period of measurement that is calculated on a “pro forma basis” or after giving “pro forma effect”, (A) to the extent applicable, the Pro Forma Adjustment shall have been made and (B) all Specified Transactions and the following transactions in connection therewith that have been made during the applicable period of measurement or subsequent to such period and prior to or simultaneously with the event for which the calculation is made shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the applicable period of measurement (as of the last date in the case of a balance sheet item) in such test: (a) income statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the property or Person subject to such Specified Transaction, (i) in the case of a disposition of all or substantially all Equity Interests in any Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings or any asset of Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, shall be excluded, and (ii) in the case of a Permitted Acquisition or Investment described in the definition of “Specified Transaction,” shall be included, (b) any retirement of Indebtedness, and (c) any Indebtedness incurred by Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection therewith and if such Indebtedness has a floating or formula rate, shall have an implied rate of interest for the applicable period for purposes of this definition determined by utilizing the rate which is or would be in effect with respect to such Indebtedness as at the relevant date of determination; provided that, (1) without limiting the application of the Pro Forma Adjustment pursuant to clause (A) above, the foregoing pro forma adjustments may be applied to any such test solely to the extent that such adjustments are consistent with the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA” and give effect to events (including cost savings, synergies and operating expense reductions) that are (as determined by Holdings in good faith) (i) (x) directly attributable to such transaction, (y) expected to have a continuing impact on Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries and (z) factually supportable or (ii) otherwise consistent with the definition of “Pro Forma Adjustment” and (2) in connection with any Specified Transaction that is the Incurrence of Indebtedness in respect of which compliance with any specified leverage ratio test is by the terms of this Indenture required to be calculated on a pro forma basis, (I) the proceeds of such Indebtedness shall not be netted from Indebtedness in the calculation of the applicable leverage ratio test and (II) if such Indebtedness is a revolving facility, the incurrence or repayment of any indebtedness in respect of such revolving facility included in such incurrence test calculation immediately prior to or simultaneously with the incurrence of such indebtedness for which the pro forma calculation of such ratio or test is being made and/or any drawing under any revolving facilities used to finance working capital needs of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries (as reasonably determined by Holdings), shall be disregarded but, for avoidance of doubt, shall thereafter be included in any future calculations after giving effect to any prepayments or other Specified Transactions with respect thereto.

 

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(c)    Holdings may elect, pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee not later than 30 days after entering into any commitment providing for the incurrence of Indebtedness, that all or any portion of the Indebtedness that could be incurred under such commitment at the time such commitment is entered into shall be treated as incurred and outstanding in such amount for all purposes of the calculation (whether or not such Indebtedness is outstanding at the time such commitment is entered into) for so long as such commitments are outstanding or until Holdings revokes such election, and any subsequent incurrence of such Indebtedness under such commitment (including upon repayment and reborrowing) shall not be deemed, for purposes of any such calculation, to be the incurrence of Indebtedness at such subsequent time.

(d)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture:

(1)    with respect to any amounts incurred or transactions entered into (or consummated) in reliance on a provision of the same section of this Indenture that does not require compliance with a financial ratio or test (including, without limitation, any Net First Lien Leverage Ratio test, any Net Secured Leverage Ratio test and/or any Net Total Leverage Ratio test) (any such amounts, the “Fixed Amounts”) substantially concurrently with any amounts incurred or transactions entered into (or consummated) in reliance on a provision of the same section of this Indenture that requires compliance with any such financial ratio or test (any such amounts, the “Incurrence Based Amounts”), it is understood and agreed that, for purposes of this Indenture, the Fixed Amounts under such section and any substantially concurrent borrowings under the revolving credit facility under the New Senior Credit Facilities (and any cash proceeds thereof) shall be disregarded in the calculation of the financial ratio or test applicable to the Incurrence Based Amounts in connection with such substantially concurrent incurrence;

(2)    for purposes of calculating any leverage ratio in this Indenture in connection with the Incurrence of any Indebtedness, (A) there shall be no netting of the cash proceeds proposed to be received in connection with the Incurrence of such Indebtedness and (B) to the extent the Indebtedness to be Incurred is revolving Indebtedness, such Incurred revolving Indebtedness (or if applicable, the portion (and only such portion) of the increased commitments thereunder) shall be treated as fully drawn; and

(3)    for the purposes of calculating any leverage ratio in this Indenture, any amount in a currency other than U.S. dollars shall be converted to U.S. dollars based on the average exchange rate for such currency for the most recent twelve month period immediately prior to the date of determination determined in a manner consistent with that used in calculating Consolidated EBITDA for the applicable period.

 

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(e)    in the event that Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary incurs Indebtedness in connection with a Limited Condition Transaction, the date of determination of the Net First Lien Leverage Ratio, the Net Secured Leverage Ratio or the Net Total Leverage Ratio, as applicable, shall, at the option of Holdings, be:

(1)    the date that a definitive agreement for such acquisition is entered into and the Net First Lien Leverage Ratio, Net Secured Leverage Ratio or the Net Total Leverage Ratio, as applicable, shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such acquisition and any actions or transactions related thereto (including acquisitions, Investments, the Incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock and the use of proceeds thereof) consistent with the definition of the Net First Lien Leverage Ratio, Net Secured Leverage Ratio or the Net Total Leverage Ratio, as applicable, and, for the avoidance of doubt, (A) if any such ratios are exceeded as a result of fluctuations in such ratio (including due to fluctuations in the Consolidated EBITDA of Holdings or the target company) at or prior to the consummation of the relevant acquisition, such ratios will not be deemed to have been exceeded as a result of such fluctuations solely for purposes of determining whether such acquisition and any related transactions are permitted hereunder and (B) such ratios shall not be tested at the time of consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction; provided, further, that if Holdings elects to have such determinations occur at the time of entry into such definitive agreement, (i) any such transaction shall be deemed to have occurred on the date the definitive agreement is entered into and to be outstanding thereafter for purposes of calculating any ratios under this Indenture after the date of such agreement and before the earlier of the date of consummation of such acquisition or the date such agreement is terminated or expires without consummation of such acquisition and (ii) to the extent any covenant baskets were utilized in satisfying any covenants, such baskets shall be deemed utilized until the earlier of the date of consummation of such acquisition or the date such agreement is terminated or expires without consummation of such acquisition, but any calculation of Consolidated EBITDA for purposes of other incurrences of Indebtedness or Liens or making of Restricted Payments (not related to such acquisition) shall not reflect such acquisition until it has been consummated, or

(2)    the date such Indebtedness is Incurred.

ARTICLE II

THE NOTES

Section 2.01    Form and Dating; Terms.

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

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

 

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Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as applicable, to reflect exchanges and redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee or the Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, in accordance with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by Section 2.06 hereof.

(c)    Temporary Global Notes. Notes offered and sold in reliance on Regulation S shall be issued initially in the form of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note, which shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Notes represented thereby with the Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary, and registered in the name of the Depositary or the nominee of the Depositary for the accounts of designated agents holding on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream, duly executed by the Issuers and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. The Restricted Period shall be terminated upon the receipt by the Trustee of:

(1)    a written certificate from the Depositary, together with copies of certificates from Euroclear and Clearstream certifying that they have received certification of non-United States beneficial ownership of 100% of the aggregate principal amount of each Regulation S Temporary Global Note (except to the extent of any beneficial owners thereof who acquired an interest therein during the Restricted Period pursuant to another exemption from registration under the Securities Act and who shall take delivery of a beneficial ownership interest in a 144A Global Note bearing a Private Placement Legend, all as contemplated by Section 2.06(b) hereof); and

(2)    an Officer’s Certificate from Holdings.

Following the termination of the Restricted Period, beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note shall be exchanged for beneficial interests in the Regulation S Permanent Global Note pursuant to the Applicable Procedures. Simultaneously with the authentication of the Regulation S Permanent Global Note, the Trustee shall cancel the Regulation S Temporary Global Note. The aggregate principal amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note and the Regulation S Permanent Global Note may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, in connection with transfers of interest as hereinafter provided.

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

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

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

 

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

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

Section 2.02    Execution and Authentication.

At least one Officer shall execute the Notes on behalf of each Issuer by manual or facsimile signature.

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

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

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

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

Section 2.03    Registrar and Paying Agent.

The Issuers shall maintain an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, City of New York, where Notes may be presented for registration (“Registrar”), an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, City of New York, where Notes may be presented for transfer or exchange (“Transfer Agent”) and an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, City of New York,

 

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where Notes may be presented for payment (“Paying Agent”). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes (“Note Register”) and of their transfer and exchange. The Issuers may appoint one or more co-registrars, one or more co-transfer agents and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar, the term “Transfer Agent” includes any co-transfer agent and the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent. The Issuers may change any Paying Agent, Transfer Agent or Registrar without prior notice to any Holder. So long as the Notes are listed on an exchange and the rules of such exchange so require, the Issuers shall satisfy any requirement of such exchange as to paying agents, registrars and transfer agents and shall comply with any notice requirements required by such exchange in connection with any change of paying agent, registrar or transfer agent. The Issuers shall notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this Indenture. If the Issuers fail to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar, Transfer Agent or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such. None of the Issuers, Holdings, any Restricted Subsidiary or any Subsidiary of a Restricted Subsidiary may act as Paying Agent, Transfer Agent or Registrar.

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

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

Section 2.04    Paying Agent To Hold Money in Trust.

The Issuers shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, and shall notify the Trustee of any default by the Issuers in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent shall have no further liability for the money. Upon any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings (or similar proceedings) relating to the Issuers, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the Notes.

Section 2.05    Holder Lists.

The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of all Holders. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Issuers shall furnish to the Trustee at least two Business Days before each Interest Payment Date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders.

Section 2.06    Transfer and Exchange.

(a)    Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. Except as otherwise set forth in this Section 2.06, a Global Note may be transferred, in whole and not in part, only to another nominee of the Depositary or to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor

 

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Depositary. A beneficial interest in a Global Note may not be exchanged for a Definitive Note unless (i) the Depositary (x) notifies the Issuers that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Note or (y) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Issuers within 120 days or (ii) there shall have occurred and be continuing a Default with respect to the Notes. Upon the occurrence of any of the events in clause (i) or (ii) above, Definitive Notes delivered in exchange for any Global Note or beneficial interests therein shall be registered in the names, and issued in any approved denominations, requested by or on behalf of the Depositary (in accordance with its customary procedures). Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.07 and 2.10 hereof. Every Note authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Note or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.06 or Section 2.07 or 2.10 hereof, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Note, except for Definitive Notes issued subsequent to any of the events in clause (i) or (ii) above and pursuant to Section 2.06(c) hereof. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as provided in this Section 2.06(a); provided, however, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 2.06(b) or (c) hereof.

(b)    Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes. The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes shall be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and the Applicable Procedures. Beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes shall be subject to restrictions on transfer comparable to those set forth herein to the extent required by the Securities Act. Transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes also shall require compliance with either clauses (1) or (2) below, as applicable, as well as one or more of the other following subparagraphs, as applicable:

(1)    Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note. Beneficial interests in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Restricted Global Note in accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth in the Private Placement Legend; provided, however, that prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note may not be made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser). Beneficial interests in any Unrestricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 2.06(b)(1).

(2)    All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes. In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests that are not subject to Section 2.06(b)(1) hereof, the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar either (A) (1) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the Participant account to be credited with such increase or (B) (1) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to

 

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cause to be issued a Definitive Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given by the Depositary to the Registrar containing information regarding the Person in whose name such Definitive Note shall be registered to effect the transfer or exchange referred to in (1) above; provided that in no event shall Definitive Notes be issued upon the transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note prior to (x) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (y) the receipt by the Registrar of any certificates required pursuant to Rule 903. Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this Indenture and the Notes or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the Trustee shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Note(s) pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof.

(3)    Transfer of Beneficial Interests to Another Restricted Global Note. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Restricted Global Note if the transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.06(b)(2) hereof and the Registrar receives the following:

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

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

(4)    Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be exchanged by any holder thereof for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note if the exchange or transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.06(b)(2) hereof and the Registrar receives the following:

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

(1)    Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes. If any holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note, then, upon the occurrence of any of the events in clause (1) or (2) of Section 2.06(b) hereof and receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:

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

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

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

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

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

(vi)    if such beneficial interest is being transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(c) thereof, the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof, and the Issuers shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and mail to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the applicable principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note

 

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pursuant to this Section 2.06(c) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall mail such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(1) shall bear the Private Placement Legend and shall be subject to all restrictions on transfer contained therein.

(2)    Beneficial Interests in Regulation S Temporary Global Note to Definitive Notes. Notwithstanding Sections 2.06(c)(1)(i) and (iii) hereof, a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note may not be exchanged for a Definitive Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note prior to (A) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (B) the receipt by the Registrar of any certificates required pursuant to Rule 903(b)(3)(ii)(B) of the Securities Act, except in the case of a transfer pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 903 or Rule 904.

(3)    Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. A holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note may exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or may transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note only upon the occurrence of any of the events in clause (1) or (2) of Section 2.06(a) hereof and if the Registrar receives the following:

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

(ii)    if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof; and, in each such case, if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

(4)    Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. If any holder of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note, then, upon the occurrence of any of the events in clause (1) or (2) of Section 2.06(a) hereof and satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.06(b)(2) hereof, the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof, and the Issuers shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and mail to the Person

 

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designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the applicable principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(4) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from or through the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall mail such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(4) shall not bear the Private Placement Legend.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(vi)    if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(c) thereof, the Trustee shall cancel the Restricted Definitive Note, increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of, in the case of clause (i) above, the applicable Restricted Global Note, in the case of clause (ii) above, the applicable 144A Global Note, and in the case of clause (iii) above, the applicable Regulation S Global Note.

 

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

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

(ii)    if the Holder of such Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof; and, in each such case, if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

Upon satisfaction of the conditions of any of the subparagraphs in this Section 2.06(d)(2), the Trustee shall cancel the Definitive Notes and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the Unrestricted Global Note.

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

(ii) If any such exchange or transfer from a Definitive Note to a beneficial interest is effected pursuant to Sections 2.06(d)(2) or (3)(i) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Issuers shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of Definitive Notes so transferred.

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(ii)    if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof; and, in each such case, if the Registrar so requests, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

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

(f)    [Reserved].

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

(1)    Private Placement Legend.

 

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

“THE NOTES EVIDENCED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT (A) (1) TO A PERSON WHO THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (2) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION COMPLYING WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (3) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE), (4) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL INVESTOR THAT IS AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501 OF REGULATION D UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OR (5) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND (B) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF THE STATES OF THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER JURISDICTIONS.”

(ii)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Global Note or Definitive Note issued pursuant to subparagraph (b)(4), (c)(3), (c)(4), (d)(2), (d)(3), (e)(2) or (e)(3) of this Section 2.06 (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall not bear the Private Placement Legend.

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

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

 

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DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) (“DTC”) TO THE ISSUERS OR THEIR AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.”

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

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

(4)    OID Legend. All Notes shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

“THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS SUPPLIED SOLELY FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES: THIS NOTE WAS ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT (“OID”) WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 1273 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”), AND THIS LEGEND IS REQUIRED BY SECTION 1275(c) OF THE CODE. A HOLDER MAY OBTAIN THE ISSUE PRICE, ISSUE DATE AND YIELD TO MATURITY BY SUBMITTING A WRITTEN REQUEST FOR SUCH INFORMATION TO HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT AT 125 HIGH STREET, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02110 ATTN: TREASURER AND ASSISTANT TREASURER”

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

 

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(i)    General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.

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

(2)    No service charge shall be made to a holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note or to a Holder of a Definitive Note for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Issuers shall require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.06, 2.10, 3.06, 3.09, 4.10, 4.14 and 9.05 hereof).

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

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

(5)    The Issuers shall not be required (A) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.02 hereof and ending at the close of business on the day of selection, (B) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part, (C) to register the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a Record Date and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date or (D) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes selected for redemption or tendered (and not withdrawn) for repurchase in connection with a Change of Control Offer, an Asset Sale Offer or a Collateral Asset Sale Offer.

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

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

(8)    At the option of any Holder, subject to Section 2.06(a) hereof, Notes may be exchanged for other Notes of any authorized denomination or denominations of a like aggregate principal amount upon surrender of the Notes to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Global Notes or Definitive Notes are so surrendered for exchange, the

 

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Issuers shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and mail, the replacement Global Notes and Definitive Notes to which the Holder making the exchange is entitled in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.02 hereof.

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

Section 2.07    Replacement Notes.

If either (x) any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee, the Registrar or the Issuers, or (y) if the Issuers and the Trustee receive evidence to their satisfaction of the ownership and destruction, loss or theft of any Note, then the Issuers shall issue and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order and satisfaction of any other requirements of the Trustee, shall authenticate a replacement Note. If required by the Trustee or the Issuers, an indemnity bond must be supplied by the Holder referred to in clause (x) or (y) of the preceding sentence that is sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Issuers to protect the Issuers, the Trustee, any Agent and any authenticating agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. The Issuers may charge for its expenses in replacing a Note.

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

Section 2.08    Outstanding Notes.

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

If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07 hereof, such Note shall cease to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Note is held by a bona fide purchaser.

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

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

 

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Section 2.09    Treasury Notes.

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

Section 2.10    Temporary Notes.

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

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

Section 2.11    Cancellation.

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

Section 2.12    Defaulted Interest.

If the Issuers default in a payment of interest on the Notes, the Issuers shall pay the defaulted interest in any lawful manner plus, to the extent lawful, interest payable on the defaulted interest to the Persons who are Holders on a subsequent special record date, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof. The Issuers shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Issuers shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such defaulted interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such defaulted interest as provided in this Section 2.12. The Trustee shall fix

 

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or cause to be fixed each such special record date and payment date; provided that no such special record date shall be less than 10 days prior to the related payment date for such defaulted interest. The Trustee shall notify the Issuers of such special record date promptly, and in any event at least 20 days before such special record date. At least 15 days before the special record date, the Issuers (or, upon the written request of the Issuers, the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Issuers) shall mail or cause to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder a notice at his or her address as it appears in the Note Register that states the special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid.

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

Section 2.13    CUSIP Numbers.

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

ARTICLE III

REDEMPTION

Section 3.01    Notices to Trustee.

If the Issuers elect to redeem Notes pursuant to Section 3.07 hereof, it shall furnish to the Trustee, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a Redemption Date, an Officer’s Certificate setting forth (i) the paragraph or subparagraph of such Notes and/or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (ii) the Redemption Date, (iii) the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, (iv) the redemption price and (v) whether the redemption is conditioned on the satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, the consummation of an acquisition or financing transaction or Equity Offering.

Section 3.02    Selection of Notes To Be Redeemed or Purchased.

If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed or purchased in an offer to purchase at any time, the Registrar shall select the Notes to be redeemed or purchased (a) if such Notes are listed on any national securities exchange, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which such Notes are listed or (b) on a pro rata basis to the extent practicable or, to the extent that selection on a pro rata basis is not practicable for any reason, by lot or by such other method as the Registrar shall deem appropriate or as required by the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary. In the event of partial redemption or purchase by lot, the particular Notes to be redeemed or purchased shall be selected, unless otherwise provided herein, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Registrar from the outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption or purchase.

 

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

Section 3.03    Notice of Redemption.

Subject to Section 3.09 hereof, the Issuers shall deliver or cause to be delivered by electronic transmission (for Notes held in book-entry form) or by first-class mail, postage prepaid, notices of redemption at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the purchase or Redemption Date to (x) each Holder to be redeemed at such Holder’s registered address, (y) to the Trustee to forward to each Holder at such Holder’s registered address, or (z) otherwise in accordance with the Applicable Procedures of DTC, except that redemption notices may be delivered more than 60 days prior to a Redemption Date if the notice is issued in connection with Article VIII or Article XI hereof. Any notice of redemption may, at the Issuers’ discretion, provide that the redemption contemplated thereby is conditioned on the satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, the consummation of an acquisition or financing transaction or Equity Offering, that the Redemption Date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied, or such redemption or purchase may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the Redemption Date, or by the Redemption Date as so delayed, and that performance of the Issuers’ obligations with respect to such redemption or purchase may be performed by another Person.

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

(a)    the Redemption Date;

(b)    the redemption price;

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

(i)    whether the redemption contemplated thereby is conditioned on the satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, the consummation of an acquisition or financing transaction or Equity Offering (and shall specify any such conditions).

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

Section 3.04    Effect of Notice of Redemption.

Once notice of redemption is delivered in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, Notes called for redemption become, subject to the satisfaction of any conditions precedent to the consummation of such redemption specified in such notice, irrevocably due and payable on the Redemption Date at the redemption price (except as provided in Section 3.07 hereof and in Section 5 of the Notes). The notice, if delivered in a manner herein provided, shall be conclusively presumed to have been given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice by mail or any defect in the notice to any Holder designated for redemption in whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Note. Subject to Section 3.05 hereof, on and after the Redemption Date, interest shall cease to accrue on Notes or portions of Notes called for redemption.

Section 3.05    Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price.

On the redemption or purchase date, the Issuers shall deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption or purchase price of and accrued and unpaid interest on all Notes to be redeemed or purchased on that date. The Trustee or the Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Issuers any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Issuers in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption price of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, all Notes to be redeemed or purchased.

If the Issuers comply with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, on and after the redemption or purchase date, interest shall cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption or purchase. If a Note is redeemed or purchased on or after a Record Date but on or prior to the related Interest Payment Date, then any accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption or purchase date shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Note was registered at the close of business on such Record Date. If any Note called for redemption or purchase

 

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shall not be so paid upon surrender for redemption or purchase because of the failure of the Issuers to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption or purchase date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful on any interest accrued to the redemption or purchase date not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof.

Section 3.06    Notes Redeemed or Purchased in Part.

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

Section 3.07    Optional Redemption.

(a)    Except as set forth below, the Issuers shall not be permitted to redeem the Notes. The Notes will be payable at par at maturity.

(b)    At any time prior to February 15, 2022, the Notes may be redeemed or purchased (by the Issuers or any other Person), at the Issuers’ option, in whole or in part, upon notice as provided in Section 3.03 hereof, at a redemption price equal to 100.000% of the principal amount of Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of the date of redemption (the “Redemption Date”), and, without duplication, accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Redemption Date, subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date.

(c)    On and after February 15, 2022, the Notes may be redeemed or purchased (by the Issuers or any other Person), at the Issuers’ option, in whole or in part, upon notice as provided in Section 3.03 hereof, at any time and from time to time at the redemption prices set forth below. The Notes shall be redeemable at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on February 15 of each of the years indicated below:

 

Year    Percentage  

2022

     104.500

2023

     102.250

2024 and thereafter

     100.000

 

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(d)    Until February 15, 2022, the Issuers may, at their option, on one or more occasions, upon notice as provided in Section 3.03 hereof, redeem up to 40% of the then outstanding aggregate principal amount of Notes at a redemption price equal to 109.000% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date, with the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings to the extent such net cash proceeds are received by or contributed to Holdings; provided that at least 50% of the sum of the aggregate principal amount of Notes originally issued under this Indenture and any Additional Notes issued under this Indenture after the Issue Date remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption unless all such Notes are redeemed substantially concurrently; provided further, that each such redemption occurs within 180 days of the date of closing of each such Equity Offering.

(e)    [Reserved].

(f)    The Issuers may provide in any notice provided pursuant to Sections 3.07(b) or (c) that payment of the redemption price and performance of the Issuers’ obligations with respect thereto may be performed by another Person. Notice of any redemption pursuant to Section 3.07(d) may be given prior to the completion of the related Equity Offering.

(g)    The Trustee or the Paying Agent shall select the Notes to be purchased pursuant to Section 3.02 hereof.

(h)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, in connection with any tender offer for Notes, including a Change of Control Offer, Collateral Asset Sale Offer or Asset Sale Offer, if Holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes, validly tender and do not withdraw such Notes, in such tender offer and the Issuers, or any third party making such a tender offer in lieu of the Issuers, purchases all of the Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn by such Holders, the Issuers or such third party will have the right upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following such purchase date, to redeem all Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at a redemption price equal to the price offered to each other Holder (excluding any early tender or incentive fee) in such tender offer plus, to the extent not included in the tender offer payment, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon, to, but excluding, such Redemption Date.

Section 3.08    Mandatory Redemption; Offers to Purchase; Open Market Purchases.

The Issuers shall not be required to make any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes. The Issuers may at any time and from time to time purchase Notes in the open market, by tender offer, in negotiated transactions or otherwise.

 

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Section 3.09    Offers to Repurchase by Application of Excess Proceeds or Collateral Excess Proceeds.

(a)    The Issuers shall follow the procedures specified in clauses (b) through (f) of this Section 3.09 for any Asset Sale Offer or Collateral Asset Sale Offer commenced pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof.

(b)    An Asset Sale Offer or Collateral Asset Sale Offer shall remain open for a period of 20 Business Days following its commencement and no longer, except to the extent that a longer period is required by applicable law (the “Offer Period”). No later than five Business Days after the termination of the Offer Period (the “Purchase Date”), the Issuers shall apply all Excess Proceeds or Collateral Excess Proceeds (the “Offer Amount”) to the purchase of Notes and, if required, any First Lien Obligations or other Indebtedness that ranks pari passu with the Notes, in each case subject to Section 4.10 hereof (on a pro rata basis, if applicable), or, subject to Section 4.10 hereof, if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes and First Lien Obligations or any other Indebtedness that ranks pari passu with the Notes tendered in response to the Asset Sale Offer or Collateral Asset Sale Offer. Payment for any Notes so purchased shall be made in the same manner as interest payments are made.

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

(d)    Upon the commencement of an Asset Sale Offer or Collateral Asset Sale Offer, the Issuers shall send, by electronic transmission (for Notes held in book-entry form) or by first-class mail, postage prepaid, a notice to each of the Holders, with a copy to the Trustee and the Registrar, or otherwise in accordance with the Applicable Procedures of DTC. The notice shall contain all instructions and materials necessary to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer or Collateral Asset Sale Offer. The notice, which shall govern the terms of the Asset Sale Offer or Collateral Asset Sale Offer, shall state:

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

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

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

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

(5)    that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer or Collateral Asset Sale Offer may elect to have Notes purchased in minimum principal amounts of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 only;

 

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

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

(8)    that, if the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other First Lien Obligations and any other Indebtedness that ranks pari passu to the Notes, in each case subject to Section 4.10 hereof, surrendered by the holders thereof exceeds the Offer Amount, the Registrar shall select the Notes and such Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis based on the accreted value or principal amount of the Notes or such Indebtedness tendered (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Registrar so that only Notes in denominations of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 shall be purchased); and

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

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

(f)    The Issuers, the Depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall promptly mail or deliver to each tendering Holder an amount equal to the purchase price of the Notes properly tendered by such Holder and accepted by the Issuers for purchase, and the Issuers shall promptly issue a new Note, and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate and mail or deliver (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) such new Note to such Holder (it being understood that, notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, no Opinion of Counsel or Officer’s Certificate is required for the Trustee to authenticate and mail or deliver such new Note) in a principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered representing the same indebtedness to the extent not repurchased; provided that each such new Note shall be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000. Any Note not so accepted for purchase shall be promptly delivered by the Issuers to the Holder thereof. The Issuers shall publicly announce the results of the Asset Sale Offer or Collateral Asset Sale Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Purchase Date.

 

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Other than as specifically provided in this Section 3.09 or Section 4.10 hereof, any purchase pursuant to this Section 3.09 shall be made pursuant to the applicable provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 hereof.

ARTICLE IV

COVENANTS

Section 4.01    Payment of Notes.

The Issuers shall pay or cause to be paid the aggregate amount of interest payable on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes. Principal, premium, if any, interest shall be considered paid on the date due if the Trustee holds as of noon Eastern Time on the Interest Payment Date money deposited by the Issuers in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest then due. If an Interest Payment Date is not a Business Day, payment may be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day, and no additional interest or other amounts shall be payable in respect of the interest period for which such payment is made as a result of such extension of time.

Section 4.02    Maintenance of Office or Agency.

The Issuers shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, City of New York, an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee, Registrar or Transfer Agent) where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange or presented for payment and where notices and demands to or upon the Issuers in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Issuers shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Issuers shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee (other than service of process on the Issuers).

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

The Issuers hereby initially designate the office of the Trustee located at U.S. Bank National Association, 100 Wall Street, 16th floor, New York, NY 10005, as one such office or agency of the Issuers in accordance with Section 2.03 hereof.

 

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Section 4.03    Reports and Other Information.

(a)    So long as any Notes are outstanding, Holdings will deliver to the Trustee a copy of all of the information and reports referred to below:

(1)    within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, annual reports of Holdings for such fiscal year containing the information that would have been required to be contained in an annual report on Form 10-K (or any successor or comparable form) if Holdings had been a reporting company under the Exchange Act, except to the extent permitted to be excluded by the SEC;

(2)    within 60 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year, quarterly reports of Holdings for such fiscal quarter containing the information that would have been required to be contained in a quarterly report on Form 10-Q (or any successor or comparable form) if Holdings had been a reporting company under the Exchange Act, except to the extent permitted to be excluded by the SEC; and

(3)    promptly after the occurrence of any of the following events, current reports of Holdings containing substantially all of the information that would be required to be filed in a current report on Form 8-K under the Exchange Act on the Issue Date pursuant to Sections 1, 2 and 4, Items 5.01, 5.02(a), (b) and (c) and Item 9.01 (only to the extent relating to any of the foregoing) of Form 8-K if Holdings had been a reporting company under the Exchange Act; provided, however, (i) that no such current reports will be required to be delivered if Holdings determines in its good faith judgment that such event is not material to Holders or the business, assets, operations, financial position or prospects of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole and (ii) Holdings shall not be required to make available copies of any agreements, financial statements or other items that would be required to be filed as exhibits to a current report on Form 8-K.

To the extent any such information is not so filed or furnished, as applicable, within the time periods specified in this Section 4.03(a) and such information is subsequently filed or furnished, as applicable, the Issuers shall be deemed to have satisfied their obligations with respect thereto at such time and any Default with respect thereto shall be deemed to have been cured; provided that such cure shall not otherwise affect the rights of the Holders under Article VI hereof if Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then total outstanding Notes have declared the principal of, premium, if any, interest and any other monetary obligations on all the then outstanding Notes to be due and payable immediately and such declaration shall not have been rescinded or cancelled prior to such cure.

(b)    In addition to providing such information to the Trustee, Holdings shall make available to Holders the information required to be provided pursuant to clauses (1), (2) and (3) of the preceding paragraph, by posting such information to its website or on IntraLinks or any comparable password protected online data system or website.

(c)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) Holdings will not be required to deliver any information, certificates or reports that would otherwise be required by (i) Section 302 or Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or related Items 307 or 308 of Regulation S-K or (ii) Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC with respect to any non-generally accepted accounting principles financial measures contained therein, (b) such reports will not be required to contain financial information required by Rule 3-09, Rule 3-10 or Rule 3-16 of Regulation S-X or include any exhibits or certifications required by Form 10-K or Form 10-Q (or any successor forms) or related rules under Regulation S-K and (c) such reports shall be subject

 

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to exceptions, exclusions and other differences consistent with the presentation of financial and other information in this offering memorandum and shall not be required to present compensation or beneficial ownership information.

(d)    Holdings has agreed that, for so long as any Notes remain outstanding during any period when Holdings is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, or otherwise permitted to furnish the SEC with certain information pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) of the Exchange Act, it will furnish to the Holders and to prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

(e)    Holdings shall also hold quarterly conference calls for the Holders to discuss financial information for the previous quarter (it being understood that such quarterly conference call may be the same conference call as with the Holdings’ equity investors and analysts). The conference call shall be following the last day of each fiscal quarter of Holdings and not later than 20 Business Days from the time that Holdings distributes the financial information as set forth in Section 4.03(a). Holdings shall issue a press release announcing the time and date of such conference call (which date may be the same date on which the press release is issued) and providing instructions for Holders, securities analysts and prospective investors to obtain access to such call; provided, however, that such press release can be distributed solely to certified users of the website described in Section 4.03(c).

(f)    Notwithstanding the other clauses in this Section 4.03, Holdings will be deemed to have delivered such reports and information referred to above to the Holders and the Trustee for all purposes of this Indenture if Holdings has filed such reports with the SEC via the EDGAR filing system (or any successor system) and such reports are publicly available. In addition, the requirements of this Section 4.03 will be deemed satisfied and Holdings will be deemed to have delivered such reports and information referred to above to the Trustee for all purposes of this Indenture by the posting of reports and information that would be required to be provided on Holdings’ website. Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including Holding’s compliance with any of its covenants thereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on an Officer’s Certificate). The Trustee shall not be obligated to monitor or confirm, on a continuing basis or otherwise, Holdings’ compliance with the covenants under this Indenture or with respect to any reports or other documents filed with the SEC or posted on Holdings’ website pursuant to this Indenture, or participate in any conference calls.

Section 4.04    Compliance Certificate.

(a)    Holdings shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year ending after the Issue Date, a certificate from an Officer stating that a review of the activities of Holdings, the Issuers and their Restricted Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officer with a view to determining whether the Issuers have kept, observed, performed and fulfilled their obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge the Issuers have kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every condition

 

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and covenant contained in this Indenture during such fiscal year and are not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions, covenants and conditions of this Indenture (or, if a Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Issuers are taking or proposes to take with respect thereto).

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

Section 4.05    [Reserved].

Section 4.06    [Reserved].

Section 4.07    Limitation on Restricted Payments.

(a)    Holdings shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly:

(1)    declare or pay any dividend or make any distribution or any payment having the effect thereof on account of Holdings’ or any Restricted Subsidiary’s Equity Interests (in such Person’s capacity as holder of such Equity Interests), including any dividend or distribution payable in connection with any merger, amalgamation or consolidation other than:

(i)    dividends or distributions payable solely in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of Holdings; or

(ii)    dividends or distributions by a Restricted Subsidiary payable to Holdings or another Restricted Subsidiary so long as, in the case of any dividend or distribution payable on or in respect of any class or series of securities issued by a Restricted Subsidiary other than a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Holdings, Holdings 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;

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

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

(i)    Indebtedness permitted under Section 4.09(b)(3) hereof; or

 

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(ii)    the payment of principal on or the purchase, redemption, defeasance, repurchase or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Indebtedness of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary 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 of principal or such purchase, redemption, defeasance, repurchase or acquisition; or

(4)    make any Restricted Investment;

(all such payments and other actions set forth in clauses (1) through (4) above being collectively referred to as “Restricted Payments”) unless, at the time of such Restricted Payment:

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

(6)    immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis, the Net Total Leverage Ratio is not greater than 4:00:1:00; and

(7)    such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date (including Restricted Payments permitted by Sections 4.07(b)(10), but excluding all other Restricted Payments permitted by the next succeeding paragraph), is less than the sum of (without duplication and determined on a cumulative basis):

(i)    (i)(x) 100% of the Consolidated EBITDA of Holdings for the period (taken as one accounting period) beginning on the first day of the first fiscal quarter in which the Issue Date occurs to the end of Holdings’ 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 (y) 1.4 times the Consolidated Interest Expense of Holdings for the same period (which difference shall in no event be less than zero) or (ii) in the case such Consolidated EBITDA is a deficit, zero; plus

(ii)    100% of the aggregate net proceeds (including cash and the fair market value, as determined in good faith by Holdings, of marketable securities or other property) received by Holdings since immediately after the Issue Date from the issue or sale of:

(iii)    Equity Interests of Holdings, excluding cash proceeds and the fair market value, as determined in good faith by Holdings, of marketable securities or other property received from the sale of Equity Interests to members of management, directors or consultants of Holdings, its Restricted Subsidiaries and any direct or indirect parent company of Holdings, after the Issue Date to the extent such amounts have been applied to Restricted Payments made in accordance with Section 4.07(b)(1); and

(iv)    to the extent such proceeds or other property are actually contributed to the capital of Holdings, Equity Interests of Holdings’ direct or indirect parent companies; or

 

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(8)    debt of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary that has been converted into or exchanged for such Equity Interests of Holdings or a direct or indirect parent company of Holdings; provided, however, that this clause (B) shall not include the proceeds from (X) Refunding Capital Stock (as defined below), (Y) Equity Interests or convertible debt securities sold to the Issuers or a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be or (Z) Disqualified Stock or debt securities that have been converted into Disqualified Stock; plus

(i)    100% of the aggregate amount of net proceeds (including cash and the fair market value, as determined in good faith by Holdings, of marketable securities or other property) contributed to the capital of Holdings following the Issue Date (other than by a Restricted Subsidiary); plus

(ii)    100% of the aggregate amount of proceeds (including cash and the fair market value, as determined in good faith by Holdings, of marketable securities or other property) received by Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary by means of:

(9)    the sale or other disposition (other than to Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary) of Restricted Investments made by Holdings or its Restricted Subsidiaries and repurchases and redemptions of such Restricted Investments from Holdings or its Restricted Subsidiaries and repayments of loans or advances, and releases of guarantees, which constitute Restricted Investments by Holdings or its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case with respect to Restricted Investments made after the Issue Date; or

(10)    the sale or other disposition (other than to Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary) of the stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or a dividend or distribution from an Unrestricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date;

provided, however, that this clause (D) shall not include the Net Proceeds of any Asset Sale to the extent such Net Proceeds have been applied to Restricted Payments made in accordance with Section 4.07(b)(8); plus

(i)    in the case of the redesignation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date, the fair market value of the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary, as determined by Holdings in good faith, at the time of the redesignation of such Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, other than to the extent such Investment constituted a Permitted Investment; plus

(ii)    $50.0 million.

(b)    Section 4.07(a) hereof shall not prohibit:

(1)    repurchase or payment of cash dividends or distributions by Holdings with respect to its Equity Interests so that one or more of its parent holding companies (if any) may repurchase its own Equity Interests owned by present or former officers or employees of Holdings or the Restricted Subsidiaries or payments to present or former officers or employees of Holdings or the Restricted Subsidiaries upon termination of employment in connection with the exercise of stock options, stock appreciation rights or similar equity incentives or equity based incentives pursuant to management incentive plans or in connection with the death or disability, retirement or termination of employment of such present or former officers or employees; provided, that the aggregate amount of such Restricted Payments under this clause

 

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(1) shall not exceed in any calendar year $3.0 million; provided that any unused amount in any calendar year may be carried forward into any succeeding calendar year (plus the amount of net proceeds received by Holdings during such calendar year from Employee Equity Sales and the amount of net proceeds of any key-man life insurance received during such calendar year); and provided further, that the aggregate amount of such purchases or redemptions that may be made pursuant to this clause (1) shall not exceed $13.0 million (plus the amount of net proceeds received by Holdings after the Issue Date from Employee Equity Sales); provided further that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary from employees, directors, officers or consultants of Holdings, any of its Subsidiaries or its direct or indirect parent companies in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of Holdings or any of Holdings’ direct or indirect parent companies will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this Section 4.07 or any other provision of this Indenture;

(2)    the purchase, redemption, defeasance, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of any Equity Interests of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary or Subordinated Indebtedness of Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent company of Holdings, in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of, the substantially concurrent sale or issuance (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) of, Equity Interests of Holdings, or any direct or indirect parent company of Holdings, to the extent contributed to Holdings (in each case, other than any Disqualified Stock) (“Refunding Capital Stock”);

(3)    repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options, warrants or convertible securities if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options, warrants or convertible securities and payments of cash in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares of Equity Interests upon exercise or conversion of securities exercisable or convertible into Equity Interests;

(4)    Restricted Payments at any time when, on a pro forma basis after giving effect thereto, (x) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (y) the Net Total Leverage Ratio on a pro forma basis is not greater than 1.75:1.00;

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

(6)    the distribution, by dividend or otherwise, of shares of Equity Interests of, or Indebtedness owed to the Issuers or a Restricted Subsidiary by, Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(7)    payments or distributions to dissenting stockholders pursuant to applicable law, pursuant to or in connection with a consolidation, merger or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, that complies with Section 5.01; provided, however, that as a result of such consolidation, merger or transfer of assets, Holdings shall make a Change of Control Offer and that all Notes tendered by Holders in connection with such Change of Control Offer have been repurchased, redeemed, acquired or retired for value;

 

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(8)    distributions, by dividend or otherwise, of Net Proceeds of any Asset Sale by an Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary that do not, or no longer, constitute Excess Proceeds or Collateral Excess Proceeds because they were used to make an Asset Sale Offer or Collateral Asset Sale Offer, as the case may be; provided, however, that all Notes validly tendered by Holders in the Asset Sale Offer or Collateral Asset Sale Offer, as the case may be, have been purchased;

(9)    Holdings and any Restricted Subsidiary may declare and pay regularly scheduled or accrued dividends to holders of a class or series of Disqualified Stock of Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued not in violation of Section 4.09;

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

(11)    the purchase, redemption, defeasance, repurchase or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Indebtedness of an Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, new Subordinated Indebtedness of an Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, which is incurred in compliance with Section 4.09 hereof.

(c)    Holdings will not permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary to become a Restricted Subsidiary except pursuant to the second to last sentence of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary.” For purposes of designating any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, all outstanding Investments by Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid) in the Subsidiary so designated will be deemed to be Investments in an amount determined as set forth in the last sentence of the definition of “Investments.” Such designation will be permitted only if a Restricted Payment in such amount would be permitted at such time pursuant to this Section 4.07 or pursuant to the definition of “Permitted Investments,” and if such Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. Unrestricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to any of the restrictive covenants set forth in this Indenture.

Section 4.08    Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries.

(a)    Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors to, directly or indirectly, incur or permit to exist any agreement or other arrangement that prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition upon:

(1)    the ability of Holdings, or any Restricted Subsidiary to create, incur or permit to exist any Lien upon any of its property or assets; or

(2)    the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to pay dividends or other distributions with respect to any of its Equity Interests or to make or repay loans or advances to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary or to Guarantee Indebtedness of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary.

 

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(b)    The restrictions in Section 4.08(a) hereof shall not apply to:

(1)    contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Issue Date;

(2)    (x) the New Senior Credit Facilities, the ABL Facility and the related documentation and (y) this Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees and the Security Documents;

(3)    purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business and Capital Lease Obligations if such restrictions or conditions apply only to the property or assets subject to such Liens;

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

(5)    customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of, or sale of the assets of a Restricted Subsidiary pending such sale; provided such restrictions and conditions apply only to the Restricted Subsidiary that is, or such assets that are, to be sold and such sale is permitted hereunder;

(6)    restrictions or conditions imposed by any agreement relating to other Indebtedness secured by Liens permitted by Section 4.18 if such restrictions or conditions apply only to the property or assets subject to such Liens;

(7)    clause (1) of the foregoing shall not apply to customary provisions in leases and other contracts restricting the assignment thereof;

(8)    any Not for Profit Subsidiary;

(9)    customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements applicable to joint ventures entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(10)    any agreement or other instrument of a Person acquired by or merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into any Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof in existence at the time of such acquisition, merger, consolidation or amalgamation (but, in any such case, not created in contemplation thereof), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person so acquired and its Subsidiaries, or the property or assets of the Person so acquired and its Subsidiaries or the property or assets so assumed;

(11)    customary provisions contained in any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to any Credit Facilities as permitted pursuant to Section 4.09 hereof and provided that an Officer reasonably and in good faith determines at the time such Indebtedness is incurred (and at the time of any modification of the terms of any such encumbrance or restriction) that any such encumbrance or restriction will not materially adversely affect any Issuer’s or any Guarantor’s ability to make any payments, when due, with respect to the Notes or its Guarantee thereof and any other Indebtedness that is an obligation of such Issuer or such Guarantor and such determination is set forth in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee; and

 

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(12)    any encumbrances or restrictions imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (1) through (11) of this Section 4.08(b); provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the good faith judgment of Holdings, not materially more restrictive with respect to such encumbrance and other restrictions taken as a whole than those prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing.

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

(a)    Holdings shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise (collectively, “incur” and collectively, an “incurrence”) with respect to any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) and Holdings and the Guarantors shall not issue any shares of Disqualified Stock and Holdings shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor to issue any shares of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock; provided, however, that (1) the Issuers and the Guarantors may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock, and (2) any Restricted Subsidiary that is not an Issuer or a Guarantor may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock and issue shares of Preferred Stock, if in each case the Net Total Leverage Ratio at the time such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued is no greater than 4.5 to 1.0, 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 the most recently ended four fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available; provided further, however, that Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors or Issuers may not incur Indebtedness or issue Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock if, after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence or issuance (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), more than an aggregate of the greater of $100,000,000 or 35% of Consolidated EBITDA of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors or Issuers is outstanding pursuant to this paragraph (together with any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof and with amounts incurred under clause (15) of the next paragraph) at such time.

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

(1)    Indebtedness of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries (i) in existence on the Issue Date (other than the ABL Facility, the New Senior Credit Facilities and Indebtedness described in clauses (2) or (3) of this Section 4.09(b)), or (ii) under Credit Facilities in an amount not to exceed the sum of $975.0 million;

 

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(2)    the incurrence by the Issuers and any Guarantor of Indebtedness represented by the Notes (including any Guarantee, but excluding any Additional Notes);

(3)    intercompany Indebtedness of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that any such intercompany Indebtedness owed by any Issuer or Guarantor to a Subsidiary that is not an Issuer or Guarantor shall be subordinated to the First Lien Obligations;

(4)    Indebtedness incurred by Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries arising from agreements providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price, earnouts or similar obligations, or from guarantees or letters of credit, surety bonds or performance bonds securing the performance of Holdings or any such Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to such agreements, in connection with Permitted Acquisitions or Acquisitions or permitted dispositions of any business or assets of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries;

(5)    Indebtedness which may be deemed to exist pursuant to any guarantees, performance, surety, statutory, appeal or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(6)    Indebtedness in respect of netting services, overdraft protections, any cash management services arrangement and otherwise in connection with deposit accounts;

(7)    guarantees in the ordinary course of business of the obligations of suppliers, customers, franchisees and licensees of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries;

(8)    Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of (x) Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary incurred or issued to finance an acquisition or (y) Persons that are acquired by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary or merged into Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; provided, however, that after giving effect to such acquisition or merger, either (A) the total amount of Indebtedness incurred and outstanding under this clause (8) is in an aggregate amount together with any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof not to exceed the greater of (x) $70.0 million and (y) 15% of Consolidated EBITDA, or (B) any of the following are satisfied as of the date of incurrence:

(i)    the Issuers would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.09(a); or

(ii)    the Net Total Leverage Ratio is not higher than the Net Total Leverage Ratio immediately prior to such acquisition or merger

provided, however, that in each case, such determination is made on a pro forma basis taking into account such acquisition or merger;

(9)    Indebtedness owed to (including obligations in respect of letters of credit for the benefit of) any person providing worker’s compensation, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, pursuant to reimbursement or indemnification obligations to such person;

 

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(10)    Indebtedness of Holdings or the Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of performance bonds, bid bonds, appeal bonds, surety bonds and similar obligations and trade-related letters of credit, in each case provided in the ordinary course of business, including those incurred to secure health, safety and environmental obligations in the ordinary course of business and any extension, renewal or refinancing thereof to the extent that the amount of refinancing Indebtedness is not greater than the amount of Indebtedness being refinanced;

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

(12)    Indebtedness with respect to Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings and purchase money Indebtedness incurred by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, or Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock issued by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiaries, to finance the purchase, lease or improvement of property, prior to or within 270 days after the acquisition, lease, construction, repair, replacement or improvement of the respective asset (whether through the direct purchase of such asset or the Equity Interest of any person owning such asset) in order to finance such acquisition, lease, construction, repair, replacement or improvement (including any Indebtedness acquired in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or an Acquisition); provided, any such Indebtedness (i) shall be secured only by the assets acquired, leased, constructed, repaired or improved in connection with the incurrence of such Indebtedness, and (ii) shall constitute not less than 75% of the aggregate consideration paid with respect to such asset in an aggregate principal amount which, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence thereof, when aggregated with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness then outstanding that was incurred pursuant to this clause (12), together with any Refinancing Indebtedness thereof, is not in excess of the greater of (A) 25% of the Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended four fiscal quarter period ending with a fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available and (B) $75.0 million;

(13)    Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary supported by a letter of credit in a principal amount not in excess of the stated amount of such letter of credit;

(14)    the incurrence by (x) Holdings and the Guarantors of Indebtedness or the issuance of shares of Disqualified Stock by the Guarantors, and (y) any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor of Indebtedness or the issuance of shares of Disqualified Stock or shares of Preferred Stock, in each case, that serves to extend, replace, refund, refinance, renew or defease:

(i)    any Indebtedness incurred or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued as permitted under Section 4.09(a) and clauses (2), (8) and (12) of this Section 4.09(b) (including with respect to Section 4.09(a), any unfunded commitment for which an Officer’s Certificate has been delivered to the Trustee as provided in Section 1.06(c) hereof), or

(ii)    any Indebtedness incurred or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued to so extend, replace, refund, refinance, renew or defease the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock set forth in clause (A) above (including unfunded commitments that serve to extend, replace, refund, refinance, renew or defease any unfunded commitments under Indebtedness set forth in such clause (A));

 

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provided, however, that in the case of clauses (A) and (B), any unfunded commitment shall continue to be treated as outstanding for purposes of the definitions of Net Total Leverage Ratio, Net Secured Leverage Ratio and Net First Lien Leverage Ratio, to the extent such unfunded commitment was outstanding for purposes thereof prior to such extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance under this clause (14), including, in each case, additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred to pay premiums (including tender premiums), defeasance costs and fees and expenses in connection therewith or incurred as a result of original issue discount, accreted value in excess of the proceeds thereof or the stated principal amount thereof being in excess of the fair value thereof at issuance, in each case, as determined in good faith by the Issuers (collectively, the “Refinancing Indebtedness”) prior to its respective maturity; provided, however, that:

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

(B)    to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness refinances Subordinated Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such Refinancing Indebtedness is Subordinated Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, and in the case of Subordinated Indebtedness, is subordinated to the Notes on terms at least as favorable to the Holders as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being refinanced;

(C)    such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not include:

(i) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Subsidiary of Holdings that is not a Guarantor that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of any Issuer or a Guarantor; or

(ii) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary; and

(D)    such Refinancing Indebtedness has an aggregate principal amount (or if Incurred with original issue discount, an aggregate issue price) that is equal to or less than the sum of (x) the aggregate principal amount (or if Incurred with original issue discount, the aggregate accreted value) then outstanding (plus customary fees and expenses, including premiums, accrued and unpaid interest and defeasance costs) under the Indebtedness being Refinanced plus (y) an amount equal to any unutilized commitment relating to the Indebtedness being refinanced or otherwise then outstanding under a Credit Facility or other

 

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financing arrangement being refinanced to the extent the unutilized commitment being refinanced could be drawn in compliance with this Section 4.09 immediately prior to such refinancing, plus (z) fees, underwriting discounts, accrued and unpaid interest, premiums (including tender premiums) and other costs and expenses (including original issue discount, upfront fees and similar fees) Incurred or payable in connection with such refinancing;

(15)    Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries of Holdings that are not Issuers or Guarantors in an aggregate principal amount which, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence thereof, when aggregated with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness then outstanding that was incurred pursuant to this clause (15), together with any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(a) by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not the Issuers or Guarantors, is not in excess of the greater of (i) $100.0 million and (ii) and 35% of the Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended four fiscal quarter period ending with a fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available;

(16)    all premiums (if any), interest, fees, expenses, indemnities, charges and additional or contingent interest on obligations described in clauses (1) through (15) above;

(17)    guarantees of obligations of third parties to the extent treated as Investments in such third parties (in an amount equal to the aggregate amount of the obligations so guaranteed) and permitted by Section 4.07;

(18)    Indebtedness consisting of Indebtedness issued by any Issuer or Guarantor to future, current or former officers, managers, directors, consultants and employees of Holdings, its subsidiaries or its direct or indirect parent companies, their respective estates, spouses or former spouses, in each case to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of Holdings or any direct or indirect parent companies to the extent described in 4.07(b)(1);

(19)    Indebtedness with respect to Hedging Agreements permitted under clause (8) of the definition of Permitted Investments;

(20)    Indebtedness incurred by the Issuers or any of their Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent that the net proceeds thereof are deposited with the Trustee within five (5) Business Days to satisfy or discharge the Notes or exercise the Issuers’ legal defeasance option or covenant defeasance option, in each case, in accordance with this Indenture;

(21)    Indebtedness of Joint Ventures and/or Indebtedness incurred on behalf of any Joint Venture or any Guarantees of Indebtedness of joint ventures, in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not to exceed $60.0 million at any time; and

(22)    any other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock not otherwise permitted hereunder which, when aggregated with the amount of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock then outstanding and incurred pursuant to this clause (22), does not at any one time exceed $150.0 million.

 

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

(1)    in the event that an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of permitted Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock described in clauses (1) through (22) of Section 4.09(b) hereof or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(a) hereof, Holdings, in its sole discretion, may classify or reclassify such item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) and shall only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock in one of the above clauses of Section 4.09(b) hereof or under Section 4.09(a) hereof; provided that (x) all Indebtedness outstanding under the New Senior Credit Facilities and the ABL Facility on the Issue Date shall be treated as incurred on the Issue Date under clause (1)(ii) of Section 4.09(b) hereof and may not be reclassified and (y) Indebtedness incurred or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors may be reclassified only to the extent that, after giving effect to such reclassification (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), such Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor would be permitted to incur the Indebtedness or issue the Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock as so reclassified on the date;

(2)    at the time of incurrence or any reclassification thereafter, Holdings shall be entitled to divide and classify an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock in more than one of the types of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock described in Sections 4.09(a) and 4.09(b) hereof; provided, however, that with respect to such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors, such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock may only be classified or reclassified as a type of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock to the extent such Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor may so incur such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock under this Indenture on the date of classification or reclassification;

(3)    in the event that Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary incurs Indebtedness in connection with a Limited Condition Transaction, the date of determination of the Net First Lien Leverage Ratio, the Net Secured Leverage Ratio or the Net Total Leverage Ratio, as applicable, shall, at the option of Holdings, be:

(i)    the date that a definitive agreement for such acquisition is entered into and the Net First Lien Leverage Ratio, Net Secured Leverage Ratio or the Net Total Leverage Ratio, as applicable, shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such acquisition and any actions or transactions related thereto (including acquisitions, Investments, the Incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock and the use of proceeds thereof) consistent with the definition of the Net First Lien Leverage Ratio, Net Secured Leverage Ratio or the Net Total Leverage Ratio, as applicable, and, for the avoidance of doubt, (A) if any such ratios are exceeded as a result of fluctuations in such ratio (including due to fluctuations in the Consolidated EBITDA of Holdings or the target company) at or prior to the consummation of the relevant acquisition, such ratios will not be deemed to have been exceeded as a result of such fluctuations solely for purposes of determining whether such acquisition and any related transactions are permitted hereunder and (B) such ratios shall not be tested at the time of consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction; provided, further, that if Holdings elects to have such determinations occur at the time of entry into such definitive agreement, (i) any such transaction shall be deemed to have occurred on the date the definitive agreement is entered into and to be outstanding thereafter for purposes of calculating any ratios under this Indenture

 

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after the date of such agreement and before the earlier of the date of consummation of such acquisition or the date such agreement is terminated or expires without consummation of such acquisition and (ii) to the extent any covenant baskets were utilized in satisfying any covenants, such baskets shall be deemed utilized until the earlier of the date of consummation of such acquisition or the date such agreement is terminated or expires without consummation of such acquisition, but any calculation of Consolidated EBITDA for purposes of other incurrences of Indebtedness or Liens or making of Restricted Payments (not related to such acquisition) shall not reflect such acquisition until it has been consummated, or

(ii)    the date such Indebtedness is incurred.

(iii)    Accrual of interest or dividends, the accretion of accreted value, the accretion or amortization of original issue discount and the payment of interest or dividends in the form of additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, shall not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness or issuance of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock for purposes of this Section 4.09.

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

(5)    The principal amount of any Indebtedness incurred to refinance other Indebtedness, if incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness being refinanced, shall be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such respective Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing. The principal amount of any non-interest bearing Indebtedness or other discount security constituting Indebtedness at any date shall be the principal amount thereof that would be shown on a balance sheet of Holdings dated such date prepared in accordance with GAAP.

(6)    Holdings shall not, and shall not permit any Issuer or Guarantor to, directly or indirectly, incur any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) that is contractually subordinated or junior in right of payment to any Indebtedness of Holdings or such Issuer or Guarantor, as the case may be, unless such Indebtedness is also expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Guarantee of such Guarantor, as the case may be.

(7)    For all purposes of the Notes and this Indenture, subordination will refer to contractual payment subordination and not to structural subordination. The Notes and this Indenture do not treat (1) unsecured Indebtedness as subordinated or junior to Secured

 

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Indebtedness merely because it is unsecured, (2) unsubordinated Indebtedness as subordinated or junior to any other unsubordinated Indebtedness merely because it has a junior priority with respect to the same collateral or (3) Indebtedness as subordinated or junior Indebtedness merely because it is structurally subordinated to other Indebtedness.

Section 4.10    Asset Sales.

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

(1)    Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the fair market value (as determined in good faith by Holdings) 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 Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents; provided that the amount of:

(i)    any liabilities (as shown on Holdings’ or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet or in the footnotes thereto) of Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary, other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes (or Guarantees) or that are owed to Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary, that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets and for which Holdings and all of its Restricted Subsidiaries have been irrevocably released from such liabilities,

(ii)    any securities, notes or other obligations or assets received by Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash (to the extent of the cash received) within 180 days following the closing of such Asset Sale, subject to ordinary settlement periods, and

(iii)    any Designated Non-Cash Consideration received by Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary in such Asset Sale having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Designated Non-Cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (c) that is at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (x) $30.0 million and (y) 7.5% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the end of Holdings’ most recently ended fiscal quarter prior to the date of the receipt of such Designated Non-Cash Consideration, with the fair market value of each item of Designated Non-Cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value

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

(b)    Within 12 months after the receipt of any Net Proceeds of any Asset Sale by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary, at its option, may apply the Net Proceeds from such Asset Sale:

(1)    to the extent such Net Proceeds are from an Asset Sale of Collateral, (x) to permanently reduce any First Lien Obligations (other than the Notes), including Indebtedness under the New Senior Credit Facilities, and to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect

 

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thereto; provided that the Issuers equally and ratably reduce (or offer to reduce pursuant to a Collateral Asset Sale Offer) Obligations under the Notes, (y) to reduce or repay ABL Obligations, if such Net Proceeds are from an Asset Sale of ABL Priority Collateral, or (z) to make an offer (in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 3.09 and Section 4.10(d) hereof for a Collateral Asset Sale Offer) to all Holders to purchase a pro rata amount of Notes at 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued but unpaid interest, redeem Notes as provided in Section 3.07 hereof or purchase Notes through open-market purchases (to the extent such purchases are at or above 100% of the principal amount thereof); and

(2)    to the extent such Net Proceeds are from an Asset Sale that does not constitute Collateral, (x) to reduce, prepay, repay or purchase any Indebtedness secured by a Lien on such asset, (y) to reduce, prepay, repay or purchase Pari Passu Indebtedness; provided, that the Issuers equally and ratably reduce (or offer to reduce pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer) Obligations under the Notes, or (z) to make an offer (in accordance with the procedures set forth below for an Asset Sale Offer) to all Holders to purchase a pro rata amount of Notes at 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued but unpaid interest, redeem Notes as provided in Section 3.07 hereof or purchase Notes through open-market purchases (to the extent such purchases are at or above 100% of the principal amount thereof);

(3)    solely in the case of an Asset Sale by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not an Issuer or a Guarantor, to permanently reduce Obligations under Indebtedness of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Issuers or Guarantors, and to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto; or

(4)    to (a) make an Investment in any one or more businesses, provided, however, that such Investment in any business is in the form of the acquisition of Equity Interests and results in Holdings or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, owning an amount of the Equity Interests of such business such that it constitutes a Restricted Subsidiary, (b) acquire properties, (c) make capital expenditures or (d) acquire other assets that, in the case of each of clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) either (x) are used or useful in a Similar Business or (y) replace the businesses, properties or assets that are the subject of such Asset Sale; provided further, that such Equity Interests, properties and other assets are pledged as Collateral to the extent constituting Collateral;

provided, however, that in the case of clause (3) above, a binding commitment shall be treated as a permitted application of the Net Proceeds from the date of such commitment so long as Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary enters into such commitment with the good faith expectation that such Net Proceeds will be applied to satisfy such commitment within the later of 12 months after receipt of such Net Proceeds and 180 days following such commitment; provided further, however, that if such commitment is cancelled or terminated after the later of such 12 month or 180 day period for any reason before such Net Proceeds are applied, then such Net Proceeds shall constitute Collateral Excess Proceeds or Excess Proceeds, as the case may be.

(c)    Any Net Proceeds from any Asset Sale described in Section 4.10(a) that are not invested or applied as provided and within the time period set forth in Section 4.10(b) will be deemed to constitute “Collateral Excess Proceeds,” with respect to any Asset Sale of Collateral, or “Excess Proceeds”, with respect to any Asset Sale of assets or property that do not constitute

 

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Collateral, except the amount of Collateral Excess Proceeds or Excess Proceeds, as the case may be, will be reduced by the sum of the amount of the Notes offered to be purchased in an offer pursuant to Section 4.10(b)(1) hereof.

(d)    When the aggregate amount of Collateral Excess Proceeds with respect to the Notes exceeds $25,000,000, the Issuers shall make an offer to all Holders and, if required by the terms of any First Lien Obligations or Obligations secured by a Lien permitted under this Indenture on the Collateral disposed of (which Lien is not subordinate to the Lien of the Notes with respect to the Collateral), to all holders of such other First Lien Obligations or other Obligations (a “Collateral Asset Sale Offer”), to purchase the maximum aggregate principal amount of such Notes that is a minimum of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 thereof (in aggregate principal amount) and the maximum aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, if less) of such other First Lien Obligations or other Obligations that may be purchased out of such Collateral Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest (or such lesser price with respect to such other First Lien Obligations or other Obligations, if any, as may be provided by the terms of the agreement governing such other Indebtedness) to the date fixed for the closing of such offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Indenture and the agreements governing such other First Lien Obligations or other Obligations. The Issuers will commence a Collateral Asset Sale Offer with respect to Collateral Excess Proceeds within 20 Business Days after the date that Collateral Excess Proceeds exceed $25,000,000 by delivering the notice required pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, with a copy to the Trustee or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of DTC. The Issuers, in their sole discretion, may satisfy the foregoing obligations with respect to any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale by making a Collateral Asset Sale Offer with respect to such Net Proceeds prior to the expiration of the relevant 12 month period (or such longer period provided above) or with respect to Collateral Excess Proceeds of $25,000,000 or less.

(e)    To the extent that the aggregate principal amount of Notes and the aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such other First Lien Obligations or other Obligations secured by a Lien permitted under this Indenture on the Collateral disposed of, as the case may be, validly tendered pursuant to a Collateral Asset Sale Offer is less than the Collateral Excess Proceeds with respect to the Notes, the Issuers may use any remaining Collateral Excess Proceeds for general corporate purposes, including to make Restricted Payments, subject to the other covenants contained in this Indenture or for any other purpose not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and the aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such other First Lien Obligations or other Obligations surrendered in a Collateral Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Collateral Excess Proceeds, the Trustee or the Paying Agent shall select the Notes and the Issuers or the agent for such other First Lien Obligations or other Obligations will select such other First Lien Obligations or other Obligations to be purchased on a pro rata basis based on the principal amount of the Notes and the aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such other First Lien Obligations or other Obligations validly tendered. Upon completion of any such Collateral Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Collateral Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.

 

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(f)    When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds with respect to the Notes exceeds $25,000,000, the Issuers shall make an offer to all Holders and, if required by the terms of any Pari Passu Indebtedness, to all holders of such Indebtedness (an “Asset Sale Offer”), to purchase the maximum aggregate principal amount of such Notes and the maximum aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, if less) of such Indebtedness that is a minimum of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 thereof (in aggregate principal amount) that may be purchased out of such Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest (or such lesser price with respect to such other Pari Passu Indebtedness, if any, as may be provided by the terms of the agreements governing such other Indebtedness) to the date fixed for the closing of such offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Indenture and the agreement governing the Pari Passu Indebtedness. The Issuers will commence an Asset Sale Offer with respect to Excess Proceeds within 20 Business Days after the date that Excess Proceeds exceed $25,000,000 by delivering the notice required pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, with a copy to the Trustee or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of DTC. The Issuers, in their sole discretion, may satisfy the foregoing obligations with respect to any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale by making an Asset Sale Offer with respect to such Net Proceeds prior to the expiration of the relevant 12 month period (or such longer period provided above) or with respect to Excess Proceeds of $25,000,000 or less.

(g)    To the extent that the aggregate principal amount of Notes and the aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Pari Passu Indebtedness validly tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds with respect to the Notes, the Issuers may use any remaining Excess Proceeds for general corporate purposes, including to make Restricted Payments, subject to the other covenants contained in this Indenture or for any other purpose not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and the aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness surrendered in an Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee or the Paying Agent shall select the Notes and the Issuers or the agent for such Indebtedness shall select such other Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis based on the principal amount of the Notes and the aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Indebtedness validly tendered. Upon completion of any such Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.

(h)    Pending the final application of any Net Proceeds pursuant to this Section 4.10, the holder of such Net Proceeds may (1) apply such Net Proceeds temporarily to reduce Indebtedness outstanding under a revolving credit facility, including under any Credit Facilities, or otherwise invest or apply such Net Proceeds in any manner not prohibited by this Indenture, and (2) elect to invest in additional assets prior to receiving the Net Proceeds attributable to any given Asset Sale (provided that such investment shall be made no earlier than the earliest of notice to the Trustee of the relevant Asset Sale, execution of a definitive agreement for the relevant Asset Sale, and consummation of the relevant Asset Sale) and deem the amount so invested to be applied pursuant to and in accordance with clause (3) of Section 4.10(b) with respect to such Asset Sale.

(i)    The Issuers shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws or regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes pursuant to a Collateral Asset Sale Offer or an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws

 

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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 its obligations described in this Indenture by virtue thereof.

Section 4.11    Transactions with Affiliates.

(a)    Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of their properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of Holdings (each of the foregoing, an “Affiliate Transaction”) involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of the greater of $25 million and 10% of Consolidated EBITDA, unless:

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

(2)    Holdings delivers to the Trustee with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of the greater of $35 million and 15.0% of Consolidated EBITDA, a resolution adopted by the majority of the Board of Directors approving such Affiliate Transaction and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with clause (1) of this Section 4.11(a).

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

(1)    transactions between or among the Issuers or any Guarantor;

(2)    in the case of a Restricted Subsidiary that is an Issuer or Guarantor, Investments in any Affiliate that provides services to any Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that (x) such Investment is made pursuant to clauses (16) or (20) of the definition of “Permitted Investments” and is permitted thereby, and (y) the board of directors of Holdings determines that such Investment is in the best interests of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries;

(3)    Restricted Payments permitted by Section 4.07;

(4)    the indemnification of, and the payment of reasonable and customary fees and indemnities to, directors, officers and employees of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(5)    Investments permitted by clauses (1), (3), (14) or (15) of the definition of “Permitted Investments”, Investments in joint ventures and in Persons that are not Issuers or Guarantors permitted by clauses (16) and (20) of the definition of “Permitted Investments” and transfers of work-in-process and products in the ordinary course of business among Holdings and its Subsidiaries in connection with the digital development of intellectual property owned by the Issuers and Guarantors in compliance with clauses (1) and (2) of Section 4.10(a) or a transfer not constituting an Asset Sale;

 

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(6)    transactions in which Holdings 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 Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or stating that the terms are not materially less favorable to Holdings or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person on an arm’s-length basis;

(7)    (i) any employment agreement entered into by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business, (ii) any subscription agreement or similar agreement pertaining to the repurchase of Equity Interests pursuant to put/call rights or similar rights with employees, officers or directors, and (iii) any employee compensation, benefit plan or arrangement, any health, disability or similar insurance plan which covers employees, and any reasonable employment contract and transactions pursuant thereto;

(8)    any issuance of securities, or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment arrangements, stock options and stock ownership plans entered into by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business and approved by the board of directors of Holdings or HMHP;

(9)    the existence of, or the performance by Holdings, any Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries of its obligations under the terms of, any stockholders agreement or its equivalent with the stockholders of Holdings or any direct or indirect parent of an Issuer (including any registration rights agreement or purchase agreement related thereto) to which it is a party as of the Issue Date and any similar agreements which it may enter into thereafter;

(10)    payments by Holdings, any Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to an Affiliate for any financial advisory, financing, underwriting or placement services or in respect of other investment banking activities, including in connection with acquisitions or divestitures, which payments are approved by a majority of the members of the board of directors of Holdings in good faith;

(11)    investments by Affiliates in securities or Indebtedness of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary so long as (i) the investment is being offered generally to other investors on the same or more favorable terms and (ii) the aggregate investment by Affiliates constitutes less than 50% of the proposed or outstanding issue amount of such class of securities or Indebtedness;

(12)    any transaction with an Affiliate in which the consideration paid by Holdings, the Issuers or any Restricted Subsidiary consists only of Equity Interests of Holdings or any direct or indirect parent company of Holdings; and

(13)    any merger, consolidation or reorganization of Holdings with an Affiliate of Holdings not materially adverse to the interests of the Holders and solely for the purpose of (i) forming or collapsing a holding company structure or (ii) reincorporating Holdings in a new jurisdiction.

 

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Section 4.12    [Reserved].

Section 4.13    [Reserved].

Section 4.14    Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control

(a)    If a Change of Control occurs, unless Holdings has previously or concurrently delivered a redemption notice with respect to all the outstanding Notes as set forth in each of Section 5 of the Notes and Sections 3.03 and 3.07 hereof, which such redemption notice may be conditioned only upon the occurrence of such Change of Control, the Issuers shall make an offer to purchase all of the Notes pursuant to the offer described below (the “Change of Control Offer”) at a price in cash (the “Change of Control Payment”) equal to 101.0% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date. Within 30 days following any Change of Control, unless the Issuers have previously or concurrently delivered a redemption notice with respect to all the outstanding Notes as set forth in Section 5 of the Notes and Sections 3.03 and 3.07 hereof, which such redemption notice may be conditioned only upon the occurrence of such Change of Control, the Issuers will send notice of such Change of Control Offer by electronic transmission (for Notes held in book-entry form) or first-class mail, with a copy to the Trustee, to each Holder to the address of such Holder appearing in the security register with a copy to the Trustee, or otherwise in accordance with the Applicable Procedures of DTC, with the following information:

(1)    that a Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 4.14, and that all Notes properly tendered pursuant to such Change of Control Offer shall be accepted for payment by the Issuers;

(2)    the purchase price and the purchase date, which shall be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is transmitted or delivered (the “Change of Control Payment Date”);

(3)    that any Note not properly tendered shall remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest;

(4)    that unless the Issuers default in the payment of the Change of Control Payment, all Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer shall cease to accrue interest on the Change of Control Payment Date;

(5)    that Holders electing to have any Notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer shall be required to surrender such Notes, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of such Notes completed, to the Paying Agent specified in the notice at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date;

(6)    that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their tendered Notes and their election to require the Issuers to purchase such Notes; provided that the Paying Agent receives, not later than the close of business on the fifth Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date, a telegram, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of Notes tendered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its tendered Notes and its election to have such Notes purchased;

 

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(7)    that the Holders whose Notes are being repurchased only in part shall be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered. The unpurchased portion of the Notes must be equal to a minimum of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in principal amount;

(8)    if such notice is transmitted or delivered prior to the occurrence of a Change of Control, stating that the Change of Control Offer is conditional on the occurrence of such Change of Control; and

(9)    the other instructions, as determined by the Issuers, consistent with this Section 4.14, that a Holder must follow.

The notice, if delivered or transmitted in a manner herein provided, shall be conclusively presumed to have been given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. If (a) the notice is delivered in a manner herein provided and (b) any Holder fails to receive such notice or a Holder receives such notice but it is defective, such Holder’s failure to receive such notice or such defect shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the purchase of the Notes as to all other Holders that properly received such notice without defect.

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

(1)    accept for payment all Notes or portions thereof properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;

(2)    deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the aggregate Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions thereof so tendered; and

(3)    deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for cancellation (and delivery to the Paying Agent) the Notes so accepted together with an Officer’s Certificate to the Trustee stating that such Notes or portions thereof have been tendered to and purchased by the Issuers.

(c)    The Issuers shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer following a Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Issuers and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, a Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, conditional upon such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time of making of the Change of Control Offer.

(d)    The Issuers shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws or regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of Notes by the Issuers pursuant to a

 

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Change of Control Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Indenture, the Issuers shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Indenture by virtue thereof.

(e)    Other than as specifically provided in this Section 4.14, any purchase pursuant to this Section 4.14 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.02, 3.05 and 3.06 hereof.

Section 4.15    Limitation on Guarantees of Indebtedness by Restricted Subsidiaries.

(a)    Holdings shall not permit any Wholly-Owned Domestic Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings, other than a Guarantor, an Immaterial Subsidiary or a special purpose securitization Subsidiary, to guarantee the payment of any (i) Indebtedness permitted under Section 4.09(b)(1)(ii) or (ii) capital markets debt securities of the Issuers or any Guarantor unless:

(1)    such Restricted Subsidiary within 60 days executes and delivers a supplemental indenture to this Indenture providing for a Guarantee by such Restricted Subsidiary, except that with respect to a guarantee of Indebtedness of any Issuer or any Guarantor, if such Indebtedness is by its express terms subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or a related Guarantee, any such guarantee by such Restricted Subsidiary with respect to such Indebtedness shall be subordinated in right of payment to such Guarantee substantially to the same extent as such Indebtedness is subordinated to the Notes or such Guarantor’s related Guarantee; and

(2)    such Restricted Subsidiary waives and shall not in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any rights of reimbursement, indemnity or subrogation or any other rights against the Issuers or any other Restricted Subsidiary as a result of any payment by such Restricted Subsidiary under its Guarantee until payment in full of Obligations under this Indenture;

provided, that this Section 4.15(a) shall not be applicable to any guarantee of any Restricted Subsidiary that existed at the time such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary and was not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary.

Holdings may elect, in its sole discretion, to cause any Subsidiary that is not otherwise required to be a Guarantor to become a Guarantor, in which case such Subsidiary shall not be required to comply with the 60 day periods set forth in clauses (1) and (2) of this Section 4.15(a).

(b)    If any Guarantor becomes an Immaterial Subsidiary, Holdings shall have the right, by delivery of a supplemental indenture executed by the Issuers to the Trustee, to cause such Immaterial Subsidiary to automatically and unconditionally cease to be a Guarantor, subject to the requirement described in Section 4.15(a) hereof that such Subsidiary shall be required to become a Guarantor if it ceases to be an Immaterial Subsidiary (except that if such Subsidiary has been properly designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary it shall not be so required to become a Guarantor or execute a supplemental indenture); provided, further, that such Immaterial Subsidiary shall not be permitted to Guarantee the New Senior Credit Facilities or other Indebtedness of Holdings or the other Guarantors, unless it again becomes a Guarantor.

 

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Section 4.16    [Reserved].

Section 4.17    Suspension of Covenants if the Notes Achieve Investment Grade Rating.

(a)    If on any date following the date of this Indenture:

(1)    the Notes achieve an Investment Grade Rating by both of the Rating Agencies; and

(2)    no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (a “Suspension Date”), then, beginning on that day and subject to the provisions of the following clauses (b) and (c), the covenants set forth in Sections 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.15 and 5.01(a)(4) (collectively, the “Suspended Covenants”) shall be terminated.

(b)    In the event that Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries are not subject to the Suspended Covenants for any period of time as a result of the foregoing, and on any subsequent date (the “Reversion Date”) one or both of the Rating Agencies withdraws its Investment Grade Rating or downgrades the rating assigned to the Notes below an Investment Grade Rating, then Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries will thereafter again be subject to the Suspended Covenants with respect to future events, unless and until the Notes subsequently attain an Investment Grade Rating by both of the Rating Agencies and no Default or Event of Default is in existence (in which event the Suspended Covenants shall no longer be in effect for such time as the Notes maintain an Investment Grade Rating by both of the Rating Agencies and no Default or Event of Default is in existence). Notwithstanding that the Suspended Covenants may be reinstated, no Default, Event of Default or breach of any kind shall be deemed to exist under this Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees with respect to the Suspended Covenants based on any actions taken or events occurring during any Suspension Period, or any actions taken at any time pursuant to any contractual obligation arising after the commencement of a Suspension Period and prior to the immediately following Reversion Date, regardless of whether such actions or events would have been permitted if the applicable Suspended Covenants remained in effect during such period. The periods of time between the applicable Suspension Date and the immediately following Reversion Date are each referred to in this description as a “Suspension Period.”

(c)    On the Reversion Date, all Indebtedness incurred during the immediately preceding Suspension Period will be deemed to have been outstanding on the Issue Date, so that it is classified as permitted under Section 4.09(b)(1)(i). Calculations made after a Reversion Date of the amount available to be made as Restricted Payments under Section 4.07 will be made as though the covenant in Section 4.07 had been in effect prior to, but not during, the Suspension Period. Accordingly, Restricted Payments made during the Suspension Period will not reduce the amount available to be made as Restricted Payments under Section 4.07(a). No Default or Event of Default will be deemed to have occurred as a result of the Reversion Date occurring on the basis of any actions taken or the continuance of any circumstances resulting from actions taken or the performance of obligations under agreements entered into by Holdings or any of its

 

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Restricted Subsidiaries during the Suspension Period (other than agreements to take actions after the Reversion Date that would not be permitted outside of the Suspension Period entered into in contemplation of the Reversion Date). For purposes of determining compliance with Section 4.10, the amount of Excess Proceeds and/or Collateral Excess Proceeds from all Asset Sales not applied in accordance with the covenant will be deemed to be reset to zero. On and after the Reversion Date, all of Holdings’ Subsidiaries that Guarantee obligations under the New Senior Credit Facilities or Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(1)(ii) shall Guarantee the Notes.

Section 4.18    Liens.

(a)    Holdings will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien (each, an “Initial Lien”) that secures Obligations under any Indebtedness on any asset or property of Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary, unless:

(1)    in the case of Initial Liens on any Collateral, such Initial Lien is a Permitted Lien; and

(2)    in the case of any Initial Lien on any asset or property that is not Collateral, (i) the Notes (or a Guarantee in the case of Initial Liens on assets or property of a Guarantor) are equally and ratably secured with (or on a senior basis to, in the case such Initial Lien secures any Subordinated Indebtedness) the Obligations secured by such Initial Lien until such time as such Obligations are no longer secured by such Initial Lien at which time the Lien securing the Notes and the Guarantees shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged or (ii) such Initial Lien is a Permitted Lien.

(b)    Any Lien created for the benefit of the Holders pursuant to this Section 4.18 shall be deemed automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon the release and discharge of the applicable Lien described in clauses (1) and (2) of Section 4.18(a).

ARTICLE V

SUCCESSORS

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

(a)    Holdings and any Issuer may not consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not Holdings or such Issuer is the surviving corporation), nor may Holdings or any Issuer sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of assets or properties that in either case constitute all or substantially all of the properties or assets of Holdings and its Subsidiaries which are Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

(1)    Holdings or such Issuer is the surviving corporation or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than Holdings or such Issuer) or the Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made is organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (such Issuer or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Issuer”); provided that in the case where the Successor Issuer is not a corporation, a co-obligor of the Notes is a corporation;

 

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(2)    the Successor Issuer, if other than such Issuer, expressly assumes all the obligations of such Issuer under the Notes, this Indenture and the applicable Security Documents, pursuant to a supplemental indenture or other documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;

(3)    immediately after such transaction, no Default exists;

(4)    immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction and any related financing transactions, as if such transactions had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period,

(i)    the Successor Issuer would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.09(a) hereof, or

(ii)    the Net Total Leverage Ratio would not be higher than it was immediately prior to such acquisition or merger;

(5)    each Guarantor, unless it is (a) the other party to the transactions described above, in which case clause (1)(ii) of Section 5.01(c) shall apply or (b) a Guarantor that will be released from its obligations under its Guarantee in connection with such transactions, shall have by supplemental indenture confirmed that its Guarantee shall apply to such Person’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes;

(6)    Holdings shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indentures, if any, comply with this Indenture; and

(7)    to the extent any assets of the Person which is merged or consolidated with or into such Issuer are assets of the type which would constitute Collateral under the Security Documents, such Issuer or the Successor Issuer, as applicable, will take such action, if any, as may be reasonably necessary to cause such property and assets to be made subject to the Lien of the applicable Security Documents in the manner and to the extent required in this Indenture or the applicable Security Documents and shall take all reasonably necessary action so that such Lien is perfected to the extent required by the applicable Security Documents.

(b)    The Successor Issuer will succeed to, and be substituted for, Holdings or such Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes, as applicable, and Holdings or such Issuer, will be automatically released from its obligations under this Indenture and the Notes. Notwithstanding clauses (3) and (4) of Section 5.01(a) hereof,

(1)    any Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary may consolidate with or merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to Holdings, any Issuer or a Guarantor; and

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

 

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

(1)    (i) such Guarantor is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Guarantor) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made is organized or existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of such Guarantor, as the case may be, or the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (such Guarantor or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Person”);

(ii)    the Successor Person, if other than such Guarantor, expressly assumes all the obligations of such Guarantor under this Indenture, such Guarantor’s related Guarantee and the applicable Security Documents pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;

(iii)    immediately after such transaction, no Default exists;

(iv)    Holdings shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indentures, if any, comply with this Indenture; and

(v)    to the extent any assets of the Person which is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into such Guarantor are assets of the type which would constitute Collateral under the Security Documents, such Guarantor or the Successor Person will take such action, if any, as may be reasonably necessary to cause such property and assets to be made subject to the Lien of the applicable Security Documents in the manner and to the extent required in this Indenture or the applicable Security Documents and shall take all reasonably necessary action so that such Lien in perfected to the extent required by the applicable Security Documents; or

(2)    the transaction complies with clauses (1) and (2) of Section 4.10(a) hereof.

(d)    In the case of clause (1) of Section 5.01(c) hereof, the Successor Person shall succeed to, and be substituted for, such Guarantor under this Indenture and such Guarantor’s Guarantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Guarantor that is a Subsidiary of Holdings may (1) merge or consolidate with or into or wind up into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to Holdings, another Guarantor or any Issuer, (2) merge with an Affiliate of Holdings solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Guarantor in the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof or (3) convert into (which may be effected by merger with a Restricted Subsidiary that has substantially no assets and liabilities) a corporation,

 

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partnership, limited partnership, limited liability corporation or trust organized or existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of such Guarantor (which may be effected by merger so long as the survivor thereof is a Guarantor).

Section 5.02    Successor Corporation Substituted.

Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of an Issuer in accordance with Section 5.01 hereof, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into or with which such Issuer is merged or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the provisions of this Indenture referring to such Issuer shall refer instead to the successor corporation and not to the Issuer), and may exercise every right and power of such Issuer under this Indenture with the same effect as if such Successor Person had been named as an Issuer herein; provided that the predecessor issuer shall not be relieved from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest on the Notes except in the case of a sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all of such Issuer’s assets that meets the requirements of Section 5.01 hereof.

ARTICLE VI

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

Section 6.01    Events of Default.

(a)    An “Event of Default” wherever used herein means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

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

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

(3)    failure by any Issuer or any Guarantor for 60 days after receipt of written notice given by the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (with a copy to the Trustee) to comply with any of its obligations, covenants or agreements (other than a default referred to in clauses (1), (2) and (10) of this Section 6.01(a) hereof) contained in this Indenture or the Notes;

(4)    failure by Holdings for 60 days after receipt of written notice given by the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (with a copy to the Trustee) to comply with the provisions of Section 4.03 of this Indenture;

(5)    default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there is issued or by which there is secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by any Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiaries or the payment of which is guaranteed by any Issuer or any

 

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Restricted Subsidiaries, other than Indebtedness owed to any Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists or is created after the issuance of the Notes, if both:

(i)    such default either results from the failure to pay any principal of such Indebtedness at its stated final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods) or relates to an obligation other than the obligation to pay principal of any such Indebtedness at its stated final maturity and results in the holder or holders of such Indebtedness causing such Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated final maturity; and

(ii)    the principal amount of such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness in default for failure to pay principal at stated final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods), or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregate $35,000,000 or more at any one time outstanding, in each case;

(6)    failure by any Issuer or any other Significant Party to pay final non-appealable judgments aggregating in excess of $35,000,000, (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance not disputing coverage), which final judgments remain unpaid, undischarged and unstayed for a period of more than 30 days after such judgments become final, and in the event such judgment in excess of $35,000,000 is covered by insurance, an enforcement proceeding has been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or decree which is not promptly stayed;

(7)    any Issuer or any other Significant Party, pursuant to or within the meaning of the Bankruptcy Code:

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

(ii)    consents to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under the Bankruptcy Code;

(iii)    consents to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of it or for all or substantially all of its property;

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

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

(8)    a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under the Bankruptcy Code that:

(i)    is for relief against any Issuer or any Significant Party in a proceeding in which such Issuer or any such Significant Party is to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent;

 

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(ii)    appoints a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of any Issuer or any Significant Party, or for all or substantially all of the property of any Issuer or any Significant Party; or

(iii)    orders the liquidation of any Issuer or any Significant Party;

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

(9)    the Guarantee of any Significant Party shall for any reason cease to be in full force and effect or be declared null and void or any responsible officer of any Guarantor that is a Significant Party, as the case may be, denies in writing that it has any further liability under its Guarantee or gives written notice to such effect, other than by reason of the termination of this Indenture or the release of any such Guarantee in accordance with this Indenture and such Default continues uncured for ten or more Business Days;

(10)    (i) the Liens created by the Security Documents shall at any time not constitute a valid and perfected Lien on any portion of the Collateral intended to be covered thereby having a fair market value in excess of $5,000,000 (unless perfection is not required by this Indenture or the Security Documents) other than (A) in accordance with the terms of the relevant Security Document and this Indenture, (B) the satisfaction in full of all Obligations under this Indenture or (C) any loss of perfection that results from the failure of the Collateral Agent to maintain possession of certificates delivered to it representing securities pledged under the Security Documents and (ii) such default continues for 30 days; and

(11)    any Issuer or any Guarantor that is a Significant Party (or any group of Guarantors that, taken together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries) would constitute a Significant Party) shall assert, in any pleading in any court of competent jurisdiction, that any security interest in any Security Document is invalid or unenforceable.

(b)    A Default under clauses (3), (4), (5), (6) or (10) of Section 6.01(a) will not constitute an Event of Default until the Trustee or the Holders of 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes notify Holdings (and if by such Holders, the Trustee and Holdings) of the Default and, with respect to clauses (3), (4), (6) and (10), such party does not cure such default within the time specified in clauses (3), (4), (6) and (10), as applicable, of Section 6.01(a) hereof after receipt of such notice; provided that a notice of Default may not be given with respect to any action taken, and reported publicly or to holders, more than two years prior to such notice of Default.

(c)    Any notice of Default, notice of acceleration or instruction to the Trustee to provide a notice of Default, notice of acceleration or take any other action (a “Noteholder Direction”) provided by any one or more Holders (each a “Directing Holder”) must be accompanied by a written representation from each such Holder to Holdings and the Trustee that such Holder is not (or, in the case such Holder is DTC or its nominee, that such Holder is being instructed solely by beneficial owners that have represented to such Holder that they are not) Net Short (a “Position Representation”), which representation, in the case of a Noteholder Direction relating to the delivery of a notice of Default shall be deemed repeated at all times until the

 

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resulting Event of Default is cured or otherwise ceases to exist or the Notes are accelerated. In addition, each Directing Holder must at the time of providing a Noteholder Direction covenant, provide Holdings with such other information as Holdings may reasonably request from time to time in order to verify the accuracy of such Position Representation within five Business Days of request therefor (a “Verification Covenant”). In any case in which the Holder is DTC or its nominee, any Position Representation or Verification Covenant required hereunder shall be provided by the beneficial owner of the Notes in lieu of DTC or its nominee.

If, following the delivery of a Noteholder Direction, but prior to acceleration of the Notes, Holdings determines in good faith that there is a reasonable basis to believe a Directing Holder was, at any relevant time, in breach of its Position Representation and provides to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that Holdings has initiated litigation with a court of competent jurisdiction seeking a determination that such Directing Holder was, at such time, in breach of its Position Representation, and seeking to invalidate any Event of Default that resulted from the applicable Noteholder Direction, the cure period with respect to such Default shall be automatically stayed and the cure period with respect to such Event of Default shall be automatically reinstituted and any remedy stayed pending a final and non-appealable determination of a court of competent jurisdiction on such matter. If, following the delivery of a Noteholder Direction, but prior to acceleration of the Notes, Holdings provides to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that a Directing Holder failed to satisfy its Verification Covenant, the cure period with respect to such Default shall be automatically stayed and the cure period with respect to such Event of Default that resulted from the applicable Noteholder Direction shall be automatically reinstituted and any remedy stayed pending satisfaction of such Verification Covenant. Any breach of the Position Representation shall result in such Holder’s participation in such Noteholder Direction being disregarded; and, if, without the participation of such Holder, the percentage of Notes held by the remaining Holders that provided such Noteholder Direction would have been insufficient to validly provide such Noteholder Direction, such Noteholder Direction shall be void ab initio, with the effect that such Event of Default shall be deemed never to have occurred, acceleration voided and the Trustee shall be deemed not to have received such Noteholder Direction or any notice of such Default or Event of Default.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Trustee shall be entitled to conclusively rely on any Noteholder Direction delivered to it in accordance with this Indenture, shall have no duty to inquire as to or investigate the accuracy of any Position Representation, enforce compliance with any Verification Covenant, verify any statements in any Officer’s Certificate delivered to it, or otherwise make calculations, investigations or determinations with respect to Derivative Instruments, Net Shorts, Long Derivative Instruments, Short Derivative Instruments or otherwise. The Trustee shall have no liability to the Issuers, any Holder or any other Person in acting in good faith on a Noteholder Direction.

(d)    In the event of any Event of Default specified in clause (5) of Section 6.01(a) hereof, such Event of Default and all consequences thereof (excluding any resulting payment default, other than as a result of acceleration of the Notes) shall be annulled, waived and rescinded, automatically and without any action by the Trustee or the Holders, if within 30 days after such Event of Default arose:

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

 

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

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

(e)    If a Default for a failure to report or failure to deliver a required certificate in connection with another default (the “Initial Default”) occurs, then at the time such Initial Default is cured, such Default for a failure to report or failure to deliver a required certificate in connection with another default that resulted solely because of that Initial Default will also be cured without any further action, and (ii) any Default or Event of Default for the failure to comply with the time periods prescribed under Section 4.03 hereof or otherwise to deliver any notice or certificate pursuant to any other provision of this Indenture shall be deemed to be cured upon the delivery of any such report required by such section or such notice or certificate, as applicable, even though such delivery is not within the prescribed period specified in this Indenture. Any time period in this Indenture to cure any actual or alleged Default or Event of Default may be extended or stayed by a court of competent jurisdiction.

Section 6.02    Acceleration.

If any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (7) or (8) of Section 6.01(a) hereof with respect to any Issuer) occurs and is continuing under this Indenture, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then total outstanding Notes (with a copy to the Trustee) may declare the principal of, premium, if any, interest and any other monetary obligations on all the then outstanding Notes to be due and payable immediately. Upon the effectiveness of such declaration, such principal, premium, if any, and interest shall be due and payable immediately. The Trustee shall have no obligation to accelerate the Notes if in the best judgment of the Trustee, acceleration is not in the best interest of the Holders.

Notwithstanding the foregoing,

(i) in the case of an Event of Default arising under clause (7) or (8) of Section 6.01(a) hereof with respect to any Issuer, all outstanding Notes shall be due and payable without further action or notice, and

(ii) the sole remedy for an Event of Default specified in clause (4) of Section 6.01(a) hereof will for the 365 days after the occurrence of such an Event of Default consist exclusively, to the extent permitted by applicable law, of the right to receive additional interest on the principal amount of the Notes at a rate equal to 0.50% per annum, with such interest payable in the same manner and subject to the same terms as other interest payable under this Indenture. The additional interest will accrue on all outstanding Notes from and including the date on which an Event of Default specified in clause (4) of Section 6.01(a) first occurs to, but excluding, the 365th day thereafter (or such earlier date on which an Event of Default specified in clause (4) of Section 6.01(a) is cured or waived). If an Event of Default specified in clause (4) of Section 6.01(a) is continuing on such 365th day, such additional interest will cease to accrue, and the Notes will be subject to the other remedies provided in this Article VI, including the first paragraph of this Section 6.02.

 

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Section 6.03    Other Remedies.

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture.

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

Section 6.04    Waiver of Past Defaults.

The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of all Holders waive any existing Default and its consequences under this Indenture (except a continuing Default in the payment of interest on, premium, if any, or the principal of any Note held by a non-consenting Holder) and rescind any acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences (except if such rescission would conflict with any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction). Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture and the Security Documents, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereto.

Section 6.05    Control by Majority.

Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then total outstanding Notes 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. The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not such directions are unduly prejudicial to any Holder) or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability. The Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction. Prior to taking any action under this Indenture, the Trustee will be entitled to indemnification and/or security satisfactory to it against all losses, liabilities and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.

Section 6.06    Limitation on Suits.

Subject to Section 6.07 hereof, no Holder may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes unless:

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

 

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(b)    Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the total outstanding Notes have requested the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

(c)    Holders have offered the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense;

(d)    the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt thereof and the offer of security or indemnity; and

(e)    Holders of a majority in principal amount of the total outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period.

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    Rights of Holders To Receive Payment.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal premium, if any, and interest on the Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Note (including in connection with an Asset Sale Offer, Collateral Asset Sale Offer or a Change of Control Offer), or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

Section 6.08    Collection Suit by Trustee.

If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a)(1) or (2) hereof occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Issuers for the whole amount of principal of, premium, if any, and interest remaining unpaid on the Notes and interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful, interest and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, the Collateral Agent, the Agents, their respective agents and counsel.

Section 6.09    Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceedings, the Issuers, the Trustee and the Holders of shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding has been instituted.

 

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Section 6.10    Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes in Section 2.07 hereof, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

Section 6.11    Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.

Section 6.12    Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, the Agents, their respective agents and counsel) and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuers (or any other obligor upon the Notes including the Guarantors), its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to participate as a member in any official committee of creditors appointed in such matter and to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, the Agents and their respective agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee and the Agents under Section 7.07. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, the Agents and their respective agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee or the Agents under Section 7.07 out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee or any Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee or any Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

 

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Section 6.13    Priorities.

Subject to the Intercreditor Agreements, if the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article VI (including upon exercise of remedies with respect to the Collateral), it shall pay out the money in the following order:

(a)    to the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and the Agents and their respective agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 7.07 hereof, including payment of all compensation, expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and any Agent and the costs and expenses of collection;

(b)    to Holders for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, respectively; and

(c)    to the Issuers or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct, including a Guarantor, if applicable.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, all amounts in the Trustee Account shall be paid first to the Holders. The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Section 6.13.

Section 6.14    Undertaking for Costs.

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 6.14 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.07 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.

ARTICLE VII

TRUSTEE

Section 7.01    Duties of Trustee.

(a)    If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs; provided that 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 this Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless such Holders have offered (and, if requested, provided) the Trustee indemnity, security or prefunding satisfactory to the Trustee in its sole discretion, as applicable, against loss, liability or expense.

(b)    Except during the continuance of an Event of Default of which the Trustee has knowledge in accordance with Section 7.02(g):

(1)    the duties of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

 

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(2)    in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).

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

(1)    this clause (c) does not limit the effect of clause (b) of this Section 7.01;

(2)    the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved in a court of competent jurisdiction that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and

(3)    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 hereof.

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

(e)    The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless the Holders have offered (and, if requested, provided) to the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.

(f)    The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Issuers. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law or as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Issuers.

(g)    In the absence of bad faith, negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee.

Section 7.02    Rights of Trustee.

(a)    The Trustee may conclusively rely upon any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the

 

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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 sole cost of the Issuers and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.

(b)    Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officer’s Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.

(c)    The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent or attorney appointed with due care. The Trustee shall not be responsible for the misconduct, negligence, actions or inactions of the Collateral Agent.

(d)    The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.

(e)    Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Issuers shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of Holdings.

(f)    None of the provisions of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise to incur any liability, financial or otherwise, in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or indemnity satisfactory to it against such risk or liability is not assured to it.

(g)    The Trustee shall have no duty to inquire as to the performance of the covenants of the Issuers or any Guarantor and may assume without inquiry in the absence of actual knowledge that the Issuers are duly complying with their obligations contained in this Indenture required to be performed and observed by them, and that no Default or Event of Default or other event which would require repayment of the Notes has occurred. In addition, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of any Default or Event of Default except in the event of a payment default as set forth in Section 6.01(a), clauses (1) and (2) or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a Default or Event of Default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture.

(h)    In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, 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.

 

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(i)    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.

(j)    The right of the Trustee or an Agent to perform any discretionary act enumerated in this Indenture shall not be construed as a duty.

(k)    Each of the Agents’ obligations and duties are several and not joint, or joint and several.

(l)    In the event the Trustee receives inconsistent or conflicting requests and indemnity from two or more groups of Holders, each representing less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee, in its sole discretion, may determine what action, if any, will be taken and shall not incur any liability for its failure to act until such inconsistency or conflict is, in the Trustee’s reasonable discretion, resolved.

Section 7.03    Individual Rights of Trustee.

The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Issuers or any Affiliate of the Issuers with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days or resign. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties.

Section 7.04    Disclaimer.

The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for the Issuers’ use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to the Issuers or upon the Issuers’ direction under any provision of this Indenture, it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it shall not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes or any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes or pursuant to this Indenture other than its certificate of authentication. The Trustee and Collateral Agent shall not be responsible to the Holders or any other Person for any recitals, statements, information, representations or warranties contained in the Intercreditor Agreements or the Security Documents or in any certificate, report, statement, or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent under or in connection with, the Intercreditor Agreements or any Security Document; the execution, validity, genuineness, effectiveness or enforceability of the Intercreditor Agreements and any Security Documents of any other party thereto; the genuineness, enforceability, collectability, value, sufficiency, location or existence of any Collateral, or the validity, effectiveness, enforceability, sufficiency, extent, perfection or priority of any Lien therein; the validity, enforceability or collectability of any Obligations; the assets, liabilities, financial condition, results of operations, business, creditworthiness or legal status of any obligor; or for any failure of any obligor to perform its Obligations under the Intercreditor Agreements and the Security Documents or for the performance or observance of any covenants, agreements or other terms and conditions set forth under the Intercreditor Agreements and the other Security Documents.

 

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Section 7.05    Notice of Defaults.

If a Default occurs and is continuing and if it is known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to Holders a notice of the Default within 90 days after it occurs. The Trustee may withhold from the Holders notice of any continuing Default, except a Default relating to the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest. The Trustee shall have no duty to inquire as to the performance of any covenants contained in Article IV.

Section 7.06    [Reserved].

Section 7.07    Compensation and Indemnity.

The Issuers, jointly and severally, shall pay to the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and any Agent from time to time such compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder as the parties shall agree in writing from time to time. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Issuers, jointly and severally, shall reimburse each of the Trustee, the Collateral Agent, and each Agent promptly upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s, the Collateral Agent’s or each such Agent’s agents and counsel.

The Issuers and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, shall indemnify each of the Trustee, the Collateral Agent, and each Agent and their respective officers, directors, employees, representatives and agents (collectively, “Indemnified Parties”), for, and hold each of the Indemnified Parties harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claims, liability or expense (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by it in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust and the performance of their duties hereunder (including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Issuers or any of the Guarantors (including this Section 7.07) or defending themselves against any claim whether asserted by any Holder, the Issuers or any Guarantor, or liability in connection with the acceptance, exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder). Each of the Indemnified Parties shall notify the Issuers promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the applicable Indemnified Party to so notify the Issuers shall not relieve the Issuers or the Guarantors of their obligations hereunder. The Issuers and the Guarantors shall defend the claim and the applicable Indemnified Parties may have separate counsel and the Issuers shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel.

The Issuers need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense incurred by the Trustee or any Agent through such Person’s own willful misconduct or negligence (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final, non-appealable judgment). Any settlement that affects the Trustee Indemnified Party may not be entered into without the consent of the applicable Trustee Indemnified Party, unless such Trustee Indemnified party is given a full and unconditional release from liability with respect to the claims covered thereby and such settlement does not include a statement or admission of fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of the Trustee Indemnified Party.

 

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The Issuers and the Guarantors need not reimburse any expense or indemnify the Collateral Agent or its officers, directors, employees, representatives and agents (collectively, the “Collateral Agent Indemnified Parties”) against any loss, liability or expense incurred by a Collateral Agent Indemnified Party through such Person’s own willful misconduct or gross negligence (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final, non-appealable judgment). Any settlement that affects a Collateral Agent Indemnified Party may not be entered into without the consent of the applicable Collateral Agent Indemnified Party, unless such Collateral Agent Indemnified Party is given a full and unconditional release from liability with respect to the claims covered thereby and such settlement does not include a statement or admission of fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of the Collateral Agent Indemnified Party.

The obligations of the Issuers under this Section 7.07 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or the earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or any Agent, as applicable.

To secure the payment obligations of the Issuers and the Guarantors in this Section 7.07, each of the Trustee, the Collateral Agent, and each Agent shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by such Person, except money or property held in trust to pay principal and interest on particular Notes. Such Lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

When the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or any Agent incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in clause (6) or (7) of Section 6.01(a) hereof occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under the Bankruptcy Code.

Section 7.08    Replacement of Trustee or Agent.

A resignation or removal of the Trustee or any Agent and appointment of a successor Trustee or any successor Agent shall become effective only upon the acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 7.08 by such successor Trustee or successor Agent, as applicable. The Trustee or any Agent may resign in writing at any time and be discharged from the trust hereby created by so notifying the Issuers. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee or any Agent by so notifying the Trustee or such Agent and the Issuers in writing. The Issuers may remove the Trustee or any Agent if:

(a)    in the case of the Trustee, such Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof;

(b)    the Trustee or such Agent is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent Person or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under the Bankruptcy Code;

(c)    a custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or such Agent or such Person’s property; or

 

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(d)    the Trustee or such Agent becomes incapable of acting.

If the Trustee or any Agent resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee or any Agent for any reason, the Issuers shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or successor Agent. Within one year after the successor Trustee or successor Agent takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may appoint a successor Trustee or successor Agent, as applicable, to replace such successor Trustee or successor Agent appointed by the Issuers.

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

If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder who has been a Holder for at least six months, fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof, such Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

A successor Trustee or successor Agent shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee or Agent and to the Issuers. Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee or Agent shall become effective, and the successor Trustee or successor Agent shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee or the applicable Agent under this Indenture. The successor Trustee or successor Agent shall deliver a notice of its succession to Holders. The retiring Trustee or Agent shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee or Agent to the successor Trustee or successor Agent, as applicable; provided that all sums owing to the retiring Trustee or Agent hereunder have been paid and subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.07 hereof. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee or any Agent pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Issuers’ obligations under Section 7.07 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee or Agent.

Section 7.09    Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.

If the Trustee or any Agent consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust or relevant agent business, as applicable, to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee or successor Agent, as applicable.

Section 7.10    Eligibility; Disqualification.

There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities and that has combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.

 

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Section 7.11    Security Documents; Intercreditor Agreements.

By their acceptance of the Notes, the Holders hereby authorize and direct the Trustee and Collateral Agent, as the case may be, to execute and deliver each Intercreditor Agreement and any other Security Documents in which the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, is named as a party, including any Security Documents executed after the Issue Date, and in the case of the Trustee, to authorize the Collateral Agent to take any action permitted under this Indenture, the Notes, the Intercreditor Agreements, or the other Security Documents (without any further consent of the Holders). It is hereby expressly acknowledged and agreed that, in doing so, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent are (a) expressly authorized to make the representations attributed to Holders in any such agreements and (b) not responsible for the terms or contents of such agreements, or for the validity or enforceability thereof, or the sufficiency thereof for any purpose. Whether or not so expressly stated therein, in entering into, or taking (or forbearing from) any action under, each Intercreditor Agreement or any other Security Documents, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent each shall have all of the rights, benefits, immunities, indemnities and other protections granted to it under this Indenture (in addition to those that may be granted to it under the terms of such other agreement or agreements).

ARTICLE VIII

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

Section 8.01    Option To Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

The Issuers may, at their option and at any time, elect to have either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof applied to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article VIII.

Section 8.02    Legal Defeasance and Discharge.

Upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.02, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes and Guarantees, and have all Liens on the Collateral released, on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (“Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Issuers shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.05 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (a) and (b) below, to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Notes and this Indenture including that of the Guarantors (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Issuers, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same) and to have cured all then existing Events of Default, except for the following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:

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

 

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(b)    the Issuers’ obligations with respect to Notes concerning issuing temporary Notes, registration of such Notes, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes and the maintenance of an office or agency for payment and money for security payments held in trust;

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

(d)    this Section 8.02.

Subject to compliance with this Article VIII, the Issuers may exercise their option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.03 hereof.

Section 8.03    Covenant Defeasance.

Upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be released from their obligations under the covenants, and have all Liens on the Collateral released (each, a “Defeased Covenant,” and collectively, the “Defeased Covenants”) contained in Sections 4.03, 4.04, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.14, 4.15 and 4.18 hereof and clauses (4) and (5) of Section 5.01(a), Sections 5.01(c) and 5.01(d) hereof with respect to the outstanding Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof are satisfied (“Covenant Defeasance”), and the Notes shall thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such Defeased Covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Notes shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes, the Issuers may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any Defeased Covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Defeased Covenant or by reason of any reference in any such Defeased Covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document, and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.01 hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03 hereof, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, Sections 6.01(a)(3), 6.01(a)(4), 6.01(a)(5), 6.01(a)(6) (solely with respect to any Significant Party) and 6.01(a)(7) hereof (solely with respect to any Significant Party) shall not constitute Events of Default.

Section 8.04    Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.

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

(a)    the Issuers must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as shall be sufficient (in the case of Government Securities or a combination of cash and Government Securities, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public

 

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accountants), to pay the principal amount of, premium, if any, and interest due on the Notes on the stated maturity date or on the Redemption Date, as the case may be, of such principal amount, premium, if any, or interest on such Notes, and the Issuers must specify whether such Notes are being defeased to maturity or to a particular Redemption Date;

(b)    in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions,

(1)    the Issuers have received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or

(2)    since the issuance of the Notes, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law,

in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the Holders shall not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as applicable, as a result of such Legal Defeasance and shall be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

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

(d)    no Default (other than that resulting from borrowing funds to be applied to make such deposit and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to such other Indebtedness, and in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith) shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;

(e)    such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under any Credit Facility ranking pari passu with the Notes or any other material agreement or instrument governing Indebtedness (other than this Indenture) to which, the Issuers or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Issuers or any Guarantor is bound;

(f)    the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Issuers with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any creditors of the Issuers or any Guarantor or others; and

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

 

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Section 8.05    Deposited Money and Government Securities To Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.

Subject to Section 8.06 hereof, all money and Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 8.05, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Issuers or a Guarantor acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal and premium and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

The Issuers shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.

Anything in this Article VIII to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Issuers from time to time upon the request of the Issuers any money or Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 8.04 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.04(b) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

Section 8.06    Repayment to Issuers.

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Issuers, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, and premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Issuers on its request or (if then held by the Issuers) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Notes shall thereafter look only to the Issuers for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Issuers as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease.

Section 8.07    Reinstatement.

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any U.S. dollars or Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Issuers’ obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be; provided that, if the Issuers make any payment of principal of, premium, or interest on any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuers shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

 

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ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

Section 9.01    Without Consent of Holders.

Notwithstanding Section 9.02 hereof, the Issuers, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Security Documents and the Notes and the Issuers, the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and the Guarantors may amend or supplement any Guarantee issued under this Indenture, in each case, without the consent of any Holder:

(a)    to cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency;

(b)    to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes;

(c)    to comply with Section 5.01 hereof;

(d)    to provide for the assumption of any Issuer’s or any Guarantor’s obligations to the Holders;

(e)    to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under this Indenture of any such Holder;

(f)    to add covenants for the benefit of the Holders or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Issuers or any Guarantor;

(g)    to comply with requirements of the SEC in connection with the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, if such qualification is required;

(h)    to evidence and provide for the acceptance and appointment under this Indenture of a successor Trustee and/or Collateral Agent thereunder pursuant to the requirements thereof;

(i)    to add a Guarantor under this Indenture or to secure the Notes;

(j)    to conform the text of this Indenture or the Guarantees or the Notes to any provision of the “Description of Notes” section of the Offering Memorandum to the extent that such provision in this Indenture, the Guarantees or the Notes was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of the “Description of Notes”;

(k)    to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes;

(l)    to make any amendment to the provisions of this Indenture relating to the transfer and legending of Notes as permitted by this Indenture, including to facilitate the issuance and administration of the Notes; provided, however, that (i) compliance with this Indenture as so amended would not result in Notes being transferred in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable securities law and (ii) such amendment does not materially and adversely affect the rights of Holders to transfer Notes;

 

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(m)    to mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant any other Lien in favor of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Holders, as additional security for the payment and performance of all or any portion of the Notes Obligations, in any property or assets, including any which are required to be mortgaged, pledged or hypothecated, or in which a Lien is required to be granted to or for the benefit of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Indenture, any of the Security Documents or otherwise;

(n)    to add Additional First Lien Secured Parties to any Security Documents, to the extent permitted to be so secured by this Indenture;

(o)    to enter into any intercreditor agreement having substantially similar terms with respect to the Holders as those set forth in the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the ABL Intercreditor Agreement or any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, taken as a whole, or any joinder thereto;

(p)    in the case of any Security Document, to include therein any legend required to be set forth therein pursuant to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the ABL Intercreditor Agreement or to modify any such legend as required by the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the ABL Intercreditor Agreement; or

(q)    to provide for the succession of any parties to the Intercreditor Agreements or the Security Documents (and other amendments that are administrative or ministerial in nature) in connection with an amendment, renewal, extension, substitution, refinancing, restructuring, replacement, supplementing or other modification from time to time of the ABL Facility, the New Senior Credit Facilities or any other agreement that is not prohibited by this Indenture.

Upon the request of Holdings accompanied by a resolution of the Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent of the documents described in Section 7.02(b) hereof (to the extent requested by the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent), the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall join with the Issuers and the Guarantors in the execution of any amended or supplemental indenture, Security Document, or intercreditor agreement authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and the Security Documents and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent shall have the right to but not be obligated to enter into any such amended or supplemental indenture, Security Document or intercreditor agreement that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Opinion of Counsel shall be required in connection with the addition of a Guarantor under this Indenture upon execution and delivery by such Guarantor and the Trustee and the Collateral Agent of a supplemental indenture to this Indenture, the form of which is attached as Exhibit D hereto, and delivery of an Officer’s Certificate.

 

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Section 9.02    With Consent of Holders.

Except as provided below in this Section 9.02, the Issuers, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent may amend or supplement this Indenture, any Guarantee, the Security Documents and the Notes with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, other than Notes beneficially owned by the Issuers or any of their Affiliates, including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes, and any existing Default or Event of Default or compliance with any provision of this Indenture or the Notes issued thereunder may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, other than Notes beneficially owned by the Issuers or any of their Affiliates (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of or tender offer or exchange offer for such Notes).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of the Holders of at least 66 2/3% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, no amendment or waiver may (A) make any change in any Security Document or the provisions in this Indenture dealing with Collateral or application of trust proceeds of the Collateral with the effect of releasing the Liens on all or substantially all of the Collateral which secure the Obligations in respect of the Notes or (B) change or alter the priority of the Liens securing the Obligations in respect of the Notes in any material portion of the Collateral in any way materially adverse, taken as a whole, to the Holders, other than, in each case, as provided under the terms of this Indenture, the Security Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the ABL Intercreditor Agreement.

Upon the request of Holdings accompanied by a resolution of the Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee and the Collateral Agent an Officer’s Certificate to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent confirming the consent of the Holders as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee and the Collateral Agent of the documents described in Section 7.02(b) hereof (to the extent requested by the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent), the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall join with the Issuers and the Guarantors in the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture, security document or intercreditor agreement unless such amended or supplemental indenture, security document or intercreditor agreement directly affects the Trustee’s and/or the Collateral Agent own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental indenture, security document or intercreditor agreement.

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

After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Issuers shall deliver to the Holders affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Issuers to deliver such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental indenture or waiver.

 

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Without the consent of each affected Holder, an amendment or waiver under this Section 9.02 may not, with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder:

(a)    reduce the principal amount of such Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

(b)    reduce the principal amount of or change the fixed final maturity of any such Note or reduce the premium payable upon the redemption of such Note or change the time (except those providing when notice of redemption is to be provided to the Trustee or Holders) at which any Notes may be redeemed (in each case other than provisions relating to Sections 3.09, 4.10 and 4.14 hereof);

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

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

(e)    make any Note payable in money other than that stated therein;

(f)    make any change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders to receive payments of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes;

(g)    make any change to this paragraph of this Section 9.02;

(h)    impair the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of, or interest on such Holder’s Notes on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holder’s Notes;

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

(j)    except as expressly permitted by this Indenture, modify the Guarantees in any manner adverse to the Holders; or

(k)    after the Issuers’ obligation to purchase Notes arises thereunder, amend, change or modify in any respect materially adverse to the Holders the obligations of the Issuers to make and consummate a Change of Control Offer in the event of a Change of Control or make and consummate an Asset Sale Offer or Collateral Asset Sale Offer with respect to any Asset Sale that has been consummated or, after such Change of Control has occurred or such Asset Sale has been consummated, modify any of the provisions or definitions with respect thereto in a manner that is materially adverse to the Holders.

Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, no amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes that modifies or waives the specific rights or obligations of any Agent may be made without the consent of such Agent (it being understood that the Trustee’s execution of any such amendment or supplement shall constitute such consent if the Trustee is then also acting as such Agent).

 

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Section 9.03    [Reserved].

Section 9.04    Revocation and Effect of Consents.

Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Note. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to its Note if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before the date the amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.

The Issuers may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to consent to any amendment, supplement, or waiver. If a record date is fixed, then, notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only such Persons, shall be entitled to consent to such amendment, supplement, or waiver or to revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date unless the consent of the requisite number of Holders has been obtained.

Section 9.05    Notation on or Exchange of Notes.

The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. The Issuers in exchange for all Notes may issue and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.

Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note shall not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

Section 9.06    Trustee and Collateral Agent To Sign Amendments, etc.

The Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall sign any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article IX if the amendment, supplement or waiver does not impose any personal obligations on the Trustee or the Collateral Agent or adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent. If it does, the Trustee or Collateral Agent, as the case may be, may, but need not, sign it. The Issuers may not sign an amendment, supplement or waiver until its Board of Directors approves it. In executing any amendment, supplement or waiver, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall be provided with an indemnity and/or security satisfactory to it and to received and (subject to Section 7.01 hereof) shall be fully protected in relying upon, in addition to the documents required by Section 13.04 hereof, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture, security document or intercreditor agreement is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that such amendment, supplement or waiver has been duly authorized, executed and delivered and is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Issuers and any Guarantors party thereto, enforceable against them in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions, and complies with the provisions hereof (including Section 9.03

 

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hereof). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Opinion of Counsel shall be required for the Trustee and the Collateral Agent to execute any amendment or supplement, security document or intercreditor agreement adding a new Guarantor under this Indenture.

ARTICLE X

GUARANTEES

Section 10.01    Guarantee.

Subject to this Article X, from and after the Issue Date, each of the Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, unconditionally guarantees on a senior secured basis to each Holder authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes or the obligations of the Issuers hereunder or thereunder, that: (a) the principal of, and interest, and premium, if any, on the Notes shall be promptly paid in full when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of and interest on the Notes, if any, if lawful, and all other Obligations of the Issuers to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or under the Notes shall be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, the same shall be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. Failing payment by the Issuers when due of any amount so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors shall be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. Each Guarantor agrees that this is a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection.

The Guarantors hereby agree that their obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of this Indenture or the Notes, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Issuers, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor (other than payment in full of all of the Obligations of the Issuers hereunder and under the Notes). Each Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Issuers, any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuers, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that this Guarantee shall not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Notes and this Indenture or by release in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

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

If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Issuers, the Guarantors or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to either the Issuers or the Guarantors, any amount paid either to the Trustee or such Holder, then this Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect.

 

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Each Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby. Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article VI hereof for the purposes of this Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article VI hereof, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for the purpose of this Guarantee. The Guarantors shall have the right to seek contribution from any non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders under the Guarantees.

Each Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective should any petition be filed by or against any Issuer for liquidation reorganization, should any Issuer become insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of creditors or should a receiver or trustee be appointed for all or any significant part of the Issuers’ assets, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment and performance of the Notes are, pursuant to applicable law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any obligee on the Notes or Guarantees, whether as a “voidable preference,” “fraudulent transfer” or otherwise, all as though such payment or performance had not been made. In the event that any payment or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Notes shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.

In case any provision of any Guarantee shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

The Guarantee issued by any Guarantor shall be a general secured senior obligation of such Guarantor and will rank pari passu in right of payment to all unsubordinated Indebtedness of the relevant Guarantor, including such Guarantor’s guarantee of unsubordinated Indebtedness under any Credit Facilities.

Each payment to be made by a Guarantor in respect of its Guarantee shall be made without set-off, counterclaim, reduction or diminution of any kind or nature.

Section 10.02    Limitation on Guarantor Liability.

Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Guarantee of such Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of the Bankruptcy Code, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to any Guarantee. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, the Holders and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of each Guarantor shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all

 

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other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor that are relevant under such laws and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under this Article X, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under applicable law. Each Guarantor that makes a payment under its Guarantee shall be entitled upon payment in full of all guaranteed obligations under this Indenture to a contribution from each other Guarantor in an amount equal to such other Guarantor’s pro rata portion of such payment based on the respective net assets of all the Guarantors at the time of such payment determined in accordance with GAAP.

Section 10.03    Execution and Delivery.

(a)    To evidence its Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01 hereof, each Guarantor hereby agrees that this Indenture (or a supplemental indenture pursuant to Section 4.15 hereof) shall be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by its President, one of its Senior Vice Presidents, one of its Vice Presidents or one of its Assistant Vice Presidents.

(b)    Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01 hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the absence of the endorsement of any notation of such Guarantee on the Notes.

(c)    If an officer of a Guarantor whose signature is on this Indenture (or a supplemental indenture pursuant to Section 4.15 hereof) no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates a Note, the Guarantee of such Guarantor shall be valid nevertheless.

(d)    The delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Guarantee set forth in this Indenture on behalf of the Guarantors.

(e)    If required by Section 4.15 hereof, Holdings shall cause any newly created or acquired Restricted Subsidiary to comply with the provisions of Section 4.15 hereof and this Article X, to the extent applicable.

Section 10.04    Subrogation.

Each Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of Holders against the Issuers in respect of any amounts paid by any Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of Section 10.01 hereof; provided that, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, no Guarantor shall be entitled to enforce or receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until all amounts then due and payable by the Issuers under this Indenture or the Notes shall have been paid in full.

Section 10.05    Benefits Acknowledged.

Each Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by this Indenture and that the guarantee and waivers made by it pursuant to its Guarantee are knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.

 

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Section 10.06    Release of Guarantees.

A Guarantee by a Guarantor shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged, and no further action by such Guarantor, the Issuers or the Trustee is required for the release of such Guarantor’s Guarantee, upon:

(a)    any sale, exchange or transfer (by merger or otherwise) of (i) the Equity Interests of such Guarantor after which the applicable Guarantor is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) all or substantially all of the assets of such Guarantor which sale, exchange or transfer is made in a manner in compliance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and such sale, exchange or transfer results in such Guarantor ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary;

(b)    the designation of any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(c)    the Issuers exercising their legal defeasance option or covenant defeasance option as set forth in Article VIII hereof or the Issuers’ obligations under this Indenture being discharged in a manner not in violation of the terms of this Indenture, including as set forth in Article XI hereof;

(d)    such Guarantor ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of a transaction or designation permitted under this Indenture;

(e)    such Guarantor being (or being substantially concurrently) released or discharged from all of (i) its obligations under all of its Guarantees of payment by the Issuers of any Indebtedness of the Issuers under the New Senior Credit Facilities or (ii) in the case of a Guarantee made by a Guarantor as a result of its guarantee of other Indebtedness of Holdings or a Guarantor pursuant to Section 4.15 hereof, the relevant Indebtedness, except in the case of (i) or (ii), a release as a result of payment under such Guarantee (it being understood that a release subject to a contingent reinstatement is still considered a release);

(f)    upon the merger, amalgamation or consolidation of any Guarantor with and into one of the Issuers or another Guarantor or upon the liquidation of such Guarantor, in each case, in compliance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture; or

(g)    upon the occurrence of an Investment Grade Event; provided that such Guarantee shall be reinstated upon the Reversion Date.

 

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ARTICLE XI

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

Section 11.01    Satisfaction and Discharge.

(a)    This Indenture shall be discharged and shall cease to be of further effect as to all Notes, when either:

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

(2)    (i) all Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the making of a notice of redemption or otherwise, shall become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Issuers, and the Issuers or any Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders cash in U.S. dollars, Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient without consideration of any reinvestment of interest to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest to the date of maturity or redemption thereof, as the case may be;

(ii)    no Default (other than that resulting from borrowing funds to be applied to make such deposit or any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith) with respect to this Indenture or the Notes shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or shall occur as a result of such deposit and such deposit shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under any Senior Credit Facility or any other material agreement or instrument governing Indebtedness (other than this Indenture) to which the Issuers or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Issuers or any Guarantor is bound;

(iii)    the Issuers have paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by it under this Indenture; and

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

In addition, the Issuers must deliver an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been satisfied.

Section 11.02    Application of Trust Money.

Subject to the provisions of Section 8.06 hereof, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 11.01 hereof shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee; but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

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If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Government Securities in accordance with Section 11.01 hereof by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, any Issuer’s and any Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 11.01 hereof; provided that if the Issuers have made any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuers shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or Government Securities held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

ARTICLE XII

COLLATERAL

Section 12.01    Security Documents.

The due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes when and as the same shall be due and payable, whether on an interest payment date, at maturity, by acceleration, repurchase, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes and performance of all other Notes Obligations of the Issuers and the Guarantors to the Holders, the Trustee or the Collateral Agent under this Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees, the Intercreditor Agreements and the Security Documents, according to the terms hereunder or thereunder, shall be secured as provided in the Security Documents, which define the terms of the Liens that secure the Notes Obligations, subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements.

The Trustee, the Issuers and the Guarantors hereby acknowledge and agree that the Collateral Agent holds the Collateral in trust for the benefit of itself, the Holders and the Trustee and pursuant to the terms of the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements. Each Holder, by accepting a Note, consents and agrees to the terms of the Security Documents (including the provisions providing for the possession, use, release and foreclosure of Collateral) and the Intercreditor Agreements as the same may be in effect or may be amended from time to time in accordance with their terms and this Indenture and the Intercreditor Agreements, and authorizes and directs the Collateral Agent to enter into the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements and to perform its obligations and exercise its rights thereunder in accordance therewith. The Issuers shall deliver to the Collateral Agent copies of all documents required to be filed pursuant to the Security Documents, and will do or cause to be done all such acts and things as may be reasonably required by the next sentence of this Section 12.01, to assure and confirm to the Collateral Agent the security interest in the Collateral contemplated hereby, by the Security Documents or any part thereof, as from time to time constituted, so as to render the same available for the security and benefit of this Indenture and of the Notes secured hereby, according to the intent and purposes herein expressed. Holdings shall, and shall cause the Restricted Subsidiaries of Holdings to, take any and all actions and make all filings (including the filing of UCC financing statements, continuation statements and amendments thereto) required to cause the Security Documents to create and maintain, as security for the Notes Obligations of the Issuers and the Guarantors to the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and the Holders under this Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees, the Intercreditor Agreements and the Security Documents (to the extent required hereby and thereby), a valid and enforceable perfected Lien and security interest in and on all of the Collateral (subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements and the Security Documents), in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of itself, the Holders and the Trustee subject to no Liens other than Permitted Liens, and to otherwise comply with the requirements of the Collateral Requirement.

 

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Section 12.02    Release of Collateral.

(a)    Subject to Section 12.02(c), the Liens securing the Notes and the Notes Obligations shall be automatically released, and the Trustee shall execute documents evidencing such release, or instruct the Collateral Agent in writing to execute, as applicable, the same at the Issuers’ sole cost and expense, under any one or more of the following circumstances:

(1)    to enable the Issuers and/or one or more Guarantors to consummate the sale, transfer or other disposition (including by the termination of capital leases or the repossession of the leased property in a capital lease by the lessor) of such property or assets (to a Person that is not an Issuer or a Subsidiary of an Issuer) to the extent permitted by Section 4.10 hereof;

(2)    in the case of a Guarantor that is released from its Guarantee with respect to the Notes pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, the release of the property and assets of such Guarantor; or

(3)    in respect of any property and assets of the Issuers or a Guarantor that would constitute ABL Priority Collateral if at such time it is not subject to a Lien securing ABL Obligations, so long as the ABL Facility is still outstanding.

(b)    Subject to Section 12.02(c), the Liens on the Collateral securing the Notes and the Guarantees also shall be automatically released, and the Trustee shall execute documents evidencing such release, or instruct the Collateral Agent in writing to execute, as applicable, the same at the Issuers’ sole cost and expense, under any one or more of the following circumstances:

(1)    upon payment in full of the principal of, together with accrued and unpaid interest on, the Notes and all other Obligations under this Indenture, the Guarantees and the Security Documents that are due and payable at or prior to the time such principal, together with accrued and unpaid interest are paid;

(2)    upon the Issuers exercising its legal defeasance option or covenant defeasance option as described under Article VIII hereof or the Issuers’ obligations under this Indenture being discharged in a manner not in violation of the terms of this Indenture, including as described under Article XI hereof;

(3)    pursuant to the Security Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the ABL Intercreditor Agreement; or

(4)    with the consent of the requisite Holders in accordance with Article IX of this Indenture, including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the Notes.

 

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(c)    With respect to any release of Collateral, the Trustee shall, or shall cause the Collateral Agent to, execute, deliver or acknowledge (at the Issuers’ expense) such instruments or releases to evidence the release of any Collateral permitted to be released pursuant to this Indenture or the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements.

Section 12.03    Suits to Protect the Collateral.

Subject to the provisions of Article VII hereof and the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements, the Trustee, without the consent of the Holders, on behalf of the Holders, may or may direct the Collateral Agent (at the Issuers’ expense) to take all actions it determines in order to:

(a)    enforce any of the terms of the Security Documents; and

(b)    collect and receive any and all amounts payable in respect of the Obligations hereunder.

Subject to the provisions of the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall have power to institute and to maintain such suits and proceedings as the Trustee may determine to prevent any impairment of the Collateral by any acts which may be unlawful or in violation of any of the Security Documents or this Indenture, and such suits and proceedings as the Trustee may determine to preserve or protect its interests and the interests of the Holders in the Collateral. Nothing in this Section 12.03 shall be considered to impose any such duty or obligation to act on the part of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent.

Section 12.04    Authorization of Receipt of Funds by the Trustee Under the Security Documents.

Subject to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreements, the Trustee is authorized to receive any funds for the benefit of the Holders distributed under the Security Documents, and to make further distributions of such funds to the Holders according to the provisions of this Indenture.

Section 12.05    Purchaser Protected.

In no event shall any purchaser in good faith of any property purported to be released hereunder be bound to ascertain the authority of the Collateral Agent or the Trustee to execute the release or to inquire as to the satisfaction of any conditions required by the provisions hereof for the exercise of such authority or to see to the application of any consideration given by such purchaser or other transferee; nor shall any purchaser or other transferee of any property or rights permitted by this Article XII to be sold be under any obligation to ascertain or inquire into the authority of an Issuer or the applicable Guarantor to make any such sale or other transfer.

 

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Section 12.06    Powers Exercisable by Receiver or Trustee.

In case the Collateral shall be in the possession of a receiver or trustee, lawfully appointed, the powers conferred in this Article XII upon an Issuer or a Guarantor with respect to the release, sale or other disposition of such property may be exercised by such receiver or trustee, and an instrument signed by such receiver or Trustee shall be deemed the equivalent of any similar instrument of an Issuer or a Guarantor or of any Officer or Officers thereof required by the provisions of this Article XII; and if the Trustee shall be in the possession of the Collateral under any provision of this Indenture, then such powers may be exercised by the Trustee.

Section 12.07    Release Upon Termination of the Issuers Obligations.

In the event that Holdings deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate certifying that (i) payment in full of the principal of, together with accrued and unpaid interest and premium, if any, on, the Notes and all other Obligations under this Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees and the Security Documents that are due and payable at or prior to the time such principal, together with accrued and unpaid interest and premium, if any, are paid or (ii) the Issuers shall have exercised their Legal Defeasance option or its Covenant Defeasance option, in each case in compliance with the provisions of Article VIII, the Trustee shall deliver to the Issuers and the Collateral Agent a notice stating that the Trustee, on behalf of the Holders, disclaims and gives up any and all rights it has in or to the Collateral (other than with respect to funds held by the Trustee pursuant to Article VIII), and any rights it has under the Security Documents, and upon receipt by the Collateral Agent of such notice, the Collateral Agent shall be deemed not to hold a Lien in the Collateral on behalf of the Trustee and shall do or cause to be done (at the expense of the Issuers) all acts reasonably requested by the Issuers to release such Lien as soon as is reasonably practicable.

Section 12.08    Collateral Agent.

(a)    The Trustee and each of the Holders by acceptance of the Notes hereby designates and appoints the Collateral Agent as its agent under this Indenture, the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements and the Trustee and each of the Holders by acceptance of the Notes hereby irrevocably authorizes the Collateral Agent to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Indenture, the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to the Collateral Agent by the terms of this Indenture, the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements, and consents and agrees to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements and each Security Document, as the same may be in effect or may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with their respective terms. The Collateral Agent agrees to act as such on the express conditions contained in this Section 12.08. The provisions of this Section 12.08 are solely for the benefit of the Collateral Agent and none of the Trustee, any of the Holders nor the Issuers or any of the Guarantors shall have any rights as a third party beneficiary of any of the provisions contained herein other than as expressly provided in Section 12.03. Each Holder agrees that any action taken by the Collateral Agent in accordance with the provision of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the Security Documents, and the exercise by the Collateral Agent of any rights or remedies set forth herein and therein shall be authorized and binding upon all Holders. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained elsewhere in this Indenture, the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements, the duties of the Collateral Agent shall be ministerial and administrative in nature, and the Collateral Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein and in the Intercreditor Agreements and the other Security Documents to which the

 

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Collateral Agent is a party, nor shall the Collateral Agent have or be deemed to have any trust or other fiduciary relationship with the Trustee, any Holder or the Issuers or any Guarantor, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Indenture, the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements or otherwise exist against the Collateral Agent. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, the use of the term “agent” in this Indenture with reference to the Collateral Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law. Instead, such term is used merely as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between independent contracting parties.

(b)    The Collateral Agent may perform any of its duties under this Indenture, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements by or through receivers, agents, employees, attorneys-in-fact or with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates, and the respective officers, directors, employees, agents, advisors and attorneys-in-fact of such Person and its Affiliates, (a “Related Person”) and shall be entitled to advice of counsel concerning all matters pertaining to such duties, and shall be entitled to act upon, and shall be fully protected in taking action in reliance upon any advice or opinion given by legal counsel. The Collateral Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any receiver, agent, employee, attorney-in-fact or Related Person that it selects as long as such selection was made in good faith. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Affiliates of the Collateral Agent and any such sub-agent.

(c)    None of the Collateral Agent or any of its respective Related Persons shall (i) be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by any of them under or in connection with this Indenture or the transactions contemplated hereby (except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final nonappealable order of a court of competent jurisdiction) or under or in connection with any Security Document or the Intercreditor Agreements or the transactions contemplated thereby (except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final nonappeable order of a court of competent jurisdiction), or (ii) be responsible in any manner to any of the Trustee or any Holder for any recital, statement, representation, warranty, covenant or agreement made by the Issuers or any Guarantor or Affiliate of the Issuers or any Guarantor, or any Officer or Related Person thereof, contained in this Indenture, the Notes or any Security Documents, the Intercreditor Agreements, or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Collateral Agent under or in connection with, this Indenture, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements, or the validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Indenture, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements, or for any failure of the Issuers or any Guarantor or any other party to this Indenture, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder. None of the Collateral Agent or any of its respective Related Persons shall be under any obligation to the Trustee or any Holder to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this Indenture, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements or to inspect the properties, books, or records of the Issuers or any Guarantor or the Issuers’ or any of the Guarantors’ Affiliates.

 

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(d)    The Collateral Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any writing, resolution, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telegram, facsimile, certification, telephone message, statement, or other communication, document or conversation (including those by telephone or e-mail) believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent, or made by the proper Person or Persons, and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including, without limitation, counsel to the Issuers or any Guarantor), independent accountants and other experts and advisors selected by the Collateral Agent. The Collateral Agent shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, or other paper or document. The Collateral Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under this Indenture, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the Trustee or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes as it determines and, if it so requests, it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Holders against any and all liability, loss and expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. The Collateral Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Indenture, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements in accordance with a request, direction, instruction or consent of the Trustee or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all of the Holders.

(e)    The Collateral Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, unless a Responsible Officer of the Collateral Agent shall have received written notice from the Trustee or the Issuers referring to this Indenture, describing such Default or Event of Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of default” and such notice references the Notes, the Issuers and this Indenture. The Collateral Agent shall take such action with respect to such Default or Event of Default as may be requested by the Trustee in accordance with Article VI or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes (subject to this Section 12.08).

(f)    The Collateral Agent may resign under this Indenture, any Intercreditor Agreement or any other Security Document at any time by notice to the Trustee and the Issuers, such resignation to be effective upon the acceptance of a successor agent to its appointment as Collateral Agent. If the Collateral Agent resigns under this Indenture, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements, the Issuers shall appoint a successor collateral agent. If no successor collateral agent is appointed prior to the intended effective date of the resignation of the Collateral Agent (as stated in the notice of resignation), the Collateral Agent may appoint, after consulting with the Trustee, subject to the consent of the Issuers (which shall not be unreasonably withheld and which shall not be required during a continuing Event of Default), a successor collateral agent. If no successor collateral agent is appointed and consented to by the Issuers pursuant to the preceding sentence within thirty (30) days after the intended effective date of resignation (as stated in the notice of resignation) the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to, at the expense of the Issuers, petition a court of competent jurisdiction to appoint a successor. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as successor collateral agent hereunder, such successor collateral agent shall succeed to all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Collateral Agent, and the term “Collateral Agent” shall mean such successor collateral agent, and the retiring

 

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Collateral Agent’s appointment, powers and duties as the Collateral Agent shall be terminated. After the retiring Collateral Agent’s resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Section 12.08 (and Section 7.07) shall continue to inure to its benefit and the retiring Collateral Agent shall not by reason of such resignation be deemed to be released from liability as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was the Collateral Agent under this Indenture.

(g)    Citibank, N.A. shall initially act as Collateral Agent and shall be authorized to appoint co-Collateral Agents as necessary in its sole discretion. Except as otherwise explicitly provided herein or in the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements, neither the Collateral Agent nor any of its respective officers, directors, employees or agents or other Related Persons shall be liable for failure to demand, collect or realize upon any of the Collateral or for any delay in doing so or shall be under any obligation to sell or otherwise dispose of any Collateral upon the request of any other Person or to take any other action whatsoever with regard to the Collateral or any part thereof. The Collateral Agent shall be accountable only for amounts that it actually receives as a result of the exercise of such powers, and neither the Collateral Agent nor any of its officers, directors, employees or agents shall be responsible for any act or failure to act hereunder, except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final nonappeable order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

(h)    The Collateral Agent is authorized and directed to (i) enter into the Security Documents to which it is party, whether executed on or after the Issue Date, (ii) enter into the Intercreditor Agreements, (iii) make the representations of the Holders set forth in the Security Documents and Intercreditor Agreements, (iv) bind the Holders on the terms as set forth in the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements and (v) perform and observe its obligations under the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements.

(i)    If at any time or times the Trustee shall receive (i) by payment, foreclosure, set-off or otherwise, any proceeds of Collateral or any payments with respect to the Obligations arising under, or relating to, this Indenture, except for any such proceeds or payments received by the Trustee from the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, or (ii) payments from the Collateral Agent in excess of the amount required to be paid to the Trustee pursuant to Article VI, the Trustee shall promptly turn the same over to the Collateral Agent, in kind, and with such endorsements as may be required to negotiate the same to the Collateral Agent such proceeds to be applied by the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements.

(j)    The Collateral Agent is each Holder’s agent for the purpose of perfecting the Holders’ security interest in assets which, in accordance with Article 9 of the UCC can be perfected only by possession. Should the Trustee obtain possession of any such Collateral, upon a written request from the Issuers, the Trustee shall notify the Collateral Agent thereof and promptly shall deliver such Collateral to the Collateral Agent or otherwise deal with such Collateral in accordance with the Collateral Agent’s instructions (to the extent applicable).

(k)    The Collateral Agent shall have no obligation whatsoever to the Trustee or any of the Holders and the Trustee shall have no obligation to the Collateral Agent or any of the Holders to assure that the Collateral exists or is owned by any Issuer or any Guarantor or is cared for, protected, or insured or has been encumbered, or that the Collateral Agent’s Liens have been

 

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properly or sufficiently or lawfully created, perfected, protected, maintained or enforced or are entitled to any particular priority, or to determine whether all of any Issuer’s or any of the Guarantor’s property constituting collateral intended to be subject to the Lien and security interest of the Security Documents has been properly and completely listed or delivered, as the case may be, or the genuineness, validity, marketability or sufficiency thereof or title thereto, or to exercise at all or in any particular manner or under any duty of care, disclosure, or fidelity, or to continue exercising, any of the rights, authorities, and powers granted or available to the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Indenture, any Security Document or the Intercreditor Agreements other than pursuant to the instructions of the Trustee or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes or as otherwise provided in the Security Documents, it being understood and agreed that in respect of the Collateral, or any act, omission, or event related thereto, the Collateral Agent shall have no other duty or liability whatsoever to the Trustee or any Holder as to any of the foregoing.

(l)    If any Issuer or any Guarantor (i) incurs any obligations in respect of First Lien Obligations at any time when neither the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement nor any other intercreditor agreement is in effect or at any time when Indebtedness constituting First Lien Obligations entitled to the benefit of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement is concurrently retired, and (ii) delivers to the Collateral Agent an Officer’s Certificate so stating and requesting the Collateral Agent to enter into an intercreditor agreement (on substantially the same terms as the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement) in favor of a designated agent or representative for the holders of the First Lien Obligations so incurred, the Collateral Agent shall (and is hereby authorized and directed to) enter into such intercreditor agreement (at the sole expense and cost of the Issuers, including legal fees and expenses of the Collateral Agent), bind the Holders on the terms set forth therein and perform and observe its obligations thereunder.

(m)    If any Issuer or any Guarantor (i) incurs any obligations in respect of ABL Obligations at any time when neither the ABL Intercreditor Agreement nor any other intercreditor agreement is in effect or at any time when Indebtedness constituting ABL Obligations entitled to the benefit of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement is concurrently retired, and (ii) delivers to the Collateral Agent an Officer’s Certificate so stating and requesting the Collateral Agent to enter into an intercreditor agreement (on substantially the same terms as the ABL Intercreditor Agreement) in favor of a designated agent or representative for the holders of the ABL Obligations so incurred, the Collateral Agent shall (and is hereby authorized and directed to) enter into such intercreditor agreement (at the sole expense and cost of the Issuers, including legal fees and expenses of the Collateral Agent), bind the Holders on the terms set forth therein and perform and observe its obligations thereunder.

(n)    If any Issuer or any Guarantor (i) incurs any obligations in respect of Indebtedness secured by the Collateral with Junior Lien Priority at any time when no Intercreditor Agreement with respect to Indebtedness secured by the Collateral with Junior Lien Priority is in effect or at any time when Indebtedness constituting Indebtedness secured by the Collateral with Junior Lien Priority entitled to the benefit of a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement is concurrently retired, and (ii) delivers to the Collateral Agent an Officer’s Certificate so stating and requesting the Collateral Agent to enter into a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement (on terms that are customary for such financings as determined by Holdings in good faith reflecting the subordination of such Liens to the Liens secured by the Notes and

 

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Guarantees) in favor of a designated agent or representative for the holders of the Indebtedness secured by the Collateral with Junior Lien Priority so incurred, the Collateral Agent shall (and is hereby authorized and directed to) enter into such Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement (at the sole expense and cost of the Issuers, including legal fees and expenses of the Collateral Agent), bind the Holders on the terms set forth therein and perform and observe its obligations thereunder.

(o)    No provision of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or any Security Document shall require the Collateral Agent (or the Trustee) to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or thereunder or to take or omit to take any action hereunder or thereunder or take any action at the request or direction of Holders (or the Trustee in the case of the Collateral Agent) if it shall have received security and/or indemnity satisfactory to the Collateral Agent against potential costs and liabilities incurred by the Collateral Agent relating thereto.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or the Security Documents, in the event the Collateral Agent is entitled or required to commence an action to foreclose or otherwise exercise its remedies to acquire control or possession of the Collateral, the Collateral Agent shall not be required to commence any such action or exercise any remedy or to inspect or conduct any studies of any property under the mortgages or take any such other action if the Collateral Agent has determined that the Collateral Agent may incur personal liability as a result of the presence at, or release on or from, the Collateral or such property, of any hazardous substances unless the Collateral Agent has received security and/or indemnity from the Holders in an amount and in a form all satisfactory to the Collateral Agent in its sole discretion, protecting the Collateral Agent from all such liability. The Collateral Agent shall at any time be entitled to cease taking any action described in this clause if it no longer reasonably deems any indemnity, security and/or undertaking from the Issuers or the Holders to be sufficient.

(p)    The Collateral Agent (i) shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in connection with this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the Security Documents or instrument referred to herein or therein, except to the extent that any of the foregoing are found by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as found by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, (ii) shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Collateral Agent may agree in writing with the Issuers (and money held in trust by the Collateral Agent need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law) and (iii) may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice or opinion of such counsel as to matters of law shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, omitted or suffered by it in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel. The Collateral Agent shall not be responsible for the misconduct, negligence, actions or inactions of the Trustee or the Agents. The grant of permissive rights or powers to the Collateral Agent shall not be construed to impose duties to act.

 

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(q)    Neither the Collateral Agent nor the Trustee shall be liable for delays or failures in performance resulting from acts beyond its control. Such acts shall include but not be limited to acts of God, strikes, lockouts, riots, acts of war, epidemics, governmental regulations superimposed after the fact, fire, communication line failures, computer viruses, power failures, earthquakes or other disasters. Neither the Collateral Agent nor the Trustee shall be liable for any indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages (included but not limited to lost profits) whatsoever, even if it has been informed of the likelihood thereof and regardless of the form of action.

(r)    The Collateral Agent does not assume any responsibility for any failure or delay in performance or any breach by any Issuer or any Guarantor under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the Security Documents. The Collateral Agent shall not be responsible to the Holders or any other Person for any recitals, statements, information, representations or warranties contained in this Indenture, the Notes, the Intercreditor Agreements, or the Security Documents or in any certificate, report, statement, or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Collateral Agent under or in connection with, this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or any Security Document; the execution, validity, genuineness, effectiveness or enforceability of the Intercreditor Agreements and any Security Documents of any other party thereto; the genuineness, enforceability, collectability, value, sufficiency, location or existence of any Collateral, or the validity, effectiveness, enforceability, sufficiency, extent, perfection or priority of any Lien therein; the validity, enforceability or collectability of any Obligations; the assets, liabilities, financial condition, results of operations, business, creditworthiness or legal status of any obligor; or for any failure of any obligor to perform its Obligations under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the Security Documents or for the performance or observance of any covenants, agreements or other terms and conditions set forth under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement and the other Security Documents. The Collateral Agent shall have no obligation to any Holder or any other Person to ascertain or inquire into the existence of any Default or Event of Default, the observance or performance by any obligor of any terms of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the Security Documents, or the satisfaction of any conditions precedent contained in this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and any Security Documents. The Collateral Agent shall not be required to initiate or conduct any litigation or collection or other proceeding under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the Security Documents unless expressly set forth hereunder or thereunder. The Collateral Agent shall have the right at any time to seek instructions from the Holders with respect to the administration of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements, the Notes or the Security Documents.

(s)    The parties hereto and the Holders hereby agree and acknowledge that the Collateral Agent shall not assume, be responsible for or otherwise be obligated for any liabilities, claims, causes of action, suits, losses, allegations, requests, demands, penalties, fines, settlements, damages (including foreseeable and unforeseeable), judgments, expenses and costs (including but not limited to, any remediation, corrective action, response, removal or remedial action, or investigation, operations and maintenance or monitoring costs, for personal injury or property damages, real or personal) of any kind whatsoever, pursuant to any environmental law as a result of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements, the Security Documents or any actions taken pursuant hereto or thereto. Further, the parties hereto and the Holders hereby agree and acknowledge that in the exercise of its rights under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the Security Documents, the Collateral Agent may hold or obtain indicia of ownership primarily to protect the security interest of the Collateral Agent in the Collateral and that any

 

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such actions taken by the Collateral Agent shall not be construed as or otherwise constitute any participation in the management of such Collateral. In the event that the Collateral Agent is required to acquire title to an asset for any reason, or take any managerial action of any kind in regard thereto, in order to carry out any fiduciary or trust obligation for the benefit of another, which in the Collateral Agent’s sole discretion may cause the Collateral Agent to be considered an “owner or operator” under the provisions of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”), 42 U.S.C. §9601, et seq., or otherwise cause the Collateral Agent to incur liability under CERCLA or any other federal, state or local law, the Collateral Agent reserves the right, instead of taking such action, to either resign as the Collateral Agent or arrange for the transfer of the title or control of the asset to a court-appointed receiver. The Collateral Agent shall not be liable to the Issuers, the Guarantors or any other Person for any environmental claims or contribution actions under any federal, state or local law, rule or regulation by reason of the Collateral Agent or the Trustee’s actions and conduct as authorized, empowered and directed hereunder or relating to the discharge, release or threatened release of hazardous materials into the environment other than in connection with the Collateral Agent or the Trustee’s own willful misconduct or gross negligence (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final, non-appealable judgment). If at any time it is necessary or advisable for property to be possessed, owned, operated or managed by any Person (including the Collateral Agent) other than the Issuers or the Guarantors, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes shall direct the Trustee to direct the Collateral Agent in writing to appoint an appropriately qualified Person (excluding the Collateral Agent or the Trustee) who they shall designate to possess, own, operate or manage, as the case may be, the property.

(t)    Upon the receipt by the Collateral Agent and the Trustee of a written request of Holdings signed by one Officer of Holdings (a “Security Document Order”), the Collateral Agent and the Trustee are hereby authorized to execute and enter into, and shall execute and enter into, without the further consent of any Holder, any Security Document to be executed after the Issue Date; provided that the Collateral Agent shall not be required to execute or enter into any such Security Document which, in the Collateral Agent’s reasonable opinion is reasonably likely to adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Collateral Agent or that the Collateral Agent determines is reasonably likely to involve the Collateral Agent in personal liability. Such Security Document Order shall (i) state that it is being delivered to the Collateral Agent and the Trustee pursuant to, and is a Security Document Order referred to in, this Section 12.08(t), and (ii) instruct the Collateral Agent and the Trustee (if applicable) to execute and enter into such Security Document. Other than as set forth in this Indenture, any such execution of a Security Document shall be at the direction and expense of Holdings, upon delivery to the Collateral Agent and the Trustee of an Officer’s Certificate and/or Opinion of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent to the execution and delivery of the Security Document have been satisfied. The Holders, by their acceptance of the Notes, hereby authorize and direct the Collateral Agent and the Trustee, if applicable, to execute such Security Documents.

(u)    Subject to the provisions of the applicable Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements, each Holder, by acceptance of the Notes, agrees that the Collateral Agent shall execute and deliver the Intercreditor Agreements and the Security Documents to which it is a party and all agreements, documents and instruments incidental thereto, and act in

 

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accordance with the terms thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, the Collateral Agent shall have no discretion under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or the Security Documents and shall not be required to make or give any determination, consent, approval, request or direction without the written direction of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes or the Trustee, as applicable, or as otherwise set forth in the Intercreditor Agreements.

(v)    After the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Trustee acting in accordance with the terms of this Indenture may direct the Collateral Agent in connection with any action required or permitted by this Indenture, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements.

(w)    The Collateral Agent is authorized to receive any funds for the benefit of itself, the Trustee and the Holders distributed under the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements and to the extent not prohibited under the Intercreditor Agreements, for turnover to the Trustee to make further distributions of such funds to itself, the Trustee and the Holders in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.13 hereof and the other provisions of this Indenture.

(x)    In each case that the Collateral Agent may or is required hereunder or under the Intercreditor Agreements or any other Security Document to take any action (an “Action”), including without limitation to make any determination, to give consents, to exercise rights, powers or remedies, to release or sell Collateral or otherwise to act hereunder or under the Intercreditor Agreements, the Notes or any Security Document, the Collateral Agent may seek direction from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes. The Collateral Agent shall not be liable with respect to any Action taken or omitted to be taken by it in accordance with the direction from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes or as otherwise set forth in the Intercreditor Agreements. If the Collateral Agent shall request direction from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes with respect to any Action, the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to refrain from such Action unless and until the Collateral Agent shall have received direction from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, and the Collateral Agent shall not incur liability to any Person by reason of so refraining.

(y)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements, the Notes or any Security Document, in no event shall the Collateral Agent or the Trustee be responsible for, or have any duty or obligation with respect to, the recording, filing, registering, perfection, protection or maintenance of the security interests or Liens intended to be created by this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements, the Notes or any Security Document (including without limitation the filing or continuation of any UCC financing or continuation statements or similar documents or instruments), nor shall the Collateral Agent or the Trustee be responsible for, and neither the Collateral Agent nor the Trustee makes any representation regarding, the validity, effectiveness or priority of any of the Security Documents or the security interests or Liens intended to be created thereby.

(z)    Before the Collateral Agent acts or refrains from acting in each case at the written request or direction of the Issuers or the Guarantors, it may require an Officer’s Certificate and/or Opinion of Counsel, which shall conform to the provisions of Section 13.05. The Collateral Agent shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such certificate or opinion.

 

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(aa)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Collateral Agent shall act pursuant to the instructions of the Holders and the Trustee solely with respect to the Security Documents and the Collateral, except as otherwise set forth in the Intercreditor Agreements.

(bb)    The rights, privileges, benefits, immunities, indemnities and other protections given to the Trustee are extended to, and shall be enforceable by the Collateral Agent as if the Collateral Agent were named as the Trustee herein and the Security Documents. The Issuers and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, shall pay compensation to, reimburse expenses of and indemnify the Collateral Agent and its officers, directors, employees, representatives and agents, successors and assigns in accordance with Section 7.07 and the Intercreditor Agreements.

(cc)    The Collateral Agent shall be entitled to all of the rights, privileges, indemnities, and immunities of the Additional Collateral Agent, Collateral Agent, Notes Collateral Agent or the Original Notes Agent (in each case, as such term is defined in the applicable Intercreditor Agreement) as set forth in the applicable Intercreditor Agreement, as though fully set forth herein.

(dd)    Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary herein, whenever reference is made in this Indenture, to any discretionary action by, consent, designation, specification, requirement or approval of, notice, request or other communication from, or other direction given or action to be undertaken or to be (or not to be) suffered or omitted by the Collateral Agent or to any election, decision, opinion, acceptance, use of judgment, expression of satisfaction or other exercise of discretion, rights or remedies to be made (or not to be made) by the Collateral Agent, it is understood that in all cases the Collateral Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any such action if it shall not have received written instruction, advice or concurrence of the Holders in respect of such action. The Collateral Agent shall have no liability for any failure or delay in taking any actions contemplated above as a result of a failure or delay on the part of the Holders to provide such instruction, advice or concurrence.

Section 12.09    Designations.

For purposes of the provisions hereof and the Intercreditor Agreements requiring the Issuers to designate Indebtedness for purposes of the term “Additional First Lien Obligations”, “Additional Fixed Assets Debt Obligations”, “Additional Obligations”, “Fixed Assets Debt Obligations”, “Obligations” (in each case, as defined in the applicable Intercreditor Agreement), or any other such designations hereunder or under the Intercreditor Agreements, any such designation shall be sufficient if the relevant designation is set forth in writing, signed on behalf of Holdings by an Officer and delivered to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent in accordance with the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements.

 

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Section 12.10    No Impairment of the Security Interests.

Except as otherwise permitted under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the Security Documents, neither the Issuers nor any of the Guarantors will be permitted to take any action, or knowingly omit to take any action, which action or omission would have the result of materially impairing the security interest with respect to the Collateral for the benefit of the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and the Holders.

Section 12.11    [Reserved].

Section 12.12    After Acquired Property.

(a)    From and after the Issue Date, and subject to the Security Documents, if (i) any Subsidiary of Holdings becomes a Guarantor or (ii) any Issuer or any Guarantor acquires any property or rights which are of a type constituting Collateral under any Security Document (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any Excluded Assets or assets not required to be Collateral pursuant to this Indenture or the Security Documents), it will be required to execute and deliver such security instruments, financing statements and such certificates as are required under this Indenture or any Security Document to vest in the Collateral Agent a security interest (subject to Permitted Liens, including any pari passu liens that secure obligations in respect of any other First Lien Obligations and prior liens that secure ABL Obligations with respect to ABL Priority Collateral) in such after-acquired collateral (or all of its assets, except Excluded Assets, in the case of a new Guarantor) and to take such actions to add such after-acquired collateral to the Collateral, in each case to the extent required by, and subject to the limitations and exceptions of, the Collateral Requirement and to otherwise comply with the requirements of the Collateral Requirement, and thereupon all provisions of this Indenture and the Security Documents relating to the Collateral shall be deemed to relate to such after-acquired collateral to the same extent and with the same force and effect.

(b)    (i) Any Subsidiary of Holdings which becomes a Guarantor shall take all such actions necessary to comply with the Collateral Requirement within thirty (30) days after the occurrence of such event causing such Subsidiary to become a Guarantor, and (ii) Holdings shall within thirty (30) days after the acquisition of such property or rights cause such property to be subjected to a Lien to the extent required by the Collateral Requirement and will take, or cause the relevant Guarantor to take, such actions as shall be necessary or reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent to grant and perfect or record such Lien, in each case in a manner consistent with the Collateral Requirement and the procedures outlined in the New Senior Credit Facilities, to the extent applicable. Such time periods in clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 12.12(b) shall be subject to extensions as the Collateral Agent may agree in writing (in a manner consistent with the procedures outlined in the New Senior Credit Facilities, to the extent applicable); it being understood and agreed that the administrative agent under the New Senior Credit Facilities may grant extensions of time under the New Senior Credit Facilities for such actions necessary to comply with the Collateral Requirement, and any such extension shall apply hereunder as if the Collateral Agent had agreed to such extensions in writing.

Section 12.13    Maintenance of Property and Insurance.

(a)    Holdings will, and will cause each of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, keep all of their respective property material to the operation of the business of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in good working order and condition in all material respects, ordinary wear and tear and fire, casualty and condemnation excepted; provided, that Holdings

 

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shall not be obligated to comply with the foregoing provisions of this Section 12.13 to the extent that the failure to do so is not adverse in any material respect to Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

(b)    Holdings will, and will cause each of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, maintain insurance with financially sound and reputable insurance companies (and Holdings shall use commercially reasonable efforts to name the Collateral Agent as an additional insured or lenders loss payee, as applicable, thirty (30) days after the Issue Date (or such later date as the Applicable Collateral Agent may agree) in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent) on all property material to the operation of the business of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in at least such amounts and against at least such risks as are determined by Holdings in good faith to be reasonable and prudent, taking into account the risks that are usually insured against in the same general area by companies engaged in the same business or a business that Holdings deems reasonably similar, it being understood that this Section shall not prevent the use of deductible or excess loss insurance and shall not prevent (i) Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries from acting as a self-insurer or maintaining insurance with another Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of Holdings so long as such action is consistent with sound business practice or (ii) Holdings from obtaining and owning insurance policies covering activities of its Subsidiaries. Holdings will deliver evidence of such coverage to the Collateral Agent; use commercially reasonable efforts to cause each such policy to provide that it shall not be canceled (i) by reason of nonpayment of premium upon not less than 10 days’ prior written notice thereof by the insurer to the Collateral Agent (giving the Collateral Agent the right to cure defaults in the payment of premiums) or (ii) for any other reason upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice thereof by the insurer to the the Collateral Agent.

Section 12.14    Further Assurances.

(a)    The Issuers and the Guarantors, at their sole cost and expense and subject to the Intercreditor Agreements, will execute, acknowledge, deliver, record, re-record, file, re-file, register and re-register, as applicable, any and all such further acts, deeds, certificates, assurances and other agreements or instruments and shall take all further action (including filing Uniform Commercial Code and other financing statements, mortgages and deeds of trust), as may be reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent:

(1)    carry out the terms and provisions of the Security Documents;

(2)    subject to the Liens created by any of the Security Documents any of the properties, rights or interests required to be encumbered thereby, including all assets of any Guarantor (other than Excluded Assets) or newly acquired assets of a Guarantor;

(3)    perfect and maintain the validity, enforceability, effectiveness and priority of any of the Security Documents and the Liens intended to be created by the Security Documents; and

(b)    assure, convey, grant, assign, transfer, preserve, protect and confirm to the Collateral Agent any of the rights granted now or hereafter intended by the parties thereto to be granted to the Collateral Agent under the Security Documents or under any other instrument executed in connection herewith.

 

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ARTICLE XIII

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 13.01    [Reserved].

Section 13.02    Notices.

Any notice or communication by Holdings, the Issuers, any Guarantor or the Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), electronic mail or other electronic transmission or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others’ address:

If to Holdings, the Issuers and/or any Guarantor:

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company

125 High Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02110

Fax: (617) 249-2118

Email: bill.bayers@hmhco.com

Attn: General Counsel, with a copy to Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer

with a copy to:

WilmerHale

1875 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20006

Fax: (202) 663-6363

Email: Justin.Ochs@wilmerhale.com

Attn: Justin Ochs

If to the Trustee, the initial Paying Agent and the Registrar:

U.S. Bank National Association

Global Corporate Trust Services

One Federal Street, 3rd Floor

Boston, MA 02110

Attn: Steven J. Gomes

If to the Collateral Agent:

Citibank, N.A.

Agency & Trust

388 Greenwich Street

New York, NY 10013

Attention: SPAG Administration

Email: cts.spag@citi.com

 

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Holdings, the Issuers, any Guarantor, the Trustee, or the Collateral Agent, by notice to the others, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five calendar days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed by first-class mail; when receipt acknowledged, if faxed or sent electronically; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery; provided that any notice or communication delivered to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent shall be deemed effective upon actual receipt thereof.

Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be electronically delivered, mailed by first-class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the register kept by the Registrar. Failure to deliver a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.

If a notice or communication is mailed or otherwise delivered in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, such notice or communication shall be deemed duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it; provided that any notice or communication delivered to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent shall be deemed effective upon actual receipt thereof.

If Holdings or the Issuers mail a notice or communication to Holders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

The Trustee and the Collateral Agent agree to accept and act upon instructions or directions pursuant to this Indenture sent by unsecured email, facsimile transmission or other similar unsecured electronic methods; provided, however, that (a) the party providing such written instructions, subsequent to such transmission of written instructions, shall provide the originally executed instructions or directions to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent (as the case may be) in a timely manner, and (b) such originally executed instructions or directions shall be signed by an authorized representative of the party providing such instructions or directions. If the party elects to give the Trustee or the Collateral Agent email or facsimile instructions (or instructions by a similar electronic method) and the Trustee or the Collateral Agent (as applicable) in its discretion elects to act upon such instructions, the Trustee’s and the Collateral Agent’s understanding of such instructions shall be deemed controlling.

Neither the Trustee nor the Collateral Agent shall not be liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from the Trustee’s or the Collateral Agent’s reliance upon and compliance with such instructions notwithstanding such instructions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction. The party providing electronic instructions agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of such electronic methods to submit instructions and directions to the Collateral Agent, including, without limitation, the risk of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties, absent the Collateral Agent’s own willful misconduct or gross negligence (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final, non-appealable judgment).

 

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Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any Note, where this Indenture or any Note provides for notice of any event (including any notice of redemption or purchase) to a Holder of a Global Note (whether stated to be by mail or otherwise), such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary for such Note (or its designee) pursuant to the Applicable Procedures for the Depositary.

Section 13.03    [Reserved].

Section 13.04    Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.

Upon any request or application by the Issuers or any of the Guarantors to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Issuers or such Guarantor, as the case may be, shall furnish to the Trustee or, if such action relates to an Intercreditor Agreement or a Security Document, the Collateral Agent:

(a)    An Officer’s Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 13.05 hereof), stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and

(b)    An Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 13.05 hereof), stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied.

Section 13.05    Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.

Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture, the Notes or the Security Documents shall include:

(a)    a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

(b)    a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

(c)    a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with (and, in the case of an Opinion of Counsel, may be limited to reliance on an Officer’s Certificate as to matters of fact); and

 

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(d)    a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with; provided, however, that with respect to matters of fact an Opinion of Counsel may rely on an Officer’s Certificate or certificates of public officials.

Section 13.06    Rules by Trustee and Agents.

The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

Section 13.07    No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders.

No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner or stockholder of Holdings, the Issuers or any Guarantor or any of their direct or indirect parent companies shall have any liability for any obligations of Holdings, the Issuers or the Guarantors under the Notes, the Guarantees or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting Notes waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

Section 13.08    Governing Law.

THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITY DOCUMENTS, THE NOTES AND ANY GUARANTEE WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Section 13.09    Waiver of Jury Trial.

EACH OF THE ISSUERS, THE GUARANTORS, THE COLLATERAL AGENT AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITY DOCUMENTS, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

Section 13.10    Force Majeure.

In no event shall the Trustee or any Agent be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its reasonable control, including strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software or hardware) services.

Section 13.11    No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.

This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of Holdings or its Restricted Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

 

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Section 13.12    Successors.

All agreements of the Issuers in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind their successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors. All agreements of each Guarantor in this Indenture shall bind its successors, except as otherwise provided in Section 10.06 hereof.

Section 13.13    Severability.

In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

Section 13.14    Counterpart Originals.

The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. This Indenture may be executed in multiple counterparts which, when taken together, shall constitute one instrument. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes

Section 13.15    Table of Contents, Headings, etc.

The Table of Contents and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

Section 13.16    Intercreditor Agreements.

(a)    Each Holder, by accepting such Note, will be deemed to have (i) appointed and authorized the Collateral Agent and the Trustee to give effect to the provisions in the Intercreditor Agreements, any additional intercreditor agreements and the Security Documents and perform the duties and exercise the rights, powers and discretions that are specifically given to it under the Intercreditor Agreements and the Security Documents securing such Indebtedness, together with any other incidental rights, power and discretions, (ii) agreed to be bound by the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreements, any additional intercreditor agreements and the Security Documents (including, for the avoidance of doubt, consenting to the subordination of Liens provided for in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement) and (iii) irrevocably appointed the Collateral Agent and the Trustee to act on its behalf to enter into and comply with the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreements, any additional intercreditor agreements and the Security Documents (including the execution of, and compliance with, any waiver, modification, amendment, renewal or replacement expressed to be executed by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent on its behalf).

 

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(b)    The parties acknowledge and agree that Citibank, N.A. is entering into (i) the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement in its capacities as Notes Collateral Agent and Additional Collateral Agent thereunder, and (ii) the ABL Intercreditor Agreement in its capacity as Original Notes Agent thereunder. In the event of any conflict between this Indenture, the Notes or any Security Document, on the one hand, and an Intercreditor Agreement on the other, the terms of such Intercreditor Agreement shall govern and control.

Section 13.17    USA Patriot Act. In order to comply with the laws, rules, regulations and executive orders in effect from time to time applicable to banking institutions, including, without limitation, those relating to the funding of terrorist activities and money laundering, including Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act of the United States (“Applicable AML Law”), each of the Trustee and the Collateral Agent is required to obtain, verify, record and update certain information relating to individuals and entities which maintain a business relationship with the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, as applicable. Accordingly, each of the parties agree to provide to the Collateral Agent, upon their request from time to time such identifying information and documentation as may be available for such party in order to enable the Trustee and the Collateral Agent to comply with Applicable AML Law.

[Signatures on following page]

 

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ISSUERS:
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHERS, INC.
By:   /s/ William F. Bayers
Name:   William F. Bayers
Title:   Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY
By:   /s/ William F. Bayers
Name:   William F. Bayers
Title:   Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel
HMH PUBLISHERS LLC
By:   /s/ William F. Bayers
Name:   William F. Bayers
Title:   Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel

 

HOLDINGS AND GUARANTOR:
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT COMPANY
By:   /s/ William F. Bayers
Name:   William F. Bayers
Title:   Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel


GUARANTORS:
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By:   /s/ William F. Bayers
Name:   William F. Bayers
Title:   Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel
GREENWOOD PUBLISHING GROUP, LLC
By:   /s/ William F. Bayers
Name:   William F. Bayers
Title:   Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By:   /s/ Steven J. Gomes
Name:   Steven J. Gomes
Title:   Vice President


CITIBANK, N.A., as Collateral Agent
By:   /s/ Camille R.Tomao
Name:  

Camille R.Tomao

Title:   Vice President


EXHIBIT A

[Face of Note]

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

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS SUPPLIED SOLELY FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES: THIS NOTE WAS ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT (“OID”) WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 1273 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”), AND THIS LEGEND IS REQUIRED BY SECTION 1275(c) OF THE CODE. A HOLDER MAY OBTAIN THE ISSUE PRICE, ISSUE DATE AND YIELD TO MATURITY BY SUBMITTING A WRITTEN REQUEST FOR SUCH INFORMATION TO HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT AT 125 HIGH STREET, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02110 ATTN: TREASURER AND ASSISTANT TREASURER

CUSIP [  ]

ISIN [  ]

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

9.000% Senior Secured Notes due 2025

 

No. [    ]   Principal Amount $[     ]
  [as revised by the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in Global Note attached hereto]

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHERS, INC.,

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY

HMH PUBLISHERS LLC

as the Issuers

jointly and severally promise to pay to [    ] [CEDE & CO.] or registered assigns, the principal sum of $[                ] ([            ] United States Dollars)[, as revised by the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in Global Note attached hereto,] on February 15, 2025.

Interest Payment Dates: February 15 and August 15

Record Dates: February 1 and August 1

 

A-1


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

Dated: [                ]

 

ISSUERS:  
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHERS, INC.
By:  
Name:  
Title:  
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY
By:  
Name:  
Title:  
HMH PUBLISHERS LLC
By:  
Name:  
Title:  

This is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture:

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By:  
  Authorized Signatory

 

A-2


[Back of Note]

9.000% Senior Secured Notes due 2025

Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

(1)    INTEREST. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers Inc., a Delaware corporation, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, a Massachusetts corporation, and HMH Publishers LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Issuers”), promise to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at 9.000% per annum from [                ] until maturity. The Issuers shall pay interest semi-annually in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each, an “Interest Payment Date”). Interest on the Notes shall accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the date of issuance. Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

(2)    METHOD OF PAYMENT. Interest on the Notes shall be paid to the Persons who are registered Holders at the close of business on the February 1 or August 1 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding an Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such Record Date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. Payment of interest may be made by check delivered to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders; provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds shall be required with respect to principal of and interest and premium, if any, on, all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which shall have provided wire transfer instructions to the Issuers or the Paying Agent. Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

(3)    PAYING AGENT, TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR. Initially, U.S. Bank National Association shall act as Paying Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar. The Issuers may change any Paying Agent, Transfer Agent or Registrar without notice to the Holders.

(4)    INDENTURE. The Issuers issued the Notes under an Indenture, dated as of November 22, 2019 (the “Indenture”), among the Issuers, the Guarantors party thereto, and the Trustee and Collateral Agent. This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of notes of the Issuers designated as 9.000% Senior Secured Notes due 2025. The Issuers shall be entitled to issue Additional Notes pursuant to Sections 2.01 and 4.09 of the Indenture. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture for a statement of such terms. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

 

A-3


(5)    OPTIONAL REDEMPTION.

(i)    Except as described below under Sections 5(ii), 5(iv) and 5(v), the Issuers shall not be permitted to redeem the Notes prior to February 15, 2022. The Notes will be payable at par at maturity.

(ii)    At any time prior to February 15, 2022, the Notes may be redeemed or purchased (by the Issuers or any other Person), at the Issuers’ option, in whole or in part, upon notice as provided in Section 3.03 of the Indenture, at a redemption price equal to 100.000% of the principal amount of Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of the date of redemption (the “Redemption Date”), and, without duplication, accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Redemption Date, subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date.

(iii)    On and after February 15, 2022, the Notes may be redeemed or purchased (by the Issuers or any other Person), at the Issuers’ option, in whole or in part, upon notice as provided in Section 3.03 of the Indenture, at any time and from time to time at the redemption prices set forth below. The Notes shall be redeemable at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on February 15 of each of the years indicated below:

 

Year    Percentage  

2022

     104.500

2023

     102.250

2024 and thereafter

     100.000

(iv)    Until February 15, 2022 the Issuers may, at their option, on one or more occasions, upon notice as provided in Section 3.03 of the Indenture, redeem up to 40% of the then outstanding aggregate principal amount of Notes at a redemption price equal to 109.000% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date, with the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings to the extent such net cash proceeds are received by or contributed to Holdings; provided that at least 50% of the sum of the aggregate principal amount of Notes originally issued under the Indenture and any Additional Notes issued under the Indenture after the Issue Date remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption unless all such Notes are redeemed substantially concurrently; provided further, that each such redemption occurs within 180 days of the date of closing of each such Equity Offering.

 

A-4


(v)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, in connection with any tender offer for the Notes, including a Change of Control Offer, Collateral Asset Sale Offer or Asset Sale Offer, if Holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes validly tender and do not withdraw such Notes in such tender offer and the Issuers, or any third party making such a tender offer in lieu of the Issuers, purchases all of the Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn by such Holders, the Issuers or such third party will have the right upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following such purchase date, to redeem all Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at a redemption price equal to the price offered to each other Holder (excluding any early tender or incentive fee) in such tender offer plus, to the extent not included in the tender offer payment, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.

(vi)    The Issuers may provide in any notice provided pursuant to Sections 5(ii) or (iii) hereof that payment of the redemption price and performance of the Issuers’ obligations with respect thereto may be performed by another Person. Notice of any redemption provided pursuant to Section 5(iii) hereof may be given prior to the completion of the related Equity Offering. Any notice of redemption may, at the Issuers’ discretion, provide that the redemption contemplated thereby is conditioned on the satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, the consummation of an acquisition or financing transaction or Equity Offering, that the Redemption Date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied, or such redemption or purchase may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the Redemption Date, or by the Redemption Date as so delayed, and that performance of the Issuers’ obligations with respect to such redemption or purchase may be performed by another Person.

Any redemption of Notes pursuant to this Section 5 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 of the Indenture.

(6)    MANDATORY REDEMPTION. The Issuers shall not be required to make any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes. The Issuers may at any time and from time to time purchase Notes in the open market, by tender offer, in negotiated transactions or otherwise.

(7)    NOTICE OF REDEMPTION. Subject to Section 3.03 of the Indenture, notice of redemption shall be delivered by electronic transmission (for Notes held in book-entry form) or by first-class mail, postage prepaid, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date (except that redemption notices may be delivered more than 60 days prior to a Redemption Date if the notice is issued in connection with Article VIII or Article XI of the Indenture) to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address. Notes in denominations larger than $2,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $1,000, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be redeemed. On and after the Redemption Date, interest shall cease to accrue on Notes or portions thereof called for redemption.

 

A-5


(8)    OFFERS TO REPURCHASE.

(i)    If a Change of Control occurs, unless Holdings has previously or concurrently delivered a redemption notice with respect to all the outstanding Notes as set forth in Sections 3.03 and 3.07 of the Indenture and Section 5 hereof, the Issuers shall make an offer to purchase all of the Notes pursuant to the offer described below (the “Change of Control Offer”) at a price in cash (the “Change of Control Payment”) equal to 101.0% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date. The Change of Control Offer shall be made in accordance with Section 4.14 of the Indenture.

(ii)    When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds with respect to the Notes exceeds $25,000,000, the Issuers shall make an offer to all Holders and, if required by the terms of any Pari Passu Indebtedness, to all holders of such Indebtedness (an “Asset Sale Offer”), to purchase the maximum aggregate principal amount of such Notes and the maximum aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, if less) of such Indebtedness that is a minimum of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 thereof (in aggregate principal amount) that may be purchased out of such Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest (or such lesser price with respect to such other Pari Passu Indebtedness, if any, as may be provided by the terms of the agreements governing such other Indebtedness) to the date fixed for the closing of such offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture and the agreement governing the Pari Passu Indebtedness. The Issuers will commence an Asset Sale Offer with respect to Excess Proceeds within 20 Business Days after the date that Excess Proceeds exceed $25,000,000 by delivering the notice required pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, with a copy to the Trustee or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of DTC. The Issuers, in their sole discretion, may satisfy the foregoing obligations with respect to any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale by making an Asset Sale Offer with respect to such Net Proceeds prior to the expiration of the relevant 12 month period (or such longer period provided above) or with respect to Excess Proceeds of $25,000,000 or less.

(iii)    When the aggregate amount of Collateral Excess Proceeds with respect to the Notes exceeds $25,000,000, the Issuers shall make an offer to all Holders and, if required by the terms of any First Lien Obligations or Obligations secured by a Lien permitted under the Indenture on the Collateral disposed of (which Lien is not subordinate to the Lien of the Notes with respect to the Collateral), to all holders of such other First Lien Obligations or other Obligations (a “Collateral Asset Sale Offer”), to purchase the maximum aggregate principal amount of such Notes that is a minimum of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 thereof (in aggregate principal amount) and the maximum aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, if less) of such other First Lien Obligations or other Obligations that may be purchased out of such Collateral Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest (or such lesser price with respect to such other First Lien Obligations or other Obligations, if any, as may be provided by the terms of the agreement governing such other Indebtedness) to the date fixed for the closing of such offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture and the agreements governing such other First Lien Obligations or other Obligations. The Issuers will commence a Collateral Asset Sale Offer with respect to Collateral Excess Proceeds within 20 Business Days after the date that Collateral Excess Proceeds exceed $25,000,000 by delivering the notice required pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, with a copy to the Trustee or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of DTC. The Issuers, in their sole discretion, may satisfy the

 

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foregoing obligations with respect to any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale by making a Collateral Asset Sale Offer with respect to such Net Proceeds prior to the expiration of the relevant 12 month period (or such longer period provided above) or with respect to Collateral Excess Proceeds of $25,000,000 or less.

(9)    DENOMINATIONS, TRANSFER, EXCHANGE. The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents, and the Issuers may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Issuers need not exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part. Also, the Issuers need not exchange or register the transfer of (x) any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or (y) any Notes selected for redemption or tendered (and not withdrawn) for repurchase in connection with a Change of Control Offer, Collateral Asset Sale Offer or an Asset Sale Offer.

(10)    PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS. The registered Holder may be treated as its owner for all purposes.

(11)    AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER. The Indenture, the Guarantees, the Notes or the Security Documents may be amended or supplemented as provided in the Indenture.

(12)    DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES. The Events of Default relating to the Notes are defined in Section 6.01 of the Indenture. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25.0% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare the principal, premium, if any, interest and any other monetary obligations on all the then outstanding Notes to be due and payable immediately. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency, all outstanding Notes shall become due and payable immediately without further action or notice; provided, however, the sole remedy for an Event of Default specified in clause (4) of Section 6.01(a) of the Indenture will for the 365 days after the occurrence of such an Event of Default consist exclusively, to the extent permitted by applicable law, of the right to receive additional interest on the principal amount of the Notes at a rate equal to 0.50% per annum, with such interest payable in the same manner and subject to the same terms as other interest payable under the Indenture, and if such Event of Default is continuing on such 365th day, such additional interest will cease to accrue, and the Notes will be subject to the other remedies provided. Holders may not enforce the Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees except as provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders notice of any continuing Default (except a Default relating to the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the all Holders waive any existing Default and its consequences under the Indenture except a continuing

 

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Default in payment of interest on, premium, if any, or the principal of, any of the Notes held by a non-consenting Holder. Holdings is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture, and Holdings is required within five (5) Business Days after becoming aware of any Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default and what action Holdings proposes to take with respect thereto.

(13)    AUTHENTICATION. This Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose until authenticated by the manual or facsimile signature of the Trustee.

(14)    SECURITY. The Notes and the related Guarantees will be secured by the Collateral on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Indenture and the Security Documents. The Trustee and the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, hold the Collateral in trust for the benefit of the Holders, in each case pursuant to the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements. Each Holder, by accepting this Note, consents and agrees to the terms of the Security Documents (including the provisions providing for the foreclosure and release of Collateral) and the Intercreditor Agreements, each as may be in effect or may be amended from time to time in accordance with their terms and the Indenture, and authorizes and directs each of the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, as applicable, to enter into the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements on the Issue Date, and the Security Documents and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, at any time after the Issue Date, if applicable, and to perform its obligations and exercise its rights thereunder in accordance therewith.

(15)    GOVERNING LAW. THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THE INDENTURE, THE SECURITY DOCUMENTS, THE NOTES AND THE GUARANTEES.

(16)    CUSIP NUMBERS. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Issuers have caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

The Issuers shall furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to the Issuers at the following address:

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company

125 High Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02110

Attn: General Counsel, with a copy to Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer

 

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ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to:

 

  (Insert assignee’s legal name)  

 

 

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)

 

 

 

 

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)
and irrevocably appoint

to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuers. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

Date:

 

Your Signature:  

 

  (Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)

Signature Guarantee*:

 

*

Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

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OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Issuers pursuant to Section 4.10 or 4.14 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box below:

 

[    ] Section 4.10    [    ] Section 4.14

If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Issuers pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.14 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:

$

Date:

Your Signature:

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)

Tax Identification No.:

Signature Guarantee*:

 

*

Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

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SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE*

The initial outstanding principal amount of this Global Note is $[                ]. The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:

 

Date of Exchange    Amount of
decrease in
Principal
Amount
   Amount of
increase in
Principal
Amount of this
Global Note
   Principal Amount
of this Global
Note following
such decrease or
increase
   Signature of
authorized officer
of Trustee or Note
Custodian

 

*

This schedule should be included only if the Note is issued in global form.

 

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EXHIBIT B

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company

125 High Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02110

Attention: General Counsel, with a copy to Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer

U.S. Bank National Association

Global Corporate Trust Services

One Federal Street, 3rd Floor

Boston, MA 02110

Attention: Steven J. Gomes

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of November 22, 2019 (the “Indenture”), among the Issuers, the guarantors party thereto and the Trustee and Collateral Agent, under which the Notes have been issued. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

[                ] (the “Transferor”) owns and proposes to transfer the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified in Annex A hereto, in the principal amount of $[                ] in such Note[s] or interests (the “Transfer”), to [                ] (the “Transferee”), as further specified in Annex A hereto. In connection with the Transfer, the Transferor hereby certifies that:

[CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]

1. [    ] CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THE 144A GLOBAL NOTE OR A DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that the beneficial interest or Definitive Note is being transferred to a Person that the Transferor reasonably believes is purchasing the beneficial interest or Definitive Note for its own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to which such Person exercises sole investment discretion, and such Person and each such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A and such Transfer is in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

2. [    ] CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THE REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE OR A DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO REGULATION S. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that (i) the Transfer is not being made to a person in the United States and (x) at the time the buy order was originated, the Transferee was outside the United States or such Transferor and any Person acting on its behalf reasonably believed and believes that the Transferee was outside the United States or (y) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither such Transferor nor any Person

 

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acting on its behalf knows that the transaction was prearranged with a buyer in the United States, (ii) no directed selling efforts have been made in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (iii) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act and (iv) if the proposed transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, the transfer is not being made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser). Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on Transfer enumerated in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

3. [    ] CHECK AND COMPLETE IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THE DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO ANY PROVISION OF THE SECURITIES ACT OTHER THAN RULE 144A OR REGULATION S. The Transfer is being effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States, and accordingly the Transferor hereby further certifies that (check one):

(a)    [    ] such Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act;

or

(b)    [    ] such Transfer is being effected to the Issuers or a subsidiary thereof;

or

(c)    [    ] such Transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and in compliance with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.

4. [    ] CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE OR OF AN UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE.

(a)    [    ] CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO RULE 144. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

 

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(b)    [    ] CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO REGULATION S. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

(c)    [    ] CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO OTHER EXEMPTION. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in compliance with an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144, Rule 903 or Rule 904 and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any State of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will not be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes or Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Issuers.

 

[Insert Name of Transferor]
By:      
  Name:
  Title:

Dated:    

 

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ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

1.    The Transferor owns and proposes to transfer the following:

[CHECK ONE OF (a) OR (b)]

(a)    [    ] a beneficial interest in the:

(i)    [    ] 144A Global Note (CUSIP [ ]), or

(ii)   [    ] Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP [ ]), or

(b)    [    ] a Restricted Definitive Note.

2.    After the Transfer the Transferee will hold:

[CHECK ONE]

(a)    [    ] a beneficial interest in the:

(i)    [    ] 144A Global Note (CUSIP [ ]), or

(ii)   [    ] Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP [ ]), or

(iii)  [    ] Unrestricted Global Note (CUSIP [ ]); or

(b)    [    ] a Restricted Definitive Note; or

(c)    [    ] an Unrestricted Definitive Note,

in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

 

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EXHIBIT C

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company

125 High Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02110

Attention: General Counsel, with a copy to Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer

U.S. Bank National Association

Global Corporate Trust Services

One Federal Street, 3rd Floor

Boston, MA 02110

Attention: Steven J. Gomes

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of November 22, 2019 (the “Indenture”), among the Issuers, the guarantors party thereto and the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, under which the Notes have been issued. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

[                ] (the “Owner”) owns and proposes to exchange the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified herein, in the principal amount of $[                ] in such Note[s] or interests (the “Exchange”). In connection with the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that:

1. EXCHANGE OF RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE FOR UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE

(a)    [    ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note in an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

(b)    [    ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the

 

C-1


Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

(c)    [    ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

(d)    [    ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

2. EXCHANGE OF RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES FOR RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES

(a)    [    ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a Restricted Definitive Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies that the Restricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Restricted Definitive Note issued will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

(b)    [    ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in the [CHECK ONE] [    ] 144A Global Note [    ] Regulation S Global Note, with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer and (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance

 

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with the Securities Act, and in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the beneficial interest issued will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the relevant Restricted Global Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Issuers.

 

[Insert Name of Transferor]
By:  
  Name:
  Title:

Dated:

 

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EXHIBIT D

[FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

TO BE DELIVERED BY SUBSEQUENT GUARANTORS]

Supplemental Indenture (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of [                ], among [                ] (the “Guaranteeing Subsidiary”), a subsidiary of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, a Delaware corporation (“Holdings”), U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), and Citibank, N.A., as collateral agent (the “Collateral Agent”).

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers, Inc., Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company and HMH Publishers, LLC (collectively, the “Issuers”) have heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent an indenture (the “Indenture”), dated as of November 22, 2019, providing for the issuance of an unlimited aggregate principal amount of 9.000% Senior Secured Notes due 2025 (the “Notes”);

WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall unconditionally guarantee all of the Issuers’ Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth herein and under the Indenture (the “Guarantee”); and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent 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 parties mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders as follows:

(a)    Capitalized Terms. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

(b)    Agreement to Guarantee. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby agrees to provide an unconditional Guarantee on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Indenture including but not limited to Article X thereof.

(c)    No Recourse Against Others. No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner or stockholder of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary or any of its direct or indirect parent companies shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuers or the Guarantors (including the Guaranteeing Subsidiary) under the Notes, any Guarantees, the Indenture, the Security Documents or this Supplemental Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting Notes waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

 

D-1


(d)    Governing Law. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

(e)    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.

(f)    Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

(g)    The Trustee and the Collateral Agent. Neither the Trustee nor the Collateral Agent shall be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary.

(h)    Subrogation. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall be subrogated to all rights of Holders against the Issuers in respect of any amounts paid by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary pursuant to the provisions of Section 2 hereof and Section 10.01 of the Indenture; provided that, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall not be entitled to enforce or receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until all amounts then due and payable by the Issuers under the Indenture or the Notes shall have been paid in full.

(i)    Benefits Acknowledged. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary’s Guarantee is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary acknowledges that it will receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by the Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture and that the guarantee and waivers made by it pursuant to this Guarantee are knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.

(j)    Successors. All agreements of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary in this Supplemental Indenture shall bind its successors, except as otherwise provided in the Indenture or in this Supplemental Indenture. All agreements of the Trustee in this Supplemental Indenture shall bind its successors.

 

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

 

[GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY]
By:  
Name:  
Title:  
U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee
By:  
Name:  
Title:  
Citibank, N.A., as Collateral Agent
By:  
Name:  
Title:  

 

D-3


EXHIBIT E

[FORM OF]

JUNIOR LIEN INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT

among

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT COMPANY,

as Holdings

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHERS INC.,

HMH PUBLISHERS LLC, and

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY,

as Borrowers

THE OTHER SUBSIDIARIES OF HOLDINGS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY

HERETO and

CITIBANK, N.A.,

as the Initial Senior Representative,

and

[            ],

as the Initial Junior Representative

dated as of [    ], 20[    ]


JUNIOR LIEN INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT dated as of [    ], 20[    ] (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Agreement”), among HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT COMPANY, as Holdings (“Holdings”), HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHERS INC., HMH PUBLISHERS LLC, and HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY, as Borrowers (each a “Borrower”, and collectively, the “Borrowers”), the other Grantors (as defined herein) from time to time party hereto and CITIBANK, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent under the First Lien Credit Agreement (the “Initial Senior Representative”), [    ], as administrative agent and collateral agent under the Junior Lien [            ] (in such capacity and together with its successors in such capacity, the “Initial Junior Representative”), and each additional Junior Representative and Senior Representative that from time to time becomes a party hereto pursuant to Section 8.09.

In consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Initial Senior Representative (for itself and on behalf of the First Lien Credit Agreement Secured Parties), the Initial Junior Representative for itself and on behalf of the Initial Junior Priority Debt Parties and each additional Senior Representative (for itself and on behalf of the Additional Senior Debt Parties under the applicable Additional Senior Debt Facility) and each additional Junior Representative (for itself and on behalf of the Junior Priority Debt Parties under the applicable Junior Priority Debt Facility) agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

Definitions

SECTION 1.01    Certain Defined Terms. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings set forth in the First Lien Credit Agreement (as defined below) or, if defined in the New York UCC, the meanings specified therein. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

ABL Intercreditor Agreement” means the Second Amended and Restated Term Loan / Notes/ Revolving Facility Lien Subordination And Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of November 22, 2019, among Citibank, N.A. as collateral agent under the First Lien Credit Agreement, Citibank, N.A., as notes collateral agent under the Notes Indenture, Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent under the Revolving Credit Agreement, and the representatives for purposes thereof for holders of one or more other classes of Indebtedness, the Borrowers and the other parties thereto, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Additional Senior Debt” means any Indebtedness that is issued or guaranteed by the Borrowers and/or any Guarantor (other than Indebtedness constituting First Lien Credit Agreement Obligations) which Indebtedness and guarantees are secured by the Senior Collateral (or a portion thereof) on a senior basis to the Junior Priority Debt (but without regard to control of remedies); provided, however, that (i) when incurred, such Indebtedness is permitted to be incurred, secured and guaranteed on such basis by each Senior Debt Document and each Junior Priority Debt Document then in effect and (ii) the Representative for the holders of such Indebtedness shall have (x) become party to this Agreement pursuant to, and by satisfying the

 

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conditions set forth in, Section 8.09 hereof and (y) the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement in accordance with Section 5.13 thereof. Additional Senior Debt shall include any Registered Equivalent Notes and guarantees thereof by the Guarantors issued in exchange therefor; provided that if such Indebtedness will be the initial Additional Senior Debt, then the Representative thereof shall have executed and delivered the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement.

Additional Senior Debt Documents” means, with respect to any series, issue or class of Additional Senior Debt, the promissory notes, indentures, collateral documents or other operative agreements evidencing or governing such Indebtedness, including the Senior Collateral Documents.

Additional Senior Debt Facility” means each credit agreement, indenture or other governing agreement with respect to any Additional Senior Debt.

Additional Senior Debt Obligations” means, with respect to any series, issue or class of Additional Senior Debt, (a) all principal of, and interest payable with respect to, such Additional Senior Debt, (b) all other amounts payable to the related Additional Senior Debt Parties under the related Additional Senior Debt Documents and (c) any renewals or extensions of the foregoing, including, in each case, without limitation, any interest, fees and other amounts which accrue after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, whether or not allowed or allowable as a claim in any such proceeding.

Additional Senior Debt Parties” means, with respect to any series, issue or class of Additional Senior Debt, the holders of such Additional Senior Debt Obligations, the Representative with respect thereto, any trustee or agent therefor under any related Additional Senior Debt Documents and the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by the Borrowers or any Guarantor under any related Additional Senior Debt Documents.

Administrative Agent” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “First Lien Credit Agreement”.

Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

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.

Borrowers” has the meaning assigned to such term in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

Class Debt” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.09.

Class Debt Parties” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.09.

Class Debt Representatives” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.09.

 

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Collateral” means the Senior Collateral and the Junior Priority Collateral.

Collateral Documents” means the Senior Collateral Documents and the Junior Priority Collateral Documents.

Credit Agreement Loan Documents” means the First Lien Credit Agreement and the other “Loan Documents” as defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement.

Debt Facility” means any Senior Facility and any Junior Priority Debt Facility.

Designated Junior Representative” means (i) the Initial Junior Representative, until such time as the Junior Priority Debt Facility under the Junior Lien [    ] ceases to be the only Junior Priority Debt Facility under this Agreement and (ii) thereafter, the Junior Representative designated from time to time by the Junior Priority Instructing Group, in a notice to each Senior Representative and the Borrowers hereunder, as the “Designated Junior Representative” for purposes hereof.

Designated Senior Representative” means (i) if at any time there is only one Senior Representative for a Senior Facility with respect to which the Discharge of Senior Obligations has not occurred, such Senior Representative and (ii) at any time when clause (i) does not apply, the Applicable Collateral Agent (as defined in the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement) at such time.

DIP Financing” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.01.

Discharge” means, with respect to any Debt Facility, the date on which such Debt Facility and the Senior Obligations or Junior Priority Debt Obligations thereunder, as the case may be, are no longer secured by any of the Shared Collateral, and no longer required to be secured by any of the Shared Collateral, pursuant to the terms of the documentation governing such Debt Facility. The term “Discharged” shall have a corresponding meaning.

Discharge of Senior Obligations” means the date on which the Discharge of Senior Obligations has occurred; provided that to the extent the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement is outstanding, Discharge of Senior Obligations shall include the Discharge of any Senior Obligations (including the Senior Notes) subject to such Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement.

Disposition” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.01(a).

First Lien Collateral Agent” has the meaning assigned to the term “Collateral Agent” in the First Lien Credit Agreement and shall include any successor administrative agent and collateral agent as provided in Article IX of the First Lien Credit Agreement.

First Lien Collateral Agreement” means the Security Agreement (as defined in the Credit Agreement), as amended, restated, amended and restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

First Lien Credit Agreement” means that certain Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of November 22, 2019, among Holdings, the Borrowers, the Subsidiary Guarantors named therein, Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent (in such

 

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capacity, and together with successors and assigns in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”) and as collateral agent, the lenders party thereto from time to time and the other agents named therein, as amended, restated, amended and restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

First Lien Credit Agreement Obligations” means the “Obligations” as defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement.

First Lien Credit Agreement Secured Parties” means the “Secured Parties” as defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement.

Grantors” means Holdings, the Borrowers, and each Subsidiary of Holdings which has granted a security interest pursuant to any Collateral Document to secure any Secured Obligations.

Guarantors” has the meaning assigned to the term in the First Lien Credit Agreement which have guaranteed any of the Secured Obligations pursuant to the Senior Debt Documents or the Junior Priority Debt Documents.

Holdings” has the meaning assigned to such term in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

Indebtedness” has the meaning assigned to the term in the First Lien Credit Agreement.

Initial Junior Priority Debt Parties” means the holders of the obligations issued pursuant to Junior Lien [        ].

Initial Junior Representative” has the meaning assigned to such term in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement and shall include any successor administrative agent and collateral agent.

Initial Senior Representative” has the meaning assigned to such term in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement and shall include any successor administrative agent and collateral agent.

Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding” means:

(a)    any case commenced by or against Holdings or any other Grantor under the Bankruptcy Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors, any other proceeding for the reorganization, recapitalization or adjustment or marshalling of the assets or liabilities of Holdings or any other Grantor, any receivership or assignment for the benefit of creditors relating to Holdings or any other Grantor or any similar case or proceeding relative to Holdings or any other Grantor or its creditors, as such, in each case whether or not voluntary;

(b)    any liquidation, dissolution, marshalling of assets or liabilities or other winding up of or relating to Holdings or any other Grantor, in each case whether or not voluntary and whether or not involving bankruptcy or insolvency, in each case to the extent not permitted under the Senior Debt Documents;

 

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(c) any proceeding seeking the appointment of any trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other insolvency official with similar powers with respect to Holdings or any other Grantor or any of its assets; or

(d)    any other proceeding of any type or nature in which substantially all claims of creditors of Holdings or any other Grantor are determined and any payment or distribution is or may be made on account of such claims.

“Junior Lien [                ]” means that certain [    ] dated as of [    ] among [    ].1

Junior Priority Class Debt” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.09.

Junior Priority Class Debt Parties” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.09.

Junior Priority Class Debt Representative” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.09.

Junior Priority Collateral” means any “Collateral” as defined in any Junior Priority Debt Document or any other assets of Holdings or any other Grantor with respect to which a Lien is granted or purported to be granted pursuant to a Junior Priority Collateral Document as security for any Junior Priority Debt Obligation.

Junior Priority Collateral Documents” means the “Security Documents” as defined in the Junior Lien [    ] and each of the collateral agreements, security agreements and other instruments and documents executed and delivered by Holdings or any Grantor for purposes of providing collateral security for any Junior Priority Debt Obligation.

Junior Priority Debt” means any Indebtedness of the Borrowers or any other Grantor guaranteed by the Guarantors, which Indebtedness and guarantees are secured by the Junior Priority Collateral on a basis junior to all of the Senior Obligations and the applicable Junior Priority Debt Documents with respect to which provide that such Indebtedness and guarantees are to be secured by such Junior Priority Collateral on a subordinate basis to the Senior Obligations; provided, however, that (i) such Indebtedness is permitted to be incurred, secured and guaranteed on such basis by each then extant Senior Debt Document and Junior Priority Debt Document and (ii) the Representative for the holders of such Indebtedness shall have become party to this Agreement pursuant to, and by satisfying the conditions set forth in, Section 8.09 hereof. Junior Priority Debt shall include any Registered Equivalent Notes and guarantees thereof by the Guarantors issued in exchange therefor.

 

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Note: Describe Junior Lien Credit Agreement, Note Purchase Agreement or other primary debt document.

 

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Junior Priority Debt Documents” means the Junior Lien [    ] and, with respect to any series, issue or class of Junior Priority Debt, the credit agreements, promissory notes, indentures, collateral documents or other operative agreements evidencing or governing such Indebtedness, including the Junior Priority Collateral Documents.

Junior Priority Debt Facility” means each of the Junior Lien [    ] and each indenture or other governing agreement with respect to any other Junior Priority Debt.

Junior Priority Debt Obligations” means, with respect to any series, issue or class of Junior Priority Debt, (a) all principal of, and interest payable with respect to, such Junior Priority Debt, (b) all other amounts payable to the related Junior Priority Debt Parties under the related Junior Priority Debt Documents and (c) any renewals or extensions of the foregoing, including, without limitation, in each case, any interest, fees and other amounts which accrue after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, whether or not allowed or allowable as a claim in any such proceeding.

Junior Priority Debt Parties” means with respect to any series, issue or class of Junior Priority Debt, the holders of such Indebtedness, the Representative with respect thereto, any trustee or agent therefor under any related Junior Priority Debt Documents and the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by the Borrowers or any other Grantor under any related Junior Priority Debt Documents.

Junior Priority Instructing Group” means the Junior Representatives with respect to Junior Priority Debt Facilities under which at least a majority of the then aggregate amount of Junior Priority Debt Obligations are outstanding.

Junior Priority Lien” means the Liens on the Junior Priority Collateral in favor of Junior Priority Debt Parties under Junior Priority Collateral Documents.

Junior Priority Standstill Period” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.01(a).

Junior Representative” means (i) in the case of the Junior Lien [    ], the Initial Junior Representative and (ii) in the case of any other Junior Priority Debt Facility and the Junior Priority Debt Parties thereunder the trustee, administrative agent, collateral agent, security agent or similar agent under such Junior Priority Debt Facility that is named as the representative in respect of such Junior Priority Debt Facility in the applicable Representatives Supplement together with its successors in such capacity.

Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any agreement to give a security interest therein and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the New York UCC (or equivalent statutes of any jurisdiction).

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

 

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Notes Collateral Agent” has the meaning assigned to the term “Collateral Agent” in the Senior Secured Notes Indenture and shall include any collateral agent as provided in Article XII of the Senior Secured Notes Indenture.

Officer’s Certificate” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.09.

Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement” has the meaning assigned to the term in the First Lien Credit Agreement.

Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, governmental authority or other entity.

Pledged or Controlled Collateral” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.06(a).

Proceeds” means the proceeds of any sale, collection or other liquidation or disposition of Shared Collateral and any payment or distribution made in respect of Shared Collateral in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding and any amounts received by any Senior Representative or any Senior Secured Party from a Junior Priority Debt Party in respect of Shared Collateral pursuant to this Agreement.

Publishers” has the meaning assigned to such term in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

Recovery” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.04.

Refinance” means, in respect of any indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary, any indebtedness (other than any Indebtedness incurred under the Credit Agreement or Notes) of a Restricted Subsidiary, issued in exchange for, or the net cash proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund such indebtedness. “Refinanced” and “Refinancing” have correlative meanings.

Registered Equivalent Notes” means, with respect to any notes originally issued in a Rule 144A or other private placement transaction under the Securities Act of 1933, substantially identical notes (having the same guarantees) issued in a dollar-for-dollar exchange therefor pursuant to an exchange offer registered with the SEC.

Representatives” means the Senior Representatives and the Junior Representatives.

Representatives Supplement” means a supplement to this Agreement substantially in the form of Annex II or Annex III hereof required to be delivered by a Representative to the Designated Senior Representative and Designated Junior Representative pursuant to Section 8.07 hereof in order to include an additional Debt Facility hereunder and to become the Representative hereunder for the Senior Secured Parties or Junior Priority Debt Parties, as the case may be, under such Debt Facility.

 

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Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral” has the meaning set forth in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement.

SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and any successor agency thereto.

Secured Obligations” means the Senior Obligations and the Junior Priority Debt Obligations.

Secured Parties” means the Senior Secured Parties and the Junior Priority Debt Parties.

Senior Class Debt” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.09.

Senior Class Debt Parties” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.09.

Senior Class Debt Representative” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.09.

Senior Collateral” means any “Collateral” as defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement or any other Senior Debt Document or any other assets of Holdings or any other Grantor with respect to which a Lien is granted or purported to be granted pursuant to a Senior Collateral Document as security for any Senior Obligations.

Senior Collateral Documents” means the First Lien Collateral Agreement and the other “Collateral Documents” as defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement, the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement (upon and after the initial execution and delivery thereof by the initial parties thereto on the Closing Date) and each of the collateral agreements, security agreements and other instruments and documents executed and delivered by Holdings or any other Grantor for purposes of providing collateral security for any Senior Obligation.

Senior Debt Documents” means (a) the Credit Agreement Loan Documents, (b) the Notes Documents (as defined in the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement) and (c) any Additional Senior Debt Documents.

Senior Facilities” means the First Lien Credit Agreement, the Senior Secured Notes Indenture and any Additional Senior Debt Facilities.

Senior Lien” means the Liens on the Senior Collateral in favor of the Senior Secured Parties under the Senior Collateral Documents.

Senior Obligations” means the First Lien Credit Agreement Obligations, the Notes Obligations (as defined in the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement) and any Additional Senior Debt Obligations.

Senior Representative” means (i) in the case of any First Lien Credit Agreement Obligations or the First Lien Credit Agreement Secured Parties, the First Lien Collateral Agent, (ii) in the case of any Notes Obligations (as defined in the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement) or

 

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the Notes Secured Parties (as defined in the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement), the Notes Collateral Agent and (iii) in the case of any Additional Senior Debt Facility and the Additional Senior Debt Parties thereunder, the trustee, administrative agent, collateral agent, security agent or similar agent under such Additional Senior Debt Facility that is named as the Representative in respect of such Additional Senior Debt Facility hereunder or in the applicable Representative Supplement and any successor thereto.

If at any time there is only one Senior Representative for a Senior Facility with respect to which the Discharge of Senior Obligations has not occurred, such Senior Representative and (ii) at any time when clause (i) does not apply, the Applicable Collateral Agent (as defined in the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement) at such time.

Senior Secured Parties” means the First Lien Credit Agreement Secured Parties, the Notes Secured Parties (as defined in the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement) and any Additional Senior Debt Parties.

Shared Collateral” means, at any time, Collateral in which the holders of Senior Obligations (or their Representatives) under at least one Senior Facility and the holders of Junior Priority Debt Obligations under at least one Junior Priority Debt Facility (or their Representatives) hold a security interest or Lien at such time (or, in the case of the Senior Facilities, are deemed pursuant to Article II to hold a security interest). If, at any time, any portion of the Senior Collateral under one or more Senior Facilities does not constitute Junior Priority Collateral under one or more Junior Priority Debt Facilities, then such portion of such Senior Collateral shall constitute Shared Collateral only with respect to the Junior Priority Debt Facilities for which it constitutes Junior Priority Collateral and shall not constitute Shared Collateral for any Junior Priority Debt Facility which does not have a security interest or Lien in such Collateral at such time.

Uniform Commercial Code” or “UCC” means, unless otherwise specified, the Uniform Commercial Code as from time to time in effect in the State of New York.

SECTION 1.02    Terms Generally. The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.” The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.” Unless the context requires otherwise, (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument, other document, statute or regulation herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument, other document, statute or regulation as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, but shall not be deemed to include the subsidiaries of such Person unless express reference is made to such subsidiaries, (iii) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (iv) all references herein to Articles, Sections and Annexes shall be construed to refer to Articles, Sections and Annexes of this Agreement, (v) unless otherwise expressly qualified herein, the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights and (vi) the term “or” is not exclusive.

 

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ARTICLE II

Priorities and Agreements with Respect to Shared Collateral

SECTION 2.01    Subordination. Notwithstanding the date, time, manner or order of filing or recordation of any document or instrument or grant, attachment or perfection of any Liens granted to any Junior Representative or any Junior Priority Debt Parties on the Shared Collateral or of any Liens granted to any Senior Representative or any other Senior Secured Party on the Shared Collateral (or any actual or alleged defect in any of the foregoing) and notwithstanding any provision of the UCC, any applicable law, any Junior Priority Debt Document or any Senior Debt Document or any other circumstance whatsoever, each Junior Representative, on behalf of itself and each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, hereby agrees that (a) any Lien on the Shared Collateral securing or purporting to secure any Senior Obligations now or hereafter held by or on behalf of any Senior Representative or any other Senior Secured Party or other agent or trustee therefor, regardless of how acquired, whether by grant, statute, operation of law, subrogation or otherwise, shall have priority over and be senior in all respects and prior to any Lien on the Shared Collateral securing or purporting to secure any Junior Priority Debt Obligations and (b) any Lien on the Shared Collateral securing or purporting to secure any Junior Priority Debt Obligations now or hereafter held by or on behalf of any Junior Representative, any Junior Priority Debt Parties or any Junior Representative or other agent or trustee therefor, regardless of how acquired, whether by grant, statute, operation of law, subrogation or otherwise, shall be junior and subordinate in all respects to all Liens on the Shared Collateral securing or purporting to secure any Senior Obligations. All Liens on the Shared Collateral securing or purporting to secure any Senior Obligations shall be and remain senior in all respects and prior to all Liens on the Shared Collateral securing or purporting to secure any Junior Priority Debt Obligations for all purposes, whether or not such Liens securing or purporting to secure any Senior Obligations are subordinated to any Lien securing any other obligation of Holdings, any Grantor or any other Person or otherwise subordinated, voided, avoided, invalidated or lapsed.

SECTION 2.02    No Payment Subordination; Nature of Senior Lender Claims.

(a)    Except as otherwise set forth herein, the subordination of Liens securing Junior Priority Debt Obligations to Liens securing Senior Obligations set forth in Section 2.01 affects only the relative priority of those Liens and all Proceeds thereof and does not subordinate the Junior Priority Debt Obligations in right of payment to the Senior Obligations; provided, for the avoidance of doubt, that all payments in respect of Shared Collateral and all Proceeds thereof shall be subject to Section 4.01. Except as otherwise set forth herein, nothing in this Agreement will affect the entitlement of the Junior Priority Debt Parties to receive and retain required payments of interest, principal, and other amounts in respect of Junior Priority Debt Obligations unless the receipt is expressly prohibited by, or results from the Junior Priority Debt Parties’ breach of, this Agreement.

 

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(b)    Each Junior Representative, on behalf of itself and each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, acknowledges that (i) a portion of the Senior Obligations is revolving in nature and that the amount thereof that may be outstanding at any time or from time to time may be increased or reduced and subsequently reborrowed, (ii) the terms of the Senior Debt Documents and the Senior Obligations may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, and the Senior Obligations, or a portion thereof, may be Refinanced from time to time and (iii) subject to the provisions of Section 5.03(a) of this Agreement, the aggregate amount of the Senior Obligations may be increased, in each case, without notice to or consent by the Junior Representatives or the Junior Priority Debt Parties and without affecting the provisions hereof. The Lien priorities provided for in Section 2.01 shall not be altered or otherwise affected by any amendment, supplement or other modification, or any Refinancing, of either the Senior Obligations or the Junior Priority Debt Obligations, or any portion thereof. As between Holdings and the other Grantors and the Junior Priority Debt Parties, the foregoing provisions will not limit or otherwise affect the obligations of Holdings and the Grantors contained in any Junior Priority Debt Document with respect to the incurrence of additional Senior Obligations.

SECTION 2.03    Prohibition on Contesting Liens. Each of the Junior Representatives, for itself and on behalf of each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, agrees that it shall not (and hereby waives any right to) contest or support any other Person in contesting, in any proceeding (including any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding), the validity, extent, perfection, priority or enforceability of any Lien securing, or the allowability of any claims asserted with respect to, any Senior Obligations held (or purported to be held) by or on behalf of any Senior Representative or any of the other Senior Secured Parties or other agent or trustee therefor in any Senior Collateral. Each Senior Representative, for itself and on behalf of each Senior Secured Party under its Senior Facility, agrees that it shall not (and hereby waives any right to) contest or support any other Person in contesting, in any proceeding (including any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding), the validity, extent, perfection, priority or enforceability of any Lien securing, or the allowability of any claims asserted with respect to, any Junior Priority Debt Obligations held (or purported to be held) by or on behalf of any Junior Representative or any of the Junior Priority Debt Parties in the Junior Priority Collateral. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provision in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent or impair the rights of any Senior Representative to enforce this Agreement (including the priority of the Liens securing the Senior Obligations as provided in Section 2.01) or any of the Senior Debt Documents.

SECTION 2.04    No New Liens. Subject to the terms hereof, the parties hereto agree that, so long as the Discharge of Senior Obligations has not occurred, none of the Grantors shall (a) grant or permit any additional Liens on any asset or property of any Grantor to secure any Junior Priority Debt Obligation unless it has granted, or concurrently therewith grants, a Lien on such asset or property of such Grantor to secure the Senior Obligations or (b) grant or permit any additional Liens on any asset or property of any Grantor to secure any Senior Obligation unless it has granted, or concurrently therewith grants, a Lien on such asset or property of such Grantor to secure the Junior Priority Debt Obligations. If any Junior Representative or any Junior Priority Debt Party shall hold any Lien on any assets or property of any Grantor securing any Junior Priority Debt Obligations that are not also subject to the first-priority Liens securing all Senior Obligations under the Senior Collateral Documents, such Junior Representative or Junior Priority Debt Party (i) shall notify the Designated Senior Representative promptly upon becoming aware thereof and, unless such Grantor shall promptly grant a similar Lien on such assets or property to each Senior

 

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Representative as security for the Senior Obligations, shall assign such Lien to the Designated Senior Representative as security for all Senior Obligations for the benefit of the Senior Secured Parties (but may retain a junior lien on such assets or property subject to the terms hereof) and (ii) until such assignment or such grant of a similar Lien to each Senior Representative, shall be deemed to hold and have held such Lien for the benefit of each Senior Representative and the other Senior Secured Parties as security for the Senior Obligations. The parties hereto further agree that so long as the Discharge of Senior Obligations has not occurred, whether or not any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding has been commenced by or against any of the Grantors, if any Junior Priority Debt Party shall acquire or hold any Lien on any assets of any Grantor securing any Junior Priority Debt Obligation which assets are not also subject to the first priority Lien of the Senior Secured Parties under the Senior Debt Documents, then, without limiting any other rights and remedies available to any Senior Representative or the other Senior Secured Parties, the Junior Representative, on behalf of itself and the Junior Priority Debt Parties, agrees that any amounts received by or distributed to any of them pursuant to or as a result of Liens so granted shall be subject to Section 4.02.

SECTION 2.05    Perfection of Liens. Except for the limited agreements of the Senior Representatives pursuant to Section 5.06 hereof, none of the Senior Representatives or the Senior Secured Parties shall be responsible for perfecting and maintaining the perfection of Liens with respect to the Shared Collateral for the benefit of the Junior Representatives or the Junior Priority Debt Parties. The provisions of this Agreement are intended solely to govern the respective Lien priorities as between the Senior Secured Parties and the Junior Priority Debt Parties and shall not impose on the Senior Representatives, the Senior Secured Parties, the Junior Representatives, the Junior Priority Debt Parties or any agent or trustee therefor any obligations in respect of the disposition of Proceeds of any Shared Collateral which would conflict with prior perfected claims therein in favor of any other Person or any order or decree of any court or governmental authority or any applicable law.

SECTION 2.06    Certain Cash Collateral. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any other Senior Debt Documents or Junior Priority Debt Documents to the contrary, collateral consisting of cash and cash equivalents pledged to secure Senior Obligations consisting of reimbursement obligations in respect of Letters of Credit or otherwise held by the Initial Senior Representative pursuant to Section 1.08(b), 2.03(a)(ii)(E), 2.03(c)(vii), 2.03(f), 2.05(b)(vii), 2.05(c), 2.13, 2.16(c), 2.16(d), 3.06(c), 8.02(c) or 8.04 of the First Lien Credit Agreement (or any equivalent successor provision) shall be applied as specified in the First Lien Credit Agreement and will not constitute Shared Collateral.

ARTICLE III

Enforcement

SECTION 3.01    Exercise of Remedies.

(a)    So long as the Discharge of Senior Obligations has not occurred, whether or not any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding has been commenced by or against Holdings or any other Grantor, (i) neither any Junior Representative nor any Junior Priority Debt Party will (w) institute (or direct or support any other Person in instituting) any Insolvency or Liquidation

 

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Proceeding against Holdings or any other Grantor, (x) exercise or seek to exercise any rights or remedies (including setoff or recoupment) with respect to any Shared Collateral in respect of any Junior Priority Debt Obligations, or institute any action or proceeding with respect to such rights or remedies (including any action of foreclosure), (y) contest, protest or object to any foreclosure proceeding or action brought with respect to the Shared Collateral or any other Senior Collateral by any Senior Representative or any Senior Secured Party in respect of the Senior Obligations, the exercise of any right by any Senior Representative or any Senior Secured Party (or any agent or sub-agent on their behalf) in respect of the Senior Obligations under any lockbox agreement, control agreement, landlord waiver or bailee’s letter, if applicable, or similar agreement or arrangement to which any Senior Representative or any Senior Secured Party either is a party or may have rights as a third party beneficiary, or any other exercise by any such party of any rights and remedies relating to the Shared Collateral under the Senior Debt Documents or otherwise in respect of the Senior Collateral or the Senior Obligations, or (z) object to the forbearance by the Senior Secured Parties from bringing or pursuing any foreclosure proceeding or action or any other exercise of any rights or remedies relating to the Shared Collateral in respect of Senior Obligations and (ii) except as otherwise expressly provided for herein, the Senior Representatives and the Senior Secured Parties shall have the exclusive right to enforce rights, exercise remedies (including setoff, recoupment, and the right to credit bid their debt) and make determinations regarding the release, disposition or restrictions with respect to the Shared Collateral, and to determine and direct the time, method and place for exercising any such rights, enforcing any such remedies or conducting any proceeding with respect to any such exercise or enforcement with respect to the Shared Collateral without any consultation with or the consent of any Junior Representative or any Junior Priority Debt Party; provided, however, that any Junior Representative or any Junior Priority Debt Party may exercise any or all such rights after the passage of a period of 180 days from the date of delivery of a notice in writing to the Designated Senior Representative of such Junior Representative’s or Junior Priority Debt Party’s intention to exercise its right to take such actions which notice shall specify that an “Event of Default” as defined in the applicable Junior Priority Debt Documents has occurred and as a result of such “Event of Default”, the principal and interest under such Junior Priority Debt Documents have become due and payable in full (whether as a result of acceleration or otherwise) (the “Junior Priority Standstill Period”) unless a Senior Representative has commenced and is diligently pursuing remedies with respect to all or a material part of the Shared Collateral (other than Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral, which is subject to the terms of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement) (or such exercise of remedies is stayed by applicable Insolvency or Liquidation Proceedings); provided, further, that (A) in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding commenced by or against Holdings or any other Grantor, any Junior Representative may file a claim, proof of claim, or statement of interest with respect to the Junior Priority Debt Obligations under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, (B) any Junior Representative may take any action (not adverse to the prior Liens on the Shared Collateral securing the Senior Obligations or the rights of the Senior Representatives or the Senior Secured Parties to exercise remedies in respect thereof) in order to create, prove, perfect, preserve or protect (but not enforce) its rights in, and perfection and priority of its Lien on, the Shared Collateral, (C) any Junior Representative and the Junior Priority Debt Parties may exercise their rights and remedies as unsecured creditors, as provided in Section 5.05, (D) any Junior Representative may exercise the rights and remedies provided for in Section 6.03, (E) any Junior Representative and any Junior Priority Debt Party may file any necessary or appropriate responsive or defensive pleadings in opposition to any motion, claim, adversary proceeding, or other pleading made by any Person

 

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objecting to or otherwise seeking the disallowance that is not permitted by this Agreement of the claims or Liens of any Junior Priority Debt Party, including any claims secured by the Shared Collateral, (F) subject to Section 6.05(b), any Junior Representative and any Junior Priority Debt Party may vote on any plan of reorganization or similar dispositive restructuring plan that is consistent with this Agreement, (G) any Junior Representative and any Junior Priority Debt Party may join (but not exercise any control with respect to) any judicial foreclosure proceeding or other judicial lien enforcement proceeding with respect to the Shared Collateral initiated by any Senior Representative or any other Senior Secured Party to the extent that any such action could not reasonably be expected, in any material respect, to restrain, hinder, limit, delay for any material period or otherwise interfere with the exercise of remedies by any Senior Representative or such other Senior Secured Party (it being understood that neither Designated Junior Representative nor any other Junior Priority Debt Party shall be entitled to receive any Proceeds thereof unless otherwise expressly permitted herein), and (H) any Junior Representative and any Junior Priority Debt Party may exercise any remedies after the termination of the Junior Priority Standstill Period if and to the extent specifically permitted by this Section 3.01(a). Any recovery by any Junior Priority Debt Party pursuant to the preceding clause (H) shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement. In exercising rights and remedies with respect to the Senior Collateral, the Senior Representatives and the Senior Secured Parties may enforce the provisions of the Senior Debt Documents and exercise remedies thereunder, all in such order and in such manner as they may determine in the exercise of their sole discretion. Such exercise and enforcement shall include the rights of an agent appointed by them to sell or otherwise dispose of Shared Collateral upon foreclosure, to incur expenses in connection with such sale or disposition and to exercise all the rights and remedies of a secured lender under the Uniform Commercial Code of any applicable jurisdiction and of a secured creditor under the Bankruptcy Laws of any applicable jurisdiction.

(b)    So long as the Discharge of Senior Obligations has not occurred, each Junior Representative, on behalf of itself and each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, agrees that it will not take or receive any Shared Collateral or any Proceeds of Shared Collateral in connection with the exercise of any right or remedy (including setoff or recoupment) with respect to any Shared Collateral in respect of Junior Priority Debt Obligations. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, unless and until the Discharge of Senior Obligations has occurred, except as expressly provided in Section 3.01(a), the sole right of the Junior Representatives and the Junior Priority Debt Parties with respect to the Shared Collateral is to hold a Lien on the Shared Collateral in respect of Junior Priority Debt Obligations pursuant to the Junior Priority Debt Documents for the period and to the extent granted therein and to receive a share of the Proceeds thereof, if any, after the Discharge of Senior Obligations has occurred.

(c)    Subject to Section 3.01(a), (i) each Junior Representative, for itself and on behalf of each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, agrees that neither such Junior Representative nor any such Junior Priority Debt Party will take any action that, [notwithstanding the expiration of the Junior Priority Standstill Period], would hinder or delay any exercise of remedies undertaken by any Senior Representative or any Senior Secured Party with respect to the Shared Collateral under the Senior Debt Documents, including any sale, lease, exchange, transfer or other disposition of the Shared Collateral, whether by foreclosure or otherwise, and (ii) each Junior Representative, for itself and on behalf of each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, hereby waives any and all rights it or any such Junior Priority Debt Party may have as a junior lien creditor or otherwise to object to the manner in which

 

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the Senior Representatives or the Senior Secured Parties seek to enforce or collect the Senior Obligations or the Liens granted on any of the Senior Collateral, regardless of whether any action or failure to act by or on behalf of any Senior Representative or any other Senior Secured Party is adverse to the interests of the Junior Priority Debt Parties.

(d)    Each Junior Representative hereby acknowledges and agrees that no covenant, agreement or restriction contained in any Junior Priority Debt Document shall be deemed to restrict in any way the rights and remedies of the Senior Representatives or the Senior Secured Parties with respect to the Senior Collateral as set forth in this Agreement and the Senior Debt Documents.

(e)    Until the Discharge of Senior Obligations, the Designated Senior Representative (or any Person authorized by it) shall have the exclusive right to exercise any right or remedy with respect to the Shared Collateral and shall have the exclusive right to determine and direct the time, method and place for exercising such right or remedy or conducting any proceeding with respect thereto; provided, however, that the Junior Representative and the Junior Priority Debt Parties may exercise any of their rights or remedies with respect to the Shared Collateral to the extent permitted by the provisos in clause (ii) of Section 3.01(a). Following the Discharge of Senior Obligations, the Designated Junior Representative (or any Person authorized by it) shall have the exclusive right to exercise any right or remedy with respect to the Collateral, and the Designated Junior Representative (or any Person authorized by it) shall have the exclusive right to direct the time, method and place of exercising or conducting any proceeding for the exercise of any right or remedy available to the Junior Priority Debt Parties with respect to the Collateral, or of exercising or directing the exercise of any trust or power conferred on the Junior Representatives, or for the taking of any other action authorized by the Junior Priority Collateral Documents; provided, that nothing in this Section shall impair the ability of the Junior Representative and the Junior Priority Debt Parties to exercise any of their rights or remedies with respect to the Shared Collateral to the extent permitted by Section 3.01(a); provided, further that nothing in this Section shall impair the right of any Junior Representative or other agent or trustee acting on behalf of the Junior Priority Debt Parties to take such actions with respect to the Collateral after the Discharge of Senior Obligations as may be otherwise required or authorized pursuant to any intercreditor agreement governing the Junior Priority Debt Parties or the Junior Priority Debt Obligations.

SECTION 3.02    Cooperation. Subject to Section 3.01(a), each Junior Representative, on behalf of itself and each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, agrees that, unless and until the Discharge of Senior Obligations has occurred, it will not commence, or join with any Person (other than the Senior Secured Parties and the Senior Representatives upon the request of the Designated Senior Representative) in commencing, any enforcement, collection, execution, levy or foreclosure action or proceeding with respect to any Lien held by it in the Shared Collateral under any of the Junior Priority Debt Documents or otherwise in respect of the Junior Priority Debt Obligations.

SECTION 3.03    Actions upon Breach. Should any Junior Representative or any Junior Priority Debt Party, contrary to this Agreement, in any way take, attempt to take or threaten to take any action with respect to the Shared Collateral (including any attempt to realize upon or enforce any remedy with respect to this Agreement) or fail to take any action required by this

 

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Agreement, any Senior Representative or other Senior Secured Party (in its or their own name or in the name of Holdings or any other Grantor) may obtain relief against such Junior Representative or such Junior Priority Debt Party by injunction, specific performance or other appropriate equitable relief. Each Junior Representative, on behalf of itself and each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, hereby (i) agrees that the Senior Secured Parties’ damages from the actions of the Junior Representatives or any Junior Priority Debt Party may at that time be difficult to ascertain and may be irreparable and waives any defense that Holdings, any other Grantor or the Senior Secured Parties cannot demonstrate damage or be made whole by the awarding of damages and (ii) irrevocably waives any defense based on the adequacy of a remedy at law and any other defense that might be asserted to bar the remedy of specific performance in any action that may be brought by any Senior Representative or any other Senior Secured Party.

ARTICLE IV

Payments

SECTION 4.01    Application of Proceeds.

(a)    Subject to the ABL Intercreditor Agreement with respect to Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral, after an event of default under any Senior Debt Document has occurred and until such event of default is cured or waived, so long as the Discharge of Senior Obligations has not occurred, the Shared Collateral or Proceeds thereof received in connection with the sale or other disposition of, or collection on, such Shared Collateral upon the exercise of remedies shall be applied: (a) first, by the Designated Senior Representative to the Senior Obligations in such order as specified in the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement and the relevant Senior Debt Documents until the Discharge of Senior Obligations has occurred (together with, in the case of repayment of any revolving credit or similar loans, a permanent reduction in the commitments thereunder), (b) second, shall be applied by the Designated Junior Representative to the Junior Priority Debt Obligations in such order and as specified in the relevant Junior Priority Debt Documents (subject to the terms of any other applicable intercreditor agreements entered into among the Junior Priority Debt Parties and that is contemplated by this Agreement) until Discharge of Junior Priority Debt Obligations, and (c) third, to the relevant Grantor or, to the extent directed by such Grantor or a court of competent jurisdiction, to whomever may be lawfully entitled to receive the then remaining amount to be distributed. Upon the Discharge of Senior Obligations, each Senior Representative shall deliver promptly to the Designated Junior Representative any Shared Collateral or Proceeds thereof held by it in the same form as received, with any necessary endorsements, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct, to be applied by the Designated Junior Representative to the Junior Priority Debt Obligations in such order as specified in the relevant Junior Priority Debt Documents.

(b)    In exercising remedies, whether as a secured creditor or otherwise, no Senior Representative shall have any obligation or liability to the Designated Junior Priority Representative or to any other Junior Priority Debt Party, and no Junior Priority Representative shall have any obligation or liability to any Senior Representative or to any other Senior Secured Party, in each case regarding the adequacy of any Proceeds or for any action or omission, except solely for an action or omission that breaches the express obligations undertaken by such Person under the terms of this Agreement.

 

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SECTION 4.02    Payments Over. Subject to the ABL Intercreditor Agreement with respect to Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral, prior to the Discharge of Senior Obligations, any Shared Collateral or Proceeds thereof received by any Junior Representative or any Junior Priority Debt Party in connection with the exercise of any right or remedy (including setoff or recoupment) relating to the Shared Collateral, (except as otherwise set forth in Article VI) in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, or in contravention of this Agreement shall be segregated and held in trust for the benefit of and forthwith paid over to the Designated Senior Representative for the benefit of the Senior Secured Parties in the same form as received, with any necessary endorsements, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct. The Designated Senior Representative is hereby authorized to make any such endorsements as agent for each of the Junior Representatives or any such Junior Priority Debt Party. This authorization is coupled with an interest and is irrevocable.

ARTICLE V

Other Agreements

SECTION 5.01    Releases.

(a)    Subject to the penultimate sentence of this Section 5.01(a), each Junior Representative, for itself and on behalf of each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, agrees that, in the event of a sale, transfer or other disposition of any specified item of Shared Collateral (including all or substantially all of the equity interests of any subsidiary of Holdings) (a “Disposition”), the Liens granted to the Junior Representatives and the Junior Priority Debt Parties upon such Shared Collateral to secure Junior Priority Debt Obligations shall terminate or shall be released, automatically and without any further action, concurrently with the termination or release of all Liens granted upon such Shared Collateral to secure Senior Obligations, provided that the parties’ respective Liens shall attach to the net proceeds of such Disposition with the same Lien priorities as provided in this Agreement to the extent such proceeds are not otherwise utilized to permanently reduce the Senior Obligations. Upon delivery to a Junior Representative of an Officer’s Certificate stating that any such termination or release of Liens securing the Senior Obligations has become effective (or shall become effective concurrently with such termination or release of the Liens granted to the Junior Priority Debt Parties and the Junior Representatives) and any necessary or proper instruments of termination or release prepared by the Holdings, any other Grantor, such Junior Representative will promptly execute, deliver or acknowledge, at Holdings’ or the other Grantor’s sole cost and expense, such instruments to evidence such termination or release of the Liens; provided, however that such Officer’s Certificate shall not be required for any termination or release in connection with the exercise of remedies following an event of default. Nothing in this Section 5.01(a) will be deemed to (x) affect any agreement of a Junior Representative, for itself and on behalf of the Junior Priority Debt Parties under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, to release the Liens on the Junior Priority Collateral as set forth in the relevant Junior Priority Debt Documents or (y) except in the case of a Disposition in connection with the exercise of secured creditors’ rights and remedies, require the release of Liens granted upon such Shared Collateral to secure Junior Priority Debt Obligations if such Disposition is not permitted under the terms of the Junior Priority Debt Documents. If in connection with any enforcement action or other exercise of rights and remedies by any Senior Representative, in each case, prior to a Discharge of Senior Obligations, the equity interests of any

 

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Person are foreclosed upon or otherwise disposed of and such Senior Representative releases its Lien on the property or assets of such Person, then the liens of each Junior Representative and Junior Priority Debt Parties will be released to the same extent as the Liens of such Senior Representative and Senior Secured Parties are released.

(b)    Each Junior Representative, for itself and on behalf of each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Designated Senior Representative and any officer or agent of the Designated Senior Representative, with full power of substitution, as its true and lawful attorney-in-fact with full irrevocable power and authority in the place and stead of such Junior Representative or such Junior Priority Debt Party or in the Designated Senior Representative’s own name, from time to time in the Designated Senior Representative’s discretion, for the purpose of carrying out the terms of Section 5.01(a), to take any and all appropriate action and to execute any and all documents and instruments that may be necessary or desirable to accomplish the purposes of Section 5.01(a), including any termination statements, endorsements or other instruments of transfer or release.

(c)    Unless and until the Discharge of Senior Obligations has occurred, each Junior Representative, for itself and on behalf of each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, hereby consents to the application, whether prior to or after an event of default under any Senior Debt Document of Proceeds of Shared Collateral to the repayment of Senior Obligations pursuant to the Senior Debt Documents, provided that nothing in this Section 5.01(c) shall be construed to prevent or impair the rights of the Junior Representatives or the Junior Priority Debt Parties to receive proceeds in connection with the Junior Priority Debt Obligations not otherwise in contravention of this Agreement.

(d)    Subject to Sections 5.06(a) and 5.06(f), notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Junior Priority Collateral Document, in the event the terms of a Senior Collateral Document and a Junior Priority Collateral Document each require any Grantor to (i) make any payment in respect of any item of Shared Collateral to, (ii) deliver or afford control over any item of Shared Collateral to, or deposit any item of Shared Collateral with, (iii) register ownership of any item of Shared Collateral in the name of or make an assignment of ownership of any Shared Collateral or the rights thereunder to, (iv) cause any securities intermediary, commodity intermediary or other Person acting in a similar capacity to agree to comply, in respect of any item of Shared Collateral, with instructions or orders from, or to treat, in respect of any item of Shared Collateral, as the entitlement holder, (v) hold any item of Shared Collateral in trust for (to the extent such item of Shared Collateral cannot be held in trust for multiple parties under applicable law), (vi) obtain the agreement of a bailee or other third party to hold any item of Shared Collateral for the benefit of or subject to the control of or, in respect of any item of Shared Collateral, to follow the instructions of or (vii) obtain the agreement of a landlord with respect to access to leased premises where any item of Shared Collateral is located or waivers or subordination of rights with respect to any item of Shared Collateral in favor of, in any case, any Senior Representative or Senior Secured Party and any Junior Representative or Junior Priority Debt Party, such Grantor may, until the applicable Discharge of Senior Obligations has occurred, comply with such requirement under the Junior Priority Collateral Document as it relates to such Shared Collateral by taking any of the actions set forth above only with respect to, or in favor of, the Designated Senior Representative.

 

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SECTION 5.02    Insurance and Condemnation Awards. Unless and until the Discharge of Senior Obligations has occurred, the Senior Representatives and the Senior Secured Parties shall have the sole and exclusive right, subject to the rights of the Grantors under the Senior Debt Documents and subject to the ABL Intercreditor Agreement with respect to Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral, (a) to be named as additional insured and loss payee under any insurance policies maintained from time to time by any Grantor other persons, in addition to the Junior Representative, (b) to adjust settlement for any insurance policy covering the Shared Collateral in the event of any loss thereunder and (c) to approve any award granted in any condemnation or similar proceeding affecting the Shared Collateral. Unless and until the Discharge of Senior Obligations has occurred and subject to the ABL Intercreditor Agreement with respect to Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral, all proceeds of any such policy and any such award, if in respect of the Shared Collateral, shall be applied (i) first, prior to the occurrence of the Discharge of Senior Obligations, to the Designated Senior Representative for the benefit of Senior Secured Parties pursuant to the terms of the Senior Debt Documents, (ii) second, after the occurrence of the Discharge of Senior Obligations, to the Designated Junior Representative for the benefit of the Junior Priority Debt Parties pursuant to the terms of the applicable Junior Priority Debt Documents and (iii) third, if no Junior Priority Debt Obligations or Senior Obligations are outstanding, to the owner of the subject property, such other Person as may be entitled thereto or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct. If any Junior Representative or any Junior Priority Debt Party shall, at any time, receive any proceeds of any such insurance policy or any such award in contravention of this Agreement, it shall pay such proceeds over to the Designated Senior Representative in accordance with the terms of Section 4.02.

SECTION 5.03    Matters Relating to Loan Documents.

(a)    The Senior Debt Documents and the terms thereof may be amended, restated, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified (including in connection with the incurrence of any incremental facilities) in accordance with their terms, and the Indebtedness under the Senior Debt Documents may be Refinanced, in each case, without the consent of any Junior Priority Debt Parties; provided, however, that, without the consent of the Designated Junior Representative, no such amendment, restatement, supplement, modification, waiver or Refinancing (or successive amendments, restatements, supplements, modifications, waivers or Refinancings) shall contravene any provision of this Agreement.

(b)    Without the prior written consent of the Designated Senior Representative, no Junior Priority Debt Document may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, or entered into, to the extent such amendment, restatement, supplement or modification, or the terms of such new Junior Priority Debt Document, would (i) contravene the provisions of this Agreement or (ii) unless expressly permitted by the terms of each then extant Senior Debt Document, change any scheduled (other than mandatory prepayments) dates for payment of principal on Indebtedness under the Junior Priority Debt Documents to a date on or prior to the Term B Loan Maturity Date (as defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement as in effect on the date hereof).

 

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SECTION 5.04    Amendments to Junior Priority Collateral Documents.

(a)    No Junior Priority Collateral Document may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified or entered into to the extent such amendment, supplement or modification, or the terms of any new Junior Priority Collateral Document, would be prohibited by or inconsistent with any of the terms of this Agreement. Each Junior Representative, for itself and on behalf of each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, agrees that each Junior Priority Collateral Document under its Junior Priority Debt Facility shall include the following language (or language to similar effect reasonably approved by the Designated Senior Representative):

“Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the liens and security interests granted to the Junior Representative pursuant to this Agreement are expressly subject and subordinate to the liens and security interests granted in favor of the Senior Secured Parties (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement referred to below), including liens and security interests granted to (A) Citibank, N.A., (“Citi”), as collateral agent, pursuant to or in connection with the Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time), among Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company (“Holdings”), Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers, Inc., HMH Publishers LLC, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company (each, a “Borrower” and collectively, the “Borrowers”), Citi, as administrative agent (in such capacity, and together with successors and assigns in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”) and as collateral agent and the other parties thereto, as amended, restated, amended and restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time and (B) [    ]2, and (ii) the exercise of any right or remedy by the Junior Representative hereunder is subject to the limitations and provisions of the Junior Intercreditor Agreement dated as of [             ], 20[    ] (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Intercreditor Agreement”), among Citi, as collateral agent, Holdings, the Borrowers, the other Grantors from time to time party thereto and [    ], as the Initial Senior Representative and [    ], as the Initial Junior Representative. In the event of any conflict between the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and the terms of this Agreement, the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement shall govern.”

(b)    In the event that the Designated Senior Representative and/or the Senior Secured Parties enter into any amendment, waiver or consent in respect of any of the Senior Collateral Documents for the purpose of adding to or deleting from, or waiving or consenting to any departures from any provisions of, any Senior Collateral Document or changing in any manner the rights of the Senior Representatives, the Senior Secured Parties, Holdings or any other Grantor thereunder (including the release of any Liens in Senior Collateral) in a manner that is applicable to all Senior Facilities, then such amendment, waiver or consent shall apply automatically to any comparable provision of each comparable Junior Priority Collateral Document without the consent of any Junior Representative or any Junior Priority Debt Party and without any action by any Junior

 

2 

Describe any Additional Senior Debt Documents.

 

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Representative, Holdings, any other Grantor; provided, however, that (A) no such amendment, waiver or consent shall have the effect of (i) removing assets subject to the Lien of the Junior Priority Collateral Documents, except to the extent that such release is permitted by Section 5.01 and there is a corresponding release of the Lien securing the Senior Obligations, (ii) imposing duties that are adverse on any Junior Representative without its consent or (iii) altering the terms of the Junior Priority Debt Documents to permit other Liens on the Collateral not permitted under the terms of the Junior Priority Debt Documents as in effect on the date hereof or under Article VI hereof and (B) written notice of such amendment, waiver or consent shall have been given to each Junior Representative within 10 Business Days after the effectiveness of such amendment, waiver or consent, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the effectiveness and validity thereof.

SECTION 5.05    Rights as Unsecured Creditors. The Junior Representatives and the Junior Priority Debt Parties may exercise rights and remedies as unsecured creditors against Holdings or the Guarantors in accordance with the terms of the Junior Priority Debt Documents and applicable law so long as such rights and remedies do not violate or are not otherwise inconsistent with any other provision of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit the receipt by any Junior Representative or any Junior Priority Debt Party of the required payments of principal, premium, interest, fees and other amounts due under the Junior Priority Debt Documents so long as such receipt is not the direct or indirect result of the exercise by a Junior Representative or any Junior Priority Debt Party of rights or remedies as a secured creditor in respect of Shared Collateral. In the event any Junior Representative or any Junior Priority Debt Party becomes a judgment lien creditor in respect of Shared Collateral as a result of its enforcement of its rights as an unsecured creditor in respect of Junior Priority Debt Obligations, such judgment lien shall be subordinated to the Liens securing Senior Obligations on the same basis as the other Liens securing the Junior Priority Debt Obligations are so subordinated to such Liens securing Senior Obligations under this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall impair or otherwise adversely affect any rights or remedies the Senior Representatives or the Senior Secured Parties may have with respect to the Senior Collateral.

SECTION 5.06    Gratuitous Bailee for Perfection.

(a)    Subject to the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement, each Senior Representative acknowledges and agrees that if it shall at any time hold a Lien securing any Senior Obligations on any Shared Collateral that can be perfected by the possession or control of such Shared Collateral or of any account in which such Shared Collateral is held, and if such Shared Collateral or any such account is in fact in the possession or under the control of such Senior Representative, or of agents or bailees of such Person (such Shared Collateral being referred to herein as the “Pledged or Controlled Collateral”), or if it shall at any time obtain any landlord waiver or bailee’s letter or any similar agreement or arrangement granting it rights or access to Shared Collateral, the Designated Senior Representative shall also hold such Pledged or Controlled Collateral, or take such actions with respect to such landlord waiver, bailee’s letter or similar agreement or arrangement, as sub-agent or gratuitous bailee for the relevant Junior Representatives (such bailment and agency being intended, among other things, to satisfy the requirement of Sections 8-301(a)(2), 9-313(c), 9-104, 9-105, 9-106, and 9-107 of the UCC), in each case solely for the purpose of perfecting the Liens granted under the relevant Junior Priority Collateral Documents and subject to the terms and conditions of this Section 5.06.

 

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(b)    [Reserved].

(c)    Subject to the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement, except as otherwise specifically provided herein, until the Discharge of Senior Obligations has occurred, the Senior Representatives and the Senior Secured Parties shall be entitled to deal with the Pledged or Controlled Collateral in accordance with the terms of the Senior Debt Documents as if the Liens under the Junior Priority Collateral Documents did not exist. The rights of the Junior Representatives and the Junior Priority Debt Parties with respect to the Pledged or Controlled Collateral shall at all times be subject to the terms of this Agreement.

(d)    The Senior Representatives and the Senior Secured Parties shall have no obligation whatsoever to the Junior Representatives or any Junior Priority Debt Party to assure that any of the Pledged or Controlled Collateral is genuine or owned by the Grantors or to protect or preserve rights or benefits of any Person or any rights pertaining to the Shared Collateral, except as expressly set forth in this Section 5.06. The duties or responsibilities of the Senior Representatives under this Section 5.06 shall be limited solely to holding or controlling the Shared Collateral and the related Liens referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 5.06 as sub-agent and gratuitous bailee for the relevant Junior Representative for purposes of perfecting the Lien held by such Junior Representative and delivering the Shared Collateral upon a Discharge of Senior Obligations as set forth in Section 5.06(f).

(e)    The Senior Representatives shall not have by reason of the Junior Priority Collateral Documents or this Agreement, or any other document, a fiduciary relationship in respect of any Junior Representative or any Junior Priority Debt Party, and each Junior Representative, for itself and on behalf of each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, hereby waives and releases the Senior Representatives from all claims and liabilities arising pursuant to the Senior Representatives’ roles under this Section 5.06 as sub-agents and gratuitous bailees with respect to the Shared Collateral.

(f)    Upon the Discharge of Senior Obligations, the Designated Senior Representative shall, at the Grantors’ sole cost and expense, (i) (A) deliver to the Designated Junior Representative, to the extent that it is legally permitted to do so, all Shared Collateral, including all proceeds thereof, held or controlled by the Designated Senior Representative or any of its agents or bailees, including the transfer of possession and control, as applicable, of the Pledged or Controlled Collateral, together with any necessary endorsements and notices to depositary banks, securities intermediaries and commodities intermediaries, and to the extent that it is able to do so assign its rights under any landlord waiver or bailee’s letter or any similar agreement or arrangement granting it rights or access to Shared Collateral, or (B) direct and deliver such Shared Collateral as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct, (ii) notify any applicable insurance carrier that it is no longer entitled to be a loss payee or additional insured under the insurance policies of any Grantor issued by such insurance carrier and (iii) notify any governmental authority involved in any condemnation or similar proceeding involving any Grantor that the Designated Junior Representative is entitled to approve any awards granted in such proceeding. Holdings and the other Grantors shall take such further action as is required to effectuate the transfer contemplated hereby and shall indemnify each Senior Representative for loss or damage suffered by such Senior Representative as a result of such transfer, except for loss or damage suffered by any such Person as a result of its own willful misconduct, gross negligence

 

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or bad faith or the willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith of a Representative (as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction). The Senior Representatives have no obligations to follow instructions from any Junior Representative or any other Junior Priority Debt Party in contravention of this Agreement.

(g)    None of the Senior Representatives nor any of the other Senior Secured Parties shall be required to marshal any present or future collateral security for any obligations of Holdings or any Subsidiary to any Senior Representative or any Senior Secured Party under the Senior Debt Documents or any assurance of payment in respect thereof, or to resort to such collateral security or other assurances of payment in any particular order, and all of their rights in respect of such collateral security or any assurance of payment in respect thereof shall be cumulative and in addition to all other rights, however existing or arising.

SECTION 5.07    When Discharge of Senior Obligations is Deemed Not to Have Occurred. If, at any time substantially concurrently with or after the Discharge of Senior Obligations has occurred, Holdings or any other Subsidiary Guarantor incurs any Senior Obligations (other than in respect of the payment of indemnities surviving the Discharge of Senior Obligations), then such Discharge of Senior Obligations shall automatically be deemed not to have occurred for all purposes of this Agreement (other than with respect to any actions taken prior to the date of such designation as a result of the occurrence of such first Discharge of Senior Obligations) and the applicable agreement governing such Senior Obligations shall automatically be treated as a Senior Debt Document for all purposes of this Agreement, including for purposes of the Lien priorities and rights in respect of Shared Collateral set forth herein and the agent, representative or trustee for the holders of such Senior Obligations shall be a Senior Representative for all purposes of this Agreement. Upon receipt of notice of such incurrence (including the identity of the new Senior Representative), each Junior Representative (including the Designated Junior Representative) shall promptly (a) enter into such documents and agreements (at the expense of the Borrowers), including amendments or supplements to this Agreement, as the Borrowers or such new Senior Representative shall reasonably request in writing in order to provide the new Senior Representative the rights of a Senior Representative contemplated hereby, (b) deliver to such Senior Representative, to the extent that it is legally permitted to do so, all Shared Collateral, including all proceeds thereof, held or controlled by such Junior Representative or any of its agents or bailees, including the transfer of possession and control, as applicable, of the Pledged or Controlled Collateral, together with any necessary endorsements and notices to depositary banks, securities intermediaries and commodities intermediaries, and assign its rights under any landlord waiver or bailee’s letter or any similar agreement or arrangement granting it rights or access to Shared Collateral, and (c) notify any governmental authority involved in any condemnation or similar proceeding involving a Grantor that the new Designated Senior Representative is entitled to approve any awards granted in such proceeding.

ARTICLE VI

Insolvency or Liquidation Proceedings

SECTION 6.01    Financing Issues. Until the Discharge of Senior Obligations has occurred, if Holdings or any other Grantor shall be subject to any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding any Senior Representative or any Senior Secured Party shall desire to consent (or not

 

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object) to the sale, use or lease of cash or other collateral or to consent (or not object) to Holdings’ or any other Grantor’s obtaining financing (including, for the avoidance of doubt, from any Senior Secured Party) under Section 363 or Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code or any similar provision of any other Bankruptcy Law (“DIP Financing”), then each Junior Representative, for itself and on behalf of each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, agrees that it will raise no objection to and will not otherwise contest such sale, use or lease of such cash or other collateral or such DIP Financing and, except to the extent permitted by Section 3.01(a) and Section 6.03, will not request adequate protection or any other relief in connection therewith and, to the extent the Liens securing any Senior Obligations are subordinated to or pari passu with such DIP Financing, will subordinate (and will be deemed hereunder to have subordinated) its Liens in the Shared Collateral to (x) such DIP Financing (and all obligations relating thereto) on the same basis as the Liens securing the Junior Priority Debt Obligations are so subordinated to the Liens securing the Senior Obligations under this Agreement, (y) all adequate protection Liens granted to the Senior Secured Parties, and (z) to any “carve-out” for professional and United States Trustee fees or payment of any other amounts agreed to by applicable Senior Secured Parties. Each Junior Representative, for itself and on behalf of each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, further agrees that until the Discharge of Senior Obligations has occurred (subject to the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement), it will raise no (a) objection to (and will not otherwise contest) any motion for relief from the automatic stay or from any injunction against foreclosure or enforcement in respect of Senior Obligations made by any Senior Representative, (b) objection to (and will not otherwise contest) any lawful exercise by any Senior Secured Party of the right to credit bid Senior Obligations at any sale in foreclosure of Senior Collateral (including pursuant to Section 363(k) of the Bankruptcy Code or any similar provision under the Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable law), (c) objection to (and will not otherwise contest) any other request for judicial relief made in any court by any Senior Secured Party relating to the lawful enforcement of any Lien on Senior Collateral or (d) objection to (and will not otherwise contest or oppose) any order relating to a sale or other disposition of assets of any Grantor (including under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code or any similar provision of any other Bankruptcy Law) for which the Designated Senior Representative has consented (or not objected) that provides, to the extent such sale or other disposition is to be free and clear of Liens, that the Liens securing the Senior Obligations and the Junior Priority Debt Obligations will attach to the proceeds of the sale on the same basis of priority as the Liens on the Shared Collateral securing the Senior Obligations rank to the Liens on the Shared Collateral securing the Junior Priority Debt Obligations pursuant to this Agreement; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 6.01 shall prohibit any Junior Priority Debt Party from (a) subject to Section 6.05(b), exercising its rights to vote in favor of or against a plan of reorganization, (b) proposing a DIP Financing to any Grantor or (c) objecting to any provision in any DIP Financing relating, describing or requiring any provision or content of a plan of reorganization.

SECTION 6.02    Relief from the Automatic Stay. Until the Discharge of Senior Obligations has occurred, each Junior Representative, for itself and on behalf of each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, agrees that none of them shall seek relief from the automatic stay or any other stay in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or take any action in derogation thereof, or support or join, directly or indirectly, any party in doing or performing the same, in each case in respect of any Shared Collateral, without the prior written consent of the Designated Senior Representative.

 

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SECTION 6.03    Adequate Protection. Each Junior Representative, for itself and on behalf of each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, agrees that none of them shall (x) object, contest or support any other Person objecting to or contesting (a) any request by any Senior Representative or any Senior Secured Parties for adequate protection in any form, (b) any objection by any Senior Representative or any Senior Secured Parties to any motion, relief, action or proceeding based on any claims by a Senior Representative or Senior Secured Party of a lack of adequate protection or (c) the allowance and/or payment of interest, fees, expenses or other amounts of any Senior Representative or any other Senior Secured Party under Section 506(b) or 506(c) of the Bankruptcy Code or any similar provision of any other Bankruptcy Law or (y) request any form of adequate protection except as permitted by the following sentence. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section 6.03 or in Section 6.01, in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, (i) if the Senior Secured Parties (or any subset thereof) are granted adequate protection in the form of a Lien on additional or replacement collateral in connection with any DIP Financing or use of cash collateral under Section 363 or 364 of the Bankruptcy Code or any similar provision of any other Bankruptcy Law and/or a superpriority administrative claim, then each Junior Representative, for itself and on behalf of each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, may seek or request, without objection by any Senior Secured Party, adequate protection in the form of (as applicable) a Lien on such additional or replacement collateral and/or a superpriority administrative claim, which Lien is subordinated to the Liens securing and granted as adequate protection for all Senior Obligations and such DIP Financing (and all obligations relating thereto) on the same basis as the other Liens securing the Junior Priority Debt Obligations are so subordinated to the Liens securing Senior Obligations under this Agreement and which superpriority claim is junior and subordinated to the superpriority administrative claim granted as adequate protection to the Senior Secured Parties; provided, that each Junior Priority Debt Representative shall have irrevocably agreed, pursuant to Section 1129(a)(9) of the Bankruptcy Code, on behalf of itself and on behalf of each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, in any stipulation and/or order granting such adequate protection, that such junior superpriority claims may be paid under any plan of reorganization in any combination of cash, debt, equity or other property having a value on the effective date of such plan equal to the allowed amount of such junior superpriority claims, and (ii) in the event any Junior Representatives, for themselves and on behalf of the Junior Priority Debt Parties under their Junior Priority Debt Facilities, seek or request adequate protection and such adequate protection is granted in the form of a Lien on additional or replacement collateral and/or a superpriority administrative claim, then such Junior Representatives, for themselves and on behalf of each Junior Priority Debt Party under their Junior Priority Debt Facilities, agree that each Senior Representative shall also be entitled to seek without objection from any Junior Priority Debt Party, a senior Lien on such additional or replacement collateral as adequate protection for the Senior Obligations and/or a superpriority administrative claim, and that any Lien on such additional or replacement collateral granted as adequate protection for the Junior Priority Debt Obligations shall be subordinated to the Liens on such collateral securing the Senior Obligations and any such DIP Financing (and all obligations relating thereto) and any other Liens granted to the Senior Secured Parties as adequate protection on the same basis as the other Liens securing the Junior Priority Debt Obligations are so subordinated to such Liens securing Senior Obligations under this Agreement, and that any superpriority claim is junior and subordinated to the superpriority administrative claim granted as adequate protection to the Senior Secured Parties, and to the extent the Senior Secured Parties are not granted such adequate protection in such form,

 

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any amounts recovered by or distributed to any Junior Priority Debt Party pursuant to or as a result of any Lien on such additional or replacement collateral and/or a superpriority administrative claim so granted to the Junior Priority Debt Parties shall be subject to Section 4.02.

SECTION 6.04    Preference Issues. If any Senior Secured Party is required in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or otherwise to disgorge, turn over or otherwise pay any amount to the estate of either Holdings or any other Grantor (or any trustee, receiver or similar Person therefor), because the payment of such amount was declared to be or avoided as fraudulent or preferential or otherwise under Chapter 5 of the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise, in any respect or for any other reason, any amount (a “Recovery”), whether received as proceeds of security, enforcement of any right of setoff, recoupment, or otherwise, then the Senior Obligations shall be reinstated to the extent of such Recovery and deemed to be outstanding as if such payment had not occurred and the Senior Secured Parties shall be entitled to the benefits of this Agreement until a Discharge of Senior Obligations with respect to all such recovered amounts. If this Agreement shall have been terminated prior to such Recovery, this Agreement shall be reinstated in full force and effect, and such prior termination shall not diminish, release, discharge, impair or otherwise affect the obligations of the parties hereto. Each Junior Representative, for itself and on behalf of each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, hereby agrees that none of them shall be entitled to benefit from any avoidance action affecting or otherwise relating to any distribution or allocation made in accordance with this Agreement, whether by preference or otherwise, it being understood and agreed that the benefit of such avoidance action otherwise allocable to them shall instead be allocated and turned over for application in accordance with the priorities set forth in this Agreement the Senior Debt Documents and/or Collateral Documents, as applicable.

SECTION 6.05    Separate Grants of Security and Separate Classifications; Plans of Reorganization. Each Junior Representative, for itself and on behalf of each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, acknowledges and agrees that (a) the grants of Liens pursuant to the Senior Collateral Documents and the Junior Priority Collateral Documents constitute separate and distinct grants of Liens and (b) because of, among other things, their differing rights in the Shared Collateral, the Junior Priority Debt Obligations are fundamentally different from the Senior Obligations and must be separately classified in any plan of reorganization or similar dispositive restructuring plan proposed, confirmed or adopted in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding. To further effectuate the intent of the parties as provided in the immediately preceding sentence, if it is held that any claims of the Senior Secured Parties and the Junior Priority Debt Parties in respect of the Shared Collateral constitute a single class of claims (rather than separate classes of senior and junior secured claims), then each Junior Representative, for itself and on behalf of each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, hereby acknowledges and agrees that all distributions shall be made as if there were separate classes of senior and junior secured claims against the Grantors in respect of the Shared Collateral (with the effect being that, to the extent that the aggregate value of the Shared Collateral is sufficient (for this purpose ignoring all claims held by the Junior Priority Debt Parties), the Senior Secured Parties shall be entitled to receive, in addition to amounts distributed to them in respect of principal, pre-petition interest and other claims, all amounts owing in respect of post-petition interest, fees, and expenses (whether or not allowed or allowable) before any distribution is made from the Shared Collateral in respect of the Junior Priority Debt Obligations, with each Junior Representative, for itself and on behalf of each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior

 

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Priority Debt Facility, hereby acknowledging and agreeing to turn over to the Designated Senior Representative amounts otherwise received or receivable by them from the Shared Collateral to the extent necessary to effectuate the intent of this sentence, even if such turnover has the effect of reducing the claim or recovery of the Junior Priority Debt Parties.

(a)    Each Junior Priority Debt Party (whether in the capacity of a secured creditor or an unsecured creditor in accordance with Section 506(a) of the Bankruptcy Code or any similar provision of any other Bankruptcy Law) shall not propose, vote in favor of, or otherwise directly or indirectly support any plan of reorganization or similar dispositive restructuring plan that is inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement unless such plan is proposed or supported by the number of Senior Secured Parties required under Section 1126(c) of the Bankruptcy Code or any similar provision or any other Bankruptcy Law.

SECTION 6.06    No Waivers of Rights of Senior Secured Parties. Nothing contained herein shall, except as expressly provided herein, prohibit or in any way limit any Senior Representative or any other Senior Secured Party from objecting in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or otherwise to any action taken by any Junior Priority Debt Party, including the seeking by any Junior Priority Debt Party of adequate protection or the asserting by any Junior Priority Debt Party of any of its rights and remedies under the Junior Priority Debt Documents or otherwise.

SECTION 6.07    Application. This Agreement, which the parties hereto expressly acknowledge is a “subordination agreement” under Section 510(a) of the Bankruptcy Code or any similar provision of any other Bankruptcy Law, shall be effective and enforceable before, during and after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding. The relative rights as to the Shared Collateral and Proceeds thereof shall continue after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding on the same basis as prior to the date of the petition therefor, subject to any court order approving the financing of, or use of cash collateral by, any Grantor. All references herein to any Grantor shall include such Grantor as a debtor-in-possession and any receiver or trustee for such Grantor.

SECTION 6.08    Other Matters. To the extent that any Junior Representative or any Junior Priority Debt Party has or acquires rights under Section 363 or Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code or any similar provision of any other Bankruptcy Law with respect to any of the Shared Collateral, such Junior Representative, on behalf of itself and each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, agrees not to assert any such rights without the prior written consent of each Senior Representative, provided that if requested by any Senior Representative, such Junior Representative shall timely exercise such rights in the manner requested by such Senior Representatives, including any rights to payments in respect of such rights.

SECTION 6.09    506(c) Claims. Until the Discharge of Senior Obligations has occurred, each Junior Representative, on behalf of itself and each Junior Priority Debt Party, agrees that it will not assert, support or enforce any claim under Section 506(c) of the Bankruptcy Code or any similar provision of any other Bankruptcy Law or seek to recover any amounts that any Grantor may obtain by virtue of any claim under Section 506(c) of the Bankruptcy Code or any similar provision of any other Bankruptcy Law, in each case, for costs or expenses of preserving

 

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or disposing of any Shared Collateral or otherwise, and it will not accept the benefit of any such claims. Until the Discharge of Senior Obligations has occurred, to the extent any Junior Priority Debt Party receives any payments or consideration on account of or resulting from claims under 506(c) of the Bankruptcy Code or any similar provision of any other Bankruptcy Law in violation of the immediately-preceding sentence, then such Junior Priority Debt Party will turn over to the Designated Senior Representative such amounts, even if such turnover has the effect of reducing the claim or recovery of the Junior Priority Debt Parties.

SECTION 6.10    Reorganization Securities. If, in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, debt obligations of the reorganized debtor secured by Liens upon any property of the reorganized debtor are distributed, pursuant to a plan of reorganization or similar dispositive restructuring plan, on account of both the Senior Obligations and the Junior Priority Debt Obligations, then, to the extent the debt obligations distributed on account of the Senior Obligations and on account of the Junior Priority Debt Obligations are secured by Liens upon the same assets or property, the provisions of this Agreement will survive the distribution of such debt obligations pursuant to such plan and will apply with like effect to the Liens securing such debt obligations.

SECTION 6.11    Section 1111(b) of the Bankruptcy Code. Until the Discharge of Senior Obligations has occurred, none of the Junior Representatives nor any Junior Priority Debt Party shall seek to exercise any rights under Section 1111(b) of the Bankruptcy Code or any similar provision under any Bankruptcy Law. All rights of the Senior Secured Parties to exercise any rights under Section 1111(b) of the Bankruptcy Code or any similar provision under any Bankruptcy Law, if any, are reserved and unaltered by this Agreement.

ARTICLE VII

Reliance; etc.

SECTION 7.01    Reliance. The consent by the Senior Secured Parties to the execution and delivery of the Junior Priority Debt Documents to which the Senior Secured Parties have consented and all loans and other extensions of credit made or deemed made on and after the effective date of this Agreement by the Senior Secured Parties to the Borrowers or any Subsidiary shall be deemed to have been given and made in reliance upon this Agreement. Each Junior Representative, on behalf of itself and each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, acknowledges that it and such Junior Priority Debt Parties have, independently and without reliance on any Senior Representative or other Senior Secured Party, and based on documents and information deemed by them appropriate, made their own credit analysis and decision to enter into the Junior Priority Debt Documents to which they are party or by which they are bound, this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and they will continue to make their own credit decision in taking or not taking any action under the Junior Priority Debt Documents or this Agreement.

SECTION 7.02    No Warranties or Liability. Each Junior Representative, on behalf of itself and each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, acknowledges and agrees that neither any Senior Representative nor any other Senior Secured Party has made any express or implied representation or warranty, including with respect to the

 

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execution, validity, legality, completeness, collectability or enforceability of any of the Senior Debt Documents, the ownership of any Shared Collateral or the perfection or priority of any Liens thereon. The Senior Secured Parties will be entitled to manage and supervise their respective loans and extensions of credit under the Senior Debt Documents in accordance with law and as they may otherwise, in their sole discretion, deem appropriate, and the Senior Secured Parties may manage their loans and extensions of credit without regard to any rights or interests that the Junior Representatives and the Junior Priority Debt Parties have in the Shared Collateral or otherwise, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement. Neither any Senior Representative nor any other Senior Secured Party shall have any duty to any Junior Representative or Junior Priority Debt Party to act or refrain from acting in a manner that allows, or results in, the occurrence or continuance of an event of default or default under any agreement with Holdings or any Subsidiary (including the Junior Priority Debt Documents), regardless of any knowledge thereof that they may have or be charged with. Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, the Senior Representatives, the Senior Secured Parties, the Junior Representatives and the Junior Priority Debt Parties have not otherwise made to each other, nor do they hereby make to each other, any warranties, express or implied, nor do they assume any liability to each other with respect to (a) the enforceability, validity, value or collectability of any of the Senior Obligations, the Junior Priority Debt Obligations or any guarantee or security which may have been granted to any of them in connection therewith, (b) any Grantor’s title to or right to transfer any of the Shared Collateral or (c) any other matter except as expressly set forth in this Agreement.

SECTION 7.03    Obligations Unconditional. All rights, interests, agreements and obligations of the Senior Representatives, the Senior Secured Parties, the Junior Representatives and the Junior Priority Debt Parties hereunder shall remain in full force and effect irrespective of:

(a)    any lack of validity or enforceability of any Senior Debt Document or any Junior Priority Debt Document;

(b)    any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other terms of, all or any of the Senior Obligations or Junior Priority Debt Obligations, or any amendment or waiver or other modification, including any increase in the amount thereof, whether by course of conduct or otherwise, of the terms of the Senior Debt Document or of the terms of any Junior Priority Debt Document;

(c)    any exchange of any security interest in any Shared Collateral or any other collateral or any amendment, waiver or other modification, whether in writing or by course of conduct or otherwise, of all or any of the Senior Obligations or Junior Priority Debt Obligations or any guarantee thereof;

(d)    the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding in respect of Holdings or any other Grantor; or

(e)    any other circumstances that otherwise might constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, (i) Holdings or any other Grantor in respect of the Senior Obligations or (ii) any Junior Representative or Junior Priority Debt Party in respect of this Agreement.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

Miscellaneous

SECTION 8.01    Conflicts.

(a)    Subject to Section 8.23, in the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of any Senior Debt Document or any Junior Priority Debt Document, the provisions of this Agreement shall govern. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the relative rights and obligations of the Senior Representatives and the Senior Secured Parties (as amongst themselves) with respect to any Senior Collateral shall be governed by the terms of the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement and in the event of any conflict between the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement and this Agreement, the provisions of the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement shall control.

(b)    In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement with respect to the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral, the provisions of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement shall govern and control.

SECTION 8.02    Continuing Nature of this Agreement; Severability. Subject to Section 5.07 and Section 6.04, this Agreement shall continue to be effective until the Discharge of Senior Obligations shall have occurred. This is a continuing agreement of Lien subordination, and the Senior Secured Parties may continue, at any time and without notice to the Junior Representatives or any Junior Priority Debt Party, to extend credit and other financial accommodations and lend monies to or for the benefit of Holdings or any Subsidiary constituting Senior Obligations in reliance hereon. The terms of this Agreement shall survive and continue in full force and effect in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding. Any provision of this Agreement that is invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction. The parties shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

SECTION 8.03    Amendments; Waivers.

(a)    No failure or delay on the part of any party hereto in exercising any right or power hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the parties hereto are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by any party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. No notice or demand on any party hereto in any case shall entitle such party to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.

 

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(b)    Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be amended or modified or any provision waived except pursuant to an instrument in writing signed by each Representative (in each case, acting in accordance with the documents governing the applicable Debt Facility), Holdings and the Borrowers (or any successor Borrowers under the First Lien Credit Agreement); provided that (x) the Designated Senior Representative may, without the written consent of any other Secured Party, agree to modifications of this Agreement solely for the purpose of securing additional extensions of credit (including pursuant to the First Lien Credit Agreement or any Refinancing or extension thereof) and adding new creditors as “Secured Parties” and “Senior Secured Parties” hereunder, so long as such extensions (and resulting additions) do not otherwise give rise to a violation of the express terms of the First Lien Credit Agreement or any other Senior Debt Documents or the Junior Priority Debt Document and (y) additional Grantors may be added as parties hereto in accordance with the provisions of Section 8.07. Any such amendment, supplement or waiver shall be in writing and shall be binding upon the Senior Secured Parties and the Junior Priority Debt Parties and their respective successors and assigns. Each waiver of the terms of this Agreement, if any, shall be a waiver only with respect to the specific instance involved and shall not impair the rights of the parties making such waiver or the obligations of the other parties to such party in any other respect or at any other time.

(c)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of any Secured Party, any Representative may become a party hereto by execution and delivery of a Representatives Supplement in accordance with Section 8.09 of this Agreement and upon such execution and delivery, such Representative and the Secured Parties and Senior Obligations or Junior Priority Debt Obligations of the Debt Facility for which such Representative is acting shall be subject to the terms hereof.

SECTION 8.04    Information Concerning the Financial Condition of Holdings, the Borrowers and the Subsidiaries. The Senior Representatives, the Senior Secured Parties, the Junior Representatives and the Junior Priority Debt Parties shall each be responsible for keeping themselves informed of (a) the financial condition of Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries and all endorsers or guarantors of the Senior Obligations or the Junior Priority Debt Obligations and (b) all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Senior Obligations or the Junior Priority Debt Obligations. The Senior Representatives, the Senior Secured Parties, the Junior Representatives and the Junior Priority Debt Parties shall have no duty to advise any other party hereunder of information known to it or them regarding such condition or any such circumstances or otherwise. In the event that any Senior Representative, any Senior Secured Party, any Junior Representative or any Junior Priority Debt Party, in its sole discretion, undertakes at any time or from time to time to provide any such information to any other party, it shall be under no obligation to (i) make, and the Senior Representatives, the Senior Secured Parties, the Junior Representatives and the Junior Priority Debt Parties shall not make or be deemed to have made, any express or implied representation or warranty, including with respect to the accuracy, completeness, truthfulness or validity of any such information so provided, (ii) provide any additional information or to provide any such information on any subsequent occasion, (iii) undertake any investigation or (iv) disclose any information that, pursuant to accepted or reasonable commercial finance practices, such party wishes to maintain confidential or is otherwise required to maintain confidential.

 

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SECTION 8.05    Subrogation. Subject to the Discharge of Senior Obligations, with respect to the value of any payments or distributions in cash, or other assets that the Junior Priority Debt Parties or any Junior Representative pays over to the Designated Senior Representative or any of the other Senior Secured Parties under the terms of this Agreement, the Junior Priority Debt Parties and each Junior Representative shall be subrogated to the rights of each Senior Representative and such other Senior Secured Parties; provided that each Junior Representative, on behalf of itself and each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, hereby agrees not to assert any rights of subrogation it may acquire as a result of any payment hereunder until the Discharge of Senior Obligations has occurred. Each Grantor acknowledges and agrees that the value of any payments or distributions in cash or other assets received by any Junior Representative or the other Junior Priority Debt Party and paid over to the Designated Senior Representative or the other Senior Secured Parties pursuant to, and applied in accordance with, this Agreement, shall not relieve or reduce any of the Obligations owed by any Grantor under the Junior Priority Debt Documents.

SECTION 8.06    Application of Payments. Except as otherwise provided herein, all payments received by the Senior Secured Parties may be applied, reversed and reapplied, in whole or in part, to such part of the Senior Obligations as the Senior Secured Parties, in their sole discretion, deem appropriate, consistent with the terms of the Senior Debt Documents. Except as otherwise provided herein, each Junior Representative, on behalf of itself and each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, assents to any such extension or postponement of the time of payment of the Senior Obligations or any part thereof and to any other indulgence with respect thereto, to any substitution, exchange or release of any security that may at any time secure any part of the Senior Obligations and to the addition or release of any other Person primarily or secondarily liable therefor.

SECTION 8.07    Additional Grantors. Each of Holdings and the Borrowers agree that, if any Subsidiary shall become a Grantor after the date hereof, it will promptly cause such Subsidiary to become party hereto by executing and delivering an instrument in the form of Annex I. Upon such execution and delivery, such Subsidiary will become a Grantor hereunder with the same force and effect as if originally named as a Grantor herein. The execution and delivery of such instrument shall not require the consent of any other party hereunder, and will be acknowledged by the Designated Junior Representative and the Designated Senior Representative. The rights and obligations of each Grantor hereunder shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the addition of any new Grantor as a party to this Agreement.

SECTION 8.08    [Reserved].

 

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SECTION 8.09    Additional Debt Facilities. To the extent, but only to the extent, permitted by the provisions of the then extant Senior Debt Documents and the Junior Priority Debt Documents and this Agreement, the Borrowers may incur or issue and sell one or more series or classes of Junior Priority Debt and one or more series or classes of Additional Senior Debt. Any such additional class or series of Junior Priority Debt (the “Junior Priority Class Debt”) may be secured by a junior priority, subordinated Lien on Shared Collateral, in each case under and pursuant to the relevant Junior Priority Collateral Documents for such Junior Priority Class Debt, if and subject to the condition that the Representative of any such Junior Priority Class Debt (each, a “Junior Priority Class Debt Representative”), acting on behalf of the holders of such Junior Priority Class Debt (such Representative and holders in respect of any Junior Priority Class Debt being referred to as the “Junior Priority Class Debt Parties”), becomes a party to this Agreement by satisfying conditions (i) through (iii), as applicable, in this Section 8.09. Any such additional class or series of Senior Facilities (the “Senior Class Debt”; and the Senior Class Debt and Junior Priority Class Debt, collectively, the “Class Debt”) may be secured by a senior Lien on Shared Collateral, in each case under and pursuant to the Senior Collateral Documents, if and subject to the condition that the Representative of any such Senior Class Debt (each, a “Senior Class Debt Representative”; and the Senior Class Debt Representatives and Junior Priority Class Debt Representatives, collectively, the “Class Debt Representatives”), acting on behalf of the holders of such Senior Class Debt (such Representative and holders in respect of any such Senior Class Debt being referred to as the “Senior Class Debt Parties”; and the Senior Class Debt Parties and Junior Priority Class Debt Parties, collectively, the “Class Debt Parties”), becomes a party to this Agreement (and, if applicable, the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement in accordance with the terms and conditions thereof) by satisfying the conditions set forth in clauses (i) through (iii), as applicable, in this Section 8.09. In order for a Class Debt Representative to become a party to this Agreement:

(i)    such Class Debt Representative shall have executed and delivered a Representatives Supplement substantially in the form of Annex II (if such Representative is a Junior Priority Class Debt Representative) or Annex III (if such Representative is a Senior Class Debt Representative) (with such changes as may be reasonably approved by the Designated Senior Representative and such Class Debt Representative) pursuant to which it becomes a Representative hereunder, and the Class Debt in respect of which such Class Debt Representative is the Representative and the related Class Debt Parties become subject hereto and bound hereby;

(ii)    the Borrowers shall have delivered to the Designated Senior Representative and Designated Junior Representative a certificate of an appropriate officer of each Borrower (an “Officer’s Certificate”) stating that the conditions set forth in this Section 8.09 are satisfied with respect to such Class Debt and, if requested, true and complete copies of each of the Junior Priority Debt Documents or Senior Debt Documents, as applicable, relating to such Class Debt, certified as being true and correct by a Responsible Officer of each Borrower; and

(iii)    the Junior Priority Debt Documents or Senior Debt Documents, as applicable, relating to such Class Debt shall provide that each Class Debt Party with respect to such Class Debt will be subject to and bound by the provisions of this Agreement in its capacity as a holder of such Class Debt.

 

33


SECTION 8.10    Consent to Jurisdiction; Waivers. Each party hereto irrevocably and unconditionally:

(a)    submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement and the Collateral Documents, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement and/or the Collateral Documents shall affect any right that any Representative may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to any Senior Debt Document against any Guarantor or its respective properties in the courts of any jurisdiction;

(b)    waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement and/or the Collateral Documents in any court referred to in paragraph (a) of this Section. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court;

(c)    consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 8.11 and nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any other party hereto (or any Secured Party) to effect service of process in any other manner permitted by law;

(d)    as it relates to any Grantor, such Grantor designates, appoints and empowers Holdings as its designee, appointee and agent to receive, accept and acknowledge for and on its behalf, and in respect of its property, service of any and all legal process, summons, notices and documents that may be served in any such action or proceeding and Holdings hereby accepts such designation and appointment; and

(a)    waives, to the maximum extent not prohibited by law, any right it may have against another party hereto or any other Representative or Secured Party to claim or recover in any legal action or proceeding referred to in this Section 8.10 any special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages; provided that the foregoing waiver shall not apply to claims or recoveries resulting from a third party’s claim for special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages in connection with which indemnity obligations of the Company are otherwise owing to the (i) Notes Collateral Agent (as defined in the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement) pursuant to Section 7.07 of the Senior Secured Notes Indenture and (ii) the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent (as defined in the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement) pursuant to Section 9.08 of the First Lien Credit Agreement.

SECTION 8.11    Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be sent: if to Holdings or any Grantor, to Holdings, at its address specified in Section 9.01 of the First Lien Credit Agreement;

(i)    if to the Initial Junior Representative to it at the address specified for the [    ] Agent in Section [    ] of the Junior Lien [    ];

 

34


(ii)    if to the Initial Senior Representative, to it at the address specified for the First Lien Collateral Agent in Section 9.01 of the First Lien Credit Agreement;

(iii)    if to any other Representative, to it at the address specified by it in the Representatives Supplement delivered by it pursuant to Section 8.09.

Unless otherwise specifically provided herein, any notice or other communication herein required or permitted to be given shall be in writing and, may be personally served, telecopied, electronically mailed or sent by courier service or U.S. mail and shall be deemed to have been given when delivered in person or by courier service, upon receipt of a telecopy or electronic mail or upon receipt via U.S. mail (registered or certified, with postage prepaid and properly addressed). For the purposes hereof, the addresses of the parties hereto shall be as set forth above or, as to each party, at such other address as may be designated by such party in a written notice to all of the other parties. As agreed to in writing among each Representative from time to time, notices and other communications may also be delivered by e-mail to the e-mail address of a representative of the applicable person provided from time to time by such person.

SECTION 8.12    Further Assurances. Each Senior Representative, on behalf of itself and each Senior Secured Party under the Senior Facility for which it is acting, each Junior Representative, on behalf of itself and each Junior Priority Debt Party under the Junior Priority Debt Facility for which it is acting, and Holdings, on behalf of itself and the Grantors, agrees that it will take such further action and shall execute and deliver such additional documents and instruments (in recordable form, if requested) as the other parties hereto may reasonably request to effectuate the terms of, and the Lien priorities contemplated by, this Agreement.

SECTION 8.13    GOVERNING LAW; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. (a) This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York.

(b)    EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 8.13.

SECTION 8.14    Binding on Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Senior Representatives, the Senior Secured Parties, the Junior Representatives, the Junior Priority Debt Parties, Holdings, the other Grantors party hereto and their permitted respective successors and assigns.

 

35


SECTION 8.15    Section Titles. The section titles contained in this Agreement are and shall be without substantive meaning or content of any kind whatsoever and are not a part of this Agreement.

SECTION 8.16    Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, including by means of electronic mail of a PDF, facsimile, each of which shall be an original and all of which shall together constitute one and the same document. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Agreement by electronic mail of a PDF, facsimile or other electronic transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Agreement.

SECTION 8.17    Authorization. By its signature, each party to this Agreement represents and warrants to the other parties hereto that it is duly authorized to execute this Agreement. The Designated Junior Representative, in its capacity as the Initial Junior Representative, represents and warrants that this Agreement is binding upon the Initial Junior Priority Debt Parties.

SECTION 8.18    No Third Party Beneficiaries; Successors and Assigns. The lien priorities set forth in this Agreement and the rights and benefits hereunder in respect of such lien priorities shall inure solely to the benefit of the Senior Representatives, the Senior Secured Parties, the Junior Representatives and the Junior Priority Debt Parties, and their respective permitted successors and assigns, and no other Person (including the Grantors, or any trustee, receiver, debtor-in-possession or bankruptcy estate in a bankruptcy or like proceeding) shall have or be entitled to assert such rights (other than any provision hereof expressly preserving any right of, or directly affecting, Holdings or any other Grantor under this Agreement or any Senior Debt Document or Junior Priority Debt Document).

SECTION 8.19    Effectiveness. This Agreement shall become effective when executed and delivered by the parties hereto.

SECTION 8.20    Representatives. It is understood and agreed that (a) the Initial Senior Representative is entering into this Agreement in its capacity as administrative agent and collateral agent under the First Lien Credit Agreement and the provisions of Article IX of the First Lien Credit Agreement applicable to the Agents (as defined therein) thereunder shall also apply to the Initial Senior Representative hereunder and (b) Initial Junior Representative is entering into this Agreement in its capacity as administrative agent and collateral agent under the Junior Lien [ ] and the provisions of [ ] of such agreement applicable to the Agents (as defined therein) thereunder shall also apply to the Initial Junior Representative solely in its capacity as the Initial Junior Representative hereunder.

SECTION 8.21    Relative Rights. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary (except to the extent contemplated by Section 5.01(a), 5.01(d) or 5.04(b)), nothing in this Agreement is intended to or will (a) amend, waive or otherwise modify the provisions of any Senior Debt Document or any Junior Priority Debt Documents, or permit Holdings or any Grantor to take any action, or fail to take any action, to the extent such action or failure would otherwise constitute a breach of, or default under any Senior Debt Document or any Junior Priority Debt Documents, (b) change the relative priorities of the Senior Obligations or the Liens granted

 

36


under the Senior Collateral Documents on the Shared Collateral (or any other assets) as among the Senior Secured Parties, (c) otherwise change the relative rights of the Senior Secured Parties in respect of the Shared Collateral as among such Senior Secured Parties or (d) obligate Holdings or any Grantor to take any action, or fail to take any action, that would otherwise constitute a breach of, or default under any Senior Debt Document or any Junior Priority Debt Document.

SECTION 8.22    Survival of Agreement. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by any party in this Agreement shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

SECTION 8.23    Additional Intercreditor Agreements. Each party hereto agrees that the Senior Secured Parties and/or the Senior Representatives (as among themselves) and the Junior Priority Debt Parties and/or the Junior Representatives (as among themselves) may each enter into the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement, the ABL Intercreditor Agreement and/or any other intercreditor agreement governing the rights, benefits and privileges as among the Senior Class Debt Parties or the Junior Priority Debt Parties, as the case may be, in respect of the Collateral, the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral, this Agreement and the other Senior Collateral Documents or Junior Priority Collateral Documents, as the case may be, including as to application of Proceeds of the Collateral or the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral, as applicable,, voting rights, control of the Collateral and waivers with respect to the Collateral, in each case so long as the terms thereof do not violate or conflict with the provisions of this Agreement or the other Senior Debt Documents or Junior Priority Debt Documents, as the case may be (or unless the applicable Senior Class Debt Parties or Junior Priority Debt Parties otherwise authorize their applicable Representative to enter into any such intercreditor arrangement).

SECTION 8.24    Junior Priority Debt Parties. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, it is understood and agreed that this Agreement only applies to the Junior Priority Debt Parties in their capacities as holders of the Junior Priority Debt Obligations. Without limiting the foregoing, this Agreement does not restrict or apply to the Junior Priority Debt Parties in their capacities as holders of any Indebtedness or other obligations of the Grantors other than the Junior Priority Debt Obligations, or in their capacities as holders of equity interests of the Grantors.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature pages follow.]

 

37


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

CITIBANK, N.A., as Initial Senior Representative
By:  

                    

Name:  
Title:  
[            ]
as Initial Junior Representative
By:  

                    

Name:  
Title:  


HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT COMPANY,
as Holdings
By:  

            

Name:  
Title:  
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHERS INC.,
as a Borrower
By:  

            

Name:  
Title:  
HMH PUBLISHERS LLC,
as a Borrower
By:  

            

Name:  
Title:  
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY,
as a Borrower
By:  

            

Name:  
Title:  


[●],
as a Grantor
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[●],

as a Grantor

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  


ANNEX I

SUPPLEMENT NO. dated as of , (the “Supplement”) to the JUNIOR LIEN INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT dated as of [    ], 20[    ] (the “Junior Intercreditor Agreement”), among Clear Channel Holdings, Inc. (the “Borrower”), the other Grantors from time to time party hereto and Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent under the First Lien Credit Agreement, as the Designated Senior Representative, [ ], as the Designated Junior Representative, and the additional Representatives from time to time a party thereto.

A.    Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Junior Intercreditor Agreement.

B.    The Grantors have entered into the Junior Intercreditor Agreement. Pursuant to the First Lien Credit Agreement, certain Additional Senior Debt Documents and certain Junior Priority Debt Documents, certain newly acquired or organized Subsidiaries of Holdings are required to enter into the Junior Intercreditor Agreement. Section 8.07 of the Junior Intercreditor Agreement provides that such Subsidiaries may become party to the Junior Intercreditor Agreement by execution and delivery of an instrument in the form of this Supplement. The undersigned Subsidiary (the “New Grantor”) is executing this Supplement in accordance with the requirements of the First Lien Credit Agreement, the Junior Priority Debt Documents and Additional Senior Debt Documents.

Accordingly, the Designated Senior Representative, the Junior Priority Class Debt Representative and the New Grantor agree as follows:

SECTION 1.    In accordance with Section 8.07 of the Junior Intercreditor Agreement, the New Grantor by its signature below becomes a Grantor under the Junior Intercreditor Agreement with the same force and effect as if originally named therein as a Grantor, and the New Grantor hereby agrees to all the terms and provisions of the Junior Intercreditor Agreement applicable to it as a Grantor thereunder. Each reference to a “Grantor” in the Junior Intercreditor Agreement shall be deemed to include the New Grantor. The Junior Intercreditor Agreement is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

SECTION 2.    The New Grantor represents and warrants to the Designated Senior Representative, the Junior Priority Class Debt Representative and the other Secured Parties that this Supplement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by it and constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity.

SECTION 3.    This Supplement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Supplement shall become effective when the Designated Senior Representative and the Junior Priority Class Debt Representative shall have received a counterpart of this Supplement that bears the signature of the New Grantor. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Supplement by facsimile transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Supplement.


SECTION 4.    Except as expressly supplemented hereby, the Junior Intercreditor Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 5.    THIS SUPPLEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

SECTION 6.    In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Supplement should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, no party hereto shall be required to comply with such provision for so long as such provision is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, but the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein and in the Junior Intercreditor Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired. The parties hereto shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

SECTION 7.    All communications and notices hereunder shall be in writing and given as provided in Section 8.11 of the Junior Intercreditor Agreement. All communications and notices hereunder to the New Grantor shall be given to it in care of Holdings as specified in the Junior Intercreditor Agreement.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the New Grantor, and the Designated Senior Representative have duly executed this Supplement to the Junior Intercreditor Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

[NAME OF NEW SUBSIDIARY GRANTOR],
By:  

                

Name:  
Title:  

 

  Acknowledged by:
  CITIBANK, N.A.,
  as Initial Senior Representative
  By:  

            

  Name:  
  Title:  
  [            ], as [Initial Junior Representative],
  By:  

            

  Name:  
  Title:  


ANNEX II

[FORM OF] REPRESENTATIVE SUPPLEMENT NO. [        ] dated as of [                ], 20[    ] to the JUNIOR LIEN INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT dated as of [    ], 20[    ] (the “Junior Intercreditor Agreement”), among Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company (“Holdings”), Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers, Inc., HMH Publishers LLC, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company (each, a “Borrower” and collectively, the “Borrowers”), the other Grantors from time to time party hereto and Citibank, N.A., as First Lien Collateral Agent under the First Lien Credit Agreement and as Initial Senior Representative under the Junior Intercreditor Agreement, [    ], as Initial Junior Representative, and the additional Representatives from time to time a party thereto.

A.    Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Junior Intercreditor Agreement.

B.    As a condition to the ability of the Borrowers to incur Junior Priority Debt and to secure such Junior Priority Class Debt with the Junior Priority Lien and to have such Junior Priority Class Debt guaranteed by the Grantors on a subordinated basis, in each case under and pursuant to the Junior Priority Collateral Documents, the Junior Priority Class Debt Representative in respect of such Junior Priority Class Debt is required to become a Representative under, and such Junior Priority Class Debt and the Junior Priority Class Debt Parties in respect thereof are required to become subject to and bound by, the Junior Intercreditor Agreement. Section 8.09 of the Junior Intercreditor Agreement provides that such Junior Priority Class Debt Representative may become a Representative under, and such Junior Priority Class Debt and such Junior Priority Class Debt Parties may become subject to and bound by, the Junior Intercreditor Agreement, pursuant to the execution and delivery by the Junior Priority Class Debt Representative of an instrument in the form of this Representative Supplement and the satisfaction of the other conditions set forth in Section 8.09 of the Junior Intercreditor Agreement. The undersigned Junior Priority Class Debt Representative (the “New Representative”) is executing this Representative Supplement in accordance with the requirements of the Senior Debt Documents and the Junior Priority Debt Documents.

Accordingly, the New Representative agree as follows:

SECTION 1.    In accordance with Section 8.09 of the Junior Intercreditor Agreement, the New Representative by its signature below becomes a Representative under, and the related Junior Priority Class Debt and Junior Priority Class Debt Parties become subject to and bound by, the Junior Intercreditor Agreement with the same force and effect as if the New Representative had originally been named therein as a Representative, and the New Representative, on behalf of itself and such Junior Priority Class Debt Parties, hereby agrees to all the terms and provisions of the Junior Intercreditor Agreement applicable to it as a Junior Representative and to the Junior Priority Class Debt Parties that it represents as Junior Priority Debt Parties. Each reference to a “Representative” or “Junior Representative” in the Junior Intercreditor Agreement shall be deemed to include the New Representative. The Junior Intercreditor Agreement is hereby incorporated herein by reference.


SECTION 2.    The New Representative represents and warrants to the Initial Senior Representative and the other Secured Parties that (i) it has full power and authority to enter into this Representative Supplement, in its capacity as [agent] [trustee] under [describe new debt facility], (ii) this Representative Supplement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by it and constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with the terms of such Agreement and (iii) the Junior Priority Debt Documents relating to such Junior Priority Class Debt provide that, upon the New Representative’s entry into this Agreement, the Junior Priority Class Debt Parties in respect of such Junior Priority Class Debt will be subject to and bound by the provisions of the Junior Intercreditor Agreement as Junior Priority Debt Parties.

SECTION 3.    This Representative Supplement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Representative Supplement shall become effective when each of the Initial Senior Representative and the Junior Priority Class Debt Representative shall have received a counterpart of this Representative Supplement that bears the signature of the New Representative. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Representative Supplement by facsimile transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Representative Supplement.

SECTION 4.    Except as expressly supplemented hereby, the Junior Intercreditor Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 5.    THIS REPRESENTATIVE SUPPLEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

SECTION 6.    In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Representative Supplement should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, no party hereto shall be required to comply with such provision for so long as such provision is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, but the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein and in the Junior Intercreditor Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired. The parties hereto shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

SECTION 7.    All communications and notices hereunder shall be in writing and given as provided in Section 8.11 of the Junior Intercreditor Agreement. All communications and notices hereunder to the New Representative shall be given to it at the address set forth below its signature hereto.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the New Representative has duly executed this Representative Supplement to the Junior Intercreditor Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

[NAME OF NEW REPRESENTATIVE],

 

as [            ] for the holders of [            ]

By:  

                                 

Name:  
Title:  
Address for notices:

 

 

attention of:  

            

Telecopy:  

            


  Acknowledged by:
  THE GRANTORS
  LISTED ON SCHEDULE I HERETO
  By:  

                

  Name:  
  Title:  


Schedule I to the

Representative Supplement to the

Junior Intercreditor Agreement

Grantors

 

     Name      Jurisdiction of Formation  

1.

     

2.

     

3.

     

4.

     

5.

     

6.

     


ANNEX III

[FORM OF] REPRESENTATIVE SUPPLEMENT NO. [    ] dated as of [    ], 20[    ] to the JUNIOR LIEN INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT dated as of [    ], 20[    ] (the “Junior Intercreditor Agreement”), among Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company (“Holdings”), Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers, Inc., HMH Publishers LLC, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company (each, a “Borrower” and collectively, the “Borrowers”), the other Grantors from time to time party hereto and Citibank, N.A., as First Lien Collateral Agent under the First Lien Credit Agreement and as Initial Senior Representative under the Junior Intercreditor Agreement, [    ], as Initial Junior Representative, and the additional Representatives from time to time a party thereto.

A.    Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Junior Intercreditor Agreement.

B.    As a condition to the ability of the Borrowers to incur Senior Class Debt after the date of the Junior Intercreditor Agreement and to secure such Senior Class Debt with the Senior Lien and to have such Senior Class Debt guaranteed by the Grantors on a senior basis, in each case under and pursuant to the Senior Collateral Documents, the Senior Class Debt Representative in respect of such Senior Class Debt is required to become a Representative under, and such Senior Class Debt and the Senior Class Debt Parties in respect thereof are required to become subject to and bound by, the Junior Intercreditor Agreement. Section 8.09 of the Junior Intercreditor Agreement provides that such Senior Class Debt Representative may become a Representative under, and such Senior Class Debt and such Senior Class Debt Parties may become subject to and bound by, the Junior Intercreditor Agreement, pursuant to the execution and delivery by the Senior Class Debt Representative of an instrument in the form of this Representative Supplement and the satisfaction of the other conditions set forth in Section 8.09 of the Junior Intercreditor Agreement. The undersigned Senior Class Debt Representative (the “New Representative”) is executing this Representative Supplement in accordance with the requirements of the Senior Debt Documents and the Junior Priority Debt Documents.

Accordingly, the New Representative agrees as follows:

SECTION 1.    In accordance with Section 8.09 of the Junior Intercreditor Agreement, the New Representative by its signature below becomes a Representative under, and the related Senior Class Debt and Senior Class Debt Parties become subject to and bound by, the Junior Intercreditor Agreement with the same force and effect as if the New Representative had originally been named therein as a Representative, and the New Representative, on behalf of itself and such Senior Class Debt Parties, hereby agrees to all the terms and provisions of the Junior Intercreditor Agreement applicable to it as a Senior Representative and to the Senior Class Debt Parties that it represents as Senior Class Debt Parties. Each reference to a “Representative” or “Senior Representative” in the Junior Intercreditor Agreement shall be deemed to include the New Representative. The Junior Intercreditor Agreement is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

SECTION 2.    The New Representative represents and warrants to the Initial Senior Representative, the Junior Priority Class Debt Representative and the other Secured Parties that (i) it has full power and authority to enter into this Representative Supplement, in its capacity


as [agent] [trustee] under [describe new debt facility], (ii) this Representative Supplement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by it and constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with the terms of such Agreement and (iii) the Senior Debt Documents relating to such Senior Class Debt provide that, upon the New Representative’s entry into this Agreement, the Senior Class Debt Parties in respect of such Senior Class Debt will be subject to and bound by the provisions of the Junior Intercreditor Agreement as Senior Secured Parties.

SECTION 3.    This Representative Supplement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Representative Supplement shall become effective when each of the Initial Senior Representative and the Junior Priority Class Debt Representative shall have received a counterpart of this Representative Supplement that bears the signature of the New Representative. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Representative Supplement by facsimile transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Representative Supplement.

SECTION 4.    Except as expressly supplemented hereby, the Junior Intercreditor Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 5.    THIS REPRESENTATIVE SUPPLEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

SECTION 6.    In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Representative Supplement should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, no party hereto shall be required to comply with such provision for so long as such provision is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, but the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein and in the Junior Intercreditor Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired. The parties hereto shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

SECTION 7.    All communications and notices hereunder shall be in writing and given as provided in Section 8.11 of the Junior Intercreditor Agreement. All communications and notices hereunder to the New Representative shall be given to it at the address set forth below its signature hereto.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the New Representative has duly executed this Representative Supplement to the Junior Intercreditor Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT COMPANY,

as Holdings

By:  

            

Name:  
Title:  
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHERS INC.,

as a Borrower

By:  

                

Name:  
Title:  
HMH PUBLISHERS LLC,

as a Borrower

By:  

            

Name:  
Title:  


HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY,

as a Borrower
By:  

                

Name:  
Title:  
[●], as a Grantor
By:  

            

Name:  
Title:  


[NAME OF NEW REPRESENTATIVE],

as [    ] for the holders of [    ],

By:  

            

Name:  
Title:  


Schedule I to the

Representative Supplement to the

Junior Intercreditor Agreement

Grantors

 

     Name      Jurisdiction of Formation  

1.

     

2.

     

3.

     

4.

     

5.

     

6.

     

Exhibit 10.1

 

 

 

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT

dated as of

November 22, 2019

among

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT COMPANY,

as Holdings,

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHERS INC.,

HMH PUBLISHERS LLC

and

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY,

as Borrowers,

THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO,

THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO,

CITIBANK, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent

and

CITIBANK, N.A.,

as Collateral Agent

 

 

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.,

MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.,

BOFA SECURITIES, INC.

and

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC,

as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Lead Bookrunners

and

CITIZENS BANK, N.A.,

as Co-Manager


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  
ARTICLE I  
Definitions

 

SECTION 1.01

  Defined Terms      1  

SECTION 1.02

  Terms Generally      46  

SECTION 1.03

  Pro Forma Calculations      46  

SECTION 1.04

  Classification of Loans and Borrowings      47  

SECTION 1.05

  Delaware LLC Division      47  

SECTION 1.06

  Limited Condition Transactions      48  

SECTION 1.07

  Compliance with Article VI      49  

SECTION 1.08

  Cashless Rolls      49  

SECTION 1.09

  Certain Calculations and Tests      49  
ARTICLE II  
The Credits

 

SECTION 2.01

  Commitments      49  

SECTION 2.02

  Loans and Borrowings      50  

SECTION 2.03

  Borrowing Procedure      51  

SECTION 2.04

  Evidence of Debt; Repayment of Loans      51  

SECTION 2.05

  Fees      52  

SECTION 2.06

  Interest on Loans      52  

SECTION 2.07

  Default Interest      53  

SECTION 2.08

  Alternate Rate of Interest      53  

SECTION 2.09

  Termination and Reduction of Commitments      54  

SECTION 2.10

  Conversion and Continuation of Borrowings      54  

SECTION 2.11

  Repayment of Borrowings      56  

SECTION 2.12

  Optional Prepayment; Prepayment Premium      56  

SECTION 2.13

  Mandatory Prepayments      57  

SECTION 2.14

  Reserve Requirements; Change in Circumstances      60  

SECTION 2.15

  Change in Legality      61  

SECTION 2.16

  Indemnity      62  

SECTION 2.17

  Pro Rata Treatment      62  

SECTION 2.18

  Sharing of Setoffs      62  

SECTION 2.19

  Payments      63  

SECTION 2.20

  Taxes      64  

SECTION 2.21

  Assignment of Commitments Under Certain Circumstances; Duty to Mitigate      67  

SECTION 2.22

  Extensions of Term Loans      68  

SECTION 2.23

  Refinancing Facilities      71  

SECTION 2.24

  Incremental Facilities      73  

 

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SECTION 2.25

  Defaulting Lenders      75  

SECTION 2.26

  Flood Compliance Event      76  
ARTICLE III  
Representations and Warranties

 

SECTION 3.01

  Organization; Powers      77  

SECTION 3.02

  Authorization      77  

SECTION 3.03

  Enforceability      77  

SECTION 3.04

  Governmental Approvals      77  

SECTION 3.05

  Intentionally Deleted      78  

SECTION 3.06

  No Material Adverse Change      78  

SECTION 3.07

  Title to Properties; Possession Under Leases      78  

SECTION 3.08

  Subsidiaries      78  

SECTION 3.09

  Litigation; Compliance with Laws      79  

SECTION 3.10

  Agreements      79  

SECTION 3.11

  Federal Reserve Regulations      79  

SECTION 3.12

  Investment Company Act      79  

SECTION 3.13

  Use of Proceeds      79  

SECTION 3.14

  Taxes      80  

SECTION 3.15

  No Material Misstatements      80  

SECTION 3.16

  Employee Benefit Plans      80  

SECTION 3.17

  Environmental Matters      81  

SECTION 3.18

  Insurance      81  

SECTION 3.19

  Security Documents      81  

SECTION 3.20

  Location of Real Property and Leased Premises      83  

SECTION 3.21

  Labor Matters      83  

SECTION 3.22

  Solvency      84  

SECTION 3.23

  No Default      84  

SECTION 3.24

  Intellectual Property      84  

SECTION 3.25

  Existing Indebtedness, Liens and Investments      84  

SECTION 3.26

  USA PATRIOT Act etc      85  

SECTION 3.27

  EEA Financial Institution      85  

SECTION 3.28

  Beneficial Ownership      85  
ARTICLE IV  
Conditions of Lending

 

ARTICLE V

 

Affirmative Covenants  

SECTION 5.01

  Existence; Compliance with Laws; Businesses and Properties      89  

SECTION 5.02

  Insurance      90  

SECTION 5.03

  Obligations and Taxes      91  

 

-ii-


SECTION 5.04

  Financial Statements, Reports, etc      91  

SECTION 5.05

  Litigation and Other Notices      94  

SECTION 5.06

  [Reserved]      94  

SECTION 5.07

  Maintaining Records; Access to Properties and Inspections; Maintenance of Ratings      94  

SECTION 5.08

  Use of Proceeds      95  

SECTION 5.09

  Employee Benefits      95  

SECTION 5.10

  Compliance with Environmental Laws      95  

SECTION 5.11

  [Reserved]      95  

SECTION 5.12

  Further Assurances      95  

SECTION 5.13

  Sanctions; Anticorruption Laws and Anti-Terrorism Laws      97  
ARTICLE VI  
Negative Covenants

 

SECTION 6.01

  Indebtedness      97  

SECTION 6.02

  Liens      101  

SECTION 6.03

  Sale and Lease Back Transactions      105  

SECTION 6.04

  Investments, Loans and Advances      105  

SECTION 6.05

  Mergers, Consolidations, Sales of Assets and Acquisitions      108  

SECTION 6.06

  Restricted Payments; Restrictive Agreements      109  

SECTION 6.07

  Transactions with Affiliates      111  

SECTION 6.08

  Other Indebtedness and Agreements      112  

SECTION 6.09

  [Intentionally deleted]      113  

SECTION 6.10

  [Intentionally deleted]      113  

SECTION 6.11

  [Intentionally deleted]      113  

SECTION 6.12

  Fiscal Year      113  

SECTION 6.13

  [Intentionally deleted]      113  

SECTION 6.14

  Business of Holdings, Borrowers and Restricted Subsidiaries      113  

SECTION 6.15

  Designation of Unrestricted Subsidiaries and Re-Designation of Restricted Subsidiaries      113  
ARTICLE VII  
Events of Default

 

SECTION 7.01

  Events of Default      114  
ARTICLE VIII  
Agents

 

SECTION 8.01

  Authorization and Action      118  

SECTION 8.02

  Agent Individually      118  

SECTION 8.03

  Duties of Agents; Exculpatory Provisions      119  

SECTION 8.04

  Reliance by Agents      120  

 

-iii-


SECTION 8.05

  Indemnification      121  

SECTION 8.06

  Delegation of Duties      122  

SECTION 8.07

  Resignation of Agent      122  

SECTION 8.08

  Non-Reliance on Agent and Other Lenders      122  

SECTION 8.09

  No Other Duties, etc      123  

SECTION 8.10

  Agent May File Proofs of Claim      124  

SECTION 8.11

  Other Secured Agreements      124  
ARTICLE IX  
Miscellaneous

 

SECTION 9.01

  Notices      125  

SECTION 9.02

  Survival of Agreement      127  

SECTION 9.03

  Binding Effect      127  

SECTION 9.04

  Successors and Assigns      127  

SECTION 9.05

  Expenses; Indemnity      133  

SECTION 9.06

  Right of Setoff      135  

SECTION 9.07

  Applicable Law      136  

SECTION 9.08

  Waivers; Amendment      136  

SECTION 9.09

  Interest Rate Limitation      139  

SECTION 9.10

  Entire Agreement      139  

SECTION 9.11

  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL      139  

SECTION 9.12

  Severability      140  

SECTION 9.13

  Counterparts      140  

SECTION 9.14

  Headings      140  

SECTION 9.15

  Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process      140  

SECTION 9.16

  Confidentiality      141  

SECTION 9.17

  USA PATRIOT Act Notice      141  

SECTION 9.18

  Joint and Several Liability of the Borrower Group      142  

SECTION 9.19

  Borrowing Agent      143  

SECTION 9.20

  LEGEND      144  

SECTION 9.21

  No Fiduciary Duty      144  

SECTION 9.22

  Release of Liens and Guarantees      144  

SECTION 9.23

  Intercreditor Agreements      145  

SECTION 9.24

  Lender Representations      145  

SECTION 9.25

  Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Certain Financial Institutions      146  

SECTION 9.26

  Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs      147  

SECTION 9.27

  Amendment and Restatement; No Novation      148  

SCHEDULES

 

Schedule 1.01(a)   -   Mortgaged Property
Schedule 1.01(b)   -   Permitted Investments
Schedule 3.08   -   Subsidiaries

 

-iv-


Schedule 3.09   -   Litigation
Schedule 3.17   -   Environmental Matters
Schedule 3.18   -   Insurance
Schedule 3.19(c)   -   Mortgage Filing Offices
Schedule 3.20(a)   -   Owned Real Property
Schedule 3.20(b)   -   Leased Real Property
Schedule 6.01   -   Existing Indebtedness
Schedule 6.02   -   Existing Liens
Schedule 6.04   -   Investments
EXHIBITS  
Exhibit A   -   Form of Administrative Questionnaire
Exhibit B   -   Form of Assignment and Acceptance
Exhibit C   -   Form of Borrowing Request
Exhibit D   -   Form of Guarantee and Collateral Agreement
Exhibit E   -   Form of ABL Intercreditor Agreement
Exhibit F   -   Form of Mortgage
Exhibit G   -   Form of Incremental Facility Joinder Agreement
Exhibit H   -   Forms of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate
Exhibit I   -   Form of Solvency Certificate
Exhibit J   -   Form of Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement

 

 

-v-


This SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of November 22, 2019 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Agreement”), among HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT COMPANY, a company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (“Holdings”), HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHERS INC., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (“HMHP”), HMH PUBLISHERS LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (“Publishers”), HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY, a corporation organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (“HMCo”, and together with HMHP and Publishers, collectively, the “Borrowers” and each a “Borrower”), the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined in Article I), the Lenders (as defined in Article I), CITIBANK, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”) for the Lenders and CITIBANK, N.A., as collateral agent (in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”) for the Lenders.

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS

(1) Holdings, the Borrowers, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the lenders party thereto, Citibank N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent, and the other parties party thereto are parties to that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of May 29, 2015 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof, the “Existing Credit Agreement”), pursuant to which the lenders thereto extended or committed to extend certain credit facilities to the Borrowers.

(2) Holdings, the Borrowers and the Subsidiary Guarantors desire to refinance the existing outstanding indebtedness under the Existing Credit Agreement (the “Refinancing”) and to pay fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Refinancing and the other Transactions (as defined below) pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

(3) Holdings, the Borrowers and the Subsidiary Guarantors have requested that the Lenders provide them with a senior secured term loan credit facility in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $380,000,000. The Lenders are willing to extend such credit under such facility to the Borrowers, and to amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.

ARTICLE I

Definitions

SECTION 1.01 Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings specified below:

ABL Intercreditor Agreement” shall mean the Second Amended and Restated Term Loan/Senior Notes/Revolving Facility Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement dated as of the date hereof, among the Agents, the administrative agent and the collateral agent in respect of the Revolving Credit Agreement, the trustee and collateral agent in respect of the Senior Notes, the Borrowers and the other parties thereto, substantially in the form of Exhibit E, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the requirements thereof and of this Agreement, and which shall also include any replacement intercreditor agreement entered into in accordance with the terms hereof.


ABR”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.

Acquired Entity” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the definition of “Permitted Acquisition”.

Acquisition” shall mean the acquisition by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary of all or substantially all the assets of a person or product line, division, or line of business of such person, or not less than 100% of the Equity Interests (other than directors’ qualifying shares) not previously held by Holdings and its Subsidiaries of a person so long as such acquisition is permitted by Section 6.04.

Activities” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.02(b).

Adjusted LIBO Rate” shall mean, for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum equal to the higher of (a) the product of (i) the LIBOR Screen Rate in respect of U.S. Dollars for the applicable Class of Loans for such Interest Period multiplied by (ii) Statutory Reserves and (b) 1.00%.

Administrative Agent” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble to this Agreement.

Administrative Agent Fees” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05(a).

Administrative Questionnaire” shall mean an Administrative Questionnaire in the form of Exhibit A, or such other form as may be supplied from time to time by the Administrative Agent.

Affiliate” shall mean, when used with respect to a specified person, another person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the person specified.

Agent’s Group” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.02(b).

Agent Parties” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.01(c).

Agents” shall mean, collectively, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent.

Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

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Alternate Base Rate” shall mean, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the higher of (a) 1% plus the Adjusted LIBO Rate for a one-month Interest Period commencing two Business Days after such day, as determined on such day and (b) the higher of (i) the Prime Rate in effect on such day and (ii) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day plus 1/2 of 1%. If the Administrative Agent shall have determined (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that it is unable to ascertain the Federal Funds Effective Rate for any reason, including the inability or failure of the Administrative Agent to obtain sufficient quotations in accordance with the terms of the definition thereof, the Alternate Base Rate shall be determined without regard to clause (b)(ii) of the preceding sentence until the circumstances giving rise to such inability no longer exist. Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Adjusted LIBO Rate, Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate shall be effective on the effective date of such change in the Adjusted LIBO Rate, Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate, as the case may be.

Anti-Terrorism Laws” shall mean any laws, statutes, regulations and orders, and all applicable restrictions imposed by any Governmental Authority, relating to terrorism or money laundering, including the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, and each of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) and any other enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto, the Executive Order and the USA Patriot Act.

Anticorruption Laws” shall mean the FCPA and any other laws, rules and regulations of any applicable jurisdiction concerning or relating to bribery or corruption including but not limited to FCPA and the UK 2010 Bribery Act.

Applicable Percentage” shall mean, (a) in the case of ABR Loans, 5.25% per annum and (b) in the case of Eurodollar Loans, 6.25% per annum.

Applicable Prepayment Percentage” shall mean:

(a) in respect of any Prepayment Event that is an Asset Sale, 100%;

(b) in respect of any Prepayment Event that is a Debt Incurrence, 100%; or

(c) in respect of any prepayment based on Excess Cash Flow for any fiscal year, 50%; provided, however, that if as at the last day of any fiscal year, (i) the Net First Lien Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 2.00 to 1.00 but greater than 1.50 to 1.00, the Applicable Prepayment Percentage in respect of Excess Cash Flow for such fiscal year shall be 25% and (ii) if the Net First Lien Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 1.50 to 1.00, the Applicable Prepayment Percentage in respect of Excess Cash Flow for such fiscal year shall be 0%.

Arrangers” shall mean Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., BofA Securities, Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, each in its capacities as joint lead arrangers and joint lead bookrunners under this Agreement.

Article 55 BRRD” means Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU establishing a framework for the recovery and resolution of credit institutions and investment firms.

 

-3-


Asset Sale” shall mean the sale, transfer or other disposition (by way of merger, casualty, condemnation or otherwise, including any disposition of property to a Delaware Divided LLC pursuant to a Delaware LLC Division (or any comparable event under a different jurisdiction’s laws)) by Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries of (a) any Equity Interests of any of the Subsidiaries (other than directors’ qualifying shares) or (b) any other assets of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, other than (i) inventory, damaged, obsolete or worn out assets, and scrap, in each case disposed of in the ordinary course of business, and dispositions of Permitted Investments, (ii) sales, transfers and other dispositions between or among Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries, (iii) sales, transfers and other dispositions the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds of which are less than $15,000,000 with respect to any transaction or series of related transactions, (iv) sales and dispositions pursuant to Section 6.05(g), (v) leases, licenses, or subleases or sublicenses of any real or personal property in the ordinary course of business, (vi) abandonment of intellectual property of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary determined in good faith by the management of the Borrowers to be no longer useful or necessary in the operation of the business of Holdings and its Subsidiaries and (vii) so long as the Revolving Credit Agreement or any asset-based Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness or Revolving Substitute Facility (as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement) in respect thereof is in effect, any sale, transfer or other disposition of Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral (as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement).

Assignment and Acceptance” shall mean an assignment and acceptance entered into by a Lender and an assignee, and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit B or such other form as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent.

Availability” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Revolving Credit Agreement.

Bail-In Action” shall mean the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers.

Bail-In Legislation” shall mean (a) with respect to any EEA Member Country which has implemented, or which at any time implements, Article 55 BRRD, the relevant implementing law or regulation for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule or (b) in relation to any state other than such an EEA Member Country or (to the extent that the United Kingdom is not such an EEA Member Country) the United Kingdom, any analogous law or regulation from time to time which requires contractual recognition of any Write-down and Conversion Powers contained in that law or regulation.

Bankruptcy Claim” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(l).

Bankruptcy Code” shall mean Title 11 of the United States Code (11 U.S.C. §§ 101 et seq.), as amended.

Bankruptcy Laws” shall mean the Bankruptcy Code and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect.

 

-4-


Beneficial Ownership Certification” shall mean a certification regarding beneficial ownership required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

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 Internal Revenue 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 Internal Revenue Code) the assets of any such “employee benefit plan” or “plan”.

BHC Act Affiliate” of a party shall mean an “affiliate” (as such term is defined under, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 1841(k)) of such party.

Board” shall mean the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America.

Bona Fide Debt Fund” means any investment fund 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, notes, bonds and similar extensions of credit or securities in the ordinary course of its business, and whose managers (x) are not involved with equity investment decisions with respect to any of the persons identified in clause (i) and (ii) of the definition of the term “Disqualified Lenders” and (y) have no access to any information (other than information that is publicly available) relating to Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries.

Borrowers” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble to this Agreement.

Borrower Group” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.18.

Borrowing” shall mean Loans of the same Class and Type made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect.

Borrowing Agent” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.19.

Borrowing Minimum” shall mean $1,000,000.

Borrowing Multiple” shall mean $500,000.

Borrowing Request” shall mean a request by a Borrower (or the Borrowing Agent on behalf of a Borrower) in accordance with the terms of Section 2.03 and substantially in the form of Exhibit C, or such other form as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent.

Breakage Event” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.16.

Building” means a building or structure with at least two walls and a roof or any such building or structure in the course of construction.

 

-5-


Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or day on which banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to close; provided, however, that when used in connection with a Eurodollar Loan, the term “Business Day” shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open for dealings in deposits in such currency in the London interbank market.

Capital Expenditures” shall mean, for any period, (a) the additions to property, plant and equipment and other capital expenditures of Holdings and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries that are (or should be) set forth in a consolidated statement of cash flows of Holdings for such period prepared in accordance with GAAP and (b) Capital Lease Obligations or Synthetic Lease Obligations incurred by Holdings and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries during such period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Capital Expenditures shall not include (a) the purchase price of equipment that is purchased substantially contemporaneously with the trade-in of existing equipment to the extent that the gross amount of such purchase price is reduced by the credit granted by the seller of such equipment for the equipment being traded in at such time as the proceeds of such disposition, (b) the purchase of plant, property or equipment made within the Reinvestment Period in respect of any Asset Sale to the extent made with the Net Cash Proceeds of such Asset Sale, (c) expenditures of proceeds of insurance settlements, condemnation awards and other settlements in respect of lost, destroyed, damaged or condemned assets, equipment or other property to the extent such expenditures are made to replace or repair such lost, destroyed, damaged or condemned assets, equipment or other property or otherwise to acquire assets or properties useful in the business of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries within 365 days of receipt of such proceeds, (d) interest capitalized during such period, (e) expenditures that are accounted for as capital expenditures of such person and that actually are paid for by a third party (excluding Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof) and for which neither Holdings nor any Restricted Subsidiary thereof has provided, or is required to provide or incur, any consideration or obligation to such third party or any other person (whether before, during or after such period), (f) the book value of any asset owned by such person prior to or during such period to the extent that such book value is included as a Capital Expenditure during such period as a result of such person reusing or beginning to reuse such asset during such period without a corresponding expenditure actually having been made in such period; provided that any expenditure necessary in order to permit such asset to be reused shall be included as a Capital Expenditure during the period that such expenditure actually is made and such book value shall have been included in Capital Expenditures when such asset was originally acquired, or (g) expenditures that constitute Permitted Acquisitions or Acquisitions. For the avoidance of doubt, Capital Expenditure will be deemed to include the capitalized portion of pre-publication and pre-production costs.

Capital Lease” shall mean, as applied to any person, any lease of any property (whether real, personal or mixed) by such person as lessee, that, in conformity with GAAP, is or should be accounted for as a capital lease on the balance sheet of such person; provided that all obligations of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are or would be characterized as an operating lease as determined in accordance with GAAP as in effect on December 15, 2018 (whether or not such operating lease was in effect on such date) shall continue to be accounted for as an operating lease (and not as a Capital Lease) for purposes of this Agreement regardless of any change in GAAP following December 15, 2018 (or any change in the implementation in GAAP for future periods that are contemplated as of December 15, 2018) that would otherwise require such obligation to be recharacterized as a Capital Lease.

 

-6-


Capital Lease Obligations” of any person shall mean the obligations of such person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as Capital Leases on a balance sheet of such person under GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.

Change in Law” shall mean (a) the adoption of any law, rule or regulation after the date of this Agreement, (b) any change in any law, rule or regulation or in the interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority after the date of this Agreement or (c) compliance by any Lender (or, for purposes of Section 2.14, by any lending office of such Lender or by such Lender’s holding company, if any) with any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the date of this Agreement; provided that notwithstanding anything to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the rules and regulations with respect thereto, and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines and directions promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any similar or successor agency, or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case, pursuant to Basel III), shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date adopted or enacted.

Change of Control” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following:

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

(b) the consummation 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), in a single transaction or in a related series of transactions, by way of merger, consolidation or other business combination or purchase of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of Holdings or any of its direct or indirect parent companies holding directly or indirectly 100% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of Holdings;

(c) a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) of the board of directors of Holdings shall be occupied by individuals who are not Continuing Directors; or

(d) any Borrower ceases to be a wholly owned Subsidiary of Holdings (except in a transaction permitted under Section 6.05).

Charges” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.09.

 

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Class”, when used in reference to (a) any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is a Term Loan or New Term Loan and (b) when used in reference to any Commitment, refers to whether such Commitment is a Term Loan Commitment or a New Term Loan Commitment.

Closing Date” shall mean November 22, 2019.

Co-Managershall mean Citizens Bank, N.A. in its capacity as co-manager under this Agreement.

Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

Collateral” shall mean all the “Collateral” as defined in any Security Document and any other assets or property pledged or on which a Lien is granted pursuant to any Security Document and shall also include the Mortgaged Properties.

Collateral Agent” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble to this Agreement.

Commitment” shall mean, with respect to any Lender, such Lender’s Term Loan Commitment and New Commitment.

Communications” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.01.

Competitor” means a bona fide competitor of the Borrowers or any of their respective Subsidiaries, that is in a similar line of business as the Borrowers, as determined in good faith by the Borrowers.

Compliance Certificate” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.04(c).

Consolidated EBITDA” shall mean, for any period, Consolidated Net Income for such period, plus: (a) without duplication and to the extent deducted in determining such Consolidated Net Income, the sum of: (i) consolidated interest expense for such period; (ii) provisions for taxes based on income, profits or losses (determined on a consolidated basis) during such period; (iii) all amounts attributable to depreciation and amortization for such period; (iv) any extraordinary losses for such period; (v) any fees, expenses or charges for such period related to any equity offering, Investment, acquisition permitted hereunder, permitted disposition, recapitalization or the incurrence of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred hereunder including a refinancing thereof (in each case, whether or not successful) and any amendment or modification to the terms of any such transactions, deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income for such period; provided that the aggregate amount of such costs added back to Consolidated EBITDA shall not exceed $10,000,000 for any period of four consecutive quarters; (vi) any non-cash charges for such period (for the avoidance of doubt, including, but not limited to, purchase accounting adjustments, assets impairments and equity compensation charges); (vii) restructuring charges for such period relating to current or anticipated future cash expenditures, including restructuring costs related to closure or consolidation of facilities, and severance and other separation costs and post-retirement medical expenses in an aggregate

 

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amount not to exceed $10,000,000 for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters; (viii) [intentionally omitted]; (ix) other non-recurring charges for such period in an aggregate amount not to exceed $5,000,000 for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters (for the avoidance of doubt, including, but not limited to, acquisition related expenses, whether or not the acquisition was consummated); and (x) deferred financing fees (and any write-offs thereof); provided that to the extent not reflected in Consolidated Net Income for the period in which such cash payment is made, any cash payment made with respect to any non-cash charges added back in computing Consolidated EBITDA for any prior period pursuant to clause (v) above (or that would have been added back had this Agreement been in effect during such prior period) shall be subtracted in computing Consolidated EBITDA for the period in which such cash payment is made; and minus (b) without duplication and to the extent included in determining such Consolidated Net Income: (i) any extraordinary gains for such period; and (ii) any non-cash gains for such period (excluding any non-cash gain to the extent it represents the reversal of an accrual or reserve for a potential cash item that reduced Consolidated EBITDA in any prior period), in each case of clauses (a) and (b), all determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that Consolidated EBITDA for any period shall be calculated so as to exclude (without duplication of any adjustment referred to above) the effect of: (A) the cumulative effect of any changes in GAAP or accounting principles applied by management; (B) any gain or loss for such period that represents after-tax gains or losses attributable to any sale, transfer or other disposition or abandonment of assets by Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, other than dispositions or sales of inventory and other dispositions in the ordinary course of business; (C) any income or loss for such period attributable to the early extinguishment of Indebtedness or accounts payable; (D) any non-cash gains or losses on foreign currency derivatives and any foreign currency transaction non-cash gains or losses and any foreign currency exchange translation gains or losses that arise on consolidation of integrated operations; and (E) mark-to-market adjustments in the valuation of derivative obligations resulting from the application of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.

Consolidated First Lien Debt” shall mean, without duplication, as of any date of determination, (a) the aggregate principal amount of all Total Debt outstanding hereunder as of such date and all other outstanding Total Debt secured by Liens on the Collateral that are not junior in priority to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations as of such date minus (b) the aggregate amount of cash and Permitted Investments on the consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries on such date, excluding cash and Permitted Investments which are or should be listed as “restricted” on the consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date, but which amount shall not exceed $200,000,000 in the aggregate for the purposes of this definition (provided that such limitation shall not apply when determining the Applicable Prepayment Percentage). It is understood that (i) the aggregate principal amount of Total Debt outstanding under the Revolving Credit Agreement as of the applicable date of determination shall be included in clause (a) above, and (ii) when calculating the Net First Lien Leverage Ratio for the purposes of adding any New Revolving Loan Commitments under Section 2.24, the full amount of the commitments in respect of such New Revolving Loan Commitments shall be deemed to be outstanding.

 

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Consolidated Interest Expense” shall mean, for any period, the excess of (a) the sum of (i) the interest expense (including imputed interest expense in respect of Capital Lease Obligations and Synthetic Lease Obligations) of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period (net of cash interest income of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period), determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP plus (ii) any interest accrued during such period in respect of Indebtedness of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary that is required to be capitalized rather than included in consolidated interest expense for such period in accordance with GAAP, plus (iii) any cash payments made during such period in respect of obligations referred to in clause (b)(ii) below that were amortized or accrued in a previous period, minus (b) to the extent included in the amount determined pursuant to clause (a) above for such period, the sum of (i) non-cash amounts attributable to amortization of financing costs paid in a previous period, plus (ii) non-cash amounts attributable to amortization of debt discounts or accrued interest payable in kind for such period, plus (iii) non-cash adjustments attributed to the effects of recording debt at fair value. For purposes of the foregoing, interest expense shall be determined after giving effect to any net payments made or received by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to interest rate Hedging Agreements and without giving effect to the movement of mark-to-market valuation of obligations under Hedging Agreements or other derivative instruments pursuant to GAAP (for the avoidance of doubt, up-front payments made to enter into Hedging Agreements to provide interest rate protection will be spread over the period of the protection provided thereunder).

Consolidated Net Income” shall mean, for any period, the net income or loss of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that, without duplication, there shall be (x) other than for purposes of making calculations of the Applicable Prepayment Percentage or Net Total Leverage Ratio solely in connection with Sections 6.06(a) and 6.08(b), included an amount equal to the Owned Percentage of the income of any Majority-Owned Subsidiary that is consolidated with Holdings in accordance with GAAP and (y) excluded (a) the income of any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by the Restricted Subsidiary of that income is not at the time permitted by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to such Restricted Subsidiary, (b) the income or loss of any person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is merged into or consolidated with Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary or the date that such person’s assets are acquired by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, (c) the income of any person (other than any Majority-Owned Subsidiary) in which any other person (other than Holdings or a wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary or any director holding qualifying shares in accordance with applicable law) has a joint interest, except to the extent of the amount of dividends or other distributions actually paid to Holdings or a wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary by such person during such period, (d) any net after-tax gains or losses attributable to sales of assets out of the ordinary course of business (determined in good faith by the Borrowers), (e) any net after-tax extraordinary gains or extraordinary losses, (f) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles that occurs after the Closing Date, (g) any net after-tax income or loss from disposed, abandoned, closed or discontinued operations and any net after-tax gain or loss on disposal of disposed, abandoned, closed or discontinued operations, (h) any net after-tax income or loss (less all fees and expenses or charges relating thereto) attributable to the early extinguishment of Indebtedness, Hedging Agreements or other derivative instruments, (i) effects of purchase accounting adjustments in component amounts required or permitted by GAAP, resulting from the application of purchase accounting in relation to any acquisition permitted hereunder consummated after the Closing

 

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Date, (j) any non-cash expenses realized or resulting from stock option plans, employee benefit plans or post-employment benefit plans, or grants or sales of stock, stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock grants or other rights to officers, directors and employees of such person or any of its subsidiaries, (k) any accruals and reserves that are established within twelve months after the Closing Date and that are so required to be established in accordance with GAAP and (l) to the extent covered by insurance and actually reimbursed, or, so long as there exists reasonable evidence that such amount will in fact be reimbursed by the insurer and only to the extent that such amount is (i) not denied by the applicable carrier in writing within 180 days, and (ii) in fact reimbursed within 365 days of the date of such evidence (with a deduction for any amount so added back to the extent not so reimbursed within 365 days), expenses with respect to liability or casualty events or business interruption; provided that any proceeds of such reimbursement when received shall be excluded from the calculation of Consolidated Net Income to the extent the expense reimbursed was previously excluded pursuant to this clause (l).

Consolidated Secured Debt” shall mean, without duplication, as of any date of determination, (a) the aggregate principal amount of all Total Debt outstanding hereunder as of such date and all other outstanding Total Debt secured by Liens on any assets or property of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary minus (b) the aggregate amount of cash and Permitted Investments on the consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries on such date, excluding cash and Permitted Investments which are or should be listed as “restricted” on the consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date, but which amount shall not exceed $200,000,000 in the aggregate for the purposes of this definition (provided that such limitation shall not apply when determining the Applicable Prepayment Percentage). It is understood that, when calculating the Net First Lien Leverage Ratio for the purposes of adding New Revolving Loan Commitments, the full amount of the commitments in respect of such New Revolving Loan Commitments shall be deemed to be outstanding.

Consolidated Working Capital” shall mean, at any date, (a) the Current Assets minus (b) the Current Liabilities as of such date. Consolidated Working Capital at any time may be a positive or negative number. Consolidated Working Capital increases when it becomes more positive or less negative and decreases when it becomes less positive or more negative.

Continuing Directors” shall mean (i) the directors of Holdings on the Closing Date and (ii) each other director (A) whose election or nomination to the board of directors was approved by individuals referred to in clause (i) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of the board of directors or (B) whose election or nomination to the board was approved by individuals referred to in clause (i) and (ii)(A) above (or individuals previously approved under this clause (B)) constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of the board (in each case, with such approval either by a specific vote or by approval of Holdings’ proxy statement in which such member was named as a nominee for election as a director).

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 ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and the terms “Controlling” and “Controlled” shall have meanings correlative thereto.

 

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Convertible Bond Hedge Transactions” means any bond hedge, capped call or similar option transaction (including warrants) entered into in connection with the issuance of Convertible Bond Indebtedness.

Convertible Bond Indebtedness” means any notes, bonds, debentures or similar instruments issued by Holdings, the Borrowers or one of their Subsidiaries that are convertible into or exchangeable for (x) cash, (y) shares of Holdings’ common stock or preferred stock or other Equity Interests other than Disqualified Stock or (z) a combination thereof.

Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, in the case of any Convertible Bond Indebtedness for which the embedded conversion obligation must be settled by paying solely cash, so long as substantially concurrently with the offering of such Convertible Bond Indebtedness, Holdings, the Borrowers or a Subsidiary enters into a cash-settled Convertible Bond Hedge Transaction relating to such Convertible Bond Indebtedness, notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, for so long as such Convertible Bond Hedge Transaction (or a portion thereof corresponding to the amount of outstanding Convertible Bond Indebtedness) remains in effect, all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made as if the amount of Indebtedness represented by such Convertible Bond Indebtedness were equal to the face principal amount thereof without regard to any mark-to-market derivative accounting for such Indebtedness.

Copyrights” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

Corrective Extension Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.22(e).

Covered Entity” shall mean any of the following: (i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

Covered Party shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.26.

Cumulative Credit” means, at any time (the “Reference Date”), the sum (not less than zero) of (without duplication and determined on a cumulative basis):

(a) an amount equal to (i) the cumulative amount of Excess Cash Flow (which amount shall not be less than zero in any applicable Excess Cash Flow Period) of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the Cumulative Credit Reference Period (including the retained and not previously applied aggregate Excess Cash Flow accumulated for all fiscal years occurring during the term of the Existing Credit Agreement as of the Closing Date) minus (ii) the portion of such Excess Cash Flow that has been (or is required to be) applied to the prepayment of Loans in accordance with Section 2.13(d); plus

 

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(b) 100% of the aggregate amount of capital contributions and net cash proceeds from the sale or issuance of Equity Interests of Holdings permitted hereunder (other than any amounts constituting proceeds of issuances of Disqualified Stock) received by Holdings during the period from and including the Business Day immediately following the Closing Date through and including the Reference Date; plus

(c) 100% of the aggregate amount of Declined Proceeds received by Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries during the period from and including the Business Day immediately following the Closing Date through and including the Reference Date; plus

(d) an amount equal to any net cash returns (including dividends, interest, distributions, returns of principal, profits on sale, repayments, income and similar amounts) actually received by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of any Investments made pursuant to clause (ii) of Section 6.04(s); minus

(e) the aggregate amount of any Investments made pursuant to clause (ii) of Section 6.04(s), any Restricted Payment made pursuant to Section 6.06(a)(vi) and any distribution, payment, redemption, repurchase, retirement or acquisition of Subordinated Indebtedness made pursuant to subclause (I) of Section 6.08(b) during the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the Reference Date (and, for purposes of this clause (e), without taking account of the intended usage of the Cumulative Credit on such Reference Date in the contemplated transaction).

Cumulative Credit Reference Period” shall mean, with respect to any Reference Date, the period commencing January 1, 2016 and ending on the last day of the most recent fiscal year occurring thereafter for which financial statements required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.04(a), and the related Compliance Certificate required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.04(c), have been received by the Administrative Agent.

Current Assets” shall mean, at any time, the consolidated current assets (other than cash and Permitted Investments) of Holdings and the Subsidiaries.

Current Liabilities” shall mean, at any time, the consolidated current liabilities of Holdings and the Subsidiaries at such time, but excluding, the current portion of any long-term Indebtedness.

Debt Incurrence” shall mean any issuance or incurrence by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary of any Indebtedness, other than Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01.

Debt Service” shall mean, with respect to Holdings and the Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis for any fiscal year, Consolidated Interest Expense for such fiscal year plus the aggregate principal amount of Long-Term Indebtedness repaid or prepaid during such fiscal year, excluding (i) prepayments of (A) the Term Loan, (B) any Refinancing Debt or (C) any other Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of the Indebtedness incurred under this Agreement (in each case, whether optional or mandatory), (ii) repayments or prepayments of Long-Term Indebtedness deducted in calculating the amount of Net Cash Proceeds in connection with any Asset Sale and (iii) redemptions, purchases, repurchases or discharges of the Senior Notes or any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of the Senior Notes.

 

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Declined Proceeds” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.13(h).

Default” shall mean any Event of Default or any event or condition which upon notice, lapse of time or both would constitute an Event of Default.

Default Right” shall have the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

Defaulting Lender” shall mean, at any time, subject to Section 2.25(b), any Lender that (a) has failed to (i) fund all or any portion of its Loans within two Business Days of the date such Loans were required to be funded hereunder unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, or (ii) pay to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within two Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent in writing that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations hereunder, or has made a public statement to that effect (unless such writing or public statement relates to such Lender’s obligation to fund a Loan hereunder and states that such position is based on such Lender’s determination that a condition precedent to funding (which condition precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing or public statement) cannot be satisfied), (c) has failed, within three Business Days after written request by the Administrative Agent or the Borrowers, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder (provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers), (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law, (ii) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity or (iii) become the subject of a Bail-In Action; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any equity interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender, or (e) has defaulted on its funding obligations under any other loan agreement or credit agreement or other financing agreement. Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under any one or more of clauses (a) through (e) above shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.25(b)) upon delivery of written notice of such determination to the Borrowers and each Lender.

 

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Delaware Divided LLC” shall mean any Delaware LLC which has been formed upon consummation of a Delaware LLC Division.

Delaware LLC” shall mean any limited liability company organized or formed under the laws of the State of Delaware.

Delaware LLC Division” shall mean the statutory division of any Delaware LLC into two or more Delaware LLCs pursuant to Section 18-217 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act.

Designated Amount” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.11(a).

Designated Non-Cash Consideration” shall mean the fair market value of non-cash consideration received by Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with a disposition pursuant to Section 6.05(f) that is designated as Designated Non-Cash Consideration pursuant to a certificate of a Financial Officer, setting forth the basis of such valuation (which amount will be reduced by the fair market value of the portion of the non-cash consideration converted to cash or Permitted Investments in connection with a subsequent sale of such non-cash consideration within 270 days following the consummation of the applicable disposition).

Disqualified Lenders” shall mean (i) such Persons that have been specified in writing to the Initial Arrangers prior to the date on which the Initial Arrangers commenced marketing of the Term Loans to potential Lenders, (ii) Competitors that have been specified by name in writing to the Administrative Agent from time to time and (iii) in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), any of their Affiliates that are (A) specified by name in writing to the Administrative Agent from time to time or (B) reasonably identifiable on the basis of such Affiliate’s name (in each case, other than Affiliates that are Bona Fide Debt Funds); it being understood, that any subsequent designation of a Disqualified Lender shall not apply retroactively to disqualify any person that has been assigned any Loans or any participation therein in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

Disqualified Stock” shall mean any Equity Interest that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event, (a) matures (excluding any maturity as the result of an optional redemption by the issuer thereof) or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, or requires the payment of any cash dividend or any other scheduled payment constituting a return of capital, in each case at any time on or prior to the first anniversary of the Latest Maturity Date (as determined at the time of incurrence or issuance), or (b) is convertible into or exchangeable (unless at the sole option of the issuer thereof) for (i) debt securities or (ii) any Equity Interest referred to in clause (a) above, in each case at any time prior to the first anniversary of the Latest Maturity Date (as determined at the time of incurrence or issuance).

Domestic Subsidiaries” shall mean all Subsidiaries incorporated or organized under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia.

 

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EEA Financial Institution” shall mean (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” shall mean any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

EEA Resolution Authority” shall mean any public administrative authority or any person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.

Eligible Assignee” shall mean any commercial bank, insurance company, investment or mutual fund, financial institution or other entity that is an “accredited investor” (as defined in Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) that extends credit or invests in bank loans in the ordinary course; provided that no natural person (or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated by or for the primary benefit of, natural persons) and none of the Borrowers, Disqualified Lenders, Defaulting Lenders or Potential Defaulting Lenders or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Defaulting Lenders or Potential Defaulting Lenders shall be an Eligible Assignee.

Employee Benefit Plan” shall mean any “employee benefit plan” as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA (whether or not subject to ERISA) which is sponsored, maintained or contributed to by, or required to be contributed by, the Company, any of its subsidiaries or its ERISA Affiliates and is subject to Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Employee Equity Sales” shall mean the issuance or sale of Equity Interests of Holdings after the Closing Date to any present or former officer or employee of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary.

Environmental Laws” shall mean all applicable former, current and future Federal, state, local and foreign laws (including common law), treaties, regulations, rules, ordinances, codes, decrees, judgments, directives, orders (including consent orders), and agreements in each case, relating to protection of the environment, natural resources, human health and safety (as it relates to exposure to Hazardous Materials) or the presence, Release of, or exposure to, Hazardous Materials, or the generation, manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, transport, recycling or handling of, or the arrangement for such activities with respect to, Hazardous Materials.

Environmental Liability” shall mean all liabilities, obligations, damages, losses, claims, actions, suits, judgments, orders, fines, penalties, fees, expenses and costs (including administrative oversight costs, natural resource damages and remediation costs), whether contingent or otherwise, arising out of or relating to (a) compliance or non-compliance with any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials Released into the environment, (d) the Release of any Hazardous Materials or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

 

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Equity Interests” shall mean shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity interests in any person, and any option, warrant or other right entitling the holder thereof to purchase or otherwise acquire any such equity interest; provided, however, that Convertible Bond Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01 and Convertible Bond Hedge Transactions entered into as a part of, or in connection with, an issuance of such Convertible Bond Indebtedness shall in no event be deemed an Equity Interest hereunder.

ERISA” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as the same may be amended from time to time.

ERISA Affiliate” shall mean any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with a Borrower, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code, or solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

ERISA Event” shall mean (a) any “reportable event”, as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder, with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the 30 day notice period is waived), (b) any failure by any Plan to satisfy the minimum funding standard (within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA) applicable to such Plan, in each case whether or not waived, (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(c) of the Code or Section 302(c) of ERISA, of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan, (d) a determination that any Plan is, or is expected to be, in “at risk” status (as defined in Section 303(i)(4) of ERISA or Section 430(i)(4) of the Code), (e) the incurrence by a Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan or the withdrawal or partial withdrawal of a Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan, (f) the receipt by a Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to the intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan, (g) the receipt by a Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from a Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any notice, concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA or, is in endangered or critical status, within the meaning of Section 305 of ERISA, (h) the occurrence of a “prohibited transaction” with respect to which the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries is a “disqualified person” (within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code) or with respect to which the Borrower or any such Restricted Subsidiary could otherwise be liable, (i) any Foreign Benefit Event or (j) any other event or condition with respect to any Plan, Multiemployer Plan or Foreign Pension Plan that could result in the imposition of a Lien or the acceleration of any statutory obligation to fund any material unfunded accrued benefit liability of such Plan, Multiemployer Plan or Foreign Pension Plan.

 

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EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule” shall mean the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person), as in effect from time to time.

Eurodollar” when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate.

Event of Default” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Article VII.

Excess Cash Flow” shall mean, with respect to Holdings and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for any fiscal year, Consolidated EBITDA for such fiscal year, minus (to the extent not otherwise deducted in determining Consolidated EBITDA) without duplication, (a) Debt Service for such fiscal year, (b)(i) Capital Expenditures by Holdings and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis during such fiscal year that are paid in cash and (ii) the aggregate consideration paid in cash during such fiscal year in respect of Permitted Acquisitions and other Investments permitted hereunder (other than Permitted Investments, Investments in a Subsidiary and Investments permitted by clause (d), (f), (i), (j) or (k) of Section 6.04) less any amounts received in respect thereof as a return of capital, (c) taxes paid in cash by Holdings and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis during such fiscal year including income tax expense and withholding tax expense incurred in connection with cross-border transactions involving its Foreign Subsidiaries, (d) an amount equal to any increase in Consolidated Working Capital of Holdings and the Subsidiaries for such fiscal year, (e) cash expenditures made in respect of Hedging Agreements during such fiscal year, to the extent not reflected in the computation of Consolidated Interest Expense, (f) Restricted Payments paid in cash by Holdings during such fiscal year pursuant to clause (i) of Section 6.06(a), (g)(i) special charges or any extraordinary or nonrecurring losses paid in cash during such fiscal year, (ii) severance and other separation costs and any post-retirement medical expenses, (iii) costs associated with facility closures or vacancies for such fiscal year and (iv) payments made in cash in respect of pension plans of Holdings and its Subsidiaries and (h) items described in clauses (a)(v), (vi), (vii) and (ix) of the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA” to the extent included in the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA for such fiscal year and to the extent paid in cash during such fiscal year; plus, without duplication, (1) an amount equal to any decrease in Consolidated Working Capital for such fiscal year, (2) all proceeds received during such fiscal year in respect of Long-Term Indebtedness, and any financing of any type (including from the reinvestment of proceeds of Asset Sales), in each case to the extent used to finance any Debt Service, Capital Expenditure, Permitted Acquisitions or Investment referred to in clauses (a) through (g) above, (3) all amounts referred to in clause (b) above to the extent funded with the proceeds of the issuance of Equity Interests of, or capital contributions to, Holdings, (4) cash payments received in respect of Hedging Agreements during such fiscal year to the extent (A) not included in the computation of Consolidated EBITDA or (B) reducing Consolidated Interest Expense, (5) any extraordinary or nonrecurring gain realized in cash during such Excess Cash Flow Period (other than in connection with a Prepayment Event), and (6) to the extent deducted in the computation of Consolidated EBITDA, interest income.

 

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Excess Cash Flow Period” shall mean, at any date, (i) the period taken as one accounting period beginning on January 1, 2020 and ending on December 31, 2020 and (ii) each fiscal year of Holdings thereafter.

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

Excluded Accounts” shall mean (a) payroll accounts, employee benefit accounts, withholding tax and other fiduciary accounts, escrow accounts in respect of arrangements with non-affiliated third parties, customs accounts, cash collateral accounts subject to Liens permitted under the Loan Documents and accounts held by non-Loan Parties and (b) such other deposit accounts and other bank or securities accounts held by Loan Parties the balance of all of which is less than $10,000,000 in the aggregate at any time.

Excluded Assets” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

Excluded Subsidiary” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(a).

Excluded Taxes” shall mean, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of a Borrower hereunder, (a) Taxes imposed on (or measured) by its net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case imposed (i) by the United States of America, (ii) by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable lending office is located or (iii) as a result of a present or former connection between such recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof), (b) in the case of a Lender, any U.S. federal withholding tax that is imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender at the time such Lender becomes a party to this Agreement (or designates a new lending office), except to the extent that such Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new lending office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from the Borrowers with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to Sections 2.20(a), (c) Taxes attributable to the Lender’s failure to comply with Sections 2.20(f) and (g) and (d) any Taxes imposed under FATCA.

Executive Order” shall mean Executive Order No. 13224 on Terrorist Financing, effective on September 24, 2001.

Existing Credit Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preliminary statements to this Agreement.

Existing Revolving Credit Agreement” shall mean the Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of July 22, 2015, among Holdings, the Borrowers, Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent and the other parties thereto, as amended to the date hereof.

Existing Term Loan Class” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.22(a).

 

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Extended Term Loans” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.22(a).

Extending Lender” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.22(b).

Extension Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.22(c).

Extension Date” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.22(d).

Extension Election” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.22(b).

Extension Series” shall mean all Extended Term Loans that are established pursuant to the same Extension Agreement (or any subsequent Extension Agreement to the extent such Extension Agreement expressly provides that the Extended Term Loans provided for therein are intended to be a part of any previously established Extension Series) and that provide for the same interest margins, extension fees, if any, and amortization schedule.

FATCA” shall mean Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with) and any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code, any applicable intergovernmental agreements with respect thereto and laws enacting such intergovernmental agreements between the United States and any other jurisdiction to implement Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code (an “IGA”), and any law, regulation or other official guidance enacted in any jurisdiction implementing Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code or an IGA.

FCPA” shall mean the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

Federal Funds Effective Rate” shall mean, for any day, the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the average of the quotations for the day for such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the “Federal Funds Effective Rate” shall never be less than zero.

Fee Letter” shall mean, with respect to any Agent, the applicable fee letter then in effect between such Agent and Holdings.

Fees” shall mean the Administrative Agent Fees and the Other Fees.

FEMA” means the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Financial Officer” of any person shall mean the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or controller of such person.

 

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Fixed Amounts” has the meaning specified in Section 1.09.

Flood Compliance Event” means the occurrence of any of the following: (a) a Flood Redesignation with respect to any Mortgaged Property (if any), (b) any increase to the Commitments pursuant to Section 2.24 at any time there is a Mortgaged Property (if any), and (c) the addition of any Mortgaged Property as Collateral pursuant to Section 5.12.

Flood Hazard Determination” means a “Life-of-Loan” FEMA Standard Flood Hazard Determination obtained by Agent.

Flood Hazard Property” means any Mortgaged Property that on the relevant date of determination includes a Building and, as shown on a Flood Hazard Determination, such Building is located in a Special Flood Hazard Area.

Flood Insurance” means (a) federally-backed flood insurance which insures both Flood Hazard Properties and the personal property contained within them (to the extent such personal property is Collateral) and which is available under the National Flood Insurance Program to owners of real property improvements located in Special Flood Hazard Areas in a community participating in the National Flood Insurance Program or (b) to the extent permitted by the Flood Insurance Laws, a private flood insurance policy from a financially sound and reputable insurance company that is not an Affiliate of the Borrowers and which insures both Flood Hazard Properties and the personal property contained within them (to the extent such personal property is Collateral).

Flood Insurance Documents” means (a) evidence as to whether each Mortgaged Property is a Flood Hazard Property pursuant to a Flood Hazard Determination, and (b) if such Mortgaged Property is a Flood Hazard Property, (i) evidence as to whether the community in which such Mortgaged Property is located is participating in the National Flood Insurance Program, (ii) the applicable Loan Party’s written acknowledgment of receipt of written notification from the Administrative Agent as to the fact that such Mortgaged Property is a Flood Hazard Property and as to whether the community in which each such Flood Hazard Property is located is participating in the National Flood Insurance Program and (iii) copies of the applicable Loan Party’s application for a Flood Insurance policy plus proof of premium payment, a declaration page confirming that Flood Insurance has been issued, or such other evidence of Flood Insurance, in an amount equal to at least the amount required by the Flood Insurance Laws and naming the Collateral Agent as sole loss payee and mortgagee on behalf of the Secured Parties, and otherwise including terms satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and each Lender.

Flood Insurance Laws” shall mean, collectively, (i) the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto, (ii) the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statue thereto, (iii) the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto and (iv) the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto.

 

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Flood Redesignation” means the designation of any Mortgaged Property as a Flood Hazard Property where such property was not a Flood Hazard Property previous to such designation.

Foreign Benefit Event” shall mean, with respect to any Foreign Pension Plan, (a) the existence of unfunded liabilities in excess of the amount permitted under any applicable law, or in excess of the amount that would be permitted absent a waiver from a Governmental Authority, (b) the failure to make the required contributions or payments, under any applicable law, on or before the due date for such contributions or payments, (c) the receipt of a notice by a Governmental Authority relating to the intention to terminate any such Foreign Pension Plan or to appoint a trustee or similar official to administer any such Foreign Pension Plan, or alleging the insolvency of any such Foreign Pension Plan, (d) the incurrence of any liability in excess of $5,000,000 by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary under applicable law on account of the complete or partial termination of such Foreign Pension Plan or the complete or partial withdrawal of any participating employer therein, or (e) the occurrence of any transaction that is prohibited under any applicable law and that could reasonably be expected to result in the incurrence of any liability by Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, or the imposition on Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries of any fine, excise tax or penalty resulting from any noncompliance with any applicable law, in each case in excess of $5,000,000.

Foreign Lender” shall mean any Lender that is not a U.S. Person.

Foreign Pension Plan” shall mean any defined benefit pension plan maintained outside the jurisdiction of the United States that is maintained or contributed to by Holdings, any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate and that under applicable law is required to be funded through a trust or other funding vehicle other than a trust or funding vehicle maintained exclusively by a Governmental Authority.

Foreign Subsidiary” shall mean any Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

GAAP” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles. References to GAAP shall mean GAAP in the United States, unless otherwise expressly provided.

Governmental Authority” shall mean any Federal, state, local or foreign court or governmental agency, authority, instrumentality or regulatory body.

Granting Lender” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(i).

Guarantee” of or by any person shall mean any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other monetary obligation of any other person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such person, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment of such Indebtedness or other obligation, (b) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation of the payment of such Indebtedness or other obligation or (c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation; provided, however, that the term “Guarantee” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.

 

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Guarantee and Collateral Agreement” shall mean the Second Amended and Restated Term Facility Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit D, among the Loan Parties party thereto and the Collateral Agent.

Guarantors” shall mean Holdings and the Subsidiary Guarantors.

Hazardous Materials” shall mean (a) any petroleum products or byproducts and all other hydrocarbons, coal ash, radon gas, asbestos, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, polychlorinated biphenyls, chlorofluorocarbons and all other ozone-depleting substances and (b) any chemical, material, substance or waste that is prohibited, limited or regulated by or pursuant to any Environmental Law.

Hedging Agreement” 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 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; provided, that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of Holdings, any Restricted Subsidiaries or any of their Affiliates shall be a Hedging Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent entered into in connection with Convertible Bond Indebtedness, Convertible Bond Hedge Transactions shall not constitute Hedging Agreements.

HMCo” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble to this Agreement.

HMHP” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble to this Agreement.

Holdings” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble to this Agreement.

IGA” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the definition of “FATCA”.

 

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Immaterial Subsidiary” shall mean, at any date of determination, any Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings (a) whose total assets (when combined with the assets of such Restricted Subsidiary’s Subsidiaries, after eliminating intercompany obligations) are an amount equal to or less than 5% of the consolidated total assets of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such date and (b) whose gross revenues (when combined with the revenues of such Restricted Subsidiary’s Subsidiaries, after eliminating intercompany obligations) are an amount equal to or less than 5% of the consolidated gross revenues of Holdings, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP.

Incremental Amount shall mean, at any time, the sum of:

(a) the excess (if any) of (i) $125,000,000 minus (ii) the sum of (x) the aggregate amount of all New Commitments established after the Closing Date and prior to such time pursuant to Section 2.24 utilizing this clause (a) and (y) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding pursuant to Section 6.01(x) at such time; plus

(b) an additional amount of Indebtedness, such that, after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, the Net First Lien Leverage Ratio is not greater than 2.25 : 1.00; plus

(c) an additional amount of Indebtedness equal to the aggregate principal amount of any voluntary prepayments of any Term Loans or other Loans made pursuant to Section 2.12 (in the case of any New Revolving Loans, solely to the extent accompanied by a permanent reduction of the applicable New Revolving Loan Commitments in the amount of such prepayment);

provided, that for purposes of calculating “Net First Lien Leverage Ratio”, in clause (b), (i) to the extent the proceeds of New Loans are intended to be applied to finance a Limited Condition Transaction, at the election of the Borrowers, the Net First Lien Leverage Ratio shall instead be tested in accordance with Section 1.06 and (ii) all New Loans, New Commitments and “New Revolving Credit Commitments” (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement) established on or prior to such date shall be assumed to be fully drawn for purposes of the calculation of “Net First Lien Leverage Ratio” (without any duplication).

In determining the Incremental Amount, the Borrowers may, at any time, in their sole discretion, reclassify any amount incurred under clause (a) above, as having been incurred under clause (b) above, if the Borrowers meet the applicable ratio for clause (b) at such time on a pro forma basis in accordance with Section 1.03.

Incremental Facility Joinder Agreement” shall mean an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit G, among the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent and any existing Lender or one or more New Term Loan Lenders in respect of any New Term Loan Commitment or one or more New Revolving Loan Lenders in respect of any New Revolving Loan Commitment.

Incurrence Based Amounts” has the meaning specified in Section 1.09.

Indebtedness” of any person shall mean, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property or assets purchased by such person, (d) all

 

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obligations of such person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding earnouts (unless such earnout is not paid after it becomes due and payable in accordance with the terms thereof), trade accounts payable and accrued obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business), (e) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such person, whether or not the obligations secured thereby have been assumed, (f) all Guarantees by such person of Indebtedness of others, (g) Capital Lease Obligations and Synthetic Lease Obligations of such person, (h) all obligations of such person (including contingent obligations) as an account party in respect of letters of credit, (i) all obligations of such person in respect of bankers’ acceptances, (j) all net payments that such person would have to make in the event of any early termination, on the date Indebtedness is being determined, in respect of outstanding Hedging Agreements, and (k) all obligations of such person in respect of Disqualified Stock. The Indebtedness of any person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership in which such person is a general partner to the extent such person is liable therefor as a result of such person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such partnership, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness expressly provide that such person is not liable therefor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness will be deemed not to include obligations under, or in respect of Qualified Capital Stock.

Indemnified Costs” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.05.

Indemnified Taxes” shall mean (a) Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrowers under any Loan Document and (b) to the extent not described in (a), Other Taxes.

Indemnitee” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.05.

Information shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.16.

Initial Arrangers” shall mean Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc.

Intellectual Property” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

Intercreditor Agreements” shall mean, collectively, (a) the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, (b) the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement, (c) to the extent executed in connection with the incurrence of Indebtedness incurred by a Loan Party secured with Permitted Pari Passu Collateral Liens, a customary intercreditor agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, which agreement shall provide that the Liens on the Collateral securing such Indebtedness shall rank equal in priority to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations, and (d) to the extent executed in connection with the incurrence of secured Indebtedness incurred by a Loan Party, the Liens on the Collateral which is intended to rank junior in priority to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations, any customary intercreditor agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, which agreement shall provide that the Liens on the Collateral securing such Indebtedness shall rank junior in priority to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations, as the context requires.

 

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Interest Payment Date” shall mean (a) with respect to any ABR Loan, the last Business Day of each calendar month, commencing with the last Business Day of December, 2019 and (b) with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three months’ duration, each day that would have been an Interest Payment Date had successive Interest Periods of three months’ duration been applicable to such Borrowing.

Interest Period” shall mean, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day (or, if there is no numerically corresponding day, on the last day) in the calendar month that is 1, 2, 3 or 6 months thereafter (or, if made available by all participating Lenders, 12 months, or, if made available by the Administrative Agent and all participating Lenders, a shorter period), as a Borrower may elect; provided, however, that (a) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day and (b) any Interest Period that commences on the last day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period. Interest shall accrue from and including the first day of an Interest Period to but excluding the last day of such Interest Period. For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.

Investments” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.04.

IRS” shall mean the Internal Revenue Service of the United States.

Joint Venture” shall mean any Person in which Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries beneficially own any Equity Interest that is not a wholly owned Subsidiary.

Latest Maturity Date” shall mean, at any date of determination, the latest maturity or expiration date applicable to any Loan or Commitment hereunder at such date.

LCT Election” means the Borrowers’ election to designate an Acquisition, or similar material Investment, or an irrevocable repayment or repurchase of Indebtedness, as a Limited Condition Transaction, pursuant to the terms hereof.

LCT Test Date” means, for any Limited Condition Transaction, (x) the date on which the definitive agreement is entered into (or notice of irrevocable repayment or repurchase is given), or (y) solely in connection with an acquisition to which the United Kingdom City Code on Takeovers and Mergers applies (or similar law in another jurisdiction), the date on which a “Rule 2.7 announcement” of a firm intention to make an offer (or equivalent announcement in another jurisdiction) in respect of a target of such acquisition (a “Public Offer”).

 

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Lender Appointment Period” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.07.

Lenders” shall mean Term Lenders, any New Term Loan Lenders, if any, any New Revolving Loan Lenders, if any, and any Extending Lenders, if any.

Letter of Credit” shall mean any letter of credit issued pursuant to the Revolving Credit Agreement.

LIBO Rate” shall mean, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) to be equal to the rate that results from interpolating on a linear basis between: (a) the LIBOR Screen Rate for the longest period (for which the LIBOR Screen Rate is available for the applicable currency) that is shorter than such Interest Period and (b) the LIBOR Screen Rate for the shortest period (for which the LIBOR Screen Rate is available for the applicable currency) that exceeds such Interest Period, in each case, at such time.

LIBOR Screen Rate” shall mean, for any period, the rate per annum determined on the basis of the rate for deposits in U.S. Dollars for a period equal to such period commencing on the first day of such period appearing on Reuters Screen Libor01 Page as of 11:00 A.M., London time, two Business Days prior to the beginning of such period. In the event that such rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the “LIBOR Screen Rate” shall be a rate per annum equal to the “LIBO Rate”.

LIBOR Successor Rate” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.08.

LIBOR Successor Rate Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any proposed LIBOR Successor Rate, any conforming changes to the definition of “Adjusted LIBO Rate”, “Alternate Base Rate”, “Interest Period”, timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest and other administrative matters as may be appropriate, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent in consultation with the Borrowers, to reflect the adoption of such LIBOR Successor Rate and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent determines that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or that no market practice for the administration of such LIBOR Successor Rate exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent determines in consultation with the Borrowers).

License” shall mean any license or agreement under which a Loan Party is authorized to use Intellectual Property in connection with any manufacture, marketing, distribution or disposition of Collateral or any other conduct of its business.

Lien” shall mean, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, encumbrance, charge or security interest in or on such asset, (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset and (c) in the case of securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such securities.

 

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Limited Condition Transaction” means (a) any Acquisition or similar material Investment, the consummation of which is not conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third party financing or (b) any redemption or repayment of Indebtedness requiring irrevocable advance notice or any irrevocable offer to purchase Indebtedness that is not subject to obtaining third party financing.

Loan Document Obligations” shall mean the due and punctual payment of (i) the principal of and interest (including interest accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, examination, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding) on the Loans, when and as due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, upon one or more dates set for prepayment or otherwise, (ii) all other monetary obligations of the Borrowers to any of the Secured Parties under this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents, including fees, costs, expenses and indemnities, whether primary, secondary, direct, contingent, fixed or otherwise (including monetary obligations incurred during the pendency of any bankruptcy, examination, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), (iii) the due and punctual performance of all other obligations of the Borrowers under or pursuant to this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents, and (iv) the due and punctual payment and performance of all the obligations of each Loan Party under or pursuant to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents.

Loan Documents” shall mean this Agreement, the Security Documents, the Incremental Facility Joinder Agreements, the Extension Agreements, if any, the promissory notes, if any, executed and delivered pursuant to Section 2.04(e) and the Fee Letters (except, with respect to any Fee Letter, for the purposes of Section 9.08).

Loan Parties” shall mean the Borrowers and the Guarantors.

Loans” shall mean the Term Loan, any New Loans and any Extended Term Loans, if any.

Local Time” shall mean with respect to a Loan or Borrowing, New York City time.

Long-Term Indebtedness” shall mean any Indebtedness that, in accordance with GAAP, constitutes (or, when incurred, constituted) a long-term liability.

Majority-Owned Subsidiary” shall mean a Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings of which securities (except for directors’ qualifying shares) or other ownership interests representing a majority of the aggregate outstanding Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary are, at the time any determination is being made, owned, Controlled or held by Holdings or one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries of Holdings or by Holdings and one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries of Holdings.

Margin Stock” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Regulation U.

 

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Master Agreement” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of the term “Hedging Agreement.”

Material Adverse Effect” shall mean (a) a materially adverse effect on the business, assets, properties, results of operations or financial condition of Holdings and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (b) a material impairment of the ability of any Borrower or any other Loan Party to perform any of its obligations under any Loan Document to which it is or will be a party or (c) a material impairment of the rights and remedies of or benefits available to the Lenders under any Loan Document.

Material Indebtedness” shall mean Indebtedness (other than the Loans), or obligations in respect of one or more Hedging Agreements, of any one or more of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $35,000,000. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the “principal amount” of the obligations of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of any Hedging Agreement at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary would be required to pay if such Hedging Agreement were terminated at such time.

Material Real Property” shall mean any parcel of owned real property with a fair market value of at least $5,000,000.

Maximum Rate” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.09.

Moody’s” shall mean Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., or any successor thereto.

Mortgage Amendments” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.01(k).

Mortgaged Properties” shall mean, initially, the owned real properties of the relevant Loan Parties specified on Schedule 1.01(a), and shall include each other parcel of owned real property and improvements thereto with respect to which a Mortgage is granted pursuant to Section 5.12.

Mortgages” shall mean (a) the existing mortgages or deeds of trust encumbering the Mortgaged Properties under the Existing Credit Agreement, each as amended and restated by the applicable Mortgage Amendment and (b) with respect to mortgages required to be delivered hereafter pursuant to Section 5.12, the mortgages, charges, deeds of trust, assignments of leases and rents and other security documents, substantially in the form of Exhibit F (with such changes as may be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel in order to account for local law matters) and otherwise pursuant to this Agreement.

Multiemployer Plan” shall mean a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA that is maintained or contributed to by Holdings, any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate.

National Flood Insurance Program” means the program created pursuant to the Flood Insurance Laws.

 

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Net Cash Proceeds” shall mean (a) with respect to any Asset Sale, the cash proceeds (including cash proceeds subsequently received (as and when received) in respect of non-cash consideration initially received), net of (i) selling expenses (including reasonable broker’s fees or commissions, legal fees, transfer and similar taxes and the Borrowers’ good faith estimate of income taxes paid or payable in connection with such sale), (ii) amounts provided as a reserve, in accordance with GAAP, against any liabilities under any indemnification obligations or purchase price adjustment associated with such Asset Sale (provided that, to the extent and at the time any such amounts are released from such reserve, such amounts shall constitute Net Cash Proceeds) and (iii) the principal amount, premium or penalty, if any, interest and other amounts on any Indebtedness for borrowed money which is secured by the asset sold in such Asset Sale and which is required to be repaid with such proceeds (other than the Obligations, or any such Indebtedness assumed by the purchaser of such asset) and (b) with respect to any issuance or incurrence of Indebtedness or other event, the cash proceeds thereof, net of all taxes and customary fees, commissions, costs and other expenses incurred in connection therewith.

Net First Lien Leverage Ratio” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated First Lien Debt as of the last day of the test period most recently ended on or prior to such date of determination to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for such test period. In any test period in which a transaction described in Section 1.03 occurs, the Net First Lien Leverage Ratio shall be determined on a pro forma basis in accordance with Section 1.03.

Net Secured Leverage Ratio” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Secured Debt as of the last day of the test period most recently ended on or prior to such date of determination to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for such test period. In any test period in which a transaction described in Section 1.03 occurs, the Net Secured Leverage Ratio shall be determined on a pro forma basis in accordance with Section 1.03.

Net Short Lender” shall have the meaning provided in Section 9.08(c).

Net Total Leverage Ratio” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Total Debt minus the aggregate amount of cash and Permitted Investments on the consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries on such date, excluding cash and Permitted Investments which are or should be listed as “restricted” on the consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date as of the last day of the test period most recently ended on or prior to such date of determination to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for such test period. In any test period in which a transaction described in Section 1.03 occurs, the Net Total Leverage Ratio shall be determined on a pro forma basis in accordance with Section 1.03.

New Commitment” shall mean New Revolving Loan Commitment or New Term Loan Commitment, as applicable.

New Loan” shall mean New Revolving Loan or New Term Loan, as applicable.

New Loan Date” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.24.

 

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New Revolving Loan Commitment” shall mean, with respect to each New Revolving Loan Lender, any revolving commitment provided by such New Revolving Loan Lender pursuant to Section 2.24, or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Lender assumed its New Revolving Loan Commitment, as applicable.

New Revolving Loan Lender” shall mean a Lender with a New Revolving Loan Commitment.

New Revolving Loans” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.24.

New Term Loan Commitment” shall mean, with respect to each New Term Loan Lender, any Term Loan Commitment provided by such New Term Loan Lender pursuant to Section 2.24, or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Lender assumed its New Term Loan Commitment, as applicable, as the same may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.09 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such New Term Loan Lender pursuant to Section 9.04.

New Term Loan Lender” shall mean a Lender with a New Term Loan Commitment.

New Term Loans” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.24.

Non-Defaulting Lender” shall mean, at any time, each Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender or a Potential Defaulting Lender at such time.

Non-Loan Party Asset Sale” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.13(j).

Not for Profit Subsidiaries” shall mean, collectively, = Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Foundation, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and any other Subsidiary of Holdings that is exempt from U.S. federal income taxation under Section 501(a) of the Code.

Obligations” shall mean (a) the Loan Document Obligations and (b) the Other Secured Obligations.

OFAC” shall mean the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State.

OID” shall mean original issue discount, as defined in Section 1273 of the Code.

Other Fees” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05(a).

Other Pari Passu Secured Obligations” shall mean Other Secured Obligations designated as Other Pari Passu Secured Obligations in accordance with Section 8.11.

Other Secured Agreement” shall mean, to the extent designated as such by the Borrowers and each applicable Other Secured Party in writing to the Administrative Agent from time to time in accordance with Section 8.11, any agreement evidencing obligations owing by any Loan Party under (a) any Hedging Agreement entered into by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries with any Person that at the time of entering into such Hedging Agreement is a

 

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Lender, Arranger or Agent, or an Affiliate of a Lender, Arranger or Agent or (b) any cash management services arrangement entered into by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries with any Person that at the time of entering into such arrangement is a Lender, Arranger or Agent, or an Affiliate of a Lender, Arranger or Agent.

Other Secured Obligations” shall mean the due and punctual payment and performance of all obligations of each Loan Party under each Other Secured Agreement designated as such in accordance with Section 8.11, excluding, in each case, any Excluded Swap Obligations (as defined in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement).

Other Secured Party” shall mean a Person that (a) is a party to an Other Secured Agreement and (b) at the time of entering into such Other Secured Agreement, is a Lender, Arranger or Agent, or an Affiliate of a Lender, Arranger or Agent; provided that, so long as any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, such Lender will not be an Other Secured Party with respect to any Other Secured Agreement entered into while such Lender was a Defaulting Lender.

Other Connection Taxes” means, with respect to any recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).

Other Taxes” shall mean any and all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes arising from any payment made under any Loan Document or from the execution, performance, delivery, registration or enforcement of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment between such recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax ((other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 2.21(b)).

Owned Percentage” shall mean, with respect to any Majority-Owned Subsidiary, the percentage of Equity Interests in such Majority-Owned Subsidiary owned by Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement” shall mean the First Lien Pari Passu Term Debt Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among the Agents, the collateral agent in respect of the Senior Notes and the other parties thereto, substantially in the form of Exhibit J, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the requirements thereof and of this Agreement, and which shall also include any replacement intercreditor agreement entered into in accordance with the terms hereof.

Participant Register” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(f).

Patents” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

 

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PBGC” shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA.

Perfection Certificate” shall mean a Perfection Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

Permitted Acquisition” shall mean the acquisition by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary of all or substantially all the assets of a person or line of business of such person, or not less than 100% of the Equity Interests (other than directors’ qualifying shares) not previously held by Holdings and its Subsidiaries of a person (referred to herein as the “Acquired Entity”); provided that (a) the Acquired Entity shall be in a engaged in a Permitted Business; (b) at the time of such transaction, both before and after giving effect thereto, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; (c) the aggregate amount of Investments made after the Closing Date pursuant to Section 6.04(e) by the Loan Parties in Persons that are not Loan Parties or do not become Loan Parties upon consummation of such acquisition (valued at the time made and without regard to any write-downs or write-offs of such Investments) shall not exceed the greater of $100,000,000 and 31% of the Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended four consecutive fiscal quarter period for which financial statements are required to have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.04(b); (d) Holdings shall have delivered a certificate of a Financial Officer, certifying as to the foregoing and containing reasonably detailed calculations in support thereof, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; and (e) all persons which are Domestic Subsidiaries in which Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary shall hold any Investment as a result of such acquisition shall become a Subsidiary Guarantor and shall comply with the applicable provisions of Section 5.12 and the Security Documents.

Permitted Business” means (a) any business or business activity conducted by the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries on the Closing Date and (b) any other business that is a natural outgrowth or reasonable extension, development or expansion of any such business or any business similar, reasonably related, incidental, complementary or ancillary to any of the foregoing.

Permitted Investments” shall mean:

(a) direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States of America (or by any agency thereof to the extent such obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America), in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof;

(b) (i) investments in commercial paper maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof and having, at such date of acquisition, the highest credit rating obtainable from S&P or from Moody’s or (ii) corporate debt securities maturing within two years from the date of acquisition thereof and having, at such date of acquisition, a rating of at least A by S&P or A2 by Moody’s;

 

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(c) investments in certificates of deposit, banker’s acceptances and time deposits maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof issued or guaranteed by or placed with, and money market deposit accounts issued or offered by, and demand deposit and general banking sweep accounts with, the Administrative Agent or any domestic office of any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or any State thereof that has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000;

(d) fully collateralized repurchase agreements with a term of not more than 60 days for securities described in clause (a) above and entered into with a financial institution satisfying the criteria of clause (c) above;

(e) securities with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, issued or fully guaranteed by any State, commonwealth or territory of the United States of America, or by any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof, and rated at least AA by S&P or Aa by Moody’s;

(f) asset backed securities maturing within two years from the date of acquisition thereof and having, at such date of acquisition, a rating of at least AAA by S&P or Aaa by Moody’s;

(g) municipal variable rate demand obligations maturing within two years from the date of acquisition thereof and having, at such date of acquisition, a rating of at least AA by S&P or Aa2 by Moody’s;

(h) investments in “money market funds” within the meaning of Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, substantially all of whose assets are invested in investments of the type described in clauses (a) through (g) above, in each case (i) maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof and (ii) having, at such date of acquisition, one of the three highest credit rating obtainable from S&P or Moody’s; and

(i) other short-term investments by Holdings and Foreign Subsidiaries in currencies other than U.S. Dollars and of a type listed on Schedule 1.01(b).

Permitted Pari Passu Collateral Liens” means Liens permitted by Section 6.01(w)(i) or 6.01(x); provided that such Liens are subject to an Intercreditor Agreement.

Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” shall mean any Indebtedness (other than any Indebtedness incurred under this Agreement) of a Restricted Subsidiary, issued in exchange for, or the Net Cash Proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund (collectively, to “Refinance”), Indebtedness of such Restricted Subsidiary (including all or a portion of any Indebtedness incurred under this Agreement) that is permitted by this Agreement to be Refinanced; provided that:

(i) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness so Refinanced (plus any related fees, commissions and expenses, unpaid accrued interest and premium thereon and underwriting discounts and defeasance costs),

 

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(ii) except with respect to Section 6.01(k), the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is greater than or equal to (and the maturity of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is no earlier than) that of the Indebtedness being Refinanced,

(iii) if the Indebtedness being Refinanced is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall be subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations on terms at least as favorable to the Lenders as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being Refinanced,

(iv) no Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall have different obligors than the Indebtedness being Refinanced, unless such new obligors are Loan Parties and no Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall have greater guarantees than the Indebtedness being Refinanced,

(v) the terms and covenants of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness (excluding pricing, call protection, premiums and prepayment or redemption terms, or covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the maturity date of the Indebtedness being refinanced) taken as a whole, shall either be, (x) not materially less favorable to the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries than the terms and covenants, taken as a whole, of the Indebtedness being so Refinanced, or (y) on market terms at the time of the establishment of such Indebtedness (in each case, as reasonably determined by Holdings) (except for, in each case, (1) terms otherwise implicitly permitted by this “Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” definition, (2) covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the latest maturity date of the relevant Indebtedness being Refinanced, or (3) to the extent any more restrictive covenant or provision is also added for the benefit of the Lenders under this Agreement to the extent it remains outstanding after the incurrence of such Indebtedness; it being understood and agreed that in each such case, no consent of the Administrative Agent and/or any Lender shall be required in connection with adding such covenant or provision); provided that a certificate of a Responsible Officer delivered to the Administrative Agent at least five Business Days prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, together with a reasonably detailed description of the material terms and covenants of such Indebtedness or drafts of the documentation relating thereto, stating that Holdings has determined in good faith that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirement, shall be conclusive evidence that such terms and covenants satisfy the foregoing requirement unless the Administrative Agent notifies Holdings within such five Business Day period that it disagrees with such determination (including a reasonable description of the basis upon which it disagrees),

(vi) if the Indebtedness being Refinanced is secured by any collateral (whether equally and ratably with, or junior to, the Secured Parties or otherwise), the Lien securing such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall (x) not be senior in priority to the Lien on the Collateral securing the Indebtedness being Refinanced unless such Lien is otherwise permitted under any basket or exception under Section 6.02 (with such amounts constituting utilization of the applicable basket or exception under Section 6.02) and/or an Intercreditor Agreement is entered into and (y) shall not be secured by any additional assets that do not constitute Collateral unless such additional assets substantially concurrently become Collateral or a Lien on such assets is otherwise permitted under any basket or exception under Section 6.02 (with such amounts constituting utilization of the applicable basket or exception under Section 6.02);

 

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provided, further, that with respect to a Refinancing of Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01(g), such Refinancing shall be in compliance with the ABL Intercreditor Agreement and/or the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement, as applicable.

Person” or “Person” shall mean any natural person, corporation, business trust, joint venture, association, company, limited liability company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.

Plan” shall mean any employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, and in respect of which a Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.

Platform” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.01.

Potential Defaulting Lender” shall mean, at any time, (a) any Lender with respect to which an event of the kind referred to in clause (d) of the definition of “Defaulting Lender” has occurred and is continuing in respect of any financial institution affiliate of such Lender, (b) any Lender that has notified, or whose direct or indirect parent company or a financial institution affiliate thereof has notified, the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers in writing, or has stated publicly, that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations under any other loan agreement or credit agreement or other financing agreement, unless such writing or statement states that such position is based on such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding cannot be satisfied (which conditions precedent, together with the applicable default, if any, will be specifically identified in such writing or public statement, or (c) any Lender that has, or whose direct or indirect parent company has, a non-investment grade rating from Moody’s or S&P or another nationally recognized rating agency. Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Potential Defaulting Lender under any of the clauses (a) through (c) above will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender will be deemed a Potential Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.25(b)) upon notification of such determination by the Administrative Agent to the Borrowers and the Lenders.

Preferred Stock” shall mean any Equity Interests with preferential rights of payment of dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up.

Prepayment Event” shall mean (a) each Asset Sale and (b) each Debt Incurrence.

Prime Rate” shall mean the rate of interest announced publicly by Citibank, N.A. in New York, from time to time, as Citibank N.A.’s prime rate.

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.

 

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Public Offershall have the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “LCT Test Date”.

Publishers” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble to this Agreement.

QFC shall mean the meaning assigned to the term “qualified financial contract” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 5390(c)(8)(D).

QFC Credit Support shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.26.

Qualified Capital Stock” of any person shall mean any Equity Interest of such person that is not Disqualified Stock.

Rate” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the definition of “Type”.

Reference Date” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the definition of “Cumulative Credit”.

Refinance” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness”.

Refinancing shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preliminary statements to this Agreement.

Refinancing Debt” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.23.

Refinancing Facility” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.23.

Refinancing Notes” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.23.

Refinancing Revolving Facility” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.23.

Refinancing Term Facility” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.23.

Register” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(d).

Regulated Bank” shall mean (a) any swap dealer registered with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission or security-based swap dealer registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, as applicable; or (b) any commercial bank that is (i) a U.S. depository institution the deposits of which are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, (ii) a corporation organized under section 25A of the U.S. Federal Reserve Act of 1913, (iii) a branch, agency or commercial lending company of a foreign bank operating pursuant to approval by and under the supervision of the Board under 12 C.F.R. part 211, (iv) a non-U.S. branch of a foreign bank managed and controlled by a U.S. branch referred to in clause (iii), or (v) any other U.S. or non-U.S. depository institution or any branch, agency or similar office thereof supervised by a bank regulatory authority in any jurisdiction.

 

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Regulation T” shall mean Regulation T of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

Regulation U” shall mean Regulation U of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

Regulation X” shall mean Regulation X of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

Reinvestment Period” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.13(c).

Related Fund” shall mean, with respect to any Lender that is a fund or commingled investment vehicle that invests in bank loans and similar extensions of credit, any other fund that invests in bank loans and is managed or advised by the same investment advisor as such Lender or by an Affiliate of such investment advisor.

Related Parties” shall mean, with respect to any specified person, such person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, trustees, officers, employees, partners, agents and advisors of such person and such person’s Affiliates.

Release” shall mean any release, spill, emission, leaking, dumping, injection, pouring, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, leaching or migration into or through the environment or within or upon any building, structure, facility or fixture.

Repayment Date” shall have the meaning given such term in Section 2.11(a).

Repricing Event means (i) any voluntary prepayment or repayment of any Loans with the proceeds of, or any conversion of Loans into, any new or replacement tranche of term loans bearing a Yield that is less than the Yield applicable to the Loans or (ii) any amendment to any Loan Document that reduces the Yield applicable to any Loans (in each case, as such comparative yields are reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent); provided that any such determination by the Administrative Agent as contemplated hereunder shall be conclusive and binding on the Borrowers and all Lenders, absent manifest error. A Repricing Event shall not include any prepayment, repayment, conversion or amendment made in connection with a Change of Control or Transformative Acquisition.

Required Lenders” shall mean, at any time, Lenders having Loans and Commitments representing more than 50% of the sum of the outstanding Loans and all Commitments, if any, at such time; provided that Defaulting Lenders having Loans or any unused Commitments shall be disregarded in the determination of Required Lenders at any time.

Resolution Authority” shall mean any body which has authority to exercise any Write-down and Conversion Powers.

 

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Responsible Officer” of any person shall mean any executive officer or Financial Officer of such person and any other officer or similar official thereof responsible for the administration of the obligations of such person in respect of this Agreement.

Restricted Indebtedness” shall mean Subordinated Indebtedness of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, the payment, prepayment, repurchase or defeasance of which is restricted under Section 6.08(b).

Restricted Payment” shall mean (a) any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity Interests in Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, other than dividends or distributions payable solely in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the person paying such dividends or distributions, or (b) any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any Equity Interests in Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary.

Restricted Subsidiary” shall mean each Subsidiary of Holdings that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Revolving Credit Agreement” shall mean the Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of the date hereof among Holdings, HMHP, Publishers, the Borrowers, Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent and the other parties thereto, as such agreement may be amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time, in each case to the extent permitted hereunder and under the ABL Intercreditor Agreement and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof (unless such agreement, instrument or document expressly provides that it is not intended to be and is not a Revolving Credit Agreement).

Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement.

S&P” shall mean Standard & Poor’s Ratings Service, or any successor thereto.

Sale and Lease Back Transaction” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.03.

Sanctioned Country” means, at any time, a country or territory that is the subject or target of any Sanctions that broadly prohibit dealings with that country or territory (which, as of the Closing Date, is the Crimea region of Ukraine, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria).

Sanctioned Person” means, at any time, (a) any Person listed in OFAC’s Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List, OFAC’s Sectoral Sanctions Identification List, and any other Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by OFAC, the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, or Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom, (b) a Person that resides in, is organized in or located in, or has a place of business in, a Sanctioned Country, (c) any Person owned 50% or more or controlled by any Person or Persons definition; or (d) any Person with whom or with which a U.S. Person is prohibited from dealing under any of the Sanctions.

 

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Sanctions” shall mean economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by (a) the U.S. government, including those administered or enforced by the OFAC, or (b) the United States Security Council, the European Union or Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom.

Secured Parties” shall mean (i) the Lenders, (ii) the Administrative Agent, (iii) the Collateral Agent, (iv) each Other Secured Party, (v) the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Loan Party under any Loan Document and (vi) the successors and assigns of each of the foregoing.

Security Documents” shall mean the Mortgages, the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement, any other Intercreditor Agreements and each of the security agreements, mortgages and other instruments and documents executed and delivered pursuant to any of the foregoing or pursuant to Section 5.12.

Senior Notes” shall mean the 9.000% senior secured notes due 2025 of the Issuers, as defined in the Senior Secured Notes Indenture.

Senior Secured Notes Indenture” shall mean the Indenture, dated as of the Closing Date, among the Issuers (as defined therein), the guarantors party thereto and a trustee, pursuant to which the Senior Notes shall be issued, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance therewith.

Series” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.24(a).

SPC” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(i).

Special Flood Hazard Area” means an area that FEMA has designated as an area subject to special flood or mud slide hazards.

Specified Lender” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(l).

Specified Representations” shall mean those representations and warranties made by the Loan Parties in Sections 3.01(a), 3.01(d), 3.02(a), 3.02(b)(i)(A), 3.03, 3.11(b), 3.12, 3.19, 3.22 and 3.26.

Specified Warehouses” shall mean, collectively, the warehouse owned by HMCo and located at 2700 N. Richardt Avenue, Indianapolis, Indiana 46219 and the warehouse owned by HMCo and located at 200 Academic Way, Troy, Missouri 63379.

Statutory Reserves” shall mean a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentages (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed as a decimal established by the Board and any other banking authority, domestic or foreign, to which the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including any branch, Affiliate or other fronting office making or holding a Loan) is subject for Eurodollar Liabilities (as defined in Regulation D of the Board). Eurodollar Loans shall be deemed to constitute

 

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Eurodollar Liabilities (as defined in Regulation D of the Board) and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under such Regulation D. Statutory Reserves shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.

Subordinated Indebtedness” shall mean any Indebtedness of a Loan Party that is (i) by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations and/or (ii) unsecured or secured by a lower priority Lien than the Liens securing the Obligations (excluding the Indebtedness under the Revolving Credit Agreement, any Refinancing Revolving Facility or any other Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01(g) hereof).

Subsidiary” or “subsidiary” shall mean, with respect to any person (herein referred to as the “parent”), any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association or other business entity (a) of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, at the time any determination is being made, owned, Controlled or held, or (b) that is, at the time any determination is made, otherwise Controlled, by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of Holdings.

Subsidiary Guarantor” shall mean each wholly owned Domestic Subsidiary listed on Schedule 3.08 (other than HMH Intermediate Holdings (Delaware), LLC, the Borrowers, or any Excluded Subsidiary) and each other Restricted Subsidiary that is a wholly owned Domestic Subsidiary that becomes a party to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement after the Closing Date pursuant to Section 5.12(b).

Supported QFC shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.26.

Synthetic Lease” shall mean, as to any person, any lease (including leases that may be terminated by the lessee at any time) of any property (whether real, personal or mixed) (a) that is accounted for as an operating lease under GAAP and (b) in respect of which the lessee retains or obtains ownership of the property so leased for U.S. federal income tax purposes, other than any such lease under which such person is the lessor.

Synthetic Lease Obligations” shall mean, as to any person, an amount equal to the capitalized amount of the remaining lease payments under any Synthetic Lease that would appear on a balance sheet of such person in accordance with GAAP if such obligations were accounted for as Capital Lease Obligations.

Synthetic Purchase Agreement” shall mean any swap, derivative or other agreement or combination of agreements pursuant to which Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary is or may become obligated to make (a) any payment in connection with a purchase by any third party from a person other than Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary of any Equity Interest or Restricted Indebtedness or (b) any payment (other than on account of a permitted purchase by it of any Equity Interest or Restricted Indebtedness) the amount of which is determined by reference to the price or value at any time of any Equity Interest or Restricted Indebtedness; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only to current or former directors, officers or employees of Holdings or the Restricted Subsidiaries (or to their heirs or estates) shall be deemed to be a Synthetic Purchase Agreement.

 

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Taxes” shall mean any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

Term Borrowing” shall mean a Borrowing comprised of the Term Loan advanced pursuant to a Term Loan Commitment pursuant to Section 2.01.

Term Facility First Lien Collateral” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement.

Term Lender” shall mean a Lender with a Term Loan Commitment or an outstanding Term Loan.

Term Loan” shall mean each the term loan made available to the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.01.

Term Loan Commitment” shall mean, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make a Term Loan hereunder as of the Closing Date, or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Term Lender assumed its Term Loan Commitment, as applicable, as the same may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.09 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Term Lender pursuant to Section 9.04.

Term Loan Extension Request” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.22(a).

Term Loan Facility” shall mean the term loan facility provided for by this Agreement.

Term Loan Maturity Date” shall mean

(a) with respect to the Term Loans, the date that is the 5th anniversary of the Closing Date;

(b) with respect to any New Term Loans, the date set forth in the applicable Incremental Facility Joinder Agreement; and

(c) with respect to any Extended Term Loans, the date set forth in the applicable Extension Agreement.

Total Debt” shall mean, at any time, the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding at such time; provided that (i) such Indebtedness shall not be included if it would not be reflected on a consolidated balance sheet of Holdings at such time in accordance with GAAP or to the extent such Indebtedness is

 

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Indebtedness under Hedging Agreements and (ii) if such Indebtedness were to be required to be reflected on a consolidated balance sheet of Holdings at such time in accordance with GAAP, the amount thereof that shall constitute Total Debt shall equal the principal amount outstanding at such time, including any portion of such principal amount outstanding that would not be required to be reflected on a consolidated balance sheet of Holdings in accordance with GAAP at such time as a result of original issue discount.

“Trademarks” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

“Transactions” shall mean, collectively, (a) the Refinancing, (b) the entering into of the Loan Documents, (c) the entering into of the Revolving Credit Agreement and the Loan Documents (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement), (d) the entering into of the Senior Secured Notes Indenture and (e) payment of the transaction costs related to the foregoing.

Transformative Acquisition” shall mean any acquisition by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary that either (a) is not permitted by the terms of this Agreement immediately prior to the consummation of such acquisition or (b) if permitted by the terms of this Agreement immediately prior to the consummation of such acquisition, would not provide the Borrowers and their 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 Borrowers acting in good faith.

Type” when used in respect of any Loan or Borrowing, shall refer to the Rate by reference to which interest on such Loan or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing is determined. For purposes hereof, the term “Rate” shall mean the Adjusted LIBO Rate and the Alternate Base Rate.

UCC” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect, from time to time, in the State of New York; provided that, if perfection or the effect of perfection or non-perfection or the priority of any security interest in any Collateral is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in a jurisdiction other than the State of New York, “UCC” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in such other jurisdiction for purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such perfection, effect of perfection or non-perfection or priority.

UK Bail-In Legislation” means (to the extent that the United Kingdom is not an EEA Member Country which has implemented, or implements, Article 55 BRRD) Part I of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 and any other law or regulation applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (otherwise than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings).

Unrestricted Domestic Cash and Cash Equivalents” shall mean domestic cash and Permitted Investments of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are Domestic Subsidiaries, which cash and Permitted Investments are (a) free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens created under the Security Documents, the “Security Documents” (as defined in the Revolving Credit

 

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Agreement or any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness thereof) and Liens of banks permitted under Section 6.02(c) or (r)), (b) not subject to any contractual, regulatory or legal restrictions on the use thereof to repay the Loans and other obligations of any of the Loan Parties or any of their respective Subsidiaries under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents and (c) are held in accounts that are pledged to the Secured Parties pursuant to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and subject to one or more control agreements.

Unrestricted Subsidiary” shall mean a Subsidiary which has been designated as such pursuant to Section 6.15(a) and which has not been re-designated as a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 6.15(b).

U.S. Dollars” or “U.S.$” or “$” shall mean the lawful currency of the United States of America.

U.S. Person” shall mean any “United States Person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code and any Person treated as a “domestic corporation” for purposes of the Code.

U.S. Special Resolution Regimes shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.26.

USA PATRIOT Act” shall mean The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (Title III of Pub. L. No. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)).

Voting Stock” shall mean, with respect to any Person as of any date, the Equity Interests of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the board of directors of such Person.

Waterfall” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the second paragraph of Article VII.

Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing: (a) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (i) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (ii) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by (b) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.

wholly owned Domestic Subsidiary” of any person shall mean a Domestic Subsidiary of such person of which securities (except for directors’ qualifying shares) or other ownership interests representing 100% of the Equity Interests are, at the time any determination is being made, owned, Controlled or held by such person or one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries of such person or by such person and one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries of such person.

 

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wholly owned Subsidiary” of any person shall mean a subsidiary of such person of which securities (except for directors’ qualifying shares) or other ownership interests representing 100% of the Equity Interests are, at the time any determination is being made, owned, Controlled or held by such person or one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries of such person or by such person and one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries of such person.

Withdrawal Liability” shall mean liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.

Withholding Agent” shall mean the Borrowers, any Loan Party and the Administrative Agent.

Write-Down and Conversion Powers” shall mean:

(a) in relation to any Bail-In Legislation described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule from time to time, the powers described as such in relation to that Bail-In Legislation in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule;

(b) in relation to any other applicable Bail-In Legislation:

(i) any powers under that Bail-In Legislation to cancel, transfer or dilute shares issued by a person that is a bank or investment firm or other financial institution or affiliate of a bank, investment firm or other financial institution, to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of such a person or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers; and

(ii) any similar or analogous powers under that Bail-In Legislation; and

(c) in relation to any UK Bail-In Legislation: (i) any powers under that UK Bail-In Legislation to cancel, transfer or dilute shares issued by a person that is a bank or investment firm or other financial institution or affiliate of a bank, investment firm or other financial institution, to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of such a person or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that UK Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers; and (ii) any similar or analogous powers under that UK Bail-In Legislation.

Yield” shall mean, as to any Indebtedness, the yield thereof, whether in the form of interest rate, margin, original issue discount, upfront fees, or interest rate “floor” that is greater than any corresponding interest rate “floor” for the Term Loan (with such increased amount being equated to interest margins for purposes of determining any increase to the Applicable Percentage), or otherwise; provided that (i) original issue discount and upfront fees shall be

 

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equated to interest rate assuming a four-year life to maturity (or, if less, the stated life to maturity at the time of incurrence of the applicable Indebtedness) and (ii) ”Yield” shall not include arrangement fees, structuring fees or underwriting or similar fees not generally paid to lenders in connection with such Indebtedness.

SECTION 1.02 Terms Generally. The definitions in Section 1.01 shall apply equally to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”; and the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed as having the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights. Where reference is made to “Holdings and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis” or similar language, such consolidation shall not include any Subsidiaries of the Borrower other than Restricted Subsidiaries. All references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be deemed references to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement unless the context shall otherwise require. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, (a) any reference in this Agreement to any agreement or document shall mean such agreement or document as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time (subject to any restrictions in any Loan Document on the amendment, restatement, supplement or other modification thereof) and (b) all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided, however, that if the Borrowers notify the Administrative Agent that the Borrowers wish to amend any covenant in Article VI, any other provision hereof or any related definition to eliminate the effect of any material change in GAAP or the application thereof occurring after the date of this Agreement on the operation of such covenant or provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrowers that the Required Lenders wish to amend Article VI, any other provision hereof or any related definition for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or the application thereof, then such covenant or provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP in effect and applied immediately before such change became effective, until either such notice is withdrawn or such covenant or provision is amended in a manner satisfactory to the Borrowers and the Required Lenders. In addition, notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, the definitions set forth in the Loan Documents and any financial calculations required by the Loan Documents shall be computed to exclude any change to lease accounting rules from those in effect pursuant to Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 840 (Leases) and other related lease accounting guidance as in effect on December 15, 2018.

SECTION 1.03 Pro Forma Calculations. Unless otherwise provided herein, the Net First Lien Leverage Ratio, the Net Secured Leverage Ratio, the Net Total Leverage Ratio and Consolidated EBITDA for purposes of the definition of “Applicable Prepayment Percentage”, “Incremental Amount”, “Permitted Acquisition” and Sections 6.01(k), 6.01(m), 6.01(n), 6.01(w), 6.04(b), 6.04(s), 6.04(u), 6.04(v), 6.05(f), 6.06(a), 6.08(b) and 6.15 as of any date shall be calculated based on the most recently completed period of four consecutive fiscal quarters for which financial statements are available, and on a pro forma basis, shall be calculated after giving effect to the Transactions and any acquisition or disposition of assets with a value in

 

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excess of $5,000,000, or any incurrence, payment, refinancing, restructuring or retirement of Indebtedness, any designation of any Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary and any re-designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or any other applicable transaction for which any calculation herein is required to be made on a pro forma basis, in each case which occurred during the most recently completed period of four consecutive fiscal quarters for which financial statements are available or after the end of such period but on or prior to such date, as though each such transaction had occurred at the beginning of such period, including, without duplication, giving effect to (i) all pro forma adjustments permitted or required by Article 11 of Regulation S X under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and (ii) even if inconsistent with preceding clause (i), pro forma adjustments for cost savings (net of continuing associated expenses) not to exceed in the aggregate for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters an amount equal to 15% of Consolidated EBITDA for such four fiscal quarter period without giving effect to this clause (ii) and to the extent such cost savings are factually supportable, are expected to have a continuing impact and have been realized or are reasonably expected to be realized within 12 months following such transaction; provided that all such adjustments shall be set forth in a reasonably detailed certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrowing Agent), using, for purposes of making such calculations, the historical financial statements of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries which shall be reformulated as if such transaction, and any other such transactions that have been consummated during the period, had been consummated on the first day of such period. Whenever pro forma effect is to be given to a transaction, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a Financial Officer of the Borrowing Agent. 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 calculation date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedging Agreements applicable to such Indebtedness). Interest on a Capital Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by a Financial Officer of the Borrowing Agent to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capital Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of making a pro forma computation hereunder, interest on any Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility computed on a pro forma basis shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period. Interest on Indebtedness that may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a eurodollar interbank offered rate, or other rate, shall be deemed to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or, if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as the Borrowing Agent may designate.

SECTION 1.04 Classification of Loans and Borrowings. For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a “Term Loan”) or by Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Loan”) or by Class and Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Term Loan”). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a “Term Loan Borrowing”) or by Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Borrowing”) or by Class and Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Term Loan Borrowing”).

SECTION 1.05 Delaware LLC Division. For all purposes under the Loan Documents, in connection with any division or plan of division under Delaware law (or any comparable event under a different jurisdiction’s laws): (a) if any asset, 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 (b) 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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SECTION 1.06 Limited Condition Transactions. In connection with any action being taken in connection with a Limited Condition Transaction, solely for the purpose of (i) measuring, testing availability under, or determining compliance with any provision that requires the calculation of, any applicable ratios (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Net First Lien Leverage Ratio, Net Secured Leverage Ratio, Net Total Leverage Ratio) and incurrence baskets (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any incurrence basket measured as a percentage of Consolidated EBITDA and, for the avoidance of doubt including with respect to the incurrence of any Indebtedness (including any New Loans), Liens, the making of any Acquisitions or other material Investments, Restricted Payments, prepayments of Subordinated Indebtedness, asset sales, fundamental changes or the designation or redesignation of any Restricted Subsidiaries or Unrestricted Subsidiaries, in each case, in connection with a Limited Condition Transaction) or (ii) determining compliance with the representations and warranties or the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, if the Borrower makes an LCT Election, the date of determination, in determining whether any such transaction is permitted shall be deemed to be the LCT Test Date, and if, after giving effect to the Limited Condition Transaction and the other transactions to be entered into in connection therewith as if they had occurred as of the date of determination, ending prior to the LCT Test Date on a pro forma basis, the Borrower could have taken such action on the relevant LCT Test Date in compliance with any such ratio, incurrence basket or other requirements, such ratio, incurrence basket or other requirements shall be deemed to have been complied with. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Borrower has made an LCT Election and any of the ratios or incurrence baskets for which compliance was determined or tested as of the LCT Test Date are exceeded as a result of fluctuations in any such ratio or incurrence basket at or prior to the consummation of the relevant transaction or action, such incurrence baskets or ratios will not be deemed to have been exceeded as a result of such fluctuations; provided that if such ratios or baskets improve as a result of such fluctuations, such improved ratios and/or baskets may be utilized. If the Borrower has made a LCT Election for any Limited Condition Transaction, then in connection with any subsequent calculation of any ratio or incurrence basket (other than in connection with availability to make a Restricted Payment) on or following the relevant LCT Test Date and prior to the earlier of (i) the date on which such Limited Condition Transaction is consummated or (ii) the date that the definitive agreement for such Limited Condition Transaction is terminated or expires (or, if applicable, the irrevocable notice, declaration of dividend or similar event is terminated or expires or, as applicable, the offer in respect of a Public Offer for, such acquisition is terminated) without consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction, any such ratio or incurrence basket shall be calculated and tested on a pro forma basis assuming such Limited Condition Transaction and other transactions in connection therewith (including any incurrence of debt and the use of proceeds thereof) have been consummated until such time as the applicable Limited Condition Transaction has actually closed or the definitive agreement with respect thereto has been terminated.

 

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SECTION 1.07 Compliance with Article VI.

For purposes of determining compliance with any of the covenants set forth in Article VI (whether at the time of incurrence or upon application of all or a portion of the proceeds thereof) at the time of incurrence or utilization thereof, if any Indebtedness, Lien, Investment, Asset Sale, Restricted Payment, Affiliate transaction or transaction pursuant to Section 6.08(b) meets the criteria of one, or more than one, of the clauses of the provision permitting such Indebtedness, Lien, Investment, Asset Sale, Restricted Payment, Affiliate transaction or transaction pursuant to Section 6.08(b), as the case may be, the Borrowers may, in their sole discretion, determine under which clause or clauses such Indebtedness, Lien, Investment, Asset Sale, Restricted Payment, Affiliate transaction or transaction pursuant to Section 6.08(b) (or, in each case, any portion thereof), as the case may be, is classified and may make subsequent redeterminations and/or at a later time divide, classify or reclassify under the clause or clauses such Indebtedness, Lien, Investment, Asset Sale, Restricted Payment, Affiliate transaction or transaction pursuant to Section 6.08(b) was initially determined to have been incurred or utilized. The principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding for purposes of any of the covenants set forth in Article VI will be determined after giving effect to the application of proceeds of any such Indebtedness utilized to refinance any other Indebtedness.

SECTION 1.08 Cashless Rolls. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, to the extent that any Lender extends the maturity date of, or replaces, renews or refinances, any of its then-existing Loans with New Loans, any Extended Term Loans or loans incurred under a new credit facility, in each case, to the extent such extension, replacement, renewal or refinancing is effected by means of a “cashless roll” by such Lender, such extension, replacement, renewal or refinancing shall be deemed to comply with any requirement hereunder or any other Loan Document that such payment be made “in Dollars,” “in immediately available funds,” “in cash” or any other similar requirement.

SECTION 1.09 Certain Calculations and Tests. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, with respect to any amounts incurred or transactions entered into (or consummated) in reliance on a provision of the same section of any Loan Document that does not require compliance with a financial ratio or test (any such amounts, the “Fixed Amounts”) substantially concurrently with any amounts incurred or transactions entered into (or consummated) in reliance on a provision of the same section of any Loan Document that requires compliance with any such financial ratio or test (any such amounts, the “Incurrence Based Amounts”), it is understood and agreed that, for purposes of this Agreement, the Fixed Amounts under such section shall be disregarded in the calculation of the financial ratio or test applicable to the Incurrence Based Amounts in connection with such substantially concurrent incurrence.

ARTICLE II

The Credits

SECTION 2.01 Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions and relying upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, each Lender agrees, severally and not jointly, to make a single Term Loan to the Borrowers on the Closing Date in a principal amount equal to 96.0% of its Term Loan Commitment. Amounts paid or prepaid in respect of the Term Loan may not be reborrowed. It is understood and agreed that the principal amount of the Term Loans owing hereunder (and for all purposes under the Loan Documents) shall be an amount equal to 100% of the applicable Term Lender’s Term Loan Commitment.

 

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SECTION 2.02 Loans and Borrowings.

(a) Each Term Loan shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Loans made by the applicable Term Lenders ratably in accordance with their applicable Term Loan Commitments; provided, however, that the failure of any Term Lender make any Term Loan, shall not in itself relieve any other Term Lender of its obligation to lend hereunder (it being understood, however, that no Term Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Term Lender to make any Term Loan required to be made by such other Term Lender). Loans comprising any Borrowing shall be in an aggregate principal amount that is an integral multiple of the Borrowing Multiple and not less than the Borrowing Minimum.

(b) Subject to Sections 2.08 and 2.15, each Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Eurodollar Loans as the applicable Borrower may request pursuant to Section 2.03. Each Lender may at its option make any Eurodollar Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan; provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrowers to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Borrowings of more than one Type may be outstanding at the same time; provided, however, that no Borrower shall be entitled to request any Borrowing that, if made, would result in more than 10 Eurodollar Borrowings outstanding hereunder at any time. For purposes of the foregoing, Borrowings having different Interest Periods, regardless of whether they commence on the same date, shall be considered separate Borrowings.

(c) Each Lender shall make each Term Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds to such account as the Administrative Agent may designate not later than 1:00 p.m., Local Time, and the Administrative Agent shall promptly credit the amounts so received to an account designated by the applicable Borrower in the applicable Borrowing Request or, if a Borrowing shall not occur on such date because any condition precedent herein specified shall not have been met, return the amounts so received to the respective Lenders.

(d) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s portion of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such portion available to the Administrative Agent on the date of such Borrowing in accordance with paragraph (c) above and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the applicable Borrower on such date a corresponding amount. If the Administrative Agent shall have so made funds available then, to the extent that such Lender shall not have made such portion available to the Administrative Agent, such Lender and the Borrowers severally agree to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is made available to the applicable Borrower to but excluding the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at (i) in the case of the Borrowers, a rate per annum equal to the interest rate applicable at the time to the Loans comprising such Borrowing and (ii) in the case of such Lender, a rate determined by the Administrative Agent to represent its cost of overnight or short-term funds (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error). If such Lender shall repay to the Administrative Agent such corresponding amount, such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan as part of such Borrowing for purposes of this Agreement.

 

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SECTION 2.03 Borrowing Procedure. In order to request a Term Borrowing, the Borrowers shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by telephone or in writing (a) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 1:00 p.m., Local Time, three Business Days before a proposed Borrowing (provided that, if such Eurodollar Borrowing is an initial Term Borrowing to be made on the Closing Date, notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m., Local Time one Business Day prior to the Closing Date) and (b) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 12:00 p.m., Local Time, on the requested date of any proposed Borrowing. Each such telephonic Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable, and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery, fax or electronic mail to the Administrative Agent of a written Borrowing Request and shall specify the following information: (i) whether such Borrowing is to be a Eurodollar Borrowing or an ABR Borrowing; (ii) the date of such Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day); (iii) the number and location of the account to which funds are to be disbursed; (iv) the amount of such Borrowing; and (v) if such Borrowing is to be a Eurodollar Borrowing, the Interest Period with respect thereto; provided, that, notwithstanding any contrary specification in any Borrowing Request, each requested Borrowing shall comply with the requirements set forth in Section 2.02. If no election as to the Type of Borrowing is specified in any such notice, then the requested Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing is specified in any such notice, then such Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration. The Administrative Agent shall promptly advise the applicable Lenders of any notice given pursuant to this Section 2.03(a) (and the contents thereof), and of each Lender’s portion of the requested Borrowing.

SECTION 2.04 Evidence of Debt; Repayment of Loans.

(a) Each Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender the principal amount of each Term Loan of such Lender as provided in Section 2.11.

(b) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrowers to such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such Lender from time to time, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time under this Agreement.

(c) The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it will record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Class, Type and Series thereof (as applicable) and, if applicable, the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrowers to each Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder from any Borrower or any Guarantor and each Lender’s share thereof.

(d) The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraphs (b) and (c) above shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations therein recorded; provided, however, that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligations of any Borrower to repay the Loans in accordance with their terms.

 

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(e) Any Lender may request that Loans made by it hereunder be evidenced by a promissory note. In such event, the Borrowers shall execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to such Lender and its registered assigns and in a form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in the event any Lender shall request and receive such a promissory note, the interests represented by such note shall at all times (including after any assignment of all or part of such interests pursuant to Section 9.04) be represented by one or more promissory notes payable to the payee named therein or its registered assigns.

SECTION 2.05 Fees.

(a) Each Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, in U.S. Dollars, for its own account, the administration fees set forth in the Fee Letter at the times and in the amounts specified therein (the “Administrative Agent Fees”). Each Borrower also agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, in U.S. Dollars, for the account of the parties entitled thereto, such other fees as shall be payable under the Fee Letter at the times and in the amounts specified therein (the “Other Fees”).

(b) All Fees shall be paid on the dates due, in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent for distribution, if and as appropriate, among the Lenders. Once paid, none of the Fees shall be refundable under any circumstances.

SECTION 2.06 Interest on Loans.

(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.07, the Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing, shall bear interest (computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, when the Alternate Base Rate is determined by reference to the Prime Rate and over a year of 360 days at all other times and calculated from and including the date of such Borrowing to but excluding the date of repayment thereof) at a rate per annum equal to the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Percentage in effect from time to time.

(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.07, the Loans comprising each Eurodollar Borrowing shall bear interest (computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over a year of 360 days) at a rate per annum equal to the Adjusted LIBO Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Percentage in effect from time to time.

(c) Interest on each Loan shall be payable on the Interest Payment Dates applicable to such Loan except as otherwise provided in this Agreement. The applicable Alternate Base Rate or Adjusted LIBO Rate for each Interest Period or day within an Interest Period, as the case may be, shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

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SECTION 2.07 Default Interest. If at any time after the occurrence of and during the continuance of an Event of Default, all or a portion of the principal amount of any Loan, any interest on the Loans or any fees or other amounts owed hereunder shall not be paid when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), such overdue amount shall bear interest payable on demand at a rate that is 2.00% per annum in excess of the interest rate otherwise payable hereunder with respect to the applicable Loans (or, in the case of any such fees and other amounts, at a rate which is 2.00% per annum in excess of the interest rate otherwise payable hereunder for ABR Loans). Payment or acceptance of the increased rates of interest and fees provided for in this Section 2.07 is not a permitted alternative to timely payment and shall not constitute a waiver of any Event of Default or otherwise prejudice or limit any rights or remedies of Administrative Agent or any Lender.

SECTION 2.08 Alternate Rate of Interest. In the event, and on each occasion, that on the day two Business Days prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing the Administrative Agent shall have determined that deposits in the principal amounts of the Loans comprising such Borrowing are not generally available in the relevant interbank market, or that the rates at which such deposits are being offered will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to any Lender of making or maintaining its Eurodollar Loan during such Interest Period, or that reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBO Rate, the Administrative Agent shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, give written, fax or electronic mail notice of such determination to the Borrowers and the Lenders. In the event of any such determination, and subject to the following paragraphs of this Section 2.08, until the Administrative Agent shall have advised the Borrowers and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (a) any request by any Borrower for a Eurodollar Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.03 shall be deemed to be a request for an ABR Borrowing and (b) any request by any Borrower for a Eurodollar Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.10 shall be deemed a request for an ABR Borrowing. Each determination by the Administrative Agent under this Section 2.08 shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Documents, if the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be made in good faith and shall be conclusive absent manifest error), or the Required Lenders notify the Administrative Agent (with a copy to the Borrowers delivered pursuant to Section 9.01) that the Required Lenders have determined, that:

(a) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBO Rate or LIBO Rate, as applicable for any requested Interest Period, including, without limitation, because the LIBOR Screen Rate is not available or published on a current basis and such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary; or

(b) the supervisor for the administrator of the LIBOR Screen Rate or a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent has made a public statement or publication of information identifying a specific date after which the LIBOR Screen Rate, the LIBO Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate shall no longer be made available, or used for determining the interest rate of loans,

 

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then, after such determination by the Administrative Agent or receipt by the Administrative Agent of such notice, as applicable, the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers may amend this Agreement to replace the LIBOR Screen Rate with an alternate benchmark rate (including any mathematical or other adjustments to the benchmark (if any) incorporated therein) that has been broadly accepted by the syndicated loan market in the United States in lieu of the LIBOR Screen Rate (any such proposed rate, a “LIBOR Successor Rate”), together with any proposed LIBOR Successor Rate Conforming Changes (but, for the avoidance of doubt, such related changes shall not include a reduction in the Applicable Percentage); provided, that if such alternate rate of interest would be less than 1.00%, such rate shall be deemed to be 1.00% for all purposes of this Agreement; provided further, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 9.08, any such amendment shall become effective at 5:00 p.m. (New York time) on the fifth Business Day after the Administrative Agent shall have posted such proposed amendment to all Lenders and the Borrowers unless, prior to such time, Lenders comprising the Required Lenders have delivered to the Administrative Agent notice that such Required Lenders do not accept such amendment.

If no LIBOR Successor Rate has been determined and the circumstances under clause (a) or (b) above exist, the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Eurodollar Term Loans shall be suspended (to the extent of the affected Loans or Interest Periods). Upon receipt of such notice, the applicable Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Eurodollar Borrowing or the conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Term Loans (to the extent of the affected Eurodollar Term Loans or Interest Periods) or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for ABR Loans in the amount specified therein.

SECTION 2.09 Termination and Reduction of Commitments.

(a) Immediately following the making of the Term Loan on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 2.01, any undrawn Term Loan Commitments shall automatically terminate.

(b) Upon at least three Business Days’ prior irrevocable written, fax or electronic mail notice to the Administrative Agent, the Borrowers may at any time in whole permanently terminate, or from time to time in part permanently reduce, the Term Loan Commitments (if any); provided, however, that each partial reduction of the Term Loan Commitments shall be in an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and in a minimum amount of $5,000,000.

(c) Each reduction in the Term Loan Commitments hereunder shall be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their respective Term Loan Commitments.

SECTION 2.10 Conversion and Continuation of Borrowings. The Borrowers shall have the right at any time upon prior irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent (a) not later than 1:00 p.m., Local Time, one Business Day prior to conversion, to convert any Eurodollar Borrowing into an ABR Borrowing, (b) not later than 1:00 p.m., Local Time, three Business Days prior to conversion or continuation, to convert any ABR Borrowing into a Eurodollar Borrowing or to continue any Eurodollar Borrowing as a Eurodollar Borrowing for an additional Interest Period, and (c) not later than 1:00 p.m., Local Time, three Business Days prior to

 

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conversion, to convert the Interest Period with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing to another permissible Interest Period, subject in each case to the following:

(i) each conversion or continuation shall be made pro rata among the Lenders in accordance with the respective principal amounts of the Loans comprising the converted or continued Borrowing;

(ii) if less than all the outstanding principal amount of any Borrowing shall be converted or continued, then each resulting Borrowing shall satisfy the limitations specified in Sections 2.02(a) and 2.02(b) regarding the principal amount and maximum number of Borrowings of the relevant Type;

(iii) each conversion shall be effected by each Lender and the Administrative Agent by recording for the account of such Lender the new Loan of such Lender resulting from such conversion and reducing the Loan (or portion thereof) of such Lender being converted by an equivalent principal amount; accrued interest on any Eurodollar Loan (or portion thereof) being converted shall be paid by the Borrowers at the time of conversion;

(iv) if any Eurodollar Borrowing is converted at a time other than the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, the Borrowers shall pay, upon demand, any amounts due to the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.16;

(v) any portion of a Borrowing maturing or required to be repaid in less than one month may not be converted into or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing;

(vi) any portion of a Eurodollar Borrowing that cannot be converted into or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing by reason of the immediately preceding clause shall be automatically converted at the end of the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing into an ABR Borrowing; and

(vii) upon notice to the Borrowers from the Administrative Agent given at the request of the Required Lenders, after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, no outstanding Loan may be converted into, or continued as, a Eurodollar Loan.

Each notice pursuant to this Section 2.10 shall be irrevocable and shall refer to this Agreement and specify (i) the identity and amount of the Borrowing that the Borrowers request be converted or continued, (ii) whether such Borrowing is to be converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing or an ABR Borrowing, (iii) if such notice requests a conversion, the date of such conversion (which shall be a Business Day) and (iv) if such Borrowing is to be converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing, the Interest Period with respect thereto. If no Interest Period is specified in any such notice with respect to any conversion to or continuation as a Eurodollar Borrowing, the Borrowers shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration. The Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of any notice given pursuant to this Section 2.10 and of each Lender’s portion of any converted or continued Borrowing. If the Borrowers shall not have given notice in accordance with this Section 2.10 to continue any Eurodollar Borrowing into a subsequent Interest Period (and shall not otherwise have given notice in accordance with this Section 2.10 to convert such Borrowing), such Borrowing shall, at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto (unless repaid pursuant to the terms hereof), automatically be continued into an ABR Borrowing.

 

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SECTION 2.11 Repayment of Borrowings.

(a) Each Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Term Lenders, on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December of each year (commencing on March 31, 2020), and on the Term Loan Maturity Date (each such date being called a “Repayment Date”), a principal amount of the Term Loan (as adjusted from time to time pursuant to Sections 2.12 and 2.13(i)) equal to (A) in the case of each such Repayment Date due prior to the Term Loan Maturity Date, an amount equal to 1.25% of the aggregate principal amount of the Term Loan outstanding immediately prior to the first such scheduled Repayment Date and (B) in the case of such payment due on the Term Loan Maturity Date, an amount equal to the then aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Term Loan outstanding, together in each case with accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount to be paid to but excluding the date of such payment.

(b) Payments for the account of the New Term Loan Lenders of any New Term Loans, if any, shall be made in accordance with the applicable Incremental Facility Joinder Agreement for such Series and to the extent not previously paid, an amount equal to the then unpaid principal amount of such Series of New Term Loans shall be due and payable on the Term Loan Maturity Date in respect of such New Term Loans, together with accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount to be paid to but excluding the date of payment.

(c) Payments for the account of the New Revolving Loan Lenders of any New Revolving Loans, if any, shall be made in accordance with the applicable Incremental Facility Joinder Agreement.

(d) Payments for the account of the Extending Lenders of any Extended Term Loans, if any, shall be made in accordance with the applicable Extension Agreement and to the extent not previously paid, an amount equal to the then unpaid principal amount of such Series of Extended Term Loans shall be due and payable on the Term Loan Maturity Date in respect of such Extended Term Loans, together with accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount to be paid to but excluding the date of payment.

(e) All repayments pursuant to this Section 2.11 shall be subject to Section 2.16, but shall otherwise be without premium or penalty.

SECTION 2.12 Optional Prepayment; Prepayment Premium.

(a) Subject to paragraph (d) below, the Borrowers shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing, in whole or in part, (i) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, upon at least three Business Days’ (or such shorter period as Administrative Agent may allow) prior written, fax or electronic mail notice (or telephone notice promptly confirmed by written, fax or electronic mail notice) or (ii) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, upon at least one Business Day’s prior written, fax or electronic mail notice (or telephone notice promptly confirmed by written, fax or electronic mail notice), in each case to the Administrative Agent before 1:00 p.m., Local Time; provided, however, that (i) each partial

 

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prepayment shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of the Borrowing Multiple and not less than the Borrowing Minimum and (ii) any prepayment of a Borrowing pursuant to this Section 2.12(a) shall be made on a pro rata basis among the Loans comprising such Borrowing based on the aggregate principal amount of such Loans then outstanding.

(b) [Intentionally omitted.]

(c) Optional prepayments shall be applied to the Class or Series of Loans as specified by the Borrowing Agent and pro rata among the Loans comprising such Class or Series, in such order of maturity as the Borrowing Agent may specify.

(d) Each notice of prepayment shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing (or portion thereof) to be prepaid and the class or Series of Loan to be prepaid, shall be irrevocable and shall commit the Borrowers to prepay such Borrowing by the amount stated therein on the date stated therein; provided that, a notice of optional prepayment may state that such notice is conditioned upon the receipt of net proceeds from other Indebtedness or the closing of another material related transaction, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrowers (by written notice to the Administrative Agent) on or prior to the prepayment date specified therein. All prepayments under this Section 2.12 shall be subject to Section 2.16 but otherwise without premium or penalty (except as expressly provided in paragraph (e) below). All prepayments under this Section 2.12 shall be accompanied by accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount to be prepaid to but excluding the date of payment.

(e) Any Repricing Event that occurs after the Closing Date but on or prior to the date that is 12 months after the Closing Date, shall be accompanied by a prepayment premium equal to 1.00% of the aggregate amount of the Loans being so prepaid (in the case of any Repricing Event described in clause (i) of the definition of Repricing Event) or the aggregate amount of the applicable Loans whose Yield has been reduced (in the case of any Repricing Event described in clause (ii) of the definition of Repricing Event), as applicable.

SECTION 2.13 Mandatory Prepayments.

(a) [Intentionally Omitted]

(b) [Intentionally Omitted]

(c) In the event and on each occasion that any Net Cash Proceeds are received by or on behalf of Holdings or any Subsidiary in respect of a Prepayment Event, the Borrowers shall, within five Business Days after such Net Cash Proceeds are so received, prepay the outstanding Loans in an aggregate principal amount equal to the Applicable Prepayment Percentage of such Net Cash Proceeds; provided that, in the case of any Prepayment Event that is an Asset Sale, if the Borrowing Agent shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrowing Agent, on or prior to the date that a prepayment would otherwise be required hereunder if such certificate were not delivered, to the effect that Holdings and the Subsidiaries intend to apply the Net Cash Proceeds from such Asset Sale (or a portion thereof specified in such certificate), within the Reinvestment Period applicable to such Net Cash Proceeds, to acquire real property, equipment or other tangible or intangible assets to be used in

 

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the business of Holdings and the Subsidiaries (which real property, equipment or other assets must be assets that become Collateral to the extent that such Net Cash Proceeds are attributable to assets that were Collateral), and certifying that no Default has occurred and is continuing, then no prepayment shall be required pursuant to this paragraph in respect of such Net Cash Proceeds (or the portion of such Net Cash Proceeds specified in such certificate, if applicable) except to the extent of any such Net Cash Proceeds that have not been so applied by the end of such Reinvestment Period, at which time a prepayment shall be required in an aggregate principal amount equal to the Applicable Prepayment Percentage of such Net Cash Proceeds that have not been so applied. For purposes hereof, “Reinvestment Period” means, with respect to any Net Cash Proceeds, the period beginning on the date of receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds and ending twelve (12) months thereafter or, in respect of any portion of such Net Cash Proceeds that is committed to be reinvested in the business of Holdings and the Subsidiaries during such initial twelve (12) month period, the period beginning on the date of receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds and ending eighteen (18) months thereafter.

(d) Following the end of each fiscal year of Holdings, commencing with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020 (each such fiscal year, an “Excess Cash Flow Period”), the Borrowers shall prepay the outstanding Term Loans (and any other Indebtedness (to the extent required by the terms of the documentation governing such other Indebtedness) secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Obligations (provided that such other Indebtedness shall in no event receive more than its ratable amount) in an aggregate principal amount equal to the excess, if any, of (i) the Applicable Prepayment Percentage of Excess Cash Flow for such fiscal year over (ii) other than to the extent funded with the incurrence of Indebtedness (excluding any loan proceeds provided under the Revolving Credit Agreement or any other revolving credit facility permitted under Section 6.01), the sum of (A) the aggregate principal amount of the Term Loans prepaid pursuant to Section 2.12, (B) a ratable portion of the aggregate principal amount of other Indebtedness that is secured by Liens on the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Obligations that was prepaid, (C) the aggregate amount of cash expended to acquire Term Loans in accordance with Section 9.04(k) and (D) the aggregate principal amount of loans voluntarily prepaid pursuant to the Revolving Credit Agreement to the extent accompanied by a permanent reduction of such revolving commitments under the Revolving Credit Agreement, in each case, (x) during such Excess Cash Flow Period or (y) after the end of such Excess Cash Flow Period and prior to the time such prepayment pursuant to this Section 2.13(d) is due (it being understood that any such reduction taken pursuant to clause (y) above shall not be deducted in connection with the calculation of the prepayment required pursuant to this Section 2.13(d) for the immediately succeeding fiscal year). Each prepayment pursuant to this paragraph shall be made on or prior to the date that is five Business Days after the date on which financial statements are delivered pursuant to Section 5.04 with respect to the fiscal year for which Excess Cash Flow is being calculated (and in any event on or prior to the date that is five Business Days after the day that is 90 days after the end of such fiscal year).

(e) [Intentionally Omitted].

(f) [Intentionally Omitted].

(g) [Intentionally Omitted].

 

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(h) The Borrowing Agent shall notify the Administrative Agent by telephone (confirmed by fax or electronic mail) of any mandatory prepayment hereunder (i) in the case of prepayment of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 1:00 p.m., Local Time, three Business Days (or, in the case of a mandatory prepayment under paragraph (c) or (d), five Business Days), before the date of prepayment, or, in each case, such shorter period as the Administrative Agent may allow or (ii) in the case of prepayment of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 1:00 p.m., Local Time, one Business Day (or, in the case of a mandatory prepayment under paragraph (c) or (d) above, five Business Days or such shorter period as the Administrative Agent may allow) before the date of prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date, the principal amount of the Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid and, in the case of a mandatory prepayment under paragraph (c) or (d) above, a reasonably detailed calculation, certified by a Financial Officer of the Borrowers, of the amount of such prepayment; provided that a notice of prepayment may be revoked if such notice states that the prepayment is conditioned upon consummation of a refinancing or other transaction and if the Borrowers notify the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified prepayment date that such condition has not been satisfied and the notice is revoked. Promptly following receipt of such notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof and, other than in the case of a Prepayment Event that is a Debt Incurrence, the Lenders have, not less than two Business Days prior to the date of required prepayment, the right to refuse any such prepayment by giving written notice of such refusal to the Administrative Agent and the Borrowing Agent. The Borrowers will make all such prepayments not so refused upon the date set forth above for such prepayment and any refused proceeds may be retained by the Borrowers (the “Declined Proceeds”). All mandatory prepayments shall be subject to Section 2.16, but shall otherwise be without premium or penalty, and shall be accompanied by accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount to be prepaid to but excluding the date of prepayment.

(i) Mandatory prepayments of the outstanding Loans under this Agreement shall be applied against the remaining scheduled installments of principal due in respect of the Loans under Section 2.11 in the direct order of their maturity, unless, in the case of New Loans, otherwise provided in the applicable Incremental Facility Joinder Agreement.

(j) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 2.13, (i) to the extent that any or all of the Net Cash Proceeds of any Asset Sale by a non-Loan Party (a “Non-Loan Party Asset Sale”) or Excess Cash Flow attributable to a non-Loan Party, are prohibited, delayed or restricted by applicable local law, rule or regulation from being repatriated to the United States, the portion of such Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow so affected will not be required to be applied to repay Term Loans at the times provided in this Section 2.13 but may be retained by the applicable non-Loan Party so long, but only so long, as the applicable local law, rule or regulation will not permit repatriation to the United States (the Borrowers hereby agreeing to cause the applicable non-Loan Party to promptly take commercially reasonable actions required by the applicable local law, rule or regulation to permit such repatriation), and once such repatriation of any of such affected Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow is permitted under the applicable local law, rule or regulation, such repatriation will be promptly effected and such repatriated Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow will be promptly (and in any event not later than two Business Days after such repatriation) applied (net of additional taxes payable or reserved against as a result thereof) to the repayment of the Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.13, and (ii) to the extent that the Borrowers have determined in good

 

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faith that repatriation of any of or all the Net Cash Proceeds of any Non-Loan Party Asset Sale or Excess Cash Flow would have a material adverse tax cost consequence with respect to such Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow, the Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow so affected may be retained by the applicable non-Loan Party.

SECTION 2.14 Reserve Requirements; Change in Circumstances.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if any Change in Law: (i) shall impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of or credit extended by any Lender (except any such reserve requirement which is reflected in the Adjusted LIBO Rate); (ii) subjects the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of a Borrower hereunder to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes, (B) Taxes described in clauses (b) through (d) of the definition of Excluded Taxes, and (C) Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto; or (iii) or shall impose on such Lender or the London interbank market any other condition (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Loans made by such Lender or participation therein, and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender making or maintaining any Eurodollar Loan or increase the cost to any Lender or purchasing or maintaining a participation therein or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender hereunder (whether of principal, interest or otherwise) by an amount deemed by such Lender to be material, then the Borrowers will pay to such Lender, upon demand such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered; provided that in the case of any Change in Law only applicable as a result of the proviso set forth in the definition thereof, such Lender will only be compensated to the extent the applicable Lender is imposing such charges on other generally similarly situated borrowers (but not necessarily all such borrowers) under comparable syndicated credit facilities.

(b) If any Lender shall have determined that any Change in Law regarding capital adequacy or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement or the Loans made by such Lender pursuant hereto to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity) by an amount deemed by such Lender to be material, then from time to time the Borrowers shall pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

(c) A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company, as applicable, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) above, with calculations thereof, shall be delivered to the Borrowers and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrowers shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate delivered by it within 10 days after its receipt of the same.

 

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(d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation for any increased costs or reduction in amounts received or receivable or reduction in return on capital shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrowers shall not be under any obligation to compensate any Lender under paragraph (a) or (b) above with respect to increased costs or reductions with respect to any period prior to the date that is 120 days prior to such request if such Lender knew or could reasonably have been expected to know of the circumstances giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of the fact that such circumstances would result in a claim for increased compensation by reason of such increased costs or reductions; provided further that the foregoing limitation shall not apply to any increased costs or reductions arising out of the retroactive application of any Change in Law within such 120-day period. The protection of this Section 2.14 shall be available to each Lender regardless of any possible contention of the invalidity or inapplicability of the Change in Law that shall have occurred or been imposed.

SECTION 2.15 Change in Legality.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if any Change in Law shall make it unlawful for any Lender to make or maintain any Eurodollar Loan or to give effect to its obligations as contemplated hereby with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, then, by written notice to the Borrowers and to the Administrative Agent:

(i) such Lender may declare that Eurodollar Loans will not thereafter (for the duration of such unlawfulness) be made by such Lender hereunder (or be continued for additional Interest Periods) and ABR Loans will not thereafter (for such duration) be converted into Eurodollar Loans, whereupon any request for a Eurodollar Borrowing (or to convert an ABR Borrowing to a Eurodollar Borrowing or to continue a Eurodollar Borrowing for an additional Interest Period) shall, as to such Lender only, be deemed a request for an ABR Loan (or a request to continue an ABR Loan as such for an additional Interest Period or to convert such a Eurodollar Loan into an ABR Loan, as the case may be); and

(ii) such Lender may require that all outstanding Eurodollar Loans made by it be converted to ABR Loans, in which event all such Eurodollar Loans shall be automatically converted to ABR Loans as of the effective date of such notice as provided in paragraph (b) below.

In the event any Lender shall exercise its rights under clause (i) or (ii) above, all payments and prepayments of principal that would otherwise have been applied to repay the Eurodollar Loans that would have been made by such Lender or the converted Eurodollar Loans of such Lender shall instead be applied to repay the ABR Loans made by such Lender in lieu of, or resulting from the conversion of, such Eurodollar Loans.

(b) For purposes of this Section 2.15, a notice to the Borrowers by any Lender shall be effective as to each Eurodollar Loan made by such Lender, if lawful, on the last day of the Interest Period then applicable to such Eurodollar Loan; in all other cases such notice shall be effective on the date of receipt by the Borrowers.

 

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SECTION 2.16 Indemnity. The Borrowers shall indemnify each Lender against any loss or expense (other than any loss of the Applicable Percentage or other profit margin) that such Lender may sustain or incur as a consequence of (a) any event, other than a default by such Lender in the performance of its obligations hereunder, which results in (i) such Lender receiving or being deemed to receive any amount on account of the principal of any Eurodollar Loan prior to the end of the Interest Period in effect therefor (including pursuant to a required assignment pursuant to Section 2.21(a)), (ii) the conversion of any Eurodollar Loan to an ABR Loan, or the conversion of the Interest Period with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, in each case other than on the last day of the Interest Period in effect therefor, or (iii) any Eurodollar Loan to be made by such Lender (including any Eurodollar Loan to be made pursuant to a conversion or continuation under Section 2.10) not being made after notice of such Loan shall have been given by a Borrower hereunder (any of the events referred to in this clause (a) being called a “Breakage Event”) or (b) any default in the making of any payment or prepayment required to be made hereunder. In the case of any Breakage Event, such loss shall be equal to the excess, as reasonably determined by such Lender, of (i) its cost of obtaining funds for the Eurodollar Loan that is the subject of such Breakage Event for the period from the date of such Breakage Event to the last day of the Interest Period in effect (or that would have been in effect) for such Loan over (ii) the amount of interest likely to be realized by such Lender in redeploying the funds released or not utilized by reason of such Breakage Event for such period. A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts which such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 2.16 with calculations thereof, shall be delivered to the Borrowers and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand indemnification under this Section 2.16 shall not constitute a waiver of such right to demand such indemnification; provided that the Borrowers shall not be under any obligation to indemnify any Lender under this Section 2.16 for any claim made more than 180 days after the applicable Breakage Event.

SECTION 2.17 Pro Rata Treatment. Except as required under Section 2.12, 2.13(i) or 2.15, each Borrowing, each payment or prepayment of principal of any Borrowing, each payment of interest on the Loans, each reduction of the Term Loan Commitments of any Series and each conversion of any Borrowing to or continuation of any Borrowing as a Borrowing of any Type shall be allocated pro rata among the Lenders in accordance with their respective applicable Commitments (or, if such Commitments shall have expired or been terminated, in accordance with the respective principal amounts of their outstanding Loans of the applicable Series). Each Lender agrees that in computing such Lender’s portion of any Borrowing to be made hereunder, the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion, round each Lender’s percentage of such Borrowing to the next higher or lower whole dollar amount.

SECTION 2.18 Sharing of Setoffs. Each Lender agrees that if it shall, through the exercise of a right of banker’s lien, setoff or counterclaim against any Borrower or any other Loan Party, or pursuant to a secured claim under section 506 of the Bankruptcy Code or other security or interest arising from, or in lieu of, such secured claim, received by such Lender under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law or otherwise, or by any other means, obtain payment (voluntary or involuntary) in respect of any Loans as a result of which the unpaid principal portion of its Loans shall be proportionately less than the unpaid principal portion of the Loans of any other Lender, it shall be deemed simultaneously to have purchased from such other Lender at face value, and shall promptly pay to such other Lender the purchase price for, a

 

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participation in the Loans of such other Lender, so that the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Loans and participations in Loans held by each Lender shall be in the same proportion to the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Loans then outstanding as the principal amount of its Loans prior to such exercise of banker’s lien, setoff or counterclaim or other event was to the principal amount of all Loans outstanding prior to such exercise of banker’s lien, setoff or counterclaim or other event; provided, however, that if any such purchase or purchases or adjustments shall be made pursuant to this Section 2.18 and the payment giving rise thereto shall thereafter be recovered, such purchase or purchases or adjustments shall be rescinded to the extent of such recovery and the purchase price or prices or adjustment restored without interest. The Loan Parties expressly consent to the foregoing arrangements and agree that any Lender holding a participation in a Loan deemed to have been so purchased may exercise any and all rights of banker’s lien, setoff or counterclaim with respect to any and all moneys owing by any Loan Party to such Lender by reason thereof as fully as if such Lender had made a Loan directly to a Borrower in the amount of such participation. The provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by any Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement.

SECTION 2.19 Payments.

(a) Each Borrower shall make each payment (including principal of or interest on any Borrowing or any Fees or other amounts) hereunder and under any other Loan Document not later than 1:00 p.m., Local Time, on the date when due in immediately available U.S. Dollars, without setoff, defense or counterclaim. Each such payment shall be made to the Administrative Agent at its address set forth in Section 9.01. The Administrative Agent shall promptly distribute to each Lender any payments received by the Administrative Agent on behalf of such Lender.

(b) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, whenever any payment (including principal of or interest on any Borrowing or any Fees or other amounts) hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall become due, or otherwise would occur, on a day that is not a Business Day, such payment may be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and such extension of time shall in such case be included in the computation of interest or Fees, if applicable.

(c) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the applicable Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders hereunder that such Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders the amount due. In such event, if such Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender, with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

 

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SECTION 2.20 Taxes.

(a) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of a Borrower or any other Loan Party hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, unless required by applicable law. If any applicable law (as determined in good faith discretion of an applicable Withholding Agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from such payment by such Withholding Agent, then the applicable Withholding Agent shall be entitled to make such deduction and withholding of such Tax and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law. If such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the applicable Loan Party shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions or withholdings (including deductions or withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the Administrative Agent or Lender (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions or withholdings been made.

(b) In addition, each Borrower shall timely pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

(c) Each Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender, within 10 days after receipt of the certificate referred to below, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes paid by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, on or with respect to any payment by or on account of any obligation of such Borrower or any other Loan Party hereunder or under any other Loan Document (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) and any penalties, interest and any other reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority; provided, however, that if the Borrower reasonably believes that any such Indemnified Taxes were not correctly or legally asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority, the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, will use reasonable efforts to cooperate with such Borrower to obtain a refund of such Taxes so long as such efforts would not result in any additional cost, expense or risk or be otherwise disadvantageous to any of the Administrative Agent or such Lender. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability setting forth in reasonable detail the calculation thereof delivered to the Borrowers by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on behalf of itself or a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(d) As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by a Borrower or any other Loan Party to a Governmental Authority, such Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(e) Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within 10 days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that the Loan Parties has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of such Loan Parties to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 9.04(f) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes

 

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attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this paragraph (e).

(f) Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which a Borrower is located, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments under this Agreement shall deliver to such Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at such other time or times prescribed by applicable law or as reasonably requested by such Borrower, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by such Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding sentence, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth below) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender. In addition, each Foreign Lender shall, to the extent legally entitled to do so, (i) furnish on or before it becomes a party to this Agreement to the Borrowers (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) either (a) two executed copies of IRS Form W 8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or successor form) executed copies of IRS Form W 8ECI (or successor form), as applicable, certifying, in either case, such Foreign Lender’s legal entitlement to an exemption from U.S. federal withholding tax with respect to all payments hereunder or (b) to the extent the Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed copies of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN, or IRS Form W-8BEN-E (together with a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-1, H-2, H-3 or H-4 (as applicable), if the beneficial owner providing the IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E is relying on the so-called portfolio interest exemption), IRS Form W-9 or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable, and, if applicable further IRS Forms W-8IMY with the accompanying documentation described in this clause (b), and (ii) provide a new Form W 8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or successor form) or IRS Form W 8ECI (or successor form) to the Borrowers (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) (a) upon the expiration or obsolescence of any previously delivered form or if the information on such form is or becomes incorrect, (b) at such other time or times prescribed by applicable law, or (c) as reasonably requested by the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent, to reconfirm any exemption from U.S. federal withholding tax with respect to any payment hereunder; provided that any Foreign Lender that is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrowers within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” related to the Borrowers as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code, and is relying on the so called “portfolio interest exemption” shall also furnish a statement substantially in the form of Exhibit H-1, H-2, H-3 or H-4 (as applicable), together with the applicable form. Any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrowers (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), (w) on

 

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or before the date such Lender becomes a party to this Agreement, (x) upon the expiration or obsolescence of any previously delivered form or if the information on such form is or becomes incorrect, (y) at such other time or times prescribed by applicable law, or (z) as reasonably requested by the Borrowers, two accurate and complete originally executed copies of IRS Form W 9, or any successor form certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. backup withholding.

(g) If a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this clause (g), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

(h) If the Administrative Agent or any Lender determines, in its reasonable discretion, that it has received a refund in respect of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes as to which indemnification or additional amounts have been paid to it by a Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.20, it shall promptly remit such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by such Borrower under this Section 2.20 with respect to the Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund plus any interest included in such refund by the relevant Governmental Authority attributable thereto) to such Borrower, net of all out of pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund to the Administrative Agent or Lender, as applicable); provided, that a Borrower, upon the request of the Administrative Agent or Lender agrees to repay as soon as reasonably practicable the amount paid over to such Borrower (plus penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent or Lender to the extent the Administrative Agent or Lender is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (h), in no event with the Administrative Agent or any Lender be required to pay any amount pursuant to this paragraph (h) the payment of which would place the Administrative Agent or any Lender in a less favorable net after Tax position than such Administrative Agent or Lender would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid.    This Section shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes which it deems confidential) to any Borrower or any other person.

 

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(i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, each party’s obligations under this Section 2.20 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Loan Document.

SECTION 2.21 Assignment of Commitments Under Certain Circumstances; Duty to Mitigate.

(a) In the event (i) any Lender delivers a certificate requesting compensation pursuant to Section 2.14, (ii) any Lender delivers a notice described in Section 2.15, (iii) a Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority on account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.20, (iv) that the Borrower has requested that the Lenders consent to an extension of the Maturity Date of any Class of Loans as permitted by Section 2.22, and any Lender does not agree to such extension, or (v) any Lender refuses to consent to any amendment, waiver or other modification of any Loan Document requested by the Borrowers that requires the consent of a greater percentage of the Lenders than the Required Lenders and such amendment, waiver or other modification is consented to by the Required Lenders, the Borrowers may, at their sole expense and effort (including with respect to the processing and recordation fee referred to in Section 9.04(b)), upon notice to such Lender, and the Administrative Agent, require any such Lender to transfer and assign, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 9.04), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement to an assignee that shall assume such assigned obligations and, with respect to clause (iv) above, shall consent to such requested amendment, waiver or other modification of any Loan Documents (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (x) such assignment shall not conflict with any law, rule or regulation or order of any court or other Governmental Authority having jurisdiction, (y) the Borrowers shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, which consents shall not unreasonably be withheld or delayed, and (z) the Borrowers or such assignee shall have paid to the affected Lender in immediately available funds an amount equal to the sum of the principal of and interest accrued to the date of such payment on the outstanding Loans of such Lender, plus all Fees and other amounts accrued for the account of such Lender hereunder with respect thereto (including any amounts under Sections 2.14 and 2.16 and if such assignment occurs in connection with any consent, modification or amendment that would result in a Repricing Event that occurs after the Closing Date but on or prior to the date that is 12 months after the Closing Date, the prepayment premium that would be payable pursuant to Section 2.12(e) if the Loans of such Lender subject to such assignment had been prepaid by the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.12); provided further that, if prior to any such transfer and assignment the circumstances or event that resulted in such Lender’s claim for compensation under Section 2.14, notice under Section 2.15 or the amounts paid pursuant to Section 2.20, as the case may be, cease to cause such Lender to suffer increased costs or reductions in amounts received or receivable or reduction in return on capital, or cease to have the consequences specified in Section 2.15, or cease to result in amounts being payable under Section 2.20, as the case may be (including as a result of any action taken by such Lender pursuant to paragraph (b) below), or if such Lender shall waive its right to claim further compensation under Section 2.14 in respect of such circumstances or event or shall withdraw its notice under Section 2.15 or shall waive its right to further payments under Section 2.20 in respect of such circumstances or event or shall consent to the proposed amendment, waiver, consent or other modification, as the case may be, then such Lender shall not thereafter be required to make any

 

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such transfer and assignment hereunder. Each Lender hereby agrees that, in the event a Borrower exercises its rights under and in accordance with this Section 2.21 to effect a transfer and assignment of such Lender’s interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement (which may be effected without such Lender’s consent or execution and delivery of any Assignment and Acceptance), such Lender shall no longer be a party hereto or have any rights or obligations hereunder; provided that (i) the obligations of the Borrowers to such Lender under this Agreement which by their terms survive the termination of this Agreement or the transfer and assignment of the interests of a Lender hereunder and (ii) the obligations of such Lender under Section 9.05 (with respect to unreimbursed expenses or indemnity payments sought before or as a result of such assignment) shall, in each case, survive the Borrowers’ exercise of such rights.

(b) If (i) any Lender shall request compensation under Section 2.14, (ii) any Lender delivers a notice described in Section 2.15 or (iii) a Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority on account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.20, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts (which shall not require such Lender to incur an unreimbursed loss or unreimbursed cost or expense or otherwise take any action inconsistent with its internal policies or legal or regulatory restrictions or suffer any disadvantage or burden deemed by it to be significant) (x) to file any certificate or document reasonably requested in writing by the Borrowers or (y) to assign its rights and delegate and transfer its obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if such filing or assignment would reduce its claims for compensation under Section 2.14 or enable it to withdraw its notice pursuant to Section 2.15 or would reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.20, as the case may be, in the future. Each Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such filing or assignment, delegation and transfer.

SECTION 2.22 Extensions of Term Loans.

(a) The Borrowers may at any time and from time to time request that all or a portion of each Term Loan of any Class (an “Existing Term Loan Class”) be converted or exchanged to extend the scheduled final maturity date(s) of any payment of principal with respect to all or a portion of any principal amount of such Term Loans (any such Term Loans which have been so extended, “Extended Term Loans”) and to provide for other terms consistent with this Section 2.22. Prior to entering into any Extension Agreement with respect to any Extended Term Loans, the Borrowers shall provide written notice to the Administrative Agent (who shall provide a copy of such notice to each of the Lenders of the applicable Existing Term Loan Class, with such request offered equally to all such Lenders of such Existing Term Loan Class) (a “Term Loan Extension Request”) setting forth the proposed terms of the Extended Term Loans to be established, which terms shall be similar to the Term Loans of the Existing Term Loan Class from which they are to be extended except that (w) the scheduled final maturity date shall be extended and all or any of the scheduled amortization payments of all or a portion of any principal amount of such Extended Term Loans may be delayed to later dates than the scheduled amortization of principal of the Term Loans of such Existing Term Loan Class (with any such delay resulting in a corresponding adjustment to the scheduled amortization payments reflected in Section 2.11 or in the Extension Agreement or the Incremental Facility Joinder Agreement, as the case may be, with respect to the Existing Term Loan Class of the Term Loans from which such Extended Term Loans were extended, in each case as more

 

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particularly set forth in Section 2.22(c) below), (x)(A) the interest rates (including through fixed interest rates), interest margins, rate floors, upfront fees, funding discounts, original issue discounts and prepayment terms and premiums with respect to the Extended Term Loans may be different than those for the Term Loans of such Existing Term Loan Class and/or (B) additional fees and/or premiums may be payable to the Lenders providing such Extended Term Loans in addition to any of the items contemplated by the preceding clause (A), in each case, to the extent provided in the applicable Extension Agreement, (y) subject to the provisions set forth in Sections 2.12 and 2.13, the Extended Term Loans may have optional prepayment terms (including call protection and prepayment terms and premiums) and mandatory prepayment terms as may be agreed between the Borrowers and the Lenders thereof and (z) the Extension Agreement may provide for other covenants and terms that apply to any period after the Latest Maturity Date. No Lender shall have any obligation to agree to have any of its Term Loans of any Existing Term Loan Class converted into Extended Term Loans pursuant to any Term Loan Extension Request. Any Extended Term Loans of any Extension Series shall constitute a separate Class of Term Loans from the Existing Term Loan Class of Term Loans from which they were extended.

(b) The Borrowers shall provide the applicable Extension Request to the Administrative Agent at least five (5) Business Days (or such shorter period as the Administrative Agent may determine in its reasonable discretion) prior to the date on which Lenders under the Existing Term Loan Class are requested to respond, and shall agree to such procedures, if any, as may be established by, or acceptable to, the Administrative Agent, in each case acting reasonably, to accomplish the purpose of this Section 2.22. Any Lender (an “Extending Lender”) wishing to have all or a portion of its Term Loans of the Existing Term Loan Class subject to such Extension Request converted or exchanged into Extended Term Loans shall notify the Administrative Agent (an “Extension Election”) on or prior to the date specified in such Extension Request of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of its Term Loans of the applicable Existing Term Loan Class which it has elected to convert or exchange into Extended Term Loans (subject to any reasonable minimum denomination requirements imposed by the Administrative Agent). In the event that the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans of the applicable Existing Term Loan Class subject to Extension Elections exceeds the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Extended Term Loans requested pursuant to the Extension Request, Term Loans of the applicable Existing Term Loan Class that are, subject to Extension Elections shall be converted to or exchanged for Extended Term Loans on a pro rata basis (subject to such rounding requirements as may be established by the Administrative Agent) based on the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans of the applicable Existing Term Loan Class included in each such Extension Election or as may be otherwise agreed to in the applicable Extension Agreement.

(c) Extended Term Loans shall be established pursuant to an amendment (an “Extension Agreement”) to this Agreement (which, except to the extent expressly contemplated by the penultimate sentence of this Section 2.22(c) and notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in Section 9.08, shall not require the consent of any Lender other than the Extending Lenders with respect to the Extended Term Loans established thereby) executed by the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent and the Extending Lenders. In addition to any terms and changes required or permitted by Section 2.22(a), each Extension Agreement in respect of Extended Term Loans shall amend the scheduled amortization payments pursuant to Section

 

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2.11 or the applicable Incremental Facility Joinder Agreement or Extension Agreement with respect to the Existing Term Loan Class from which the Extended Term Loans were converted or exchanged to reduce each scheduled installment repayment amount for the Existing Term Loan Class in the same proportion as the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Term Loans of the applicable Existing Term Loan Class is to be reduced pursuant to such Extension Agreement (it being understood that the amount of any scheduled installment repayment amount payable with respect to any individual Term Loan of such Existing Term Loan Class that is not an Extended Term Loan shall not be reduced as a result thereof). In connection with any Extension Agreement, the Borrowers shall deliver an opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and addressed to the Administrative Agent and the applicable Extending Lenders (i) as to the enforceability of such Extension Agreement, this Agreement as amended thereby, and such of the other Loan Documents (if any) as may be amended thereby (in the case of such other Loan Documents as contemplated by the immediately preceding sentence) and covering customary matters and (ii) to the effect that such Extension Agreement, including the Extended Term Loans provided for therein, does not breach or result in a default under the provisions of Section 9.08 of this Agreement.

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, on any date on which any Term Loans of an Existing Term Loan Class is converted or exchanged to extend the related scheduled maturity date(s) in accordance with Section 2.22(a) (an “Extension Date”), in the case of the existing Term Loans of each Extending Lender, the aggregate principal amount of such existing Term Loans shall be deemed reduced by an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Extended Term Loans so converted or exchanged by such Lender on such date, and the Extended Term Loans shall be established as a separate Class of Term Loans (together with any other Extended Term Loans so established on such date).

(e) In the event that the Administrative Agent determines in its sole discretion that the allocation of Extended Term Loans of a given Extension Series to a given Lender was incorrectly determined as a result of manifest administrative error in the receipt and processing of an Extension Election timely submitted by such Lender in accordance with the procedures set forth in the applicable Extension Agreement, then the Administrative Agent, the Borrowers and such affected Lender may (and hereby are authorized to), in their sole discretion and without the consent of any other Lender, enter into an amendment to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (each, a “Corrective Extension Agreement”) within 15 days following the effective date of such Extension Agreement, which Corrective Extension Agreement shall (i) provide for the conversion or exchange and extension of Term Loans under the Existing Term Loan Class in such principal amount as is required to cause such Lender to hold Extended Term Loans of the applicable Extension Series into which such other Term Loans were initially converted or exchanged, as the case may be, in the principal amount such Lender would have held had such administrative error not occurred and had such Lender received the minimum allocation of the applicable Loans or Commitments to which it was entitled under the terms of such Extension Agreement in the absence of such error, (ii) be subject to the satisfaction of such conditions as the Administrative Agent, the Borrowers and such Lender may agree (including conditions of the type required to be satisfied for the effectiveness of an Extension Agreement described in Section 2.22(c)), and (iii) effect such other amendments of the type (with appropriate reference and nomenclature changes) described in the penultimate sentence of Section 2.22(c).

 

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(f) No conversion or exchange of Loans or Commitments pursuant to any Extension Agreement in accordance with this Section 2.22 shall constitute a voluntary or mandatory payment or prepayment for purposes of this Agreement.

(g) This Section 2.22 shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.02 or Section 9.08 to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, any of the provisions of this Section 2.22 may be amended with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided that no such amendment shall require any Lender to provide any Extended Term Loans without such Lender’s consent.

SECTION 2.23 Refinancing Facilities. The Borrowing Agent may by written notice to Administrative Agent elect to establish one or more additional tranches of term loans under this Agreement (“Refinancing Term Facility”) or new revolving credit facilities under this Agreement (“Refinancing Revolving Facility” and together with any Refinancing Term Facility, “Refinancing Facility”) or one or more series of senior unsecured notes or senior secured notes (“Refinancing Notes” and, together with any Refinancing Facilities, “Refinancing Debt”), in each case, to refinance the any or all Series of Loans or replace New Revolving Loan Commitments, as the case may be, in whole or in part, and that will be secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Obligations or secured by the Collateral by Liens that are junior and subordinated to the Liens thereon securing the Obligations. Each such notice shall specify the date on which the Borrower proposes that the Refinancing Debt shall become effective; provided that:

(a) such Refinancing Term Facility shall mature no earlier than, and the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such Refinancing Term Facility shall not be shorter than, the then remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Term Loans being refinanced;

(b) such Refinancing Notes shall mature no earlier than, and shall not have mandatory prepayment provisions (other than related to customary asset sale and change of control offers) that could result in prepayments of such Refinancing Notes prior to, the Loans being refinanced;

(c) such Refinancing Revolving Facility shall mature no earlier than (or require commitment reductions or amortization prior to) the maturity date of the New Revolving Loan Commitments being refinanced or replaced;

(d) there shall be no borrowers or guarantors in respect of any Refinancing Debt that is not a Borrower or Guarantor;

(e) such Refinancing Facility or Refinancing Notes will have such pricing, premiums and, to the extent not directly and adversely affecting the Lenders of Loans outstanding hereunder (except in the case of any applicable Refinancing Facility) immediately after giving effect to such refinancing, optional prepayment or redemption terms as may be agreed by the Borrowers and the lenders or holders providing such Refinancing Facility or Refinancing Notes;

 

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(f) if necessary, the Loan Parties and the Collateral Agent shall enter into such amendments to the Security Documents as may be requested by the Collateral Agent (which shall not require any consent from any Lender) in order to ensure that the Refinancing Facility or Refinancing Notes are provided with the benefit of the applicable Security Documents and shall deliver such other documents, certificates and opinions of counsel in connection therewith as may be requested by the Collateral Agent;

(g) the Net Cash Proceeds of such Refinancing Facility or Refinancing Notes shall be applied to the repayment of the then outstanding applicable Loans on the date of such incurrence in accordance with Section 2.12;

(h) with respect to any Refinancing Notes secured by Liens on Collateral or any Refinancing Term Facility secured by Liens on Collateral that are junior and subordinated to the Liens thereon securing the Obligations, such agreements or Liens shall be subject to an Intercreditor Agreement;

(i) the aggregate principal amount of any Refinancing Debt shall not be greater than the aggregate principal amount (or committed amount) of the Term Loan Facility or New Loan, as the case may be, being refinanced or replaced plus any fees, premiums, original issue discount and accrued interest associated therewith, and costs and expenses related thereto, and such Term Loan Facility or New Loan being refinanced or replaced shall be permanently reduced substantially simultaneously with the issuance thereof; and

(j) the other terms and conditions (excluding pricing, call protection, premiums and prepayment or redemption terms, or covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the maturity date of the Indebtedness being refinanced), taken as a whole, of any such Refinancing Debt shall either be, (x) substantially similar to, or not materially less favorable to the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries, than, the terms and conditions, taken as a whole, applicable to the Term Loan Facility or the New Revolving Loan Commitments being refinanced or replaced, or (y) on market terms at the time of the establishment of such Refinancing Debt (in each case, as reasonably determined by Holdings) (except for, in each case, (1) terms otherwise implicitly permitted by this Section 2.23, (2) covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the latest maturity date of the relevant Indebtedness being refinanced or replaced, or (3) to the extent any more restrictive covenant or provision is added for the benefit of the Lenders under this Agreement to the extent it remains outstanding after the incurrence of such Refinancing Debt; it being understood and agreed that in each such case, no consent of the Administrative Agent and/or any Lender shall be required in connection with adding such covenant or provision); provided that a certificate of a Responsible Officer delivered to the Administrative Agent at least five (5) Business Days prior to the incurrence of such Refinancing Debt, together with a reasonably detailed description of the material terms and conditions of such Refinancing Debt or drafts of the documentation relating thereto, stating that Holdings has determined in good faith that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirement, shall be conclusive evidence that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirement unless the Administrative Agent notifies Holdings within such five Business Day period that it disagrees with such determination (including a reasonable description of the basis upon which it disagrees).

 

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SECTION 2.24 Incremental Facilities.

(a) The Borrowers may, by written notice to the Administrative Agent from time to time, elect to request prior to the Term Loan Maturity Date, the establishment of (i) term loan commitments under one or more new term loan tranches (any such term loan commitment, a “New Term Loan Commitment”; any Loan made in respect thereof, a “New Term Loan”) or (ii) one additional revolving credit facility (any such revolving commitment, a “New Revolving Loan Commitment” and together any New Term Loan Commitment, the “New Commitments”; any Loan made in respect thereof, a “New Revolving Loan” and together with any New Term Loan, the “New Loans”) that:

(i) do not exceed the Incremental Amount at the time any such New Commitment is established; provided, that New Loans may be incurred without regard to the Incremental Amount, to the extent that the proceeds from such New Term Loans are used on the date of incurrence (or substantially concurrent with the date of incurrence) of such New Term Loans to either prepay Loans in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.12 or to permanently reduce commitments under a revolving credit facility permitted under Section 6.01(g) by an amount equal to the aggregate amount of the New Revolving Loan Commitments so provided; and

(ii) are individually not less than $20,000,000 (or any lesser amount that is approved by the Administrative Agent) and integral multiples of $5,000,000 in excess of that amount, or equal to the remaining Incremental Amount (or any lesser amount that is approved by the Administrative Agent).

Each such notice shall specify (A) the date (each, a “New Loan Date”) on which the Borrowers propose that the New Commitments shall be effective, which shall be a date not less than five Business Days after the date on which such notice is delivered to the Administrative Agent and (B) the identity of each Lender or Affiliate of a Lender or other Person that is consented to by the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) to whom the Borrowers propose any portion of such New Commitments be allocated and the amounts of such allocations; provided that any Lender approached to provide all or a portion of the New Commitments may elect or decline, in its sole discretion, to provide a portion of such New Commitments. Such New Commitments, as applicable, shall become effective as of such New Loan Date; provided that (1) no Event of Default shall exist on such New Loan Date before or after giving effect to such New Commitments, as the case may be, except, in the case (x) of a provision of any New Loan in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or an Acquisition, to the extent such condition is omitted by the applicable Incremental Facility Joinder Agreement and (y) that the proceeds of such New Loans are being used to finance a Limited Condition Transaction, in which case no Event of Default under Sections 7.01(b), 7.01(c), 7.01 (g) or 7.01(h) shall exist on such New Loan Date before or after giving effect to such New Commitments; (2) such New Commitments shall be effected pursuant to one or more Incremental Facility Joinder Agreements executed and delivered by the Loan Parties to the Administrative Agent and each of which shall be recorded in the Register and shall be subject to the requirements set forth in Section 2.20; (3) the Borrowers shall make any payments required pursuant to Section 2.16 in connection with such New Commitments; (4) the interest rate margins, original issue discount, upfront fees (if any) and interest rate floors (if any) for any New Loan shall be determined by the Borrowers and the applicable Lender; provided that if the Yield in respect of any New Term Loans exceeds the Yield with respect to the Term Loan by more

 

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than 50 basis points, the Applicable Percentage with respect to the Term Loan shall be automatically increased on the New Loan Date with respect to the Term Loan so that the Yield for the Term Loan is equal to the Yield with respect to such New Term Loans minus 50 basis points; provided further that, if the Adjusted LIBO Rate in respect of such New Term Loan includes a floor greater than the floor applicable to the Term Loan and such floor is greater than the Adjusted LIBO Rate in effect for a 3-month interest period at such time, such excess amount (above the greater of such floor and such Adjusted LIBO Rate) shall be equated to interest rate for purposes of determining the applicable interest rate under such New Term Loan; provided further this clause (4) shall not apply to any New Term Loan that ranks junior in right of security to the Term Loan Facility, (5) the final maturity date of any New Term Loan shall be no earlier than the Term Loan Maturity Date and such New Term Loan shall have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity no shorter than that of the remaining Term Loans; (6) all representations and warranties made in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects (or if already qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, true and correct in all respects) immediately prior to, and after giving effect to, such New Commitments on such date; provided that to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, they shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date; (7) the New Loans shall be senior secured obligations and shall rank pari passu with or, at the Borrowers’ option, junior in right of security to the Term Loan Facility; provided that, if such New Loans rank junior in right of security with the Term Loan Facility, (i) such New Loan will be established as a separate facility from the Term Loan Facility, and (ii) such New Loan shall be subject to an Intercreditor Agreement, (8) the New Revolving Loans will mature no earlier than the loans provided under the Revolving Credit Agreement and all other terms of any New Revolving Loans (other than pricing, maturity, financial maintenance covenants, participation in mandatory prepayments, borrowing mechanics, assignments and participations or other provisions customarily found in revolving credit facilities or asset based revolving credit facilities) shall be substantially similar to the Term Loan Facility or otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, (9) with respect to mandatory prepayments of any New Term Loan, no New Term Loan shall participate on a greater than pro rata basis than the Term Loans, and (10) the Borrowers shall deliver or cause to be delivered any other documents reasonably requested by Administrative Agent in connection with any such transaction. Once any New Commitments shall become effective as of their respective New Loan Dates in accordance with this Section 2.24(a), extensions of credit may be made thereunder in accordance with the terms of the applicable Incremental Facility Joinder Agreement without any additional conditions thereto; provided that, with respect to each such extension of credit, each of the conditions set forth in Article 4 shall be satisfied. Any New Loans made pursuant to New Commitments that become effective on a New Loan Date, as well as the Term Loans, shall be designated a separate series (a “Series”) of Loans for all purposes of this Agreement.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the proceeds of any New Loan will be used to consummate a Limited Condition Transaction, the condition set forth in clause (6) above that representations and warranties made in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects immediately prior to, and after giving effect to, such New Commitments on such date may instead be limited in accordance with the terms of the applicable Incremental Facility Joinder Agreement to the accuracy in all material respects of (i) the Specified Representations as are referred to in the definition of “Specified Representations” and (ii) in the case of a Permitted Acquisition or an Acquisition that is a Limited Condition Transaction, any

 

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representations and warranties made by or with respect to the target, its Subsidiaries and respective businesses in the acquisition, sale or purchase documentation in connection with such Permitted Acquisition or an Acquisition as are material to the interests of the Lenders (in their capacities as such) but only to the extent that Holdings or any of its Affiliate has the right to terminate its obligations under the applicable acquisition, sale or purchase documentation or decline to consummate the applicable acquisition as a result of a breach of such representation.

(b) The Administrative Agent shall notify Lenders promptly upon receipt of the Borrowers’ notice of each New Loan Date and in respect thereof the New Loan Commitments, the Lenders providing such New Commitments and their respective interests therein.

(c) The terms and provisions of the New Term Loans shall be identical to the Term Loan, except as otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent or explicitly permitted by this Section 2.24.

(d) Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that, upon the effectiveness of any Incremental Facility Joinder Agreement, this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent (but only to the extent) necessary to reflect the terms of the New Commitments evidenced thereby. Any such deemed amendment may be memorialized in writing by the Administrative Agent with the Borrowers’ consent (not to be unreasonably withheld) and furnished to the other parties hereto.

SECTION 2.25 Defaulting Lenders.

(a) Defaulting Lender Adjustments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, until such time as such Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, to the extent permitted by applicable law:

(i) Waivers and Amendments. Such Defaulting Lender’s right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement shall be restricted as set forth in the definition of Required Lenders.

(ii) Defaulting Lender Waterfall. Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article VII or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.08 or 9.06 shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, as the Borrowers may request (so long as no Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; third, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers, to be held in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement; fourth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any

 

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Lender, against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; fifth, so long as no Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrowers as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrowers against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and sixth, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans owed to, all Non-Defaulting Lenders holding Loans of the same Series as the Defaulting Lender on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Commitments. Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

(b) Defaulting Lender Cure. If the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent agree in writing that a Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender or a Potential Defaulting Lender, as the case may be, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein, that Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase at par that portion of outstanding Loans of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Loans of the applicable Series to be held pro rata by the Lenders in accordance with the Commitments of such Series, whereupon such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender or a Potential Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrowers while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided, further, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender or Potential Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender or a Potential Defaulting Lender.

SECTION 2.26 Flood Compliance Event. Any Flood Compliance Event described in part (b) or (c) of the definition thereof shall be subject to and conditioned upon: (1) the prior delivery of all Flood Insurance Documents and evidence of Flood Insurance with respect to all Mortgaged Properties as required by the Flood Insurance Laws and as otherwise reasonably required by the Administrative Agent and (2) the Administrative Agent shall have received written confirmation from the Lenders that flood insurance due diligence and flood insurance compliance have been completed by the Lenders (such written confirmation not to be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed).

 

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ARTICLE III

Representations and Warranties

Each Loan Party represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and each of the Lenders on the Closing Date:

SECTION 3.01 Organization; Powers. Each of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries (a) is duly organized or incorporated, validly existing and, to the extent recognized by the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, in good standing under the laws of such jurisdiction, (b) has all requisite power and authority to own its property and assets and to carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted, (c) is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing in, every jurisdiction where such qualification is required, except where the failure so to qualify could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect and (d) has the power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under each of the Loan Documents and each other agreement or instrument contemplated thereby to which it is or will be a party and, in the case of the Borrowers, to borrow hereunder.

SECTION 3.02 Authorization. The Transactions (a) have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate and, if required, stockholder action and (b) will not (i) violate (A) any provision of law, statute, rule or regulation, or of the certificate or articles of incorporation or other constitutive documents or by-laws of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, (B) any order of any Governmental Authority or (C) any provision of any indenture, agreement or other instrument to which Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary is a party or by which any of them or any of their property is or may be bound, (ii) be in conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute (alone or with notice or lapse of time or both) a default under, or give rise to any right to accelerate or to require the prepayment, repurchase or redemption of any obligation under any such indenture, agreement or other instrument or (iii) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon or with respect to any property or assets now owned or hereafter acquired by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Lien created hereunder or under the Security Documents or permitted Liens that are subject to an Intercreditor Agreement).

SECTION 3.03 Enforceability. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party and constitutes, and each other Loan Document when executed and delivered by each Loan Party will constitute (to the extent such persons are a party thereto), a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party enforceable against such Loan Party in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar laws relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or by general principles of equity.

SECTION 3.04 Governmental Approvals. No action, consent or approval of, registration or filing with or any other action by any Governmental Authority is or will be required in connection with the Transactions, except for (a) the filing of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements and filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, (b) recordation of the Mortgages, (c) filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and (d) such as have been made or obtained and are in full force and effect.

 

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SECTION 3.05 Intentionally Deleted.

SECTION 3.06 No Material Adverse Change. Since December 31, 2018, no event or condition has occurred or existed that, individually or in the aggregate, has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.07 Title to Properties; Possession Under Leases.

(a) Each of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries has good and marketable title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all its material properties and assets (including all Mortgaged Properties), except for (i) Liens permitted by Section 6.02, (ii) minor defects in title that do not materially interfere with its ability to conduct its business as currently conducted or to utilize such properties and assets for their intended purposes and (iii) where the failure to have such title in the aggregate could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Each of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries has complied with all obligations under all leases to which it is a party and all such leases are in full force and effect except for such noncompliance or ineffectiveness which, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) As of the Closing Date, neither Holdings nor any Subsidiary has received any notice of, nor has any knowledge of, any pending or contemplated condemnation proceeding affecting the Mortgaged Properties or any sale or disposition thereof in lieu of condemnation.

(d) As of the Closing Date, none of Holdings or any of the Subsidiaries is obligated under any right of first refusal, option or other contractual right to sell, assign or otherwise dispose of any Mortgaged Property or any interest therein.

SECTION 3.08 Subsidiaries. Schedule 3.08 sets forth as of the Closing Date a list of all Subsidiaries, including the correct legal name thereof, the jurisdiction in which each such person is organized or incorporated, the percentage ownership interest (whether direct or indirect) of Holdings therein and whether such Subsidiary is a Not for Profit Subsidiary. The shares of capital stock or other ownership interests so indicated on Schedule 3.08 are fully paid and non-assessable (to the extent applicable), and are owned by Holdings, directly or indirectly, free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens created under the Loan Documents, Liens permitted by clause (l), (q), (s), (t) (with respect to the other clauses listed in this provision), (u), (v), (x), (y), or (dd) of Section 6.02 and in the case of Liens permitted under Section 6.02(l), (u), (v), (x) or (dd), subject to an Intercreditor Agreement). Each Not for Profit Subsidiary is exempt from U.S. federal income taxation under Section 501(a) of the Code, or if any Not for Profit Subsidiary is not so exempt from U.S. federal income taxation, then such Not for Profit Subsidiary is a Subsidiary Guarantor in accordance with Section 5.12.

 

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SECTION 3.09 Litigation; Compliance with Laws.

(a) Except as set forth on Schedule 3.09, there are no actions, suits, investigations or proceedings at law or in equity or by or before any Governmental Authority now pending or, to the knowledge of Holdings or the Borrowers, threatened in writing against or affecting Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, or any business, property or rights of any such person (i) that involve any Loan Document or the Transactions or (ii) as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination and that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Since the Closing Date, there has been no change in the status of the matters disclosed on Schedule 3.09 that, individually or in the aggregate, has resulted in, or materially increased the likelihood of, a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) None of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or any of their respective material properties or assets is in violation of, nor will the continued operation of their material properties and assets as currently conducted violate, any law, rule or regulation (including any zoning, building, Environmental Law, ordinance, code or approval or any building permits) or any restrictions of record or agreements affecting any Mortgaged Property, or is in default with respect to any judgment, writ, injunction, decree or order of any Governmental Authority, where such violation or default could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.10 Agreements.

(a) None of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries is a party to any agreement or instrument or subject to any corporate restriction that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) None of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries is in default in any manner under any provision of any indenture or other agreement or instrument evidencing Indebtedness, or any other material agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties or assets are or may be bound, where such default could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.11 Federal Reserve Regulations.

(a) None of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries is engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of buying or carrying Margin Stock.

(b) No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, for any purpose that entails a violation of, or that is inconsistent with, the provisions of the Regulations of the Board, including Regulation T, U or X.

SECTION 3.12 Investment Company Act. Neither Holdings nor any Restricted Subsidiary is an “investment company” as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940.

SECTION 3.13 Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Term Loan will be used to consummate the Refinancing and to pay fees and to pay transactions costs related thereto, and for working capital and other general corporate purposes of Holdings and its Subsidiaries.

 

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SECTION 3.14 Taxes. Each of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries has timely filed or caused to be timely filed all Federal, and all state, local and foreign, Tax returns or materials required to have been filed by it and has paid or caused to be paid all Taxes due and payable by it and all assessments received by it, except (i) Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, shall have set aside on its books adequate reserves or (ii) Taxes and Tax returns for which the failure to so pay or file, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.15 No Material Misstatements. None of (a) the Borrowers’ presentation materials to the Lenders dated November 1, 2019 or (b) any other written information, report, financial statement, exhibit or schedule furnished by or on behalf of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the negotiation of any Loan Document or included therein or delivered pursuant thereto contained, contains or will contain (in each case, when furnished, and taken as a whole) any material misstatement of fact or omitted, omits or will omit (in each case, when furnished, and taken as a whole) to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were, are or will be made, not materially misleading; provided that to the extent any such information, report, exhibit or schedule was based upon or constitutes a forecast or projection or other forward-looking information, the Loan Parties represent only that such information, report, exhibit or schedule was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions that the Loan Parties believed to be reasonable at the time made and at the time such information, report, exhibit or schedule was or is so furnished. It is understood that any forecast, projection or other forward-looking information is not to be viewed as facts and that actual results during the periods covered thereby may differ from projected results.

SECTION 3.16 Employee Benefit Plans.

(a) Each Plan is in compliance with the applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder except for such noncompliance which, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The present value of all benefit liabilities under each Plan (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87) did not, as of the last annual valuation date applicable thereto, exceed the fair market value of the assets of such Plan by an amount which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, and the present value of all benefit liabilities of all underfunded Plans (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87) did not, as of the last annual valuation dates applicable thereto, exceed the fair market value of the assets of all such underfunded Plans by an amount which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(b) Each Foreign Pension Plan is in compliance with all requirements of law applicable thereto and the respective requirements of the governing documents for such plan except for such noncompliance which, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. With respect to each Foreign Pension Plan, none of Holdings, its Affiliates or any of their respective directors, officers, employees or agents has engaged in a transaction which would subject Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, to a tax or civil penalty which could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect. With respect to each Foreign Pension Plan, reserves have been established in the financial statements furnished to Lenders in respect of any unfunded liabilities in accordance with applicable law or, where required, in accordance with the ordinary accounting practices in the jurisdiction in which such Foreign Pension Plan is maintained. The aggregate unfunded liabilities with respect to such Foreign Pension Plans could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; the present value of the aggregate accumulated benefit liabilities of all such Foreign Pension Plans (based on those assumptions used to fund each such Foreign Pension Plan) did not, as of the last annual valuation date applicable thereto, exceed the fair market value of the assets of all such Foreign Pension Plans by an amount which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.17 Environmental Matters.

(a) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.17 and except with respect to any other matters that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, none of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (i) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law, (ii) has become subject to any Environmental Liability, (iii) has received notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or (iv) knows of any facts or circumstances that would be reasonably likely to result in any Environmental Liability.

(b) Since the Closing Date, there has been no change in the status of the matters disclosed on Schedule 3.17 that, individually or in the aggregate, has resulted in, or materially increased the likelihood of, a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.18 Insurance. Schedule 3.18 sets forth a true, complete and correct description of all material insurance maintained by Holdings or the Restricted Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date. As of such date, such insurance is in full force and effect and all premiums have been duly paid. Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries have insurance in such amounts and covering such risks and liabilities as are in accordance with normal industry practice. Either (i) no Mortgaged Property is a Flood Hazard Property or (ii) if a Mortgaged Property is a Flood Hazard Property, the Borrowers or the applicable Loan Party has delivered to the Administrative Agent the Flood Insurance Documents with respect to such Mortgaged Property.

SECTION 3.19 Security Documents.

(a) The Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, upon execution and delivery thereof by the parties thereto, will create in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a legal, valid and enforceable security interest in the Collateral (as defined in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement) and the proceeds thereof and (i) when the Pledged Collateral (as defined in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement) is delivered to the Collateral Agent (or its bailee pursuant to the provisions of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement and/or the

 

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Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement), the Lien created under Guarantee and Collateral Agreement shall constitute a fully perfected first priority Lien on, and security interest in, all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties in such Pledged Collateral, in each case prior and superior in right to any other person (other than the “Secured Parties” as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement and the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement, as applicable, whose relative rights in the Collateral are set forth in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement and the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement, as applicable, and other holders of Permitted Pari Passu Collateral Liens whose relative rights in the Collateral are set forth in the applicable Intercreditor Agreement), and (ii) when financing statements in appropriate form are filed in the offices specified in the Perfection Certificate, the Lien created under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement will constitute a fully perfected Lien on, and security interest in, all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties party to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement in such Collateral to the extent perfection can be obtained by filing Uniform Commercial Code financing statements (other than Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights described in Section 3.19(b)), in each case prior and superior in right to any other person, other than (x) the “Secured Parties” as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement and/or the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement, as applicable, whose relative rights in the Collateral are set forth in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement and/or the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement, as applicable, and the holders of Permitted Pari Passu Collateral Liens whose relative rights in the Collateral are set forth in the applicable Intercreditor Agreement (y) with respect to Liens permitted by Section 6.02 that by operation of law or contract have priority over the Liens securing the Obligations.

(b) Upon the timely recordation of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement (or a short-form security agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Borrowers and the Collateral Agent) with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, together with the financing statements in appropriate form filed in the offices specified in the Perfection Certificate, the Lien created under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement shall constitute a fully perfected Lien on, and security interest in, all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties party to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement in the Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights owned by and registered (or subject to an application for registration) in the name of the Loan Parties, and in which a security interest may be perfected by filing in the United States and its territories and possessions, in each case prior in right to any other person other than the “Secured Parties” as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement and/or the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement, as applicable, whose relative rights in the Collateral are set forth in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement and/or the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement, as applicable, and the holders of Permitted Pari Passu Collateral Liens whose relative rights in the Collateral are set forth in the applicable Intercreditor Agreement (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 and Patents, Trademark and Patent applications and registered Copyrights and Copyright Applications).

(c) Upon the due execution and delivery of the Mortgage Amendments, the Mortgages are effective to create in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a legal, valid and enforceable Lien on all of the Loan Parties’ right, title and interest in and to the Mortgaged Property thereunder and the proceeds thereof, and when the Mortgages (or Mortgage Amendments) are recorded or filed in the offices specified on

 

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Schedule 3.19(c), the Mortgages shall constitute a fully perfected Lien on, and security interest in, all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties in such Mortgaged Property and the proceeds thereof, in each case prior and superior in right to any other person, other than (x) the “Noteholders” as defined in the Senior Secured Notes Indenture, whose relative rights in the Collateral are set forth in the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement, and (y) with respect to the rights of persons pursuant to Liens expressly permitted by Section 6.02 that by operation of law or contract have priority over the Liens securing the Obligations.

Each Security Document (other than the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, any short-form security agreement referred to in clause (b) above and the Mortgages) that purports (i) to create a Lien on any Collateral, when executed and delivered, will be effective under applicable law to create in favor of the Collateral Agent for the ratable benefit of the applicable Secured Parties a valid and enforceable Lien on the Collateral subject thereto, except as enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar laws relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or by general principles of equity, and (ii) to create a Guarantee of any of the Obligations, when executed and delivered, will be effective under applicable law to create in favor of the Collateral Agent for the ratable benefit of the applicable Secured Parties a valid and enforceable Guarantee of the Obligations subject thereto, except as enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar laws relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or by general principles of equity.

SECTION 3.20 Location of Real Property and Leased Premises.

(a) Schedule 3.20(a) lists completely and correctly as of the Closing Date all Material Real Property owned by Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries and the addresses, record owner and book and estimated fair value thereof. As of the Closing Date, Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries have good and marketable fee title to all the real property set forth on Schedule 3.20(a), in each case, free and clear of all Liens other than those Liens permitted under the Loan Documents.

(b) Schedule 3.20(b) lists completely and correctly as of the Closing Date all Material Real Property leased by Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries and the addresses, lessor, lessee and expiration date thereof. Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries have valid leases, subleases or licenses in, or rights to use and occupy, all the real property set forth on Schedule 3.20(b), except where such invalidity, inability, and/or limitation on use and occupation, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.21 Labor Matters. As of the Closing Date, there are no strikes, lockouts or slowdowns against Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary pending or, to the knowledge of Holdings or the Borrowers, threatened in writing. The hours worked by and payments made to employees of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries have not been in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act or any other applicable Federal, state, local or foreign law dealing with such matters, except for such noncompliance which, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The consummation of the Transactions 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 Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary is bound.

 

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SECTION 3.22 Solvency. On the Closing Date, immediately after giving effect to the consummation of the Transactions on and as of such date (a) the fair value of the assets of Holdings and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, at a fair valuation, will exceed the debts and liabilities, direct, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, of Holdings and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis; (b) the present fair saleable value of the property of Holdings and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis will be greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of Holdings and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis on their debts and other liabilities, direct, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured; (c) Holdings and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis will be able to pay their debts and liabilities, direct, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured; and (d) Holdings and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis will not have unreasonably small capital with which to conduct the businesses in which they are engaged as such businesses are now conducted and are proposed to be conducted following the Closing Date. As of the Closing Date, immediately after giving effect to the consummation of the Transactions, Holdings does not intend to, and Holdings does not believe that it or any of its Subsidiaries will, incur debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature, taking into account the timing and amounts of cash to be received by it or any such Subsidiary and the timing and amounts of cash to be payable on or in respect of its debts or the debts of any such Subsidiary.

SECTION 3.23 No Default. No Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

SECTION 3.24 Intellectual Property. Each of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries owns, is licensed to use or otherwise has the right to use, all Intellectual Property necessary for the conduct of its business except for those for which the failure to own or license could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No claim has been asserted in writing or is pending by any Person challenging the use by Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries of any such Intellectual Property or the validity or effectiveness of any such Intellectual Property, nor does any Loan Party know of any valid basis for any such claim, except, in either case, for such claims that in the aggregate could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The use of such Intellectual Property by Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries does not infringe on the Intellectual Property rights of any Person, nor has any claim been asserted in writing or is any claim pending with respect to the foregoing, except for such claims and infringements that, in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.25 Existing Indebtedness, Liens and Investments.

(a) Set forth on Schedule 6.01 is a complete and accurate list as of the Closing Date of all Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than Indebtedness in an aggregate amount not exceeding $50,000,000), showing as of the Closing Date the obligor and the principal amount outstanding thereunder, the maturity date thereof and the amortization schedule therefor.

 

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(b) Set forth on Schedule 6.02 hereto is a complete and accurate list as of the Closing Date of all Liens on the property or assets of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries securing any Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than Indebtedness in an aggregate amount not exceeding $50,000,000), showing as of the Closing Date the lienholder thereof, the principal amount of the obligations secured thereby and the property or assets of such Loan Party or such Subsidiary subject thereto.

(c) Set forth on Schedule 6.04 is a complete and accurate list as of the Closing Date of all Investments (other than Investments in wholly owned Subsidiaries of Holdings, Permitted Investments and other Investments in an aggregate amount not exceeding $50,000,000), showing as of the Closing Date the amount and description (including the parties thereto) of each such Investment.

SECTION 3.26 USA PATRIOT Act etc. To the extent applicable, each of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries is in compliance, in all material respects, with all Anti-Terrorism Laws. Neither Holdings nor, to the knowledge of Holdings, any Loan Party or any director, officer, agent, or employee of any Loan Party, is currently subject to any Sanctions, and the Loan Parties will not, knowingly, directly or indirectly use the proceeds from the Loans or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person, for the purpose of financing the activities of any Person currently subject to any Sanctions or for the purpose of funding any other transaction that will result in a violation by any Person (including any Person participating in the transaction, whether as a Lender, underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of any Sanctions. 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 Anticorruption Laws. Holdings and, to the knowledge of Holdings, its Restricted Subsidiaries have conducted their businesses in compliance, in all material respects, with all Anticorruption Laws and Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries will conduct their business in a manner reasonably designed to promote and achieve compliance, in all material respects, with Anticorruption Laws and Anti-Terrorism Laws and, in all material respects, not in violation of any Sanctions, and with the representations and warranties contained herein.

SECTION 3.27 EEA Financial Institution. Neither any Borrower nor any other Loan Party is an EEA Financial Institution.

SECTION 3.28 Beneficial Ownership. As of the Closing Date, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification (to the extent required to be provided) is true and correct.

 

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ARTICLE IV

Conditions of Lending

The obligation of each Lender to make advances to the Borrowers on the Closing Date is subject to the satisfaction or waiver in accordance with Section 9.08 of the following conditions precedent:

(a) Each of the Loan Documents and other documentation relating to the Term Loan provided hereunder shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and duly executed and delivered by each of the Loan Parties and other parties thereto.

(b) Administrative Agent shall have received, in respect of each Loan Party,

(i) the notes payable to the order of the Lenders to the extent requested at least three Business Days prior to the Closing Date in accordance with Section 2.04(e);

(ii) copies of each organizational or constitutive document (along with any amendments thereto) certified as of the Closing Date or a recent date prior thereto by the appropriate Governmental Authority;

(iii) certificate of the secretary or an assistant secretary of each Loan Party certifying the names and true signatures of the officers of such Loan Party authorized to sign each Loan Document to which it is or is to be a party and the other documents to be delivered hereunder and thereunder;

(iv) resolutions of the board of directors (or similar governing body) of such Loan Party approving and authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party or by which it or its assets may be bound as of the Closing Date, certified as of the Closing Date by its secretary or an assistant secretary as being in full force and effect without modification or amendment; and

(v) a good standing certificate from the applicable Governmental Authority of such Loan Party’s jurisdiction of incorporation, organization or formation dated the Closing Date or a recent date prior thereto.

(c) All reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses (including reasonable and documented fees and expenses of outside counsel) required to be paid to the Administrative Agent on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid (including fees owed to the Lenders to be paid to the Administrative Agent for the accounts of the Lenders), to the extent invoiced at least three Business Days prior to the Closing Date.

(d) The Administrative Agent and Lenders and their respective counsel shall have received originally executed copies of a favorable written opinion of (i) Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, counsel for the Loan Parties and (ii) local counsel for the Loan Parties in states in which the Loan Parties are organized or formed, in each case, dated as of the Closing Date, addressing such matters as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(e) The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate from the chief financial officer of Holdings substantially in the form of Exhibit I.

 

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(f) The Administrative Agent shall have received a completed Perfection Certificate, dated as of the Closing Date and signed by a Financial Officer of the Borrowers, together with all attachments contemplated thereby.

(g) Since December 31, 2018 there has been no event or occurrence that has had a Material Adverse Effect.

(h) (A) Each Lender shall have received at least one Business Day prior to the Closing Date all documentation and other information reasonably requested in writing by them at least three Business Days prior to the Closing Date in order to allow the Lenders to comply with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation the USA Patriot Act and (B) to the extent any Loan Party qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, at least three Business Days prior to the Closing Date, any Lender that has requested, in a written notice to Holdings at least five Business Days prior to the Closing Date, a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to such Loan Party, shall have received such Beneficial Ownership Certification.

(i) (A) The amendment and extension of the Maturity Date (as defined in the Existing Revolving Credit Agreement) of the Existing Revolving Credit Agreement shall have occurred or shall be consummated substantially concurrently with the Closing Date and (B) the Closing Date (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement) under the Revolving Credit Agreement shall have occurred or will occur substantially concurrently with the Closing Date and the Loan Documents (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement) required by the terms of the Revolving Credit Agreement shall have been, or substantially concurrently with the Closing Date shall be, executed and delivered;

(j) The Senior Notes shall have been issued, or substantially concurrently with the Closing Date;

(k) The ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement, the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and each other Security Document shall have been duly executed and delivered by each of the applicable Loan Parties, in each case, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and together therewith, the Administrative Agent shall have received the following, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:

(i) Proper uniform commercial code financing statements for all applicable jurisdictions of the Loan Parties as deemed necessary by the Administrative Agent in order to perfect and protect the Liens and security interests created or purported to be created pursuant to the Security Documents covering the Collateral;

(ii) Copies of a recent Lien and judgment search in each jurisdiction reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent with respect to the Loan Parties;

(iii) for each Mortgaged Property specified on Schedule 1.01(a):

(A) the Flood Insurance Documents;

 

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(B) mortgage amendments, supplements or restatements of the existing Mortgages, in each case, made for the purpose of providing that such Mortgages will secure the Obligations and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (the “Mortgage Amendments”) that have been duly executed, acknowledged and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the appropriate Loan Party and are in form suitable for filing and recording in all filing or recording offices that the Administrative Agent may deem necessary or desirable, together with fully paid date-down and modification endorsements to the Mortgage Policies issued in connection with each existing Mortgage or, where such date-down or modification endorsements are not available to insure any such Mortgage, a new title insurance policy with respect to the applicable Mortgage, as previously amended and as amended (or amended and restated) by such Mortgage Amendment (or, in each case, a commitment to issue such endorsements or new policy having the effect of such policy so endorsed or such a new policy, as the case may be), each issued by a title insurer reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent which insures that such Mortgage, as previously amended and as amended (or amended and restated) by the applicable Mortgage Amendment, continues to create a valid first Lien on the applicable Mortgaged Property described therein, subject only to Liens permitted under the Loan Documents; and

(iv) evidence of all insurance required to be maintained pursuant to Section 5.02, and evidence that the Administrative Agent shall have been named as an additional insured or loss payee, as applicable, on all insurance policies covering loss or damage to Collateral; and

(v) evidence that such other documents, instruments or actions deemed necessary or advisable by the Administrative Agent to perfect and protect the Liens and security interests (and the first priority thereof with respect to Term Facility First Lien Collateral and, if applicable, the second priority thereof with respect to Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral) created or purported to be created pursuant to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement shall have been duly delivered or completed, including, without limitation, the delivery of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements in proper form for filing for all applicable jurisdictions of the Loan Parties and provision having been made for the payment of any fees or taxes required in connection with the filing of such documents, instruments or financing statements;

provided, however, that, each of the requirements set forth above, (except for the (I) execution and delivery of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, (II) delivery of the evidence and documents referred to in clause (iii)(A) above, and (III) to the extent that a Lien on such Collateral may be perfected (x) by the filing of a financing statement under the Uniform Credit Code or customary “short form” intellectual property filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office or (y) by the delivery of stock certificates of the Borrowers) shall not constitute conditions precedent to the Borrowing on the Closing Date after the Borrowers’ use of commercially reasonable efforts to provide such items on prior to the Closing Date if the Borrowers agree to deliver, or cause to be delivered, such search results, documents and instruments, or take or cause to be taken such other actions as may be required to perfect such security interests within ninety (90) days after the Closing Date (subject to extensions approved by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion).

 

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(l) The Administrative Agent shall have received a notice of Borrowing in accordance with the requirements hereof.

(m) On the Closing Date, after giving effect to the Transactions, none of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries shall have any third party Indebtedness for borrowed money other than (i) the Term Loan Facility, (ii) the facilities provided under the Revolving Credit Agreement, (iii) the Senior Notes and (iv) other Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01.

The making of the initial advance to the Borrowers on the Closing Date by the applicable Lenders hereunder shall conclusively be deemed to constitute an acknowledgement by the Administrative Agent and each such Lender that each of the conditions precedent set forth in this Article IV shall have been satisfied in accordance with its respective terms or shall have been irrevocably waived by such Person.

ARTICLE V

Affirmative Covenants

Each Loan Party party to this Agreement jointly and severally with all of the other Loan Parties, covenants and agrees with each Lender that so long as this Agreement shall remain in effect and until all Commitments have been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan, all Fees and all other expenses or amounts (other than contingent indemnification liabilities to the extent no claim giving rise thereto has been asserted) payable under any Loan Document shall have been paid in full, unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise consent in writing, each of Holdings and the Borrowers will, and will cause each of the Restricted Subsidiaries to:

SECTION 5.01 Existence; Compliance with Laws; Businesses and Properties.

(a) Do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal existence, except as otherwise permitted under Section 6.05.

(b) Other than as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) do or cause to be done all things necessary to obtain, preserve, renew, extend and keep in full force and effect the rights, licenses, permits, franchises, authorizations and Intellectual Property necessary or desirable to the conduct of its business, (ii) comply with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and decrees and orders of any Governmental Authority, whether now in effect or hereafter enacted and (iii) maintain and preserve all property useful to the conduct of such business and keep such property in good repair, working order and condition and from time to time make, or cause to be made, all needful and proper repairs, renewals, additions, improvements and replacements thereto necessary in order that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly conducted at all times.

 

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SECTION 5.02 Insurance.

(a) Keep its insurable properties adequately insured at all times by financially sound and reputable insurers; maintain such other insurance, to such extent and against such risks, including fire and other risks insured against by extended coverage, as is customary with companies in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations, including general liability insurance against claims for personal injury or death or property damage occurring upon, in, about or in connection with the use of any properties owned, occupied or controlled by it; and maintain such other insurance as may be required by law.

(b) Cause within thirty (30) days after the Closing Date (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree) all such policies covering any Collateral to be endorsed or otherwise amended to include a customary lender’s loss payable endorsement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent; deliver evidence of such coverage to the Collateral Agent; use commercially reasonable efforts to cause each such policy to provide that it shall not be canceled (i) by reason of nonpayment of premium upon not less than 10 days’ prior written notice thereof by the insurer to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent (giving the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent the right to cure defaults in the payment of premiums) or (ii) for any other reason upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice thereof by the insurer to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent.

(c) (i) If any Responsible Officer of any Borrower becomes aware that any Mortgaged Property is at any time a Flood Hazard Property (or if the Administrative Agent or any Secured Party has provided notice to a Borrower that any Mortgaged Property is a Flood Hazard Property), promptly, provide to the Administrative Agent the Flood Insurance Documents with respect to such Mortgaged Property. The Administrative Agent shall provide to the Secured Parties copies of the Flood Insurance Documents (including any Flood Insurance Documents delivered in connection with a Flood Compliance Event), to the extent received from the Borrowers. The Administrative Agent agrees to request such Flood Insurance Documents at the request of any Secured Party. Unless the Borrowers provide the Administrative Agent with the Flood Insurance Documents, the Administrative Agent may purchase Flood Insurance meeting the requirements of clause (iii) of the definition of “Flood Insurance Documents” at the Borrowers’ expense to protect the interests of the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties. Each of Holdings and the Borrowers shall cooperate with the Administrative Agent in connection with compliance with the Flood Insurance Laws, including by providing any information reasonably required by the Administrative Agent (or by any Secured Party through the Administrative Agent) in order to confirm compliance with the Flood Insurance Laws.

(ii) If a Flood Redesignation shall occur with respect to any Mortgaged Property, the Administrative Agent shall obtain a completed Flood Hazard Determination with respect to the applicable Mortgaged Property. If any Responsible Officer of any Borrower becomes aware that a Flood Redesignation has occurred with respect to any Mortgaged Property (or if the Administrative Agent or any Secured party has provided notice to a Borrower that any such Flood Redesignation has occurred), the Borrowers shall promptly provide to the Administrative Agent the Flood Insurance Documents with respect to such Mortgaged Property.

 

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SECTION 5.03 Obligations and Taxes. Pay and discharge promptly when due all Taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed upon it or upon its income or profits or in respect of its property, before the same shall become delinquent or in default, as well as all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies or otherwise that, if unpaid, might give rise to a Lien upon such properties or any part thereof; provided, however, that such payment and discharge shall not be required with respect to any such Tax, assessment, charge, levy or claim so long as either (A) the validity or amount thereof shall be contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and Holdings shall have set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP and such contest operates to suspend collection of the contested obligation, tax, assessment or charge and enforcement of a Lien and, in the case of a Mortgaged Property, there is no material risk of forfeiture of such property, or (B) to the extent that the failure to do so, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.04 Financial Statements, Reports, etc. In the case of the Borrowers, furnish to the Administrative Agent, which shall furnish to each Lender:

(a) within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year Holdings’ consolidated balance sheet and related statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows showing the financial condition of Holdings and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries as of the close of such fiscal year and the results of its operations and the operations of such Restricted Subsidiaries during such year, together with comparative figures for the immediately preceding fiscal year, all audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers or other independent registered public accounting firm of recognized national standing and accompanied by an opinion of such accountants (which opinion shall be without “going concern” or like qualifications or exceptions and without any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit (other than solely with respect to, or resulting solely from an upcoming maturity date under the Term Loan Facility, the Revolving Credit Agreement, the Senior Notes, any New Loan or any Refinancing Debt occurring within one year from the time such opinion is delivered or any potential inability to satisfy a financial maintenance covenant under the Term Loan Facility, the Revolving Credit Agreement, any New Loan or any Refinancing Debt on a future date or in a future period)) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements fairly present in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of Holdings and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that the financial statements for each such fiscal year shall cover a period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on December 31;

(b) within (i) 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year, and (ii) 90 days after the end of the last fiscal quarter of each fiscal year (it being understood and agreed that the documents required to be delivered pursuant this subclause (ii) shall be deemed delivered upon the delivery of the documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.04(a)), Holdings’ consolidated balance sheet and related statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows showing the financial condition of Holdings and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries as of the close of such fiscal quarter and the results of its

 

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operations and the operations of such Restricted Subsidiaries during such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, and comparative figures for the same periods in the immediately preceding fiscal year, all certified by a Financial Officer of the Borrowing Agent as fairly presenting in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of Holdings and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP;

(c) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under paragraph (a) above, a certificate of the accounting firm, and concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under paragraph (a) or (b) above, a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrowing Agent opining on or certifying such statements (which certificate, when furnished by an accounting firm, may be limited to accounting matters and disclaim responsibility for legal interpretations) certifying that no Default has occurred or, if such a Default has occurred, specifying the nature and extent thereof and any corrective action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto (any such certificate furnished pursuant to this clause (c), a “Compliance Certificate”); provided that if there has been any material change in GAAP or in the application of GAAP referred to in Section 1.03, the Compliance Certificate from the Financial Officer shall identify such change and the effect of such change on the financial statements accompanying such certificate;

(d) [reserved];

(e) promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all of the functions of said Commission, or with any national securities exchange, or distributed to its shareholders, as the case may be;

(f) promptly after the receipt thereof by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, a copy of any “management letter” received by any such person from its certified public accountants and the management’s response thereto to the extent such certified public accountants have consented to the delivery of such management letter to the Administrative Agent upon the request of the Borrowers;

(g) promptly after the request by any Lender, all documentation and other information that such Lender reasonably requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation;

(h) promptly following any request therefor, copies of (i) any documents described in Section 101(k)(1) of ERISA that Holdings, any Borrower or any ERISA Affiliates may request with respect to any Multiemployer Plan and (ii) any notices described in Section 101(l)(1) of ERISA that any Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates may request with respect to any Multiemployer Plan; provided that if any Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates have not requested such documents or notices from the administrator or sponsor of the applicable Multiemployer Plan, Holdings, any Borrower or its ERISA Affiliates shall promptly make a request for such documents or notices from such administrator or sponsor and shall provide copies of such documents and notices promptly after receipt thereof;

 

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(i) promptly, from time to time, such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of any Loan Document, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request; and

(j) within 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarter of Holdings and within 90 days after the end of the fourth fiscal quarter of Holdings, a narrative discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operations of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such fiscal quarter and for the period from the beginning of the then current fiscal year to the end of such fiscal quarter, as compared to comparable periods of the previous year.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations in clauses (a), (b) and (j) of this Section 5.04 may be satisfied with respect to financial information of Holdings and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries by furnishing Holdings’ (or any direct or indirect parent thereof; provided that such parent holds no material assets other than cash and Equity Interests of Holdings or of any direct or indirect parent of Holdings (and performs the related incidental activities associated with such ownership) and complies with the requirements of Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC (or any successor provision)) Form 10-K or 10-Q, as applicable, filed with the SEC; provided that, to the extent such information is in lieu of information required to be provided under clause (a) of this Section 5.04, such materials are accompanied by a report and opinion of PricewaterhouseCoopers or other independent public accountants of recognized national standing, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and shall not be subject to any “going concern” or like qualification or exception or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit (other than solely with respect to, or resulting solely from an upcoming maturity date under the Term Loan Facility, the Revolving Credit Agreement, any New Loan, the Senior Notes or any Refinancing Debt occurring within one year from the time such opinion is delivered or any potential inability to satisfy a financial maintenance covenant under the Term Loan Facility, the Revolving Credit Agreement, any New Loan, the Senior Notes or any Refinancing Debt on a future date or in a future period).

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to clauses (a), (b), (e) or (j) of this Section 5.04 may at Holdings or the Borrowers’ election be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the earliest of (i) the date on which such documents are electronically delivered to the Administrative Agent for posting if delivered before 5:00 p.m. New York time on a Business Day or otherwise on the following Business Day, (ii) the date on which such documents are posted on Holdings or the Borrowers’ behalf on IntraLinks/IntraAgency or another relevant website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); or (iii) the date on which such documents are filed for public availability on the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering and Retrieval System.

 

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SECTION 5.05 Litigation and Other Notices. Furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender written notice of the following promptly after any Responsible Officer of any Loan Party becomes aware thereof:

(a) any Default, specifying the nature and extent thereof and the corrective action (if any) taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto;

(b) the filing or commencement of, or any written threat or notice of intention of any person to file or commence, any action, suit or proceeding, whether at law or in equity or by or before any Governmental Authority, against HMHP or any Affiliate thereof that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

(c) the occurrence of any ERISA Event that, alone or together with any other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding $35,000,000, setting forth the details as to such ERISA Event and the action, if any, that Holdings or the Borrowers proposes to take with respect thereto; and

(d) any development that has resulted in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.06 [Reserved].

SECTION 5.07 Maintaining Records; Access to Properties and Inspections; Maintenance of Ratings.

(a) Keep proper books of record and account in which entries that are full, true and correct in all material respects and in conformity with GAAP and all applicable requirements of law are made of all material dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities. Each Loan Party will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, permit any representatives designated by the Administrative Agent or, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, any Lender to visit and inspect the financial records and the properties of such person upon reasonable notice, at reasonable times and as often as reasonably requested and to make extracts from and copies of such financial records, and permit any representatives designated by the Administrative Agent or any Lender to discuss the affairs, finances and condition of such person with the officers thereof and independent accountants therefor, in each case, subject to reasonable requirements of confidentiality, including requirements imposed by law or by contract; provided that (i) unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, such visits and inspections shall occur not more than once in any fiscal year and shall be arranged by one or more Lenders through the Administrative Agent and (ii) the Administrative Agent shall provide the Borrowers with the opportunity to participate in any such discussions with such accountants.

(b) Use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain (i) a public corporate rating from (A) S&P and (B) Moody’s and (ii) a public credit rating of the Term Loan Facility from (A) S&P and (B) Moody’s.

 

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SECTION 5.08 Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of the Loans only for the purposes specified in Section 3.13.

SECTION 5.09 Employee Benefits. Comply with the applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code and the laws applicable to any Foreign Pension Plan, except for such noncompliance which, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.10 Compliance with Environmental Laws Comply, and use commercially reasonable efforts to cause all lessees and other persons occupying its properties to comply, in all material respects with all Environmental Laws applicable to its operations and properties; obtain and renew all material environmental permits necessary for its operations and properties; and conduct any remedial action in accordance with Environmental Laws, except in each case with respect to this Section 5.10, to the extent the failure to do so would not reasonable expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.11 [Reserved].

SECTION 5.12 Further Assurances.

(a) Execute any and all further documents, financing statements, agreements and instruments, and take all further action (including filing Uniform Commercial Code and other financing statements, mortgages and deeds of trust) that the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent may reasonably request, in order to effectuate the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents and in order to grant, preserve, protect and perfect the validity and first priority of the security interests created or intended to be created by the Security Documents. Holdings and the Borrowers will cause each wholly owned Subsidiary of Holdings that is a Domestic Subsidiary (other than: (i) any Domestic Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary of Holdings, (ii) any Unrestricted Subsidiary, (iii) any Immaterial Subsidiary, (iv) any Not for Profit Subsidiary, (v) any Domestic Subsidiary that is treated as a Foreign Subsidiary for United States federal income tax purposes, (vi) any Subsidiary that is prohibited by applicable law, rule, regulation or contract from providing the Guarantee or which would require governmental (including regulatory) consent, approval, license or authorization to provide the Guarantee (unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received), (vii) any Subsidiary for which the provision of the Guarantee with respect to which the Collateral Agent and the Borrowers reasonably agree in writing that the costs or other consequences (including material adverse tax consequences as reasonably determined by the Borrowers in good faith in consultation with the Collateral Agent) of providing such a Guarantee is excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Secured Parties, and (viii) any special purpose receivables or securitization Subsidiary (each, an “Excluded Subsidiary”)) on the Closing Date to become a Subsidiary Guarantor and Guarantee and secure the Obligations by becoming a party to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

 

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If any Not for Profit Subsidiary that is a wholly owned Domestic Subsidiary ceases to be exempt from U.S. federal income taxation under Section 501(a) of the Code or any wholly owned Domestic Subsidiary ceases to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary, Immaterial Subsidiary or special purpose receivables or securitization Subsidiary (and, in each case, is not otherwise an Excluded Subsidiary), then Holdings and the Borrowers will cause such Subsidiary to become a Subsidiary Guarantor and Guarantee and secure the Obligations by becoming a party to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement. With respect to any provision or restriction affecting a wholly owned Domestic Subsidiary the reason for which such Subsidiary is not required to become a Guarantor in the foregoing paragraph, promptly upon the ineffectiveness, lapse or termination of such provision or restriction, Holdings and the Borrowers will cause such Subsidiary to become a Subsidiary Guarantor and Guarantee and secure the Obligations by becoming a party to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

(b) In addition, from and after the Closing Date, Holdings and the Borrowers will cause any subsequently acquired or organized wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Foreign Subsidiary or any Excluded Subsidiary) to become a Loan Party by executing the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and/or each applicable Security Document in favor of the Collateral Agent. In addition, from time to time, Holdings and the Borrowers will, at their cost and expense, promptly secure the Obligations by pledging or creating, or causing to be pledged or created, perfected security interests with respect to such of the assets and properties of Holdings and the wholly owned Restricted Subsidiaries (other than any Foreign Subsidiary or any Excluded Subsidiary) as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders shall designate (it being understood that it is the intent of the parties that the Obligations shall be secured (i) by substantially all the assets of Holdings and the wholly owned Restricted Subsidiaries (other than any Foreign Subsidiary or any Excluded Subsidiary), including Material Real Property (and not any other real property or interest therein) and personal property (other than Excluded Accounts or Excluded Assets) acquired subsequent to the Closing Date and (ii) in the case of Foreign Subsidiaries that are first tier Foreign Subsidiaries (or treated as first tier Foreign Subsidiaries for U.S. federal income tax purposes) or any Domestic Subsidiary which is treated as a first tier Foreign Subsidiary for U.S. federal income tax purposes, in each case, of a Loan Party, by 66% of the voting stock and 100% of the non-voting stock of such Subsidiary). Such security interests and Liens will be created under the Security Documents and other security agreements, mortgages, deeds of trust and other instruments and documents in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, and Holdings and the Borrowers shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Lenders all such instruments and documents (including legal opinions, title insurance policies and lien searches) as the Collateral Agent shall reasonably request to evidence compliance with this Section. Holdings and the Borrowers shall be in compliance with the requirements of this clause (b) if they shall cause such subsequently acquired or organized wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary to become a Loan Party, pledge its assets and deliver such instruments and documents (except with respect to Mortgages and related items in respect of Material Real Property, which shall be governed by the last sentence of this clause (b)) within 30 days (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may reasonably agree) after the acquisition or organization of such Restricted Subsidiary. Holdings and the Borrowers agree to provide such evidence as the Collateral Agent shall reasonably request as to the perfection and priority status of each such security interest and Lien. In furtherance of the foregoing, Holdings and the Borrowers will give prompt notice to the Administrative Agent of the acquisition by Holdings or any of the other Loan Parties of any Material Real Property and will, within 60 days (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may reasonably agree) following the acquisition of such Material Real Property, deliver to the Administrative Agent Mortgages and the Flood Insurance Documents as applicable to such Material Real Property, as well as such

 

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other items as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent; provided, that the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers may agree in writing that a mortgage on a parcel of Material Real Property located in the State of New York is not required if they reasonably determine that the costs or other consequence of providing a Mortgage is excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Secured Parties therefrom.

SECTION 5.13 Sanctions; Anticorruption Laws and Anti-Terrorism Laws.

(a) Comply in all material respects with Anti-Terrorism Laws and anti-money laundering rules and regulations (including the USA PATRIOT Act).

(b) Maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures reasonably designed to promote compliance, in all material respects, by Holdings, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anticorruption Laws and applicable Sanctions.

(c) Will not request any Loan, and the Borrowers will not use, and will procure, and Holdings will procure, that their respective Subsidiaries and their and their respective Subsidiaries’ respective directors, officers, employees and agents do not use, the proceeds of any Loan (i) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anticorruption Laws, (ii) for the purpose of funding, financing or facilitating any activities, business or transaction of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country, to the extent such activities, business or transaction would be prohibited by Sanctions if conducted by a corporation incorporated in the United States or in a European Union member state, except as otherwise permitted by applicable law or (iii) in any manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions applicable to any party hereto.

ARTICLE VI

Negative Covenants

Each Loan Party party to this Agreement jointly and severally with all of the other Loan Parties covenants and agrees with each Lender that, so long as this Agreement shall remain in effect and until all Commitments have been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan, all Fees and all other expenses or amounts (other than contingent indemnification liabilities to the extent no claim giving rise thereto has been asserted) payable under any Loan Document have been paid in full), unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise consent in writing, neither Holdings nor any Borrower will, nor will they cause or permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to:

SECTION 6.01 Indebtedness. Incur, create, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness, except:

(a) (i) Indebtedness created hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and (ii) other Indebtedness existing on the Closing Date that is listed on Schedule 6.01;

 

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(b) intercompany Indebtedness of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent permitted by Section 6.04(b); provided that any such intercompany Indebtedness owed by any Loan Party to a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party shall be subordinated to the Obligations;

(c) Indebtedness incurred by Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries arising from agreements providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price, earnouts or similar obligations, or from guaranties or letters of credit, surety bonds or performance bonds securing the performance of Holdings or any such Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to such agreements, in connection with Permitted Acquisitions or Acquisitions or permitted dispositions of any business or assets of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries;

(d) Indebtedness which may be deemed to exist pursuant to any guaranties, performance, surety, statutory, appeal or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(e) Indebtedness in respect of netting services, overdraft protections, any cash management services arrangement and otherwise in connection with deposit accounts;

(f) guaranties in the ordinary course of business of the obligations of suppliers, customers, franchisees and licensees of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries;

(g) (i) Indebtedness under the Revolving Credit Agreement (or under any other credit facility with availability subject to a borrowing base formula) in an aggregate principal amount outstanding at any time not to exceed $250,000,000 at any time outstanding; and (ii) Indebtedness represented by the Senior Notes in an aggregate principal amount outstanding at any time not to exceed $306,000,000 and (iii) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of the Indebtedness referenced in clause (i) or (ii) above;

(h) Indebtedness owed to (including obligations in respect of letters of credit for the benefit of) any person providing worker’s compensation, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, pursuant to reimbursement or indemnification obligations to such person;

(i) Indebtedness of Holdings or the Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of performance bonds, bid bonds, appeal bonds, surety bonds and similar obligations and trade-related letters of credit, in each case provided in the ordinary course of business, including those incurred to secure health, safety and environmental obligations in the ordinary course of business and any extension, renewal or refinancing thereof to the extent that the amount of refinancing Indebtedness is not greater than the amount of Indebtedness being refinanced;

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

 

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(k) Indebtedness with respect to Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings and purchase money Indebtedness incurred by any Restricted Subsidiary prior to or within 270 days after the acquisition, lease, construction, repair, replacement or improvement of the respective asset (whether through the direct purchase of such asset or the Equity Interest of any person owning such asset) permitted under this Agreement in order to finance such acquisition, lease, construction, repair, replacement or improvement (including any Indebtedness acquired in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or an Acquisition); provided, any such Indebtedness (i) shall be secured only by the assets acquired, leased, constructed, repaired or improved in connection with the incurrence of such Indebtedness, and (ii) shall constitute not less than 75% of the aggregate consideration paid with respect to such asset, and any Indebtedness that Refinanced such Indebtedness pursuant to the definition of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness (disregarding clause (v) thereof), in an aggregate principal amount which, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence thereof, when aggregated with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness then outstanding that was incurred pursuant to this clause (k), is not in excess of the greater of (A) 23% of the Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended four fiscal quarter period ending with a fiscal quarter for which financial statements are required to have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.04(b) and (B) $75,000,000;

(l) Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary supported by a Letter of Credit in a principal amount not in excess of the stated amount of such Letter of Credit;

(m) (i) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings acquired after the Closing Date and Indebtedness of a person merged or consolidated with or into a Restricted Subsidiary after the Closing Date and Indebtedness assumed in connection with the acquisition of assets or Equity Interests, which Indebtedness in each case exists at the time of such acquisition, merger or consolidation and is not created in contemplation of such event and where such acquisition, merger or consolidation is permitted by this Agreement and (ii) any Indebtedness that Refinanced such Indebtedness pursuant to the definition of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness (disregarding clause (v) thereof); provided that (A) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Indebtedness acquired or assumed by non-Loan Parties under subclause (i) of this clause (m) shall not exceed $50,000,000 at any time and (B) at the time of such acquisition, merger or consolidation and at the time of the incurrence or assumption of such Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary, on a pro forma basis after giving effect thereto, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and either (I) the ratio level set forth in subclause (i), (ii) or (iii) of clause (w) below that would be applicable to the Indebtedness being incurred or assumed is satisfied on a pro forma basis or (II) such applicable leverage ratio is no worse than such ratio in effect immediately prior to such acquisition, merger or consolidation;

(n) Indebtedness of Restricted Subsidiaries of Holdings that are not Loan Parties in an aggregate principal amount which, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence thereof, when aggregated with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness then outstanding that was incurred pursuant to this clause (n), is not in excess of the greater of (i) $25,000,000 and (ii) and 10% of the Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended four fiscal quarter period ending with a fiscal quarter for which financial statements are required to have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.04(b);

(o) [Intentionally Omitted];

(p) [Intentionally Omitted];

 

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(q) all premiums (if any), interest, fees, expenses, indemnities, charges and additional or contingent interest on obligations described in clauses (a) through (p) above;

(r) [Intentionally Omitted];

(s) Guarantees of obligations of third parties to the extent treated as Investments in such third parties (in an amount equal to the aggregate amount of the obligations so Guaranteed) and permitted by Section 6.04;

(t) any Refinancing Facility or Refinancing Notes of a Loan Party incurred in accordance with Section 2.23;

(u) Indebtedness consisting of Indebtedness issued by any Loan Party to future, current or former officers, managers, directors, consultants and employees of Holdings, its subsidiaries or its direct or indirect parent companies, their respective estates, spouses or former spouses, in each case to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of Holdings or any direct or indirect parent company of Holdings to the extent described in Section 6.06(a)(i); provided that the terms of any such Indebtedness with a principal amount in excess of $2,000,000 shall be approved by the board of directors of Holdings;

(v) Indebtedness with respect to Hedging Agreements permitted under Section 6.04(h);

(w) Indebtedness if, after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof: (i) in the case of Indebtedness that will be secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Obligations, the Net First Lien Leverage Ratio on a pro forma basis is not greater than 2.25 : 1.00, (ii) in the case of Indebtedness that will be secured by the Collateral by Liens that are junior and subordinated to the Liens securing the Obligations, the Net Secured Leverage Ratio on a pro forma basis is not greater than 2.50 : 1.00, and (iii) in the case of other Indebtedness, the Net Total Leverage Ratio on a pro forma basis is not greater than 4.00 : 1.00;

(x) (i) Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed at the time of incurrence an amount equal to the amount determined pursuant to clause (a) of the definition of Incremental Amount at such time; provided that (I) there shall be no obligor in respect of any such Indebtedness that is not a Loan Party and there shall be no borrower in respect of any such Indebtedness that is not a Borrower, (II) in the case of Indebtedness that is secured, the obligations in respect thereof shall not be secured by any Lien on any asset of Holdings, the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary other than any asset constituting Collateral, (III) such Indebtedness shall be senior secured obligations and shall rank pari passu in right of security with or, at the Borrowers’ option, junior in right of security to the Term Loan Facility and such Indebtedness shall be subject to an Intercreditor Agreement, (IV) the final maturity date of such Indebtedness shall be no earlier than the Term Loan Maturity Date and such Indebtedness shall have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity no shorter than that of the remaining Term Loans, and (V) the terms of such Indebtedness shall not be subject to mandatory redemption, repurchase or prepayment (except with respect to change of control, asset sale and casualty event mandatory offers to purchase or prepayment events and customary acceleration rights after an event of default), in each case prior to the Term Loan Maturity Date, and (ii) Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof, in each case, other than any Indebtedness that takes the form of term loan facilities which are secured obligations and rank pari passu with the Term Loan Facility;

 

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(y) Indebtedness of Joint Ventures and/or Indebtedness incurred on behalf of any Joint Venture or any Guarantees of Indebtedness of joint ventures, in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not to exceed $50,000,000 at any time; and

(z) any other Indebtedness in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not exceed $100,000,000 at any time.

For the avoidance of doubt, the accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value and the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness shall not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this Section 6.01.

SECTION 6.02 Liens. Create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or assets (including Equity Interests or other securities of any person, including any Restricted Subsidiary) now owned or hereafter acquired by it or on any income or revenues or rights in respect of any thereof, except:

(a) Liens on property or assets of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary existing on the Closing Date and set forth in Schedule 6.02; provided that such Liens shall secure only those obligations which they secure on the date hereof and extensions, renewals and replacements thereof permitted hereunder;

(b) any Lien created under the Loan Documents;

(c) statutory Liens of landlords, banks (and rights of set-off), carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, repairmen, workmen and materialmen, and other Liens imposed by law (other than any such Lien imposed pursuant to Section 401(a)(29) or 412(n) of the Code or by ERISA), in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business (i) for amounts not yet overdue or (ii) for amounts that are overdue and that (in the case of any such amounts overdue for a period in excess of 30 days) are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, so long as such reserves or other appropriate provisions, if any, as shall be required by GAAP shall have been made for any such contested amounts;

(d) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security, or to secure the performance of tenders, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, bids, leases, government contracts, trade contracts, performance and return-of-money bonds and other similar obligations (exclusive of obligations for the payment of borrowed money or other Indebtedness), so long as no foreclosure, sale or similar proceedings have been commenced with respect to any portion of the Collateral on account thereof;

 

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(e) with respect to real property of the Restricted Subsidiaries, covenants, conditions, easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, encroachments, encumbrances and other imperfections or irregularities in title, in each case which were not incurred in connection with and do not secure Indebtedness for borrowed money and do not or will not interfere in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of the business of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or with the use of such real property for its intended use;

(f) any interest or title of a lessor or sublessor under any lease of property permitted hereunder, and any Lien to which such interest or title is subject;

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

(h) purported Liens evidenced by the filing of precautionary UCC financing statements relating solely to operating leases of personal property entered into in the ordinary course of business and Liens on a Specified Warehouse created in connection with a Sale and Lease Back Transaction involving such Specified Warehouse;

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

(j) licenses of Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, trade secrets, service marks, tradenames and any other intellectual property rights granted by Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and not interfering in any material respect with the conduct of the business of Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary;

(k) construction liens arising in the ordinary course of business, including liens for work performed for which payment has not been made, securing obligations that are not due and payable or, in the case of any amounts overdue for a period in excess of 30 days, are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and in respect of which, if applicable, Holdings or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary thereof shall have set aside on its books reserves as shall be required by GAAP;

(l) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges or levies not yet delinquent, or which are for less than $5,000,000 in the aggregate, or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or for property taxes on property (other than Mortgaged Property or property that, pursuant to the terms hereof, is required to become Mortgaged Property) that Holdings or one of the Restricted Subsidiaries has determined to abandon if the sole recourse for such tax, assessment, charge, levy or claim is to such property;

(m) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts (other than for Indebtedness), leases (other than Capital Leases), statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature made or incurred in the ordinary course of business, including those incurred to secure health, safety and environmental obligations in the ordinary course of business;

(n) zoning restrictions, easements, trackage rights, leases (other than Capital Leases), licenses, special assessments, rights-of-way, restrictions on use of real property and other similar encumbrances incurred in the ordinary course of business which were not incurred in connection with and do not secure Indebtedness for borrowed money, and, individually or in the aggregate, do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or with the use of such real property for its intended use;

 

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(o) purchase money security interests in equipment or other property or improvements thereto hereafter acquired (or, in the case of improvements, constructed) by any Restricted Subsidiary (including the interests of vendors and lessors under conditional sale and title retention agreements); provided that (i) such security interests secure Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01(k), (ii) such security interests are incurred, and the Indebtedness secured thereby is created, within 270 days after such acquisition (or construction), (iii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed 100% of the cost of such equipment or other property or improvements at the time of such acquisition (or construction), including transaction costs incurred by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such acquisition (or construction), and (iv) such security interests do not apply to any other property or assets of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than to accessions to such equipment or other property or improvements; provided that individual financings of equipment provided by a single lender may be cross-collateralized to other financings of equipment provided solely by such lender);

(p) Liens arising out of operating lease or Capital Lease transactions permitted under Section 6.01(k) and transactions permitted by Section 6.03, so long as such Liens attach only to the property sold and being leased in such transaction and any accessions thereto or proceeds thereof and related property;

(q) Liens securing judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount not in excess of $10,000,000 (except to the extent covered by insurance, and the Administrative Agent shall be reasonably satisfied with the credit of such insurer), unless such judgments shall remain undischarged for a period of more than 30 consecutive days during which execution shall not be effectively stayed;

(r) Liens that are contractual rights of setoff (i) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness or (ii) pertaining to pooled deposit and/or sweep accounts of Holdings and/or any Restricted Subsidiary to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries;

(s) any Lien on any property or asset of Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary securing Indebtedness (including Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness) permitted by Section 6.01(m); provided that such Lien does not apply to any other property or assets of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries not securing such Indebtedness at the date of the acquisition of such property or asset (other than after acquired property subjected to a Lien securing Indebtedness and other obligations incurred prior to such date and permitted hereunder which contains a requirement for the pledging of after acquired property, it being agreed that such after acquired property shall not include property of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries, other than any such acquired Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings, that would have been included but for such acquisition);

 

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(t) the replacement, extension or renewal of any Lien permitted above; provided that such replacement, extension or renewal Lien shall not cover any property other than the property that was subject to such Lien prior to such replacement, extension or renewal; provided further, that the Indebtedness and other obligations secured by such replacement, extension or renewal Lien are permitted by this Agreement;

(u) Liens securing the Refinancing Facility or Refinancing Notes permitted under Section 6.01(t); provided that such Liens are subject to an Intercreditor Agreement;

(v) subject to the ABL Intercreditor Agreement and/or the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement, as applicable, the Liens securing Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01(g);

(w) [Intentionally Omitted];

(x) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01(w) or 6.01(x), in each case subject to an Intercreditor Agreement, so long as any first priority Lien on the Collateral will be pari passu with the Lien thereon securing the Obligations or any junior Lien on the Collateral will be junior and subordinated to the Lien thereon securing the Obligations;

(y) Liens on any property or asset of a non-Loan Party securing Indebtedness of non-Loan Parties permitted by Section 6.01 or other obligations (other than Indebtedness) of a non-Loan Party not prohibited hereunder;

(z) Liens encumbering reasonable customary initial deposits and margin deposits and similar Liens attaching to brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practices and not for speculative purposes;

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

(bb) Liens that are contractual rights of set-off relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of Holdings, any Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(cc) Liens of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the UCC on items in the course of collection;

(dd) Liens securing Other Secured Obligations (under and as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement);

(ee) Liens on cash and Permitted Indebtedness used to satisfy or discharge Indebtedness; provided that, such satisfaction or discharge is permitted hereunder; and

(ff) Liens not otherwise permitted by this Section 6.02; provided that, the aggregate amount of Indebtedness and other obligations secured thereby does not exceed $100,000,000 at any time.

 

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SECTION 6.03 Sale and Lease Back Transactions. Enter into any arrangement, directly or indirectly, with any person whereby it shall sell or transfer any property, real or personal, used or useful in its business, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and thereafter rent or lease such property or other property which it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property being sold or transferred (a “Sale and Lease Back Transaction”) unless (a) the sale or transfer of such property is permitted by clause (f) of Section 6.05 and (b) any Capital Lease Obligations, Synthetic Lease Obligations or Liens arising in connection therewith are permitted by Sections 6.01 and 6.02, as the case may be.

SECTION 6.04 Investments, Loans and Advances. Purchase, hold or acquire any Equity Interests, evidences of indebtedness or other securities of, make or permit to exist any loans or advances to, make or permit to exist any investment or any other interest in, or enter into any Hedging Agreement with, any other person (collectively, “Investments”), except:

(a) Permitted Investments and Investments that were Permitted Investments when made;

(b) Investments as of the Closing Date in Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary and Investments made after the Closing Date in Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (i) the aggregate amount of Investments made after the Closing Date by Loan Parties in, and Guarantees by Loan Parties of Indebtedness or other obligations of, Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties (determined at the time of the making thereof without regard to any write-downs or write-offs of such Investments) shall not exceed the greater of (A) $35,000,000 and (B) and 15% of the Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended four fiscal quarter period ending with a fiscal quarter for which financial statements are required to have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.04(b) and (ii) no Event of Default under Sections 7.01(b), 7.01(c), 7.01(g) or 7.01(h) shall have occurred and be continuing; provided further that, for purposes of determining compliance with the foregoing limitation in clause (i) above as of any date, the amount of each Investment made on or prior to such date pursuant to this clause (b) that is subject to such limitation shall be deemed reduced (to not less than zero) by the aggregate amount of cash, dividends, interest, returns of principal or capital, repayments or other distributions returned to the applicable Loan Party in respect of such Investment prior to the date of determination;

(c) Capital Expenditures;

(d) (i) Loans and advances to officers, directors and employees of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries made in the ordinary course of business in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $10,000,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding (calculated without regard to write-downs or write-offs thereof); provided that any such loans with a principal amount in excess of $2,000,000 shall be approved by the board of directors of Holdings and (ii) advances of payroll payments and expenses to employees in the ordinary course of business;

(e) Permitted Acquisitions;

 

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(f) (i) any Investment acquired by a Loan Party (x) in exchange for any other Investment or accounts receivable held by a Loan Party in connection with or as a result of a bankruptcy, workout, reorganization or recapitalization of the Person in which such other Investment is made or which is the obligor with respect to such accounts receivable, (y) as a result of a foreclosure by a Loan Party with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default or (z) as a result of litigation, arbitration or other disputes with Persons who are not Affiliates, (ii) accounts receivable arising and trade credit granted in the ordinary course of business and any securities received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from financially troubled account debtors to the extent reasonably necessary in order to prevent or limit loss and (iii) prepayments and other credits to suppliers made in the ordinary course of business consistent with the past practices of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries;

(g) Investments held by a Person acquired in a Permitted Acquisition or an Acquisition so long as such Investment is not made in anticipation or contemplation of such acquisition;

(h) Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries may enter into and perform their obligations under (i) Hedging Agreements or other derivative instruments entered into in the ordinary course of business and so long as any such Hedging Agreement or other derivative instrument is not speculative in nature and (ii) to the extent constituting Investments, Convertible Bond Hedge Transactions entered into in connection with Convertible Bond Indebtedness;

(i) Investments existing as of the Closing Date and set forth in Schedule 6.04;

(j) Investments arising out of the receipt by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary of non-cash consideration with respect to sales of assets permitted under Section 6.05; provided that such consideration (if the stated amount or value thereof is in excess of $1,000,000) is pledged upon receipt pursuant to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement to the extent required thereby;

(k) Investments resulting from pledges and deposits referred to in Section 6.02;

(l) [Intentionally Omitted];

(m) [Intentionally Omitted];

(n) Investments in the ordinary course of business consisting of purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, material or equipment or the licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing, joint development or similar arrangements with other Persons;

(o) any advances, loans, extensions of credit to suppliers, customers and vendors or other Investments in receivables owing to a Restricted Subsidiary, if created or acquired in the ordinary course of business and payable or dischargeable in accordance with customary trade terms; provided, however, that such trade terms may include such concessionary trade terms as such Restricted Subsidiary deems reasonable under the circumstances;

(p) [Intentionally Omitted];

 

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(q) Investments in Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties or a series of Investments from one Restricted Subsidiary to another solely to provide a Restricted Subsidiary that is consummating a Permitted Acquisition or an Acquisition with funds to pay the consideration in respect thereof in an aggregate amount not to exceed the amount of such consideration;

(r) Investments in HMH IP Company in the ordinary course of business in respect of operating expenses of HMH IP Company and other expenses incurred by HMH IP Company in connection with the digital development of Intellectual Property owned by the Borrowers and the Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that the amounts of such Investments shall be no more than amounts that would be otherwise payable to an unaffiliated third party providing such digital development services and in the aggregate shall not exceed $100,000,000 in any fiscal year;

(s) Investments in an aggregate amount (determined at the time of the making thereof without regard to any write-downs or write-offs of such Investments) not to exceed the sum of (i) the greater of $75,000,000 and 20% of the Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended fiscal year for which financial statements are required to have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.04(b) plus (ii) the Cumulative Credit at any time outstanding; provided that, both before and after giving effect to such Investment, on a pro forma basis, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; provided, further that, for purposes of determining compliance with the foregoing limitation as of any date, the amount of each Investment made on or prior to such date pursuant to this clause (s) shall be deemed reduced (to not less than zero) by the aggregate amount of cash, dividends, interest, returns of principal or capital, repayments or other distributions returned to the applicable person in respect of such Investment prior to the date of determination;

(t) [Intentionally Omitted];

(u) Investments in joint ventures in an amount (determined at the time of the making thereof without regard to any write-downs or write-offs of such Investments) not to exceed the greater of (i) $25,000,000 and (ii) 10% of the Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended four fiscal quarter period ending with a fiscal quarter for which financial statements are required to have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.04(b); provided that, both before and after giving effect thereto, on a pro forma basis, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; provided, further that, for purposes of determining compliance with the foregoing limitation as of any date, the amount of each Investment made on or prior to such date pursuant to this clause (u) shall be deemed reduced (to not less than zero) by the aggregate amount of cash, dividends, interest, returns of principal or capital, repayments or other distributions returned to the applicable person in respect of such Investment prior to the date of determination; provided, further, that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (u) is made in any person that was not a Subsidiary on the date on which such Investment was made but becomes a wholly owned Subsidiary thereafter, then such Investment may, at the option of the Borrowers, upon such person becoming a wholly owned Subsidiary and so long as such person remains a wholly owned Subsidiary, be deemed to have been made pursuant to Section 6.04(b) (to the extent permitted by the proviso thereto in the case of any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party) and not in reliance on this Section 6.04(u); and

 

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(v) other Investments so long as on a pro forma basis after giving effect thereto, (i) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (ii) the Net Total Leverage Ratio is not greater than 1.75 : 1.00.

The amount of any Investment made other than in the form of cash or cash equivalents shall be the fair market value thereof (as determined by the Borrowers in good faith) valued at the time of the making thereof, and without giving effect to any subsequent write-downs or write-offs thereof.

SECTION 6.05 Mergers, Consolidations, Sales of Assets and Acquisitions. Merge into or consolidate with any other person, or permit any other person to merge into or consolidate with it, or sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or any part of the assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary or less than all the Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) any Equity Interests in or assets of any other person, except:

(a) purchases or other acquisitions of inventory, materials, equipment or other assets in the ordinary course of business;

(b) if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, (i) the merger, consolidation or amalgamation of any Subsidiary of Holdings (other than a Borrower) into (or with) Holdings in which Holdings is the survivor, (ii) the merger, consolidation or amalgamation of any Borrower in a transaction in which such Borrower is the survivor, (iii) the merger, consolidation or amalgamation or consolidation of any Subsidiary (other than any Borrower) into or with any Loan Party in a transaction in which the surviving or resulting entity is a Loan Party and, in the case of each of clauses (ii) and (iii), no person other than the Borrower or the Loan Party receives any consideration, (iv) the merger or consolidation of any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party into or with any other Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, or (v) any Subsidiary may merge, consolidate or amalgamate with any other person in order to effect an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 6.04 so long as the continuing or surviving person shall be a Subsidiary, which shall be a Loan Party if the merging, consolidating or amalgamating Subsidiary was a Loan Party and which together with each of its Subsidiaries shall have complied with the requirements of Section 5.12;

(c) sales or other dispositions of assets described in clause (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi) or (vii) of the definition of “Asset Sale”;

(d) pursuant to Permitted Acquisitions;

(e) Investments made in accordance with Section 6.04 and Liens permitted by Section 6.02;

(f) any sale, transfer, lease or other disposition (including any Sale and Lease Back Transactions permitted by Section 6.03) of property; provided that (i) at the time of any such transaction, on a pro forma basis after giving effect thereto, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, or would result therefrom, and (ii) the consideration received for

 

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such property shall be not less than 75% in cash and/or Permitted Investments; provided however, for the purposes of this clause (f)(ii), each of the following shall be deemed to be cash: (A) the amount of any liabilities (as shown on Holdings’ or such Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet or in the notes thereto) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets or are otherwise cancelled in connection with such transaction, (B) any Designated Non-Cash Consideration received in respect of such disposition having an aggregate fair market value as determined by the Borrowers in good faith, taken together with all other Designated Non-Cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause that is at that time outstanding, not in excess of the greater of (A) $25,000,000 and (B) 7.5% of the Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended four fiscal quarter period ending with a fiscal quarter for which financial statements are required to have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.04(b), at the time of 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, and (C) any non-cash proceeds received in the form of Indebtedness or Equity Interests are pledged to the Collateral Agent to the extent required under Section 5.12; provided further, that no sale of the Equity Interests of any Subsidiary may be made pursuant to this clause (f) except in connection with the sale of all its outstanding Equity Interests that is held by Holdings and any other Subsidiary;

(g) the sale of defaulted receivables in the ordinary course of business and not as part of an accounts receivables financing transaction;

(h) the sale or other disposition of Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral (as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement);

(i) any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party may liquidate or dissolve into, and in connection therewith, transfer its assets and liabilities to, Holdings or another Restricted Subsidiary if the board of directors of Holdings or HMHP determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of Holdings and HMHP and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders; and

(j) any Restricted Subsidiary may sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of, in one transaction or a series of transactions, all or any part of its assets or business to any other Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such transaction complies with Section 6.04 and Section 6.07;

(k) the unwinding of any Hedging Agreement or Convertible Bond Hedge Transactions pursuant to its terms.

SECTION 6.06 Restricted Payments; Restrictive Agreements.

(a) Declare or make, or agree to declare or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment (including pursuant to any Synthetic Purchase Agreement), or incur any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to do so; provided, however, that (i) Holdings may repurchase, or may pay cash dividends or distributions with respect to its Equity Interests so that one or more of its parent holding companies (if any) may repurchase, its own Equity Interests owned by present or former officers or employees of Holdings or the Restricted Subsidiaries or

 

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make payments to present or former officers or employees of Holdings or the Restricted Subsidiaries upon termination of employment in connection with the exercise of stock options, stock appreciation rights or similar equity incentives or equity based incentives pursuant to management incentive plans or in connection with the death or disability, retirement or termination of employment of such present or former officers or employees; provided, that the aggregate amount of such Restricted Payments under this clause (i) shall not exceed in any calendar year $2,000,000; provided that any unused amount in any calendar year may be carried forward into any succeeding calendar year (plus the amount of net proceeds received by Holdings during such calendar year from Employee Equity Sales and the amount of net proceeds of any key-man life insurance received during such calendar year); and provided further, that the aggregate amount of such purchases or redemptions that may be made pursuant to this clause (i) shall not exceed $10,000,000 (plus the amount of net proceeds received by Holdings after the date of this Agreement from Employee Equity Sales); (ii) this Section 6.06(a) shall not apply to repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options or warrants if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options or warrants; (iii) any Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings may declare and make Restricted Payments to, repurchase its Equity Interests from or make other distributions to Holdings or to any wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings (or, in the case of non-wholly owned Restricted Subsidiaries, to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a direct or indirect parent of such Restricted Subsidiary and to each other owner of Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary on a pro rata basis (or more favorable basis from the perspective of Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary) based on their relative ownership interests; (iv) Holdings may pay any dividend or distribution within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof, if at the date of declaration such payment would have complied with the provisions of this Agreement (it being understood that a distribution pursuant to this Section 6.06(a)(iv) shall be deemed to have utilized capacity under such other provision of this Agreement); (v) Holdings and any Subsidiary may declare and pay regularly scheduled or accrued dividends to holders of a class or series of Disqualified Stock of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries issued not in violation of Section 6.01; (vi) Restricted Payments may be made at any time in an aggregate amount not exceeding the Cumulative Credit when, on a pro forma basis after giving effect thereto, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Net Total Leverage Ratio on a pro forma basis is not greater than 2.50 : 1.00; (vi) Restricted Payments may be made at any time in an aggregate amount not exceeding $25,000,000 when, on a pro forma basis after giving effect thereto, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and (viii) Restricted Payments may be made at any time when, on a pro forma basis after giving effect thereto, (x) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (y) the Net Total Leverage Ratio on a pro forma basis is not greater than 1.50 : 1.00.

(b) Enter into, incur or permit to exist any agreement or other arrangement that prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition upon (i) the ability of Holdings, or any Restricted Subsidiary to create, incur or permit to exist any Lien upon any of its property or assets to secure the Obligations, or (ii) the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to pay dividends or other distributions with respect to any of its Equity Interests or to make or repay loans or advances to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary or to Guarantee Indebtedness of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (A) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions imposed by law, any Loan Document, agreement governing any Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01(a), (g) or (w) or to the extent such restrictions and conditions do

 

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not contravene the Loan Documents, under Section 6.01(m) or (n) (with respect to Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties) or a Refinancing Facility or Refinancing Notes permitted under Section 6.01(t), (B) the foregoing shall not apply to customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of, or sale of the assets of a Restricted Subsidiary pending such sale; provided such restrictions and conditions apply only to the Restricted Subsidiary that is, or such assets that are, to be sold and such sale is permitted hereunder, (C) restrictions or conditions imposed by any agreement relating to Liens permitted by Section 6.02 if such restrictions or conditions apply only to the property or assets subject to such Liens, (D) clause (i) of the foregoing shall not apply to customary provisions in leases and other contracts restricting the assignment thereof, (E) clause (i) of the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions or conditions imposed by the Revolving Credit Agreement and other “Loan Documents” defined therein, (F) the foregoing shall not apply to any Not for Profit Subsidiary, (G) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements applicable to joint ventures entered into in the ordinary course of business and (H) any agreement in effect at the time a person becomes a Subsidiary, so long as such agreement was not entered into in contemplation of such person becoming a Subsidiary.

SECTION 6.07 Transactions with Affiliates. Except for transactions between or among Loan Parties, sell or transfer any property or assets to, or purchase or acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any of its Affiliates, except (a) that Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary may (i) engage in any of the foregoing transactions upon terms no less favorable to Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary than could be obtained on an arm’s-length basis from unrelated third parties and (ii) in the case of a Restricted Subsidiary that is a Loan Party, make an Investment in any Affiliate that provides services to any Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that (x) such Investment is made pursuant to Section 6.04(s) or (u) and is permitted thereby, and (y) the board of directors of Holdings determines that such Investment is in the best interests of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries, (b) Restricted Payments permitted by Section 6.06(a), (c) the indemnification of, and the payment of reasonable and customary fees and indemnities to, directors, officers and employees of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, (d) Investments permitted by clauses (b), (d), (q) or (r) of Section 6.04, Investments in joint ventures and non-Loan Parties permitted by clauses (s), (u) or (v) of Section 6.04 and transfers permitted under Section 6.05 of work-in-process and products in the ordinary course of business among Holdings and its Subsidiaries in connection with the digital development of Intellectual Property owned by the Loan Parties, (e) (i) any employment agreement entered into by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business, (ii) any subscription agreement or similar agreement pertaining to the repurchase of Equity Interests pursuant to put/call rights or similar rights with employees, officers or directors, and (iii) any employee compensation, benefit plan or arrangement, any health, disability or similar insurance plan which covers employees, and any reasonable employment contract and transactions pursuant thereto, (f) any issuance of securities, or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment arrangements, stock options and stock ownership plans entered into by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business and approved by the board of directors of Holdings or HMHP, (g) the existence of, or the performance by Holdings, any Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries of its obligations under the terms of, any stockholders agreement or its equivalent with the stockholders of Holdings or any direct or indirect parent of a Borrower (including any registration rights agreement or purchase agreement

 

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related thereto) to which it is a party as of the Closing Date and any similar agreements which it may enter into thereafter, (h) transactions by and among non-Loan Parties, (i) payments by Holdings, any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to an Affiliate for any financial advisory, financing, underwriting or placement services or in respect of other investment banking activities, including in connection with acquisitions or divestitures, which payments are approved by a majority of the members of the board of directors of Holdings in good faith, (j) transactions with respect to which Holdings, the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, delivers a letter from an independent financial advisor addressed to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent stating that such transaction is fair to Holdings, the Borrowers or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view, (k) investments by Affiliates in securities or Indebtedness of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary so long as (i) the investment is being offered generally to other investors on the same or more favorable terms and (ii) the aggregate investment by Affiliates constitutes less than 50% of the proposed or outstanding issue amount of such class of securities or Indebtedness; (l) any transaction with an Affiliate in which the consideration paid by Holdings, the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary consists only of Equity Interests of Holdings or any direct or indirect parent company of Holdings, and (m) any merger, consolidation or reorganization of Holdings with an Affiliate of Holdings not materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders and solely for the purpose of (i) forming or collapsing a holding company structure or (ii) reincorporating Holdings in a new jurisdiction.

SECTION 6.08 Other Indebtedness and Agreements.

(a) Permit (i) any waiver, supplement, modification or amendment of any indenture, instrument or agreement pursuant to which any Subordinated Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $35,000,000 of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries is outstanding other than any such waiver, supplement, modification or amendment (A) that does not increase the obligations of the obligor or confer additional rights on the holder of such Subordinated Indebtedness in a manner adverse in any material respect to Holdings, any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or the Lenders or (B) otherwise complies with the definition of “Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” or (ii) except in connection with a transaction permitted by Section 6.05(b), any waiver, supplement, modification or amendment of its certificate of incorporation, by laws, operating, management or partnership agreement or other organizational documents, to the extent any such waiver, supplement, modification or amendment would be adverse to the Lenders in any material respect.

(b) (i) Make any distribution, whether in cash, property, securities or a combination thereof, other than regular scheduled payments of principal and interest as and when due (to the extent not prohibited by applicable subordination provisions) or from the proceeds of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness (including any Refinancing Facility or Refinancing Notes), in respect of, or pay, or commit to pay, or, directly or indirectly (including pursuant to any Synthetic Purchase Agreement), redeem, repurchase, retire or otherwise acquire for consideration, or set apart any sum for the aforesaid purposes, any Subordinated Indebtedness in an aggregate outstanding principal amount exceeding $35,000,000 (or Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof), or (ii) pay in cash any amount in respect of any Subordinated Indebtedness in an aggregate outstanding principal amount exceeding $35,000,000 or Preferred Stock that may at the obligor’s option be paid in kind or in other securities, except, in each case, (I) payments at any time in an aggregate amount not exceeding the Cumulative Credit when, on a

 

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pro forma basis after giving effect thereto, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Net Total Leverage Ratio on a pro forma basis is not greater than 2.50 : 1.00 or (II) if at the time of any such distribution or payment, on a pro forma basis after giving effect thereto, (x) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (y) the Net Total Leverage Ratio shall be less than 1.75 : 1.00.

SECTION 6.09 [Intentionally deleted]

SECTION 6.10 [Intentionally deleted].

SECTION 6.11 [Intentionally deleted].

SECTION 6.12 Fiscal Year. (a) Without the consent of the Administrative Agent, make or permit any changes in accounting policies or reporting practices, except as permitted or required by generally accepted accounting principles or (b) with respect to Holdings and any Borrower, change their fiscal year-end to a date other than December 31.

SECTION 6.13 [Intentionally deleted].

SECTION 6.14 Business of Holdings, Borrowers and Restricted Subsidiaries. (a) Except in the case of Holdings, engage at any time in any business or business activity other than a Permitted Business and (b) in the case of Holdings, (i) engage in any business or activity other than (A) the ownership of Equity Interests in its Subsidiaries (and any promissory note issued to it by any Subsidiary, provided that such promissory note is subordinated to the Obligations on terms reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and pledged as Collateral) and activities incidental thereto or, (B) performance of its obligations under the Loan Documents and other Indebtedness permitted hereunder, (C) issuance of Equity Interests or (D) as otherwise required by law or incidental to its being a public company, (ii) own or acquire any assets other than Equity Interests in its Subsidiaries or any other Loan Party, any such promissory note or any cash or other assets received as a dividend or other distribution in respect of such Equity Interests, its books and records and deposit accounts or (iii) incur any liabilities other than liabilities under the Loan Documents and guarantees of Indebtedness of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries permitted hereunder, liabilities imposed by law (including tax liabilities) and other liabilities incidental to its existence and permitted business and activities.

SECTION 6.15 Designation of Unrestricted Subsidiaries and Re-Designation of Restricted Subsidiaries.

(a) Designate any Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such designation is made by Holdings delivering to the Administrative Agent a certificate of a Responsible Officer of Holdings certifying the resolutions of its board of directors authorizing such designation and the satisfaction of the following conditions: (i) neither such Subsidiary nor any of its Subsidiaries that have been (or concurrently with such designation will be) designated as Unrestricted Subsidiaries owns any Equity Interests or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Lien on, any property of, Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, (ii) any Investment in such Subsidiary by Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries existing at the time of or subsequent to such designation shall be permitted by Section 6.04, (iii) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Net Total Leverage Ratio shall be less than 2.50 : 1.00

 

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on a pro forma basis, and (iv) all representations and warranties contained herein and in the other Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on and as of the date of such designation, unless stated to relate to a specific earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date.

(b) Re-designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary unless such re-designation is made by Holdings delivering to the Administrative Agent a certificate of a Responsible Officer of Holdings certifying the resolutions of its board of directors authorizing such re-designation and certifying that both before and after giving effect to such re-designation, (i) such Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Borrowers, (ii) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom and the Net Total Leverage Ratio shall be less than 2.50 : 1.00 on a pro forma basis, (iii) all representations and warranties contained herein and in the other Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on and as of the date of such re-designation, unless stated to relate to a specific earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date.

(c) Holdings represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Issuing Bank and each of the Lenders on the Closing Date that as of the Closing Date, there are no Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

ARTICLE VII

Events of Default

SECTION 7.01 Events of Default. In case of the happening of any of the following events (“Events of Default”):

(a) any representation or warranty made or deemed made in or in connection with any Loan Document or the Borrowings hereunder, or any representation, warranty, statement or information contained in any report, certificate, financial statement or other instrument furnished in connection with or pursuant to any Loan Document, shall prove to have been false or misleading in any material respect when so made, deemed made or furnished; provided that, in each case, such materiality qualifier shall not be applicable to any representations and warranties that are already qualified or modified by materiality in the text thereof;

(b) default shall be made in the payment of any principal of any Loan when and as the same shall become due and payable whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment thereof or by acceleration thereof or otherwise;

(c) default shall be made in the payment of any interest on any Loan or any Fee or any other amount (other than an amount referred to in (b) above) due under any Loan Document, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of three Business Days;

 

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(d) default shall be made in the due observance or performance by Holdings, any Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary of any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 5.01(a) (with respect to Holdings and any Borrower), 5.05(a) or 5.08 or in Article VI;

(e) default shall be made in the due observance or performance by Holdings, any Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary of any covenant, condition or agreement contained in any Loan Document (other than those specified in clause (b), (c) or (d) above) and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of 30 days after notice thereof from the Administrative Agent or any Lender to the Borrowers;

(f) (i) Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary shall fail to pay any principal or interest, regardless of amount, due in respect of any Material Indebtedness, when and as the same shall become due and payable (with all applicable grace periods having expired), or (ii) any other event or condition occurs that results in any Material Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or that enables or permits (with or without the giving of notice, the lapse of time or both) the holder or holders of any Material Indebtedness or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to cause any Material Indebtedness to become due, or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity, provided that this clause (ii) shall not apply to (x) secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness, (y) any conversion of Convertible Bond Indebtedness in accordance with its terms unless such conversion results from any default or event of default by any Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary thereunder or a “change of control”, “fundamental change” or similar occurrence thereunder, or (z) any required repurchase, repayment or redemption of (or offer to repurchase, repay or redeem) any Indebtedness that was incurred for the specified purpose of financing all or a portion of the consideration for an Acquisition; provided that such repurchase, repayment or redemption (or offer to repurchase, repay or redeem) results solely from the failure of such Acquisition to be consummated; provided further that, with respect to any financial covenant under the Revolving Credit Agreement, a breach shall only result in an Event of Default under this Section 7.01(f) upon the acceleration of the Indebtedness under the Revolving Credit Agreement and/or the exercise of any remedies by the administrative agent or the collateral agent under the Revolving Credit Agreement in respect of any Collateral;

(g) an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed in a court of competent jurisdiction seeking (i) relief in respect of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, or of a substantial part of the property or assets of Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary, under Title 11 of the United States Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended, or any other Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, administration, insolvency, receivership, examinership or similar law, (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator, examiner or similar official for Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary or for a substantial part of the property or assets of Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary or (iii) the winding-up or liquidation of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary; and such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed for 60 days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;

 

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(h) Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary shall (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking relief under Title 11 of the United States Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended, or any other Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, administration, insolvency, receivership, examinership or similar law, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or the filing of any petition described in (g) above, (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator, examiner or similar official for Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary or for a substantial part of the property or assets of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, (vi) become unable, admit in writing its inability or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due or (vii) take any action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing;

(i) one or more judgments shall be rendered against Holdings, any Restricted Subsidiary or any combination thereof and the same shall remain undischarged for a period of 30 consecutive days during which execution shall not be effectively stayed, or any action shall be legally taken by a judgment creditor to levy upon assets or properties of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary to enforce any such judgment and such judgment is for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of $35,000,000 (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance not disputing coverage);

(j) an ERISA Event shall have occurred that, in the opinion of the Required Lenders, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

(k) any Guarantee under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or any other material provision of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or any other Security Document for any reason shall cease to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with its terms or the terms of any other Loan Document), or any Loan Party shall deny in writing that it has any further liability under the Guarantee in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or under any material provision of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or any other Security Documents (other than as a result of the discharge of such Loan Party in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents);

(l) any security interest purported to be created by any Security Document shall cease to be, or shall be asserted by any Loan Party not to be, a valid, perfected, first priority (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, any other Loan Document or such Security Document) security interest in the securities, assets or properties covered thereby, except (i) to the extent that any such loss of perfection or priority results from the failure of the Collateral Agent to maintain possession of certificates representing securities pledged under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, (ii) to the extent that any such loss is covered by a lender’s title insurance policy and the related insurer promptly after such loss shall have acknowledged in writing that such loss is covered by such title insurance policy and (iii) to the extent that all such losses of perfection or priority do not involve a material portion of the Collateral; or

(m) there shall have occurred a Change in Control;

 

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then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to any event described in paragraph (g) or (h) above), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrowers, take either or both of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate forthwith the Commitments and (ii) declare the Loans then outstanding to be forthwith due and payable in whole or in part, whereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and any unpaid accrued Fees and all other liabilities of the Borrowers accrued hereunder and under any other Loan Document, shall become forthwith due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or any other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrowers, anything contained herein or in any other Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding; and in any event described in paragraph (g) or (h) above, the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and any unpaid accrued Fees and all other liabilities of the Borrowers accrued hereunder and under any other Loan Document, shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or any other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrowers, anything contained herein or in any other Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding.

After the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default and acceleration of the Loans, all proceeds realized from any Loan Party or on account of any Collateral owned by any Loan Party or, without limiting the foregoing, on account of any Prepayment Event, any payments in respect of any Obligations and all proceeds of the Collateral, shall be applied in the following order (the “Waterfall”):

(i) first, ratably to pay the Obligations in respect of any fees and expenses, indemnities and other amounts (including, without limitation, amounts in respect of any Loans advanced by the Administrative Agent on behalf of a Lender for which the Administrative Agent has not been reimbursed) then due to the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, until paid in full;

(ii) second, ratably to pay any expenses, indemnities, and fees then due to the Lenders, until paid in full;

(iii) third, ratably to pay the accrued but unpaid interest and fees in respect of the Loans, until paid in full;

(iv) fourth, ratably to pay (A) the unpaid principal in respect of the Loans and (B) the Other Secured Obligations;

(v) fifth, ratably to pay other Obligations then due, including Other Secured Obligations that are not Other Pari Passu Secured Obligations, until paid in full; and

(vi) sixth, to the Borrowers or such other person entitled thereto under applicable law.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

Agents

SECTION 8.01 Authorization and Action.

(a) Each Lender hereby irrevocably appoints Citibank, N.A. to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.

(b) Each Lender hereby further irrevocably appoints Citibank, N.A. to act on its behalf as Collateral Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Collateral Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Collateral Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The Collateral Agent shall act on behalf of the Lenders and shall have all of the benefits and immunities (i) provided to the Collateral Agent in this Article VIII with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by the Collateral Agent in connection with its activities in such capacity as fully as if the term “Agent” as used in this Article VIII included the Collateral Agent with respect to such acts or omissions, and (ii) as additionally provided herein with respect to the Collateral Agent.

(c) The provisions of this Article (except Sections 8.07 and 8.11) are solely for the benefit of the Agents, the Collateral Agent, the Arrangers, the Co-Manager and the Lenders, and neither Holdings nor any other Loan Party shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions (except Sections 8.07 and 8.11).

SECTION 8.02 Agent Individually.

(a) The Person serving as an Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not an Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as an 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 or any of its Subsidiaries or other Affiliate thereof as if such person were not an Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

(b) Each Lender understands that the Person serving as an Agent, acting in its individual capacity, and its Affiliates (collectively, an “Agent’s Group”) are engaged in a wide range of financial services and businesses (including investment management, financing, securities trading, corporate and investment banking and research) (such services and businesses are collectively referred to in this Section 8.02 as “Activities”) and may engage in the Activities with or on behalf of one or more of the Loan Parties or their respective Affiliates. Furthermore, each Agent’s Group may, in undertaking the Activities, engage in trading in financial products or

 

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undertake other investment businesses for its own account or on behalf of others (including the Loan Parties and their Affiliates and including holding, for its own account or on behalf of others, equity, debt and similar positions in Holdings or another Loan Party or their respective Affiliates), including trading in or holding long, short or derivative positions in securities, loans or other financial products of one or more of the Loan Parties or their Affiliates. Each Lender understands and agrees that in engaging in the Activities, each Agent’s Group may receive or otherwise obtain information concerning the Loan Parties or their Affiliates (including information concerning the ability of the Loan Parties to perform their respective Obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents) which information may not be available to any of the Lenders that are not members of such Agent’s Group. None of the Agents nor any member of any Agent’s Group shall have any duty to disclose to any Lender or use on behalf of the Lenders, and shall not be liable for the failure to so disclose or use, any information whatsoever about or derived from the Activities or otherwise (including any information concerning the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition or creditworthiness of any Loan Party or any Affiliate of any Loan Party) or to account for any revenue or profits obtained in connection with the Activities, except that the Administrative Agent shall deliver or otherwise make available to each Lender such documents as are expressly required by any Loan Document to be transmitted by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders.

(c) Each Lender further understands that there may be situations where members of an Agent’s Group or their respective customers (including the Loan Parties and their Affiliates) either now have or may in the future have interests or take actions that may conflict with the interests of any one or more of the Lenders (including the interests of the Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents). Each Lender agrees that no member of an Agent’s Group is or shall be required to restrict its activities as a result of the person serving as Agent being a member of such Agent’s Group, and that each member of an Agent’s Group may undertake any Activities without further consultation with or notification to any Lender. None of (i) this Agreement nor any other Loan Document, (ii) the receipt by any Agent’s Group of information (including Information) concerning the Loan Parties or their Affiliates (including information concerning the ability of the Loan Parties to perform their respective Obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents) nor (iii) any other matter shall give rise to any fiduciary, equitable or contractual duties (including without limitation any duty of trust or confidence) owing by any Agent or any member of any Agent’s Group to any Lender including any such duty that would prevent or restrict any Agent’s Group from acting on behalf of customers (including the Loan Parties or their Affiliates) or for its own account.

SECTION 8.03 Duties of Agents; Exculpatory Provisions.

(a) The Agents’ duties hereunder and under the other Loan Documents are solely ministerial and administrative in nature and an Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (i) an Agent shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing, (ii) an Agent shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that an 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

 

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other Loan Documents), provided that an Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose any Agent or any of its Affiliates to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law, including for the avoidance of doubt, any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any Bankruptcy Law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any Bankruptcy Law, and (iii) an Agent shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to any Borrower or any of their Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as an Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.

(b) An 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 such Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Section 9.08) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. An Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default or the event or events that give or may give rise to any Default unless and until the Borrowers or any Lender shall have given notice to such Agent describing such Default and such event or events.

(c) Neither any Agent nor any member of an Agent’s Group shall be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty, representation or other information made or supplied in or in connection with this Agreement, any other Loan Document or the information presented to the other Lenders by any Borrower, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith or the adequacy, accuracy and/or completeness of the information contained therein, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or the perfection or priority of any Lien or security interest created or purported to be created by the Collateral Documents or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than (but subject to the foregoing clause (ii)) to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Agents.

(d) Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall require any Agent or any of its Related Parties to carry out any “know your customer” or other checks in relation to any Person on behalf of any Lender and each Lender confirms to an Agent that it is solely responsible for any such checks it is required to carry out and that it may not rely on any statement in relation to such checks made by an Agent or any of its Related Parties.

SECTION 8.04 Reliance by Agents. The Agents 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. Each 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

 

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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, an Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender unless an officer of an Agent responsible for the transactions contemplated hereby shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender prior to the making of such Loan and in the case of a Borrowing, such Lender shall not have made available to an Agent such Lender’s ratable portion of such Borrowing. An Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for a Borrower or any other Loan Party), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

SECTION 8.05 Indemnification.

(a) Each Lender severally agrees to indemnify the Agents (to the extent not promptly reimbursed by the Borrowers to the extent required by Section 9.05) from and against such Lender’s pro rata share (based on the Loans and unused Commitments held by such Lender relative to the total Loans and unused Commitments then outstanding) of any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever that may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against any Agent in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any action taken or omitted by any Agent under this Agreement (collectively, the “Indemnified Costs”), provided that no Lender shall be liable for any portion of the Indemnified Costs resulting from such Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct as found in a non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender agrees to reimburse each Agent promptly upon demand for its ratable share of any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable counsel fees) incurred by such Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under, this Agreement, to the extent that such Agent is not promptly reimbursed for such expenses by the Borrowers to the extent required by Section 9.05. In the case of any investigation, litigation or proceeding giving rise to any Indemnified Costs, this Section 8.05 applies whether any such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by any Agent, any Lender or a third party.

(b) The failure of any Lender to reimburse any Agent promptly upon demand for its ratable share of any amount required to be paid by the Lenders to such Agent as provided herein shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation hereunder to reimburse any Agent, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to reimburse any Agent. Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreement of any Lender hereunder, the agreement and obligations of each Lender contained in this Section 8.05 shall survive the payment in full of principal, interest and all other amounts payable hereunder and under the promissory notes, if any. Each of the Agents agrees to return to the Lenders their respective ratable shares of any amounts paid under this Section 8.05 that are subsequently reimbursed by the Borrowers.

 

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SECTION 8.06 Delegation of Duties. Each Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more co-agents or sub-agents appointed by such Agent. Any Agent and any such co-agent or sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties. Each such co-agent and sub-agent and the Related Parties of an Agent and each such co-agent and sub-agent (including their respective Affiliates in connection with the syndication of the Term Loan Facility) shall be entitled to the benefits of all provisions of this Article VIII and Article IX (as though such co-agents and sub-agents were such “Agent” under the Loan Documents) as if set forth in full herein with respect thereto.

SECTION 8.07 Resignation of Agent. The Agents may at any time give notice to the Lenders and the Borrowers of its resignation. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrowers, to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in New York, New York, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in New York, New York. 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 (such 30-day period, the “Lender Appointment Period”), then the retiring Agent may on behalf of the applicable Lenders, appoint a successor Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above, which successor may not be a Defaulting Lender or a Disqualified Lender. In addition and without any obligation on the part of the retiring Agent to appoint, on behalf of the Lenders, a successor Agent, the retiring Agent may at any time upon or after the end of the Lender Appointment Period notify the Borrowers and the Lenders that no qualifying person has accepted appointment as successor Agent and the effective date of such retiring Agent’s resignation. Upon the resignation effective date established in such notice and regardless of whether a successor Agent has been appointed and accepted such appointment, the retiring Agent’s resignation shall nonetheless become effective and (i) the retiring Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations as Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents as to which it has resigned and (ii) all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the retiring Agent shall instead be made by or to each applicable Lender directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Agent as provided for above in this paragraph. 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 as Agent of the retiring (or retired) Agent as to which it has resigned, and the retiring Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations as Agent hereunder or under the other Loan Documents in respect of the Term Loan Facility as to which it has resigned (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this paragraph). The fees payable by the Borrowers to a successor Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrowers and such successor. After the retiring Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 8.05 and Section 9.05 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.

SECTION 8.08 Non-Reliance on Agent and Other Lenders.

(a) Each Lender confirms to the Agents, the Arrangers, each other Lender and each of their respective Related Parties that it (i) possesses (individually or through its Related Parties) such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that it is capable, without reliance on any Agent, any Arranger, any other Lender or any of their respective Related

 

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Parties, of evaluating the merits and risks (including tax, legal, regulatory, credit, accounting and other financial matters) of (x) entering into this Agreement, (y) making Loans and other extensions of credit hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and (z) in taking or not taking actions hereunder and thereunder, (ii) is financially able to bear such risks and (iii) has determined that entering into this Agreement and making Loans and other extensions of credit hereunder and under the other Loan Documents is suitable and appropriate for it.

(b) Each Lender acknowledges that (i) it is solely responsible for making its own independent appraisal and investigation of all risks arising under or in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (ii) that it has, independently and without reliance upon any Agent, any Arranger, any other Lender or any of their respective Related Parties, made its own appraisal and investigation of all risks associated with, and its own credit analysis and decision to enter into, this Agreement based on such documents and information, as it has deemed appropriate and (iii) it will, independently and without reliance upon any Agent, any Arranger, any other Lender or any of their respective Related Parties, continue to be solely responsible for making its own appraisal and investigation of all risks arising under or in connection with, and its own credit analysis and decision to take or not take action under, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, which may include, in each case:

(A) the financial condition, status and capitalization of the Borrowers and each other Loan Party;

(B) the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of this Agreement and each other Loan Document and any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Loan Document;

(C) determining compliance or non-compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan and the form and substance of all evidence delivered in connection with establishing the satisfaction of each such condition;

(D) the adequacy, accuracy and/or completeness of any information delivered by any Agent, any Arranger, any other Lender or by any of their respective Related Parties under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Loan Document.

SECTION 8.09 No Other Duties, etc. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Persons acting as Arranger or Co-Manager listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or as a Lender hereunder.

 

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SECTION 8.10 Agent May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on any Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders and the Administrative Agent hereunder) 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, interim receiver, monitor, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, if the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent hereunder.

SECTION 8.11 Other Secured Agreements.

(a) The Borrowers and any Other Secured Party may from time to time designate an agreement that otherwise would qualify as an Other Secured Agreement as an Other Secured Agreement upon written notice to the Administrative Agent from the Borrowers and such Other Secured Party, in form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, which form shall include a description of such Other Secured Agreement, the maximum amount of obligations thereunder which are to constitute Other Secured Obligations (each, a “Designated Amount”); provided that any such Designated Amount of obligations shall constitute Other Secured Obligations only to the extent that such Designated Amount, together with all other Designated Amounts under all other Other Secured Agreements that have been theretofore designated as Other Secured Obligations and that remain in effect, does not exceed in the aggregate $25,000,000.

(b) The Borrowers and each applicable Other Secured Party may increase, decrease or terminate any Designated Amount in respect of each applicable Other Secured Agreement upon written notice to the Administrative Agent; provided that any increase in a Designated Amount shall be deemed to be a new designation of a Designated Amount and shall be subject to the limitations set forth in Section 8.11(a). No obligations under any Other Secured Agreement in excess of the applicable Designated Amount shall constitute Obligations hereunder or the other Loan Documents.

 

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(c) No counterparty to an Other Secured Agreement that obtains the benefits of the Waterfall, the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or any Collateral by virtue of the provisions hereof or of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or any Security Document shall have any right to notice of any action or to consent to, direct or object to any action hereunder or under any other Loan Document or otherwise in respect of the Collateral (including the release or impairment of any Collateral) other than in its capacity as a Lender and, in such case, only to the extent expressly provided in the Loan Documents. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article VIII to the contrary, no Agent shall be required to verify the payment of, or that other satisfactory arrangements have been made with respect to, any Obligations arising under any Other Secured Agreement unless the Administrative Agent has received written notice of such Obligations, together with such supporting documentation as such Agent may request, from each applicable counterparty to such Other Secured Agreement.

ARTICLE IX

Miscellaneous

SECTION 9.01 Notices.

(a) All notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be either (x) in writing (including telegraphic, telecopy or electronic communication) and mailed, telecopied or delivered or (y) as and to the extent set forth in Section 9.01(b) and in the proviso to this Section 9.01(a), in an electronic medium and delivered as set forth in Section 9.01(b), if to Holdings or to any Borrower, to the attention of Joseph Abbott, Chief Financial Officer, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, 125 High Street, Boston, MA 02110-2777, Tel: (617) 351-5200, Fax: (617) 249-1673, Email Joe.Abbott@hmhco.com, with copies to William Bayers, Executive Vice-President & General Counsel, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, 125 High Street, Boston, MA 02110-2777, Tel: (617) 351-5125, Fax: (617) 249-2118, Email Bill.Bayers@hmhco.com, Joseph Flaherty, Senior Vice-President & Treasurer, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, 125 High Street, Boston, MA 02110-2777, Tel: (617) 351-5223, Fax: (617) 351-1104, Email Joe.Flaherty@hmhco.com and David Mills, Assistant Treasurer, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, 125 High Street, Boston, MA 02110-2777, Tel: (617) 351-3766, Fax: (617) 933-7632, Email David.Mills@hmhco.com; if to any Lender who has executed this Agreement on the Closing Date, at its Domestic Lending Office specified opposite its name on the Register; if to any other Lender, at its Domestic Lending Office specified in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender; if to the Administrative Agent, (i) at the following address: Citibank, N.A., 1615 Brett Road, New Castle, DE 19720, Attn: Investor Relations, Tel: 302-894-6010, Fax: 646-274-5080, Email: Global.Loans.Support@Citi.com; or, as to any Borrower or any Agent, at such other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to the other parties and, as to each other party, at such other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to such Borrower and the Administrative Agent; provided, however, that materials and information described in Section 9.01(b) shall be delivered to the Administrative Agent in accordance with the provisions thereof or as otherwise specified to the Borrowers by the Administrative Agent. All such notices and other communications shall, when mailed, telecopied, or e-mailed, be effective when deposited in the mails, transmitted by telecopier or sent by electronic communication, respectively, except that notices and communications to any Agent pursuant to Article II, III or VII shall not be effective until received by such Agent and, in the case of notice sent by e-mail, until replied to by such Agent confirming expressly receipt thereof. Delivery by telecopier of an executed counterpart of a signature page to any amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any Loan Document shall be effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart thereof.

 

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(b) Each Borrower hereby agrees that it will provide to the Administrative Agent all information, documents and other materials that it is obligated to furnish to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Loan Documents, including, without limitation, all notices, requests, financial statements, financial and other reports, certificates and other information materials, but excluding any such communication that (i) relates to a request for a new, or a conversion of an existing, Borrowing (including any election of an interest rate or interest period relating thereto), (ii) relates to the payment of any principal or other amount due under this Agreement prior to the scheduled date therefor, (iii) provides notice of any Default under this Agreement or (iv) is required to be delivered to satisfy any condition precedent to the effectiveness of this Agreement and/or any Borrowing (all such non-excluded communications being referred to herein collectively as “Communications”), by transmitting the Communications in an electronic/soft medium in a format acceptable to the Administrative Agent to an electronic mail address specified by the Administrative Agent to such Borrower. In addition, each Borrower agrees to continue to provide the Communications to the Administrative Agent in the manner specified in the Loan Documents but only to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent. Each Borrower further agrees that the Administrative Agent may make the Communications available to the Lenders by posting the Communications on IntraLinks or a substantially similar electronic transmission system (the “Platform”).

(c) THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE”. THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE COMMUNICATIONS, OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN THE COMMUNICATIONS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY THE AGENT PARTIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS OR THE PLATFORM. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, THE COLLATERAL AGENT OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, ADVISORS OR REPRESENTATIVES (COLLECTIVELY, “AGENT PARTIES”) HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO ANY BORROWER, ANY LENDER OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DIRECT OR INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOSSES OR EXPENSES (WHETHER IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF ANY BORROWER’S OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT’S TRANSMISSION OF COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH THE INTERNET, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THE LIABILITY OF ANY AGENT PARTY IS FOUND IN A FINAL NON-APPEALABLE JUDGMENT BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION TO HAVE RESULTED PRIMARILY FROM SUCH AGENT PARTY’S GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT.

 

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(d) The Administrative Agent agrees that the receipt of the Communications by the Administrative Agent at its e-mail address set forth above shall constitute effective delivery of the Communications to the Administrative Agent for purposes of the Loan Documents. Each Lender agrees that notice to it (as provided in the next sentence) specifying that the Communications have been posted to the Platform shall constitute effective delivery of the Communications to such Lender for purposes of the Loan Documents. Each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent in writing (including by electronic communication) from time to time of such Lender’s e-mail address to which the foregoing notice may be sent by electronic transmission and that the foregoing notice may be sent to such e-mail address. Nothing herein shall prejudice the right of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to give any notice or other communication pursuant to any Loan Document in any other manner specified in such Loan Document.

SECTION 9.02 Survival of Agreement. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by any Borrower or Holdings herein and in the certificates or other instruments prepared or delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the Lenders shall survive the making by the Lenders of the Loans, regardless of any investigation made by the Lenders or on their behalf, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any Fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement or any other Loan Document is outstanding and unpaid and as long as all Commitments have not been terminated. The provisions of Sections 2.14, 2.16, 2.20 and 9.05 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of the expiration of the term of this Agreement, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of any of the Loans, the expiration of the Commitments, the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, any Lender.

SECTION 9.03 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Loan Parties and the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto.

SECTION 9.04 Successors and Assigns.

(a) Whenever in this Agreement any of the parties hereto is referred to, such reference shall be deemed to include the permitted successors and assigns of such party; and all covenants, promises and agreements by or on behalf of the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or the Lenders that are contained in this Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns.

(b) Each Lender may assign to one or more Eligible Assignees all or a portion of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it), with the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided, however, that (A) the consent of the Borrowers shall not be required to any such assignment (x) made to another Lender or an Affiliate or a Related Fund of a Lender or (y) after the

 

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occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default under Section 7.01(b), 7.01(c), 7.01(g) or 7.01(h) and (B) the Borrowers shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall have objected thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within ten Business Days after having received written notice thereof from the Administrative Agent, (ii) 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 Administrative Agent) shall be in an integral multiple of, and not less than, $1,000,000 (or, if less, the entire remaining amount of such Lender’s Commitment or Loans of the relevant Class) without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent; provided that (A) such minimum amount shall be aggregated for two or more simultaneous assignments to or by two or more Related Funds and (B) this clause (ii) shall not apply to assignments to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or a Related Fund, (iii) each such assignment of Commitments and/or Loans shall be of a constant, and not varying, percentage of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement in respect of such Lender’s Commitments and/or Loans so assigned, (iv) the parties to each such assignment shall (A) execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Acceptance via an electronic settlement system acceptable to the Administrative Agent or (B) if previously agreed to by the Administrative Agent, manually execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Acceptance, together, in each case, with a processing and recording fee of $3,500 (which fee may be waived or reduced in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent), (v) the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire and all applicable tax forms and (vi) the consent of the Administrative Agent shall not be required as to any assignment (A) to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or a Related Fund or (B) pursuant to paragraph (k) or (l) of this Section 9.04. In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment will be effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or subparticipations or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent and each other Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon), and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder becomes effective under applicable law without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, then the assignee of such interest will be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs. Subject to acceptance and recording pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section 9.04, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance, (A) the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement and (B) the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering all or the remaining portion of an assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.14, 2.16, 2.20 and 9.05, as well as to any Fees accrued for its account and not yet paid).

 

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(c) By executing and delivering an Assignment and Acceptance, the assigning Lender thereunder and the assignee thereunder shall be deemed to confirm to and agree with each other and the other parties hereto as follows: (i) such assigning Lender warrants that it is the legal and beneficial owner of the interest being assigned thereby free and clear of any adverse claim and that its Commitment, and the outstanding balances of its Term Loan without giving effect to assignments thereof which have not become effective, are as set forth in such Assignment and Acceptance, (ii) except as set forth in (i) above, such 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 the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto, or the financial condition of Holdings or any Subsidiary or the performance or observance by Holdings or any Subsidiary of any of its obligations under this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto; (iii) such assignee represents and warrants that it is an Eligible Assignee, legally authorized to enter into such Assignment and Acceptance; (iv) such assignee confirms that it has received a copy of this Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.04, and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into such Assignment and Acceptance; (v) such assignee will independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, such assigning Lender or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement; (vi) such assignee appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement as are delegated to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, respectively, by the terms hereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto; and (vii) such assignee agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all the obligations which by the terms of this Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

(d) The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as an agent of the Borrowers, shall maintain at one of its offices a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitment of, and principal amount (and stated interest) of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, absent manifest error, and the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders shall treat each person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrowers, the Collateral Agent and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

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(e) Upon its receipt of, and consent to, a duly completed Assignment and Acceptance executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, an Administrative Questionnaire completed in respect of the assignee (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) above, if applicable, and the written consent of the Administrative Agent and, if required, the Borrowers to such assignment and any applicable Tax forms, the Administrative Agent shall promptly (i) accept such Assignment and Acceptance and (ii) record the information contained therein in the Register. No assignment shall be effective unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph (e).

(f) Each Lender may without the consent of the Loan Parties or the Administrative Agent sell participations to one or more banks or other persons (other than to Disqualified Lenders to the extent the Disqualified Lender list is made available to all Lenders) in all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans owing to it); provided, however, that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations, (iii) the participating banks or other persons shall be entitled to the benefit of the cost protection provisions contained in Sections 2.14, 2.16 and 2.20 to the same extent as if they were Lenders (but, with respect to any particular participant, to no greater extent than the Lender that sold the participation to such participant, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the participant acquired the applicable participation) and provided such participant complies with Sections 2.20(f) and (g) as if it were a Lender and (iv) the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent, and the Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, and such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce the obligations of the Borrowers relating to the Loans and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the participant, agree to any amendments, modifications or waivers decreasing any fees payable to such participating bank or person hereunder or the amount of principal of or the rate at which interest is payable on the Loans in which such participating bank or person has an interest, extending any scheduled principal payment date or date fixed for the payment of interest on the Loans in which such participating bank or person has an interest, increasing or extending the Commitments in which such participating bank or person has an interest or releasing or all or substantially all of the value of the Guarantees under the Security Documents or all or substantially all of the Collateral. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of a Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any participant or any information relating to a participant’s interest in any Obligations under any Loan Document) to any person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the U.S. Treasury Regulations. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error,

 

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and such Lender shall treat each person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

(g) Any Lender or participant may, in connection with any assignment or participation or proposed assignment or participation pursuant to this Section 9.04, disclose to the assignee or participant or proposed assignee or participant any information relating to Holdings and the Subsidiaries furnished to such Lender by or on behalf of the Borrowers; provided that, prior to any such disclosure of information designated by the Borrowers as confidential, each such assignee or participant or proposed assignee or participant shall execute an agreement whereby such assignee or participant shall agree (subject to customary exceptions) to preserve the confidentiality of such confidential information on terms no less restrictive than those applicable to the Lenders pursuant to Section 9.16.

(h) Any Lender may, without the consent of any Borrower or the Administrative Agent, at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure extensions of credit to such Lender or in support of obligations owed by such Lender; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

(i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a “Granting Lender”) may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle (an “SPC”), identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Lender to the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers, the option to provide to the Borrowers all or any part of any Loan that such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to make to the Borrowers pursuant to this Agreement; provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment by any SPC to make any Loan and (ii) if an SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to provide all or any part of such Loan, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to make such Loan pursuant to the terms hereof. 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. Each party hereto hereby agrees that no SPC shall be liable for any indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement (all liability for which shall remain with the Granting Lender). In furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby agrees (which agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement) that, prior to the date that is one year and one day after the payment in full of all outstanding commercial paper or other senior indebtedness of any SPC, it will not institute against, or join any other person in instituting against, such SPC any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceedings under the laws of the United States or any State thereof. In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 9.04, any SPC may (i) with notice to, but without the prior written consent of, any Borrower and the Administrative Agent and without paying any processing fee therefor, assign all or a portion of its interests in any Loans to the Granting Lender or to any financial institutions (consented to by the Borrowers and Administrative Agent) providing liquidity and/or credit support to or for the account of such SPC to support the funding or maintenance of Loans and (ii) disclose on a confidential basis any non-public information relating to its Loans to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of any surety, guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPC.

 

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(j) No Loan Party shall assign or delegate any of its rights or duties hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender, and any attempted assignment without such consent shall be null and void.

(k) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, including Section 2.19 (which provisions shall not be applicable to this paragraph (k) of Section 9.04), Holdings and its Subsidiaries shall be permitted to be a Lender or an assignee of the Loans and Commitments and purchase from any Lender, at individually negotiated prices, outstanding principal amounts under the Term Loan Facility on a non-pro rata basis; provided that:

(i) unless the seller agrees otherwise, the purchaser shall make represent and warrant to the seller at the time of assignment that it does not possess material non-public information (or, if Holdings is not at the time a public reporting company, material information of a type that would not reasonably be expected to be publicly available if Holdings was a public reporting company) with respect to Holdings and its Subsidiaries that has not been disclosed to the seller or Lenders generally (other than the Lenders that have elected not to receive material non-public information);

(ii) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom; and

(iii) any Term Loans so assigned shall be automatically and permanently cancelled upon the effectiveness of such assignment and will thereafter no longer be outstanding for any purpose hereunder;

(l) An Affiliate of any of the Loan Parties (other than Holdings and its Subsidiaries) shall be permitted to be a Lender or an assignee of the Loans and Commitments (such Affiliate, as an assignee of the Loans and Commitments, an “Specified Lender”) to the extent, and only to the extent, and each Specified Lender hereby represents and warrants to and covenants with the Agents and the other Lenders, that (i) each Specified Lender shall be deemed to have voted its interest as a Lender without discretion in the same proportion as the allocation of voting with respect to such matter by Lenders who are not Specified Lenders, provided that no amendment, modification, waiver, consent or other action with respect to any Loan Document shall deprive such Specified Lender of any payments to which such Specified Lender is entitled under the Loan Documents without such Specified Lender providing its consent, (ii) a Specified Lender shall not take any step or action in a bankruptcy proceeding to object to, impede, or delay the exercise of any right or the taking of any action by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent (or the taking of any action by a third party that is supported by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent) in relation to such Specified Lender’s claim with respect to its Loans (a “Bankruptcy Claim”) (including, without limitation, objecting to any debtor in possession financing, use of cash collateral, grant of adequate protection, sale or disposition, compromise, or plan of reorganization) so long as such Specified Lender in its capacity as a Lender is treated in connection with such exercise or action on the same or better terms as the other Lenders, (iii) with respect to any matter requiring the vote of Lenders during the pendency of a bankruptcy

 

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proceeding (including, without limitation, voting on any plan of reorganization), the Loans and Commitments held by such Specified Lender (and any Bankruptcy Claim with respect thereto) shall be deemed to be voted in accordance with clause (i) above, so long as such Specified Lender in its capacity as a Lender is treated in connection with the exercise of such right or taking of such action on the same or better terms as the other Lenders (the provisions set forth in this clause (iii), and the related provisions set forth in each Assignment and Acceptance with a Specified Lender, constitute a “subordination agreement” as such term is contemplated by, and utilized in, section 510(a) of the United States Bankruptcy Code, and, as such, would be enforceable for all purposes in any case where a Borrower or a Guarantor has filed for protection under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors applicable to such Loan Party; provided that notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, each Specified Lender will be entitled to vote in accordance with its sole discretion (and not be deemed to vote in the same proportion as Lenders that are not each Specified Lenders) in connection with any chapter 11 plan to the extent that such plan proposes to treat any obligation under the Loan Documents held by such Specified Lender in a manner that is less favorable to such Specified Lender than the proposed treatment of similar obligations held by Lenders that are not Specified Lenders, (iv) no Specified Lender shall have any right to (A) attend (including by telephone) any meeting or discussions (or portion thereof) among the Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, any Arranger, or any Lender to which representatives of the Loan Parties are not invited, (B) receive any information or material prepared by the Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, any Arranger, or any Lender or any communication by or among the Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, any Arranger, and/or one or more Lenders, except to the extent such information or materials have been made available to the Borrowers or any Guarantor or any of their representatives, (C) the benefit of any advice provided by counsel to the Agents or the other Lenders or to challenge the attorney-client privilege of the communications between the Agents, such other Lenders and such counsel, or (D) to make or bring any claim, in its capacity as Lender, against the Agents with respect to the duties of the duties and obligations of the Agents hereunder, (v) the aggregate principal amount of all Loans held by Specified Lenders shall in no event exceed, as calculated at the time of the consummation of any assignment to any Specified Lender, 20% of the aggregate principal amount of the Loans then outstanding, (vi) no proceeds of commitments or loans under the Revolving Credit Agreement may be used by any Specified Lender to effect any permitted assignments to it or purchase such Loans or Commitments and (vii) the Administrative Agent shall be granted an irrevocable power of attorney, coupled with an interest, from each Loan Party and each Specified Lender to give effect to the foregoing.

SECTION 9.05 Expenses; Indemnity.

(a) The Borrowers and Holdings agree, jointly and severally, to pay all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Co-Manager and the Arrangers in connection with the syndication of the Commitments and Loans and the preparation and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or in connection with any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions hereby or thereby contemplated shall be consummated) or incurred by the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Co-Manager, the Arrangers or any Lender in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or in connection with the Loans made hereunder, including without limitation, the fees, charges and disbursements of

 

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Shearman & Sterling LLP, as counsel to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent and any other local or foreign counsel for the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, and, in connection with any such enforcement or protection, the fees, charges and disbursements of any other counsel for the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender. Expenses payable under this clause shall include, without limitation, as expenses incurred in connection with the protection of the rights of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Co-Manager, the Arrangers or any Lender, the fees, charges and disbursements of Shearman & Sterling LLP, as counsel to the Administrative Agent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrowers’ and Holdings’ obligation to reimburse the fees and expenses of outside counsel under this Section 9.05(a) shall be limited to one firm of counsel for the Co-Manager, the Arrangers, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, taken as a whole and, if necessary, of a single local counsel in each appropriate jurisdiction and, in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest where the party affected by such conflict informs the Borrowers of such conflict and thereafter retains its own counsel for such affected party, each such additional retained counsel.

(b) The Borrowers and Holdings agree, jointly and severally, to indemnify each Arranger, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Co-Manager, each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing persons (each such person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and to hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses, including reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel (which shall be limited to one counsel in each relevant jurisdiction and, in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest where the party affected by such conflict informs the Borrowers of such conflict and thereafter retains its own counsel for such affected party, each such additional retained counsel), incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in any way connected with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated thereby, the performance by the parties thereto of their respective obligations thereunder or the consummation of the Transactions and the other transactions contemplated thereby (including the syndication of the Term Loan Facility), (ii) the use of the proceeds of the Loans, (iii) any claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether or not any Indemnitee is a party thereto (and regardless of whether such matter is initiated by a third party or by the Borrowers, Holdings or any other Loan Party or any of their respective Affiliates), or (iv) any actual or alleged presence or Release of Hazardous Materials on any property currently or formerly owned or operated by Holdings or any of the Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to Holdings or the Subsidiaries; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available (A) to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence, willful misconduct, bad faith or Hazardous Materials first Released at any property after such property is transferred to any Indemnitee or its successors or assigns by foreclosure, deed-in-lieu of foreclosure or similar transfer where such Release is not attributable to a condition existing on or prior to the date of such foreclosure or other transfer or (y) relate to claims between the Lenders that do not involve an act or omission of any Loan Party or any of their Affiliates (other than claims against any Arranger, the Administrative Agent, the Co-Manager or the Collateral Agent or any of their Affiliates in their capacities, or in fulfilling roles, as such (or any similar roles) in connection with the credit facilities provided for herein) and (B) in the event of any settlement entered into

 

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by such Indemnitee without the Borrowers’ written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided, however, that this clause (B) shall not apply to any such settlement that occurs after the Borrowers were offered the ability to assume the defense of the action that was the subject matter of such settlement and elected not to assume such defense. This Section 9.05 shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages or liabilities arising from any non-Tax claim.

(c) To the extent that Holdings and the Borrowers fail to pay any amount required to be paid by them to an Arranger, the Administrative Agent, the Co-Manager or the Collateral Agent under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section (and without limiting their obligation to do so), each Lender severally agrees to pay to such Arranger, the Administrative Agent, the Co-Manager or the Collateral Agent, 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 such Arranger, the Administrative Agent, the Co-Manager or the Collateral Agent in its capacity as such. For purposes hereof, a Lender’s “pro rata share” shall be determined based upon its share of the aggregate amount of the outstanding Term Loan Commitments for all Lenders at the time (or, if there shall be no outstanding Term Loan Commitments at such time, based upon such Lender’s share of the aggregate amount of outstanding unused Term Loan Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any subsequent assignments).

(d) To the extent permitted by applicable law, neither any Loan Party nor any Indemnitee shall assert, and each hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee or any Loan Party, 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 or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the Transactions, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof; provided that the foregoing limitation shall not apply to losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses of an Indemnitee resulting from a third party’s claim for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages in connection with which an Indemnitee is otherwise entitled to indemnification or reimbursement hereunder.

(e) The provisions of this Section 9.05 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of the expiration of the term of this Agreement, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of any of the Loans, the expiration of the Commitments, the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any investigation made by or on behalf of either Arranger, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Co-Manager or any Lender. All amounts due under this Section 9.05 shall be payable on written demand therefor.

SECTION 9.06 Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, except to the extent prohibited by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other indebtedness at any time owing by such Lender to or for the credit or the account of any Borrower or Holdings against any of and all the obligations of any Borrower or Holdings now or hereafter existing under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents held by such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall

 

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have made any demand under this Agreement or such other Loan Document and although such obligations may be unmatured; provided that in the event that any Defaulting Lender exercises any right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off will be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.25(a)(ii) and, pending such payment, will be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and (y) the Defaulting Lender will provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. The rights of each Lender under this Section 9.06 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) which such Lender may have.

SECTION 9.07 Applicable Law. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS (OTHER THAN AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS) SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

SECTION 9.08 Waivers; Amendment.

(a) No failure or delay of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender in exercising any power or right hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or consent to any departure by any Borrower, or any other Loan Party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) below, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. No notice or demand on any Borrower or Holdings in any case shall entitle any Borrower or Holdings to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.

(b) Neither this Agreement nor any other Loan Document nor any provision hereof or thereof may be waived, amended or modified except, in the case of this Agreement, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrowers, Holdings and the Required Lenders or, in the case of any other Loan Document, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Administrative Agent and each Loan Party (to the extent such Loan Party is a party thereto), in each case with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided, however, that no such agreement shall (i) decrease or forgive the principal amount of, or extend the maturity of or any scheduled principal payment date or date for the payment of any interest on any Loan or waive or excuse any such payment or any part thereof, or decrease the rate of interest on any Loan, without the prior written consent of each Lender directly adversely affected thereby; provided that the waiver of (or amendment to the terms of) any mandatory prepayment of the Term Loans shall not constitute an extension of any date scheduled for the payment of principal or interest or a waiver or excuse of any such payment, (ii) except as provided in Section 2.24, increase or extend the Commitment or decrease or extend the date for payment of any Fees (or any prepayment premium set forth in Section 2.12) of any Lender

 

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without the prior written consent of such Lender; provided that (x) the foregoing shall not apply to extensions effected in accordance with Section 2.22, and (y) the waiver of any condition precedent set forth in Article IV or the waiver of any Default, mandatory prepayment or mandatory reduction of the Commitments shall not constitute an increase or extension of any Commitment of any Lender, (iii) amend or modify the pro rata requirements of Section 2.17 or the sharing of payments provisions of Section 2.18 or the provisions of this Section or release all or substantially all of the value of the Guarantees under the Security Documents or all or substantially all of the Collateral (except in a transaction expressly permitted in the Loan Documents), without the prior written consent of each Lender, (iv) change the provisions of any Loan Document in a manner that by its terms adversely affects the rights in respect of payments due to Lenders holding Loans of one Class differently from the rights of Lenders holding Loans of any other Class without the prior written consent of Lenders holding a majority in interest of the outstanding Loans and unused Commitments of each adversely affected Class, (v) modify the protections afforded to an SPC pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.04(i) without the written consent of such SPC or (vi) reduce the percentage contained in the definition of the term “Required Lenders” without the prior written consent of each Lender (it being understood that with the consent of the Required Lenders, additional extensions of credit pursuant to this Agreement may be included in the determination of the Required Lenders on substantially the same basis as the Term Loan Commitments on the date hereof); provided further that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Loan Document may be amended or modified pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers and each other Loan Party that is a party thereto, without the consent of any of the Lenders, if such amendment or modification is beneficial to the Lenders (or the Lenders holding Loans or Commitments of any Class) and does not adversely affect the rights or obligations of any Lender under any Loan Document.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in connection with any determination as to whether the requisite Lenders have (A) consented (or not consented) to any amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any departure by any Loan Party therefrom, (B) otherwise acted on any matter related to any Loan Document, or (C) directed or required the Administrative Agent or any Lender to undertake any action (or refrain from taking any action) with respect to or under any Loan Document, any Lender (other than any Lender that is a Regulated Bank or an Affiliate of a Regulated Bank) that, as a result of its interest in any total return swap, total rate of return swap, credit default swap or other derivative contract (other than any such total return swap, total rate of return swap, credit default swap or other derivative contract entered into pursuant to bona fide market making activities), has a net short position with respect to the Loans and/or Commitments (each, a “Net Short Lender”), without the consent of Holdings, shall have no right to vote any of its Loans and Commitments and shall be deemed to have voted its interest as a Lender without discretion in the same proportion as the allocation of voting with respect to such matter by Lenders who are not Net Short Lenders. For purposes of this provision, a “net short position” shall, with respect to a Lender, be the net position, if any, held by such Lender and that is remaining after deducting any long position that the Lender holds (i.e., a position (whether as an investor, lender or holder of debt obligations, including synthetic positions by way of derivatives such as credit default

 

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swaps)) where the Lender is exposed to the credit risk of obligations of the Borrowers and other Loan Parties that would constitute “Deliverable Obligations” under a market standard Standard North American Corporate credit default swap transaction documented using the ISDA CDS Definitions (as defined below) referencing any of the Borrowers or other Loan Parties) from any short positions (i.e., a position as described above, but where the Lender is instead protected from the credit risk described above). For purposes of determining whether a Lender (other than a Regulated Bank or an Affiliate of a Regulated Bank) has a “net short position” on any date of determination: (i) derivative contracts with respect to the Loans and Commitments and such contracts that are the functional equivalent thereof shall be counted at the notional amount thereof in Dollars, provided, subject to clause (iii) below, that in the case of any derivatives contracts referencing an index, the notional amount of such contracts shall be determined in proportionate amount and reference to the percentage weighting of the component which references any Loan Party or any bond or loan obligation issued or guaranteed by any Loan Party that would be a “Deliverable Obligation” or an “Obligation” (as defined in the ISDA CDS Definitions) of the Credit Parties; (ii) notional amounts in other currencies shall be converted to the Dollar Equivalent thereof by such Lender in a commercially reasonable manner consistent with generally accepted financial practices and based on the prevailing conversion rate (determined on a mid-market basis) on the date of determination, (iii) derivative contracts in respect of an index that includes any of the Borrowers or other Credit Parties or any instrument issued or guaranteed by any of the Borrowers or other Credit Parties shall not be deemed to create a short position with respect to the Loans and/or Commitments, so long as (x) such index is not created, designed, administered or requested by such Lender or its Affiliates and (y) the Borrowers and other Credit Parties and any instrument issued or guaranteed by any of the Borrowers or other Credit Parties, collectively, shall represent less than 5% of the components of such index, (iv) derivative transactions that are documented using either the 2014 ISDA Credit Derivatives Definitions or the 2003 ISDA Credit Derivatives Definitions (collectively, the “ISDA CDS Definitions”) shall only be deemed to create a short position with respect to the Loans and/or Commitments if such Lender is a protection buyer or the equivalent thereof for such derivative transaction and (x) the Loans or the Commitments are a “Reference Obligation” under the terms of such derivative transaction (whether specified by name in the related documentation, included as a “Standard Reference Obligation” on the most recent list published by Markit, if “Standard Reference Obligation” is specified as applicable in the relevant documentation or in any other manner) (y) the Loans or the Commitments would be an “Obligation” or “Deliverable Obligation” under the terms of such derivative transaction or (z) any of the Borrowers or other Loan Parties (or its successor) is designated as a “Reference Entity” under the terms of such derivative transactions, and (v) credit derivative transactions or other derivatives transactions not documented using the ISDA CDS Definitions shall be deemed to create a short position with respect to the Loans and/or Commitments if such transactions are functionally equivalent to a transaction that offers the Lender or its Affiliates protection in respect of the Loans or the Commitments, or as to the credit quality of any of the Borrowers or other Loan Parties other than, in each case, as part of an index so long as (x) such index is not created, designed, administered or requested by such Lender and (y) the Borrowers and other Loan Parties and any instrument issued or guaranteed by any of the Borrowers or other Loan Parties, collectively, shall represent less than 5% of the components of such index. In connection with any such determination, each Lender shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent in writing that it is a Net Short Lender, or shall otherwise be deemed to have represented and

 

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warranted to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent that it is not a Net Short Lender (it being understood and agreed that the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely on each such representation and deemed representation). For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely conclusively on any representation and warranty made or deemed made by a Lender with respect to its net short provision (or its resultant status) in accordance with this Agreement, shall have no duty to inquire as to or investigate the accuracy of any such representation, verify any statements made or delivered to it, or otherwise make any calculations investigations or determinations with respect to any derivative instruments or net short provisions.

SECTION 9.09 Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan, together with all fees, charges and other amounts which are treated as interest on such Loan under applicable law (collectively the “Charges”), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the “Maximum Rate”) which may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by the Lender holding such Loan or participation in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Loan or participation hereunder, together with all Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Charges that would have been payable in respect of such Loan or participation but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section 9.09 shall be cumulated and the interest and Charges payable to such Lender in respect of other Loans or participations or periods shall be increased (but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the Federal Funds Effective Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender.

SECTION 9.10 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the Fee Letter and the other Loan Documents constitute the entire contract between the parties relative to the subject matter hereof. Any other previous agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof is superseded by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Nothing in this Agreement or in the other Loan Documents, expressed or implied, is intended to confer upon any person (other than the parties hereto and thereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereunder and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent) any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents.

SECTION 9.11 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS. EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, AS APPLICABLE, BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 9.11.

 

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SECTION 9.12 Severability. In the event any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein and therein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby (it being understood that the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not in and of itself affect the validity of such provision in any other jurisdiction). The parties shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

SECTION 9.13 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract, and shall become effective as provided in Section 9.03. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Agreement.

SECTION 9.14 Headings. Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and are not to affect the construction of, or to be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

SECTION 9.15 Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process.

(a) Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State court or Federal court of the United States of America sitting in New York City, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents against any of the Loan Parties or their respective properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

(b) Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents in any New York State or Federal court. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

(c) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

 

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SECTION 9.16 Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates’ officers, directors, trustees, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel, and other advisors and service providers to the Agents and the Lenders in connection with the administration and management of this Agreement (it being understood that the persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority or quasi-regulatory authority (such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners); provided that other than with respect to requests or requirements by such regulatory authority pursuant to its oversight or supervisory function over such Agents or Lender (or their affiliates) such Agents or Lender shall (i) give the applicable Loan Party written notice prior to disclosing the information to the extent permitted by such requirement, (ii) cooperate with the Loan Party to obtain a protective order or similar confidential treatment (or, in the case of any requests or requirements by a Governmental Authority pursuant to its oversight or supervisory function, inform such Governmental Authority of the confidential nature of such information), and (iii) only disclose that portion of the Information as counsel for such Agents or Lender advises such Person it must disclose pursuant to such requirement, (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under the other Loan Documents or any suit, action or proceeding relating to the enforcement of its rights hereunder or thereunder, (e) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section 9.16, to (i) any actual or prospective assignee of or participant in any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including any actual or prospective pledgee or assignee of a pledge or assignment effected pursuant to Section 9.04(h)) or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to a Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their respective obligations, (f) with the consent of Holdings or a Borrower, or (g) to the extent such Information becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 9.16. For the purposes of this Section, “Information” shall mean all information received from any Borrower or Holdings and related to any Borrower or Holdings, their Subsidiaries or their or their Subsidiaries’ business, other than any such information that was available to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to its disclosure by such Borrower or Holdings. Any person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section 9.16 shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such person would accord its own confidential information.

SECTION 9.17 USA PATRIOT Act Notice. Each Lender and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies Holdings and the Borrowers that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies Holdings and each Borrower, which information includes the name and address of Holdings and each Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify Holdings and each Borrower in accordance with the USA PATRIOT Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

 

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SECTION 9.18 Joint and Several Liability of the Borrower Group.

(a) In order to induce the Lenders to extend credit hereunder, HMHP, Publishers and HMCo (collectively, the “Borrower Group”) agree that they will be jointly and severally liable for all the Obligations, including the principal of and interest on all Loans made to any Borrower. Each member of the Borrower Group further agrees that the due and punctual payment of the Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice to or further assent from it, and that it will remain bound hereunder notwithstanding any such extension or renewal of any Obligation.

(b) Each member of the Borrower Group waives presentment to, demand of payment from and protest to any other member of the Borrower Group of any of the Obligations, and also waives notice of acceptance of its obligations and notice of protest for nonpayment. The Obligations of any Borrower hereunder shall not be affected by (i) the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to assert any claim or demand or to enforce or exercise any right or remedy against any member of the Borrower Group under the provisions of this Agreement or otherwise or (ii) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement or any other agreement (other than the payment in full in cash of all the Obligations and except to the extent that such Obligations have been explicitly modified pursuant to an amendment or waiver that has become effective in accordance with Section 9.08).

(c) Each member of the Borrower Group further agrees that its agreement under this Section 9.18 constitutes a promise of payment when due (whether or not any bankruptcy or similar proceeding shall have stayed the accrual or collection of any of the Obligations or operated as a discharge thereof) and not of collection, and waives any right to require that any resort be had by any Lender or the Administrative Agent to any balance of any deposit account or credit on the books of such Lender or the Administrative Agent in favor of any member of the Borrower Group or any other Person.

(d) The obligations of each member of the Borrower Group under this Section 9.18 shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason, and shall not be subject to any defense or setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever, by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Obligations, any impossibility in the performance of the Obligations or otherwise. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the obligations of the member of the Borrower Group under this Section 9.18 shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by (i) the failure of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy under this Agreement or any other agreement, (ii) any waiver or modification in respect of any thereof, (iii) any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of any of the Obligations or (iv) any other act or omission that may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of such member of the Borrower Group or otherwise operate as a discharge of such member of the Borrower Group or any member of the Borrower Group as a matter of law or equity.

(e) Each member of the Borrower Group further agrees that its obligations under this Section 9.18 shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of any Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by the Administrative Agent or any Lender upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of any other member of the Borrower Group or otherwise.

 

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(f) In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right which the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have at law or in equity against any member of the Borrower Group by virtue of this Section 9.18, upon the failure of any other member of the Borrower Group to pay any Obligation when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, after notice of prepayment or otherwise, each member of the Borrower Group hereby promises to and will, upon receipt of written demand by the Administrative Agent, forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, in cash the amount of such unpaid Obligation.

(g) If by virtue of the provisions set forth herein, any member of the Borrower Group is required to pay and shall pay Obligations of another member of the Borrower Group, all rights of such member of the Borrower Group against such other member of the Borrower Group arising as a result thereof by way of right of subrogation, right of contribution or otherwise shall in all respects be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all the Obligations, and any of these rights among members of the Borrower Group shall not be due or paid until all Obligations shall have been paid in full.

SECTION 9.19 Borrowing Agent. Each member of the Borrower Group hereby irrevocably and unconditionally appoints HMHP as borrowing agent (the “Borrowing Agent”) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents to act as agent for each other member of the Borrower Group for all purposes of the Loan Documents, including, as applicable, (A) requesting Loans (including pursuant to Section 2.02 or 2.24 hereof), (B) delivering certificates, (C) receiving and allocating (to the extent permitted in the Loan Documents) the proceeds of the Loans, (D) taking any other action or receiving any communication on behalf of the Borrower Group in connection with the Loan Documents, and (E) taking such other actions and having such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The Borrowing Agent agrees to act upon the express conditions contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, as applicable. No fees shall be payable to the Borrowing Agent for acting as the Borrowing Agent. In performing its functions and duties under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the Borrowing Agent shall act solely as an agent of the members of the Borrower Group. The Administrative Agent and each Lender 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, posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the Borrowing Agent. The Administrative Agent and each Lender also may rely upon any statement made to them orally or by telephone and believed by them to have been made by the Borrowing Agent, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. Any oral or written statement, certificate, representation or commitment made, given or delivered by the Borrowing Agent under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents shall be deemed to have been approved by, made, given and delivered on behalf of, and shall bind the members of the Borrower Group, jointly and severally, as fully as if any member of the Borrower Group had made, given or delivered such statement, certificate, representation or commitment. The provisions of this Section 9.19 are solely for the benefit of the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and Lenders, and no other Person shall have any rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.

 

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SECTION 9.20 LEGEND. THE ISSUE PRICE, AMOUNT OF OID (IF ANY), ISSUE DATE AND YIELD TO MATURITY OF THE LOANS MAY BE OBTAINED BY WRITING TO THE BORROWERS AT THE ADDRESS SET FORTH IN SECTION 9.01.

SECTION 9.21 No Fiduciary Duty. The Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, Co-Manager, each Arranger, each Lender and their Affiliates (collectively, solely for purposes of this paragraph, the “Lenders”), may have economic interests that conflict with those of a Borrower. Each Borrower agrees that nothing in the Loan Documents or otherwise will be deemed to create an advisory, fiduciary or agency relationship or fiduciary or other implied duty between the Lenders and any Borrower, its stockholders or its Affiliates. Each Borrower acknowledges and agree that (i) the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents are arm’s length commercial transactions between the Lenders, on the one hand, and the Borrowers, on the other, (ii) in connection therewith and with the process leading to such transaction each of the Lenders is acting solely as a principal and not the agent or fiduciary of any Borrower, its management, stockholders, creditors or any other person, (iii) no Lender has assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of any Borrower with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether any Lender or any of its affiliates has advised or is currently advising any Borrower on other matters) or any other obligation to any Borrower except the obligations expressly set forth in the Loan Documents and (iv) each Borrower has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the extent deemed appropriate. Each Borrower further acknowledges and agrees that it is responsible for making its own independent judgment with respect to such transactions and the process leading thereto. Each Borrower agrees that it will not claim that any Lender has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owes a fiduciary or similar duty to any Borrower, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto.

SECTION 9.22 Release of Liens and Guarantees. In the event that any Loan Party conveys, sells, leases, assigns, transfers or otherwise disposes of all or any portion of any of the Equity Interests of any Loan Party or any assets to a person that is not (and is not required to become) a Loan Party in a transaction not prohibited by Section 6.05, any Liens created by any Loan Document in respect of such Equity Interests or assets shall be automatically released and the Administrative Agent shall promptly (and the Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent to) take such action and execute any such documents as may be reasonably requested by the Borrowing Agent and at the Borrowers’ expense to release any Liens created by any Loan Document in respect of such Equity Interests or assets, and, in the case of a disposition of the Equity Interests of any Loan Party in a transaction permitted by Section 6.05, and as a result of which such Subsidiary would cease to be a Loan Party, such Loan Party’s obligations under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement shall be automatically terminated and the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent shall promptly (and the Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent to) take such action and execute any such documents as may be reasonably requested by the Borrowing Agent to terminate such Loan Party’s obligations under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement. In addition, the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent agrees to take such actions as are reasonably requested by the Borrowing Agent and at the Borrowers’ expense to terminate the Liens and security interests created by the Loan Documents when all Commitments have been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan, all Fees and all other expenses or amounts (other than contingent indemnification liabilities to the extent no claim giving rise

 

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thereto has been asserted) payable under any Loan Document have been paid in full and the Administrative Agent and/or Collateral Agent shall have received satisfactory evidence that all Other Secured Obligations either are not due or shall have been paid in full or arrangements with respect thereto reasonably satisfactory to the applicable Other Secured Parties shall have been made (and the applicable Other Secured Parties have notified the Collateral Agent of their consent to terminating such Liens and security interests).

SECTION 9.23 Intercreditor Agreements. The Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent are authorized to enter into each Intercreditor Agreement and the parties hereto acknowledge that each Intercreditor Agreement is binding upon them. Each Lender (a) hereby consents to the provisions of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement and each other Intercreditor Agreement, (b) hereby agrees that it will be bound by and will take no actions contrary to the provisions of any Intercreditor Agreement and (c) hereby authorizes and instructs the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent to enter into the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement and, if applicable, any other Intercreditor Agreement and to subject the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations to the provisions thereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, without the consent of any Lender, may enter into one or more written amendments, supplements or modifications, in each case, pursuant to procedures and documentation reasonably required by the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, to any Intercreditor Agreement as may be required or permitted under the Loan Documents (i) to add other parties (or any authorized agent or representative thereof or trustee therefor) holding Indebtedness that is incurred in compliance with this Agreement that (A) is secured by Liens on the Collateral permitted under this Agreement, (ii) establish the relative priority of the Liens on the Collateral securing such Indebtedness as specified in this Agreement and (iii) to amend, supplement or modify other provisions of any Intercreditor Agreement to implement any of the foregoing as reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent. The authority provided to the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent under this Section 9.23 shall be deemed to constitute the approval and consent of the Lenders with respect to the amendments, supplements and modifications described in this Section 9.23 for purposes of any Intercreditor Agreement.

SECTION 9.24 Lender Representations.

(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 Administrative Agent and its 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 in connection with the Loans, or the Commitments,

 

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(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 the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement,

(iii) (A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, or

(iv) such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender to the effect that the Lender’s entry into the Loans, the Commitments and the Agreement is not a non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.

(b) In addition, unless sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or such Lender has not provided another representation, warranty and covenant as provided in sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (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 Administrative Agent and its Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrowers or any other Loan Party, that neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its Affiliates is a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related to hereto or thereto).

SECTION 9.25 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Certain Financial Institutions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges and accepts that any liability of any Lender arising under any Loan Document, may be subject to Bail-In Action by the relevant Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by the effect of:

(a) any Bail-In Action in relation to any such liability, including (without limitation):

 

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(i) a reduction in full or in part, in the principal amount, or outstanding amount due (including any accrued but unpaid interest) in respect of any such liability;

(ii) (ii) a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; and

(iii) a cancellation of any such liability; and

(b) the variation of the terms of any Loan Document to the extent necessary to give effect to any Bail-In Action in relation to any such liability.

SECTION 9.26 Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs. To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for any Hedging Agreement or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support, “QFC Credit Support”, and each such QFC, a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the “U.S. Special Resolution Regimes”) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Loan Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of New York and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States): In the event a Covered Entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, a “Covered Party”) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Loan Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Loan Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties with respect to a Defaulting Lender shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support.

 

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SECTION 9.27 Amendment and Restatement; No Novation.

Until this Agreement becomes effective in accordance with the requirements of Article IV, the Existing Credit Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be affected hereby. On the Closing Date, the Existing Credit Agreement will be automatically amended and restated to read as set forth in this Agreement. The rights and obligations of the parties hereto shall be governed (i) prior to the Closing Date, by the Existing Credit Agreement and (ii) on and after the Closing Date, by this Agreement. Once the Closing Date has occurred, all references to the “Credit Agreement” in any Loan Document or any other document, instrument, agreement or writing shall be deemed to refer to the Credit Agreement as amended and restated hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement shall not serve to effect a novation of the Obligations owing to the Lenders or the Administrative Agent under the Existing Credit Agreement based on facts or events occurring or existing prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

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

 

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT COMPANY, as Holdings
By:  

/s/ William F. Bayers

  Name: William F. Bayers
 

Title: Executive Vice President,

Secretary and General Counsel

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHERS INC., as a Borrower
By:  

/s/ William F. Bayers

  Name: William F. Bayers
 

Title: Executive Vice President,

Secretary and General Counsel

 

HMH PUBLISHERS LLC, as a Borrower
By:  

/s/ William F. Bayers

  Name: William F. Bayers
 

Title: Executive Vice President,

Secretary and General Counsel

 

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY, as a Borrower
By:  

/s/ William F. Bayers

  Name: William F. Bayers
 

Title: Executive Vice President,

Secretary and General Counsel


GREENWOOD PUBLISHING GROUP, LLC

as a Subsidiary Guarantor

By:  

/s/ William F. Bayers

  Name: William F. Bayers
 

Title: Executive Vice President,

Secretary and General Counsel

 

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY INTERNATIONAL, INC.

as a Subsidiary Guarantor

By:  

/s/ William F. Bayers

  Name: William F. Bayers
 

Title: Executive Vice President,

Secretary and General Counsel

 

-2-


CITIBANK, N.A., as the Administrative Agent,
the Collateral Agent and a Lender
By:  

/s/ Scott Slavik

  Name: Scott Slavik
  Title: Vice President

 

-3-


Exhibit A

[Form of Administrative Questionnaire]

(Refer to the following page)


CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION MEMORANDUM

Administrative Details Form

 

 

Deal Name:

 

 

General Information

Your Institutions Legal Name:

 

Tax Withholding:

Note: To avoid the potential of having interest income withheld, all investors must deliver all current and appropriate tax forms.

Tax ID #:                                            

Sub-Allocation: (United States only)

Note: If your institution is sub-allocating its allocation, please fill out the information below. Additionally, an administrative detail form is required for each legal entity. Execution copies (e.g. Credit Agreement/Assignment Agreement) will be sent for signature to the Sub-Allocation Contact below.

 

Sub-Allocated Amount:      $                                   
Signing Credit Agreement?      ☐Yes    ☒No   
Coming In Via Assignment?      ☐Yes    ☒No   

 

Sub-Allocation Contact:          
           NAME:          
  Address:             E-mail:     
                  
  City:        State:        

Phone #:

    
  Postal Code:        Country:         Fax #:     
Contact List
Business/Credit Matters: (Responsible for trading and credit approval process of the deal)
  Primary:              
                NAME:          
  Address:             E-mail:     
                  
  City:        State:             
  Postal Code:                  Fax #:     
  Backup:              
                NAME:          
  Address:             E-mail:     
                  
  City:        State:         Phone #:     
  Postal Code: 10016        Country:         Fax #:     

 

 

 

1


CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION MEMORANDUM

Administrative Details Form

 

Admin/Operations Matters:

         Primary:

  NAME:                       
           Address:                 E-mail:     
                      
  City:     New Castle       State: DE    Phone #:     
  Postal Code:       Country:         Fax #:     

         Backup:

  NAME:                       
  Address:                 E-mail:     
                               
  City:     New Castle        State: DE    Phone #:     
  Postal Code:       Country:         Fax #:     

 

Closing Contact: (Responsible for Deal Closing matters)
               NAME:          
  Address:                 E-mail:     
                      
           City:       State:         Phone #:     
  Postal Code:       Country:         Fax #:     

 

Disclosure Contact: (Receives disclosure materials, such as financial reports, via our web site)
               NAME:          
  Address:            See above    E-mail:     
                               
  City:       State:         Phone #:     
  Postal Code:       Country:         Fax #:     

 

2


CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION MEMORANDUM

Administrative Details Form

Routing Instructions

 

Routing Instructions for this deal:     
    

Correspondent Bank:

       
         Account Name:    
City:                                           State:                                
Postal Code:                                                                                                   Account#:    
Payment Type:        Benef. Acct. Name:    
☒Fed                                         ☐ABA         ☐CHIPS   Benef. Acct. #:    
ABA/CHIPS #:             

 

 

Reference:                                                        

 
 

Attention:                                                          

 

 

 

Administrative Agent Information

 

 

 

Bank Loans Syndication – FACILITY Agent Contact

   Agent Wiring Instructions
   Name:   

INVESTOR

RELATIONS

  
   Telephone:    302-894-6010    Citibank, N.A.
   Fax:    646-274-5080    ABA #: 021-00-0089
         Acct Name:
   Address:    1615 Brett Road    Medium Term Finance
      New Castle, De 19720    Acct #: 30732122
      Global.loans.support@   
   Email:    citi.com   

 

3


Exhibit B

FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

This Assignment and Assumption (the “Assignment and Assumption”) is dated as of the Effective Date set forth below (the “Effective Date”) and is entered into by and between [Insert name of Assignor] (the “Assignor”) and [Insert name of Assignee] (the “Assignee”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement identified below (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged by the Assignee. The Standard Terms and Conditions set forth in Annex 1 attached hereto are hereby agreed to and incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Assignment and Assumption as if set forth herein in full.

For an agreed consideration, the Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to the Assignee, and the Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from the Assignor, subject to and in accordance with the Standard Terms and Conditions and the Credit Agreement, as of the Effective Date inserted by the Administrative Agent as contemplated below (i) all of the Assignor’s rights and obligations in its capacity as a Lender under the Credit Agreement and any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto to the extent related to the amount and percentage interest identified below of all of such outstanding rights and obligations of the Assignor under the respective facilities identified below and (ii) to the extent permitted to be assigned under applicable law, all claims, suits, causes of action and any other right of the Assignor (in its capacity as a Lender) against any Person, whether known or unknown, arising under or in connection with the Credit Agreement, any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto or the loan transactions governed thereby or in any way based on or related to any of the foregoing, including contract claims, tort claims, malpractice claims, statutory claims and all other claims at law or in equity related to the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clause (i) above (the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above being referred to herein collectively as the “Assigned Interest”). Such sale and assignment is without recourse to the Assignor and, except as expressly provided in this Assignment and Assumption, without representation or warranty by the Assignor.

 

1.     

Assignor:

                                                                            
2.   

Assignee:

                                                                            
     

[and is an Affiliate/Approved Fund of [identify Lender]1[Affiliated Lender]]

3.      

Borrowers: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers Inc,

HMH Publishers LLC, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

 

1 

Select as applicable.


4.   

Administrative Agent:

   Citibank, N.A., as the administrative agent under the Credit Agreement
5.   

Credit Agreement:

   The Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time), among Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers Inc., HMH Publishers LLC, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, the entities listed on the signature pages thereto as subsidiary guarantors, the Lenders party thereto, Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent for the Lenders, and Citibank, N.A. as Collateral Agent for the Lenders.


6.

Assigned Interest:

 

Facility Assigned2

   Aggregate Amount of
Commitment/Loans
for all Lenders
     Amount of
Commitment/Loans
Assigned
     Percentage Assigned
of
Commitment/Loans3
 
   $        $         
   $        $         
   $        $         

Effective Date:    _____________ ___, 20___ [TO BE INSERTED BY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND WHICH SHALL BE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF RECORDATION OF TRANSFER IN THE REGISTER THEREFOR.]

The Assignee, unless the Assignee is a Lender, agrees to deliver to the Administrative Agent a completed Administrative Questionnaire in which the Assignee designates one or more credit contacts to whom all syndicate-level information (which may contain material non-public information about the Loan Parties and their Related Parties or their respective securities) will be made available and who may receive such information in accordance with the Assignee’s compliance procedures and applicable laws, including Federal and state securities laws.

The terms set forth in this Assignment and Assumption are hereby agreed to:

 

ASSIGNOR
[NAME OF ASSIGNOR]
By:    
  Title:

 

ASSIGNEE
[NAME OF ASSIGNEE]
By:    
  Title:

 

3 

Set forth, to at least 9 decimals, as a percentage of the Commitment/Loans of all Lenders thereunder.


[Consented to and] Accepted:

 

CITIBANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent
By    
  Title:

 

By    
  Title:

[Consented to and] Accepted:

 

[NAME OF RELEVANT PARTY], as Borrower,
By    
  Title:

 

By    
  Title:


ANNEX 1

TO

FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

1. Representations and Warranties.

1.1 Assignor. The Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of the Assigned Interest, (ii) the Assigned Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim and (iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; and (b) assumes no responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Loan Documents or any collateral thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of Holdings, the Borrowers, any of their Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person obligated in respect of any Loan Document or (iv) the performance or observance by Holdings, the Borrowers, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person of any of their respective obligations under any Loan Document.

1.2. Assignee. The Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) it satisfies the requirements, if any, specified in the Credit Agreement that are required to be satisfied by it in order to acquire the Assigned Interest and become a Lender, (iii) from and after the Effective Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement as a Lender thereunder and, to the extent of the Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder, (iv) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.04(a), (b) and (c) thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase the Assigned Interest on the basis of which it has made such analysis and decision independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, and (v) attached to the Assignment and Assumption is any documentation required to be delivered by it pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by the Assignee; and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent, the Assignor or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Loan Documents, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

2. Payments. From and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments in respect of the Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to the Assignor for amounts which have accrued to but excluding the Effective Date and to the Assignee for amounts which have accrued from and after the Effective Date.


3. General Provisions. This Assignment and Assumption shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Assignment and Assumption may be executed in any number of counterparts, which together shall constitute one instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Assignment and Assumption by facsimile or other electronic means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Assumption. This Assignment and Assumption shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.


Exhibit C

Form of Borrowing Request

Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent

Attention: Investor Relations

1615 Brett Road

New Castle, DE 19720

[DATE]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The undersigned, HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHERS INC., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (“HMHP”), is the Borrowing Agent under the Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of November 22, 2019 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT COMPANY (Holdings), HMH PUBLISHERS LLC (Publishers), HMHP, HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY (HMCo), and together with HMHP and Publishers, collectively, the “Borrowers”), the entities listed on the signature pages thereto as subsidiary guarantors and the other lenders from time to time party thereto (the “Lenders”), CITIBANK, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the Administrative Agent) and CITIBANK, N.A. as collateral agent (in such capacity, the Collateral Agent). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

The Borrower hereby gives you notice pursuant to Section 2.03 of the Credit Agreement that it requests a Borrowing under the Credit Agreement, and in that connection sets forth below the terms on which such Borrowing is requested to be made:

 

(A)    Type of Borrowing:1        
(B)    Date of Borrowing:2        
(C)    Account number and location to which funds are to be disbursed:        
(D)    Principal amount and currency of Borrowing:        
(E)    Interest Period:3        
          

 

1 

Specify whether such Borrowing is to be a Eurodollar Borrowing or an ABR Borrowing.

2 

Date of Borrowing must be a Business Day.

3 

Not applicable in the case of an ABR Borrowing.


The Borrowers hereby represent and warrant to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that, on the date of the Borrowing requested hereby and after giving effect thereto, the conditions to lending specified in Article IV of the Credit Agreement are satisfied.

 

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHERS INC.,
By:    
Name:  
Title:  


Exhibit D

[Form of Guarantee and Collateral Agreement]

(Refer to the following page)


Execution Version

 

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED TERM FACILITY GUARANTEE AND

COLLATERAL AGREEMENT

dated as of

November 22, 2019

among

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT COMPANY,

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHERS INC.,

HMH PUBLISHERS LLC,

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY,

the Subsidiaries of HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT COMPANY

from time to time party hereto

and

CITIBANK, N.A.,

as Collateral Agent

Reference is made to (i) that certain Second Amended and Restated Term Loan / Notes / Revolving Facility Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of November 22, 2019, among Citibank, N.A., as agent for the Revolving Facility Secured Parties referred to therein, Citibank, N.A., as agent for the Term Facility Secured Parties referred to therein, Citibank, N.A., as agent for the Notes Secured Parties referred to therein, Holdings, the Borrowers referred to therein, such other agents as may subsequently become parties thereto, and the Subsidiary Guarantors named therein (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ABL Intercreditor Agreement”) and (ii) that certain Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019, among Citibank, N.A., as agent for the Term Facility Secured Parties referred to therein, Citibank, N.A, as agent for the Notes Secured Parties referred to therein, such other agents as may subsequently become parties thereto, Holdings, the Borrowers referred to therein and the Subsidiary Guarantors named therein (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time the “Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement and together with the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the “Intercreditor Agreements”). Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, this Agreement, the Liens created hereby and the rights, remedies, duties and obligations provided for herein are subject in all respects to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreements and, to the extent provided therein, the applicable Junior Secured Obligations Security Documents (as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement).

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE I

 

Definitions

 

SECTION 1.01

  Credit Agreement      2  

SECTION 1.02

  Other Defined Terms      2  

ARTICLE II

 

Guarantee

 

SECTION 2.01

  Guarantee      6  

SECTION 2.02

  Guarantee of Payment      6  

SECTION 2.03

  No Limitations, Etc.      6  

SECTION 2.04

  Reinstatement      8  

SECTION 2.05

  Agreement to Pay; Subrogation      8  

SECTION 2.06

  Information      8  

ARTICLE III

 

Pledge of Securities

 

SECTION 3.01

  Pledge      8  

SECTION 3.02

  Delivery of the Pledged Collateral      9  

SECTION 3.03

  Representations, Warranties and Covenants      10  

SECTION 3.04

  Certification of Limited Liability Company Interests and Limited Partnership Interests      11  

SECTION 3.05

  Registration in Nominee Name; Denominations      11  

SECTION 3.06

  Voting Rights; Dividends and Interest, Etc.      12  

ARTICLE IV

 

Security Interests in Personal Property

 

SECTION 4.01

  Security Interest      13  

SECTION 4.02

  Representations and Warranties      16  

SECTION 4.03

  Covenants      18  

SECTION 4.04

  Other Actions      21  

SECTION 4.05

  Covenants Regarding Patent, Trademark and Copyright Collateral      23  

 

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ARTICLE V

 

Remedies

 

SECTION 5.01

  Remedies Upon Default      24  

SECTION 5.02

  Application of Proceeds      26  

SECTION 5.03

  Grant of License to Use Intellectual Property      26  

SECTION 5.04

  Securities Act, Etc.      27  

ARTICLE VI

 

Indemnity, Subrogation and Subordination

 

SECTION 6.01

  Indemnity and Subrogation      28  

SECTION 6.02

  Contribution and Subrogation      28  

SECTION 6.03

  Subordination      28  

ARTICLE VII

 

[Intentionally Omitted.]

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

[Intentionally Omitted]

 

ARTICLE IX

 

Miscellaneous

 

SECTION 9.01

  Notices      29  

SECTION 9.02

  Security Interest Absolute      29  

SECTION 9.03

  Survival of Agreement      29  

SECTION 9.04

  Binding Effect; Several Agreement      30  

SECTION 9.05

  Successors and Assigns      30  

SECTION 9.06

  Applicable Law      30  

SECTION 9.07

  Waivers; Amendment      30  

SECTION 9.08

  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL      31  

SECTION 9.09

  Severability      31  

SECTION 9.10

  Counterparts      31  

SECTION 9.11

  Headings      31  

SECTION 9.12

  Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process      31  

SECTION 9.13

  Termination or Release      32  

SECTION 9.14

  Additional Subsidiaries      33  

SECTION 9.15

  Right of Setoff      33  

SECTION 9.16

  Conflicts      33  

SECTION 9.17

  Paramountcy      34  

SECTION 9.18

  Continuing Security Interest; Assignment      34  

 

ii


SECTION 9.19

  Acknowledgment Regarding Any Supported QFCs      34  

SECTION 9.20

  Ratification of Security Agreement      35  

 

 

Schedules

     
 

Schedule I

  

Subsidiary Guarantors

  
 

Schedule II

  

Equity Interests; Pledged Debt Securities

  
 

Schedule III

  

Intellectual Property

  
 

Exhibits

     
 

Exhibit A

  

Form of Supplement

  
 

Exhibit B

  

Form of Intellectual Property Security

  
    

Agreement

  
 

Exhibit C

  

Form of Intellectual Property Security

  
    

Agreement Supplement

  

 

iii


This SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED TERM FACILITY GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL AGREEMENT, dated as of November 22, 2019 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Agreement”), among HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT COMPANY, a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (“Holdings”), HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHERS INC., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (“HMHP”), HMH PUBLISHERS LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (“Publishers”), HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY, a corporation organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (“HMCo”, and, together with HMHP and Publishers, collectively, the “Borrowers” and each a “Borrower”), the subsidiaries of Holdings from time to time party hereto and Citibank, N.A. (together with its affiliates, “Citibank”), as collateral agent (in such capacity, together with any successor in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”).

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

Holdings, the Borrowers, the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined therein), Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent (the “Administrative Agent”), the Collateral Agent, each of the lenders party thereto and the other parties thereto entered into an Amended and Restated Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of May 29, 2015 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof, the “Existing Credit Agreement”) pursuant to which the lenders thereto extended certain credit facilities to the Borrowers.

Holdings, the Borrowers, the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined therein) and the Collateral Agent entered into an Amended and Restated Term Facility Guaranty and Collateral Agreement dated as of May 29, 2015 (as further amended, supplemented or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof, the “Existing Security Agreement”) pursuant to which each Grantor granted to the Collateral Agent a security interest in its respective Collateral (as defined therein).

Holdings, the Borrowers and the Subsidiary Guarantors desire to refinance the existing outstanding indebtedness under the Existing Credit Agreement and have requested that (a) the Existing Credit Agreement be amended and restated in the form of that certain Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Credit Agreement, date as of date hereof (as so amended and restated, and as it may hereafter be amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”) and (b) the lenders party to the Credit Agreement (the “Lenders”) provide them with a senior secured term loan credit facility on the terms and conditions set forth in the Credit Agreement.

The obligations of the Lenders to extend credit to the Borrowers pursuant to the Credit Agreement are conditioned upon, among other things, the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Borrowers and each Guarantor. Each Guarantor is an affiliate of the Borrowers, will derive substantial benefits from the extension of credit to the Borrowers pursuant to the Credit Agreement, and is willing to execute and deliver this Agreement in order to induce the Lenders to extend such credit. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree as follows:


ARTICLE I

Definitions

SECTION 1.01 Credit Agreement. (a) Terms used in this Agreement that are defined in the Credit Agreement and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement. All capitalized terms used in this Agreement that are defined in the New York UCC (as such term is defined herein) and not otherwise defined in this Agreement have the meanings specified in the New York UCC. All references to the Uniform Commercial Code shall mean the New York UCC unless the context requires otherwise.

(b) The rules of construction specified in Section 1.02 of the Credit Agreement also apply to this Agreement.

SECTION 1.02 Other Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

ABL Intercreditor Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the legend on the cover page of this Agreement.

Administrative Agent shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preliminary statement of this Agreement.

Applicable Collateral Agent shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement; provided that if the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement is terminated in accordance with the terms thereof and not replaced by an intercreditor agreement on substantially similar terms, then “Applicable Collateral Agent” shall mean the Collateral Agent.

Article 9 Collateral shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.01(a).

Borrowers shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble of this Agreement.

CFC shall mean any direct or indirect foreign subsidiary of Holdings that is a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of 957 of the code.

CFC Holding Company means any direct or indirect subsidiary of Holdings or its subsidiaries materially all of its assets of which consists of equity interests of a CFC.

Collateral shall mean the Article 9 Collateral and the Pledged Collateral.

Collateral Agent” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble of this Agreement.

Commodity Exchange Act shall mean the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.), as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

 

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Copyright License” shall mean any written agreement, now or hereafter in effect, granting any right to any third person under any Copyright now or hereafter owned by any Grantor or that such Grantor otherwise has the right to license, or granting any right to any Grantor under any Copyright now or hereafter owned by any third person, and all rights of such Grantor under any such agreement.

Copyrights” shall mean all of the following now owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor: (a) all copyright rights in any work subject to the copyright laws of the United States or any other country, whether as author, assignee, transferee or otherwise, and (b) all registrations and applications for registration of any such copyright in the United States or any other country, including registrations, recordings, supplemental registrations and pending applications for registration in the United States Copyright Office (or any successor office or any similar office in any other country), including those listed on Schedule III.

Credit Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preliminary statement of this Agreement.

Excluded Assets shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.01.

Excluded Pledged Stock” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.01.

Excluded Swap Obligation” shall mean, with respect to any Guarantor, (a) any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the guarantee of such Guarantor pursuant to the Guarantee of, or the grant by such Guarantor of a security interest to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any guarantee pursuant to the 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) (a) by virtue of such Guarantor’s failure to constitute an “eligible contract participant,” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder (determined after giving pro forma effect to any applicable keep well, support, or other agreement for the benefit of such Guarantor and any and all applicable guarantees of such Guarantor’s Swap Obligations by other Loan Parties), at the time the guarantee of (or grant of such security interest by, as applicable) such Guarantor becomes or would become effective with respect to such Swap Obligation or (ii) in the case of a Swap Obligation that is subject to a clearing requirement pursuant to section 2(h) of the Commodity Exchange Act, because such Guarantor is a “financial entity,” as defined in section 2(h)(7)(C) of the Commodity Exchange Act, at the time the guarantee of (or grant of such security interest by, as applicable) such Guarantor becomes or would become effective with respect to such Swap Obligation or (b) any other Swap Obligation designated as an “Excluded Swap Obligation” of such Guarantor as specified in any agreement between the relevant Loan Parties and relevant Other Secured Party applicable to such Swap Obligations. If a Swap Obligation arises under a Master Agreement governing more than one Swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to the Swap for which such guarantee or security interest is or becomes excluded in accordance with the first sentence of this definition.

Existing Credit Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preliminary statement of this Agreement.

 

3


Federal Securities Laws” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.04.

Grantors” shall mean the Borrowers and the Guarantors.

Guarantee” shall mean the guarantee made by each Guarantor in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties hereunder.

Guarantors” shall mean Holdings and the Subsidiary Guarantors.

Intellectual Property” shall mean all intellectual and similar property of any Grantor of every kind and nature now owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor, including, without limitation: (a) inventions, designs, internet websites, Patents, Copyrights, Licenses, and Trademarks, (b) trade secrets, confidential or proprietary technical and business information, know how, show how or other data or information of a similar nature (collectively, “Trade Secrets”), (c) all computer software, programs, and databases (including, without limitation, source code, object code and all related applications and data files), firmware and documentation and materials relating thereto, and (d) all embodiments or fixations thereof and related documentation, registrations and franchises, and all additions, improvements and accessions to, and books and records describing or used in connection with, any of the foregoing.

Intercreditor Agreements” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the legend on the cover page of this Agreement.

Lenders” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preliminary statement of this Agreement.

License” shall mean any Patent License, Trademark License, Copyright License or other license or sublicense agreement relating to Intellectual Property to which any Grantor is a party including those listed on Schedule III.

New York UCC” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as from time to time in effect in the State of New York.

Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the legend on the cover page of this Agreement.

Patent License” shall mean any written agreement, now or hereafter in effect, granting to any third person any right to make, use or sell any invention on which a Patent, now or hereafter owned by any Grantor or that any Grantor otherwise has the right to license, is in existence, or granting to any Grantor any right to make, use or sell any invention on which a Patent, now or hereafter owned by any third person, is in existence, and all rights of any Grantor under any such agreement.

Patents” shall mean all of the following now owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor: (a) all letters patent of the United States or the equivalent thereof in any other country, all registrations and recordings thereof, and all applications for letters patent of the United States or the equivalent thereof in any other country, including registrations, recordings and pending

 

4


applications in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (or any successor or any similar offices in any other country), including those listed on Schedule III, and (b) all reissues, continuations, divisions, continuations-in-part, renewals, extensions or reexaminations thereof, and the inventions disclosed or claimed therein, including the right to make, use and/or sell the inventions disclosed or claimed therein.

Pledged Collateral” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.01.

Pledged Debt Securities” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.01.

Pledged Securities” shall mean any promissory notes, stock certificates or other securities now or hereafter included in the Pledged Collateral, including all certificates, instruments or other documents representing or evidencing any Pledged Collateral.

Pledged Stock” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.01.

Publishers” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble of this Agreement.

Registered” means issued by, registered, recorded or filed with, renewed by or the subject of a pending application before any Governmental Authority.

Security Interest” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.01(a).

Senior Representative” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement; provided, that if the ABL Intercreditor Agreement is terminated in accordance with the terms thereof and not replaced by an intercreditor agreement on substantially similar terms, then “Senior Representative” shall mean the Collateral Agent.

Subsidiary Guarantor” shall mean (a) the Subsidiaries identified on Schedule I hereto as Subsidiary Guarantors and (b) each other Domestic Subsidiary that becomes a party to this Agreement as a Subsidiary Guarantor after the Closing Date.

Swap” shall mean any agreement, contract, or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of Section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

Swap Obligation” shall mean any obligation to pay or perform under any Swap.

Trademark License” shall mean any written agreement, now or hereafter in effect, granting to any third person any right to use any Trademark now or hereafter owned by any Grantor or that any Grantor otherwise has the right to license, or granting to any Grantor any right to use any Trademark now or hereafter owned by any third person, and all rights of any Grantor under any such agreement.

 

5


Trademarks” shall mean all of the following now owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor: (a) all trademarks, service marks, trade names, corporate names, company names, business names, fictitious business names, trade styles, trade dress, logos, other source or business identifiers, designs and general intangibles of like nature, now existing or hereafter adopted or acquired, all registrations and recordings thereof, and all registration and recording applications filed in connection therewith, including registrations and registration applications in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (or any successor office) or any similar offices in any State of the United States or any other country or any political subdivision thereof, and all extensions or renewals thereof, including those listed on Schedule III, (b) all goodwill associated therewith or symbolized thereby and (c) all other assets, rights and interests that uniquely reflect or embody such goodwill.

ARTICLE II

Guarantee

SECTION 2.01 Guarantee. (a) Each of the Guarantors unconditionally guarantees, jointly with the other Guarantors and severally, as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety, the due and punctual payment and performance of the Obligations. Each Guarantor further agrees that the Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice to or further assent from it, and that it will remain bound upon its guarantee notwithstanding any extension or renewal of any Obligation. Each Guarantor waives presentment to, demand of payment from and protest to any Borrower or any other Loan Party of any Obligation, and also waives notice of acceptance of its guarantee and notice of protest for nonpayment.

(b) Anything herein or in any other Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding, (i) the maximum liability of each Guarantor hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and any Other Secured Agreement shall in no event exceed the amount which can be guaranteed by such Guarantor under applicable federal and state laws relating to fraudulent conveyances or transfers or the insolvency of debtors and (ii) the maximum liability of a Borrower under this Section 2 shall in no event exceed the amount which can be guaranteed by such Borrower under applicable federal and state laws relating to fraudulent conveyances or transfers or the insolvency of debtors.

SECTION 2.02 Guarantee of Payment. Each Guarantor further agrees that its guarantee hereunder constitutes a guarantee of payment when due (including interest accruing at the then applicable rate in accordance with Section 2.07 of the Credit Agreement, whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is allowed under applicable law following the institution of a proceeding (including all such amounts which would become due but for the existence of a bankruptcy reorganization or similar proceeding involving a Loan Party)) and not of collection, and waives any right to require that any resort be had by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to any security held for the payment of the Obligations or to any balance of any Deposit Account or credit on the books of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party in favor of the Borrowers or any other person.

SECTION 2.03 No Limitations, Etc. (a) Except for termination or release of a Guarantor’s obligations hereunder as expressly provided in Section 9.13, 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

 

6


shall not be subject to any defense or setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Obligations or otherwise. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by, and each Guarantor hereby irrevocably waives any defenses it may now or hereafter have in any way relating to (i) the failure of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any right or remedy under the provisions, or any lack of validity or enforceability of, of any Loan Document or otherwise, (ii) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of, or any consent to departure from, or any release from any of the terms or provisions of, any Loan Document or any other agreement, including with respect to any other Guarantor under this Agreement, (iii) the release of, or any impairment of or failure to perfect any Lien on or security interest in, any security held by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party for the Obligations or any of them, or any defense based on right of setoff or counterclaim against or in respect of such Guarantor’s obligations hereunder, (iv) any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of the Obligations, (v) any changes to, or restructuring or termination of the corporate structure or existence of any Loan Party or Subsidiary, or (vi) any failure on the part of any Secured Party or Agent to disclose to any Loan Party any information relating to the financial condition, operations, properties or prospects of any Loan Party, or any other act or omission that may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of any Guarantor or otherwise operate as a discharge of any Guarantor as a matter of law or equity (other than the indefeasible payment in full in cash of all the Obligations). Each Guarantor hereby unconditionally waives any right to revoke this Agreement and acknowledges that this Agreement is continuing in nature and applies to all Obligations, whether existing now or in the future. Each Guarantor expressly authorizes the Collateral Agent to take and hold security for the payment and performance of the Obligations, to exchange, waive or release any or all such security (with or without consideration), to enforce or apply such security and direct the order and manner of any sale thereof in its sole discretion or to release or substitute any one or more other guarantors or obligors upon or in respect of the Obligations, all without affecting the obligations of any Guarantor hereunder.

(b) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor waives any defense based on or arising out of any defense of any Borrower or any other Loan Party or the unenforceability of the Obligations or any part thereof from any cause, or the cessation from any cause of the liability of any Borrower or any other Loan Party, other than the indefeasible payment in full in cash of all the Obligations. The Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties may, at their election, foreclose on any security held by one or more of them by one or more judicial or nonjudicial sales, accept an assignment of any such security in lieu of foreclosure, compromise or adjust any part of the Obligations, make any other accommodation with any Borrower or any other Loan Party or exercise any other right or remedy available to them against any Borrower or any other Loan Party, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of any Guarantor hereunder except to the extent the Obligations have been fully and indefeasibly paid in full in cash. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor waives any defense arising out of any such election even though such election operates, pursuant to applicable law, to impair or to extinguish any right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of such Guarantor against any Borrower or any other Loan Party, as the case may be, or any security.

 

7


SECTION 2.04 Reinstatement. Each Guarantor agrees that its guarantee hereunder shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of any Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of any Borrower, any other Loan Party or otherwise.

SECTION 2.05 Agreement to Pay; Subrogation. In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right that the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party has at law or in equity against any Guarantor by virtue hereof, upon the failure of any Borrower or any other Loan Party to pay any Obligation when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, after notice of prepayment or otherwise, each Guarantor hereby promises to and will forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, to the Collateral Agent for distribution to the applicable Secured Parties in cash the amount of such unpaid Obligation. Upon payment by any Guarantor of any sums to the Collateral Agent as provided above, all rights of such Guarantor against any Borrower or any other Guarantor arising as a result thereof by way of right of subrogation, contribution, reimbursement, indemnity or otherwise shall in all respects be subject to Article VI.

SECTION 2.06 Information. Each Guarantor assumes all responsibility for being and keeping itself informed of each Borrower’s and each other Loan Party’s financial condition and assets and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Obligations and the nature, scope and extent of the risks that such Guarantor assumes and incurs hereunder, and agrees that neither the Collateral Agent nor any other Secured Party will have any duty to advise such Guarantor of information known to it or any of them regarding such circumstances or risks.

ARTICLE III

Pledge of Securities

SECTION 3.01 Pledge. As security for the payment or performance, as the case may be, in full of the Obligations, each of the Grantors hereby pledges to the Collateral Agent, its successors and assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, its successors and assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in, all of such Grantor’s right, title and interest in, to and under (a)(i) the Equity Interests owned by such Grantor on the date hereof (including all such Equity Interests listed on Schedule II), (ii) any other Equity Interests obtained in the future by such Grantor and (iii) the certificates representing all such Equity Interests (all the foregoing collectively referred to herein as the “Pledged Stock”); provided, however, that the Pledged Stock shall not include the following (collectively, the “Excluded Pledged Stock”): (A) more than 66% of the issued and outstanding voting Equity Interests of any Foreign Subsidiary, any Domestic Subsidiary which is treated as a Foreign Subsidiary for United States federal income tax purposes, or any CFC Holding Company, (B) any Equity Interest in any Not for Profit Subsidiary, Immaterial Subsidiary, Unrestricted Subsidiary, special purpose receivables or securitization Subsidiary or Margin Stock, (C) Equity Interests, the pledge of which is prohibited by applicable law, rule or regulation, or which would require governmental (including regulatory) consent, approval, license or authorization to be pledged (unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received), (D) any Equity Interests in joint ventures or any non-wholly owned Subsidiaries, but only to the extent that any applicable organizational documents, joint venture agreements, shareholder agreements or other

 

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agreements with other equity holders do not permit or otherwise restrict the pledge of such Equity Interest, (E) any Equity Interest to the extent a pledge thereof could reasonably be expected to result in material adverse tax consequences to Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries as determined in good faith by Holdings in consultation with the Applicable Collateral Agent, or (F) any Equity Interest with respect to which Holdings and the Applicable Collateral Agent reasonably agree, in writing, that the cost or other consequence of obtaining a security interest or perfection thereof are excessive in relation to the collateral value afforded thereby, and (b)(i) the debt securities held by such Grantor on the date hereof (including all such debt securities listed opposite the name of such Grantor on Schedule II), (ii) any debt securities in the future issued to such Grantor and (iii) the promissory notes and any other instruments evidencing such debt securities (all the foregoing collectively referred to herein as the “Pledged Debt Securities”), (c) all other property that may be delivered to and held by the Collateral Agent (or its bailee) pursuant to the terms of this Section 3.01, (d) subject to Section 3.06, all payments of principal or interest, dividends, cash, instruments and other property from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of, in exchange for or upon the conversion of, and all other Proceeds received in respect of, the items referred to in clauses (a) and (b) above, (e) subject to Section 3.06, all rights and privileges of such Grantor with respect to the securities and other property referred to in clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) above, and (f) all Proceeds of any of the foregoing (the items referred to in clauses (a) through (e) above being collectively referred to as the “Pledged Collateral” subject to the exclusions set forth in Section 4.01(d) below).

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the Pledged Collateral, together with all right, title, interest, powers, privileges and preferences pertaining or incidental thereto, unto the Collateral Agent, its successors and assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, forever; subject, however, to the terms, covenants and conditions hereinafter set forth.

SECTION 3.02 Delivery of the Pledged Collateral. (a) Each Grantor agrees promptly to deliver or cause to be delivered to the Applicable Collateral Agent (or its bailee) any and all certificates, instruments or other documents representing or evidencing Pledged Securities to the extent required by Section 4.04(c).

(b) Each Grantor agrees promptly to deliver or cause to be delivered to the Applicable Collateral Agent (or its bailee) any and all Pledged Debt Securities to the extent required by Section 4.04(a).

(c) Upon delivery to the Applicable Collateral Agent (or its bailee), (i) any certificate, instrument or document representing or evidencing Pledged Securities shall be accompanied by undated stock powers duly executed in blank or other undated instruments of transfer satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and duly executed in blank and by such other instruments and documents as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request and (ii) all other property comprising part of the Pledged Collateral shall be accompanied by proper instruments of assignment duly executed by the applicable Grantor and such other instruments or documents as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request. Each delivery of Pledged Securities shall be accompanied by a schedule describing the applicable securities, which schedule shall be attached hereto as Schedule II and made a part hereof; provided that failure to attach any such schedule hereto shall not affect the validity of the pledge of such Pledged Securities. Each schedule so delivered shall supplement any prior schedules so delivered.

 

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SECTION 3.03 Representations, Warranties and Covenants. The Grantors jointly and severally represent, warrant and covenant to and with the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, that:

(a) as of the date hereof, Schedule II correctly sets forth the percentage of the issued and outstanding shares of each class of the Equity Interests of the issuer thereof represented by such Pledged Stock and includes all Equity Interests, debt securities and promissory notes required to be pledged hereunder;

(b) except for the security interests granted hereunder (or otherwise permitted under the Credit Agreement), each Grantor (i) is and, subject to any transfers made in compliance with the Credit Agreement, will continue to be the direct owner, beneficially and of record, of the Pledged Securities indicated on Schedule II as owned by such Grantor, (ii) holds the same free and clear of all Liens, other than Liens permitted by Section 6.02(a), (b), (g), (l), (q), (s), (t), (u), (v), (x), (y) or (dd) of the Credit Agreement, (iii) will make no assignment, pledge, hypothecation or transfer of, or create or permit to exist any security interest in or other Lien on, the Pledged Collateral, other than assignments, pledges, hypothecations or transfers made in compliance with the Credit Agreement (including Liens permitted by Section 6.02 and restrictive agreements permitted by Section 6.06(b) of the Credit Agreement) and (iv) subject to Section 3.06, will cause any and all certificated securities representing Pledged Stock of any of its Subsidiaries, whether for value paid by such Grantor or otherwise, to be delivered to the Applicable Collateral Agent (or its bailee) and pledged or assigned hereunder on the Closing Date (with respect to Subsidiaries owned on the Closing Date), or within 30 days (or such longer period as the Applicable Collateral Agent may reasonably agree) after the acquisition or organization of any Subsidiary after the Closing Date in accordance with Section 5.12(b) of the Credit Agreement;

(c) except for restrictions and limitations imposed by (i) the Loan Documents, (ii) securities laws generally and other applicable law if the Pledged Collateral is issued by an issuer organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside of the United States, by agreements related to any Pledged Collateral that is a General Intangible that is described in clause (a) of Section 4.01(d) but constitutes Pledged Collateral by operation of the parenthetical clause in subclause (i)(z) thereof, (iii) the organizational documents of any joint ventures or any non-wholly owned Subsidiary, the Equity Interests of which are included in the Pledged Collateral, (iv) the Revolving Facility Debt Documents (as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement), (v) agreements governing Indebtedness secured by Permitted Pari Passu Collateral Liens, (vi) the Notes Documents (as defined in the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement) and (vii) agreements governing Indebtedness that is subject to a Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Pledged Collateral is and will continue to be freely transferable and assignable, and none of the Pledged Collateral is or will be subject to any option, right of first refusal, shareholders agreement, charter or by-law provisions or contractual restriction of any nature that might prohibit, impair, delay or otherwise affect the pledge of such Pledged Collateral hereunder, the sale or disposition thereof pursuant hereto or the exercise by the Collateral Agent of rights and remedies hereunder;

(d) by virtue of the execution and delivery by each Grantor of this Agreement, when any Pledged Securities are delivered to the Collateral Agent (or its bailee) in accordance with this Agreement, the Collateral Agent will obtain a legal, valid and perfected first priority lien (subject only to liens permitted by Section 6.02(l) of the Credit Agreement) upon and security interest in such Pledged Securities as security for the payment and performance of the Obligations;

 

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(e) the pledge effected hereby is effective to vest in the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, the rights of the Collateral Agent in the Pledged Collateral as set forth herein and in the Intercreditor Agreements and all action by any Grantor necessary or desirable to protect and perfect the Lien on the Pledged Collateral has been duly taken;

(f) each of the Grantors has the power and authority to pledge the Pledged Collateral pledged by it hereunder in the manner hereby done or contemplated; and

(g) no consent or approval of any Governmental Authority, any securities exchange or any other Person was or is necessary to the validity of the pledge effected hereby (other than such as have been obtained and are in full force and effect).

SECTION 3.04 Certification of Limited Liability Company Interests and Limited Partnership Interests. (a) Each Grantor acknowledges and agrees that each interest in any limited liability company or limited partnership pledged hereunder that is represented by a certificate, a “security” within the meaning of Article 8 of the UCC and governed by Article 8 of the New York UCC, shall at all times hereafter be represented by a certificate, a “security” within the meaning of Article 8 of the UCC and governed by Article 8 of the UCC.

(b) Each Grantor further acknowledges and agrees that (i) the interests in any limited liability company or limited partnership pledged hereunder and not represented by a certificate shall not be a “security” within the meaning of Article 8 of the UCC and shall not be governed by Article 8 of the UCC and (ii) the Grantors shall at no time elect to treat any such interest as a “security” within the meaning of Article 8 of the UCC or issue any certificate representing such interest (except that the Grantors may elect to so treat any such interest as a “security” and issue any certificate representing such interest if simultaneously therewith the Grantors deliver such certificate to the Applicable Collateral Agent (or its bailee)).

SECTION 3.05 Registration in Nominee Name; Denominations. Subject to the terms of the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement, the Applicable Collateral Agent (or its bailee), on behalf of the Secured Parties, shall have the right (in its sole and absolute discretion) to hold the Pledged Securities required to be delivered hereunder in its own name as pledgee, the name of its nominee (as pledgee or as sub-agent) or the name of the applicable Grantor, endorsed or assigned in blank or in favor of the Senior Representative. Each Grantor will promptly give to the Collateral Agent copies of any material notices or other material communications received by it with respect to Pledged Securities in its capacity as the registered owner thereof. The Applicable Collateral Agent (or its bailee) shall at all times have the right to exchange the certificates representing Pledged Securities required to be delivered hereunder for certificates of smaller or larger denominations for any purpose consistent with this Agreement.

 

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SECTION 3.06 Voting Rights; Dividends and Interest, Etc. (a) Unless and until an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Collateral Agent shall have given the Grantors notice of its intent to exercise its rights under this Agreement (which notice shall be deemed to have been given immediately upon the occurrence of an Event of Default under paragraph (g) or (h) of Section 7.01 of the Credit Agreement):

(i) Each Grantor shall be entitled to exercise any and all voting and/or other consensual rights and powers inuring to an owner of Pledged Securities or any part thereof for any purpose consistent with the terms of this Agreement, the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents; provided, however, that such rights and powers shall not be exercised in any manner that could reasonably expected to be materially and adversely affect the rights inuring to a holder of any Pledged Securities or the rights and remedies of any of the Collateral Agent or the other Secured Parties under this Agreement or the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document or the ability of the Secured Parties to exercise the same.

(ii) The Collateral Agent shall execute and deliver to each Grantor, or cause to be executed and delivered to each Grantor, all such proxies, powers of attorney and other instruments as such Grantor may reasonably request for the purpose of enabling such Grantor to exercise the voting and/or consensual rights and powers it is entitled to exercise pursuant to paragraph (i) above.

(iii) Each Grantor shall be entitled to receive and retain any and all dividends, interest, principal and other distributions paid on or distributed in respect of the Pledged Securities to the extent and only to the extent that such dividends, interest, principal and other distributions are permitted by, and otherwise paid or distributed in accordance with, the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement, the other Loan Documents and applicable law; provided, however, that any noncash dividends, interest, principal or other distributions that would constitute Pledged Stock or Pledged Debt Securities, whether resulting from a subdivision, combination or reclassification of the outstanding Equity Interests of the issuer of any Pledged Securities or received in exchange for Pledged Securities or any part thereof, or in redemption thereof, or as a result of any merger, consolidation, acquisition or other exchange of assets to which such issuer may be a party or otherwise, shall be and become part of the Pledged Collateral, and shall be subject to the provisions of this Agreement.

(b) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, after the Collateral Agent shall have notified (or shall be deemed to have notified pursuant to the first parenthetical of Section 3.06(a)) the Grantors of the suspension of their rights under paragraph (a)(iii) of this Section 3.06, then all rights of any Grantor to dividends, interest, principal or other distributions that such Grantor is authorized to receive pursuant to paragraph (a)(iii) of this Section 3.06 shall cease, and all such rights shall thereupon become vested in the Senior Representative, which shall have the sole and exclusive right and authority to receive and retain such dividends, interest, principal or other distributions. All dividends, interest, principal or other distributions received by any Grantor contrary to the provisions of this Section 3.06 shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Collateral Agent, shall be segregated from other property or funds of such Grantor and shall be forthwith delivered to the Senior Representative upon demand in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement or instrument of assignment). Any and all money and other property paid over to or received by the Senior Representative pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph (b) shall be retained by the Senior Representative in an account

 

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to be established by the Senior Representative upon receipt of such money or other property and shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.02. After all Events of Default have been cured or waived and each applicable Grantor has delivered to the Administrative Agent certificates to that effect, the Senior Representative shall, promptly after all such Events of Default have been cured or waived, repay to each applicable Grantor (without interest) all dividends, interest, principal or other distributions that remain in such account.

(c) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, after the Collateral Agent shall have notified (or shall be deemed to have notified pursuant to the first parenthetical of Section 3.06(a)) the Grantors of the suspension of their rights under paragraph (a)(i) of this Section 3.06, then all rights of any Grantor to exercise the voting and consensual rights and powers it is entitled to exercise pursuant to paragraph (a)(i) of this Section 3.06, and the obligations of the Collateral Agent under paragraph (a)(ii) of this Section 3.06, shall cease, and all such rights shall thereupon become vested in the Senior Representative, which shall have the sole and exclusive right and authority to exercise such voting and consensual rights and powers; provided that, unless otherwise directed by the Required Lenders, the Collateral Agent shall have the right from time to time following and during the continuance of an Event of Default to permit the Grantors to exercise such rights.

(d) Any notice given by the Collateral Agent to the Grantors exercising its rights under paragraph (a) of this Section 3.06 (i) may be given by telephone if promptly confirmed in writing, (ii) may be given to one or more of the Grantors at the same or different times and (iii) may suspend the rights of the Grantors under paragraph (a)(i) or paragraph (a)(iii) of this Section 3.06 in part without suspending all such rights (as specified by the Collateral Agent in its sole and absolute discretion) and without waiving or otherwise affecting the Collateral Agent’s rights to give additional notices from time to time suspending other rights so long as an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

ARTICLE IV

Security Interests in Personal Property

SECTION 4.01 Security Interest. (a) As security for the payment or performance, as the case may be, in full of the Obligations, each Grantor hereby pledges to the Collateral Agent, its successors and assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, its successors and assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a lien and security interest (the “Security Interest”), in all right, title or interest in or to any and all of the following assets and properties now owned or at any time hereafter acquired by such Grantor or in which such Grantor now has or at any time in the future may acquire any right, title or interest (collectively, the “Article 9 Collateral”), subject to the exclusions set forth in Section 4.01(d) below:

(i) all Accounts;

(ii) all Chattel Paper;

(iii) all cash and Deposit Accounts;

 

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(iv) all Documents;

(v) all Equipment;

(vi) all General Intangibles;

(vii) all Intellectual Property, and all claims for damages and injunctive relief for past, present and future infringement, dilution, misappropriation, violation, misuse or breach with respect to any of the foregoing, with the right, but not the obligation, to sue for and collect, or otherwise recover, such damages;

(viii) all Instruments;

(ix) all Inventory;

(x) all Investment Property;

(xi) all Letter-of-Credit Rights;

(xii) all Commercial Tort Claims;

(xiii) all books and records pertaining to the Article 9 Collateral;

(xiv) all Goods; and

(xv) to the extent not otherwise included, all Proceeds and products of any and all of the foregoing and all collateral security and guarantees given by any person with respect to any of the foregoing.

(b) Each Grantor hereby irrevocably authorizes the Collateral Agent at any time and from time to time to file in any relevant jurisdiction any initial financing statements (including fixture filings) with respect to the Article 9 Collateral or any part thereof and amendments thereto that (i) indicate the Article 9 Collateral as “all assets” of such Grantor or words of similar effect, and (ii) contain the information required by Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code of each applicable jurisdiction for the filing of any financing statement or amendment, including (A) whether such Grantor is an organization, the type of organization and any organizational identification number issued to such Grantor and (B) in the case of a financing statement filed as a fixture filing, a sufficient description of the real property to which such Article 9 Collateral relates. Each Grantor agrees to provide such information to the Collateral Agent promptly upon request.

Each Grantor also ratifies its authorization for the Collateral Agent to file in any relevant jurisdiction any initial financing statements or security registrations or amendments thereto if filed prior to the date hereof.

The Collateral Agent is further authorized to file with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or United States Copyright Office (or any successor office or any similar office in any other country) such documents as may be necessary or advisable for the purpose of perfecting, confirming, continuing, enforcing or protecting the Security Interest granted by each Grantor, without the signature of any Grantor, and naming any Grantor or the Grantors as debtors and the Collateral Agent as secured party.

 

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(c) The Security Interest is granted as security only and shall not subject the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to, or in any way alter or modify, any obligation or liability of any Grantor with respect to or arising out of the Article 9 Collateral.

(d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event shall the security interest granted under Section 3.01 or 4.01 hereof attach to the following (collectively, the “Excluded Assets”) (a) any lease, license, General Intangible, contract or agreement to which any Grantor is a party or any of its rights or interests thereunder to the extent that (and for as long as) (i) such lease, license, General Intangible, contract or agreement, or assets subject thereto, are (x) not assignable, (y) a grant of a security interest therein would violate or invalidate, or create a right of termination under (in favor of any other party thereto other than a Grantor), any such agreement, or (z) is not capable of being encumbered as a matter of law or under the terms of the lease, license, franchise, charter, authorization, General Intangible, contract or agreement applicable thereto (but, in each case of the foregoing, solely to the extent that any such restriction shall be enforceable under applicable law, including Sections 9-406, 9-407, 9-408 or 9-409 of the New York UCC, in respect of the grant of a security interest hereunder), without the consent of the licensor or lessor thereof, or Governmental Authority, or other applicable party thereto and (ii) such consent has not been obtained; (b) any United States intent-to-use application for a Trademark to the extent that, and solely during the period in which, the grant of a security interest therein would impair the validity or enforceability of such intent-to-use application for a Trademark under federal law, provided that, upon submission and acceptance by the United States Patent and Trademark Office of a statement of use pursuant to 15 U.S.C. Section 1051 or an amendment to allege use pursuant to 15 U.S.C. Section 1060(a) (or any successor provision), such intent-to-use trademark application shall be considered Collateral, (c) any vehicle or other assets owned by any Grantor that is subject to a certificate of title, (d) Excluded Pledged Stock, (e) assets that are subject to or secured by Liens (i) permitted by Section 6.02(d), (g) or (m) of the Credit Agreement, (ii) permitted by Section 6.02(s) of the Credit Agreement securing Indebtedness described in Section 6.01(m)(i) of the Credit Agreement (but only to the extent that (x) the documentation pursuant to which such Liens were granted prohibits the granting of a Lien hereunder, (y) such documentation and Liens were in effect prior to such acquisition and (z) such Liens were not incurred, and such documentation was not entered into, by a Grantor in anticipation of such acquisition) of the Credit Agreement, (iii) securing a purchase money obligation or Capital Lease Obligations permitted to be incurred pursuant to the provisions of the Credit Agreement, in each case to the extent the documentation relating to such Lien prohibits, or requires any consent for, any other Lien on such asset, or (iv) securing a Sale and Lease Back Transaction permitted by the Credit Agreement, (f) any governmental licenses or state or local franchises, charters and authorizations, to the extent security interests in such licenses, franchises, charters or authorizations are prohibited or restricted thereby, (g) any Letter-Of-Credit Rights to the extent perfection of a Lien in such Letter-Of-Credit Rights cannot be obtained by filing financing statements, (h) any Commercial Tort Claims with respect to which notice is not required to be delivered under Section 4.04(f), (i) any fee owned real property with a fair market value of less than $5,000,000 on the date of acquisition (or on the date of substantial completion of any material improvement thereon or new construction thereof) and all real property leasehold interests, (j) any property with respect to which the Collateral Agent

 

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and Holdings reasonably agree in writing that the costs or other consequences of granting or perfecting a security interest therein is excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Secured Parties therefrom, (k) any property to the extent a security interest in such assets could reasonably be expected to result in adverse tax consequences to Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries as determined in good faith by Holdings, (l) any property the pledge of which or security interest in is prohibited by applicable law, rule or regulation, or which could require governmental (including regulatory) consent, approval, license or authorization to be pledged (unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received), (m) assets subject to liens securing permitted receivables or securitization financings, (n) any accounts or funds held or received on behalf of third parties, and (o) other customary exclusions to be agreed by Holdings and Collateral Agent under applicable local law or in applicable local jurisdictions. With respect to any provision or restriction affecting the Collateral the reason for which such Collateral constitutes an Excluded Asset, immediately upon the ineffectiveness, lapse or termination of such provision or restriction with respect to such Excluded Asset, the Collateral shall include, and such Grantor shall be deemed to have granted a security interest in, the rights and interests in such Collateral as if such provision or restriction had never been in effect and if and when such property shall cease to be an Excluded Asset, such property shall be deemed at all times from and after the date thereof to constitute Collateral.

(e) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event shall any Grantor be required to (i) take actions in any non-U.S. jurisdiction or required by the laws of any non-U.S. jurisdiction in order to create any security interests in Collateral located or titled outside of the United States or to perfect such security interests, including any Intellectual Property Registered in any non-U.S. jurisdiction (it being understood that there shall be no security agreements or pledge agreements governed under the laws of any non-U.S. jurisdiction), (ii) obtain any landlord, mortgagee or bailee waivers, or (iii) send any notice to account debtors or other contractual parties of, or relating to, the Grantors.

SECTION 4.02 Representations and Warranties. The Grantors jointly and severally represent and warrant to the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties that:

(a) Each Grantor has good and valid rights in and title to the Article 9 Collateral with respect to which it has purported to grant a Security Interest hereunder and has full power and authority to grant to the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, the Security Interest in such Article 9 Collateral pursuant hereto and to execute, deliver and perform its obligations in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, without the consent or approval of any other person other than any consent or approval that has been obtained.

(b) The Perfection Certificate has been duly prepared, completed and executed and the information set forth therein (x) with respect to the exact legal name of each Grantor and the jurisdiction of organization of each Grantor, is correct and complete in all respects, and (y) with respect to all other information, is correct and complete in all material respects, in each case as of the Closing Date. Uniform Commercial Code financing statements (including fixture filings, as applicable) or other appropriate filings, recordings or registrations containing a description of the Article 9 Collateral have been prepared by the Collateral Agent based upon the information provided to the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties in the Perfection Certificate for filing in each governmental, municipal or other office specified in Section 2 of the Perfection Certificate

 

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(or specified by notice from Holdings to the Administrative Agent after the Closing Date in the case of filings, recordings or registrations required by Section 4.03(m) hereof or 5.12 of the Credit Agreement), which are all the filings, recordings and registrations (other than filings required to be made in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office in order to perfect the Security Interest in the Article 9 Collateral consisting of United States Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights owned by and Registered in the name of a Grantor) that are necessary to publish notice of and protect the validity of and to establish a legal, valid and perfected security interest in favor of the Collateral Agent (for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties) in respect of all Article 9 Collateral (excluding any Intellectual Property that is not owned and Registered in the name of a Grantor) in which the Security Interest may be perfected by filing, recording or registering in the United States (or any political subdivision thereof) and its territories and possessions, and no further or subsequent filing, refiling, recording, rerecording, registration or reregistration is necessary in any such jurisdiction, except as provided under applicable law with respect to the filing of continuation statements or to the extent that any of the changes described in Section 4.03(m) occurs. Each Grantor represents and warrants that a fully executed agreement in the form hereof (or a fully executed short form agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent), and containing a description of all Article 9 Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property with respect to United States Patents and United States registered Trademarks (and Trademarks for which United States registration applications are pending) and United States registered Copyrights owned by a Grantor (other than certain Intellectual Property registered before January 1, 1994), has been or will be substantially contemporaneously herewith, delivered to the Collateral Agent for recording by the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §261, 15 U.S.C. §1060 or 17 U.S.C. §205 and the regulations thereunder, as applicable, to protect the validity of and to establish a legal, valid and perfected security interest in favor of the Collateral Agent (for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties) in respect of all Article 9 Collateral consisting of Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights owned by and Registered in the name of a Grantor in which a security interest may be perfected by filing, recording or registering in the United States (or any political subdivision thereof) and its territories and possessions, and no further or subsequent filing, refiling, recording, rerecording, registration or reregistration is necessary (other than the filing of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements and such actions as are necessary to perfect the Security Interest with respect to any Article 9 Collateral consisting of Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights owned by and Registered in the name of a Grantor (or registration or application for registration thereof) acquired or developed after the date hereof).

(c) The Security Interest constitutes (i) a legal and valid security interest in all Article 9 Collateral securing the payment and performance of the Obligations, (ii) subject to the filings described in Section 4.02(b), a perfected security interest in all Article 9 Collateral (excluding any Intellectual Property that is not owned and Registered in the name of a Grantor) in which a security interest may be perfected by filing, recording or registering a financing statement or analogous document in the United States (or any political subdivision thereof) and its territories and possessions pursuant to the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law in such jurisdictions and (iii) upon completion of the filings described in Section 4.02(b), a perfected security interest in all Article 9 Collateral in which a security interest may be perfected upon the receipt and recording of this Agreement (or a fully executed short form agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent) with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, as applicable. The Security Interest is and shall be prior to any other Lien on any of the Article 9 Collateral, other than Liens expressly permitted pursuant to the Credit Agreement.

 

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(d) The Article 9 Collateral is owned by the Grantors free and clear of any Lien, except for Liens expressly permitted pursuant to the Credit Agreement. No Grantor has filed or consented to the filing of (i) any financing statement or analogous document under the Uniform Commercial Code or any other applicable laws covering any Article 9 Collateral, (ii) any assignment in which any Grantor assigns any Collateral or any security agreement or similar instrument covering any Article 9 Collateral with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office, (iii) any notice under the Assignment of Claims Act, or (iv) any assignment in which any Grantor assigns any Article 9 Collateral or any security agreement or similar instrument covering any Article 9 Collateral with any foreign governmental, municipal or other office, which financing statement or analogous document, assignment, security agreement or similar instrument is still in effect, except, in each case, for Liens expressly permitted pursuant to the Credit Agreement. As of the date hereof, no Grantor holds any Commercial Tort Claims except as indicated on the Perfection Certificate.

(e) As to each Grantor and its Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property: Schedule III hereto sets forth a list of each of the Registered Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights owned by such Grantor as of the date hereof (other than certain Intellectual Property Registered before January 1, 1994), including the descriptions with respect thereto that are true and complete in all material respects. Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property is subsisting and has not been adjudged invalid or unenforceable, and to the best of such Grantor’s knowledge, is valid and enforceable; (ii) a Grantor is the exclusive owner of or otherwise has the right to use each item of Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property that is owned by such Grantor (other than Licenses); (iii) the operation of such Grantor’s business and the use of the Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property in connection therewith do not infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate the Intellectual Property rights of any Person, nor has any claim been asserted in writing or is any claim pending with respect to the foregoing; (iv) no Person is engaging in any activity that infringes, misappropriates, dilutes otherwise violates the Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property or such Grantor’s rights in or use thereof, nor has any claim been asserted in writing or is any claim pending with respect to the foregoing; and (v) each License included in the Collateral is valid and binding and in full force and effect, and the rights of such Grantor thereunder shall not be altered as a result of the rights and interest granted herein.

SECTION 4.03 Covenants.

(a) Each Grantor agrees to maintain, at its own cost and expense, such complete and accurate records with respect to the Article 9 Collateral owned by it as is consistent with its current practices and in accordance with such prudent and standard practices used in industries that are the same as or similar to those in which such Grantor is engaged. Each Grantor shall, at its own expense, take any and all commercially reasonable actions necessary to defend title to the Article 9 Collateral against all persons and to defend the Security Interest of the Collateral Agent in the Article 9 Collateral and the priority thereof against any Lien not expressly permitted pursuant to the Credit Agreement.

 

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(b) Each Grantor agrees, at its own expense, promptly to execute, acknowledge, deliver and cause to be duly filed all such further instruments and documents and take all such actions as the Collateral Agent may from time to time reasonably request to better assure, obtain, preserve, protect and perfect the Security Interest and the rights and remedies created hereby, including the payment of any fees and Taxes required in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the granting of the Security Interest and the filing of any financing or continuation statements (including fixture filings) or other documents in connection herewith or therewith.

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Grantor hereby authorizes the Collateral Agent, with prompt notice thereof to the Grantors, to supplement this Agreement by supplementing Schedule III or adding additional schedules hereto to identify specifically any asset or item of a Grantor that may, in the Collateral Agent’s judgment, constitute Copyrights, Licenses, Patents or Trademarks; provided that any Grantor shall have the right, exercisable within 30 days after it has been notified by the Collateral Agent of the specific identification of such Collateral, to advise the Collateral Agent in writing of any inaccuracy of the representations and warranties made by such Grantor hereunder with respect to such Collateral. Each Grantor agrees that it will use its commercially reasonable efforts to take such action as shall be necessary in order that all representations and warranties hereunder shall be true and correct with respect to such Collateral within 30 days after the date it has been notified by the Collateral Agent of the specific identification of such Collateral.

(c) The Collateral Agent and such persons as the Collateral Agent may designate shall have the right to visit and inspect the records and properties of the Grantors in accordance with Section 5.07(a) of the Credit Agreement.

(d) At its option and upon written notice to the Grantors, the Collateral Agent may discharge past due Taxes, assessments, charges, fees, Liens, security interests or other encumbrances at any time levied or placed on the Article 9 Collateral and not expressly permitted pursuant to the Credit Agreement, and may pay for the maintenance and preservation of the Article 9 Collateral to the extent any Grantor fails to do so as required by the Credit Agreement or this Agreement, and each Grantor jointly and severally agrees to reimburse the Collateral Agent within 10 days of written demand therefor for any payment made or any expense incurred by the Collateral Agent pursuant to the foregoing authorization; provided, however, that nothing in this paragraph shall be interpreted as excusing any Grantor from the performance of, or imposing any obligation on the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party to cure or perform, any covenants or other promises of any Grantor with respect to Taxes, assessments, charges, fees, Liens, security interests or other encumbrances and maintenance as set forth herein or in the other Loan Documents.

(e) If at any time any Grantor shall take a security interest in any property with a value individually in excess of $5,000,000 of an Account Debtor or any other Person to secure payment and performance of an Account, such Grantor shall promptly notify the Collateral Agent thereof and, upon the request of the Collateral Agent, promptly assign such security interest to the Collateral Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, but only to the extent not deemed to have already granted such a security interest pursuant to Section 9-203 of the New York UCC. Such assignment need not be filed of public record unless necessary to continue the perfected status of the security interest against creditors of and transferees from the Account Debtor or other person granting the security interest.

 

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(f) Each Grantor shall remain liable to observe and perform all the conditions and obligations to be observed and performed by it under each contract, agreement or instrument relating to the Article 9 Collateral, all in accordance with the terms and conditions thereof, and each Grantor jointly and severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties from and against any and all liability for such performance.

(g) No Grantor shall make or permit to be made an assignment, pledge or hypothecation of the Article 9 Collateral or shall grant any other Lien in respect of the Article 9 Collateral or permit any notice to be filed under the Assignment of Claims Act, except, in each case, as expressly permitted by the Credit Agreement. No Grantor shall make or permit to be made any transfer of the Article 9 Collateral and each Grantor shall remain at all times in possession or otherwise in control of the Article 9 Collateral owned by it, except as permitted by the Credit Agreement.

(h) No Grantor will, without the Collateral Agent’s prior written consent, grant any extension of the time of payment of any Accounts included in the Article 9 Collateral, compromise, compound or settle the same for less than the full amount thereof, release, wholly or partly, any person liable for the payment thereof or allow any credit or discount whatsoever thereon, other than extensions, credits, discounts, compromises, compoundings or settlements granted or made in the ordinary course of business, in a manner otherwise consistent with past practices or consistent with commercially reasonable conduct.

(i) Each Grantor irrevocably makes, constitutes and appoints the Collateral Agent (and all officers, employees or agents designated by the Collateral Agent) as such Grantor’s true and lawful agent (and attorney-in-fact) for the purpose, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, of making, settling and adjusting claims in respect of Article 9 Collateral under policies of insurance, endorsing the name of such Grantor on any check, draft, instrument or other item of payment for the proceeds of such policies of insurance and for making all determinations and decisions with respect thereto. In the event that any Grantor at any time or times shall fail to obtain or maintain any of the policies of insurance required under the Credit Agreement or to pay any premium in whole or part relating thereto, the Collateral Agent may upon written notice to the Grantors, without waiving or releasing any obligation or liability of any Grantor hereunder or any Default or Event of Default, in its sole discretion, obtain and maintain such policies of insurance and pay such premium and take any other actions with respect thereto as the Collateral Agent deems advisable. All sums disbursed by the Collateral Agent in connection with this paragraph, including reasonable out-of-pocket attorneys’ fees, court costs, expenses and other charges relating thereto, shall be payable, 10 days after written demand therefor, by the Grantors to the Collateral Agent and shall be additional Obligations secured hereby.

(j) Each Grantor shall maintain, in accordance with prudent and standard industry practices, records of its Chattel Paper in excess of $5,000,000 and its books, records and documents evidencing or pertaining thereto.

 

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(k) Each Grantor shall use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the security interest created by this Agreement as a perfected security interest in all material portions of the Collateral to the extent required hereunder having at least the priority described in Section 4.02(c).

(l) Each Grantor will not, except upon prior notice to the Collateral Agent and delivery to the Collateral Agent of any additional documents reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent that are necessary to maintain the validity, perfection and priority of the security interests provided for herein, effect any change (i) in name, (ii) in its identity or type of organization or corporate structure, (iii) in its federal taxpayer identification number or organizational identification number or (iv) in its jurisdiction of organization. Each Grantor agrees to promptly provide the Collateral Agent with certified organizational documents reflecting any of the changes described in the first sentence of this paragraph. Each Grantor agrees not to effect or permit any change referred to in the preceding sentence unless all filings have been made under the Uniform Commercial Code or otherwise that are required in order for the Collateral Agent to continue at all times following such change to have a valid, legal and perfected security interest (with the same priority as immediately before such change) in all the Article 9 Collateral. Holdings and the Borrowers also agree promptly to notify the Collateral Agent if any material portion of the Collateral is damaged or destroyed.

(m) Subject to the rights of each Grantor under the Credit Agreement to dispose of the Collateral, each Grantor shall, at its own expense, use commercially reasonable efforts to (x) defend title to material portions of the Article 9 Collateral against all Persons and (y) defend the Security Interest of the Collateral Agent in material portions of the Article 9 Collateral and the priority thereof, in each case against any Lien not expressly permitted pursuant to Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement.

SECTION 4.04 Other Actions. In order to further insure the attachment, perfection and priority of, and the ability of the Collateral Agent to enforce, the Security Interest in the Article 9 Collateral, each Grantor agrees, in each case at such Grantor’s own expense, to take the following actions with respect to the following Article 9 Collateral:

(a) Instruments. If any Grantor shall at any time hold or acquire any Instruments the fair market value of which equals or exceeds $5,000,000 individually, such Grantor shall promptly notify the Collateral Agent thereof and, upon the request of the Collateral Agent, endorse, assign and deliver the same to the Applicable Collateral Agent (or its bailee), accompanied by such undated instruments of endorsement, transfer or assignment duly executed in blank as the Collateral Agent may from time to time specify.

(b) Deposit Accounts. For each Deposit Account (excluding the Excluded Accounts) that any Grantor at any time opens or maintains in the United States, such Grantor shall notify the Collateral Agent thereof and, upon the Collateral Agent’s request, cause the depositary bank to agree to comply at any time with instructions from the Collateral Agent to such depositary bank directing the disposition of funds from time to time credited to such Deposit Account, without further consent of such Grantor or any other person, pursuant to an agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent. The Collateral Agent agrees with each Grantor that the Collateral Agent shall not give any such instructions or withhold any withdrawal

 

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rights from any Grantor, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; provided, however, that the Grantors shall not be required to comply with this Section 4.04(b) with respect to any Excluded Accounts. The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to any Deposit Account for which any Grantor, the depositary bank and the Collateral Agent have entered into a cash collateral agreement specially negotiated among such Grantor, the depositary bank and the Collateral Agent for the specific purpose set forth therein.

(c) Investment Property. Except to the extent otherwise provided in Article III, if any Grantor shall at any time hold or acquire any certificated securities the value of which at the time acquired equals or exceeds $5,000,000 individually, such Grantor shall endorse, assign and deliver the same to the Applicable Collateral Agent (or its bailee), accompanied by such undated instruments of transfer or assignment duly executed in blank as the Applicable Collateral Agent may from time to time specify. If any securities, whether certificated or uncertificated, or other Investment Property now or hereafter acquired by any Grantor are held by such Grantor or its nominee through a Securities Intermediary or Commodity Intermediary, such Grantor shall notify the Collateral Agent thereof and, at the Collateral Agent’s request and option, use commercially reasonable efforts to, pursuant to an agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, cause such Securities Intermediary or Commodity Intermediary, as the case may be, to agree to comply with instructions from the Senior Representative to such Securities Intermediary as to such securities or other Investment Property, or (as the case may be) to apply any value distributed on account of any commodity contract as directed by the Senior Representative to such Commodity Intermediary, in each case without further consent of any Grantor or such nominee; provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided in Article III, the Grantors shall not be required to comply with the foregoing provisions of this sentence with respect to Excluded Accounts. The Collateral Agent agrees with each Grantor that the Collateral Agent shall not give any such instructions or directions to any such issuer, Securities Intermediary or Commodity Intermediary, and shall not withhold its consent to the exercise of any withdrawal or dealing rights by any Grantor, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing. The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to any Financial Assets credited to a Securities Account for which the Collateral Agent is the Securities Intermediary.

(d) Electronic Chattel Paper and Transferable Records. If any Grantor at any time holds or acquires an interest in any Electronic Chattel Paper or any “transferable record”, as that term is defined in Section 201 of the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, or in Section 16 of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act as in effect in any relevant jurisdiction, and the value of such Electronic Chattel Paper or “transferable record” equals or exceeds $5,000,000 individually, such Grantor shall notify the Collateral Agent thereof and, at the request of the Collateral Agent, shall take such action as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request to vest in the Senior Representative control under New York UCC Section 9-105 of such Electronic Chattel Paper or control under Section 201 of the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act or, as the case may be, Section 16 of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, as so in effect in such jurisdiction, of such transferable record. The Collateral Agent agrees with such Grantor that the Collateral Agent will arrange, pursuant to procedures satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and so long as such procedures will not result in the Senior Representative’s loss of control, for the Grantor to make alterations to the Electronic Chattel Paper or transferable record permitted under UCC Section 9-105 or, as the case may be, Section 201 of the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act

 

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or Section 16 of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act for a party in control to allow without loss of control, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur after taking into account any action by such Grantor with respect to such Electronic Chattel Paper or transferable record.

(e) [Reserved].

(f) Commercial Tort Claims. If any Grantor shall at any time hold or acquire a Commercial Tort Claim in an amount reasonably estimated to exceed $5,000,000, the Grantor shall notify the Collateral Agent thereof in a writing signed by such Grantor including a summary description of such claim and thereafter, upon the request of the Collateral Agent, grant to the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest therein and in the proceeds thereof, all upon the terms of this Agreement, with such writing to be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent.

SECTION 4.05 Covenants Regarding Patent, Trademark and Copyright Collateral. (a) Except to the extent the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, each Grantor agrees that it will (i) pursue all application for a Patent included in the Collateral and (ii) not, and will not authorize any of its licensees to, do any act, or omit to do any act, whereby any Patent included in the Collateral may become invalidated, unenforceable or dedicated to the public.

(b) Except to the extent the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, each Grantor (either itself or through its licensees or its sublicensees) will (i) pursue all applications for a Trademark included in the Collateral, (ii) maintain all applications for and registrations of a Trademark included in the Collateral in full force free from any claim of abandonment or invalidity for non-use, (iii) maintain the quality of products and services offered under such Trademark, consistent with the quality of the products and services as of the date hereof, (iv) display such Trademark with notice of Federal or foreign registration to the extent necessary and sufficient to establish and preserve its maximum rights under applicable law and (v) not knowingly use or knowingly permit the use of such Trademark in violation of any third person rights.

(c) Except to the extent the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, each Grantor agrees that it will not, and will not authorize any of its licensees to, do any act, or omit to do any act, whereby any Copyright included in the Collateral may become invalidated, unenforceable or dedicated to the public.

(d) [Reserved].

(e) With respect to Collateral consisting of United States Registered Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights owned by each Grantor on the Closing Date, each Grantor agrees to execute or otherwise authenticate an agreement, in substantially the same form set forth on Exhibit B hereto (an “Intellectual Property Security Agreement”), for recording the security interest granted hereunder to the Collateral Agent in such Collateral consisting of Registered Intellectual Property with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office and any other governmental authorities necessary to perfect the security interest hereunder in the Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property.

 

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(f) Each Grantor agrees that should it obtain an ownership interest in any item of Intellectual Property that is not on the date hereof a part of the Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property (“After-Acquired Intellectual Property”) (i) the provisions of this Agreement shall automatically apply thereto, and (ii) any such After-Acquired Intellectual Property and, in the case of Trademarks, the goodwill symbolized thereby, shall automatically become part of the Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement with respect thereto. On or before the time the next Compliance Certificate is due under Section 5.04(c) of the Credit Agreement, Holdings shall deliver to the Collateral Agent written notice identifying the Registered After-Acquired Intellectual Property acquired or filed during such fiscal quarter, and such Grantor shall execute and deliver to the Collateral Agent or otherwise authenticate, an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto (an “IP Security Agreement Supplement”) covering such Registered After-Acquired Intellectual Property, which such IP Security Agreement Supplement shall be recorded with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office and any other governmental authorities necessary to perfect the security interest hereunder in such Registered After-Acquired Intellectual Property. Each Grantor hereby appoints the Collateral Agent as its attorney-in-fact to execute and file such IP Security Agreement Supplement for the foregoing purposes, all acts of such attorney being hereby ratified and confirmed; such power, being coupled with an interest, is irrevocable.

(g) [Reserved].

(h) In the event that any Grantor knows or has reason to believe that any Article 9 Collateral consisting of a Patent, Trademark or Copyright material to the conduct of any Grantor’s business has been or is being materially infringed, misappropriated or diluted by a third person, such Grantor shall, if consistent with good business judgment, promptly sue for infringement, misappropriation or dilution and to recover any and all damages for such infringement, misappropriation or dilution, and take such other actions as such Grantor reasonably deems are appropriate under the circumstances to protect such Article 9 Collateral.

(i) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, each Grantor shall, upon the request of Collateral Agent, use its best efforts to obtain all requisite consents or approvals by the licensor of each material Copyright License, Patent License or Trademark License, and each other material License, to effect the assignment of all such Grantor’s right, title and interest thereunder to the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, or its designee.

ARTICLE V

Remedies

SECTION 5.01 Remedies Upon Default. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, each Grantor agrees to deliver each item of Collateral to the Applicable Collateral Agent or its bailee on demand, and it is agreed that the Collateral Agent shall have the right, to the extent permitted by law, to take any of or all the following actions at the same

 

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or different times: (a) with respect to any Article 9 Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property, on demand, to cause the Security Interest to become an assignment, transfer and conveyance of any of or all such Article 9 Collateral by the applicable Grantor to the Collateral Agent, or to license or sublicense, whether general, special or otherwise, and whether on an exclusive or nonexclusive basis, any such Article 9 Collateral throughout the world on such terms and conditions and in such manner as the Collateral Agent shall determine (other than in violation of any then-existing licensing arrangements to the extent that waivers cannot be obtained), and (b) with or without legal process and with or without prior notice (other than the notice required pursuant to the following paragraph) or demand for performance, to take possession of the Article 9 Collateral and without liability for trespass to enter any premises where the Article 9 Collateral may be located for the purpose of taking possession of or removing the Article 9 Collateral and, generally, to exercise any and all rights afforded to a secured party under the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Grantor agrees that the Collateral Agent shall have the right, subject to the mandatory requirements of applicable law, to sell or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the Collateral at a public or private sale or at any broker’s board or on any securities exchange, for cash, upon credit or for future delivery as the Collateral Agent shall deem appropriate. The Collateral Agent shall be authorized at any such sale (if it deems it advisable to do so) to restrict the prospective bidders or purchasers to persons who will represent and agree that they are purchasing the Collateral for their own account for investment and not with a view to the distribution or sale thereof, and upon consummation of any such sale the Collateral Agent shall have the right to assign, transfer and deliver to the purchaser or purchasers thereof the Collateral so sold. Each such purchaser at any such sale shall hold the property sold absolutely, free from any claim or right on the part of any Grantor, and each Grantor hereby waives (to the extent permitted by law) all rights of redemption, stay and appraisal which such Grantor now has or may at any time in the future have under any rule of law or statute now existing or hereafter enacted.

The Collateral Agent shall give each applicable Grantor 10 days’ written notice (which each Grantor agrees is reasonable notice within the meaning of Section 9-611 of the New York UCC or its equivalent in other jurisdictions) of the Collateral Agent’s intention to make any sale of Collateral. Such notice, in the case of a public sale, shall state the time and place for such sale and, in the case of a sale at a broker’s board or on a securities exchange, shall state the board or exchange at which such sale is to be made and the day on which the Collateral, or portion thereof, will first be offered for sale at such board or exchange. Any such public sale shall be held at such time or times within ordinary business hours and at such place or places as the Collateral Agent may fix and state in the notice (if any) of such sale. At any such sale, the Collateral, or portion thereof, to be sold may be sold in one lot as an entirety or in separate parcels, as the Collateral Agent may (in its sole and absolute discretion) determine. The Collateral Agent shall not be obligated to make any sale of any Collateral if it shall determine not to do so, regardless of the fact that notice of sale of such Collateral shall have been given. The Collateral Agent may, without notice or publication, adjourn any public or private sale or cause the same to be adjourned from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed for sale, and such sale may, without further notice, be made at the time and place to which the same was so adjourned. In case any sale of all or any part of the Collateral is made on credit or for future delivery, the Collateral so sold may be retained by the Collateral Agent until the sale price is paid by the purchaser or purchasers thereof, but the Collateral Agent shall not incur any liability in case any such purchaser or purchasers shall fail to take up and pay for the Collateral so sold and, in case of any such failure,

 

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such Collateral may be sold again upon like notice. Subject to the prior written consent of the Collateral Agent, at any public (or, to the extent permitted by law, private) sale made pursuant to this Agreement, any Secured Party may bid for or purchase, free (to the extent permitted by applicable law) from any right of redemption, stay, valuation or appraisal on the part of any Grantor (all said rights being also hereby waived and released to the extent permitted by applicable law), the Collateral or any part thereof offered for sale and may make payment on account thereof by using any claim then due and payable to such Secured Party from any Grantor as a credit against the purchase price, and such Secured Party may, upon compliance with the terms of sale, hold, retain and dispose of such property without further accountability to any Grantor therefor. For purposes hereof, a written agreement to purchase the Collateral or any portion thereof shall be treated as a sale thereof; the Collateral Agent shall be free to carry out such sale pursuant to such agreement and no Grantor shall be entitled to the return of the Collateral or any portion thereof subject thereto, notwithstanding the fact that after the Collateral Agent shall have entered into such an agreement all Events of Default shall have been remedied and the Obligations paid in full. As an alternative to exercising the power of sale herein conferred upon it, the Collateral Agent may proceed by a suit or suits at law or in equity to foreclose this Agreement and to sell the Collateral or any portion thereof pursuant to a judgment or decree of a court or courts having competent jurisdiction or pursuant to a proceeding by a court-appointed receiver. Any sale pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.01 shall be deemed to conform to the commercially reasonable standards as provided in Section 9-610(b) of the New York UCC or its equivalent in other jurisdictions.

SECTION 5.02 Application of Proceeds. The Collateral Agent shall apply the proceeds of any collection, sale, foreclosure or other realization upon any Collateral, including any Collateral consisting of cash in accordance with the Waterfall. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amounts received from any Grantor shall be applied to any Excluded Swap Obligation of such Grantor.

The Collateral Agent shall have absolute discretion as to the time of application of any such proceeds in accordance with this Agreement. Upon any sale of Collateral by the Collateral Agent (including pursuant to a power of sale granted by statute or under a judicial proceeding), the receipt of the proceeds thereof by the Collateral Agent or the officer making the sale shall be a sufficient discharge to the purchaser or purchasers of the Collateral so sold and such purchaser or purchasers shall not be obligated to see to the application of any part of the purchase money paid over to the Collateral Agent or such officer or be answerable in any way for the misapplication thereof.

SECTION 5.03 Grant of License to Use Intellectual Property. For the purpose of enabling the Collateral Agent to exercise rights and remedies under this Agreement after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, at such time as the Collateral Agent shall be lawfully entitled to exercise such rights and remedies, each Grantor hereby grants to the Collateral Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties an irrevocable, nonexclusive license (exercisable without payment of royalty or other compensation to the Grantors), to use, license or sublicense any of the Article 9 Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property now owned or hereafter acquired by such Grantor (subject, in the case of Trademarks, to quality control measures sufficient to maintain the validity of and such Grantor’s rights in such Trademarks), and wherever the same may be located, and including in such license access to all media in which any of the

 

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licensed items may be recorded or stored and to all computer software and programs used for the compilation or printout thereof; provided, however, that this license shall not violate the express terms of any agreement between a Grantor and a third party governing such Grantor’s use of such Intellectual Property in effect on the date hereof and those granted by any Grantor hereafter, as permitted under the Loan Documents, to the extent conflicting. The Applicable Collateral Agent shall have the right, but not the obligation, after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, to bring suit in its own name to enforce the Article 9 Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property of each Grantor and, if the Applicable Collateral Agent shall commence any such suit, the appropriate Grantor shall, at the request of the Applicable Collateral Agent, do any and all lawful acts and execute any and all proper documents reasonably required by the Applicable Collateral Agent in aid of such enforcement. The use of such license by the Collateral Agent may be exercised, at the option of the Collateral Agent, only upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default; provided, however, that any license, sublicense or other transaction entered into by the Collateral Agent in accordance herewith shall be binding upon each Grantor notwithstanding any subsequent cure of an Event of Default.

SECTION 5.04 Securities Act, Etc. In view of the position of the Grantors in relation to the Pledged Collateral, or because of other current or future circumstances, a question may arise under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as now or hereafter in effect, or any similar statute hereafter enacted analogous in purpose or effect (such Act and any such similar statute as from time to time in effect being called the “Federal Securities Laws”) with respect to any disposition of the Pledged Collateral permitted hereunder. Each Grantor understands that compliance with the Federal Securities Laws might very strictly limit the course of conduct of the Collateral Agent if the Collateral Agent were to attempt to dispose of all or any part of the Pledged Collateral, and might also limit the extent to which or the manner in which any subsequent transferee of any Pledged Collateral could dispose of the same. Similarly, there may be other legal restrictions or limitations affecting the Collateral Agent in any attempt to dispose of all or part of the Pledged Collateral under applicable “blue sky” or other state securities laws or similar laws analogous in purpose or effect. Each Grantor recognizes that in light of such restrictions and limitations the Collateral Agent may, with respect to any sale of the Pledged Collateral, limit the purchasers to those who will agree, among other things, to acquire such Pledged Collateral for their own account, for investment, and not with a view to the distribution or resale thereof. Each Grantor acknowledges and agrees that in light of such restrictions and limitations, the Collateral Agent, in its sole and absolute discretion (a) may proceed to make such a sale whether or not a registration statement for the purpose of registering such Pledged Collateral or part thereof shall have been filed under the Federal Securities Laws and (b) may approach and negotiate with a limited number of potential purchasers (including a single potential purchaser) to effect such sale. Each Grantor acknowledges and agrees that any such sale might result in prices and other terms less favorable to the seller than if such sale were a public sale without such restrictions. In the event of any such sale, the Collateral Agent shall incur no responsibility or liability for selling all or any part of the Pledged Collateral at a price that the Collateral Agent, in its sole and absolute discretion, may in good faith deem reasonable under the circumstances, notwithstanding the possibility that a substantially higher price might have been realized if the sale were deferred until after registration as aforesaid or if more than a limited number of purchasers (or a single purchaser) were approached. The provisions of this Section 5.04 will apply notwithstanding the existence of a public or private market upon which the quotations or sales prices may exceed substantially the price at which the Collateral Agent sells.

 

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ARTICLE VI

Indemnity, Subrogation and Subordination

SECTION 6.01 Indemnity and Subrogation. In addition to all such rights of indemnity and subrogation as the Subsidiary Guarantors may have under applicable law (but subject to Section 6.03), Holdings and each Borrower jointly and severally agree that (a) in the event a payment shall be made by any Subsidiary Guarantor under this Agreement, Holdings and each Borrower shall indemnify such Subsidiary Guarantor for the full amount of such payment and such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be subrogated to the rights of the person to whom such payment shall have been made to the extent of such payment and (b) in the event any assets of any Subsidiary Guarantor shall be sold pursuant to this Agreement or any other Security Document to satisfy in whole or in part a claim of any Secured Party, Holdings and each Borrower shall indemnify such Subsidiary Guarantor in an amount equal to the greater of the book value or the fair market value of the assets so sold.

SECTION 6.02 Contribution and Subrogation. Each Subsidiary Guarantor (each, a “Contributing Guarantor”) agrees (subject to Section 6.03) that, in the event a payment shall be made by any other Contributing Guarantor hereunder in respect of any Obligation, or assets of any other Contributing Guarantor shall be sold pursuant to any Security Document to satisfy any Obligation owed to any Secured Party, and such other Contributing Guarantor (the “Claiming Guarantor”) shall not have been fully indemnified by Holdings or the Borrowers as provided in Section 6.01, the Contributing Guarantor shall indemnify the Claiming Guarantor in an amount equal to (i) the amount of such payment or (ii) the greater of the book value or the fair market value of such assets, as the case may be, in each case multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the net worth of the Contributing Guarantor on the date hereof and the denominator shall be the aggregate net worth of all the Contributing Guarantors on the date hereof (or, in the case of any Contributing Guarantor becoming a party hereto pursuant to Section 9.14, the date of the supplement hereto executed and delivered by such Contributing Guarantor). Any Contributing Guarantor making any payment to a Claiming Guarantor pursuant to this Section 6.02 shall be subrogated to the rights of such Claiming Guarantor under Section 6.01 to the extent of such payment.

SECTION 6.03 Subordination. (a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, all rights of the Subsidiary Guarantors under Sections 6.01 and 6.02 and all other rights of indemnity, contribution or subrogation under applicable law or otherwise shall be fully subordinated to the indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Obligations. No failure on the part of the Grantor to make the payments required by Sections 6.01 and 6.02 (or any other payments required under applicable law or otherwise) shall in any respect limit the obligations and liabilities of any Guarantor with respect to its obligations hereunder, and each Guarantor shall remain liable for the full amount of its obligations hereunder.

(b) Each Grantor hereby agrees that all Indebtedness and other monetary obligations owed by it to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary shall be fully subordinated to the Obligations until the indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Obligations (other than contingent indemnification liabilities to the extent no claim giving rise thereto has been asserted).

 

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ARTICLE VII

[Intentionally Omitted.]

ARTICLE VIII

[Intentionally Omitted]

ARTICLE IX

Miscellaneous

SECTION 9.01 Notices. All communications and notices hereunder shall (except as otherwise expressly permitted herein) be in writing and given as provided in Section 9.01 of the Credit Agreement. All communications and notices hereunder to any Subsidiary Guarantor shall be given to it in care of Holdings or the Borrower as provided in Section 9.01 of the Credit Agreement.

SECTION 9.02 Security Interest Absolute. All rights of the Collateral Agent hereunder, the Security Interest, the grant of a security interest in the Pledged Collateral and all obligations of each Grantor hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional unless such Grantor is released from its obligations hereunder in a writing signed by the Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 9.13 or this Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, irrespective of (a) any lack of validity or enforceability of the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document, any agreement with respect to any of the Obligations or any other agreement or instrument relating to any of the foregoing, (b) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the Obligations, or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to any departure from the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement or instrument relating to the foregoing, (c) any exchange, release or non-perfection of any Lien on other collateral, or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent under or departure from any guarantee, securing or guaranteeing all or any of the Obligations, or (d) any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, any Grantor in respect of the Obligations or this Agreement (other than a defense of payment in full of all Obligations (other than contingent indemnification liabilities to the extent no claim giving rise thereto has been asserted).

SECTION 9.03 Survival of Agreement. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Loan Parties in the Loan Documents and in the certificates or other instruments prepared or delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the Lenders and shall survive the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents and the making of any Loans, regardless of any investigation made by any Lender on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended under the Credit Agreement, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under any Loan Document (other than contingent indemnification liabilities to the extent no claim giving rise thereto has been asserted) is outstanding and unpaid so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated.

 

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SECTION 9.04 Binding Effect; Several Agreement. This Agreement shall become effective as to any Loan Party when a counterpart hereof executed on behalf of such Loan Party shall have been delivered to the Collateral Agent and a counterpart hereof shall have been executed on behalf of the Collateral Agent, and thereafter shall be binding upon such Loan Party and the Collateral Agent and their respective permitted successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of such Loan Party, the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties and their respective successors and assigns, except that no Loan Party shall have the right to assign or transfer its rights or obligations hereunder or any interest herein or in the Collateral (and any such assignment or transfer shall be void) except as expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement or the Credit Agreement. This Agreement shall be construed as a separate agreement with respect to each Loan Party and may be amended, modified, supplemented, waived or released with respect to any Loan Party without the approval of any other Loan Party and without affecting the obligations of any other Loan Party hereunder.

SECTION 9.05 Successors and Assigns. Whenever in this Agreement any of the parties hereto is referred to, such reference shall be deemed to include the permitted successors and assigns of such party; and all covenants, promises and agreements by or on behalf of any Grantor or the Collateral Agent that are contained in this Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns.

SECTION 9.06 Applicable Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

SECTION 9.07 Waivers; Amendment. (a) No failure or delay by the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver hereof or thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of any Loan Document or consent to any departure by any Loan Party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section 9.07, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time. No notice or demand on any Loan Party in any case shall entitle any Loan Party to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.

(b) Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Collateral Agent and the Loan Party or Loan Parties with respect to which such waiver, amendment or modification is to apply, subject to any consent required in accordance with Section 9.08 of the Credit Agreement.

 

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SECTION 9.08 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS. EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, AS APPLICABLE, BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 9.08.

SECTION 9.09 Severability. In the event any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein and therein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby (it being understood that the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not in and of itself affect the validity of such provision in any other jurisdiction). The parties shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

SECTION 9.10 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract, and shall become effective as provided in Section 9.04. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Agreement.

SECTION 9.11 Headings. Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and are not to affect the construction of, or to be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

SECTION 9.12 Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process. (a) Each of the Grantors hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State court or Federal court of the United States of America, sitting in New York City, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the Loan Parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal court. Each of the Loan Parties agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall affect any right that the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any Grantor or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

 

31


(b) Each of the Loan Parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document in any court referred to in paragraph (a) of this Section 9.12. Each of the Loan Parties hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

(c) Each party hereto hereby irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document will affect the right of the Collateral Agent or any Loan Party to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

SECTION 9.13 Termination or Release. (a) This Agreement, the guarantees made herein, the Security Interest, the pledge of the Pledged Collateral and all other Liens and security interests created by the Loan Documents hereby shall terminate when (i) all the Loan Document Obligations have been paid in full and all Commitments have been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan, all Fees and all other expenses or amounts (other than contingent indemnification liabilities to the extent no claim giving rise thereto has been asserted) payable under any Loan Document have been paid in full, all Letters of Credit have been cancelled or have expired and all amounts drawn thereunder have been reimbursed in full, or such Letters of Credit shall have been Cash Collateralized, or other arrangements satisfactory to the Issuing Bank have been made with respect thereto, and (ii) all Other Secured Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full and the related Other Secured Agreements have been terminated or such other arrangements satisfactory to each Other Secured Party with respect to the Other Secured Obligations owing to it and the Other Secured Agreements to which it is a party have been made.

(b) A Subsidiary Guarantor shall automatically be released from its obligations hereunder and the Security Interests created hereunder in the Collateral of such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be automatically released upon the consummation of any transaction permitted by the Credit Agreement as a result of which such Subsidiary Guarantor ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary.

(c) Upon any sale or other transfer by any Grantor of any Collateral that is permitted under the Credit Agreement to any person that is not a Grantor, or, upon the effectiveness of any written consent to the release of the Security Interest granted hereby in any Collateral pursuant to Section 9.08 of the Credit Agreement, the Security Interest in such Collateral shall be automatically released.

(d) In connection with any termination or release pursuant to paragraph (a), (b) or (c) above, the Collateral Agent shall promptly execute and deliver to any Grantor, at such Grantor’s expense, all Uniform Commercial Code termination statements and similar documents that such Grantor shall reasonably request to evidence such termination or release. Any execution

 

32


and delivery of documents pursuant to this Section 9.13 shall be without recourse to or representation or warranty by the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party. Without limiting the provisions of Section 9.05 of the Credit Agreement, Holdings shall or shall cause a Grantor to reimburse the Collateral Agent upon demand for all out of pocket costs and expenses, including the fees, charges and expenses of counsel, incurred by it in connection with any action contemplated by this Section 9.13.

SECTION 9.14 Additional Subsidiaries. Any Restricted Subsidiary that is required to become a party hereto pursuant to Section 5.12 of the Credit Agreement shall enter into this Agreement as a Subsidiary Guarantor and a Grantor upon becoming such a Restricted Subsidiary. Upon execution and delivery by the Collateral Agent and such Subsidiary of a supplement in the form of Exhibit A hereto, such Restricted Subsidiary shall become a Subsidiary Guarantor and a Grantor hereunder with the same force and effect as if originally named as a Subsidiary Guarantor and a Grantor herein. The execution and delivery of any such instrument shall not require the consent of any other Loan Party hereunder. The rights and obligations of each Loan Party hereunder shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the addition of any new Loan Party as a party to this Agreement.

SECTION 9.15 Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and is continuing, each Secured Party is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all Collateral (including any deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final)) at any time held and other obligations at any time owing by such Secured Party to or for the credit or the account of any Grantor against any and all of the obligations of such Grantor now or hereafter existing under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents held by such Secured Party, irrespective of whether or not such Secured Party shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations may be unmatured. The rights of each Secured Party under this Section 9.15 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) which such Secured Party may have.

SECTION 9.16 Conflicts. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Liens and security interests granted to the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document and the exercise of any right or remedy by the Collateral Agent hereunder or under any other Loan Document are subject to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreements. Subject to the next sentence, in the event of any conflict between the terms of the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement, this Agreement and any other Loan Documents, the terms of the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement shall govern and control. With respect to Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral (as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement), in the event of any conflict between (i) the terms of the ABL Intercreditor on one hand and (ii) the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement and/or this Agreement and any other Loan Documents, on the other hand, the terms of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement shall govern and control. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any obligation of any Loan Party hereunder or under any other Loan Document with respect to the delivery of control or possession of any of the Collateral, the notation of any Lien on any certificate of title, bill of lading or other document, the giving of any notice to any bailee or other Person, the provision of voting rights pursuant to any proxy granted or the obtaining of any consent of any person with respect to the grant of a security interest, in each case, with respect to such Collateral, shall be deemed to be satisfied if the Loan Party complies with the requirements of the similar

 

33


provision of the applicable loan documents of the Senior Representative (or, with respect to the Shared First Lien Collateral (as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement) the loan documents of the Applicable Collateral Agent); provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained in this sentence shall limit or otherwise adversely affect the grant of a lien on or a security interest in the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral pursuant to Article 4 of this Agreement. To the extent that any covenants, representations or warranties set forth in this Agreement are untrue or incorrect solely as a result of the delivery to, or grant of possession or control to, the Senior Representative or the Applicable Collateral Agent in accordance with the preceding sentence, such covenant, representation or warranty shall not be deemed to be untrue or incorrect for purposes of this Agreement.

SECTION 9.17 Paramountcy. Subject to Section 9.16, in the event of a conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of the Credit Agreement, the provisions of the Credit Agreement shall prevail to the extent of such conflict.

SECTION 9.18 Continuing Security Interest; Assignment. This Agreement shall create a continuing security interest in the Collateral and shall (i) be binding upon each Grantor, and each of their permitted successors and assigns and (ii) inure, together with the rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent hereunder, to the benefit of the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties and each of their respective permitted successors, transferees and assigns. No other persons (including any other creditor of any Grantor) shall have any interest herein or any right or benefit with respect hereto. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing clause (ii), any Secured Party may assign or otherwise transfer any indebtedness held by it secured by this Agreement to any other person, and such other person shall thereupon become vested with all the benefits in respect thereof granted to such Secured Party, herein or otherwise, to the extent permitted by the provisions of the Credit Agreement and, in the case of a Secured Party that is a party to a Hedging Agreement, such Hedging Agreement.

SECTION 9.19 Acknowledgment Regarding Any Supported QFCs. To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for any QFC Credit Support, the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Loan Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of New York and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States): In the event a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Loan Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Loan Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties with respect to a Defaulting Lender shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support.

 

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SECTION 9.20 Ratification of Security Agreement.

(a) As of the date of this Agreement, each reference in the Credit Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents to the “Guarantee and Collateral Agreement”, “Credit Agreement Security Agreement”, or “Term Facility Security Document”, as applicable or “thereunder”, “thereof” or words of similar import referring to this Agreement shall mean and be a reference to this Agreement, as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified in accordance with the terms hereof.

(b) Each Grantor hereby acknowledges and agrees that this Agreement, as specifically amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified herein or hereby, and each of the other Loan Documents, as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, and the obligations of and liens and security interests granted by each Grantor hereunder or thereunder, are and shall continue to be in full force and effect and are hereby in all respects ratified and confirmed. The execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Agreement shall not operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of any Lender or the Collateral Agent under any of the Loan Documents. The rights and obligations of the parties hereto shall be governed (i) prior to the date hereof, by the Existing Security Agreement (as in effect prior to the date hereof) and (ii) on and after the date hereof, by this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the execution of this Agreement shall not constitute a novation of the security interests created pursuant to the Existing Security Agreement (as in effect prior to the date hereof), and the liens and security interests granted in favor of the Collateral Agent created thereunder do and shall continue to secure the payment of all Obligations of each Grantor under the Loan Documents, to the extent provided in this Agreement, and all such liens and security interests shall continue to be perfected as security for the Obligations secured thereby.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

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

 

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHERS INC., as a Borrower
       By  

 

    Name:
    Title:

 

HMH PUBLISHERS LLC, as a Borrower
       By:  

 

    Name:
    Title:

 

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY, as a Borrower
       By  

 

    Name:
    Title:

 

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT COMPANY, as Holdings
       By  

 

    Name:
    Title:

 

GREENWOOD PUBLISHING GROUP, LLC, as a Subsidiary Guarantor
       By  

 

    Name:
    Title:

 

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY INTERNATIONAL, INC., as a Subsidiary Guarantor
       By  

 

    Name:
    Title:

[Signature Page to HMH Second Amended and Restated

Term Guarantee and Collateral Agreement]


CITIBANK, N.A., as Collateral Agent,
By  

 

  Name:
  Title:

[Signature Page to HMH Second Amended and Restated

Term Guarantee and Collateral Agreement]


Schedule I

Term Loan Guarantee and Collateral Agreement

Schedule I

Subsidiary Guarantors

Greenwood Publishing Group, LLC

Houghton Mifflin Company International, Inc.


Schedule II

Term Loan Guarantee and Collateral Agreement

Schedule II

Equity Interests; Pledged Debt Securities

Pledged Stock

 

Issuer

  

Record Owner

   Certificate
No.
  

No. Shares/Interest

   Percent
Pledged
 

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers Inc.

   Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company    7    580      100

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

   Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers Inc.    7    1,000      100

HMH Publishers LLC

   Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers Inc.    N/A    100% Interest      100

Tribal Nova, Inc.

   Houghton Mifflin Harcourt    C-2    3,079,554.16      66
   Publishing Company    C-3    1,586,426.84   

Houghton Mifflin Company International, Inc.

   Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company    2    100      100

Greenwood Publishing Group, LLC

   Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company    N/A    100% Interest      100

HMH IP Company Unlimited Company

   Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company    15
16
  

1,980

1,020

     66

 

Schedule II-1


Pledged Debt Securities

None.

 

Schedule II-2


Schedule III

Term Loan Guarantee and Collateral Agreement

Schedule III

Intellectual Property

[See Attached]

 

Schedule III-1


Exhibit A to the Term Facility Guarantee and

Collateral Agreement

FORM OF TERM FACILITY GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL AGREEMENT

SUPPLEMENT

This SUPPLEMENT NO. [•] (this “Supplement”) dated as of [•], to the Second Amended and Restated Term Facility Guarantee and Collateral Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Guarantee and Collateral Agreement”) among HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT COMPANY, a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (“Holdings”), HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHERS INC., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (“HMHP”), HMH PUBLISHERS LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (“Publishers”), HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY, a corporation organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (“HMCo”, and, together with HMHP and Publishers, collectively, the “Borrowers” and each a “Borrower”), the subsidiaries of Holdings from time to time party hereto and Citibank, N.A. (together with its affiliates, “Citibank”), as collateral agent (in such capacity, together with any successor in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”).

A. Reference is made to the Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among Holdings, the Borrowers, the lenders from time to time party thereto (the “Lenders”) and Citibank, as administrative agent for the Lenders and as Collateral Agent.

B. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement or the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, as applicable.

C. The Grantors have entered into the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement in order to induce the Lenders to make Loans. Section 9.14 of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement provides that additional Restricted Subsidiaries of Holdings may become Subsidiary Guarantors and Grantors under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and the Credit Agreement by execution and delivery of an instrument in the form of this Supplement. The undersigned Restricted Subsidiary (the “New Subsidiary”) is executing this Supplement in accordance with the Credit Agreement to become a Subsidiary Guarantor and a Grantor under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and the Credit Agreement in order to induce the Lenders to make additional Loans and as consideration for Loans previously.

Accordingly, the Collateral Agent and the New Subsidiary agree as follows:

Section 1 In accordance with Section 9.14 of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, the New Subsidiary by its signature below becomes a Grantor and Subsidiary Guarantor under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and the Credit Agreement with the same force and effect as if originally named therein as a Grantor and Subsidiary Guarantor and the New

 

A-1


Subsidiary hereby (a) agrees to all the terms and provisions of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and Credit Agreement applicable to it as a Grantor and Subsidiary Guarantor thereunder and (b) represents and warrants that the representations and warranties made by it as a Grantor and Subsidiary Guarantor thereunder are true and correct on and as of the date hereof. In furtherance of the foregoing, the New Subsidiary, as security for the payment and performance in full of the Obligations (as defined in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement), does hereby create and grant to the Collateral Agent, its successors and assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, their successors and assigns, a security interest in and lien on all of the New Subsidiary’s right, title and interest in and to the Collateral (as defined in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement) of the New Subsidiary. Each reference to a “Grantor” or a “Subsidiary Guarantor” in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and Credit Agreement shall be deemed to include the New Subsidiary. The Guarantee and Collateral Agreement is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Section 2 The New Subsidiary represents and warrants to the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties that this Supplement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by it and constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

Section 3 This Supplement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Supplement shall become effective when the Collateral Agent shall have received counterparts of this Supplement that, when taken together, bear the signatures of the New Subsidiary and the Collateral Agent. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Supplement by facsimile transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Supplement.

Section 4 The New Subsidiary hereby represents and warrants that (a) set forth on Schedule I attached hereto is a true and correct schedule of (i) any and all Equity Interests and Pledged Debt Securities now owned by the New Subsidiary and (ii) any and all Registered Intellectual Property now owned by the New Subsidiary and (b) set forth under its signature hereto, is the true and correct legal name of the New Subsidiary and its jurisdiction of organization.

Section 5 Except as expressly supplemented hereby, the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 6 THIS SUPPLEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Section 7 In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Supplement should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein and in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby (it being understood that the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not in and of itself affect the validity of such provision in any other jurisdiction). The parties hereto shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

 

A-2


Section 8 All communications and notices hereunder shall (except as otherwise expressly permitted by the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement) be in writing and given as provided in Section 9.01 of the Credit Agreement. All communications and notices hereunder to the New Subsidiary shall be given to it in care of the Borrower as provided in Section 9.01 of the Credit Agreement.

Section 9 The New Subsidiary agrees to reimburse the Collateral Agent for its out-of-pocket expenses in connection with this Supplement, including the fees, other charges and disbursements of counsel for the Collateral Agent.

 

A-3


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the New Subsidiary and the Collateral Agent have duly executed this Supplement to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

[NAME OF NEW SUBSIDIARY],

       By:  

 

    Name:
    Title:
    Address:
    Legal Name:
    Jurisdiction of Formation:

 

Citibank, N.A. as Collateral Agent,

       By:  

 

    Name:
    Title:

 

A-4


Schedule I to

Supplement No. [●] to the

Term Facility Guarantee and

Collateral Agreement

Collateral of the New Subsidiary

EQUITY INTERESTS

 

Issuer

 

Number of
Certificate

 

Registered
Owner

 

Number and
Class of
Equity Interest

 

Percentage of
Equity Interests

PLEDGED DEBT SECURITIES

 

Issuer

 

Principal Amount

 

Date of Note

 

Maturity Date

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

[Follow format of Schedule III to the

Term Facility Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.]

 

A-5


Exhibit B to the

Guarantee and Collateral Agreement

FORM OF [PATENT][TRADEMARK][COPYRIGHT] SECURITY AGREEMENT

This [PATENT][TRADEMARK][COPYRIGHT] SECURITY AGREEMENT (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “[Patent][Trademark][Copyright] Security Agreement”) dated __________, 20__, is made by the Persons listed on the signature pages hereof (collectively, the “Grantors”) in favor of Citibank, N.A., as collateral agent (the “Collateral Agent”) for the Secured Parties (as defined in the Credit Agreement referred to below).

WHEREAS, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (“Holdings”), Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (“HMHP”), HMH Publishers LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (“Publishers”), Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, a corporation organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (“HMCo”, and, together with HMHP and Publishers, collectively, the “Borrowers” and each a “Borrower”), and certain subsidiaries of Holdings, have entered into a Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), with Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and as Collateral Agent, and the Lenders party thereto. Terms defined in the Credit Agreement and not otherwise defined herein are used herein as defined in the Credit Agreement.

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Credit Agreement, each Grantor has executed and delivered that certain Second Amended and Restated Term Facility Guarantee and Collateral Agreement dated November 22, 2019, made by the Grantors to the Collateral Agent (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Security Agreement”).

WHEREAS, under the terms of the Security Agreement, the Grantors have granted to the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in, among other property, certain Intellectual Property of the Grantors, and have agreed as a condition thereof to execute this [Patent][Trademark][Copyright] Security Agreement for recording with the [United States Patent and Trademark Office][United States Copyright Office] and other governmental authorities.

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, each Grantor hereby agrees as follows:

Section 1 Grant of Security. Each Grantor hereby grants to the Collateral Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties a security interest in all of such Grantor’s right, title and interest in and to the following (the “[Patent][Trademark][Copyright] Collateral”):

(a) [the Patents and Patent applications set forth in Schedule A hereto;]

 

1


(b) [all Trademark and service mark registrations and applications, including those set forth in Schedule A hereto (provided that no security interest shall be granted in United States intent-to-use Trademark applications to the extent that, and solely during the period in which, the grant of a security interest therein would impair the validity or enforceability of such intent-to-use Trademark applications under applicable federal law), together with the goodwill symbolized thereby;]

(c) [all Copyrights and Copyright applications, including those set forth in Schedule A hereto;] (d) any and all claims for damages and injunctive relief for past, present and future infringement, dilution, misappropriation, violation, misuse or breach with respect to any of the foregoing, with the right, but not the obligation, to sue for and collect, or otherwise recover, for such damages.

Section 2 Recordation. Each Grantor authorizes and requests that the [Register of Copyrights][Commissioner for Patents][Commissioner for Trademarks] and any other applicable government officer to record this [Patent][Trademark][Copyright] Security Agreement.

Section 3 Execution in Counterparts. This [Patent][Trademark][Copyright] Security Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

Section 4 Grants, Rights and Remedies. This [Patent][Trademark][Copyright] Security Agreement has been entered into in conjunction with the provisions of the Security Agreement. Each Grantor does hereby acknowledge and confirm that the grant of the security interest hereunder to, and the rights and remedies of, the Collateral Agent with respect to the [Patent][Trademark][Copyright] Collateral are more fully set forth in the Security Agreement, the terms and provisions of which are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein. The Security Agreement shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with its terms. In the event of any conflict between the Security Agreement and this [Patent][Trademark][Copyright] Security Agreement, the terms of the Security Agreement shall control.

Section 5 Governing Law. This [Patent][Trademark][Copyright] Security Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

2


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Grantor has caused this [Patent][Trademark][Copyright] Security Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by its officer thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above written.

 

[NAME OF BORROWER]
By  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

Address for Notices:

 

 

 

 

[NAME OF GRANTOR]
By  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

Address for Notices:

 

 

 

 

[NAME OF GRANTOR]
By  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

Address for Notices:

 

 

 

 

3


Schedule A

[Patents][Trademarks][Copyrights]

[•]

 

4


Exhibit C to the

Guarantee and Collateral Agreement

FORM OF [PATENT][TRADEMARK][COPYRIGHT] SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT

This [PATENT][TRADEMARK][COPYRIGHT] SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT (this “[Patent][Trademark][Copyright] Security Agreement Supplement”) dated __________, 20__, is made by the Person listed on the signature page hereof (the “Grantor”) in favor of Citibank, N.A., as collateral agent (the “Collateral Agent”) for the Secured Parties (as defined in the Credit Agreement referred to below).

WHEREAS, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (“Holdings”), Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (“HMHP”), HMH Publishers LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (“Publishers”), Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, a corporation organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (“HMCo”, and, together with HMHP and Publishers, collectively, the “Borrowers” and each a “Borrower”), and certain subsidiaries of Holdings, have entered into a Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), with Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and as Collateral Agent, and the Lenders party thereto. Terms defined in the Credit Agreement and not otherwise defined herein are used herein as defined in the Credit Agreement.

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Credit Agreement, each Grantor has executed and delivered that certain Second Amended and Restated Term Facility Guarantee and Collateral Agreement dated November 22, 2019, made by the Grantors to the Collateral Agent (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Security Agreement”) and that certain [Patent][Trademark][Copyright] Security Agreement dated November 22, 2019 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “[Patent][Trademark][Copyright] Security Agreement”).

WHEREAS, under the terms of the Security Agreement, the Grantor has granted to the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in the Additional [Patent][Trademark][Copyright] Collateral (as defined in Section 1 below) of the Grantor and has agreed as a condition thereof to execute this [Patent][Trademark][Copyright] Security Agreement Supplement for recording with the [United States Patent and Trademark Office][United States Copyright Office] and other governmental authorities.

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Grantor hereby agrees as follows:

Section 1 Grant of Security. Each Grantor hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in all of such Grantor’s right, title and interest in and to the following (the “Additional [Patent][Trademark][Copyright] Collateral”):

(a) [the Patents and Patent applications set forth in Schedule A hereto;]

 

1


(b) [all Trademark and service mark registrations and applications, including those set forth in Schedule A hereto (provided that no security interest shall be granted in United States intent-to-use Trademark applications to the extent that, and solely during the period in which, the grant of a security interest therein would impair the validity or enforceability of such intent-to-use Trademark applications under applicable federal law), together with the goodwill symbolized thereby;]

(c) [all Copyrights and Copyright applications, including those set forth in Schedule A hereto;] (d) any and all claims for damages and injunctive relief for past, present and future infringement, dilution, misappropriation, violation, misuse or breach with respect to any of the foregoing, with the right, but not the obligation, to sue for and collect, or otherwise recover, for such damages.

Section 2 Recordation. The Grantor authorizes and requests that the [Register of Copyrights][Commissioner for Patents][Commissioner for Trademarks] and any other applicable government officer to record this [Patent][Trademark][Copyright] Security Agreement Supplement.

Section 3 Grants, Rights and Remedies. This [Patent][Trademark] [Copyright] Security Agreement Supplement has been entered into in conjunction with the provisions of the Security Agreement. The Grantor does hereby acknowledge and confirm that the grant of the security interest hereunder to, and the rights and remedies of, the Collateral Agent with respect to the Additional [Patent][Trademark][Copyright] Collateral are more fully set forth in the Security Agreement, the terms and provisions of which are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein. The Security Agreement shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with its terms. In the event of any conflict between the Security Agreement and this [Patent][Trademark][Copyright] Security Agreement Supplement, the terms of the Security Agreement shall control.

Section 4 Governing Law. This [Patent][Trademark][Copyright] Security Agreement Supplement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

2


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Grantor has caused this [Patent][Trademark][Copyright] Security Agreement Supplement to be duly executed and delivered by its officer thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above written.

 

By  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

Address for Notices:

 

 

 

 

3


Schedule A

[Patents][Trademarks][Copyrights]

[•]

 

4


Exhibit E

[Form of ABL Intercreditor Agreement]

(Refer to the following page)


Execution Version

 

 

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED TERM LOAN / NOTES / REVOLVING FACILITY

LIEN SUBORDINATION AND INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT

dated as of

November 22, 2019 among

CITIBANK, N.A.,

as Original Revolving Facility Agent,

CITIBANK, N.A.,

as Original Term Facility Agent,

CITIBANK, N.A.,

as Original Notes Agent,

U.S. Bank National Association,

as Notes Trustee

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT COMPANY, as Holdings

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHERS INC.,

HMH PUBLISHERS LLC, and

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY, as Borrowers,

THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS NAMED HEREIN

 

 


This SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED TERM LOAN / NOTES/REVOLVING FACILITY LIEN SUBORDINATION AND INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT, dated as of November 22, 2019 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Agreement”), among CITIBANK, N.A., as agent for the Revolving Facility Secured Parties referred to herein (in such capacity, and together with its successors in such capacity, the “Original Revolving Facility Agent”), CITIBANK, N.A., as agent for the Term Facility Secured Parties referred to herein (in such capacity, and together with its successors in such capacity, the “Original Term Facility Agent”), CITIBANK, N.A., as agent for the Notes Secured Parties referred to herein (in such capacity, and together with its successors in such capacity, the “Original Notes Agent”), U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as notes trustee (in such capacity, the “Notes Trustee”), HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT COMPANY (“Holdings”), HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHERS INC. (“HMHP”), HMH PUBLISHERS LLC (“Publishers”), HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY (“HMCo” and, together with HMHP and Publishers, the “Borrowers”) and the other Restricted Subsidiaries of Holdings party hereto (the “Subsidiary Guarantors” and together with Holdings and the Borrowers, the “Loan Parties” and each a “Loan Party”).

Reference is made to (a) the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement, (b) the Term Facility Credit Agreement, and (c) the Notes Indenture.

In consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Original Revolving Facility Agent (for itself and on behalf of the Revolving Facility Secured Parties), the Original Term Facility Agent (for itself and on behalf of the Term Facility Secured Parties), the Original Notes Agent (for itself and on behalf of the Notes Secured Parties), and the Loan Parties party hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

Definitions

SECTION 1.01. Construction; Certain Defined Terms. (a) The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.” The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.” Unless the context requires otherwise, (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument, other document, statute or regulation herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument, other document, statute or regulation as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, but shall not be deemed to include the Subsidiaries of such Person unless express reference is made to such Subsidiaries, (iii) the words “herein,” “hereof and “hereunder,” and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular


provision hereof, (iv) all references herein to Articles, Sections and Annexes shall be construed to refer to Articles, Sections and Annexes of this Agreement, (v) unless otherwise expressly qualified herein, the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights and (vi) the term “or” is not exclusive.

(b) All terms used in this Agreement that are defined in Article 1, 8 or 9 of the New York UCC (whether capitalized herein or not) and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in Article 1, 8 or 9 of the New York UCC. If a term is defined in Article 9 of the New York UCC and another Article of the UCC, such term shall have the meaning assigned to it in Article 9 of the New York UCC.

(c) As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

Agreement Currency” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.14.

Applicable Creditor” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.14.

Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code.

Borrowers” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble of this Agreement.

Business Day ” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or day on which banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to close; provided, however, that when used in connection with a Eurodollar Loan, the term “Business Day ” shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open for dealings in deposits in such currency in the London interbank market.

Collateral” means all of the assets and property of any Grantor, whether real, personal or mixed, constituting the Revolving Facility Collateral and the Shared Collateral.

Designated Junior Representative” means (a) with respect to the Shared First Lien Collateral, (i) until the Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations has occurred with respect to Revolving Facility Obligations, the Revolving Facility Agent, and (ii) thereafter, until the Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations has occurred with respect to Second Lien Shared Obligations, the Designated Shared Second Lien Representative, and (b) with respect to the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral, (i) until the Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations has occurred with respect to the First Lien Shared Obligations, the Designated Shared First Lien Representative, and (ii) thereafter, until the Discharge of the Senior Secured Debt Obligations has occurred with respect to Second Lien Shared Obligations, the Designated Shared Second Lien Representative.

 

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Designated Senior Representative” means (a) with respect to the Shared First Lien Collateral, (i) until the Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations has occurred with respect to the First Lien Shared Obligations, the Designated Shared First Lien Representative, and (ii) thereafter, until the Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations has occurred with respect to the Second Lien Shared Obligations, the Designated Shared Second Lien Representative, and (b) with respect to the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral, (i) until the Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations has occurred with respect to Revolving Facility Obligations, the Revolving Facility Agent, and (ii) thereafter, until the Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations has occurred with respect to the First Lien Shared Obligations, the Designated Shared First Lien Representative.

Designated Shared First Lien Representative” means, at any time, the “Controlling Collateral Agent” (as defined in, and as determined pursuant to the terms of, the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement) at such time; provided, that upon any change in “Controlling Collateral Agent” (as defined in the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement), such new “Controlling Collateral Agent” (as defined in the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement) shall promptly notify each party hereto in writing.

Designated Shared Second Lien Representative” means, (i) the initial Second Lien Term Facility Agent if only Second Lien Term Loan Obligations are outstanding, (ii) the initial Second Lien Notes Agent if only Second Lien Notes Obligations are outstanding or (iii) if there are (A) Second Lien Term Loan Obligations and Second Lien Notes Obligations outstanding, (B) two or more tranches of Second Lien Term Loan Obligations outstanding or (C) two or more tranches of Second Lien Notes Obligations outstanding that are each secured by separate Liens on the Collateral, the Second Lien Agent that is designated as the “Designated Shared Second Lien Representative” for the purposes of this Agreement pursuant to the terms of the pari passu lien intercreditor agreement or agreements that govern such tranches of Second Lien Shared Obligations.

Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations” means, with respect to any particular Senior Secured Obligations, the occurrence of all of the following:

(a) termination or expiration of all commitments to extend credit that would constitute such Senior Secured Obligations;

(b) payment in full in cash of the principal of and interest and premium (if any) on all such Senior Secured Obligations (other than any undrawn letters of credit or Other Secured Obligations);

(c) termination, expiration, cash collateralization or other credit support, including by backstopping with other letters of credit (at the lower of (i) 105% of the aggregate undrawn amount, and (ii) the percentage of the aggregate undrawn amount required for release of liens under the terms of the applicable Senior Documents), or other arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the relevant issuing bank shall have been made, in each case with respect to all outstanding letters of credit constituting such Senior Secured Obligations;

 

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(d) termination or expiration of all Other Secured Obligations whether as defined in the Term Facility Credit Agreement or the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement, the Obligations under which would constitute such Senior Secured Obligations, or arrangements with respect thereto reasonably satisfactory to the applicable Other Secured Parties (as defined in the Term Facility Credit Agreement or the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement, as applicable) having been made; and

(e) payment in full in cash of all other such Senior Secured Obligations that are outstanding and unpaid at the time the other events described in clauses (a) through (d) above occur (other than any letters of credit or Other Secured Obligations described in clauses (c) and (d) above, or contingent indemnification obligations which are not then due and payable; provided that in the case of any such contingent indemnification obligations as to which the applicable Representative or any applicable Secured Party has made a claim which has not been satisfied, such obligations have been cash collateralized in an amount sufficient in the reasonable judgment of such Representative or Secured Party to satisfy such claim); provided that the Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations shall not be deemed to have occurred in connection with a Replacement as contemplated by, and in compliance with, Section 2.10.

Equity Interests” shall mean shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity interests in any person, and any option, warrant or other right entitling the holder thereof to purchase or otherwise acquire any such equity interest.

Event of Default” means an “Event of Default” under and as defined in the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement, the Term Facility Credit Agreement or any Future Term Facility Credit Agreement, as the context may require.

Excluded Assets” has the meaning set forth in the Revolving Facility Secured Documents or the Term Facility Secured Documents, as the context may require.

Existing ABL Intercreditor Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Term Loan / Revolving Facility Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement dated as of July 22, 2015, among Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent for the Revolving Facility Secured Parties referred to therein, Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent for the Term Facility Secured Parties referred to therein, Holdings, the Borrowers, the Subsidiary Guarantors named therein (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof).

First Lien Notes Agent” means, collectively, (a) the Original Notes Agent, (b) the collateral agent for any Future Senior Notes Indebtedness, and, (c) from and after the date of execution and delivery of a Notes Substitute Indenture in respect of Future Senior Notes Indebtedness, the agent, collateral agent, trustee or other representative of the lenders or other holders of the indebtedness and other obligations evidenced thereunder or governed thereby, in each case, together with its successors in such capacity.

 

4


First Lien Notes Obligations” means (a) the “Obligations” as such term is defined in the Notes Indenture, and (b) the principal amount of all Future Senior Term Indebtedness plus any interest, fees, attorneys fees, costs, expenses and indemnities payable on account of such principal amount or otherwise in respect of, or arising under, the Notes Debt Documents related to such Future Senior Term Indebtedness, including all fees and expenses of the collateral agent for any Future Senior Term Indebtedness plus all interest and expenses accrued or accruing (or that would, absent the commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, accrue) after the commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding in accordance with and at the rate specified in the relevant Notes Debt Documents to the extent that the claim for such interest or expense is allowed or allowable as a claim in such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

First Lien Shared Obligations” means, collectively, the First Lien Term Loan Obligations and the First Lien Notes Obligations.

First Lien Term Facility Agent” means, collectively, (a) the Original Term Facility Agent, (b) the collateral agent for any Future Senior Term Indebtedness, and, (c) from and after the date of execution and delivery of a Term Substitute Facility in respect of Future Senior Term Indebtedness, the agent, collateral agent, trustee or other representative of the lenders or other holders of the indebtedness and other obligations evidenced thereunder or governed thereby, in each case, together with its successors in such capacity.

First Lien Term Loan Obligations” means (a) the “Obligations” as such term is defined in the Term Facility Credit Agreement, and (b) the principal amount of all Future Senior Term Indebtedness plus any interest, fees, attorneys fees, costs, expenses and indemnities payable on account of such principal amount or otherwise in respect of, or arising under, the Term Facility Debt Documents related to such Future Senior Term Indebtedness, including all fees and expenses of the collateral agent for any Future Senior Term Indebtedness plus all interest and expenses accrued or accruing (or that would, absent the commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, accrue) after the commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding in accordance with and at the rate specified in the relevant Term Facility Debt Document to the extent that the claim for such interest or expense is allowed or allowable as a claim in such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

Future Indenture” means any credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument that is entered into by a Loan Party under which Future Secured Indebtedness is issued or incurred, as amended, restated, adjusted, waived, renewed, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time and any credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument evidencing or governing the terms of any Notes Substitute Indenture.

 

5


Future Second Lien Notes Indebtedness” means Future Secured Indebtedness that is to be secured by Liens on Collateral that are junior in priority to the Liens on such Collateral that secure the First Lien Shared Obligations and is so designated by the Borrowers at the time of incurrence thereof as Future Second Lien Notes Indebtedness hereunder; provided that such indebtedness is incurred, and the Liens securing such Future Secured Indebtedness are granted, in compliance with the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement, the Term Facility Credit Agreement, the Notes Indenture, any Future Indenture and any Future Term Facility Credit Agreement as in effect at the time of such incurrence and grant.

Future Second Lien Term Indebtedness” means Future Secured Indebtedness that is to be secured by Liens on Collateral that are junior in priority to the Liens on such Collateral that secure the First Lien Shared Obligations and is so designated by the Borrowers at the time of incurrence thereof as Future Second Lien Term Indebtedness hereunder; provided that such indebtedness is incurred, and the Liens securing such Future Secured Indebtedness are granted, in compliance with the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement, the Term Facility Credit Agreement, the Notes Indenture, any Future Indenture and any Future Term Facility Credit Agreement as in effect at the time of such incurrence and grant.

Future Secured Indebtedness” means Indebtedness or Obligations (other than (i) First Lien Term Loan Obligations contemplated by clause (a) of the definition of “First Lien Term Loan Obligations”, (ii) First Lien Notes Obligations contemplated by clause (a) of the definition of “First Lien Notes Obligations”, and (iii) Revolving Facility Obligations) of Holdings and its Subsidiaries that is to be secured by Liens on Collateral.

Future Senior Notes Indebtedness” means Future Secured Indebtedness that is to be equally and ratably secured by Liens on Collateral with the First Lien Shared Obligations and is so designated by the Borrowers at the time of incurrence thereof as Future Senior Notes Indebtedness hereunder; provided that such Indebtedness is incurred, and the Liens securing such Future Secured Indebtedness are granted, in compliance with the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement, the Term Facility Credit Agreement, the Senior Secured Notes Indenture, any Future Indenture and any Future Term Facility Credit Agreement as in effect at the time of such incurrence and grant.

Future Senior Term Indebtedness” means Future Secured Indebtedness that is to be equally and ratably secured by Liens on Collateral with the First Lien Shared Obligations and is so designated by the Borrowers at the time of incurrence thereof as Future Senior Term Indebtedness hereunder; provided that such Indebtedness is incurred, and the Liens securing such Future Secured Indebtedness are granted, in compliance with the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement, the Term Facility Credit Agreement, the Senior Secured Notes Indenture, any Future Indenture and any Future Term Facility Credit Agreement as in effect at the time of such incurrence and grant.

Future Term Facility Credit Agreement” means any credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument that is entered into by a Loan Party under which Future Secured Indebtedness is issued or incurred, as amended, restated, adjusted, waived, renewed, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time and any credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument evidencing or governing the terms of any Term Substitute Facility.

 

6


Grantor” means each Loan Party that shall have granted any Lien in favor of the Revolving Facility Agent, the Notes Agents and the Term Facility Agents on any of its assets or properties to secure any of the Revolving Facility Obligations or the Shared Obligations.

HMCo” has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

HMHP” has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

Holdings” has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding” means:

(a) any case commenced by or against Holdings or any other Grantor under the Bankruptcy Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors, any other proceeding for the reorganization, recapitalization or adjustment or marshalling of the assets or liabilities of Holdings or any other Grantor, any receivership or assignment for the benefit of creditors relating to Holdings or any other Grantor or any similar case or proceeding relative to Holdings or any other Grantor or its creditors, as such, in each case whether or not voluntary;

(b) any liquidation, dissolution, marshalling of assets or liabilities or other winding up of or relating to Holdings or any other Grantor, in each case whether or not voluntary and whether or not involving bankruptcy or insolvency, in each case to the extent not permitted under the Senior Documents;

(c) any proceeding seeking the appointment of any trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other insolvency official with similar powers with respect to Holdings or any other Grantor or any of its assets; or

(d) any other proceeding of any type or nature in which substantially all claims of creditors of Holdings or any other Grantor are determined and any payment or distribution is or may be made on account of such claims.

Intercreditor Agreement Joinder” means an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A.

Judgment Currency” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.14.

Junior Documents” means (a) in respect of the Shared First Lien Collateral, the Revolving Facility Debt Documents and (b) in respect of the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral, the Shared Obligations Debt Documents.

 

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Junior Liens” means (a) in respect of the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral, the Shared Liens on such Collateral, and (b) in respect of the Shared First Lien Collateral, the Revolving Facility Liens on such Collateral.

Junior Representative” means (a) with respect to the Shared First Lien Collateral, the Revolving Facility Agent, and (b) with respect to the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral, (i) until the Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations has occurred with respect to the First Lien Shared Obligations, the Designated Shared First Lien Representative, and (ii) thereafter, until the Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations has occurred with respect to the Second Lien Shared Obligations, the Designated Shared Second Lien Representative.

Junior Secured Obligations” means (a) with respect to the Shared Obligations (to the extent such Obligations are secured, or intended to be secured, by the Shared First Lien Collateral), the Revolving Facility Obligations and (b) with respect to Revolving Facility Obligations (to the extent such Obligations are secured, or intended to be secured, by the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral), the Shared Obligations.

Junior Secured Obligations Collateral” means the Collateral in respect of which the Junior Representative (on behalf of itself and the Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties) holds a Junior Lien.

Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties” means (a) with respect to the Shared First Lien Collateral, the Revolving Facility Secured Parties and (b) with respect to the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral, the Shared Obligations Secured Parties.

Junior Secured Obligations Security Documents” means (a) with respect to the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral, the Shared Obligations Security Documents, and (b) with respect to the Shared First Lien Collateral, the Revolving Facility Security Documents.

Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any agreement to give a security interest therein and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes of any jurisdiction).

Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation Joinder” means an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit B.

Loan Parties” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

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

 

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Notes Agent” means, collectively, the First Lien Notes Agent and the Second Lien Notes Agent.

Notes Debt Documents” means the Notes Indenture, the Future Indenture, the Shared Obligations Security Documents, the other “Security Documents” (as defined in the Notes Indenture) and all other loan documents, notes, guarantees, instruments and agreements governing or evidencing, or executed or delivered in connection with, any Future Indenture or Notes Substitute Indenture.

Notes Indenture” means the indenture dated November 22, 2019 as amended, restated, adjusted, waived, renewed, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time (including without limitation to add new series of notes thereunder or increase the amount of notes thereunder) and any credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument evidencing or governing the terms of any Notes Substitute Indenture.

Notes Obligations” means, collectively, the First Lien Notes Obligations and the Second Lien Notes Obligations.

Notes Secured Parties” means, at any time, the Notes Agent, the Notes Trustee, each noteholder under the Notes Indenture, the Other Secured Parties (as defined under the Notes Indenture), the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Grantor under any Notes Debt Document, and each other holder of, or obligee in respect of, any Notes Obligations (including pursuant to a Notes Substitute Indenture), in each case to the extent designated as a secured party (or a party entitled to the benefits of the security) under any Notes Debt Document outstanding at such time.

Notes Security Documents” means the “Security Documents” as referred to in the Notes Security Documents, each agreement listed in part B of Exhibit C hereto, and any other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, control agreements, guarantees, notes or any other documents or instruments now existing or entered into after the date hereof that create Liens on any assets or properties of any Grantor to secure any Notes Obligations (including any such agreements, assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents or instruments associated with any Notes Substitute Indenture), together with an intercreditor agreements that govern the Liens of the Notes Secured Parties on the Collateral.

Notes Substitute Indenture” means any facility with respect to which the requirements contained in Section 2.10 of this Agreement have been satisfied and that Replaces the Notes Indenture then in existence. For the avoidance of doubt, no Notes Substitute Indenture shall be required to be an indenture and may be indebtedness evidenced or governed by a credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument; provided that any Notes Obligations Lien securing such Notes Substitute Indenture shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement for all purposes (including the lien priorities as set forth herein as of the date hereof).

 

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Notes Trustee” means U.S. Bank National Association, solely in its capacity as Trustee under the Notes Indenture, and its successors in such capacity, and any agent, trustee or other representative representing holders or lenders under any Notes Substitute Indenture.

Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, any payment, performance or other obligation of such Person of any kind, including, without limitation, any liability of such Person on any claim, whether or not the right of any creditor to payment in respect of such claim is reduced to judgment, liquidated, unliquidated, fixed, contingent, matured, disputed, undisputed, legal, equitable, secured or unsecured, and whether or not such claim is discharged, stayed or otherwise affected by any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Obligations of the Grantors under the Secured Documents include (a) the obligation to pay principal, interest, (if applicable) letter of credit commissions, charges, expenses, fees, reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements, indemnities and other amounts payable by any Grantor under any Secured Document and (b) the obligation of any Grantor to reimburse any amount in respect of any of the foregoing that any Secured Party, in its sole discretion, may elect to pay or advance on behalf of such Grantor.

Officer” means, with respect to any Person, the chief executive officer, president, any executive vice president, chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, controller, chief restructuring officer or treasurer of such Person.

OfficersCertificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of Holdings, and not in an individual capacity, by at least two Officers of Holdings, one of whom must be the chief executive officer, the chief financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of Holdings.

Original Notes Agent” has the meaning assigned to that term in the preamble hereto.

Original Revolving Facility Agent” has the meaning assigned to that term in the preamble hereto.

Original Term Facility Agent” has the meaning assigned to that term in the preamble hereto.

Other Secured Obligations” has the meaning set forth in the Term Facility Credit Agreement or the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement, as the context may require.

Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement” shall mean that certain Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among the Company, the other Grantors party thereto and each Shared Obligations Agent.

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

 

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Publishers” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Real Estate Asset” means, at any time of determination, any fee interest then owned by Holdings or any other Grantor in any real property.

Replaces” means, (a) in respect of any agreement with reference to the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement or the Revolving Facility Obligations or any Revolving Substitute Facility, that such agreement refunds, refinances or replaces the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement or such Revolving Substitute Facility in whole (in a transaction that is in compliance with Section 2.10) and that all commitments thereunder are terminated, or, to the extent permitted by the terms of the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement or such Revolving Substitute Facility, in part, (b) in respect of any agreement with reference to the Term Facility Credit Agreement, any Future Term Facility Credit Agreement, the Term Facility Obligations or any Term Substitute Facility, that such agreement refunds, refinances or replaces the Term Facility Credit Agreement, such Future Term Facility Credit Agreement or such Term Substitute Facility in whole (in a transaction that is in compliance with Section 2.10) and that all commitments thereunder are terminated, or, to the extent permitted by the terms of the Term Facility Credit Agreement, such Future Term Facility Credit Agreement or such Term Substitute Facility, in part and (c) in respect of any agreement with reference to the Notes Indenture, any Future Indenture, the Notes Obligations or any Notes Substitute Indenture, that such agreement refunds, refinances or replaces the Notes Indenture, such Future Indenture or such Notes Substitute Indenture in whole (in a transaction that is in compliance with Section 2.10) and that all obligations thereunder are terminated, or, to the extent permitted by the terms of the Notes Indenture, such Future Notes Indenture or such Notes Substitute Indenture, in part. “Replace,” “Replaced” and “Replacement” shall have correlative meanings.

Representative” means (a) in the case of any Term Facility Obligations, the Term Facility Agents, (b) in the case of any Revolving Facility Obligations, the Revolving Facility Agent, and (c) in the case of any Notes Obligations, the Notes Agents.

Restricted Subsidiary” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement.

Revolving Facility Administrative Agent” means Citibank, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent under the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement, and its successors in such capacity, and any agent, trustee or other representative representing holders or lenders under any Revolving Substitute Facility.

Revolving Facility Agent” means the Original Revolving Facility Agent, and, from and after the date of execution and delivery of a Revolving Substitute Facility, the agent, collateral agent, trustee or other representative of the lenders or holders of the indebtedness and other Obligations evidenced thereunder or governed thereby, in each case, together with its successors in such capacity.

 

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Revolving Facility Collateral” means all assets and properties subject to Liens created by the Revolving Facility Security Documents to secure the Revolving Facility Obligations.

Revolving Facility Credit Agreement” means the Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of November 22, 2019, among Holdings, the Borrowers, the Subsidiary Guarantors named therein, the Revolving Facility Administrative Agent, the Revolving Facility Agent, the lenders party thereto from time to time and the other agents named therein, as amended, restated, adjusted, waived, renewed, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time and any credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument evidencing or governing the terms of any Revolving Substitute Facility.

Revolving Facility Debt Documents” means the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement, the Revolving Facility Security Documents, the other “Loan Documents” (as defined in the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement) and all other loan documents, notes, guarantees, instruments and agreements governing or evidencing, or executed or delivered in connection with, any Revolving Substitute Facility.

Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral” means all present and future right, title and interest of Holdings and the other Grantors in and to the following, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, existing or arising, and wherever located:

(a) accounts and payment intangibles, including tax refunds, but excluding payment intangibles that constitute identifiable proceeds of Shared First Lien Collateral;

(b) inventory and indebtedness owed to Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that arises from cash advances to enable the obligor thereof to acquire inventory;

(c) deposit accounts, commodity accounts, securities accounts and lock-boxes, including all money and certificated securities, uncertificated securities (other than as each may relate to Equity Interests of Holdings or the other Grantors), securities entitlements and investment property credited thereto or deposited therein (including all cash, marketable securities and other funds held in or on deposit in any deposit account, commodity account or securities account), instruments, including intercompany notes, chattel paper and all cash and cash equivalents, including cash and cash equivalents securing reimbursement obligations in respect of letters of credit or other Revolving Facility Obligations, but excluding the Shared First Lien Account;

(d) general intangibles pertaining to the other items of property included within clauses (a), (b), (c), (e) and (f) of this definition;

(e) books and records, supporting obligations, documents and related letters of credit, commercial tort claims or other claims and causes of action, in each case, to the extent related primarily to any of the foregoing; and

 

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(f) all substitutions, replacements, accessions, products and proceeds (including, without limitation, insurance proceeds, licenses, royalties, income, payments, claims, damages and proceeds of suit) of all or any of the foregoing;

provided that notwithstanding the above, the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral shall not include any Excluded Assets. Nothing in this definition shall supersede or override, as against Holdings or the other Grantors, the description of such Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral as granted under the Revolving Facility Security Documents.

Revolving Facility Liens” means Liens on the Revolving Facility Collateral created under the Revolving Facility Security Documents to secure the Revolving Facility Obligations (including Liens on such Collateral under the security documents associated with any Revolving Substitute Facility).

Revolving Facility Obligations” means the “Obligations” as such term is defined in the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement.

Revolving Facility Secured Parties” means, at any time, the Revolving Facility Agent, the Revolving Facility Administrative Agent, each lender or issuing bank under the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement, the Other Secured Parties (as defined under the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement), the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Grantor under any Revolving Facility Debt Document, each other Person that provides letters of credit, guarantees or other credit support related thereto under any Revolving Facility Debt Document and each other holder of, or obligee in respect of, any Revolving Facility Obligations (including pursuant to a Revolving Substitute Facility), in each case to the extent designated as a secured party (or a party entitled to the benefits of the security) under any Revolving Facility Debt Document outstanding at such time.

Revolving Facility Security Documents” means the “Security Documents” as referred to in the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement, each agreement listed in part A of Exhibit C hereto, and any other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, control agreements, guarantees, notes or any other documents or instruments now existing or entered into after the date hereof that create Liens on any assets or properties of any Grantor to secure any Revolving Facility Obligations (including any such agreements, assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents or instruments associated with any Revolving Substitute Facility).

Revolving Substitute Facility” means any facility with respect to which the requirements contained in Section 2.10 of this Agreement have been satisfied and that Replaces the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement then in existence. For the avoidance of doubt, no Revolving Substitute Facility shall be required to be a revolving or asset-based loan facility and may be a facility evidenced or governed by a credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument; provided that any Revolving Facility Lien securing such Revolving Substitute Facility shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement for all purposes (including the lien priorities as set forth herein as of the date hereof).

 

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Second Lien Agents” means, collectively, the Second Lien Notes Agent and the Second Lien Term Facility Agent.

Second Lien Notes Agent” means, collectively, (a) the collateral agent for any Future Second Lien Notes Indebtedness, and (b) from and after the date of execution and delivery of a Notes Substitute Indenture that constitutes Future Second Lien Notes Indebtedness, the agent, collateral agent, trustee or other representative of the lenders or other holders of the indebtedness and other obligations evidence thereunder or governed thereby, in each case, together with its successors in such capacity.

Second Lien Notes Obligations” means the principal amount of all Future Second Lien Indebtedness plus any interest, fees, attorneys fees, costs, expenses and indemnities payable on account of such principal amount or otherwise in respect of, or arising under, the Notes Debt Documents related to such Future Second Lien Term Indebtedness, including all fees and expenses of the collateral agent for any Future Second Lien Term Indebtedness plus all interest and expenses accrued or accruing (or that would, absent the commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, accrue) after the commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding in accordance with and at the rate specified in the relevant Notes Debt Documents to the extent that the claim for such interest or expense is allowed or allowable as a claim in such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

Second Lien Shared Obligations” means collectively, the Second Lien Term Loan Obligations and the Second Lien Notes Obligations.

Second Lien Term Facility Agent” means, collectively, (a) the collateral agent for any Future Second Lien Term Indebtedness, and (b) from and after the date of execution and delivery of a Term Substitute Facility that constitutes Future Second Lien Term Indebtedness, the agent, collateral agent, trustee or other representative of the lenders or other holders of the indebtedness and other obligations evidence thereunder or governed thereby, in each case, together with its successors in such capacity.

Second Lien Term Loan Obligations” means the principal amount of all Future Second Lien Term Indebtedness plus any interest, fees, attorneys fees, costs, expenses and indemnities payable on account of such principal amount or otherwise in respect of, or arising under, the Term Facility Debt Documents related to such Future Second Lien Term Indebtedness, including all fees and expenses of the collateral agent for any Future Second Lien Term Indebtedness plus all interest and expenses accrued or accruing (or that would, absent the commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, accrue) after the commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding in accordance with and at the rate specified in the relevant Term Facility Debt Document to the extent that the claim for such interest or expense is allowed or allowable as a claim in such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

 

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Secured Parties” means the Revolving Facility Secured Parties, the Notes Secured Parties and the Term Facility Secured Parties.

Secured Documents” means the Revolving Facility Debt Documents, the Notes Debt Documents and the Term Facility Debt Documents.

Security Documents” means the Revolving Facility Security Documents, the Term Facility Security Documents and the Notes Security Documents.

Senior Documents” means (a) in respect of the Shared First Lien Collateral, the Shared Obligations Debt Documents, and (b) in respect of the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral, the Revolving Facility Debt Documents.

Senior Liens” means (a) in respect of the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral, the Revolving Facility Liens on such Collateral, and (b) in respect of the Shared First Lien Collateral, the Shared Liens on such Collateral.

Senior Representative” means (a) with respect to the Shared First Lien Collateral, (i) until the Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations has occurred with respect to First Lien Shared Obligations, the Shared Obligations Agents, and (ii) thereafter, the Second Lien Agents, as applicable, and (b) with respect to the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral, the Revolving Facility Agent.

Senior Secured Obligations” means (a) with respect to the Revolving Facility Obligations (to the extent such obligations are secured, or are intended to be secured, by the Shared First Lien Collateral), the Shared Obligations, and (b) with respect to the Shared Obligations (to the extent such obligations are secured, or are intended to be secured, by the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral), the Revolving Facility Obligations.

Senior Secured Obligations Collateral” means the Collateral in respect of which the Senior Representative (on behalf of itself and the applicable Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties) holds a Senior Lien.

Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties” means (a) with respect to the Shared First Lien Collateral, the Shared Obligations Secured Parties, and (b) with respect to the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral, the Revolving Facility Secured Parties.

Senior Secured Obligations Security Documents” means (a) with respect to the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral, the Revolving Facility Security Documents, and (b) with respect to the Shared First Lien Collateral, the Shared Obligations Security Documents.

Shared Collateral” means all assets and properties subject to Liens created by the Shared Obligations Security Documents to secure the Shared Obligations.

 

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Shared First Lien Account” shall mean that certain deposit or securities account of the Loan Parties that (a) is subject to a blocked account agreement in favor of the Designated Shared First Lien Representative (who shall have first priority rights with respect to exercising control over such account), and the Revolving Facility Agent (who shall have second priority rights with respect to exercising control over such account) and (b) contains only identifiable proceeds of any Shared First Lien Collateral (including any proceeds arising from a sale or disposition thereof) and the proceeds of any investment thereof, and other proceeds that may constitute Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral and be required hereunder to be turned over to the Revolving Facility Agent.

Shared First Lien Collateral” means all present and future right, title and interest of Holdings and the other Grantors, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, existing or arising, and wherever located, in all of the assets and property of any Grantor, whether real, personal or mixed (other than in the Excluded Assets and the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral), including, without limitation, all: (a) equipment; (b) Real Estate Assets; (c) intellectual property; (d) all general intangibles that do not constitute Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral; (e) documents of title related to equipment; (f) records, supporting obligations and related letters of credit, commercial tort claims or other claims and causes of action, in each case, to the extent related primarily to the foregoing; (g) substitutions, replacements, accessions, products and proceeds (including, without limitation, insurance proceeds, licenses, royalties, income, payments, claims, damages and proceeds of suit) of any or all of the foregoing and (h) the Shared First Lien Account, but excluding any identifiable proceeds of Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral deposited therein. Nothing in this definition shall supersede or override, as against Holdings or the other Grantors, the description of such Shared First Lien Collateral as granted under the Shared Obligations Security Documents.

Shared Liens” means Liens on the Shared Collateral created under the Shared Obligations Security Documents to secure the Shared Obligations (including Liens on such Collateral under the security documents associated with any Term Substitute Facility and/or Notes Substitute Indenture).

Shared Obligations Agent” means, collectively, the Term Facility Agents and the Notes Agents.

Shared Obligations” means, collectively, the Term Facility Obligations and the Notes Obligations.

Shared Obligations Debt Documents” means, collectively, the Term Facility Debt Documents and the Notes Debt Documents.

Shared Obligations Secured Parties” means, collectively, the Term Facility Secured Parties and the Notes Secured Parties.

Shared Obligations Security Documents” means, collectively, the Term Facility Security Documents and the Notes Security Documents

 

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Subsidiary” shall mean, with respect to any person (herein referred to as the “parent”), any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association or other business entity (a) of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, at the time any determination is being made, owned, controlled or held, or (b) that is, at the time any determination is made, otherwise controlled, by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of Holdings.

Term Facility Administrative Agent” means Citibank, N.A., in its capacity as Administrative Agent under the Term Facility Credit Agreement, and its successors in such capacity, and any agent, trustee or other representative representing holders or lenders under any Term Substitute Facility.

Term Facility Agent” means, collectively, the First Lien Term Facility Agents and the Second Lien Term Facility Agent.

Term Facility Credit Agreement” means the Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019, among Holdings, the Borrowers, the Subsidiary Guarantors named therein, the Term Facility Administrative Agent, the Term Facility Agent, the lenders party thereto from time to time and the other agents named therein, as amended, restated, adjusted, waived, renewed, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time and any credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument evidencing or governing the terms of any Term Substitute Facility.

Term Facility Debt Documents” means the Term Facility Credit Agreement, the Future Term Facility Credit Agreements, the Shared Obligations Security Documents, the other “Loan Documents” (as defined in the Term Facility Credit Agreement) and all other loan documents, notes, guarantees, instruments, security documents and other agreements governing or evidencing, or executed or delivered in connection with, any Future Term Facility Credit Agreement or Term Substitute Facility.

Term Facility Obligations” means, collectively, the First Lien Term Loan Obligations and the Second Lien Term Loan Obligations.

Term Facility Secured Parties” means, at any time, the Term Facility Agents, the Term Facility Administrative Agent, each lender or issuing bank under the Term Facility Credit Agreement, each Other Secured Party (as defined under the Term Facility Credit Agreement), the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Grantor under any Term Facility Debt Document, each other Person that provides letters of credit, guarantees or other credit support related thereto under any Term Facility Debt Document and each other holder of, or obligee in respect of, any Term Facility Obligations (including pursuant to any Term Substitute Facility), in each case to the extent designated as a secured party (or a party entitled to the benefits of the security) under any Term Facility Debt Document outstanding at such time.

 

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Term Facility Security Documents” means the “Security Documents” as referred to in the Term Facility Security Documents, each agreement listed in part B of Exhibit C hereto, and any other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, control agreements, guarantees, notes or any other documents or instruments now existing or entered into after the date hereof that create Liens on any assets or properties of any Grantor to secure any Term Facility Obligations (including any such agreements, assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents or instruments associated with any Term Substitute Facility), together with an intercreditor agreements that govern the Liens of the Term Facility Secured Parties on the Collateral.

Term Substitute Facility” means any facility with respect to which the requirements contained in Section 2.10 of this Agreement have been satisfied and that is permitted to be incurred pursuant to the Revolving Facility Debt Documents and the Term Facility Debt Documents, the proceeds of which are used to, among other things, Replace the Term Facility Credit Agreement or any Future Term Facility Credit Agreement then in existence. For the avoidance of doubt, no Term Substitute Facility shall be required to be a term loan facility and may be a facility evidenced or governed by a credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument; provided that any Shared Lien securing such Term Substitute Facility shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement for all purposes (including the lien priority as set forth herein as of the date hereof).

ARTICLE II

Subordination of Junior Liens; Certain Agreements

SECTION 2.01. Subordination of Junior Liens. (a) The grant of the Revolving Facility Liens pursuant to the Revolving Facility Security Documents and the grant of the Shared Obligations Liens pursuant to the Shared Obligations Security Documents create separate and distinct Liens on the Collateral.

(b) All Junior Liens in respect of any Collateral are expressly subordinated and made junior in right, priority, operation and effect to any and all Senior Liens in respect of such Collateral, notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement, the Revolving Facility Debt Documents, the Term Facility Debt Documents, the Notes Debt Documents or any other agreement or instrument or operation of law to the contrary, and irrespective of the time, order or method of creation, attachment or perfection of such Junior Liens and Senior Liens or any failure, defect or deficiency or alleged failure, defect or deficiency in any of the foregoing.

(c) It is acknowledged that (i) the aggregate amount of the Senior Secured Obligations may be increased from time to time pursuant to the terms of the Senior Documents, (ii) a portion of the Senior Secured Obligations consists or may consist of indebtedness that is revolving in nature, and the amount thereof that may be outstanding at any time or from time to time may be increased or reduced and subsequently reborrowed, and (iii) the Senior Secured Obligations may be increased,

 

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extended, renewed, replaced, restated, supplemented, restructured, repaid, refunded, refinanced or otherwise amended or modified from time to time, all without affecting the subordination of the Junior Liens hereunder or the provisions of this Agreement defining the relative rights of the Revolving Facility Secured Parties, the Notes Secured Parties and the Term Facility Secured Parties.

(d) The lien priorities provided for herein shall not be altered or otherwise affected by any amendment, modification, supplement, extension, increase, renewal, restatement or Replacement of either the Junior Secured Obligations (or any part thereof) or the Senior Secured Obligations (or any part thereof), by the release of any Collateral or of any guarantees for any Senior Secured Obligations or by any action that any Representative or Secured Party may take or fail to take in respect of any Collateral.

SECTION 2.02. No Action With Respect to Junior Secured Obligations Collateral Subject to Senior Liens. Subject to Sections 2.04 and 2.13, no Junior Representative or other Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party shall commence or instruct any Junior Representative to commence any judicial or nonjudicial foreclosure proceedings with respect to, seek to have a trustee, receiver, liquidator or similar official appointed for or over, attempt any action to take possession of, exercise any right, remedy or power (including any right of setoff or rights under any account agreement, landlord waiver, bailee letter or collateral access agreement) with respect to, or otherwise take any action to enforce its interest in or realize upon, or take any other action available to it in respect of, any Junior Secured Obligations Collateral under any Junior Secured Obligations Security Document, applicable law or otherwise until the associated Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations, it being agreed that only the Designated Senior Representative, acting in accordance with the applicable Senior Secured Obligations Security Documents, shall be entitled to take any such actions or exercise any such remedies prior to the associated Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Junior Representative may, subject to Section 2.05, (i) take all such actions as it shall deem necessary to perfect or continue the perfection of its Junior Liens, (ii) take all such actions as it shall deem necessary to create, preserve or protect (but not enforce) the Junior Liens on any Collateral, (iii) in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding commenced by or against any Borrower or any other Grantor, file a proof of claim or statement of interest with respect to the Junior Secured Obligations and vote on any plan of reorganization (including a vote to accept or reject a plan of partial or complete liquidation) to the extent such vote is not in violation of the terms of this Agreement, (iv) file any necessary responsive or defensive pleadings in opposition to any motion, claim, adversary proceeding or other pleading made by any person objecting to or otherwise seeking the disallowance of the claims of the Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties, including any claims secured by the Collateral, if any, in each case in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, (v) exercise the rights available to a holder of unsecured claims in accordance with Section 2.13, (vi) file any proof of claim, make other filings and make any arguments and motions in order to preserve or protect its Liens on the Collateral that are, in each case, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, with respect to the Junior Secured Obligations and the Collateral and/or (vii) present a cash bid at any Section 363 hearing or with respect to any other Collateral disposition.

 

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SECTION 2.03. No Duties of Senior Representative. Each Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party acknowledges and agrees that neither the Senior Representative nor any other Senior Secured Obligations Secured Party shall have any duties or other obligations to such Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party with respect to any Senior Secured Obligations Collateral, other than to transfer to the Junior Representative any remaining Collateral that constitutes Junior Secured Obligations Collateral and any proceeds of the sale or other disposition of any such Collateral that constitutes Junior Secured Obligations Collateral remaining in its possession following the associated Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations, in each case without representation or warranty on the part of the Senior Representative or any Senior Secured Obligations Secured Party. In furtherance of the foregoing, each Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party acknowledges and agrees that until the associated Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations secured by any Collateral on which such Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party holds a Junior Lien, the Senior Representative shall be entitled, for the benefit of the holders of such Senior Secured Obligations, to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of or deal with such Collateral, as provided herein and in the Senior Secured Obligations Security Documents, without regard, except to account for excess proceeds as provided above, to any Junior Lien or any rights to which the holders of the Junior Secured Obligations would otherwise be entitled as a result of such Junior Lien. Without limiting the foregoing, each Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party agrees that neither the Senior Representative nor any other Senior Secured Obligations Secured Party shall have any duty or obligation first to marshal or realize upon any type of Senior Secured Obligations Collateral (or any other collateral securing the Senior Secured Obligations), or to sell, dispose of or otherwise liquidate all or any portion of such Collateral (or any other collateral securing the Senior Secured Obligations), in any manner that would maximize the return to the Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties, notwithstanding that the order and timing of any such realization, sale, disposition or liquidation may affect the amount of proceeds actually received by the Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties from such realization, sale, disposition or liquidation. Following the associated Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations, the Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties may, subject to any other agreements binding on such Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties, assert their rights under the New York UCC or otherwise to any proceeds remaining following a sale, disposition or other liquidation of Collateral by, or on behalf of the Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties. Each of the Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties waives any claim such Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party may now or hereafter have against the Senior Representative or any other Senior Secured Obligations Secured Party (or their representatives) arising out of any actions which the Senior Representative or the Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties take or omit to take (including actions with respect to the creation, perfection or continuation of Liens on any Collateral, actions with respect to the foreclosure upon, sale, release or depreciation of, or failure to realize upon, any of the Collateral, and actions with respect to the collection of any claim for all or any part of the Senior Secured Obligations from any account debtor, guarantor or any other party) in accordance with this Agreement and the Senior Secured Obligations Security Documents or any other agreement related thereto or to the collection of the Senior Secured Obligations or the valuation, use, protection or release of any security for the Senior Secured Obligations.

 

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SECTION 2.04. No Interference; Payment Over; Reinstatement. (a) Each Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party agrees that (i) it will not take or cause to be taken any action the purpose or effect of which is, or could be, to make any Junior Lien pari passu with, or to give such Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party any preference or priority relative to, any Senior Lien with respect to the Collateral subject to such Senior Lien and Junior Lien or any part thereof, (ii) it will not challenge or question in any proceeding the validity or enforceability of any Senior Secured Obligations or Senior Secured Obligations Security Document, or the validity, attachment, perfection or priority of any Senior Lien, or the validity or enforceability of the priorities, rights or duties established by or other provisions of this Agreement, (iii) it will not take or cause to be taken any action the purpose or intent of which is, or could be, to interfere, hinder or delay, in any manner, whether by judicial proceedings or otherwise, any sale, transfer or other disposition of the Collateral subject to any Junior Lien by any Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties secured by Senior Liens on such Collateral or any Senior Representative acting on their behalf, (iv) it shall have no right to (A) direct any Senior Representative or any holder of Senior Secured Obligations to exercise any right, remedy or power with respect to the Collateral subject to any Junior Lien or (B) consent to the exercise by any Senior Representative or any other Senior Secured Obligations Secured Party of any right, remedy or power with respect to the Collateral subject to any Junior Lien, (v) it will not institute any suit or assert in any suit or Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding any claim against any Senior Representative or other Senior Secured Obligations Secured Party seeking damages from or other relief by way of specific performance, instructions or otherwise with respect to, and neither any Senior Representative nor any other Senior Secured Obligations Secured Party shall be liable to any Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party for, any action taken or omitted to be taken by such Senior Representative or other Senior Secured Obligations Secured Party with respect to any Collateral securing such Senior Secured Obligations that is subject to any Junior Lien, (vi) it will not seek, and hereby waives any right, to have any Senior Secured Obligations Collateral subject to any Junior Lien or any part thereof marshaled upon any foreclosure or other disposition of such Collateral and (vii) it will not attempt, directly or indirectly, whether by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to challenge the enforceability of any provision of this Agreement.

(b) The Junior Representative and each other Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party hereby agrees that until the associated Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations, if it shall obtain possession of any Senior Secured Obligations Collateral or shall realize any proceeds or payment in respect of any such Collateral, pursuant to remedies taken under any Junior Secured Obligations Security Document or by the exercise of any rights available to it under applicable law or in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or through any other exercise of remedies, at any time prior to the associated Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations secured, or intended to be secured, by such Collateral, then it shall hold such Collateral, proceeds or payment in trust for the applicable Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties and transfer such Collateral, proceeds or payment, as the case may be, to the Designated Senior Representative reasonably promptly after obtaining actual knowledge or notice from the Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties that it has possession of such Senior Secured Obligations Collateral or proceeds or payments in respect thereof. Each Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party agrees that if, at any time, it obtains actual knowledge or receives notice that all or part of any payment

 

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with respect to any Senior Secured Obligations previously made shall be rescinded for any reason whatsoever, such Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party shall promptly pay over to the Designated Senior Representative any payment received by it and then in its possession or under its control in respect of any Collateral subject to any Senior Lien securing such Senior Secured Obligations and shall promptly turn any Collateral subject to any such Senior Lien then held by it over to the Designated Senior Representative, and the provisions set forth in this Agreement shall be reinstated as if such payment had not been made, until the payment and satisfaction in full of the Senior Secured Obligations. All Junior Liens will remain attached to and enforceable against all proceeds so held or remitted. Anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, this Section 2.04(b) shall not apply to any proceeds of Senior Secured Obligations Collateral realized in a transaction not prohibited by the Senior Documents and as to which the possession or receipt thereof by the Junior Representative or other Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party is otherwise permitted by the Senior Documents.

SECTION 2.05. Release of Liens; Automatic Release of Junior Liens. (a) The Junior Representative and each other Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party agree that (i) in the event the Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties release their Lien on any Senior Secured Obligations Collateral subject to any Junior Lien pursuant to the terms contained in this Agreement (other than a release in connection with a sale, transfer or other disposition of Senior Secured Obligations Collateral, which shall be governed by clause (a)(ii) below), such Junior Lien on such Collateral shall terminate and be released automatically and without further action unless, at the time of such release by the Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties, an Event of Default shall then have occurred and be continuing under the Junior Documents (provided that any Junior Lien that would have otherwise been released and terminated pursuant to this clause (a)(i) in the absence of such an Event of Default under the Junior Documents shall terminate and be released automatically and without further action when such Event of Default (and all other Events of Default under the Junior Documents) cease to exist); and (ii) in the event of a sale, transfer or other disposition of Senior Secured Obligations Collateral subject to any Junior Lien (regardless of whether or not an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under the Junior Documents at the time of such sale, transfer or other disposition), such Junior Lien on such Collateral shall terminate and be released automatically and without further action if the applicable Senior Liens on such Collateral are released and if such sale, transfer or other disposition either (A) is then not prohibited by the Junior Documents or (B) occurs in connection with the foreclosure upon or other exercise of rights and remedies with respect to such Senior Secured Obligations Collateral; provided that such Junior Lien shall remain in place with respect to any proceeds of a sale, transfer or other disposition under this clause (a)(ii) that remain after the associated Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations. In addition, for the avoidance of doubt, the Junior Representative and each Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party agree that, with respect to any property or assets that would otherwise constitute Senior Secured Obligations Collateral, the requirement that a Junior Lien attach to, or be perfected with respect to, such property or assets shall be waived automatically and without further action so long as the requirement that a Senior Lien attach to, or be perfected with respect to, such property or assets is waived by the Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties (or the Senior Representative) in accordance with the Senior Documents and so long as no Event of Default under the Junior Documents

 

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shall have occurred, be continuing or would result therefrom at such time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of release of Liens by the Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties on all or substantially all of the Senior Secured Obligations Collateral (other than when such release occurs in connection with the Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties’ foreclosure upon or other exercise of rights and remedies with respect to such Collateral), no release of the Junior Lien on such Senior Secured Obligations Collateral under this Section 2.05 shall be made (it being understood that this Section 2.05 shall not affect any other obligation of the Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties to any other Person, including a Loan Party, to release Liens pursuant to the Junior Documents or the Junior Secured Obligations Security Documents or otherwise) unless (A) consent to the release of such Junior Liens has been given by the requisite percentage or number of the Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties at the time outstanding as provided for in the applicable Junior Documents and (B) Holdings has delivered an Officers’ Certificate to the Revolving Facility Agent and the Shared Obligations Agents certifying that all such consents have been obtained.

(b) The Revolving Facility Agent and the Shared Obligations Agents agree for the benefit of Holdings and the other Grantors that, with respect to the release of any Collateral, if the Revolving Facility Agent or the Designated Shared First Lien Representative, as applicable, at any time receives:

(i) an Officers’ Certificate stating that (A) the signing officers have read this Section 2.05(b) and understand the provisions and the definitions relating hereto, (B) such officers have made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable such Persons to express an informed opinion as to whether or not the conditions precedent in this Section 2.05(b) and all other Secured Documents, if any, relating to the release of such Collateral have been (or will be substantially simultaneously with the delivery of such certificate) complied with and (C) in the opinion of such officers, such conditions precedent, if any, have (or will be substantially simultaneously with the delivery of such certificate) been complied with;

(ii) the proposed instrument or instruments releasing such Lien as to such property in recordable form, if applicable; and

(iii) prior to the associated Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations, the written confirmation of the Designated Senior Representative (or, at any time after the associated Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations, the Designated Junior Representative) (such confirmation to be given following receipt of, and based solely on, the Officers’ Certificate described in clause (i) above) that, in its view, such release is permitted by Section 2.05(a) and the respective Secured Documents governing the Revolving Facility Obligations or the applicable Shared Obligations, as applicable, the holders of which such Representative represents;

then the Revolving Facility Agent or the Designated Shared First Lien Representative, as applicable, will execute (with such acknowledgements and/or notarizations as are required) and deliver such release to Holdings or other applicable Grantor on or before the later of (x) the date specified in such request for such release and (y) the second business day after the date of receipt of the items required by this Section 2.05(b) by the applicable Representative.

 

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(c) The Junior Representative agrees to execute and deliver (at the sole cost and expense of the Grantors) all such releases and other instruments as shall reasonably be requested by the Designated Senior Representative to evidence and confirm any release of Junior Secured Obligations Collateral provided for in this Section 2.05.

SECTION 2.06. Certain Agreements With Respect to Insolvency or Liquidation Proceedings. (a) This Agreement shall continue in full force and effect, notwithstanding the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding by or against Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiaries.

(b) Other than with respect to the Chapter 11 Cases (as defined in the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement), if Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall become subject to a case under the Bankruptcy Code and shall, as debtor(s)-in-possession, move for approval of financing (“DIP Financing”) to be provided by one or more lenders (the “DIP Lenders”) under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code or the use of cash collateral under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code, each Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party agrees that it will raise no objection, and will waive any claim such Person may now or hereafter have, to any such financing or to the Liens on the Senior Secured Obligations Collateral securing the same (“DIP Financing Liens”), or to any use of cash collateral that constitutes Senior Secured Obligations Collateral or to any grant of administrative expense priority under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code, unless (i) the Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties, or a representative authorized by the Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties, shall then oppose or object to such DIP Financing or such DIP Financing Liens or such use of cash collateral or (ii) such DIP Financing Liens are neither senior to, nor rank pari passu with, the Senior Liens upon any property of the estate in such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding. To the extent such DIP Financing Liens are senior to, or rank pari passu with, the Senior Liens, the Junior Representative will, for itself and on behalf of the other Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties, subordinate the Junior Liens on the Senior Secured Obligations Collateral to the Senior Liens and the DIP Financing Liens, so long as the Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties retain Liens on all the Junior Secured Obligations Collateral, including proceeds thereof arising after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, with the same priority relative to the Senior Secured Obligations Collateral as existed prior to the commencement of the case under the Bankruptcy Code.

(c) Each Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party agrees that it will not object to or oppose a sale or other disposition of any Senior Secured Obligations Collateral (or any portion thereof) under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code or any other provision of the Bankruptcy Code if the Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties, or a representative authorized by the Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties, shall have consented to such sale or disposition of such Senior Secured Obligations Collateral and all Senior Liens and Junior Liens will attach to the proceeds of the sale.

 

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(d) The holders of Junior Secured Obligations and the Junior Representative will not file or prosecute in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding any motion for adequate protection (or any comparable request for relief) based upon their interest in the Collateral under the Junior Liens, and will not object to or contest (i) any request by the Senior Representative or the holders of Senior Secured Obligations for adequate protection or (ii) any objection by the Senior Representative or the holders of Senior Secured Obligations to any motion, relief, action or proceeding based on the Senior Representative or holders of the Senior Secured Obligations claiming a lack of adequate protection, except that the holders of Junior Secured Obligations and the Junior Representative may:

(i) freely seek and obtain relief granting a Junior Lien co-extensive in all respects with, but subordinated (as set forth in Section 2.01) to, all Liens granted in the Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding to, or for the benefit of, the holders of Senior Secured Obligations;

(ii) freely vote on any plan of reorganization or similar dispositive restructuring plan; and

(iii) freely seek and obtain any relief upon a motion for adequate protection (or any comparable relief), without any condition or restriction whatsoever, at any time after the associated Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations.

(e) Each of the Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties waives any claim such Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party may now or hereafter have against the Senior Representative or any other Senior Secured Obligations Secured Party (or their representatives) arising out of any election by the Senior Representative or any Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties, in any proceeding instituted under the Bankruptcy Code, of the application of Section 1111(b) of the Bankruptcy Code.

SECTION 2.07. Reinstatement. In the event that any of the Senior Secured Obligations shall be paid in full and such payment or any part thereof shall subsequently, for whatever reason (including an order or judgment for disgorgement of a preference under the Bankruptcy Code, or any similar law, or the settlement of any claim in respect thereof), be required to be returned or repaid, the terms and conditions of this Article II shall be fully applicable thereto until all such Senior Secured Obligations shall again have been paid in full in cash. In the event that any of the Junior Secured Obligations shall be paid in full and such payment or any part thereof shall subsequently, for whatever reason (including an order or judgment for disgorgement of a preference under the Bankruptcy Code, or any similar law, or the settlement of any claim in respect thereof), be required to be returned or repaid, the terms and conditions of this Article II shall be fully applicable thereto until all such Junior Secured Obligations shall again have been paid in full in cash.

 

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SECTION 2.08. Entry Upon Premises by the Revolving Facility Agent and the Revolving Facility Secured Parties. (a) If the Revolving Facility Agent takes any enforcement action with respect to the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral, the Shared Obligations Secured Parties (i) shall reasonably cooperate with the Revolving Facility Agent (at the sole cost and expense of the Revolving Facility Agent (it being understood nothing in this Section 2.08 affects any Grantor’s reimbursement or indemnity obligations under any Secured Document) and subject to the condition that the Shared Obligations Secured Parties shall have no obligation or duty to take any action or refrain from taking any action that could reasonably be expected to result in the incurrence of any liability or damage to the Shared Obligations Secured Parties) in its efforts to enforce its security interest in the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral and to finish any work-in-process and assemble the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral, (ii) shall not take any action designed or intended to hinder or restrict in any respect the Revolving Facility Agent from enforcing its security interest in the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral or from finishing any work-in-process or assembling the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral, and (iii) subject to the rights of any landlords under real estate leases, shall permit the Revolving Facility Agent, its employees, agents, advisers and representatives, at the sole cost and expense of the Revolving Facility Secured Parties (it being understood nothing in this Section 2.08 affects any Grantor’s reimbursement or indemnity obligations under any Secured Document) and upon reasonable advance notice, to enter upon and use the Shared First Lien Collateral (including (A) equipment, processors, computers and other machinery related to the storage or processing of records, documents or files and (B) intellectual property (in connection with which the Shared Obligations Agents and the Shared Obligations Secured Parties shall grant a nonexclusive right to use and license and sublicense Shared Collateral consisting of intellectual property to enable the Revolving Facility Agent to assemble, prepare for sale, advertise, market and dispose of the Revolving Facility Collateral, it being understood that such right will not impose additional obligations on the Grantors, and will be solely as between the relevant creditors)), for a period not to exceed 180 days after the taking of such enforcement action, for purposes of (1) assembling and storing the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral and completing the processing of and turning into finished goods of any Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral consisting of work-in-process, (2) selling any or all of the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral located on such Shared First Lien Collateral, whether in bulk, in lots or to customers in the ordinary course of business or otherwise, (3) removing any or all of the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral located on such Shared First Lien Collateral, or (4) taking reasonable actions to protect, secure and otherwise enforce the rights of the Revolving Facility Secured Parties in and to the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Agreement shall restrict the rights of the Shared Obligations Agents from selling, assigning or otherwise transferring any Shared First Lien Collateral prior to the expiration of such 180-day period if the purchaser, assignee or transferee thereof agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Section. If any stay or other order prohibiting the exercise of remedies with respect to the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral has been entered by a court of competent jurisdiction, such 180-day period shall be tolled during the pendency of any such stay or other order. If the Revolving Facility Agent conducts a public auction or private sale of the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral at any of the real property included within the Shared First Lien Collateral, the Revolving Facility Agent shall provide the Shared Obligations Agents with reasonable notice and use reasonable efforts to hold such auction or sale in a manner which would not unduly disrupt the Shared Obligations Agents’ use of such real property.

 

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(b) During the period of actual occupation, use or control by the Revolving Facility Secured Parties or their agents or representatives of any Shared First Lien Collateral, the Revolving Facility Secured Parties shall (i) be responsible for the ordinary course third-party expenses related thereto, including costs with respect to heat, light, electricity, water and real property taxes with respect to that portion of any premises so used or occupied, and (ii) be obligated to repair at their expense any physical damage to such Shared First Lien Collateral or other assets or property resulting from such occupancy, use or control, and to leave such Shared First Lien Collateral or other assets or property in substantially the same condition as it was at the commencement of such occupancy, use or control, ordinary wear and tear excepted. The Revolving Facility Secured Parties jointly and severally agree to pay, indemnify and hold the Shared Obligations Agents and their officers, directors, employees and agents harmless from and against any liability, cost, expense, loss or damages, including legal fees and expenses, resulting from the negligence or willful misconduct of the Revolving Facility Agent or any of its agents, representatives or invitees in its or their operation of such facilities. In the event, and only in the event, that in connection with its use of some or all of the premises constituting Shared First Lien Collateral, the Revolving Facility Agent requires the services of any employees of Holdings or any of their Subsidiaries, the Revolving Facility Agent shall pay directly to any such employees the appropriate, allocated wages of such employees, if any, during the time periods that the Revolving Facility Agent requires their services. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Revolving Facility Secured Parties have any liability to the Shared Obligations Secured Parties pursuant to this Section as a result of any condition (including any environmental condition, claim or liability) on or with respect to the Shared First Lien Collateral existing prior to the date of the exercise by the Revolving Facility Secured Parties of their rights under this Section and the Revolving Facility Secured Parties shall have no duty or liability to maintain the Shared First Lien Collateral in a condition or manner better than that in which it was maintained prior to the use thereof by the Revolving Facility Secured Parties, or for any diminution in the value of the Shared First Lien Collateral that results solely from ordinary wear and tear resulting from the use of the Shared First Lien Collateral by the Revolving Facility Secured Parties in the manner and for the time periods specified under this Section 2.08. Without limiting the rights granted in this paragraph, the Revolving Facility Agent, to the extent that rights have been exercised under this Section 2.08 by the Revolving Facility Agent, shall cooperate with the Shared Obligations Secured Parties in connection with any efforts made by the Shared Obligations Secured Parties to sell the Shared First Lien Collateral.

SECTION 2.09. Insurance. Unless and until written notice by the Revolving Facility Agent to the Shared Obligations Agents that the Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations in respect of the Revolving Facility Obligations has occurred, as between the Revolving Facility Agent, on the one hand, and the Shared Obligations Agents, on the other hand, only the Revolving Facility Agent will have the right (subject to the rights of the Grantors under the Revolving Facility Debt Documents and the Shared Obligations Debt Documents) to adjust or settle any insurance policy or claim covering or constituting Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral in the event of any loss thereunder and to approve any award granted in any condemnation or similar proceeding affecting the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral. Unless and until written notice by the Designated Shared First Lien Representative to the Revolving Facility Agent that the Discharge of

 

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Senior Secured Debt Obligations in respect of the Shared Obligations has occurred, as between the Revolving Facility Agent, on the one hand, and the Shared Obligations Agents, on the other hand, only the Shared Obligations Agents will have the right (subject to the rights of the Grantors under the Revolving Facility Debt Documents and the Shared Obligations Debt Documents) to adjust or settle any insurance policy covering or constituting Shared First Lien Collateral in the event of any loss thereunder and to approve any award granted in any condemnation or similar proceeding solely affecting the Shared First Lien Collateral. To the extent that an insured loss covers or constitutes both Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral and Shared First Lien Collateral, then the Revolving Facility Agent and the Shared Obligations Agents will work jointly and in good faith to collect, adjust or settle (subject to the rights of the Grantors under the Revolving Facility Debt Documents and the Shared Obligations Debt Documents) under the relevant insurance policy.

SECTION 2.10. Refinancings and Additional Secured Debt. The Revolving Facility Obligations and the Shared Obligations may be Replaced, by any Revolving Substitute Facility, Notes Substitute Indenture or Term Substitute Facility, as the case may be, and Future Secured Indebtedness may be incurred by a Loan Party, in each case, without notice to, or the consent of any Secured Party hereunder, all without affecting the Lien priorities provided for herein or the other provisions hereof; provided, however, that the Designated Shared First Lien Representative and the Revolving Facility Agent shall receive on or prior to incurrence of the Replacement of a Notes Substitute Indenture, Revolving Substitute Facility or Term Substitute Facility or Future Secured Indebtedness, as the case may be (i) an Officers’ Certificate from Holdings stating that (A) the Replacement or such indebtedness is permitted by each other applicable Secured Document to be incurred or to the extent a consent is otherwise required to permit the Replacement or such incurrence of indebtedness under any other Secured Document, Holdings and each other Grantor have obtained the requisite consent and (B) the requirements of Section 2.12 have been (or will be substantially simultaneously with the delivery of such certificate) satisfied, and (ii) a Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation Joinder from the holders or lenders of such new indebtedness (or an authorized agent, trustee or other representative on their behalf).

Each of the then-exiting Notes Agents, Revolving Facility Agent and Term Facility Agents, as applicable, shall upon receipt of the Officers’ Certificate described in clause (i) above, be authorized to execute and deliver such other documents and agreements (including amendments or supplements to this Agreement) as such holders, lenders, agent, trustee or other representative may reasonably request to give effect to such Replacement or incurrence, it being understood that the Notes Agents, the Revolving Facility Agent and the Term Facility Agents, without the consent of any other Secured Party hereunder, may amend, supplement, modify or restate this Agreement to the extent necessary or appropriate to facilitate such amendments or supplements to effect such Replacement or incurrence all at the expense of Holdings; provided that in the event that such amendments, supplements, modifications or restatements materially adversely affect the rights of the Grantors under the Secured Documents or imposes material additional obligations or liability on any Grantor or any Subsidiary of Holdings, then the written consent of Holdings will be required prior thereto. Upon the consummation of such Replacement or incurrence and the execution and delivery of the documents and agreements contemplated in the preceding sentence, the holders or lenders of such indebtedness and any authorized agent, trustee or other representative thereof shall be entitled to the benefits of this Agreement.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement will be construed to allow any Loan Party to incur additional indebtedness unless otherwise permitted by the terms of each applicable Secured Document.

SECTION 2.11. Amendments to Security Documents. (a) Without the prior written consent of the Designated Senior Representative, no Junior Secured Obligations Security Document may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified or entered into to the extent such amendment, supplement or modification, or the terms of any new Junior Secured Obligations Security Document, would be prohibited by, or would require any Grantor to act or refrain from acting in a manner that would violate, any of the terms of this Agreement.

(b) In the event that the Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties or the Senior Representative and Holdings or any other Grantors thereunder enters into any amendment, waiver or consent in respect of any of the Senior Secured Obligations Security Documents for the purpose of adding to, or deleting from, or waiving or consenting to any departures from any provisions of, any Senior Secured Obligations Security Document or changing in any manner the rights of the Senior Representative, the Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties, Holdings or any other Grantor thereunder (including the release of any Liens in Senior Secured Obligations Collateral to the extent permitted by Section 2.05), then such amendment, waiver or consent shall apply automatically to any comparable provision of the comparable Junior Secured Obligations Security Document without the consent of the Junior Representative or any Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party and without any action by the Junior Representative; provided, however, that reasonable prior written notice of such amendment, waiver or consent shall have been given to the Junior Representative by the Senior Representative. The Junior Representative and each Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party agree to take such action and execute such documents as reasonably requested by the Senior Representative or Holdings to carry out the purpose and intent of this Section 2.11(b).

SECTION 2.12. Legends. The Revolving Facility Agent acknowledges with respect to the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement and the Revolving Facility Security Documents, on the one hand, and each Shared Obligations Agent acknowledges with respect to the Notes Indenture, Term Facility Credit Agreement, the applicable Future Term Facility Credit Agreement, the applicable Future Indenture and the Shared Obligations Security Documents, on the other hand, that the Notes Indenture and the applicable Future Indenture, Revolving Facility Credit Agreement, the Term Facility Credit Agreement and the applicable Future Term Facility Credit Agreement, each of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement (as defined in the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement), the Credit Agreement Security Agreement and the Notes Security Agreement (each as defined in the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement) granting any security interest in the Collateral will contain the appropriate legend set forth on Annex I.

 

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SECTION 2.13. Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties Rights as Unsecured Creditors. Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 2.02, 2.04(a) and 2.06(b), (c) and (d) or otherwise, both before and during an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, any of the Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties may take any actions and exercise any and all rights that would be available to a holder of unsecured claims, including, without limitation, the commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding against Holdings or any other Grantor in accordance with applicable law; provided, that the Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties may not take any of the actions prohibited by Section 2.02, clauses (i) through (vii) of Section 2.04(a) or Section 2.06(b), (c) and (d); provided, further, that in the event that any of the Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties becomes a judgment lien creditor in respect of any Collateral as a result of its enforcement of its rights as an unsecured creditor with respect to the Junior Secured Obligations, such judgment lien shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement for all purposes (including in relation to the Senior Secured Obligations) as the other Liens securing the Junior Secured Obligations are subject to this Agreement.

ARTICLE III

Gratuitous Bailment for Perfection of Certain Security Interests; Rights Under Permits and Licenses

SECTION 3.01. General. The Senior Representative agrees that if it shall at any time hold a Senior Lien on any Junior Secured Obligations Collateral that can be perfected by the possession or control of such Collateral or of any account in which such Collateral is held, and if such Collateral or any such account is in fact in the possession or under the control of the Senior Representative, the Senior Representative will serve as gratuitous bailee and/or agent for the Junior Representative for the sole purpose of perfecting the Junior Lien of the Junior Representative on such Collateral, including by having control of such Junior Secured Obligations Collateral on behalf of the Junior Representative and the other Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties as contemplated by Section 9-104(5) of the New York UCC. It is agreed that the obligations of the Senior Representative and the rights of the Junior Representative and the other Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties in connection with any such bailment or agency arrangement will be in all respects subject to the provisions of Article II. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Senior Representative will be deemed to make no representation as to the adequacy of the steps taken by it to perfect the Junior Lien on any such Collateral and shall have no responsibility, duty, obligation or liability to the Junior Representative or other Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party or any other person for such perfection or failure to perfect, it being understood that the sole purpose of this Article is to enable the Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties to obtain a perfected Junior Lien in such Collateral to the extent, if any, that such perfection results from the possession or control of such Collateral or any such account by the Senior Representative. Subject to Section 2.07, from and after the associated Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations, the Senior Representative shall take all such actions in its power as shall reasonably be requested by the Junior Representative (at the sole cost and expense of the Grantors) to transfer possession or control of such Collateral or any such account (in each case to the

 

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extent the Junior Representative has a Lien on such Collateral or account after giving effect to any prior or concurrent releases of Liens) to the Junior Representative (and with respect to any Collateral constituting (i) Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral, to the Designated Shared First Lien Representative for the benefit of all applicable Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties and (ii) Shared First Lien Collateral, to the Revolving Facility Agent for the benefit of all applicable Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties).

SECTION 3.02. Deposit Accounts.

(a) The Grantors, to the extent required by the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement, may from time to time establish deposit accounts (the “Deposit Accounts”) with certain depositary banks in which collections from Inventory and Accounts may be deposited. To the extent that any such Deposit Account is under the control of the Revolving Facility Agent at any time, the Revolving Facility Agent will act as gratuitous bailee for the Shared Obligations Agents for the purpose of perfecting the Liens of the Shared Obligations Secured Parties in such Deposit Accounts and the cash and other assets therein as provided in Section 3.01 (but will have no duty, responsibility or obligation to the Shared Obligations Secured Parties (including, without limitation, any duty, responsibility or obligation as to the maintenance of such control, the effect of such arrangement or the establishment of such perfection) except as set forth in the last sentence of this Section 3.02(a)). Unless the Junior Liens on such Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral shall have been or concurrently are released, after the occurrence of Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations, the Revolving Facility Agent shall, at the request of any Shared Obligations Agent, cooperate with the Grantors and the Shared Obligations Agents (at the expense of the Grantors) in permitting control of any other Deposit Accounts to be transferred to the Shared Obligations Agents (or for other arrangements with respect to each such Deposit Accounts reasonably satisfactory to the Shared Obligations Agents to be made).

(b) To the extent that the Shared First Lien Account is under the control of the Designated Shared First Lien Representative at any time, the Designated Shared First Lien Representative will act as gratuitous bailees and/or agents for the Revolving Facility Agent for the purpose of perfecting the Liens of the Revolving Facility Secured Parties in such account and the cash and other assets therein as provided in Section 3.01 (but will have no duty, responsibility or obligation to the Revolving Facility Secured Parties (including, without limitation, any duty, responsibility or obligation as to the maintenance of such control, the effect of such arrangement or the establishment of such perfection) except as set forth in the last sentence of this Section 3.02(b)), including by having control of such Shared First Lien Account on behalf of the Revolving Facility Agent and the other Revolving Facility Secured Parties as contemplated by Section 9-104(5) of the New York UCC. Unless the Junior Liens on such Shared First Lien Collateral shall have been or concurrently are released, after the occurrence of Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations with respect to the Shared Obligations, the Shared Obligations Agents shall, at the request of the Revolving Facility Agent, cooperate with the Grantors and the Revolving Facility Agent (at the expense of the Grantors) in permitting control of such account to be transferred to the Revolving Facility Agent (or for other arrangements with respect to each such account reasonably satisfactory to the Revolving Facility Agent to be made).

 

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SECTION 3.03. Rights under Permits and Licenses. Each Shared Obligations Agent agrees that if the Revolving Facility Agent shall require rights available under any permit or license controlled by such Shared Obligations Agent (as certified to the Designated Shared First Lien Representative by the Revolving Facility Agent, upon which the Designated Shared First Lien Representative and each Shared Obligations Agent may rely) in order to realize on any Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral, the Designated Shared First Lien Representative shall (subject to the terms of the the Term Facility Credit Agreement, the Notes Indenture or the applicable Future Term Facility Credit Agreement or Future Indenture, including such Shared Obligations Agent’s rights to indemnification thereunder) take all such actions as shall be available to it (at the sole expense of the Grantors), consistent with applicable law and reasonably requested by the Revolving Facility Agent in writing, to make such rights available to the Revolving Facility Agent, subject to the Shared Obligations Liens. The Revolving Facility Agent agrees that if the Designated Shared First Lien Representative or any other Shared Obligations Agent shall require rights available under any permit or license controlled by the Revolving Facility Agent (as certified to the Revolving Facility Agent by the Designated Shared First Lien Representative or such other Shared Obligations Agent, upon which the Revolving Facility Agent may rely) in order to realize on any Shared First Lien Collateral, the Revolving Facility Agent shall take all such actions as shall be available to it (at the sole expense of the Grantors), consistent with applicable law and reasonably requested by the Designated Shared First Lien Representative in writing, to make such rights available to the Designated Shared First Lien Representative or such other Shared Obligations Agent, subject to the Revolving Facility Liens.

SECTION 3.04. Grantors’ Actions Regarding Collateral. To the extent any Secured Document requires any Grantor to deliver any certificate, instrument, promissory note, chattel paper, control agreement or proceeds or to take any other action with respect to the perfection of (or the realization of benefits on) the Revolving Facility Liens or the Shared Obligations Liens on any item of Collateral, and to the extent such delivery or other action is of such nature that it may not be made or taken with respect to both the Senior Liens and the Junior Liens concurrently (for example, the granting of exclusive control (as defined in the New York UCC) to one but not both Representatives with respect to bank accounts), such Grantor shall make such delivery or take such other action so required under the applicable Senior Document with respect to such item of Collateral and the Senior Representative shall comply with this Article III and other applicable provisions of this Agreement with respect to such item of Collateral (which delivery or other action by such Grantor will be deemed to satisfy any such requirement under the applicable Junior Documents). To the extent any covenants, representations or warranties set forth in any Secured Document are untrue or incorrect solely as a result of the delivery to, or grant of possession or control to, one but not both Representatives by any Grantor, such covenants, representation or warranty shall not be deemed to be untrue or incorrect for purposes of such Secured Document.

 

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ARTICLE IV

Existence and Amounts of Liens and Obligations

Whenever a Representative shall be required, in connection with the exercise of its rights or the performance of its obligations hereunder, to determine the existence or amount of any Senior Secured Obligations (or the existence of any commitment to extend credit that would constitute Senior Secured Obligations) or Junior Secured Obligations, or the existence of any Lien securing any such obligations, or the Collateral subject to any such Lien, it may request that such information be furnished to it in writing by the other Representative and shall be entitled to make such determination on the basis of the information so furnished; provided, however, that if a Representative shall fail or refuse reasonably promptly to provide the requested information, the requesting Representative shall be entitled to make any such determination by such customary method as it may, in the exercise of its good faith judgment, determine, including by reliance upon a certificate of Holdings. Each Representative may, absent manifest error, rely conclusively, and shall be fully protected in so relying, on any determination made by it in accordance with the provisions of the preceding sentence (or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction) and shall have no liability to Holdings or any of their Subsidiaries, any Secured Party or any other person as a result of such determination.

ARTICLE V

Consent of Grantors

Each Grantor hereby consents to the provisions of this Agreement and the intercreditor arrangements provided for herein and agrees that the obligations of the Grantors under the Security Documents will in no way be diminished or otherwise affected by such provisions or arrangements (except as expressly provided herein or therein).

ARTICLE VI

Representations and Warranties

SECTION 6.01. Representations and Warranties of Each Party. Each party hereto represents and warrants to the other parties hereto as follows:

(a) Such party is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and has all requisite power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement.

(b) This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such party.

 

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(c) The execution, delivery and performance by such party of this Agreement (i) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with or any other action by any governmental authority of which the failure to obtain could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement), (ii) will not violate any applicable law or regulation or any order of any governmental authority or any indenture, agreement or other instrument binding upon such party which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (iii) will not violate the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of such party.

SECTION 6.02. Representations and Warranties of Each Representative. Each of the Original Term Facility Agent, the Original Notes Agent and the Revolving Facility Agent represents and warrants to the other parties hereto that it is authorized under the Term Facility Credit Agreement, the Notes Indenture and the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement, as the case may be, to enter into this Agreement.

ARTICLE VII

Miscellaneous

SECTION 7.01. Notices. All notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by electronic transmission, as follows:

(a) if to the Revolving Facility Agent, to it at Citibank, N.A., Citibank, N.A., 1615 Brett Road, New Castle, DE 19720, Attn: ABTF Global Loans , Email: glabfunitloansops@citi.com;

(b) if to the Original Term Facility Agent, to it at Citibank, N.A., Citibank, N.A., 1615 Brett Road, New Castle, DE 19720, Attn: ABTF Global Loans, Email: glabfunitloansops@citi.com;

(c) if to the Original Notes Agent, to it at Citibank, N.A., 388 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10013, Attn: SPAG Administration (e-mail: cts.spag@citi.com; jenny.cheng@citi.com);

(d) if to the Notes Trustee, to it at U.S. Bank National Association, Global Corporate Trust, One Federal Street, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02110, Attention: Steven J. Gomes, Email: steven.gomes@usbank.com;

(e) if to Holdings, at: Joseph Abbott, Chief Financial Officer, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, 125 High Street, Boston, MA 02110-2777, (617) 249-1673, Email Joe.Abbott@hmhco.com, with copies to William Bayers, Executive Vice-President & General Counsel, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, 125 High Street, Boston, MA 02110-2777, Tel: (617) 351-5125, Fax: (617) 249-2118, Email Bill.Bayers@hmhco.com, Joseph Flaherty, Senior Vice-President & Treasurer, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, 125 High Street, Boston, MA 02110-2777, Tel: (617) 351-5223, Fax: (617) 351-1104, Email Joe.Flaherty@hmhco.com and David Mills, Assistant Treasurer, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, 125 High Street, Boston, MA 02110-2777, Tel: (617) 351-3766, Fax: (617) 933-7632, Email David.Mills@hmhco.com; and

 

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(f) if to any other Grantor, to it in care of Holdings as provided in clause (d) above.

Any party hereto may change its postal address or e-mail address for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto (and for this purpose a notice to Holdings shall be deemed to be a notice to each Grantor). All notices and other communications given to any party hereto in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given on the date of receipt (if a business day) and on the next business day thereafter (in all other cases) if delivered by hand or overnight courier service or sent by electronic transmission. As agreed to in writing among Holdings, the Notes Agents, the Term Facility Agents and the Revolving Facility Agent from time to time, notices and other communications may also be delivered by e-mail to the e-mail address of a representative of the applicable person provided from time to time by such person.

SECTION 7.02. Waivers; Amendment. (a) No failure or delay on the part of any party hereto in exercising any right or power hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the parties hereto are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by any party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. No notice or demand on any party hereto in any case shall entitle such party to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.

(b) Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be terminated, waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by each Representative and, if such termination, waiver, amendment or modification which by the terms of this Agreement requires a Grantor’s consent, or which adversely affects the rights of the Grantors under the Secured Documents or increases the obligations or reduces the rights of any Grantor or any Subsidiary of Holdings, then the written consent of Holdings will be required prior to such termination, waiver, amendment or modification; provided, however, that an executed copy of any such termination, waiver, amendment or modification shall be provided to Holdings upon the effectiveness thereof; provided, further, however, that this Agreement may be amended from time to time (x) as provided in Section 2.10 and (y) at the sole request and expense of Holdings, and without the consent of either Representative, to add, pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement Joinder, additional Grantors whereupon such Person will be bound by the terms hereof to the same extent as if it had executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date hereof. Any amendment of this Agreement that is proposed to be effected without the consent of a Representative as permitted by the proviso to the preceding sentence shall be submitted to such Representative for its review at least 5 business days prior to the proposed effectiveness of such amendment.

 

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SECTION 7.03. Parties in Interest. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, as well as the other Secured Parties, all of whom are intended to be bound by, and to be third party beneficiaries of, this Agreement.

SECTION 7.04. Survival of Agreement. This is a continuing agreement of lien subordination and may not be revoked. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by any party in this Agreement shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement, including in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

SECTION 7.05. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Agreement.

SECTION 7.06. Severability. Any provision of this Agreement held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction. The parties shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

SECTION 7.07. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process. (a) This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York (and to the extent applicable prior to the Exit Facility Conversion Date (as defined in the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement) the Bankruptcy Code).

(b) Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or, to the extent permitted by law, in such federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that any party hereto may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement in the courts of any jurisdiction.

 

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(c) Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

(d) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 7.01. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

SECTION 7.08. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

SECTION 7.09. Headings. Article, Section and Annex headings used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and are not to affect the construction of, or to be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

SECTION 7.10. Conflicts. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of any Secured Documents, the Other Secured Agreements, in each case whether as defined in the Notes Indenture, the Term Facility Credit Agreement or the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall control.

(a) The parties hereto acknowledge, authorize and consent to the entry by each Shared Obligations Agent acting on behalf of the relevant Shared Obligations Secured Parties that are or shall be secured by a Lien on Shared Collateral into the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement with respect to the Shared Collateral, the provisions of the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement shall govern and control.

 

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SECTION 7.11. Provisions Solely to Define Relative Rights. Except as otherwise provided, the provisions of this Agreement are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Revolving Facility Secured Parties, on the one hand, and the Shared Obligations Secured Parties, as the case may be, on the other hand. None of Holdings, any other Grantor or any other creditor thereof shall have any rights or obligations hereunder, except as expressly provided in this Agreement (provided that nothing in this Agreement (other than Sections 2.05, 2.06, 2.10, 2.11 or Article VII) is intended to or will amend, waive or otherwise modify the provisions of the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement, the Notes Indenture, any Future Indentures, the Term Facility Credit Agreement or any Future Term Facility Credit Agreement), and neither Holdings nor any other Grantor may rely on the terms hereof (other than Sections 2.05, 2.06, 2.10, 2.11, Article VI and Article VII). Nothing in this Agreement is intended to or shall impair the obligations of Holdings or any other Grantor, which are absolute and unconditional, to pay the Obligations under the Secured Documents as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any Secured Document, the Grantors shall not be required to act or refrain from acting (a) pursuant to this Agreement or any Shared Obligations Debt Document, the Other Secured Agreements (as defined under the Term Facility Credit Agreement) with respect to any Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral in any manner that would cause a default under any Revolving Facility Debt Document, or (b) pursuant to this Agreement or any Revolving Facility Debt Document or any Other Secured Agreement (as defined in the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement) with respect to any Shared First Lien Collateral in any manner that would cause a default under any Shared Obligations Debt Document.

SECTION 7.12. Certain Terms Concerning Revolving Facility Agent and Shared Obligations Agents. None of the Revolving Facility Agent nor any Shared Obligations Agent shall have any liability or responsibility for the actions or omissions of any other Secured Party, or for any other Secured Party’s compliance with (or failure to comply with) the terms of this Agreement. None of the Revolving Facility Agent nor any Shared Obligations Agent shall have individual liability to any Person if it shall mistakenly pay over or distribute to any Secured Party (or Holdings) any amounts in violation of the terms of this Agreement, so long as the Revolving Facility Agent or such Shared Obligations Agent, as the case may be, is acting in good faith.

SECTION 7.13. Subrogation. Each Junior Representative, on behalf of itself and the Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties, hereby waives any rights of subrogation it may acquire as a result of any payment hereunder until the Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations has occurred.

SECTION 7.14. Conversion of Currencies.

(a) If, for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court, it is necessary to convert a sum owing hereunder in one currency into another currency, each party hereto agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so, that the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures in the relevant jurisdiction the first currency could be purchased with such other currency on the Business Day immediately preceding the day on which final judgment is given.

 

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(b) The obligations of Holdings or other Grantors in respect of any sum due to any party hereto or any holder of the obligations owing hereunder (the “Applicable Creditor”) shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency (the “Judgment Currency”) other than the currency in which such sum is stated to be due hereunder (the “Agreement Currency”), be discharged only to the extent that, on the Business Day following receipt by the Applicable Creditor of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment Currency, the Applicable Creditor may in accordance with normal banking procedures in the relevant jurisdiction purchase the Agreement Currency with the Judgment Currency; if the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to the Applicable Creditor in the Agreement Currency, Holdings and other Grantors agree, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify the Applicable Creditor against such loss, and if the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased exceeds the sum originally due to the Applicable Creditor in the Agreement Currency, the Applicable Creditor shall refund the amount of such excess to Holdings or such Grantor, as applicable. The obligations of the parties contained in this Section 7.14 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of all other amounts owing hereunder.

SECTION 7.15. No Novation. This Agreement amends and restates the Existing ABL Intercreditor Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement shall not serve to effect a novation of the Existing ABL Intercreditor Agreement.

SECTION 7.16. Agents. Notwithstanding any term herein to the contrary, it is hereby expressly agreed and acknowledged that the agreements set forth herein by the Shared Obligations Agents and the Revolving Facility Agent, as applicable, are made solely in their capacity as collateral agents under the Shared Obligations Debt Documents and Revolving Facility Debt Documents, as applicable, and not in an individual capacity. In the case of any reference herein to the giving of any consent, approval or direction by the Original Notes Agent it is understood in all cases the Original Notes Agent shall only take such action under this Agreement as directed in writing by the Notes Trustee as the relevant Authorized Representative (as such term is defined in the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement) in accordance with the terms of the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement. The Shared Obligations Agents shall be entitled to all of the rights, protections, immunities and indemnities set forth in the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement and Shared Obligations Debt Documents as if specifically set forth herein.

SECTION 7.17. Notes Trustee Not Fiduciary for other Secured Parties. The Notes Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to any of the Secured Parties (other than the Noteholders for which it is the Authorized Representative, and then only to the extent, if any, set forth in the Notes Indenture), and shall not be liable to any Secured Parties (other than the Noteholders for which it is the Authorized Representative, and then only to the extent, if any, set forth in the Notes Indenture), if the Notes Trustee shall in good faith mistakenly pay over or distribute to any person cash, property or securities to which any Secured Party shall be entitled by virtue of this

 

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Agreement or otherwise. The Notes Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants or obligations as are specifically set forth in the Notes Indenture and this Agreement and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the Notes Trustee.

[Remainder of this page intentionally left blank]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

CITIBANK, N.A., as Revolving Facility Agent
By    
Name:  
Title:  

[Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Credit Agreement]


CITIBANK, N.A.,
as Original Term Facility Agent
By    
Name:  
Title:  

[Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Credit Agreement]


CITIBANK, N.A.,

as Original Notes Agent

By    
Name:  
Title:  

[Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Credit Agreement]


U.S. Bank National Association,
as Notes Trustee
By    
Name:  
Title:  

[Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Credit Agreement]


HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT COMPANY
By    
Name:  
Title:  

 

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHERS INC.
By    
Name:  
Title:  

 

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY
By    
Name:  
Title:  

 

HMH PUBLISHERS LLC
By    
Name:  
Title:  

 

EACH OF THE SUBSIDIARIES LISTED ON SCHEDULE I HERETO
By    
Name:  
Title:  

[Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Credit Agreement]


SCHEDULE I

 

Greenwood Publishing Group, LLC   
Houghton Mifflin Company International, Inc.   


ANNEX I

Reference is made to the Second Amended and Restated Term Loan / Notes / Revolving Facility Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019, among Citibank, N.A., as agent for the Revolving Facility Secured Parties referred to therein, Citibank, N.A., as agent for the Term Facility Secured Parties referred to therein, Citibank, N.A., as agent for the Notes Secured Parties referred to therein, Holdings, the Borrowers and the Subsidiary Guarantors named therein (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ABL Intercreditor Agreement”). Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, this Agreement, the Liens created hereby and the rights, remedies, duties and obligations provided for herein are subject in all respects to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement and, to the extent provided therein, the applicable Junior Secured Obligations Security Documents (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement).


EXHIBIT A

to Intercreditor Agreement

[FORM OF]

INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT JOINDER

The undersigned, _____________________, a _______________, hereby agrees to become party as a Grantor under the Amended and Restated Term Loan / Notes / Revolving Facility Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019 (as amended, restated, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified, the Intercreditor Agreement”) among Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, the Grantors from time to time party thereto, Citibank, N.A., as agent for the Revolving Facility Secured Parties (as defined therein), [ ] as agent for the Notes Secured Parties (as defined therein) and Citibank, N.A., as agent for the Term Facility Secured Parties (as defined therein), for all purposes thereof on the terms set forth therein, and to be bound by the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement as fully as if the undersigned had executed and delivered the Intercreditor Agreement as of the date thereof.

The provisions of Article 7 of the Intercreditor Agreement will apply with like effect to this Joinder.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Intercreditor Agreement Joinder to be executed by their respective officers or representatives as of ___________________, 20____.

 

[___________________________]
By:    
Name:    
Title:    
[Notice Address]


EXHIBIT B

to Intercreditor Agreement

[FORM OF]

LIEN SHARING AND PRIORITY CONFIRMATION JOINDER

Reference is made to the Second Amended and Restated Term Facility / Notes / Revolving Facility Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of November 22, 2019 (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the “Intercreditor Agreement”) among CITIBANK, N.A., as Agent for the Revolving Facility Secured Parties (as defined therein), CITIBANK, N.A., as Agent for the Term Facility Secured Parties (as defined therein), [ ], as Agent for the Notes Secured Parties (as defined therein), Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company (“Holdings”) and the Subsidiaries of Holdings named therein.

Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement. This Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation Joinder is being executed and delivered pursuant to Section 2.10 of the Intercreditor Agreement as a condition precedent to the debt for which the undersigned is acting as representative being entitled to the rights and obligations of being additional secured debt under the Intercreditor Agreement.                

1. Joinder. The undersigned, [_________________], a [_______________], (the “New Representative”) as [trustee] [collateral trustee] [administrative agent] [collateral agent] under that certain [described applicable indenture, credit agreement or other document governing the additional secured debt] hereby:

(a) represents that the New Representative has been authorized to become a party to the Intercreditor Agreement on behalf of the [Revolving Facility Secured Parties under a Revolving Substitute Facility][Term Facility Secured Parties under a Term Substitute Facility] [Notes Secured Parties under a Notes Substitute Indenture] as [a Revolving Facility Agent under a Revolving Substitute Facility] [a First Lien Term Facility Agent under a Term Substitute Facility] [a Second Lien Term Facility Agent under a Term Substitute Facility] [a First Lien Notes Agent under a Notes Substitute Indenture] [a Second Lien Notes Agent under a Notes Substitute Indenture] under the Intercreditor Agreement for all purposes thereof on the terms set forth therein, and to be bound by the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement as fully as if the undersigned had executed and delivered the Intercreditor Agreement as of the date thereof; and

(b) agrees that its address for receiving notices pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement shall be as follows:

[Address];


2. Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation.

[Option A: to be used if Additional Debt constitutes Revolving Facility Obligations] The undersigned New Representative, on behalf of itself and each holder of Revolving Facility Obligations for which the undersigned is acting as [Revolving Facility Administrative Agent] hereby agrees, for the benefit of all Secured Parties, and as a condition to having such Obligations being treated as Revolving Facility Obligations under the Intercreditor Agreement, that the New Representative is bound by the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, including the provisions relating to the ranking of Revolving Facility Liens. [or]

[Option B: to be used if Additional Debt constitutes Shared Obligations] The undersigned New Representative, on behalf of itself and each holder of Shared Obligations for which the undersigned is acting as [First Lien Term Facility Agent] [Second Lien Term Facility Agent] [First Lien Notes Agent] [Second Lien Notes Agent] hereby agrees, for the benefit of all Secured Parties, and as a condition to having such Obligations being treated as Shared Obligations under the Intercreditor Agreement, that the New Representative is bound by the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, including the provisions relating to the ranking of Shared Obligations Liens.

3. Governing Law and Miscellaneous Provisions. The provisions of Article 7 of the Intercreditor Agreement will apply with like effect to this Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation Joinder.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the party hereto has caused this Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation Joinder to be executed by its officers or representatives as of [___________________, 20____].

 

[insert name of New Representative]
By:    
Name:  
Title:  


EXHIBIT C

to Intercreditor Agreement

SECURITY DOCUMENTS

PART A.

List of Revolving Facility Security Documents

 

1.

Second Amended and Restated Guaranty and Collateral Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019, among the Grantors party thereto and the Revolving Facility Agent, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, replaced, restructured or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

2.

Trademark Security Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019 among the Grantors party thereto and the Revolving Facility Agent, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, replaced, restructured or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

3.

Patent Security Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019 among the Grantors party thereto and the Revolving Facility Agent, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, replaced, restructured or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

4.

Copyright Security Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019 among the Grantors party thereto and the Revolving Facility Agent, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, replaced, restructured or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

5.

One or more deposit account control agreements entered into among the Grantors party thereto, the Term Facility Agent, the Revolving Facility Agent, the Notes Agent and Citibank, N.A., as depository bank, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, replaced, restructured or otherwise modified from time to time.


PART B.

List of Term Facility Security Documents

 

1.

Second Amended and Restated Guaranty and Collateral Agreement, dated as of November 22, 2019, among the Grantors party thereto and the Term Facility Agent, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, replaced, restructured or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

2.

Trademark Security Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019 among the Grantors party thereto and the Term Facility Agent, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, replaced, restructured or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

3.

Patent Security Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019 among the Grantors party thereto and the Term Facility Agent, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, replaced, restructured or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

4.

Copyright Security Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019 among the Grantors party thereto and the Term Facility Agent, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, replaced, restructured or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

5.

Deed of Trust, Security Agreement, Assignment of Rents and Leases and Fixture Filing (Missouri) dated as of July 13, 2012 among Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company and the Term Facility Agent, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, replaced, restructured or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

6.

Mortgage, Security Agreement, Assignment of Rents and Leases and Fixture Filing (Indiana) dated as of July 13, 2012 among Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company and the Term Facility Agent, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, replaced, restructured or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

7.

One or more deposit account control agreements entered into among the Grantors party thereto, the Revolving Facility Agent, the Term Facility Agent, the Notes Agent and Citibank, N.A., as depository bank, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, replaced, restructured or otherwise modified from time to time.


PART C.

List of Notes Security Documents

 

1.

Collateral Agreement, dated as of November 22, 2019, among the Grantors party thereto and the Notes Agent, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, replaced, restructured or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

2.

Trademark Security Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019 among the Grantors party thereto and the Notes Agent, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, replaced, restructured or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

3.

Patent Security Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019 among the Grantors party thereto and the Notes Agent, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, replaced, restructured or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

4.

Copyright Security Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019 among the Grantors party thereto and the Notes Agent, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, replaced, restructured or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

5.

One or more deposit account control agreements entered into among the Grantors party thereto, the Revolving Facility Agent, the Term Facility Agent, the Notes Agent and Citibank, N.A., as depository bank, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, replaced, restructured or otherwise modified from time to time.


Exhibit F

[Form of Mortgage]

(Refer to the following page)


Exhibit F

Form of Mortgage

DEED OF TRUST, SECURITY AGREEMENT, ASSIGNMENT OF RENTS

AND LEASES AND FIXTURE FILING ([STATE])

by and from

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY, “Grantor”

to

[_________________], “Trustee”

for the benefit of

CITIBANK, N.A., in its capacity as Agent, “Beneficiary”

Dated as of [_______________], 20___

 

  Location:    [____________]   
  Municipality:    [____________]   
  County:    [____________]   
  State:    [____________]   

THE SECURED PARTY (BENEFICIARY) DESIRES THIS FIXTURE FILING

TO BE INDEXED AGAINST THE RECORD OWNER OF THE REAL ESTATE DESCRIBED HEREIN.

PREPARED BY, RECORDING REQUESTED BY,

AND WHEN RECORDED MAIL TO:

Shearman & Sterling LLP

599 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10022-6069

Attention: Malcolm K. Montgomery, Esq.

File #35609/33


Exhibit F

DEED OF TRUST, SECURITY AGREEMENT, ASSIGNMENT OF RENTS

AND LEASES AND FIXTURE FILING ([STATE])

THIS DEED OF TRUST, SECURITY AGREEMENT, ASSIGNMENT OF RENTS AND LEASES AND FIXTURE FILING ([STATE]) (this Deed of Trust) is dated as of [____________, 20___] by and from HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY, a company organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (Grantor), whose address is 222 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 12116 to [______________] (Trustee), with an address at [________________], for the benefit of CITIBANK, N.A., as collateral agent (in such capacity, Agent”) for the Secured Parties as defined in the Credit Agreement (defined below), having an address 390 Greenwich Street, 1st Floor, New York, NY 10014 (Agent, together with its successors and assigns, Beneficiary).

WHEREAS, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company (“Holdings”), each of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers Inc., HMH Publishers LLC and Grantor (collectively, the “Borrowers”) the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined therein), Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent (“Administrative Agent), the Agent, as collateral agent, each of the Lenders party thereto and the other parties thereto entered into a Superpriority Senior Secured Debtor-in-Possession and Exit Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of May 22, 2012 (as amended and restated as of June [ ], 2015, and as the same may be further amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”) pursuant to which a revolving credit facility has been made available to the Borrowers. All capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Credit Agreement.

WHEREAS, in connection with the Credit Agreement, Holdings, Borrowers, the subsidiaries of Holdings party thereto from time to time, and the Agent, as collateral agent, entered into that certain Revolving Facility Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, dated as of May 22, 2012 (as amended and restated as of June [ ], 2015, and as the same may be further amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement”). The obligations of the Lenders and the Issuing Bank to continue to extend credit to the Borrowers are conditioned upon, among other things, the execution and delivery of this Deed of Trust by the Grantor.

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1.01. Definitions. As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(a) Event of Default: An Event of Default under and as defined in the Credit Agreement.

(b) First Lien Credit Agreement: That certain Superpriority Senior Secured Debtor-in-Possession and Exit Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of May 22, 2012, among Holdings, the Borrowers, the Subsidiary Guarantors and Lenders party thereto, Citibank, N.A. as Administrative Agent and Citibank, N.A. as Collateral Agent and the other parties thereto, as amended and restated on May 29, 2015, and as the same may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.


(c) “Indebtedness”: (1) All indebtedness of Grantor to Beneficiary or any of the other Secured Parties under the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, including, without limitation, the sum of all (a) principal, interest and other amounts owing under or evidenced or secured by the Loan Documents, (b) principal, interest and other amounts which may hereafter be lent by Beneficiary or any of the other Secured Parties under or in connection with the Credit Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, whether evidenced by a promissory note or other instrument which, by its terms, is secured hereby, and (c) obligations and liabilities of any nature now or hereafter existing under or arising in connection with Letters of Credit and other extensions of credit under the Credit Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents and reimbursement obligations in respect thereof, together with interest and other amounts payable with respect thereto, and (2) all other indebtedness, obligations and liabilities now or hereafter existing of any kind of Grantor to Beneficiary or any of the other Secured Parties under documents which recite that they are intended to be secured by this Deed of Trust. The Indebtedness secured hereby includes, without limitation, all interest and expenses accruing after the commencement by or against Grantor or any of its affiliates of a proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code (defined below) or any similar law for the relief of debtors. The Credit Agreement contains a revolving credit facility which permits Borrowers to borrow certain principal amounts, repay all or a portion of such principal amounts, and reborrow the amounts previously paid to the Secured Parties, all upon satisfaction of certain conditions stated in the Credit Agreement. This Deed of Trust secures all advances and re-advances under the Credit Agreement, including, without limitation, those under the revolving credit facility contained therein.

(d) Mortgaged Property: The fee interest in the real property described in Exhibit A attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference, together with any greater estate therein as hereafter may be acquired by Grantor (the Land), and all of Grantor’s right, title and interest now or hereafter acquired in and to (1) all improvements now owned or hereafter acquired by Grantor, now or at any time situated, placed or constructed upon the Land (the Improvements; the Land and Improvements are collectively referred to as the Premises), (2) all materials, supplies, equipment, apparatus and other items of personal property now owned or hereafter acquired by Grantor and now or hereafter attached to, installed in or used in connection with any of the Improvements or the Land, and water, gas, electrical, telephone, storm and sanitary sewer facilities and all other utilities whether or not situated in easements, and all equipment, inventory and other goods in which Grantor now has or hereafter acquires any rights or any power to transfer rights and that are or are to become fixtures (as defined in the UCC, defined below) related to the Land (the Fixtures), (3) all goods, accounts, inventory, general intangibles, instruments, documents, contract rights and chattel paper, including all such items as defined in the UCC, now owned or hereafter acquired by Grantor and now or hereafter affixed to, placed upon, used in connection with, arising from or otherwise related to the Premises (the Personalty), (4) all reserves, escrows or impounds required under the Credit Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents and all deposit accounts maintained by Grantor with respect to the Mortgaged Property (the Deposit Accounts), (5) all leases, licenses, concessions, occupancy agreements or other agreements (written or oral, now or at any time in effect) which grant to any Person a possessory interest in, or the right to use, all or any part of the Mortgaged Property, together with all related security and other deposits (the Leases), (6) all of the rents, revenues, royalties, income, proceeds, profits, accounts receivable, security and other types of deposits, and other benefits paid or payable by parties to the Leases for using, leasing, licensing possessing, operating from, residing in, selling or otherwise enjoying the Mortgaged Property (the Rents), (7) all other agreements, such as construction contracts, architects’ agreements, engineers’ contracts, utility contracts, maintenance agreements, management agreements, service contracts, listing agreements, guaranties, warranties, permits, licenses, certificates and entitlements in any way relating to the construction, use, occupancy, operation, maintenance, enjoyment or ownership of the Mortgaged Property (the Property Agreements), (8) all rights, privileges, tenements, hereditaments, rights-of-way, easements, appendages and appurtenances appertaining to the foregoing, (9) all property tax refunds payable with respect to the Mortgaged Property (the Tax Refunds), (10) all accessions, replacements and substitutions for any of the foregoing and all proceeds thereof (the Proceeds), (11) all insurance policies, unearned premiums therefor and proceeds from such policies covering any of the above property now or hereafter acquired by Grantor (the Insurance), and (12) all awards, damages, remunerations, reimbursements, settlements or compensation heretofore made or hereafter to be made by any governmental authority pertaining to any condemnation or

 

2


other taking (or any purchase in lieu thereof) of all or any portion of the Land, Improvements, Fixtures or Personalty (the Condemnation Awards). Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the Mortgaged Property would include any “Excluded Asset”, as such term is defined in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, such Excluded Asset shall be deemed not to be a part of the Mortgaged Property until such time as such property shall cease to be an “Excluded Asset” under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and from and after such time, such property shall be deemed to constitute Mortgaged Property. As used in this Deed of Trust, the term “Mortgaged Property” shall mean all or, where the context permits or requires, any portion of the above or any interest therein.

(e) “Obligations”: All of the agreements, covenants, conditions, warranties, representations and other obligations of Grantor under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party.

(f) “Permitted Liens”: Liens permitted under the Loan Documents.

(g) “UCC”: The Uniform Commercial Code of [________________] or, if the creation, perfection and enforcement of any security interest herein granted is governed by the laws of a state other than [___________________], then, as to the matter in question, the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in that state.

ARTICLE II

GRANT; INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT

SECTION 2.01. Grant. To secure the full and timely payment of the Indebtedness and the full and timely performance of the Obligations, Grantor GRANTS, BARGAINS, ASSIGNS, SELLS, CONVEYS and CONFIRMS, to Trustee the Mortgaged Property, subject, however, only to the matters that are set forth on Exhibit B attached hereto (the Permitted Encumbrances) and to Permitted Liens, TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the Mortgaged Property, IN TRUST, WITH POWER OF SALE, and Grantor does hereby bind itself, its successors and assigns to WARRANT AND FOREVER DEFEND the title to the Mortgaged Property unto Trustee.

SECTION 2.02. Intercreditor Agreement. Reference is made to the Term Loan / Revolving Facility Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement dated as of May 22, 2012, among Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent for the Term Facility Secured Parties referred to therein, Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent for the Revolving Facility Secured Parties referred to therein, Holdings, the Borrowers, the Subsidiary Guarantors named therein (as amended and restated on June [ ], 2015, and as further amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Intercreditor Agreement”). Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, this Deed of Trust, the Liens created hereby and the rights, remedies, duties and obligations provided for herein are subject in all respects to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement and, to the extent provided therein, the applicable Senior Secured Obligations Security Documents (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement). In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of this Deed of Trust and the Intercreditor Agreement, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement shall control.

ARTICLE III

WARRANTIES, REPRESENTATIONS AND COVENANTS

Grantor warrants, represents and covenants to Beneficiary as follows:

SECTION 3.01. Title to Mortgaged Property and Lien of this Instrument. Grantor owns the Mortgaged Property free and clear of any liens, claims or interests, except the Permitted

 

3


Encumbrances and the Permitted Liens. Upon recordation in the official real estate records in the county (or other applicable jurisdiction) in which the Mortgaged Property is located, this Deed of Trust creates a valid, enforceable lien and security interest against the Mortgaged Property, subject only to the Permitted Encumbrances and the Permitted Liens.

SECTION 3.02. Lien Status. Grantor shall preserve and protect the lien and security interest status of this Deed of Trust. Promptly upon being notified by Beneficiary, or otherwise becoming aware, that any lien or security interest other than a Permitted Encumbrance or a Permitted Lien is asserted against the Mortgaged Property, Grantor shall promptly, and at its expense, (a) give Beneficiary a detailed written notice of such lien or security interest (including origin, amount and other terms), and (b) pay the underlying claim in full or take such other action so as to cause it to be released or contest the same, in each case in accordance with the requirements of the Credit Agreement (including the requirement of providing a bond or other security satisfactory to Beneficiary).

SECTION 3.03. Payment and Performance. Grantor shall pay the Indebtedness when due under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents and shall perform the Obligations in full when they are required to be performed.

SECTION 3.04. Replacement of Fixtures and Personalty. Grantor shall not, without the prior written consent of Beneficiary, permit any of the Fixtures or Personalty owned or leased by Grantor to be removed at any time from the Land or Improvements, unless the removed item (i) is removed temporarily for maintenance or repair or, if removed permanently, is obsolete or unnecessary for the then-current operations of the Premises or is replaced by an article of similar or better suitability and value, owned by Grantor subject to the lien and security interest of this Deed of Trust or (ii) is permitted to be removed by the Credit Agreement.

SECTION 3.05. Inspection. Grantor shall permit Beneficiary and the other Secured Parties and their respective agents, representatives and employees, upon reasonable prior notice to Grantor, to inspect the Mortgaged Property and all books and records of Grantor located thereon, and to conduct such environmental and engineering studies as Beneficiary or the other Secured Parties may require, provided that such inspections and studies shall not materially interfere with the use and operation of the Mortgaged Property and shall be made in accordance with, and to the extent permitted by the Credit Agreement. Costs of any such inspections shall be paid as provided in the Credit Agreement.

SECTION 3.06. Other Covenants. All of the covenants in the Credit Agreement are incorporated herein by reference and, together with covenants in this Article 3, shall be covenants running with the Land.

SECTION 3.07. Insurance; Condemnation Awards and Insurance Proceeds.

(a) Insurance. Grantor shall maintain or cause to be maintained such insurance as is required to be maintained under the Credit Agreement.

(b) Condemnation Awards. Grantor assigns all Condemnation Awards to Beneficiary and authorizes Beneficiary to collect and receive such Condemnation Awards and to give proper receipts and acquittances therefor, subject to the terms of the Credit Agreement.

(c) Insurance Proceeds. Grantor assigns to Beneficiary all proceeds of any insurance policies insuring against loss or damage to the Mortgaged Property (the “Insurance Proceeds”). Subject to the terms of the Credit Agreement, Grantor authorizes Beneficiary to collect and receive such proceeds and authorizes and directs the issuer of each of such insurance policies to make payment for all such losses directly to Beneficiary, instead of to Grantor and Beneficiary jointly.

 

4


(d) Repairs, Restoration etc. Notwithstanding clauses (b) and (c) of this Section 3.07, to the extent that Grantor is not required by the terms of the Credit Agreement or other Loan Documents to apply Condemnation Awards or Insurance Proceeds received by it to repayment of the Indebtedness, and provided that no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, Grantor shall diligently apply such Condemnation Awards or Insurance Proceeds to the repair, restoration and/or replacement of the Mortgaged Property that has been damaged or subject to a taking or condemnation. Until such amounts are so applied, Grantor shall hold such amounts in trust for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

ARTICLE IV

[Intentionally Omitted]

ARTICLE V

DEFAULT AND FORECLOSURE

SECTION 5.01. Remedies. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, Beneficiary may, at Beneficiary’s election and by or through Trustee or otherwise, exercise any or all of the following rights, remedies and recourses:

(a) Acceleration. Subject to any provisions of the Loan Documents providing for the automatic acceleration of the Indebtedness upon the occurrence of certain Events of Default, declare the Indebtedness to be immediately due and payable, without further notice, presentment, protest, notice of intent to accelerate, notice of acceleration, demand or action of any nature whatsoever (each of which hereby is expressly waived by Grantor), whereupon the same shall become immediately due and payable.

(b) Entry on Mortgaged Property. Enter the Mortgaged Property and take exclusive possession thereof and of all books, records and accounts relating thereto or located thereon. If Grantor remains in possession of the Mortgaged Property following the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default and without Beneficiary’s prior written consent, Beneficiary may invoke any legal remedies to dispossess Grantor.

(c) Operation of Mortgaged Property. Hold, lease, develop, manage, operate or otherwise use the Mortgaged Property upon such terms and conditions as Beneficiary may deem reasonable under the circumstances (making such repairs, alterations, additions and improvements and taking other actions, from time to time, as Beneficiary deems necessary or desirable), and apply all Rents and other amounts collected by Trustee or Beneficiary in connection therewith in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.07.

(d) Foreclosure and Sale. Institute proceedings for the complete foreclosure of this Deed of Trust by judicial action or by power of sale, in which case the Mortgaged Property may be sold for cash or credit in one or more parcels as Beneficiary may determine. With respect to any notices required or permitted under the UCC, Grantor agrees that ten (10) days’ prior written notice shall be deemed commercially reasonable. At any such sale by virtue of any judicial proceedings, power of sale, or any other legal right, remedy or recourse, the title to and right of possession of any such property shall pass to the purchaser thereof, and to the fullest extent permitted by law, Grantor shall be completely and irrevocably divested of all of its right, title, interest, claim, equity, equity of redemption, and demand whatsoever, either at law or in equity, in and to the property sold and such sale shall be a perpetual bar both at law and in equity against Grantor, and against all other Persons claiming or to claim the property sold or any part thereof, by, through or under Grantor. Beneficiary or any of the other Secured Parties may be a purchaser

 

5


at such sale. If Beneficiary or such other Secured Party is the highest bidder, Beneficiary or such other Secured Party may credit the portion of the purchase price that would be distributed to Beneficiary or such other Secured Party against the Indebtedness in lieu of paying cash. In the event this Deed of Trust is foreclosed by judicial action, appraisement of the Mortgaged Property is waived.

(e) Receiver. Make application to a court of competent jurisdiction for, and obtain from such court as a matter of strict right and without notice to Grantor or regard to the adequacy of the Mortgaged Property for the repayment of the Indebtedness, the appointment of a receiver of the Mortgaged Property, and Grantor irrevocably consents to such appointment. Any such receiver shall have all the usual powers and duties of receivers in similar cases, including the full power to rent, maintain and otherwise operate the Mortgaged Property upon such terms as may be approved by the court, and shall apply such Rents in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.07.

(f) Other. Exercise all other rights, remedies and recourses granted under the Loan Documents or otherwise available at law or in equity.

SECTION 5.02. Separate Sales. The Mortgaged Property may be sold in one or more parcels and in such manner and order as Trustee in its sole discretion may elect. The right of sale arising out of any Event of Default shall not be exhausted by any one or more sales.

SECTION 5.03. Remedies Cumulative, Concurrent and Nonexclusive. Trustee, Beneficiary and the other Secured Parties shall have all rights, remedies and recourses granted in the Loan Documents and available at law or equity (including the UCC), which rights (a) shall be cumulative and concurrent, (b) may be pursued separately, successively or concurrently against Grantor or others obligated under the Loan Documents, or against the Mortgaged Property, or against any one or more of them, at the sole discretion of Trustee, Beneficiary or such other Secured Party, as the case may be, (c) may be exercised as often as occasion therefor shall arise, and the exercise or failure to exercise any of them shall not be construed as a waiver or release thereof or of any other right, remedy or recourse, and (d) are intended to be, and shall be, nonexclusive. No action by Trustee, Beneficiary or any other Secured Party in the enforcement of any rights, remedies or recourses under the Loan Documents or otherwise at law or equity shall be deemed to cure any Event of Default.

SECTION 5.04. Release of and Resort to Collateral. Beneficiary may release, regardless of consideration and without the necessity for any notice to or consent by the holder of any subordinate lien on the Mortgaged Property, any part of the Mortgaged Property without, as to the remainder, in any way impairing, affecting, subordinating or releasing the lien or security interest created in or evidenced by the Loan Documents or their status as a prior lien and security interest in and to the Mortgaged Property. For payment of the Indebtedness, Beneficiary may resort to any other security in such order and manner as Beneficiary may elect.

SECTION 5.05. Waiver of Redemption, Notice and Marshalling of Assets. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Grantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives and releases (a) all benefit that might accrue to Grantor by virtue of any present or future statute of limitations or law or judicial decision exempting the Mortgaged Property from attachment, levy or sale on execution or providing for any stay of execution, exemption from civil process, redemption or extension of time for payment, (b) all notices of any Event of Default or of any election by Trustee or Beneficiary to exercise or the actual exercise of any right, remedy or recourse provided for under the Loan Documents, and (c) any right to a marshalling of assets or a sale in inverse order of alienation.

 

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SECTION 5.06. Discontinuance of Proceedings. If Trustee, Beneficiary or any other Secured Party shall have proceeded to invoke any right, remedy or recourse permitted under the Loan Documents and shall thereafter elect to discontinue or abandon it for any reason, Trustee, Beneficiary or such other Secured Party, as the case may be, shall have the unqualified right to do so and, in such an event, Grantor, Trustee, Beneficiary and the other Secured Parties shall be restored to their former positions with respect to the Indebtedness, the Obligations, the Loan Documents, the Mortgaged Property and otherwise, and the rights, remedies, recourses and powers of Trustee, Beneficiary and the other Secured Parties shall continue as if the right, remedy or recourse had never been invoked, but no such discontinuance or abandonment shall waive any Event of Default which may then exist or the right of Trustee, Beneficiary or any other Secured Party thereafter to exercise any right, remedy or recourse under the Loan Documents for such Event of Default.

SECTION 5.07. Application of Proceeds. If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the proceeds of any sale of, and the Rents and other amounts generated by the holding, leasing, management, operation or other use of the Mortgaged Property, shall be applied by Beneficiary or Trustee (or the receiver, if one is appointed) in accordance with Section 7.01 of the Credit Agreement.

SECTION 5.08. Occupancy After Foreclosure. Any sale of the Mortgaged Property or any part thereof in accordance with Section 5.01(d) will divest all right, title and interest of Grantor in and to the property sold. Subject to applicable law, any purchaser at a foreclosure sale will receive immediate possession of the property purchased. If Grantor retains possession of such property or any part thereof subsequent to such sale, Grantor will be considered a tenant at sufferance of the purchaser, and will, if Grantor remains in possession after demand to remove, be subject to eviction and removal, forcible or otherwise, with or without process of law.

SECTION 5.09. Additional Advances and Disbursements; Costs of Enforcement.

(a) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, Beneficiary and each of the other Secured Parties shall have the right, but not the obligation, to cure such Event of Default in the name and on behalf of Grantor. All sums advanced and expenses incurred at any time by Beneficiary or any other Secured Party under this Section 5.09, or otherwise under this Deed of Trust or any of the other Loan Documents or applicable law, shall bear interest from the date that such sum is advanced or expense incurred, to and including the date of reimbursement, computed at the interest rate payable under Section 2.07 of the Credit Agreement, and all such sums, together with interest thereon, shall be secured by this Deed of Trust.

(b) Grantor shall pay all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) of or incidental to the perfection and enforcement of this Deed of Trust and the other Loan Documents, or the enforcement, compromise or settlement of the Indebtedness or any claim under this Deed of Trust and the other Loan Documents, and for the curing thereof, or for defending or asserting the rights and claims of Beneficiary in respect thereof, by litigation or otherwise.

SECTION 5.10. No Mortgagee in Possession. Neither the enforcement of any of the remedies under this Article 5, the assignment of the Rents and Leases under Article 6, the security interests under Article 7, nor any other remedies afforded to Beneficiary under the Loan Documents, at law or in equity shall cause Trustee, Beneficiary or any other Secured Party to be deemed or construed to be a mortgagee in possession of the Mortgaged Property, to obligate Trustee, Beneficiary or any other Secured Party to lease the Mortgaged Property or attempt to do so, or to take any action, incur any expense, or perform or discharge any obligation, duty or liability whatsoever under any of the Leases or otherwise.

 

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ARTICLE VI

ASSIGNMENT OF RENTS AND LEASES

SECTION 6.01. Assignment. In furtherance of and in addition to the assignment made by Grantor in Section 2.01 of this Deed of Trust, Grantor hereby absolutely and unconditionally assigns, sells, transfers and conveys to Trustee (for the benefit of Beneficiary) and to Beneficiary all of its right, title and interest in and to all Leases, whether now existing or hereafter entered into, and all of its right, title and interest in and to all Rents. This assignment is an absolute assignment and not an assignment for additional security only. So long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, Grantor shall have a revocable license from Trustee and Beneficiary to exercise all rights extended to the landlord under the Leases, including the right to receive and collect all Rents and to hold the Rents in trust for use in the payment and performance of the Obligations and to otherwise use the same. The foregoing license is granted subject to the conditional limitation that no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, whether or not legal proceedings have commenced, and without regard to waste, adequacy of security for the Obligations or solvency of Grantor, the license herein granted shall automatically expire and terminate, without notice to Grantor by Trustee or Beneficiary (any such notice being hereby expressly waived by Grantor to the extent permitted by applicable law).

SECTION 6.02. Perfection Upon Recordation. Grantor acknowledges that Beneficiary and Trustee have taken all actions necessary to obtain, and that upon recordation of this Deed of Trust Beneficiary and Trustee shall have, to the extent permitted under applicable law, a valid and fully perfected, present assignment of the Rents arising out of the Leases and all security for such Leases. Grantor acknowledges and agrees that upon recordation of this Deed of Trust Trustee’s and Beneficiary’s interest in the Rents shall be deemed to be fully perfected, “choate” and enforced as to Grantor and to the extent permitted under applicable law, all third parties, including, without limitation, any subsequently appointed trustee in any case under Title 11 of the United States Code (the Bankruptcy Code), without the necessity of commencing a foreclosure action with respect to this Deed of Trust, making formal demand for the Rents, obtaining the appointment of a receiver or taking any other affirmative action.

SECTION 6.03. Bankruptcy Provisions. Without limitation of the absolute nature of the assignment of the Rents hereunder, Grantor, Trustee and Beneficiary agree that (a) this Deed of Trust shall constitute a “security agreement” for purposes of Section 552(b) of the Bankruptcy Code, (b) the security interest created by this Deed of Trust extends to property of Grantor acquired before the commencement of a case in bankruptcy and to all amounts paid as Rents and (c) such security interest shall extend to all Rents acquired by the estate after the commencement of any case in bankruptcy.

SECTION 6.04. No Merger of Estates. So long as part of the Indebtedness and the Obligations secured hereby remain unpaid and undischarged, the fee and leasehold estates to the Mortgaged Property shall not merge, but shall remain separate and distinct, notwithstanding the union of such estates either in Grantor, Beneficiary, any tenant or any third party by purchase or otherwise.

ARTICLE VII

SECURITY AGREEMENT

SECTION 7.01. Security Interest. This Deed of Trust constitutes a “security agreement” on personal property within the meaning of the UCC and other applicable law and with respect to the Personalty, Fixtures, Leases, Rents, Deposit Accounts, Property Agreements, Tax Refunds, Proceeds, Insurance and Condemnation Awards. To this end, Grantor grants to Beneficiary a security interest in the Personalty, Fixtures, Leases, Rents, Deposit Accounts, Property Agreements, Tax Refunds, Proceeds, Insurance, Condemnation Awards and all other Mortgaged Property which is personal property to secure

 

8


the payment of the Indebtedness and performance of the Obligations, subject, in each case, to the Permitted Liens and the Permitted Encumbrances, and agrees that Beneficiary shall have all the rights and remedies of a secured party under the UCC with respect to such property. Any notice of sale, disposition or other intended action by Beneficiary with respect to the Personalty, Fixtures, Leases, Rents, Deposit Accounts, Property Agreements, Tax Refunds, Proceeds, Insurance and Condemnation Awards sent to Grantor at least ten (10) days prior to any action under the UCC shall constitute reasonable notice to Grantor. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the terms of this Deed of Trust and the terms of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement with respect to the collateral covered both therein and herein, the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement shall control and govern to the extent of any such conflict or inconsistency.

SECTION 7.02. Financing Statements. Grantor shall prepare and deliver to Beneficiary such financing statements, and shall execute and deliver to Beneficiary such other documents, instruments and further assurances, in each case in form and substance satisfactory to Beneficiary, as Beneficiary may, from time to time, reasonably consider necessary to create, perfect and preserve Beneficiary’s security interest hereunder. Grantor hereby irrevocably authorizes Beneficiary to cause financing statements (and amendments thereto and continuations thereof) and any such documents, instruments and assurances to be recorded and filed, at such times and places as may be required or permitted by law to so create, perfect and preserve such security interest. Grantor represents and warrants to Beneficiary that Grantor’s jurisdiction of organization is the State of Delaware. After the date of this Deed of Trust, Grantor shall not change its name, type of organization, organizational identification number (if any), jurisdiction of organization or location (within the meaning of the UCC) without giving at least thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to Beneficiary.

SECTION 7.03. Fixture Filing. This Deed of Trust shall also constitute a “fixture filing” for the purposes of the UCC against all of the Mortgaged Property which is or is to become fixtures. The information provided in this Section 7.03 is provided so that this Deed of Trust shall comply with the requirements of the UCC for a mortgage instrument to be filed as a financing statement. Grantor is the “Debtor” and its name and mailing address are set forth in the preamble of this Deed of Trust immediately preceding Article 1. Beneficiary is the “Secured Party” and its name and mailing address from which information concerning the security interest granted herein may be obtained are also set forth in the preamble of this Deed of Trust immediately preceding Article 1. A statement describing the portion of the Mortgaged Property comprising the fixtures hereby secured is set forth in Section 1.1(c) of this Deed of Trust. Grantor represents and warrants to Beneficiary that Grantor is the record owner of the Mortgaged Property, the employer identification number of Grantor is [_____________] and the organizational identification number of Grantor is [____________].

ARTICLE VIII

[CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

SECTION 8.01. Certain Rights. With the approval of Beneficiary, Trustee shall have the right to select, employ and consult with counsel. Trustee shall have the right to rely on any instrument, document or signature authorizing or supporting any action taken or proposed to be taken by it hereunder, believed by it in good faith to be genuine. Trustee shall be entitled to reimbursement for actual, reasonable expenses incurred by it in the performance of its duties and to reasonable compensation for Trustee’s services hereunder as shall be rendered. Grantor shall, from time to time, pay the compensation due to Trustee hereunder and reimburse Trustee for, and indemnify, defend and save Trustee harmless against, all liability and reasonable expenses which may be incurred by it in the performance of its duties, including those arising from joint, concurrent, or comparative negligence of Trustee; provided, however, that Grantor shall not be liable under such indemnification to the extent such liability or expenses result solely from Trustee’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. Grantor’s obligations under this Section 8.01 shall not be reduced or impaired by principles of comparative or contributory negligence.

 

9


SECTION 8.02. Retention of Money. All moneys received by Trustee shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they were received, but need not be segregated in any manner from any other moneys (except to the extent required by law), and Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any moneys received by Trustee hereunder.

SECTION 8.03. Successor Trustees. If Trustee or any successor Trustee shall die, resign or become disqualified from acting in the execution of this trust, or Beneficiary shall desire to appoint a substitute Trustee, Beneficiary shall have full power to appoint one or more substitute Trustees and, if preferred, several substitute Trustees in succession who shall succeed to all the estates, rights, powers and duties of Trustee. Such appointment may be executed by any authorized agent of Beneficiary and as so executed, such appointment shall be conclusively presumed to be executed with authority, valid and sufficient, without further proof of any action.

SECTION 8.04. Perfection of Appointment. Should any deed, conveyance or instrument of any nature be required from Grantor by any successor Trustee to more fully and certainly vest in and confirm to such successor Trustee such estates, rights, powers and duties, then, upon request by such Trustee, all such deeds, conveyances and instruments shall be made, executed, acknowledged and delivered and shall be caused to be recorded and/or filed by Grantor.

SECTION 8.05. Trustee Liability. In no event or circumstance shall Trustee or any substitute Trustee hereunder be personally liable under or as a result of this Deed of Trust, either as a result of any action by Trustee (or any substitute Trustee) in the exercise of the powers hereby granted or otherwise.]1

ARTICLE IX

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 9.01. Notices. Any notice required or permitted to be given under this Deed of Trust shall be given in accordance with Section 9.01 of the Credit Agreement.

SECTION 9.02. Covenants Running with the Land. All Obligations contained in this Deed of Trust are intended by Grantor, Beneficiary and Trustee to be, and shall be construed as, covenants running with the Land. As used herein, “Grantor” shall refer to the party named in the first paragraph of this Deed of Trust and to any subsequent owner of all or any portion of the Mortgaged Property. All Persons who may have or acquire an interest in the Mortgaged Property shall be deemed to have notice of, and be bound by, the terms of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents; provided, however, that no such party shall be entitled to any rights thereunder without the prior written consent of Beneficiary.

SECTION 9.03. Attorney-in-Fact. Grantor hereby irrevocably appoints Beneficiary as its attorney-in-fact, which agency is coupled with an interest and with full power of substitution, with full authority in the place and stead of Grantor and in the name of Grantor or otherwise (a) to execute and/or record any notices of completion, cessation of labor or any other notices that Beneficiary deems appropriate to protect Beneficiary’s interest, if Grantor shall fail to do so within ten (10) days after written request by Beneficiary, (b) upon the issuance of a deed pursuant to the foreclosure of this Deed of Trust or the delivery of a deed in lieu of foreclosure, to execute all instruments of assignment, conveyance or further assurance with respect to the Leases, Rents, Deposit Accounts, Property Agreements, Tax Refunds, Proceeds, Insurance and Condemnation Awards in favor of the grantee of any such deed and as may be necessary or desirable for such purpose, (c) to prepare and file or record financing statements and continuation

 

1 

To be included only if a deed of trust or trust deed.

 

10


statements, and to prepare, execute and file or record applications for registration and like papers necessary to create, perfect or preserve Beneficiary’s security interests and rights in or to any of the Mortgaged Property, and (d) after the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, to perform any obligation of Grantor hereunder; provided, however, that (1) Beneficiary shall not under any circumstances be obligated to perform any obligation of Grantor; (2) any sums advanced by Beneficiary in such performance shall be added to and included in the Indebtedness and shall bear interest at the rate at which interest is then computed on any portion of the Indebtedness; (3) Beneficiary as such attorney-in-fact shall only be accountable for such funds as are actually received by Beneficiary; and (4) Beneficiary shall not be liable to Grantor or any other person or entity for any failure to take any action which it is empowered to take under this Section 9.03.

SECTION 9.04. Successors and Assigns. This Deed of Trust shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of Beneficiary, the other Secured Parties, Trustee and Grantor and their respective successors and assigns. Grantor shall not, without the prior written consent of Beneficiary, assign any rights, duties or obligations hereunder, except as permitted under the Credit Agreement.

SECTION 9.05. No Waiver. Any failure by Beneficiary, the other Secured Parties or Trustee to insist upon strict performance of any of the terms, provisions or conditions of the Loan Documents shall not be deemed to be a waiver of same, and Beneficiary, the other Secured Parties and Trustee shall have the right at any time to insist upon strict performance of all of such terms, provisions and conditions.

SECTION 9.06. Credit Agreement. If any conflict or inconsistency exists between this Deed of Trust and the Credit Agreement, the Credit Agreement shall control and govern to the extent of any such conflict or inconsistency.

SECTION 9.07. Release or Reconveyance. At any time and to the extent that the liens and security interests created by this Deed of Trust are permitted to be released pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement, at Grantor’s request and expense, Beneficiary shall release the liens and security interests created by this Deed of Trust or reconvey the Mortgaged Property to Grantor, in each case, to the extent so permitted. In connection therewith, Beneficiary shall promptly deliver to Grantor such documents as Grantor shall reasonably request to evidence the termination of the lien and security interest created hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if requested by Grantor, Beneficiary shall, at Grantor’s expense, assign the liens and security interests created herein in lieu of terminating or releasing such liens and security interests pursuant to this Section 9.07. Upon the release of any Mortgaged Property pursuant to this Section 9.07, none of the Secured Parties shall have any continuing right or interest in such Mortgaged Property pursuant to this Deed of Trust.

SECTION 9.08. Waiver of Stay, Moratorium and Similar Rights. Grantor agrees, to the full extent that it may lawfully do so, that it will not at any time insist upon or plead or in any way take advantage of any stay, marshalling of assets, extension, redemption or moratorium law now or hereafter in force and effect so as to prevent or hinder the enforcement of the provisions of this Deed of Trust or the Indebtedness or Obligations secured hereby, or any agreement between Grantor and Beneficiary or any rights or remedies of Trustee, Beneficiary or any other Secured Party.

SECTION 9.09. Applicable Law. The provisions of this Deed of Trust regarding the creation, perfection and enforcement of the liens and security interests herein granted shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the state in which the Mortgaged Property is located. All other provisions of this Deed of Trust shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York (including, without limitation, Section 5-1401 of the General Obligations Law of the State of New York).

 

11


SECTION 9.10. Headings. The Article, Section and Subsection titles hereof are inserted for convenience of reference only and shall in no way alter, modify or define, or be used in construing, the text of such Articles, Sections or Subsections.

SECTION 9.11. Severability. If any provision of this Deed of Trust shall be held by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unlawful, void or unenforceable for any reason, such provision shall be deemed severable from and shall in no way affect the enforceability and validity of the remaining provisions of this Deed of Trust.

SECTION 9.12. Entire Agreement. This Deed of Trust and the other Loan Documents embody the entire agreement and understanding between Grantor and Beneficiary relating to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings between such parties relating to the subject matter hereof and thereof. Accordingly, the Loan Documents may not be contradicted by evidence of prior, contemporaneous or subsequent oral agreements of the parties. There are no unwritten oral agreements between the parties.

SECTION 9.13. Beneficiary as Agent; Successor Agents.

(a) Agent has been appointed to act as Agent hereunder by the other Secured Parties. Agent shall have the right hereunder to make demands, to give notices, to exercise or refrain from exercising any rights, and to take or refrain from taking any action (including, without limitation, the release or substitution of the Mortgaged Property) in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement, any related agency agreement among Agent and the other Secured Parties (collectively, as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified or replaced from time to time, the “Agency Documents”) and this Deed of Trust. Grantor and all other Persons shall be entitled to rely on releases, waivers, consents, approvals, notifications and other acts of Agent, without inquiry into the existence of required consents or approvals of the Secured Parties therefor.

(b) Beneficiary shall at all times be the same Person that is Agent under the Agency Documents. Written notice of resignation by Agent pursuant to the Agency Documents shall also constitute notice of resignation as Agent under this Deed of Trust. Removal of Agent pursuant to any provision of the Agency Documents shall also constitute removal as Agent under this Deed of Trust. Appointment of a successor Agent pursuant to the Agency Documents shall also constitute appointment of a successor Agent under this Deed of Trust. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Agent by a successor Agent under the Agency Documents, that successor Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring or removed Agent as the Beneficiary under this Deed of Trust, and the retiring or removed Agent shall promptly (i) assign and transfer to such successor Agent all of its right, title and interest in and to this Deed of Trust and the Mortgaged Property, and (ii) execute and deliver to such successor Agent such assignments and amendments and take such other actions, as may be necessary or appropriate in connection with the assignment to such successor Agent of the liens and security interests created hereunder, whereupon such retiring or removed Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Deed of Trust. After any retiring or removed Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder as Agent, the provisions of this Deed of Trust and the Agency Documents shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it under this Deed of Trust while it was Agent hereunder.

SECTION 9.14. Subrogation. If any or all of the proceeds of the Indebtedness are used to extinguish, extend or renew any indebtedness heretofore existing against the Mortgaged Property, then, to the extent of the funds so used, Beneficiary and the other Secured Parties shall be subrogated to all of the rights, claims, liens, titles, and interests existing against the Mortgaged Property heretofore held by, or in favor of, the holder of such indebtedness and such former rights, claims, liens, titles, and interests, if any, are not waived but rather are continued in full force and effect in favor of Beneficiary and the other Secured Parties and are merged with the lien and security interest created herein as cumulative security for the repayment of the Indebtedness and the performance of the Obligations.

 

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ARTICLE X

LOCAL LAW PROVISIONS

[To Come]

ARTICLE XI

SUBORDINATION

The liens and security interests created by this Deed of Trust shall be, until such time as all Senior Secured Obligations (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) have been satisfied in full, a second priority lien (subject to Permitted Encumbrances and Permitted Liens), subordinate in all respects (including the exercise of remedies with respect to the Mortgaged Property covered hereby) to the prior lien of the applicable Mortgage (as defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement) on and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement.

[The remainder of this page has been intentionally left blank]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Grantor has on the date set forth in the acknowledgement hereto, effective as of the date first above written, caused this instrument to be duly EXECUTED AND DELIVERED by authority duly given.

 

GRANTOR:   HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY, a company organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  By:  

 

    Name:
    Title:

 

S-1


STATE OF                     )
   ) ss.:
COUNTY OF                     )

On this _____ day of _____________, 20___, before me appeared _________________, to me personally known, who being by me duly sworn did say that [he/she] is the _____________ of HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY, a company organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, [and that the seal affixed to the foregoing instrument is the corporate seal of said corporation] and that said instrument was signed and sealed on behalf of said corporation by authority of its Board of Directors, and said ______________ acknowledged said instrument to be the free act and deed of said corporation, [and that said corporation has no corporate seal].

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal at my office in ______________ the day and year last above written.

[Notary Seal]

 

                                                                   

Notary Public in and for said State:
Print Name:                                                
Commissioned in                           County

 

My Commission Expires:
 

 

 

 

N-1


EXHIBIT A TO FORM OF MORTGAGE

LEGAL DESCRIPTION

Legal Description of premises located at [_______________________________]:

[See Attached Page(s) For Legal Description]

 

Exh. A-1


EXHIBIT B TO FORM OF MORTGAGE

PERMITTED ENCUMBRANCES

Those exceptions set forth in Schedule B of that certain policy of title insurance issued to Beneficiary by [___________________] on or about the date hereof pursuant to commitment number [________].

 

2


Exhibit G

Form of Incremental Facility Joinder Agreement

This [First] Incremental Facility Joinder Agreement, dated _______, 20__ (this “Incremental Joinder”) made by HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT COMPANY, a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (“Holdings”), HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHERS INC., a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware (“HMHP”), HMH PUBLISHERS LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (“Publishers”), HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY, a corporation organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (“HMCo”, and together with HMHP and Publishers, collectively, the “Borrowers”), the LENDERS identified on the signature pages hereto (the “New [Revolving Loan][Term Loan] Lenders”), and CITIBANK, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”), is entered into pursuant to Section 2.24 of that certain Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among Holdings, the Borrowers, the lenders party thereto from time to time, the entities listed as subsidiary guarantors thereto, the Administrative Agent and CITIBANK, N.A., as collateral agent (in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”). Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement.

(a) [Each party hereto listed on the signature page as a “New Term Loan Lender” shall be a New Term Loan Lender, Term Lender and Lender for the purposes of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents and hereby agrees to establish the New Term Loan Commitment set forth on its signature page hereto pursuant to and in accordance with Section 2.24(a) of the Credit Agreement.] [Each party hereto listed on the signature page as a “New Revolving Loan Lender” shall be a New Revolving Loan Lender and Lender for the purposes of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents and hereby agrees to establish the New Revolving Loan Commitment set forth on its signature page hereto pursuant to and in accordance with Section 2.24(a) of the Credit Agreement.]

(b) The [New Term Loan Lenders] / [New Revolving Loan Lenders], the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent acknowledge and agree that the [New Term Loan Commitments and New Term Loans] / [New Revolving Loan Commitments and New Revolving Loans] provided pursuant to this Incremental Joinder shall constitute [Term Loan Commitments and Term Loans] / [Commitments and Loans] for all purposes of the Credit Agreement and the other applicable Loan Documents. The [New Term Loan Lenders] / [New Revolving Loan Lenders] party to this Incremental Joinder shall be subject to all of the terms in the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and shall be entitled to all the benefits afforded by the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and shall, without limiting the foregoing, benefit equally and ratably from the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and the security interests created by the Security Documents.


(c) Each [New Term Loan Lender] / [New Revolving Loan Lender] (i) confirms that it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with any other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Incremental Joinder and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement; (ii) agrees that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Credit Agreement; (iii) appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to take such action as agents on its behalf and to exercise such powers and discretion under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents as are delegated to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral 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 that by the terms of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

(d) Conditions Precedent. The obligations of the [New Term Loan Lenders] / [New Revolving Loan Lenders] to make [New Term Loans] / [New Revolving Loans] are subject to the satisfaction (or waiver in accordance with Section 9.08 of the Credit Agreement) of the following conditions (collectively, the “Conditions Precedent”): (i) the execution of a counterpart of this Incremental Joinder by each of the parties hereto; (ii) the delivery to the Administrative Agent of a fully executed counterpart (including by way of facsimile or other electronic transmission) hereof pursuant to which the Administrative Agent shall record such new commitments in the Register subject to the requirements set forth in Section 2.24 of the Credit Agreement; (iii) [each Borrower certifies that the representations and warranties set forth in Article III of the Credit Agreement and in each other Loan Document shall be true and correct (or true and correct in all material respects, in the case of any such representation or warranty that is not qualified as to materiality) on and as of the date hereof (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct (or true and correct in all material respects, in the case of any such representation or warranty that is not qualified as to materiality) as of such earlier date);]1 (iv) [no Event of Default shall exist on the date hereof before or after giving effect to the [New Term Loan Commitments] / [New Revolving Loan Commitments] established hereunder and the Loans to be made thereunder on the date hereof and the application of the proceeds therefrom;]2 (v) the Borrowers shall make any payments required pursuant to Section 2.16 of the Credit Agreement; (vi) the Borrowers have provided the Administrative Agent at least five Business Days’ notice in advance of the effectiveness of the [New Term Loan Commitments] / [New Revolving Loan Commitments]3 and (vii) the Borrowers has delivered or has caused to be delivered any other documents reasonably requested by Administrative Agent in connection with any such transaction.

 

1 

To be updated in the case of a provision of any New Loan used to consummate a Permitted Acquisition or an Acquisition that is a Limited Condition Transaction.

2 

Condition to be omitted / amended in the case of a provision of any New Loan in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or an Acquisition that is a Limited Condition Transaction.


Upon the satisfaction of the Conditions Precedent, each undersigned [New Term Loan Lender] / [New Revolving Loan Lender] shall have the [New Term Loan Commitment] / [New Revolving Loan Commitment] set forth on its signature page hereto, and such commitments shall be effective as of the date set forth in the notice provided pursuant to clause (g) below.

(e) Representations and Warranties. Each Borrower hereby represents and warrants that:

(i) immediately after giving effect to the [New Term Loan Commitments] / [New Revolving Loan Commitments] referenced herein, the aggregate amount of New Commitments incurred pursuant to Section 2.24 on and prior to the date hereof, (i) does not exceed the Incremental Amount and (ii) are individually not less than $20,000,000 (or any lesser amount that is approved by the Administrative Agent) and integral multiples of $5,000,000 in excess of that amount, or equal to the remaining Incremental Amount (or any lesser amount that is approved by the Administrative Agent);

(ii) [the representations and warranties set forth in Article III of the Credit Agreement and in each other Loan Document are true and correct (or true and correct in all material respects, in the case of any such representation or warranty that is not qualified as to materiality) on and as of the date hereof (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties are true and correct (or true and correct in all material respects, in the case of any such representation or warranty that is not qualified as to materiality) as of such earlier date);]4

(iii) [as of the date hereof, no Event of Default exists both before and after giving effect to the [New Term Loan Commitments] / [New Revolving Loan Commitments] established hereunder and the Loans to be made thereunder on the date hereof (including the application of proceeds therefrom);]5 and

(iv) the Administrative Agent has consented to the [New Term Loan Lenders] / [New Revolving Lenders] party hereto in accordance with Section 2.24(a) of the Credit Agreement.

 

3 

Administrative Agent to notify other Lenders of the New Loan Date in accordance with Section 2.24(a) of the Credit Agreement.

4 

To be updated in the case of a provision of any New Loan used to consummate a Permitted Acquisition or an Acquisition that is a Limited Condition Transaction.

5 

Representation to be omitted / amended in the case of a provision of any New Loan in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or an Acquisition that is a Limited Condition Transaction.


(f) Certain Terms.

(i) Interest Rate. [The interest rate for the [New Term Loans] shall be: [equal to the interest rate applicable to the Term Loans under the Credit Agreement (as modified from time to time in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement)] OR [_____%]6;] / [The interest rate for the New Revolving Loans shall be [_____%];] and

(ii) Maturity Date. [The Term Loan Maturity Date applicable to the New Term Loans established hereunder shall be: [the same as the Term Loan Maturity Date applicable to the Term Loans under the Credit Agreement (as modified from time to time in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement)] OR [_________, 20__].7 [The maturity date applicable to the New Revolving Loans established hereunder shall be [_________, 20__].8

(g) After the execution and delivery to the Administrative Agent of a fully executed copy of this Incremental Joinder (including by way of facsimile or other electronic transmission) by the parties hereto, this Incremental Joinder may only be changed, modified or varied by written instrument in accordance with the requirements for the modification of Loan Documents pursuant to Section 9.08(b) of the Credit Agreement.

(h) This Incremental Joinder shall be deemed a Loan Document under the Credit Agreement.

(i) This Incremental Joinder may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract, and shall become effective as provided in Section 9.03 of the Credit Agreement. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Incremental Joinder by facsimile transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Incremental Joinder.

(j) THIS INCREMENTAL JOINDER SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

6 

If the interest rate in respect of any New Term Loans exceeds the Yield with respect to the Term Loans and/or the previously incurred New Term Loans by more than 50 basis points, the interest rate with respect to the Term Loans and previously incurred New Term Loan shall be automatically increased on the New Loan Date with respect to such New Term Loan so that the Yield for the Term Loan and/or the previously incurred New Term Loan is equal to the Yield with respect to such New Term Loan minus 50 basis points; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to any New Term Loan with a final maturity date that occurs 24 months after the Term Loan Maturity Date or later or any New Term Loan that ranks junior in right of security to the Term Loan Facility.

7 

The final maturity date of any New Term Loan shall be no earlier than the Term Loan Maturity Date.

8 

The final maturity date of any New Revolving Loan shall be no earlier than the loans provided under the Revolving Credit Agreement.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Incremental Joinder to be duly executed on the date first above written.

 

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT COMPANY

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHERS INC.

HMH PUBLISHERS LLC
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY

By:    
Name:  
Title:  

Signature Page to Incremental Facility Joinder Agreement


[________], as a New Term Loan Lender
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

 

[________], as a New Revolving Lender
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

Signature Page to Incremental Facility Joinder Agreement


CITIBANK, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent
By:    
Name:  
Title:  

Signature Page to Incremental Facility Joinder Agreement


Exhibit H-1

Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

(For Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is made to the Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers, Inc., HMH Publishers LLC, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company (collectively, the “Borrowers”), the financial institutions from time to time parties thereto (the “Lenders”), the entities listed as subsidiary guarantors thereto, and Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”) for the Lenders and Citibank, N.A. as Collateral Agent for the Lenders.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.20 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the Loans in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a ten percent shareholder of any of the Borrowers within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to any of the Borrowers as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN-E. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF LENDER]
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

Date: ________ __, 20[ ]


Exhibit H-2

Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

(For Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is made to the Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers, Inc., HMH Publishers LLC, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company (collectively, the “Borrowers”), the financial institutions from time to time parties thereto (the “Lenders”), the entities listed as subsidiary guarantors thereto, and Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”) for the Lenders and Citibank, N.A. as Collateral Agent for the Lenders.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.20 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the participation in the Loans in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a ten percent shareholder of any of the Borrowers within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code, and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to any of the Borrowers as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

The undersigned has furnished its participating Lenders with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lenders in writing, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lenders with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

Date: ________ __, 20[ ]


Exhibit H-3

Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

(For Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is made to the Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers, Inc., HMH Publishers LLC, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company (collectively, the “Borrowers”), the financial institutions from time to time parties thereto (the “Lenders”), the entities listed as subsidiary guarantors thereto, and Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”) for the Lenders and Citibank, N.A. as Collateral Agent for the Lenders.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.20 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the participation in the Loans in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such participation, (iii) with respect such participation, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of any of the Borrowers within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to any of the Borrowers as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

The undersigned has furnished its participating Lenders with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN, (ii) an IRS Form W-8BEN-E, or (iii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lenders and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lenders with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]
By:    
  Name:
 

Title:

Date: ________ __, 20[ ]


Exhibit H-4

Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

(For Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is made to the Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers, Inc., HMH Publishers LLC, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company (collectively, the “Borrowers”), the financial institutions from time to time parties thereto (the “Lenders”), the entities listed as subsidiary guarantors thereto, and Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”) for the Lenders and Citibank, N.A. as Collateral Agent for the Lenders.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.20 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the Loans in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such Loans, (iii) with respect to the extension of credit pursuant to this Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of any of the Borrowers within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to any of the Borrowers as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN, (ii) an IRS Form W-8BEN-E, or (iii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF LENDER]
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

Date: ________ __, 20[ ]


Exhibit I

FORM OF

SOLVENCY CERTIFICATE

[DATE]

This Solvency Certificate is delivered pursuant to clause (e) of Article IV of the Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019, among Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers Inc., HMH Publishers LLC, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, the entities listed on the signature pages thereto as subsidiary guarantors, the Lenders party thereto, Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent for the Lenders, and Citibank, N.A. as Collateral Agent for the Lenders. (the “Credit Agreement”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

The undersigned hereby certifies, solely in his capacity as an officer of Holdings and not in his individual capacity, as follows:

1. I am the [Chief Financial Officer] of Holdings. I am familiar with the Transactions, and have reviewed the Credit Agreement, the most recent financial statements of Holdings and its subsidiaries and such documents and made such investigation as I have deemed relevant for the purposes of this Solvency Certificate.

2. As of the date hereof, immediately after giving effect to the consummation of the Transactions, on and as of such date (i) the fair value of the assets of Holdings and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, at a fair valuation, will exceed the debts and liabilities, direct, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, of Holdings and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis; (ii) the present fair saleable value of the property of Holdings and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis will be greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of Holdings and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis on their debts and other liabilities, direct, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured; (iii) Holdings and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis will be able to pay their debts and liabilities, direct, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured; and (iv) Holdings and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis will not have unreasonably small capital with which to conduct the businesses in which they are engaged as such businesses are now conducted and are proposed to be conducted following the Closing Date.

3. As of the date hereof, immediately after giving effect to the consummation of the Transactions, Holdings does not intend to, and Holdings does not believe that it or any of its subsidiaries will, incur debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature, taking into account the timing and amounts of cash to be received by it or any such subsidiary and the timing and amounts of cash to be payable on or in respect of its debts or the debts of any such subsidiary.


This Solvency Certificate is being delivered by the undersigned officer only in his capacity as [Chief Financial Officer] of Holdings and not individually and the undersigned shall have no personal liability to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders with respect thereto.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Solvency Certificate on the date first written above.

 

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT COMPANY
By:    
  Name:
  Title: [Chief Financial Officer]


Exhibit J

[Form of Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement]

(Refer to the following page)


Execution Version

 

 

PARI PASSU INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT

among

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT COMPANY,

as Holdings

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHERS INC.,

HMH PUBLISHERS LLC, and

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY,

as Borrowers

AND

THE OTHER SUBSIDIARIES OF HOLDINGS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO

CITIBANK, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent for the Credit Agreement Secured Parties,

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as the Notes Trustee,

CITIBANK, N.A.,

as Notes Collateral Agent and the Initial Additional Collateral Agent

and

each additional Authorized Representative from time to time party hereto

dated as of November 22, 2019

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

 

 

Section 1.01

   Certain Defined Terms      1  

Section 1.02

   Terms Generally      10  

Section 1.03

   Impairments      10  

ARTICLE II

PRIORITIES AND AGREEMENTS WITH RESPECT TO SHARED COLLATERAL

 

 

Section 2.01

   Priority of Claims      11  

Section 2.02

   Actions with Respect to Shared Collateral; Prohibition on Contesting Liens      12  

Section 2.03

   No Interference; Payment Over      14  

Section 2.04

   Automatic Release of Liens      15  

Section 2.05

   Certain Agreements with Respect to Bankruptcy or Insolvency Proceedings      15  

Section 2.06

   Reinstatement      16  

Section 2.07

   Insurance      16  

Section 2.08

   Refinancings      16  

Section 2.09

   Possessory Collateral Agent as Gratuitous Bailee for Perfection      17  

Section 2.10

   Amendments to Security Documents      17  

Section 2.11

   ABL Intercreditor Agreement      18  

ARTICLE III

EXISTENCE AND AMOUNTS OF LIENS AND OBLIGATIONS

 

 

Section 3.01

   Determinations with Respect to Amounts of Liens and Obligations      18  

ARTICLE IV

THE APPLICABLE COLLATERAL AGENT

 

 

Section 4.01

   Authority      18  

Section 4.02

   Rights as a Secured Party      19  

Section 4.03

   Exculpatory Provisions      20  

Section 4.04

   Collateral and Guaranty Matters      22  

Section 4.05

   Delegation of Duties      22  

Section 4.06

   Instruction Required      23  

Section 4.07

   Reliance      23  

Section 4.08

   Non-Reliance on Collateral Agents      23  

Section 4.09

   Rights of Collateral Agents      24  

 

i


ARTICLE V

MISCELLANEOUS

 

 

Section 5.01

   Notices      24  

Section 5.02

   Waivers; Amendment; Joinder Agreements      25  

Section 5.03

   Parties in Interest      25  

Section 5.04

   Survival of Agreement      25  

Section 5.05

   Counterparts      26  

Section 5.06

   Severability      26  

Section 5.07

   GOVERNING LAW      26  

Section 5.08

   Submission to Jurisdiction Waivers; Consent to Service of Process      26  

Section 5.09

   WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL      27  

Section 5.10

   Headings      27  

Section 5.11

   Conflicts      27  

Section 5.12

   Provisions Solely to Define Relative Rights      28  

Section 5.13

   Additional Senior Debt      28  

Section 5.14

   Agent Capacities      29  

Section 5.15

   Integration      30  

Section 5.16

   Conversion of Currencies      30  

Section 5.17

   Further Assurances      30  

Section 5.18

   Notes Trustee Not Fiduciary for other Secured Parties      31  

 

ii


Execution Version

This PARI PASSU INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT, dated as of November 22, 2019 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Agreement”), among Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company (the “Company” or “Holdings”), Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers Inc. (“HMHP”), HMH Publishers LLC (“Publishers”), Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company (“HMCo” and, together with HMHP and Publishers, the “Borrowers”), the other Grantors from time to time party hereto, Citibank, N.A., as collateral agent for the Credit Agreement Secured Parties (as defined below) (in such capacity and together with its successors in such capacity, the “Credit Agreement Collateral Agent”), Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent and Authorized Representative for the Credit Agreement Secured Parties (as each such term is defined below), Citibank, N.A., in its capacity as “Notes Collateral Agent” under (and as defined in) the Notes Indenture (as defined below) (in such capacity and together with its successors in such capacity, the “Notes Collateral Agent”) and solely in its capacity as Notes Collateral Agent (the “Initial Additional Collateral Agent”), U.S. Bank National Association, solely in its capacity as “Trustee” under (and as defined in) the Notes Indenture, as Authorized Representative for the Notes Secured Parties (in such capacity and together with its successors in such capacity, the “Notes Trustee”), and each additional Authorized Representative from time to time party hereto for the other Additional Secured Parties of the Series (as defined below) with respect to which it is acting in such capacity.

In consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Credit Agreement Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent (for itself and on behalf of the Credit Agreement Secured Parties), the Notes Trustee (for itself and on behalf of the Notes Secured Parties), the Notes Collateral Agent and each additional Authorized Representative (for itself and on behalf of the Additional Secured Parties of the applicable Series) agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.01 Certain Defined Terms. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement or, if defined in the New York UCC, the meanings specified therein. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

ABL Intercreditor Agreement” means the Second Amended and Restated Term Loan/Senior Notes/Revolving Facility Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent, the Notes Collateral Agent, Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent under the ABL Credit Agreement, and the representatives for purposes thereof for holders of one or more other classes of Indebtedness, the Borrowers and the other parties thereto, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Additional Collateral Agent” means, the Initial Additional Collateral Agent for so long as the Notes constitute the largest outstanding principal amount of any then outstanding Series of Additional Obligations, then, at any time, the Collateral Agent for the Series of Additional Obligations that constitutes the largest outstanding principal amount of any then outstanding Series of Additional Obligations.


Additional Documents” means, with respect to the Notes Obligations or any Series of Additional Senior Class Debt, the notes, indentures, security documents and other operative agreements evidencing or governing such indebtedness and liens securing such indebtedness, including the Notes Documents and the Additional Security Documents and each other agreement entered into for the purpose of securing the Notes Obligations or any Series of Additional Senior Class Debt; provided that, in each case, the Indebtedness thereunder (other than the Notes Obligations) has been designated as Additional Obligations pursuant to Section 5.13 hereto.

Additional Obligations” means all amounts owing to any Additional Secured Party (including the Notes Secured Parties) pursuant to the terms of any Additional Document (including the Notes Documents), including, without limitation, all amounts in respect of any principal, premium, interest (including any interest and fees accruing subsequent to the commencement of a Bankruptcy Case at the rate provided for in the respective Additional Document, whether or not such interest and fees are an allowed claim under any such proceeding or under applicable state, federal or foreign law), penalties, fees, expenses, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages, letter of credit commissions, and other liabilities, and Guarantees of the foregoing amounts. For the avoidance of doubt, Additional Obligations shall include the Notes Obligations.

Additional Secured Party” means the holders of any Additional Obligations and any Authorized Representative with respect thereto, and shall include the Notes Secured Parties.

Additional Security Documents” means any collateral agreement, security agreement or any other document now existing or entered into after the date hereof that create Liens on any assets or properties of any Grantor to secure the Additional Obligations.

Additional Senior Class Debt” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.13.

Additional Senior Class Debt Parties” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.13.

Additional Senior Class Debt Representative” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.13.

Administrative Agent” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Credit Agreement.”

Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

Agreement Currency” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.16.

 

2


Applicable Authorized Representative” means, with respect to any Shared Collateral, (i) until the earliest of (x) the Discharge of Credit Agreement Obligations, (y) the Credit Agreement Reduction Date and (z) the Non-Controlling Authorized Representative Enforcement Date, the Administrative Agent and (ii) from and after the earliest of (x) the Discharge of Credit Agreement Obligations, (y) the Credit Agreement Reduction Date and (z) the Non-Controlling Authorized Representative Enforcement Date, the Major Non-Controlling Authorized Representative.

Applicable Collateral Agent” means (i) until the earliest of (x) the Discharge of Credit Agreement Obligations, (y) the Credit Agreement Reduction Date and (z) the Non-Controlling Authorized Representative Enforcement Date, the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent and (ii) from and after the earliest of (x) the Discharge of Credit Agreement Obligations, (y) the Credit Agreement Reduction Date and (z) the Non-Controlling Authorized Representative Enforcement Date, the Additional Collateral Agent.

Applicable Creditor” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.16.

Authorized Representative” means, at any time, (i) in the case of any Credit Agreement Obligations or the Credit Agreement Secured Parties, the Administrative Agent, (ii) in the case of the Notes Obligations or the Notes Secured Parties, the Notes Trustee, and (iii) in the case of any other Series of Additional Obligations or Additional Secured Parties that become subject to this Agreement after the date hereof, the Authorized Representative named for such Series in the applicable Joinder Agreement.

Bankruptcy Case” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05(b).

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

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

Borrowers” has the meaning assigned to such term in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

Collateral” means all assets and properties subject to Liens created pursuant to any Security Document to secure one or more Series of Obligations.

Collateral Agent” means (i) in the case of any Credit Agreement Obligations, the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent, (ii) in the case of the Notes Obligations, the Notes Collateral Agent and (iii) in the case of the Additional Obligations, the Additional Collateral Agent.

Controlling Secured Parties” means, with respect to any Shared Collateral, (i) at any time when the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent is the Applicable Collateral Agent, the Credit Agreement Secured Parties and (ii) at any other time, the Series of Secured Parties whose Authorized Representative is the Applicable Authorized Representative for such Shared Collateral.

 

3


Credit Agreement” means that certain Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of November 22, 2019, among Holdings, the Borrowers, the subsidiary guarantors named therein, the lenders from time to time party thereto, Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity and together with its successors in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”), and the other parties thereto, as amended, restated, amended and restated, extended, refinanced, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Credit Agreement Collateral Agent” has the meaning assigned to such term in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

Credit Agreement Collateral Documents” means the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, the other Security Documents (as defined in the Credit Agreement) and each other agreement entered into in favor of the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent for the purpose of securing any Credit Agreement Obligations.

Credit Agreement Obligations” means all “Obligations” as defined in the Credit Agreement.

Credit Agreement Reduction Date” means any date on which (1) the aggregate principal amount of the loans outstanding under the Credit Agreement plus the aggregate principal amount of any unused commitments under the Credit Agreement is less than $50 million and (2) the principal amount of any Series of Additional Obligations is greater than the amount described in clause (1) as of such date.

Credit Agreement Secured Parties” means the “Secured Parties” as defined in the Credit Agreement.

Credit Agreement Security Agreement” means the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement (as defined in the Credit Agreement), as amended, restated, amended and restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

DIP Financing” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05(b).

DIP Financing Liens” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05(b).

DIP Lenders” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05(b).

Discharge” means, with respect to any Shared Collateral and any Series of Obligations, the date on which such Series of Obligations is no longer secured by such Shared Collateral. The term “Discharged” shall have a corresponding meaning.

Discharge of Credit Agreement Obligations” means, the occurrence of all of the following:

(a) termination or expiration of all commitments to extend credit that would constitute Credit Agreement Obligations;

 

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(b) payment in full in cash of the principal of and interest and premium (if any) on all such Credit Agreement Obligations (other than any undrawn letters of credit or Other Secured Obligations);

(c) termination, expiration, cash collateralization or other credit support including by backstopping with other letters of credit (at the lower of (i) 105% of the aggregate undrawn amount, and (ii) the percentage of the aggregate undrawn amount required for release of liens under the terms of the applicable Loan Documents), or other arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the relevant issuing bank having been made, in each case with respect to all outstanding letters of credit constituting Credit Agreement Obligations;

(d) termination or expiration of all Other Secured Obligations, the Obligations under which would constitute Credit Agreement Obligations or arrangements with respect thereto reasonably satisfactory to the applicable Other Secured Parties (as defined in the Term Facility Credit Agreement or the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement, as applicable) having been made; and

(e) payment in full in cash of all other such Credit Agreement Obligations that are outstanding and unpaid at the time the other events described in clauses (a) through (d) above occur (other than any letters of credit or Other Secured Obligations described in clauses (c) and (d) above, or contingent indemnification obligations which are not then due and payable; provided that in the case of any such contingent indemnification obligations as to which the applicable Authorized Representative or any applicable Secured Party has made a claim which has not been satisfied, such obligations have been cash collateralized in an amount sufficient in the reasonable judgment of such Authorized Representative or Secured Party to satisfy such claim); provided that the Discharge of Credit Agreement Obligations shall not be deemed to have occurred in connection with a Refinancing of such Credit Agreement Obligations with additional Obligations secured by Shared Collateral under an Additional Document which has been designated in writing by the Administrative Agent (under the Credit Agreement so Refinanced) or by the Borrowers, in each case, to the Additional Collateral Agent and each other Authorized Representative as the “Credit Agreement” for purposes of this Agreement.

Event of Default” means an “Event of Default” (or similarly defined term) as defined in any Secured Credit Document.

Grantors” means Holdings and each Subsidiary Guarantor which has granted, pledged or charged a security interest pursuant to any Security Document to secure any Series of Obligations. The Grantors existing on the date hereof are set forth in Annex I hereto.

HMCo” has the meaning assigned to such term in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

HMHP” has the meaning assigned to such term in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

 

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Holdings” has the meaning assigned to such term in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

Impairment” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.03.

Initial Additional Collateral Agent” has the meaning assigned to such term in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding” means:

 

  (1)

any case commenced by or against Holdings or any other Grantor under any Bankruptcy Law, any other proceeding for the reorganization, recapitalization or adjustment or marshalling of the assets or liabilities of Holdings or any other Grantor, any receivership or assignment for the benefit of creditors relating to Holdings or any other Grantor or any similar case or proceeding relative to Holdings or any other Grantor or its creditors, as such, in each case whether or not voluntary;

 

  (2)

any liquidation, dissolution, marshalling of assets or liabilities or other winding up of or relating to Holdings or any other Grantor, in each case whether or not voluntary and whether or not involving bankruptcy or insolvency;

 

  (3)

any proceeding seeking the appointment of any trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other insolvency official with similar powers with respect to Holdings or any other Grantor or any of its assets, in each case to the extent not permitted under the Loan Documents and the Notes Documents; or

 

  (4)

any other proceeding of any type or nature in which substantially all claims of creditors of Holdings or any other Grantor are determined and any payment or distribution is or may be made on account of such claims.

Intervening Creditor” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.01(a).

Joinder Agreement” means a joinder to this Agreement in the form of Annex II hereto required to be delivered by an Authorized Representative to each Collateral Agent and each Authorized Representative pursuant to Section 5.13 hereof in order to establish an additional Series of Additional Obligations, designate the applicable Authorized Representative with respect thereto, and add Additional Secured Parties hereunder.

Judgment Currency” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.16.

Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any agreement to give a security interest therein and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes of any jurisdiction).

 

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Loan Documents” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Credit Agreement.

Major Non-Controlling Authorized Representative” means, with respect to any Shared Collateral, the Authorized Representative of the Series of Additional Obligations that constitutes the largest outstanding principal amount of any then outstanding Series of Obligations with respect to such Shared Collateral. For the avoidance of doubt, if at any time the Notes constitute the largest outstanding principal amount of any then outstanding Series of Additional Obligations, the Major Non-Controlling Authorized Representative shall be the Notes Trustee.

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

Non-Controlling Authorized Representative” means, at any time with respect to any Shared Collateral, any Authorized Representative that is not the Applicable Authorized Representative at such time with respect to such Shared Collateral.

Non-Controlling Authorized Representative Enforcement Date” means, with respect to any Non-Controlling Authorized Representative, the date which is 180 days (throughout which 180-day period such Non-Controlling Authorized Representative was the Major Non-Controlling Authorized Representative) after the occurrence of both (i) an Event of Default (under and as defined in the Additional Document under which such Non-Controlling Authorized Representative is the Authorized Representative) and (ii) each Collateral Agent’s and each other Authorized Representative’s receipt of written notice from such Non-Controlling Authorized Representative certifying that (x) such Non-Controlling Authorized Representative is the Major Non-Controlling Authorized Representative and that an Event of Default (under and as defined in the Additional Document under which such Non-Controlling Authorized Representative is the Authorized Representative) has occurred and is continuing and (y) the Additional Obligations of the Series with respect to which such Non-Controlling Authorized Representative is the Authorized Representative are currently due and payable in full (whether as a result of acceleration thereof or otherwise) in accordance with the terms of the applicable Additional Document; provided that, such Event of Default (under and as defined in the Additional Document under which such Non-Controlling Authorized Representative is the Authorized Representative) shall be continuing at the end of such 180-day period; provided, further that the Non-Controlling Authorized Representative Enforcement Date shall be stayed and shall not occur and shall be deemed not to have occurred with respect to any Shared Collateral (1) at any time the Administrative Agent or the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent has commenced and is diligently pursuing any enforcement action with respect to such Shared Collateral (other than Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral with respect to which the Administrative Agent or Credit Agreement Collateral Agent is prohibited by the terms of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement from taking such enforcement action against) or (2) at any time the Grantor which has granted a security interest in such Shared Collateral is then a debtor under or with respect to (or otherwise subject to) any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

 

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Non-Controlling Secured Parties” means, with respect to any Shared Collateral, the Secured Parties which are not Controlling Secured Parties with respect to such Shared Collateral.

Notes Collateral Agent” has the meaning assigned to such term in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

Notes Documents” means the Notes Indenture, the debt securities issued pursuant thereto, the Notes Security Agreement, the Notes Security Documents and any security documents and other operative agreements evidencing or governing the Indebtedness thereunder, and the Liens securing such Indebtedness, including any agreement entered into for the purpose of securing the Notes Obligations.

Notes Indenture” means the indenture dated November 22, 2019 as amended, restated, adjusted, waived, renewed, extended, refinanced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time (including without limitation to add new series of notes thereunder or increase the amount of notes thereunder).

Notes Obligations” means the “Secured Obligations” as such term is defined in the Notes Security Agreement.

Notes Secured Parties” means the Additional Collateral Agent, the Notes Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent and the holders of the Notes Obligations issued pursuant to the Notes Indenture.

Notes Security Agreement” means the Notes Security Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among Holdings, the other Grantors, the Notes Collateral Agent and the other parties thereto, as amended, restated, amended and restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Notes Security Documents” means the Notes Security Agreement and each other agreement entered into in favor of the Notes Collateral Agent for the purpose of securing any Notes Obligations.

Notes Trustee” has the meaning assigned to such term in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

Obligations” means, collectively, (i) the Credit Agreement Obligations and (ii) each Series of Additional Obligations.

Possessory Collateral” means any Shared Collateral in the possession of a Collateral Agent (or its agents or bailees), to the extent that possession thereof perfects a Lien thereon under the Uniform Commercial Code of any jurisdiction. Possessory Collateral includes, without limitation, any Certificated Securities, Promissory Notes, Instruments and Chattel Paper, in each case, delivered to or in the possession of the Collateral Agent under the terms of the Security Documents.

 

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Post-Petition Interest” means any interest or entitlement to fees or expenses or other charges that accrue after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding whether or not allowed or allowable as a claim in any such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

Proceeds” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.01(a).

Publishers” has the meaning assigned to such term in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

Refinance” means, in respect of any indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary, any indebtedness (other than any Indebtedness incurred under the Credit Agreement or Notes) of a Restricted Subsidiary, issued in exchange for, or the net cash proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund such indebtedness. “Refinanced” and “Refinancing” have correlative meanings.

Responsible Officer” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Credit Agreement.

Revolving Facility Agent” has the meaning assigned to such term in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement.

Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral” has the meaning set forth in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement.

Revolving Facility Secured Parties” has the meaning set forth in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement.

Secured Credit Document” means (i) the Credit Agreement and each Loan Document, (ii) each Notes Document, and (iii) each Additional Document.

Secured Parties” means (i) the Credit Agreement Secured Parties, (ii) the Notes Secured Parties and (iii) the Additional Secured Parties with respect to each Series of Additional Obligations.

Security Documents” means, collectively, (i) the Credit Agreement Collateral Documents, (ii) the Notes Security Documents and (iii) the Additional Security Documents.

Series” means (a) with respect to the Secured Parties, each of (i) the Credit Agreement Secured Parties (in their capacities as such), (ii) the Notes Secured Parties (in their capacities as such), and (iii) the Additional Secured Parties that become subject to this Agreement after the date hereof that are represented by a common Authorized Representative (in its capacity as such for such Additional Secured Parties) and (b) with respect to any Obligations, each of (i) the Credit Agreement Obligations, (ii) the Notes Obligations, and (iii) the Additional Obligations incurred pursuant to any Additional Document, which pursuant to any Joinder Agreement are to be represented hereunder by a common Authorized Representative (in its capacity as such for such Additional Obligations).

 

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Shared Collateral” means, at any time, Collateral in which the holders of two or more Series of Obligations hold a valid and perfected security interest at such time. If more than two Series of Obligations are outstanding at any time and the holders of less than all Series of Obligations hold a valid and perfected security interest in any Collateral at such time, then such Collateral shall constitute Shared Collateral for those Series of Obligations that hold a valid security interest in such Collateral at such time and shall not constitute Shared Collateral for any Series which does not have a valid and perfected security interest in such Collateral at such time.

Section 1.02 Terms Generally. The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.” The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.” Unless the context requires otherwise, (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument, other document, statute or regulation herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument, other document, statute or regulation as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, but shall not be deemed to include the subsidiaries of such Person unless express reference is made to such subsidiaries, (iii) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (iv) all references herein to Articles, Sections and Annexes shall be construed to refer to Articles, Sections and Annexes of this Agreement, (v) unless otherwise expressly qualified herein, the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights, and (vi) the term “or” is not exclusive.

Section 1.03 Impairments. It is the intention of the Secured Parties of each Series that the holders of Obligations of such Series (and not the Secured Parties of any other Series) bear the risk of (i) any determination by a court of competent jurisdiction that (x) any of the Obligations of such Series are unenforceable under applicable law or are subordinated to any other obligations (other than another Series of Obligations), (y) any of the Obligations of such Series do not have an enforceable security interest in any of the Collateral securing any other Series of Obligations and/or (z) any intervening security interest exists securing any other obligations (other than another Series of Obligations) on a basis ranking prior to the security interest of such Series of Obligations but junior to the security interest of any other Series of Obligations or (ii) the existence of any Collateral for any other Series of Obligations that is not Shared Collateral (any such condition referred to in the foregoing clause (i) or (ii) with respect to any Series of Obligations, an “Impairment” of such Series); provided that the existence of a maximum claim with respect to any Mortgaged Property (as defined in the Credit Agreement) which applies to all Obligations shall not be deemed to be an Impairment of any Series of Obligations. In the event of any Impairment

 

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with respect to any Series of Obligations, the results of such Impairment shall be borne solely by the holders of such Series of Obligations, and the rights of the holders of such Series of Obligations (including, without limitation, the right to receive distributions in respect of such Series of Obligations pursuant to Section 2.01) set forth herein shall be modified to the extent necessary so that the effects of such Impairment are borne solely by the holders of the Series of such Obligations subject to such Impairment. Additionally, in the event the Obligations of any Series are modified pursuant to applicable law (including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 1129 of the Bankruptcy Code), any reference to such Obligations or the Security Documents governing such Obligations shall refer to such obligations or such documents as so modified.

ARTICLE II

PRIORITIES AND AGREEMENTS WITH RESPECT TO SHARED COLLATERAL

Section 2.01 Priority of Claims.

(a) Anything contained herein or in any of the Secured Credit Documents to the contrary notwithstanding (but subject to Section 1.03), if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and the Applicable Collateral Agent or any Secured Party is taking action to enforce rights or remedies in respect of any Shared Collateral, or any distribution is made in respect of any Shared Collateral in any Bankruptcy Case of Holdings or any other Grantor or any Secured Party receives any payment pursuant to the ABL Intercreditor Agreement or any other intercreditor agreement (other than this Agreement) with respect to any Shared Collateral, the proceeds of any sale, collection or other liquidation of any such Shared Collateral by any Secured Party on account of such enforcement rights or remedies or received by the Applicable Collateral Agent or any Secured Party pursuant to such ABL Intercreditor Agreement or any other such intercreditor agreement with respect to such Shared Collateral and proceeds of any such distribution or payment (subject, in the case of any such distribution, payment or proceeds to the sentence immediately following) to which the Obligations are entitled under the ABL Intercreditor Agreement or any other intercreditor agreement (other than this Agreement) (all insurance proceeds, all proceeds of any sale, collection, or other liquidation of any Shared Collateral and all proceeds of any such distribution being collectively referred to as “Proceeds”) shall be applied, subject to the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, (i) FIRST, to the payment of all amounts owing to each Collateral Agent and each Authorized Representative (in its capacity as such) on a ratable basis pursuant to the terms of any Secured Credit Document, (ii) SECOND, subject to Section 1.03, to the payment in full of the Obligations of each Series on a ratable basis, with such Proceeds to be applied to the Obligations of a given Series in accordance with the terms of the applicable Secured Credit Documents; provided, that following the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding with respect to Holdings or any other Grantor, solely for purposes of this Section 2.01(a) and not any other documents governing Obligations, in the event the value of the Shared Collateral is not sufficient for the entire amount of Post-Petition Interest on the Obligations to be allowed under Section 506(a) and (b) of the Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable provision of the Bankruptcy Code or other Bankruptcy Law in such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, the amount of Obligations of each Series of Obligations shall include only the maximum amount of Post-Petition Interest allowable under Section 506(a) and (b) of the Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable provision of the Bankruptcy Code or other Bankruptcy Law in such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceedings; and (iii) THIRD, after payment of all Obligations, to Holdings and the other Grantors or their successors or assigns, as their interests

 

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may appear, or to whosoever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct. If, despite the provisions of the Section 2.01(a), any Secured Party shall receive any payment or other recovery in excess of its portion of payments on account of the Obligations to which it is then entitled in accordance with this Section 2.01(a), such Secured Party shall hold such payment or recovery in trust for the benefit of all Secured Parties for distribution in accordance with this Section 2.01(a). Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Shared Collateral upon which a third party (other than a Secured Party) has a lien or security interest that is junior in priority to the security interest of any Series of Obligations but senior (as determined by appropriate legal proceedings in the case of any dispute) to the security interest of any other Series of Obligations (such third party, an “Intervening Creditor”), the value of any Shared Collateral or Proceeds which are allocated to such Intervening Creditor shall be deducted on a ratable basis solely from the Shared Collateral or Proceeds to be distributed in respect of the Series of Obligations with respect to which such Impairment exists.

(b) It is acknowledged that the Obligations of any Series may, subject to the limitations set forth in the then extant Secured Credit Documents, be increased, extended, renewed, replaced, restated, supplemented, restructured, repaid, refunded, Refinanced or otherwise amended or modified from time to time, all without affecting the priorities set forth in Section 2.01(a) or the provisions of this Agreement defining the relative rights of the Secured Parties of any Series.

(c) Notwithstanding the date, time, method, manner or order of grant, attachment or perfection of any Liens securing any Series of Obligations granted on the Shared Collateral and notwithstanding any provision of the Uniform Commercial Code of any jurisdiction, or any other applicable law or the Secured Credit Documents or any defect or deficiencies in the Liens securing the Obligations of any Series or any other circumstance whatsoever (but, in each case, subject to Section 1.03), each Secured Party hereby agrees that the Liens securing each Series of Obligations on any Shared Collateral shall be of equal priority.

(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any other Security Documents to the contrary, Collateral consisting of cash and cash equivalents pledged to secure Credit Agreement Obligations consisting of reimbursement obligations in respect of letters of credit or otherwise held by the Administrative Agent or the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent pursuant to the provisions of the Credit Agreement as amended by an Incremental Facility Joinder Agreement establishing a New Revolving Loan Commitment shall be applied as specified in such Incremental Facility Joinder Agreement and will not constitute Shared Collateral.

Section 2.02 Actions with Respect to Shared Collateral; Prohibition on Contesting Liens.

(a) Only the Applicable Collateral Agent shall act or refrain from acting with respect to any Shared Collateral (including with respect to the ABL Intercreditor Agreement or any other intercreditor agreement with respect to any Shared Collateral). At any time when the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent is the Applicable Collateral Agent, no Additional Secured Party shall, or shall instruct any Collateral Agent to, and neither the Additional Collateral Agent nor any other Collateral Agent that is not the Applicable Collateral Agent shall, commence any judicial or nonjudicial foreclosure proceedings with respect to, seek to have a trustee, receiver, liquidator or similar official appointed for or over, attempt any action to take possession of,

 

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exercise any right, remedy or power with respect to, or otherwise take any action to enforce its security interest in or realize upon, or take any other action available to it in respect of, any Shared Collateral (including with respect to the ABL Intercreditor Agreement or any other intercreditor agreement with respect to any Shared Collateral), whether under any Additional Security Document, applicable law or otherwise, it being agreed that only the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent, acting in accordance with the Credit Agreement Collateral Documents (or any Person authorized by it), shall be entitled to take any such actions or exercise any such remedies with respect to Shared Collateral at such time.

(b) With respect to any Shared Collateral at any time when the Additional Collateral Agent is the Applicable Collateral Agent, (i) the Applicable Collateral Agent shall act only on the written instructions of the Applicable Authorized Representative, (ii) the Applicable Collateral Agent shall not follow any instructions with respect to such Shared Collateral (including with respect to the ABL Intercreditor Agreement or any other intercreditor agreement with respect to any Shared Collateral) from any Non-Controlling Authorized Representative (or any other Secured Party other than the Applicable Authorized Representative) and (iii) no Non-Controlling Authorized Representative or other Secured Party (other than the Applicable Authorized Representative) shall, or shall instruct the Applicable Collateral Agent to, commence any judicial or non-judicial foreclosure proceedings with respect to, seek to have a trustee, receiver, liquidator or similar official appointed for or over, attempt any action to take possession of, exercise any right, remedy or power with respect to, or otherwise take any action to enforce its security interest in or realize upon, or take any other action available to it in respect of, any Shared Collateral (including with respect to the ABL Intercreditor Agreement or any other intercreditor agreement with respect to any Shared Collateral), whether under any Security Document, applicable law or otherwise, it being agreed that only the Applicable Collateral Agent, acting on the instructions of the Applicable Authorized Representative and in accordance with the Additional Security Documents, shall be entitled to take any such actions or exercise any such remedies with respect to Shared Collateral.

(c) Notwithstanding the equal priority of the Liens securing each Series of Obligations, the Applicable Collateral Agent (in the case of the Additional Collateral Agent, acting on the instructions of the Applicable Authorized Representative), may deal with the Shared Collateral as if such Applicable Collateral Agent had a senior Lien on such Collateral. No Non-Controlling Authorized Representative or Non-Controlling Secured Party will contest, protest or object to any foreclosure proceeding or action brought by the Applicable Collateral Agent, the Applicable Authorized Representative or the Controlling Secured Party or any other exercise by the Applicable Collateral Agent, the Applicable Authorized Representative or the Controlling Secured Party of any rights and remedies relating to the Shared Collateral, or cause the Applicable Collateral Agent to do so. The foregoing shall not be construed to limit the rights and priorities of any Secured Party, the Applicable Collateral Agent or any Authorized Representative with respect to any Collateral not constituting Shared Collateral. The Applicable Collateral Agent (in the case of the Additional Collateral Agent, acting on the instructions of the Applicable Authorized Representative) shall have the right, but not the obligation, to bring suit or take any other available enforcement action in its own name to enforce the Shared Collateral and, if the Applicable Collateral Agent shall commence any such suit or take any such action, each other Collateral Agent shall, at the request of the Applicable Collateral Agent, do any and all lawful acts and execute any and all proper documents reasonably required by the Applicable Collateral Agent in aid of such enforcement.

 

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(d) Each of the Secured Parties agrees that it will not (and hereby waives any right to) question or contest or support any other Person in contesting, in any proceeding (including any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding), the perfection, priority, validity, attachment or enforceability of a Lien held by or on behalf of any of the Secured Parties on all or any part of the Collateral, or the provisions of this Agreement; provided that nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent or impair the rights of any Collateral Agent or any Authorized Representative to enforce this Agreement.

Section 2.03 No Interference; Payment Over.

(a) Each Secured Party agrees that (i) it will not challenge or question in any proceeding the validity or enforceability of any Obligations of any Series or any Security Document or the validity, attachment, perfection or priority of any Lien under any Security Document or the validity or enforceability of the priorities, rights or duties established by or other provisions of this Agreement or the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, (ii) it will not take or cause to be taken any action the purpose or intent of which is, or could be, to interfere, hinder or delay, in any manner, whether by judicial proceedings or otherwise, any sale, transfer or other disposition of the Shared Collateral by the Applicable Collateral Agent, (iii) except as provided in Section 2.02, it shall have no right to (A) direct the Applicable Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to exercise, and shall not exercise, any right, remedy or power with respect to any Shared Collateral (including pursuant to the ABL Intercreditor Agreement or any other intercreditor agreement) or (B) consent to the exercise by the Applicable Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party of any right, remedy or power with respect to any Shared Collateral, (iv) it will not institute any suit or assert in any suit, bankruptcy, insolvency or other proceeding any claim against the Applicable Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party seeking damages from or other relief by way of specific performance, instructions or otherwise with respect to any Shared Collateral, and none of the Applicable Collateral Agent, any Applicable Authorized Representative or any other Secured Party shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Applicable Collateral Agent, such Applicable Authorized Representative or other Secured Party with respect to any Shared Collateral in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, (v) it will not seek, and hereby waives any right, to have any Shared Collateral or any part thereof marshaled upon any foreclosure or other disposition of such Collateral and (vi) it will not attempt, directly or indirectly, whether by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to challenge the enforceability of any provision of this Agreement; provided that nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent or impair the rights of the Applicable Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to enforce this Agreement.

(b) Each Secured Party hereby agrees that if it shall obtain possession of any Shared Collateral or shall realize any proceeds or payment in respect of any such Shared Collateral, pursuant to any Security Document or by the exercise of any rights available to it under applicable law or in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or through any other exercise of remedies (including pursuant to the ABL Intercreditor Agreement or any other intercreditor agreement), at any time prior to the Discharge of each of the Obligations, then it shall hold such Shared Collateral, proceeds or payment in trust for the other Secured Parties and promptly transfer such Shared Collateral, proceeds or payment, as the case may be, to the Applicable Collateral Agent, to be distributed in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.01.

 

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Section 2.04 Automatic Release of Liens.

(a) If at any time the Applicable Authorized Representative or Applicable Collateral Agent forecloses upon or otherwise exercises remedies against any Shared Collateral resulting in a sale or disposition thereof, then (whether or not any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding is pending at the time) the Liens in favor of the other Collateral Agents for the benefit of each Series of Secured Parties upon such Shared Collateral will automatically be released and discharged as and when, but only to the extent, such Liens of the Applicable Collateral Agent on such Shared Collateral are released and discharged; provided that any proceeds of any Shared Collateral realized therefrom shall be applied pursuant to Section 2.01.

(b) Each Collateral Agent and Authorized Representative agrees to execute and deliver (at the sole cost and expense of the Grantors) all such authorizations and other instruments as shall reasonably be requested by the Applicable Collateral Agent to evidence and confirm any release of Shared Collateral provided for in this Section.

(c) Each Authorized Representative and each Collateral Agent agrees to release, and to execute and deliver all such authorizations and other instruments as shall reasonably be requested by the Applicable Collateral Agent to evidence and confirm any release, of Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral as required by the ABL Intercreditor Agreement and shall amend any Security Document as required by the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, in each case, at the sole cost and expense of the Grantors.

Section 2.05 Certain Agreements with Respect to Bankruptcy or Insolvency Proceedings.

(a) This Agreement shall continue in full force and effect notwithstanding the commencement and continuance of any proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code or any other federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law by or against Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries. The relative rights as to the Shared Collateral and proceeds thereof shall continue after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding on the same basis as prior to the date of the petition therefor. All references herein to any Grantor shall include such Grantor as a debtor-in-possession and any receiver or trustee for such Grantor.

(b) If Holdings and/or any other Grantor shall become subject to a case (a “Bankruptcy Case”) under the Bankruptcy Code and shall, as debtor(s)-in-possession, move for approval of financing (“DIP Financing”) to be provided by one or more lenders (the “DIP Lenders”) under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code or any equivalent provision of any other Bankruptcy Law or the use of cash collateral under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code or any equivalent provision of any other Bankruptcy Law, each Secured Party (other than any Controlling Secured Party or Authorized Representative of any Controlling Secured Party) agrees that it will not raise, join or support any objection to, and will waive any claim it may have with respect to, any such financing or to the Liens on the Shared Collateral securing the same (“DIP Financing Liens”) or to any use of cash collateral that constitutes Shared Collateral, unless the Authorized

 

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Representative of any Controlling Secured Party with respect to such Shared Collateral shall then oppose or object (or join in any objection) to such DIP Financing or such DIP Financing Liens or use of cash collateral (and (i) to the extent that such DIP Financing Liens are senior to the Liens on any such Shared Collateral for the benefit of the Controlling Secured Parties, each Non-Controlling Secured Party will subordinate its Liens with respect to such Shared Collateral on the same terms as the Liens of the Controlling Secured Parties (other than any Liens of any Secured Parties constituting DIP Financing Liens) are subordinated thereto, and (ii) to the extent that such DIP Financing Liens rank pari passu with the Liens on any such Shared Collateral granted to secure the Obligations of the Controlling Secured Parties, each Non-Controlling Secured Party will confirm the priorities with respect to such Shared Collateral as set forth herein), in each case so long as (A) the Secured Parties of each Series retain the benefit of their Liens on all such Shared Collateral pledged to the DIP Lenders, including proceeds thereof arising after the commencement of such proceeding, with the same priority vis-à-vis all the other Secured Parties (other than any Liens of the Secured Parties constituting DIP Financing Liens) as existed prior to the commencement of the Bankruptcy Case, (B) the Secured Parties of each Series are granted Liens on any additional collateral pledged to any Secured Parties as adequate protection or otherwise in connection with such DIP Financing or use of cash collateral, with the same priority vis-à-vis the Secured Parties as set forth in this Agreement, (C) if any amount of such DIP Financing or cash collateral is applied to repay any of the Obligations, such amount is applied pursuant to Section 2.01, and (D) if any Secured Parties are granted adequate protection, including in the form of periodic payments, in connection with such DIP Financing or use of cash collateral, the proceeds of such adequate protection are applied pursuant to Section 2.01; provided that the Secured Parties of each Series shall have a right to object to the grant of a Lien to secure the DIP Financing over any Collateral subject to Liens in favor of the Secured Parties of such Series or their Authorized Representative that shall not constitute Shared Collateral; and provided, further, that the Secured Parties receiving adequate protection shall not object to any other Secured Party receiving adequate protection comparable to any adequate protection granted to such Secured Parties in connection with a DIP Financing or use of cash collateral.

Section 2.06 Reinstatement. In the event that any of the Obligations shall be paid in full and such payment or any part thereof shall subsequently, for whatever reason (including an order or judgment for disgorgement of a preference or other avoidance action under the Bankruptcy Code, or any similar law, or the settlement of any claim in respect thereof), be required to be returned or repaid, the terms and conditions of this Article II shall be fully applicable thereto until all such Obligations shall again have been paid in full in cash.

Section 2.07 Insurance. As between the Secured Parties, the Applicable Collateral Agent (and in the case of the Additional Collateral Agent, acting at the written direction of the Applicable Authorized Representative) shall have the right to adjust or settle any insurance policy or claim covering or constituting Shared Collateral in the event of any loss thereunder and to approve any award granted in any condemnation or similar proceeding affecting the Shared Collateral.

Section 2.08 Refinancings. The Obligations of any Series may be Refinanced, in whole or in part, in each case, without notice to, or the consent (except to the extent a consent is otherwise required to permit the Refinancing transaction under any Secured Credit Document) of, any Secured Party of any other Series, all without affecting the priorities provided for herein or the other provisions hereof; provided that the Authorized Representative of the holders of any such Refinancing indebtedness shall have executed a Joinder Agreement on behalf of the holders of such Refinancing indebtedness.

 

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Section 2.09 Possessory Collateral Agent as Gratuitous Bailee for Perfection.

(a) The Possessory Collateral shall be delivered to the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent and the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent agrees to hold any Shared Collateral constituting Possessory Collateral that is part of the Shared Collateral in its possession or control (or in the possession or control of its agents or bailees) as gratuitous bailee for the benefit of each other Secured Party and any assignee solely for the purpose of perfecting the security interest granted in such Possessory Collateral, if any, pursuant to the applicable Security Documents, in each case, subject to the terms and conditions of this Section 2.09; provided that at any time the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent is not the Applicable Collateral Agent, the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent shall promptly deliver all Possessory Collateral to the Additional Collateral Agent together with any necessary endorsements (or otherwise allow the Additional Collateral Agent to obtain control of such Possessory Collateral). Holdings shall take such further action as is required to effectuate the transfer contemplated hereby and shall indemnify each Collateral Agent for loss or damage suffered by such Collateral Agent as a result of such transfer except for loss or damage suffered by such Collateral Agent as a result of its own willful misconduct or gross negligence as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final, non-appealable judgment.

(b) The Applicable Collateral Agent agrees to hold any Shared Collateral constituting Possessory Collateral, from time to time in its possession, as gratuitous bailee for the benefit of each other Secured Party and any assignee, solely for the purpose of perfecting the security interest granted in such Possessory Collateral, if any, pursuant to the applicable Security Documents, in each case, subject to the terms and conditions of this Section 2.09.

(c) The duties or responsibilities of each Collateral Agent under this Section 2.09 shall be limited solely to holding any Shared Collateral constituting Possessory Collateral as gratuitous bailee for the benefit of each other Secured Party for purposes of perfecting the Lien held by such Secured Parties thereon.

Section 2.10 Amendments to Security Documents.

(a) Without the prior written consent of the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent, the Additional Collateral Agent agrees that no Additional Security Document may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified or entered into to the extent such amendment, supplement or modification, or the terms of any new Additional Security Document, would be prohibited by, or would require any Grantor to act or refrain from acting in a manner that would violate, any of the terms of this Agreement.

(b) Without the prior written consent of the Additional Collateral Agent, the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent agrees that no Credit Agreement Collateral Document may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified or entered into to the extent such amendment, supplement or modification, or the terms of any new Credit Agreement Collateral Document, would be prohibited by, or would require any Grantor to act or refrain from acting in a manner that would violate, any of the terms of this Agreement.

 

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(c) In making determinations required by this Section 2.10, each Collateral Agent may conclusively rely on an officer’s certificate of Holdings.

Section 2.11 ABL Intercreditor Agreement. Each Authorized Representative, on behalf of itself and the relevant Secured Parties acknowledges and agrees that:

(a) the ABL Intercreditor Agreement shall govern the relationship between the Secured Parties collectively, and the Revolving Facility Secured Parties;

(b) certain Collateral intended to secure the Obligations shall be the subject of a Lien granted to the Revolving Facility Agent for the benefit of the Revolving Facility Secured Parties; and

(c) each Collateral Agent shall be bound by the terms of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the terms of which are ratified and approved by the applicable Secured Parties in all respects, and Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral may be released in accordance with and upon the terms of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement.

ARTICLE III

EXISTENCE AND AMOUNTS OF LIENS AND OBLIGATIONS

Section 3.01 Determinations with Respect to Amounts of Liens and Obligations. Whenever a Collateral Agent or any Authorized Representative shall be required, in connection with the exercise of its rights or the performance of its obligations hereunder, to determine the existence or amount of any Obligations of any Series, or the Shared Collateral subject to any Lien securing the Obligations of any Series, it may request that such information be furnished to it in writing by each other Authorized Representative or Collateral Agent and shall be entitled to make such determination or not make any determination on the basis of the information so furnished; provided, however, that if an Authorized Representative or a Collateral Agent shall fail or refuse reasonably promptly to provide the requested information, the requesting Collateral Agent or Authorized Representative shall be entitled to make any such determination by such method as it may, in the exercise of its good faith judgment, determine, including by reliance upon a certificate of Holdings. Each Collateral Agent and each Authorized Representative may rely conclusively, and shall be fully protected in so relying, on any determination made by it in accordance with the provisions of the preceding sentence (or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction) and shall have no liability to any Grantor, any Secured Party or any other Person as a result of such determination.

ARTICLE IV

THE APPLICABLE COLLATERAL AGENT

Section 4.01 Authority.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, nothing herein shall be construed to impose any fiduciary or other duty on any Applicable Collateral Agent to any Non-Controlling Secured Party or give any Non-Controlling Secured Party the right to direct any Applicable Collateral Agent, except that each Applicable Collateral Agent shall be obligated to distribute proceeds of any Shared Collateral in accordance with Section 2.01.

 

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(b) In furtherance of the foregoing, each Non-Controlling Secured Party acknowledges and agrees that the Applicable Collateral Agent shall be entitled, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of or deal with any Shared Collateral as provided herein and in the Security Documents, as applicable, pursuant to which the Applicable Collateral Agent is the collateral agent for such Shared Collateral, without regard to any rights to which the Non-Controlling Secured Parties would otherwise be entitled as a result of the Obligations held by such Non-Controlling Secured Parties. Without limiting the foregoing, each Non-Controlling Secured Party agrees that none of the Applicable Collateral Agent, the Applicable Authorized Representative or any other Secured Party shall have any duty or obligation first to marshal or realize upon any type of Shared Collateral (or any other Collateral securing any of the Obligations), or to sell, dispose of or otherwise liquidate all or any portion of such Shared Collateral (or any other Collateral securing any Obligations), in any manner that would maximize the return to the Non-Controlling Secured Parties, notwithstanding that the order and timing of any such realization, sale, disposition or liquidation may affect the amount of proceeds actually received by the Non-Controlling Secured Parties from such realization, sale, disposition or liquidation. Each of the Secured Parties waives any claim it may now or hereafter have against any Collateral Agent or the Authorized Representative of any other Series of Obligations or any other Secured Party of any other Series arising out of (i) any actions which any Collateral Agent, Authorized Representative or the Secured Parties take or omit to take (including actions with respect to the creation, perfection or continuation of Liens on any Collateral, actions with respect to the foreclosure upon, sale, release or depreciation of, or failure to realize upon, any of the Collateral and actions with respect to the collection of any claim for all or any part of the Obligations from any account debtor, guarantor or any other party) in accordance with the Security Documents or any other agreement related thereto or to the collection of the Obligations or the valuation, use, protection or release of any security for the Obligations, (ii) any election by any Applicable Authorized Representative or any holders of Obligations, in any proceeding instituted under the Bankruptcy Code, of the application of Section 1111(b) of the Bankruptcy Code or (iii) subject to Section 2.05, any borrowing by, or grant of a security interest or administrative expense priority under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code or any equivalent provision of any other Bankruptcy Law, Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, as debtor-in-possession. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Applicable Collateral Agent shall not accept any Shared Collateral in full or partial satisfaction of any Obligations pursuant to Section 9-620 of the Uniform Commercial Code of any jurisdiction, without the consent of each Authorized Representative representing holders of Obligations for which such Collateral constitutes Shared Collateral.

Section 4.02 Rights as a Secured Party.

The Person serving as the Applicable Authorized Representative and/or Applicable Collateral Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Secured Party under any Series of Obligations that it holds as any other Secured Party of such Series and may exercise the same as though it were not the Applicable Authorized Representative and/or Applicable Collateral Agent and the term “Secured Party” or “Secured Parties” or (as applicable)

 

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“Credit Agreement Secured Party”, “Credit Agreement Secured Parties,” “Notes Secured Party,” “Notes Secured Parties,” “Additional Secured Party” or “Additional Secured Parties” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Applicable Authorized Representative and/or Applicable Collateral Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and its Affiliates may but is not required to accept deposits from, lend money to, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Grantors or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Applicable Authorized Representative hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to any other Secured Party.

Section 4.03 Exculpatory Provisions. The Applicable Authorized Representative and each Applicable Collateral Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein, in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement and, with respect to the Additional Collateral Agent, in the Notes Indenture (subject in each case to the benefits, immunities, indemnities, privileges, protections and rights of such Additional Collateral Agent pursuant to the Notes Indenture). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Applicable Authorized Representative and each Applicable Collateral Agent:

(a) shall not be subject to any fiduciary duties and/or any implied duties, regardless of whether an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;

(b) shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers (including providing any request, consent, approval waiver or authorization); provided that the Applicable Authorized Representative and each Applicable Collateral Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Applicable Authorized Representative to liability or that is contrary to this Agreement or applicable law;

(c) shall not, except as expressly set forth herein, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to a Grantor or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Applicable Authorized Representative and/or Applicable Collateral Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity;

(d) shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (1) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final, non-appealable judgment or (2) in reliance on a certificate of an authorized officer of Holdings stating that such action is permitted by the terms of this Agreement. The Applicable Authorized Representative and each Applicable Collateral Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Event of Default under any Series of Obligations unless and until written notice describing such Event of Default and referencing applicable agreement is given to the Applicable Authorized Representative and Applicable Collateral Agent at its address as provided in Section 5.01;

(e) shall not be liable under or in connection with this Agreement or any Secured Credit Document for indirect, special, incidental, punitive, or consequential losses or damages of any kind whatsoever, including, but not limited to, lost profits, whether or not foreseeable, even if the Applicable Authorized Representative or Applicable Collateral Agent has been advised of the possibility thereof and regardless of the form of action;

 

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(f) shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (1) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Security Document, (2) the contents of any certificate, opinion, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (3) 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 or Event of Default, (4) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Security Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, or the creation, perfection or priority of any Lien purported to be created by the Security Documents (including the preparation or filing of financing statements), (5) the value or the sufficiency of any Collateral for any Series of Obligations, or (6) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in any Secured Credit Document, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to such Applicable Authorized Representative or Applicable Collateral Agent;

(g) shall not be required to expend or risk any of its own funds or otherwise incur any liability, financial or otherwise, in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or under any Secured Credit Document to which it is a party unless and until it has received indemnity and/or security satisfactory to it form the applicable holders of the Series of Obligations against such risk or liability, or be required to take any action that is contrary to this Agreement, any Secured Credit Document or applicable law;

(h) shall in no event be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes, or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; and

(i) need not segregate money held hereunder from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Applicable Authorized Representative and each Applicable Collateral Agent shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed in writing.

Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary herein, whenever reference is made in this Agreement, to any discretionary action by, consent, designation, specification, requirement or approval of, notice, request or other communication from, or other direction given or action to be undertaken or to be (or not to be) suffered or omitted by the Applicable Collateral Agent or to any election, decision, opinion, acceptance, use of judgment, expression of satisfaction or other exercise of discretion, rights or remedies to be made (or not to be made) by the Applicable Collateral Agent, it is understood that in all cases the Applicable Collateral Agent shall be fully justified in declining or refusing to take any such discretionary action if it shall not have received written instruction, advice or concurrence of the Applicable Authorized Representative in respect of such action (in each case as

 

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applicable). The Applicable Collateral Agent shall have no liability for any failure or delay in taking any actions contemplated above as a result of a failure or delay on the part of the applicable Secured Parties to provide such instruction, advice or concurrence. The Applicable Collateral Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement and the Secured Credit Documents in accordance with a request of the Applicable Authorized Representative, and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all Secured Parties including all Additional Secured Parties. This provision is intended solely for the benefit of the Applicable Collateral Agent and its successors and permitted assigns and is not intended to and will not entitle the other parties hereto to any defense, claim or counterclaim, or confer any rights or benefits on any party hereto.

Section 4.04 Collateral and Guaranty Matters. Each of the Secured Parties irrevocably authorizes the Applicable Collateral Agent to release any Lien on any property granted to or held by such Collateral Agent under any Security Document in accordance with Section 2.04. The Applicable Collateral Agent shall not be responsible for the existence, genuineness or value of any of the Collateral or for the validity, perfection, priority or enforceability of the Liens in any of the Collateral, whether impaired by operation of law or by reason of any action or omission to act on its part hereunder for the validity or sufficiency of the Collateral or any agreement or assignment contained therein, for insuring the Collateral or for the payment of taxes, charges, assessments or Liens upon the Collateral or otherwise as to the maintenance of the Collateral; nor shall the Applicable Collateral Agent have any duty (i) to see to any recording, filing or depositing of any financing statement or continuation statement evidencing a security interest, or to see to the maintenance of any such recordings or filing or depositing or to any rerecording, refiling or redepositing of any thereof or (ii) to see to the payment or discharge of any tax, assessment or other governmental charge or any lien or encumbrance of any kind; provided, however, that, without limiting the foregoing, pursuant to Section 9-509(d)(i) of the UCC, each Authorized Representative (as instructed by relevant Secured Parties), on behalf of itself and the relevant Secured Parties, irrevocably directs the Applicable Collateral Agent to authorize the filing by any Applicable Authorized Representative (but without imposing an obligation on such Controlling Authorized Representative to do so) of any amendment to any financing statement (which authorization is hereby deemed given by the Applicable Collateral Agent).

Section 4.05 Delegation of Duties. The Applicable Authorized Representative and/or the Applicable Collateral Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Security Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Applicable Authorized Representative and/or Applicable Collateral Agent, and such Applicable Authorized Representative or Applicable Collateral Agent shall not be responsible to any other Secured Party for any misconduct or negligence on the part of such sub-agent appointed with due care. The Applicable Authorized Representative and/or Applicable Collateral Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Affiliates. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Affiliates of the Applicable Authorized Representative and/or Applicable Collateral Agent and any such sub-agent; provided, however that in no event shall any Applicable Authorized Representative or Applicable Collateral Agent be responsible or liable to any other Secured Party for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such sub-agent appointed with due care.

 

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Section 4.06 Instruction Required. Any action hereunder on the part of any Additional Collateral Agent to be exercised or performed shall only be exercised or performed if the Additional Collateral Agent receives written instructions from the Applicable Authorized Representative acting on behalf of the applicable Additional Secured Parties in accordance with and subject to the terms of the Notes Indenture.

No Additional Collateral Agent shall be under any obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by the Notes Indenture or this Agreement at the request or direction of any of the Applicable Authorized Representative acting on behalf of the applicable Secured Parties pursuant to this Agreement or the Notes Indenture, unless the applicable Secured Parties shall have offered to such Collateral Agent security and/or indemnity satisfactory to such Additional Collateral Agent against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

Section 4.07 Reliance. The Applicable Collateral 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 Applicable Collateral Agent also may (but shall not be obligated to) 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. The Applicable Collateral Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Company), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in reliance upon the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

Section 4.08 Non-Reliance on Collateral Agents. Each Authorized Representative (as instructed (or deemed instructed) by the relevant Secured Parties) acknowledges that the Collateral Agents have not made any representation or warranty to it, and that no act by a Collateral Agent hereafter taken, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by such Collateral Agent to any Authorized Representative or to any Secured Party. Each Authorized Representative (as instructed (or deemed instructed) by relevant Secured Parties) on behalf of each relevant Secured Parties acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the applicable Collateral Agent or any of its Affiliates and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of, and investigation into, the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Company, the value of and title to any Collateral, and all applicable laws relating to the transactions contemplated hereby, and made its own decision to enter into this Agreement and the Security Documents to which it is a party. Each Authorized Representative (as instructed (or deemed instructed) by the relevant Secured Parties) also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon a Collateral Agent or any of its Affiliates 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, the Security Documents or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

 

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Section 4.09 Rights of Collateral Agents. In acting hereunder, each Collateral Agent shall be entitled to the same rights, privileges, immunities, and indemnities granted to the Applicable Collateral Agent under the terms of this Article IV. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event any claim of inconsistency between this Agreement, on the one hand, and the terms of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement or any Security Document, on the other hand, arises with respect to the duties, liabilities and rights of any Collateral Agent, the terms of this Agreement shall control.    

ARTICLE V

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 5.01 Notices. All notices and other communications provided for herein (including, but not limited to, all the direction and instructions to be provided to the Applicable Authorized Representative and/or Applicable Collateral Agent herein by the Secured Parties) shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by electronic transmission, as follows:

(a) if to the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent or the Administrative Agent, to it at Citibank, N.A., 1615 Brett Road, New Castle, DE 19720, Attention of ABTF Global Loans (e-mail: glabfunitloansops@citi.com);

(b) if to the Additional Collateral Agent, to it at Citibank, N.A., 388 Greenwich St., New York, NY 10013, Attn: SPAG Administration (e-mail: cts.spag@citi.com; jenny.cheng@citi.com);

(c) if to the Notes Trustee, to it at U.S. Bank National Association, Global Corporate Trust, One Federal Street, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02110, Attention: Steven J. Gomes, Email: steven.gomes@usbank.com;

(d) if to the Notes Collateral Agent, to it at Citibank, N.A., 388 Greenwich St., New York, NY 10013, Attn: SPAG Administration (e-mail: cts.spag@citi.com; jenny.cheng@citi.com);

(e) if to any other additional Authorized Representative, to it at the address set forth in the applicable Joinder Agreement; and

(f) if to the Holdings and/or any of the Grantors, to the applicable party at Joseph Abbott, Chief Financial Officer, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, 125 High Street, Boston, MA 02110-2777, (617) 249-1673, Email Joe.Abbott@hmhco.com, with copies to William Bayers, Executive Vice-President & General Counsel, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, 125 High Street, Boston, MA 02110-2777, Tel: (617) 351-5125, Fax: (617) 249-2118, Email Bill.Bayers@hmhco.com, Joseph Flaherty, Senior Vice-President & Treasurer, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, 125 High Street, Boston, MA 02110-2777, Tel: (617) 351-5223, Fax: (617) 351-1104, Email Joe.Flaherty@hmhco.com and David Mills, Assistant Treasurer, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, 125 High Street, Boston, MA 02110-2777, Tel: (617) 351-3766, Fax: (617) 933-7632, Email David.Mills@hmhco.com.

 

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Any party hereto may change its address or telecopy number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Notices and other communications sent by electronic transmission, hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received.

Section 5.02 Waivers; Amendment; Joinder Agreements.

(a) No failure or delay on the part of any party hereto in exercising any right or power hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the parties hereto are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by any party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by Section 5.02(b), and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. No notice or demand on any party hereto in any case shall entitle such party to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.

(b) Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be terminated, waived, amended or modified (other than pursuant to any Joinder Agreement) except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by each Authorized Representative and each Collateral Agent (and with respect to any such termination, waiver, amendment or modification which by the terms of this Agreement requires Holdings’ consent, adversely affects the rights of the Grantors under the Secured Credit Documents, or which increases the obligations or reduces the rights of Holdings or any other Grantor, with the consent of Holdings); provided, that an executed copy of any such termination, waiver, amendment or modification shall be provided to Holdings upon the effectiveness thereof.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of any Secured Party, any Authorized Representative may become a party hereto by execution and delivery of a Joinder Agreement in accordance with Section 5.13 and upon such execution and delivery, such Authorized Representative and the Additional Secured Parties and Additional Obligations of the Series for which such Authorized Representative is acting shall be subject to the terms hereof and the terms of the Additional Security Documents applicable thereto.

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of any other Authorized Representative or Secured Party, the Collateral Agents may effect amendments and modifications to this Agreement to the extent necessary to reflect any incurrence of any Additional Obligations in compliance with the Credit Agreement and the other Secured Credit Documents.

Section 5.03 Parties in Interest. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, as well as the other Secured Parties, all of which are intended to be bound by, and to be third party beneficiaries of, this Agreement.

Section 5.04 Survival of Agreement. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by any party in this Agreement shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

 

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Section 5.05 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by one or more of the parties to this Agreement on any number of separate counterparts, and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed signature page of this Agreement by electronic mail of a PDF, facsimile or other electronic transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.

Section 5.06 Severability. Any provision of this Agreement held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction. The parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

Section 5.07 GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Section 5.08 Submission to Jurisdiction Waivers; Consent to Service of Process. Each party hereto, on behalf of itself and, as applicable, the Secured Parties of the Series for which it is acting, irrevocably and unconditionally:

(a) submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement and the Credit Agreement Collateral Documents, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement and/or the Credit Agreement Collateral Documents shall affect any right that any representative may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to any Loan Document against any Guarantor or its respective properties in the courts of any jurisdiction;

(b) waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement and/or the Credit Agreement Collateral Documents in any court referred to in paragraph (a) of this Section. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court;

 

26


(c) agrees that service of process in any such action or proceeding may be effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to such Person (or its Authorized Representative) at the address set forth in Section 5.01;

(d) as it relates to any Grantor, such Grantor designates, appoints and empowers Holdings as its designee, appointee and agent to receive, accept and acknowledge for and on its behalf, and in respect of its property, service of any and all legal process, summons, notices and documents that may be served in any such action or proceeding and Holdings hereby accepts such designation and appointment; and

(e) waives, to the maximum extent not prohibited by law, any right it may have to claim or recover in any legal action or proceeding referred to in this Section 5.08 any special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages; provided that the foregoing waiver shall not apply to claims or recoveries resulting from a third party’s claim for special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages in connection with which indemnity obligations of the Company are otherwise owing to the (i) Notes Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 7.07 of the Notes Indenture and (ii) the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 9.08 of the Credit Agreement.

Section 5.09 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING UNDER ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO OR ANY OF THEM WITH RESPECT TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED THERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER FOUNDED IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE; AND EACH PARTY HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY, AND THAT ANY PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR A COPY OF THIS SECTION 5.09 WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE SIGNATORIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

Section 5.10 Headings. Article, Section and Annex headings used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and are not to affect the construction of, or to be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

Section 5.11 Conflicts.

(a) In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of any of the Security Documents or any of the other Secured Credit Documents, the provisions of this Agreement shall control.

(b) The parties hereto acknowledge, authorize and consent to the entry by each Collateral Agent acting on behalf of the relevant Secured Parties that are or shall be secured by a Lien on Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral into the ABL Intercreditor Agreement. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement with respect to the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral, the provisions of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement shall govern and control.

 

27


Section 5.12 Provisions Solely to Define Relative Rights. The provisions of this Agreement are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Secured Parties in relation to one another. None of Holdings, any other Grantor or any creditor thereof shall have any rights or obligations hereunder, except as expressly provided in this Agreement, and none of Holdings or any other Grantor may rely on the terms hereof (other than Sections 2.04, 2.05, 2.08, 2.09 and Article V). Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary (other than Section 2.04, 2.05, 2.08, 2.09 or Article V), nothing in this Agreement is intended to or will (a) amend, waive or otherwise modify the provisions of the Credit Agreement, any other Security Document, or permit Holdings or any Grantor to take any action, or fail to take any action, to the extent such action or failure would otherwise constitute a breach of, or default under, the Credit Agreement or any other Security Document or (b) obligate Holdings or any Grantor to take any action, or fail to take any action, that would otherwise constitute a breach of, or default under, the Credit Agreement or any other Security Document. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to or shall impair the obligations of any Grantor, which are absolute and unconditional, to pay the Obligations as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms.

Section 5.13 Additional Senior Debt. To the extent, but only to the extent, permitted by the provisions of the Secured Credit Documents, the Borrowers may incur additional indebtedness after the date hereof that is permitted by the Secured Credit Documents to be incurred and secured on an equal and ratable basis by the Liens securing the Obligations (such indebtedness referred to as “Additional Senior Class Debt”). Any such Additional Senior Class Debt may be secured by a Lien and may be guaranteed by the Grantors on a senior basis, in each case under and pursuant to the Additional Documents, if and subject to the condition that the Authorized Representative of any such Additional Senior Class Debt (each, an “Additional Senior Class Debt Representative”), acting on behalf of the holders of such Additional Senior Class Debt (such Authorized Representative and holders in respect of any Additional Senior Class Debt being referred to as the “Additional Senior Class Debt Parties”), becomes a party to this Agreement by satisfying the conditions set forth in clauses (i) through (iv) of the immediately succeeding paragraph.

In order for an Additional Senior Class Debt Representative to become a party to this Agreement,

(a) such Additional Senior Class Debt Representative and each Grantor shall have executed and delivered an instrument substantially in the form of Annex II (with such changes as may be reasonably approved by such Additional Senior Class Debt Representative) pursuant to which such Additional Senior Class Debt Representative becomes an Authorized Representative hereunder, and the Additional Senior Class Debt in respect of which such Additional Senior Class Debt Representative is the Authorized Representative and the related Additional Senior Class Debt Parties become subject hereto and bound hereby;

 

28


(b) Holdings shall have (x) delivered to each Collateral Agent true and complete copies of each of the Additional Documents relating to such Additional Senior Class Debt, certified as being true and correct by a Responsible Officer of Holdings, and (y) identified in a certificate of an authorized officer the obligations to be designated as Additional Obligations and the initial aggregate principal amount or face amount thereof;

(c) all filings, recordations and/or amendments or supplements to the Security Documents necessary or desirable as determined by the Additional Collateral Agent for such Additional Senior Class Debt to confirm and perfect the Liens securing the relevant obligations relating to such Additional Senior Class Debt shall have been made, executed and/or delivered (or, with respect to any such filings or recordations, acceptable provisions to perform such filings or recordations shall have been taken as determined by such Additional Collateral Agent), and all fees and taxes in connection therewith shall have been paid (or acceptable provisions to make such payments shall have been taken as determined by such Additional Collateral Agent). Notwithstanding anything in this Section 5.13(c) to the contrary, at any time when the Notes Collateral Agent is the Additional Collateral Agent for such Additional Senior Class Debt, any determination required to be made by the Notes Collateral Agent in such capacity under this Section 5.13(c) shall be made by the Notes Collateral Agent in such capacity based upon and at the written direction of the Notes Trustee (acting behalf of the Notes Secured Parties); and

(d) the Additional Documents, as applicable, relating to such Additional Senior Class Debt shall provide, in a manner reasonably satisfactory to each Collateral Agent, that each Additional Senior Class Debt Party with respect to such Additional Senior Class Debt will be subject to and bound by the provisions of this Agreement in its capacity as a holder of such Additional Senior Class Debt.

Each Authorized Representative acknowledges and agrees that upon execution and delivery of a Joinder Agreement substantially in the form of Annex II by an Additional Senior Class Debt Representative and each Grantor in accordance with this Section 5.13, the Additional Collateral Agent will continue to act in its capacity as Additional Collateral Agent in respect of the then existing Authorized Representatives (other than the Administrative Agent) and such additional Authorized Representative.

Section 5.14 Agent Capacities. Except as expressly provided herein or in the Credit Agreement Collateral Documents, Citibank, N.A., is acting in the capacities of Administrative Agent and Credit Agreement Collateral Agent solely for the Credit Agreement Secured Parties. Except as expressly provided herein or in the Additional Security Documents, U.S. Bank National Association is acting in the capacity of Notes Trustee solely for the Notes Secured Parties. Except as expressly provided herein or in the Additional Security Documents, Citibank, N.A., acting through its Agency & Trust division is acting in the capacity of Notes Collateral Agent solely for the Notes Secured Parties and Initial Additional Collateral Agent solely for the Additional Secured Parties. Except as expressly set forth herein, none of the Administrative Agent, the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent, the Notes Trustee, each Additional Collateral Agent or the Notes Collateral Agent shall have any duties or obligations in respect of any of the Collateral, all of such duties and obligations, if any, being subject to and governed by the applicable Secured Credit Documents. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent, the Notes Collateral Agent, the Notes Trustee and each Additional Collateral Agent and Additional Authorized Representative shall be entitled to the rights, privileges, immunities and indemnities granted to it, respectively, under its applicable Secured Credit Documents.

 

29


Section 5.15 Integration. This Agreement together with the other Secured Credit Documents and the Security Documents represents the agreement of each of the Grantors and the Secured Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and there are no promises, undertakings, representations or warranties by any Grantor, the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party relative to the subject matter hereof not expressly set forth or referred to herein or in the other Secured Credit Documents or the Security Documents.

Section 5.16 Conversion of Currencies.

(a) If, for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court, it is necessary to convert a sum owing hereunder in one currency into another currency, each party hereto agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so, that the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures in the relevant jurisdiction the first currency could be purchased with such other currency on the Business Day immediately preceding the day on which final judgment is given.

(b) The obligations of Holdings or other Grantors in respect of any sum due to any party hereto or any holder of the obligations owing hereunder (the “Applicable Creditor”) shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency (the “Judgment Currency”) other than the currency in which such sum is stated to be due hereunder (the “Agreement Currency”), be discharged only to the extent that, on the Business Day following receipt by the Applicable Creditor of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment Currency, the Applicable Creditor may in accordance with normal banking procedures in the relevant jurisdiction purchase the Agreement Currency with the Judgment Currency; if the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to the Applicable Creditor in the Agreement Currency, Holdings and other Grantors agree, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify the Applicable Creditor against such loss, and if the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased exceeds the sum originally due to the Applicable Creditor in the Agreement Currency, the Applicable Creditor shall refund the amount of such excess to Holdings or such Grantor, as applicable. The obligations of the parties contained in this Section 5.16 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of all other amounts owing hereunder.

Section 5.17 Further Assurances. The Credit Agreement Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself in such capacity and the Credit Agreement Secured Parties for whom it acts as collateral agent under the Loan Documents, the Notes Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself in such capacity and the Notes Secured Parties for whom it acts as collateral agent under the applicable Notes Documents and each Additional Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself in such capacity and the Additional Secured Parties for whom it acts as collateral agent under the Additional Documents, severally agrees that each of them shall take such further action and shall execute and deliver such additional documents and instruments (in recordable form, if requested) as the other parties hereto may reasonably request to effectuate the terms of and the priorities contemplated by this Agreement.

 

30


Section 5.18 Notes Trustee Not Fiduciary for other Secured Parties. The Notes Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to any of the Secured Parties (other than the Noteholders for which it is the Authorized Representative, and then only to the extent, if any, set forth in the Notes Indenture), and shall not be liable to any Secured Parties (other than the Noteholders for which it is the Authorized Representative, and then only to the extent, if any, set forth in the Notes Indenture), if the Notes Trustee shall in good faith mistakenly pay over or distribute to any person cash, property or securities to which any Secured Party shall be entitled by virtue of this Agreement or otherwise. The Notes Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants or obligations as are specifically set forth in the Notes Indenture and this Agreement and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the Notes Trustee.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

31


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

CITIBANK, N.A.,
as Credit Agreement Collateral Agent
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
CITIBANK, N.A.,
as Authorized Representative for the Credit Agreement Secured Parties
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
CITIBANK, N.A.,
solely in its capacity as Notes Collateral Agent under the Notes Indenture, as the Initial Additional Collateral Agent
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

[Signature Page – Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement]


U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
solely in its capacity as Notes Trustee, as Additional Authorized Representative
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT COMPANY
By  

 

Name:  
Title:  
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHERS INC.
By  

 

Name:  
Title:  
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY
By  

 

Name:  
Title:  
HMH PUBLISHERS LLC
By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[Signature Page – Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement]


GREENWOOD PUBLISHING GROUP, LLC
By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[Signature Page – Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement]


ANNEX I

Grantors

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers Inc.

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

HMH Publishers LLC

Greenwood Publishing Group, LLC

Houghton Mifflin Company International, Inc.


ANNEX II

[FORM OF] JOINDER NO. [ ] dated as of [ ], 20[ ] to the FIRST LIEN INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT dated as of November 22, 2019 (the “Intercreditor Agreement”), (as amended, restated, amended and restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Agreement”), among Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company (“Holdings”), Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers Inc. (“HMHP”), HMH Publishers LLC (“Publishers”), Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company (“HMCo” and, together with HMHP and Publishers, the “Borrowers”), the other Grantors from time to time party thereto and Citibank, N.A., as collateral agent for the Credit Agreement Secured Parties (in such capacity and together with its successors in such capacity, the “Credit Agreement Collateral Agent”), Citibank N.A., as Administrative Agent and Authorized Representative for the Credit Agreement Secured Parties and, the Additional Collateral Agent, Citibank, N.A., as Notes Collateral Agent (in such capacity, the “Notes Collateral Agent”), and as the Additional Collateral Agent as of the date hereof, U.S. Bank National Association, as Notes Trustee and as Authorized Representative for the Notes Secured Parties and each additional Authorized Representative from time to time party thereto.

A. Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Intercreditor Agreement.

B. As a condition to the ability of the Borrowers to incur Additional Obligations and to secure such Additional Senior Class Debt with the liens and security interests created by the Additional Security Documents, the Additional Senior Class Debt Representative in respect of such Additional Senior Class Debt is required to become an Authorized Representative, and such Additional Senior Class Debt and the Additional Senior Class Debt Parties in respect thereof are required to become subject to and bound by the Intercreditor Agreement. Section 5.13 of the Intercreditor Agreement provides that such Additional Senior Class Debt Representative may become an Authorized Representative, and such Additional Senior Class Debt and such Additional Senior Class Debt Parties may become subject to and bound by the Intercreditor Agreement, upon the execution and delivery by the Additional Senior Class Debt Representative of an instrument in the form of this Joinder Agreement and the satisfaction of the other conditions set forth in Section 5.13 of the Intercreditor Agreement. The undersigned Additional Senior Class Debt Representative (the “New Representative”) is executing this Joinder Agreement in accordance with the requirements of the Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents.

Accordingly, the New Representative agrees as follows:

SECTION 1 In accordance with Section 5.13 of the Intercreditor Agreement, the New Representative by its signature below becomes an Authorized Representative under, and the related Additional Senior Class Debt and Additional Senior Class Debt Parties become subject to and bound by, the Intercreditor Agreement with the same force and effect as if the New Representative had originally been named therein as an Authorized Representative and the New Representative, on its behalf and on behalf of such Additional Senior Class Debt Parties, hereby agrees to all the terms and provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement applicable to it as Authorized Representative and to the Additional Senior Class Debt Parties that it represents as Additional Secured Parties. Each reference to an “Authorized Representative” in the Intercreditor Agreement shall be deemed to include the New Representative. The Intercreditor Agreement is hereby incorporated herein by reference.


ANNEX II

SECTION 2 The New Representative represents and warrants to each Collateral Agent, each Authorized Representative and the other Secured Parties, individually, that (i) it has full power and authority to enter into this Joinder Agreement, in its capacity as [agent] [trustee] under [describe new debt facility], (ii) this Joinder has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by it and constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, and (iii) the Additional Documents relating to such Additional Senior Class Debt provide that, upon the New Representative’s entry into this Joinder Agreement, the Additional Senior Class Debt Parties in respect of such Additional Senior Class Debt will be subject to and bound by the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement as Additional Secured Parties.

SECTION 3 This Joinder may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Joinder shall become effective when each Collateral Agent shall have received a counterpart of this Joinder that bears the signatures of the New Representative. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Joinder by facsimile transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Joinder.

SECTION 4 Except as expressly supplemented hereby, the Intercreditor Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 5 THIS JOINDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

SECTION 6 In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Joinder should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, no party hereto shall be required to comply with such provision for so long as such provision is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, but the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein and in the Intercreditor Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired. The parties hereto shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

SECTION 7 All communications and notices hereunder shall be in writing and given as provided in Section 5.01 of the Intercreditor Agreement. All communications and notices hereunder to the New Representative shall be given to it at its address set forth below its signature hereto.

SECTION 8 Holdings agrees to reimburse each Collateral Agent and each Authorized Representative for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in connection with this Joinder Agreement, including the reasonable fees, other charges and disbursements of counsel, in each case as required by the applicable Secured Credit Documents.


ANNEX II

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the New Representative has duly executed this Joinder to the Intercreditor Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

[NAME OF NEW REPRESENTATIVE],
as [•] for the holders of [•],
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

Address for notices:
Attention of:    
Telecopy:  
Acknowledged by:  

 

[GRANTORS]1
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

THE OTHER GRANTORS LISTED ON SCHEDULE I HERETO,
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

1 

To conform with Credit Agreement.


Schedule I to the

Supplement to the

First Lien Intercreditor Agreement

Grantors

Exhibit 10.2

Execution Version

 

 

 

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

dated as of

November 22, 2019

among

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT COMPANY,

as Holdings,

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHERS INC.,

HMH PUBLISHERS LLC

and

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY,

as Borrowers,

THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO,

THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO,

CITIBANK, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent

and

CITIBANK, N.A.,

as Collateral Agent

and

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.,

MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.,

BOFA SECURITIES, INC.

and

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Lead Bookrunners

and

CITIZENS BANK, N.A.,

as Co-Manager

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  
   ARTICLE I   
   DEFINITIONS   

SECTION 1.01

   Defined Terms      1  

SECTION 1.02

   Terms Generally      55  

SECTION 1.03

   Pro Forma Calculations      56  

SECTION 1.04

   Classification of Loans and Borrowings      57  

SECTION 1.05

   Delaware LLC Division      57  

SECTION 1.06

   Limited Condition Transactions      58  

SECTION 1.07

   [Reserved]      58  

SECTION 1.08

   Cashless Rolls      58  

SECTION 1.09

   Certain Calculations and Tests      59  
   ARTICLE II   
   THE CREDITS   

SECTION 2.01

  

Commitments

     59  

SECTION 2.02

  

Loans and Borrowings

     60  

SECTION 2.03

  

Borrowing Procedure

     62  

SECTION 2.04

  

Evidence of Debt; Repayment of Loans

     62  

SECTION 2.05

  

Fees

     63  

SECTION 2.06

  

Interest on Loans

     64  

SECTION 2.07

  

Default Interest

     65  

SECTION 2.08

  

Alternate Rate of Interest

     65  

SECTION 2.09

  

Termination and Reduction of Commitments

     66  

SECTION 2.10

  

Conversion and Continuation of Borrowings

     67  

SECTION 2.11

  

Repayment of Revolving Credit Loans

     68  

SECTION 2.12

  

Optional Prepayment

     68  

SECTION 2.13

  

Mandatory Prepayments

     69  

SECTION 2.14

  

Reserve Requirements; Change in Circumstances

     70  

SECTION 2.15

  

Change in Legality

     71  

SECTION 2.16

  

Indemnity

     72  

SECTION 2.17

  

Pro Rata Treatment

     72  

SECTION 2.18

  

Sharing of Setoffs

     72  

SECTION 2.19

  

Payments

     73  

SECTION 2.20

  

Taxes

     74  

SECTION 2.21

  

Assignment of Commitments Under Certain Circumstances; Duty to Mitigate

     77  

SECTION 2.22

  

Swingline Loans

     79  

 

ii


SECTION 2.23

  

Letters of Credit

     80  

SECTION 2.24

  

Incremental Facilities

     84  

SECTION 2.25

  

Defaulting Lenders

     87  

SECTION 2.26

  

Flood Compliance Event

     90  
   ARTICLE III   
   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES   

SECTION 3.01

  

Organization; Powers

     90  

SECTION 3.02

  

Authorization

     90  

SECTION 3.03

  

Enforceability

     91  

SECTION 3.04

  

Governmental Approvals

     91  

SECTION 3.05

  

Intentionally Deleted

     91  

SECTION 3.06

  

Intentionally Deleted

     91  

SECTION 3.07

  

Title to Properties; Possession Under Leases

     91  

SECTION 3.08

  

Subsidiaries

     92  

SECTION 3.09

  

Litigation; Compliance with Laws

     92  

SECTION 3.10

  

Agreements

     92  

SECTION 3.11

  

Federal Reserve Regulations

     93  

SECTION 3.12

  

Investment Company Act

     93  

SECTION 3.13

  

Use of Proceeds

     93  

SECTION 3.14

  

Taxes

     93  

SECTION 3.15

  

No Material Misstatements

     93  

SECTION 3.16

  

Employee Benefit Plans

     94  

SECTION 3.17

  

Environmental Matters

     94  

SECTION 3.18

  

Insurance

     95  

SECTION 3.19

  

Security Documents

     95  

SECTION 3.20

  

Location of Real Property and Leased Premises

     96  

SECTION 3.21

  

Labor Matters

     97  

SECTION 3.22

  

Solvency

     97  

SECTION 3.23

  

No Default

     97  

SECTION 3.24

  

Intellectual Property

     97  

SECTION 3.25

  

Existing Indebtedness, Liens and Investments

     98  

SECTION 3.26

  

USA PATRIOT Act etc.

     98  

SECTION 3.27

  

EEA Financial Institution

     98  

SECTION 3.28

  

Beneficial Ownership

     98  
   ARTICLE IV   
   CONDITIONS OF LENDING   

SECTION 4.01

  

Conditions Precedent to Initial Extension of Credit

     99  

SECTION 4.02

  

Conditions to All Credit Extensions

     102  

 

iii


   ARTICLE V   
   AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS   

SECTION 5.01

  

Existence; Compliance with Laws; Businesses and Properties

     103  

SECTION 5.02

  

Insurance

     103  

SECTION 5.03

  

Obligations and Taxes

     104  

SECTION 5.04

  

Financial Statements, Reports, etc.

     105  

SECTION 5.05

  

Litigation and Other Notices

     108  

SECTION 5.06

  

[Reserved]

     108  

SECTION 5.07

  

Maintaining Records; Access to Properties and Inspections; Maintenance of Ratings

     108  

SECTION 5.08

  

Use of Proceeds

     109  

SECTION 5.09

  

Employee Benefits

     109  

SECTION 5.10

  

Compliance with Environmental Laws

     109  

SECTION 5.11

  

Preparation of Environmental Reports

     109  

SECTION 5.12

  

Further Assurances

     109  

SECTION 5.13

  

Intentionally Omitted

     111  

SECTION 5.14

  

Intentionally Omitted

     111  

SECTION 5.15

  

Cash Dominion

     111  

SECTION 5.16

  

Sanctions; Anticorruption Laws and Anti-Terrorism Laws

     111  
   ARTICLE VI   
   NEGATIVE COVENANTS   

SECTION 6.01

  

Indebtedness

     112  

SECTION 6.02

  

Liens

     116  

SECTION 6.03

  

Sale and Lease Back Transactions

     120  

SECTION 6.04

  

Investments, Loans and Advances

     120  

SECTION 6.05

  

Mergers, Consolidations, Sales of Assets and Acquisitions

     123  

SECTION 6.06

  

Restricted Payments; Restrictive Agreements

     125  

SECTION 6.07

  

Transactions with Affiliates

     127  

SECTION 6.08

  

Other Indebtedness and Agreements

     128  

SECTION 6.09

  

Intentionally Omitted

     128  

SECTION 6.10

  

Intentionally Omitted

     128  

SECTION 6.11

  

Minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio

     128  

SECTION 6.12

  

Fiscal Year

     128  

SECTION 6.13

  

Intentionally Omitted

     129  

SECTION 6.14

  

Business of Holdings, Borrowers and Restricted Subsidiaries

     129  

SECTION 6.15

  

Designation of Unrestricted Subsidiaries and Re-Designation of Restricted Subsidiaries

     129  

 

iv


   ARTICLE VII   
   EVENTS OF DEFAULT   

SECTION 7.01

  

Events of Default

     130  
   ARTICLE VIII   
   AGENTS   

SECTION 8.01

  

Authorization and Action

     134  

SECTION 8.02

  

Agent Individually

     134  

SECTION 8.03

  

Duties of Agents; Exculpatory Provisions

     135  

SECTION 8.04

  

Reliance by Agents

     136  

SECTION 8.05

  

Indemnification

     137  

SECTION 8.06

  

Delegation of Duties

     138  

SECTION 8.07

  

Resignation of Agent

     138  

SECTION 8.08

  

Non-Reliance on Agent and Other Lenders

     139  

SECTION 8.09

  

No Other Duties, etc.

     140  

SECTION 8.10

  

Agent May File Proofs of Claim

     140  

SECTION 8.11

  

Other Secured Agreements

     141  
   ARTICLE IX   
   MISCELLANEOUS   

SECTION 9.01

  

Notices

     142  

SECTION 9.02

  

Survival of Agreement

     144  

SECTION 9.03

  

Binding Effect

     144  

SECTION 9.04

  

Successors and Assigns

     144  

SECTION 9.05

  

Expenses; Indemnity

     149  

SECTION 9.06

  

Right of Setoff

     151  

SECTION 9.07

  

Applicable Law

     151  

SECTION 9.08

  

Waivers; Amendment

     151  

SECTION 9.09

  

Interest Rate Limitation

     153  

SECTION 9.10

  

Entire Agreement

     153  

SECTION 9.11

  

WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL

     153  

SECTION 9.12

  

Severability

     154  

SECTION 9.13

  

Counterparts

     154  

SECTION 9.14

  

Headings

     154  

SECTION 9.15

  

Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process

     154  

SECTION 9.16

  

Confidentiality

     155  

SECTION 9.17

  

USA PATRIOT Act Notice

     156  

SECTION 9.18

  

Joint and Several Liability of the Borrower Group

     156  

SECTION 9.19

  

Borrowing Agent

     157  

SECTION 9.20

  

LEGEND

     158  

SECTION 9.21

  

No Fiduciary Duty

     158  

 

v


SECTION 9.22

  

Release of Liens and Guarantees

     158  

SECTION 9.23

  

Intercreditor Agreements

     159  

SECTION 9.24

  

Lender Representations

     160  

SECTION 9.25

  

Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Certain Financial Institutions

     161  

SECTION 9.26

  

Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs

     161  

SECTION 9.27

  

Amendment and Restatement; No Novation

     162  

SCHEDULES

 

Schedule 1.01(a)

  

  

Existing Letter of Credit

Schedule 1.01(b)   

  

L/C Commitment

Schedule 1.01(d)

  

  

Permitted Investments

Schedule 1.01(e)

  

  

Revolving Credit Commitment

Schedule 3.08

  

  

Subsidiaries

Schedule 3.09

  

  

Litigation

Schedule 3.17

  

  

Environmental Matters

Schedule 3.18

  

  

Insurance

Schedule 3.20(a)

  

  

Owned Real Property

Schedule 3.20(b)

  

  

Leased Real Property

Schedule 6.01

  

  

Existing Indebtedness

Schedule 6.02

  

  

Existing Liens

Schedule 6.04

  

  

Investments

EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit A

  

  

Form of Administrative Questionnaire

Exhibit B

  

  

Form of Assignment and Acceptance

Exhibit C

  

  

Form of Borrowing Request

Exhibit D

  

  

Form of Guarantee and Collateral Agreement

Exhibit E

  

  

Form of ABL Intercreditor Agreement

Exhibit F

  

  

Form of Mortgage

Exhibit G

  

  

Credit and Collection Policies

Exhibit H

  

  

Form of Incremental Facility Joinder Agreement

Exhibit I

  

  

Forms of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

Exhibit J

  

  

Form of Borrowing Base Certificate

Exhibit K

  

  

Form of Solvency Certificate

 

vi


This SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of November 22, 2019 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Agreement”), among HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT COMPANY, a company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (“Holdings”), HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHERS INC., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (“HMHP”), HMH PUBLISHERS LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (“Publishers”), HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY, a corporation organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (“HMCo”, and together with HMHP and Publishers, collectively, the “Borrowers” and each, a “Borrower”), the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined in Article I), the Lenders (as defined in Article I), CITIBANK, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”) for the Lenders and CITIBANK, N.A., as collateral agent (in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”) for the Lenders.

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS

(1) Holdings, the Borrowers, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the lenders party thereto, Citibank N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent, and the other parties party thereto are parties to that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of July 22, 2015 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof, the “Existing Credit Agreement”), pursuant to which the lenders thereto extended or committed to extend certain credit facilities to the Borrowers.

(2) Holdings, the Borrowers and the Subsidiary Guarantors desire to amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement pursuant to the terms of this Agreement in order to obtain liquidity for working capital and for other general corporate purposes of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries.

(3) The Borrowers, Holdings and the Subsidiary Guarantors have requested that the Lenders provide them with a senior secured revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $250,000,000. The Lenders are willing to extend such credit under such facility to the Borrowers, and to amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.

ARTICLE I

Definitions

SECTION 1.01 Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings specified below:

ABL Intercreditor Agreement” shall mean the Second Amended and Restated Term Loan/Senior Notes/Revolving Facility Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement dated as of the date hereof, among the Agents, the administrative agent and the collateral agent in respect of the Term Loan Agreement, the trustee and collateral agent in respect of the Senior Notes, the Borrowers and the other parties thereto, substantially in the form of Exhibit E, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the requirements thereof and of this Agreement, and which shall also include any replacement intercreditor agreement entered into in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

1


ABR”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.

Accounts” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the UCC.

Acquired Affiliate” shall mean an Affiliate of a Loan Party that is merged into, acquired by, or that sells assets to, a Loan Party, which Affiliate is not a Loan Party prior to such merger, acquisition or sale.

“Acquired Borrowing Base Collateral” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the definition of “Borrowing Base”.

Acquired Entity” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the definition of “Permitted Acquisition”.

Acquisition” shall mean the acquisition by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary of all or substantially all the assets of a person or product line, division, or line of business of such person, or not less than 100% of the Equity Interests (other than directors’ qualifying shares) not previously held by Holdings and its Subsidiaries of a person so long as such acquisition is permitted by Section 6.04.

“Acquisition Date” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the definition of “Borrowing Base”.

Activities” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.02(b).

Adjusted LIBO Rate” shall mean, for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum equal to the product of (a) the LIBOR Screen Rate in respect of U.S. Dollars for the applicable Class of Loans for such Interest Period multiplied by (b) Statutory Reserves.

Adjustment Date” shall mean the date that is three Business Days after the date on which the Borrowing Base Certificate covering the last month (or week, if applicable) of any fiscal quarter is delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.04(j).

Administrative Agent” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble to this Agreement.

Administrative Questionnaire” shall mean an Administrative Questionnaire in the form of Exhibit A, or such other form as may be supplied from time to time by the Administrative Agent.

Affiliate” shall mean, when used with respect to a specified person, another person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the person specified.

 

2


Agent Parties” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.01(c).

Agents” shall mean, collectively, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent.

Agent’s Group” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.02(b).

Aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure” shall mean the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Lenders’ Revolving Credit Exposures.

Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble to this Agreement.

Alternate Base Rate” shall mean, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the higher of (a) 1% plus the Adjusted LIBO Rate for a one-month Interest Period commencing two Business Days after such day, as determined on such day and (b) the higher of (i) the Prime Rate in effect on such day and (ii) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day plus 1/2 of 1%. If the Administrative Agent shall have determined (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that it is unable to ascertain the Federal Funds Effective Rate for any reason, including the inability or failure of the Administrative Agent to obtain sufficient quotations in accordance with the terms of the definition thereof, the Alternate Base Rate shall be determined without regard to clause (b)(ii) of the preceding sentence until the circumstances giving rise to such inability no longer exist. Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Adjusted LIBO Rate, Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate shall be effective on the effective date of such change in the Adjusted LIBO Rate, Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate, as the case may be.

Anti-Terrorism Laws” shall mean any laws, statutes, regulations and orders, and all applicable restrictions imposed by any Governmental Authority, relating to terrorism or money laundering, including the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, and each of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) and any other enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto, the Executive Order and the USA PATRIOT Act.

Anticorruption Laws” shall mean the FCPA and any other laws, rules and regulations of any applicable jurisdiction concerning or relating to bribery or corruption including but not limited to FCPA and the UK 2010 Bribery Act.

Applicable Fee Percentage” shall mean, the rate per annum as determined pursuant to the pricing grid below based upon the average daily Availability for the most recently ended fiscal quarter immediately preceding such Adjustment Date:

 

Average Daily Availability (as
a percentage of the
Total Revolving Credit Commitment)

   Unused Commitment Fee  

³ 50.0%

     0.25

< 50.0%

     0.375

 

3


Any change in the Applicable Fee Percentage resulting from changes in average daily Availability shall become effective on the Adjustment Date and shall remain in effect until the next change to be effected pursuant to this paragraph. If any Borrowing Base Certificate is not delivered within the time period specified in Section 5.04(j), then, until the date that is three Business Days after the date on which such Borrowing Base Certificate is delivered, the Applicable Fee Percentage shall be 0.375% per annum.

In the event that at any time after the end of a fiscal quarter it is discovered that the average daily Availability for such fiscal quarter used for the determination of the Applicable Fee Percentage was less than the actual amount of the average daily Availability for such fiscal quarter, the Applicable Fee Percentage for such prior fiscal quarter shall be adjusted to the Unused Commitment Fee rate based on such actual average daily Availability for such fiscal quarter and any additional fee amount for the applicable period payable as a result of such recalculation shall be paid to the Administrative Agent on the next date on which the Unused Commitment Fee is due and payable to the Administrative Agent under Section 2.05(a).

Applicable Percentage” shall mean, (a) from the Closing Date to the first Adjustment Date occurring after February 29, 2020, 1.50% per annum, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, and 0.50% per annum, in the case of ABR Loans, and (b) on and from the first Adjustment Date after February 29, 2020, the Applicable Percentage will be the rate per annum as determined pursuant to the pricing grid below based upon the average daily Availability for the most recently ended fiscal quarter immediately preceding such Adjustment Date:

 

Average Daily Availability
(as a percentage of the Total
Revolving Credit Commitment)

   Applicable Percentage for
Eurodollar Loans
    Applicable Percentage for
ABR Loans
 

³ 66.7%

     1.50     0.50

³ 33.3% but < 66.7%

     1.75     0.75

< 33.3%

     2.00     1.00

Any change in the Applicable Percentage resulting from changes in average daily Availability shall become effective on the Adjustment Date and shall remain in effect until the next change to be effected pursuant to this paragraph. If any Borrowing Base Certificate is not delivered within the time period specified in Section 5.04(j), then, until the date that is three Business Days after the date on which such Borrowing Base Certificate is delivered, the rate level that is one rate level lower (i.e., higher margins) than the rate level theretofore in effect shall apply until such Borrowing Base Certificate is delivered; provided that if the Borrowing Base Certificate is not delivered within 5 days after the due date specified therefor in Section 5.04(j), then commencing on the day that occurs 5 days after such due date, until the date that is one Business Day after the date on which such Borrowing Base Certificate is delivered, the highest rate set forth in each column of the above pricing grid shall apply.

 

4


In the event that at any time after the end of a fiscal quarter it is discovered that the average daily Availability for such fiscal quarter used for the determination of the Applicable Percentage was less than the actual amount of the average daily Availability for such fiscal quarter, the Applicable Percentage for such prior fiscal quarter shall be adjusted to the applicable percentage based on such actual average daily Availability for such fiscal quarter and any additional interest for the applicable period payable as a result of such recalculation shall be paid to Lenders on the next date on which interest is due and payable to the Lenders under Section 2.06.

Arrangers” shall mean Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., BofA Securities, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, in their capacity as joint lead arrangers and joint lead bookrunners under this Agreement.

Article 55 BRRD” means Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU establishing a framework for the recovery and resolution of credit institutions and investment firms.

Asset Sale” shall mean the sale, transfer or other disposition (by way of merger, casualty, condemnation or otherwise, including any disposition of property to a Delaware Divided LLC pursuant to a Delaware LLC Division (or any comparable event under a different jurisdiction’s laws)) by Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries of (a) any Equity Interests of any of the Subsidiaries (other than directors’ qualifying shares) or (b) any other assets of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, other than (i) inventory, damaged, obsolete or worn out assets, and scrap, in each case disposed of in the ordinary course of business, and dispositions of Permitted Investments, (ii) sales, transfers and other dispositions between or among Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries, (iii) sales, transfers and other dispositions the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds of which are less than $15,000,000 with respect to any transaction or series of related transactions, (iv) sales and dispositions pursuant to Section 6.05(g), (v) leases, licenses, or subleases or sublicenses of any real or personal property in the ordinary course of business, (vi) abandonment of intellectual property of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary determined in good faith by the management of the Borrowers to be no longer useful or necessary in the operation of the business of Holdings and its Subsidiaries, and (vii) any sale, transfer or other disposition of Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral (as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement) under any Revolving Substitute Facility (as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement).

Assignment and Acceptance” shall mean an assignment and acceptance entered into by a Lender and an assignee, and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit B or such other form as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent.

Availability” at any time shall be equal to (a) the lesser of (i) the Borrowing Base at such time (as determined by reference to the most recent Borrowing Base Certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.04, as adjusted in accordance with this Agreement) and (ii) the Total Revolving Credit Commitment at such time minus (b) the Aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure at such time.

Availability Limit” at any time shall mean the greater of (i) $15,000,000 and (ii) 10.0% of the lesser of (x) the Total Revolving Credit Commitment at such time and (y) the Borrowing Base at such time (as determined by reference to the most recent Borrowing Base Certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.04, as adjusted in accordance with this Agreement); provided that, during the period commencing on April 1 through August 31 of each year, “Availability Limit” shall mean $20,000,000.

 

5


Bail-In Action” shall mean the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers.

Bail-In Legislation” shall mean (a) with respect to any EEA Member Country which has implemented, or which at any time implements, Article 55 BRRD, the relevant implementing law or regulation for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule or (b) in relation to any state other than such an EEA Member Country or (to the extent that the United Kingdom is not such an EEA Member Country) the United Kingdom, any analogous law or regulation from time to time which requires contractual recognition of any Write-down and Conversion Powers contained in that law or regulation.

Bank Product Reserves” shall mean all reserves which the Administrative Agent from time to time establishes in its Permitted Discretion for the Other Pari Passu Secured Obligations then outstanding.

Bankruptcy Code” shall mean Title 11 of the United States Code (11 U.S.C. §§ 101 et seq.), as amended.

Bankruptcy Laws” shall mean the Bankruptcy Code and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect.

Beneficial Ownership Certification” shall mean a certification regarding beneficial ownership required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

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 Internal Revenue 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 Internal Revenue Code) the assets of any such “employee benefit plan” or “plan”.

BHC Act Affiliate” of a party shall mean an “affiliate” (as such term is defined under, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 1841(k)) of such party.

Billing Date” shall mean, with respect to any Account, the date on which the invoice with respect thereto was generated.

BK Obligor” shall mean an Obligor that is (a) generally unable to make payment of its obligations when due, (b) a debtor in a voluntary or involuntary bankruptcy proceeding, or (c) the subject of a comparable receivership or insolvency proceeding.

Board” shall mean the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America.

 

6


Bona Fide Debt Fund” means any investment fund 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, notes, bonds and similar extensions of credit or securities in the ordinary course of its business, and whose managers (x) are not involved with equity investment decisions with respect to any of the persons identified in clause (i) and (ii) of the definition of the term “Disqualified Lenders” and (y) have no access to any information (other than information that is publicly available) relating to Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries.

Borrowers” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble to this Agreement.

Borrower Group” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.18.

Borrowing” shall mean (a) Loans of the same Class and Type made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect, or (b) a Swingline Loan.

Borrowing Agent” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.19.

Borrowing Base” shall mean, at any time, the sum of (a) 85% of Eligible Receivables, plus (b) the lesser of (i) 85% of the Orderly Liquidation Value of Eligible Inventory and (ii) 75% of the cost of Eligible Inventory less (c) Reserves (without duplication of any items that may be addressed in more than one Reserve or are otherwise addressed through eligibility criteria). The cost of Eligible Inventory shall be determined in accordance with GAAP.

In addition, in connection with any Permitted Acquisition or other material Investment, the Borrowers may submit a Borrowing Base Certificate reflecting a calculation of the Borrowing Base that includes Eligible Inventory or Eligible Receivables acquired in connection with such Permitted Acquisition or other Investment (the “Acquired Borrowing Base Collateral”) and, from and after the Acquisition Date (as defined below), the Borrowing Base shall be calculated giving effect thereto; provided that prior to the completion of a field examination with respect to such Acquired Borrowing Base Collateral, such adjustment to the Borrowing Base shall only be available if a Desktop Audit has been completed and shall be limited to 70% of the Acquired Borrowing Base Collateral (based on such Desktop Audit) from the date such Permitted Acquisition or other Investment is consummated (the “Acquisition Date”) until the date that is 90 days after the Acquisition Date (unless such date is extended as provided below); provided that from the 91st day following the Acquisition Date (or, to the extent that the value of such Acquired Borrowing Base Collateral (based on the Desktop Audit) does not exceed $20,000,000, such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion), the Borrowing Base shall be calculated without reference to the Acquired Borrowing Base Collateral that has not been subject to a field examination; it being understood and agreed that there shall be no Default or Event of Default solely as a result of a failure to complete and deliver such field examination on or prior to the dates indicated above.

 

7


Any determination by the Administrative Agent in respect of the Borrowing Base shall be based on the Administrative Agent’s Permitted Discretion. The parties understand that the exclusionary criteria in the definitions of Eligible Inventory, Eligible Receivables, any Reserves that may be imposed as provided herein, any deductions or other adjustments to determine book value of Eligible Receivables and factors considered in the calculation of the Orderly Liquidation Value of Eligible Inventory have the effect of reducing the Borrowing Base, and, accordingly, whether or not any provisions hereof so state, all of the foregoing shall be determined without duplication so as not to result in multiple reductions in the Borrowing Base for the same facts or circumstances.

Borrowing Base Certificate” shall mean a certificate in substantially the form of Exhibit J hereto (or another form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Borrowing Agent) (with such changes therein as may be required by the Administrative Agent to reflect the components of, and Reserves against, the Borrowing Base as provided for hereunder from time to time), executed and certified as accurate and complete in all material respects by a Responsible Officer of the Borrowing Agent, which shall include detailed calculations as to the Borrowing Base as reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent.

Borrowing Minimum” shall mean $1,000,000.

Borrowing Multiple” shall mean $500,000.

Borrowing Request” shall mean a request by a Borrower (or the Borrowing Agent on behalf of a Borrower) in accordance with the terms of Section 2.03 and substantially in the form of Exhibit C, or such other form as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent.

Breakage Event” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.16.

Budget” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.04(d).

Building” means a building or structure with at least two walls and a roof or any such building or structure in the course of construction.

Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or day on which banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to close; provided, however, that when used in connection with a Eurodollar Loan, the term “Business Day” shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open for dealings in deposits in such currency in the London interbank market.

Capital Expenditures” shall mean, for any period, (a) the additions to property, plant and equipment and other capital expenditures of Holdings and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries that are (or should be) set forth in a consolidated statement of cash flows of Holdings for such period prepared in accordance with GAAP and (b) Capital Lease Obligations or Synthetic Lease Obligations incurred by Holdings and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries during such period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Capital Expenditures shall not include (a) the purchase price of equipment that is purchased substantially contemporaneously with the trade in of existing equipment to the extent that the gross amount of such purchase price is reduced by the credit granted by the seller of such equipment for the equipment being traded in at such time as the proceeds of such disposition, (b) the purchase of plant, property or equipment made within the Reinvestment Period (under and as defined in the Term Loan Agreement) in respect of any Asset Sale to the extent made with the Net Cash Proceeds of such Asset Sale, (c) expenditures of

 

8


proceeds of insurance settlements, condemnation awards and other settlements in respect of lost, destroyed, damaged or condemned assets, equipment or other property to the extent such expenditures are made to replace or repair such lost, destroyed, damaged or condemned assets, equipment or other property or otherwise to acquire assets or properties useful in the business of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries within 365 days of receipt of such proceeds, (d) interest capitalized during such period, (e) expenditures that are accounted for as capital expenditures of such person and that actually are paid for by a third party (excluding Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof) and for which neither Holdings nor any Restricted Subsidiary thereof has provided, or is required to provide or incur, any consideration or obligation to such third party or any other person (whether before, during or after such period), (f) the book value of any asset owned by such person prior to or during such period to the extent that such book value is included as a Capital Expenditure during such period as a result of such person reusing or beginning to reuse such asset during such period without a corresponding expenditure actually having been made in such period; provided that any expenditure necessary in order to permit such asset to be reused shall be included as a Capital Expenditure during the period that such expenditure actually is made and such book value shall have been included in Capital Expenditures when such asset was originally acquired, or (g) expenditures that constitute Permitted Acquisitions or Acquisitions. For the avoidance of doubt, Capital Expenditure will be deemed to include the capitalized portion of pre-publication and pre-production costs.

Capital Lease” shall mean, as applied to any person, any lease of any property (whether real, personal or mixed) by such person as lessee, that, in conformity with GAAP, is or should be accounted for as a capital lease on the balance sheet of such person; provided that all obligations of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are or would be characterized as an operating lease as determined in accordance with GAAP as in effect on December 15, 2018 (whether or not such operating lease was in effect on such date) shall continue to be accounted for as an operating lease (and not as a Capital Lease) for purposes of this Agreement regardless of any change in GAAP following December 15, 2018 (or any change in the implementation in GAAP for future periods that are contemplated as of December 15, 2018) that would otherwise require such obligation to be recharacterized as a Capital Lease.

Capital Lease Obligations” of any person shall mean the obligations of such person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as Capital Leases on a balance sheet of such person under GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.

Cash Collateralize” shall mean, to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of one or more of the Issuing Banks or Lenders, as collateral for L/C Exposure or obligations of Lenders to fund participations in respect of L/C Exposure, cash or deposit account balances (or, if the Administrative Agent and each applicable Issuing Bank shall agree in their sole discretion, other credit support, including by backstopping with other letters of credit), in each case in an amount not less than 103% (or 100%, in the case of Cash Collateralization required under Section 2.25(d)) of the face amount of such L/C Exposure pursuant to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each applicable Issuing Bank. “Cash Collateral” shall have a meaning correlative to the foregoing and shall include the proceeds of such cash collateral and other credit support.

 

9


Cash Dominion Period” shall mean (a) any period commencing on the date (i) when Availability has been, for 3 consecutive Business Days including such date, less than the Availability Limit or (ii) when Availability is less than $20,000,000, and continuing, in each case of each of the foregoing, until the date when Availability has been, for 20 consecutive calendar days including such date, at least the Availability Limit and (b) upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, the period during which such Event of Default shall be continuing.

Cash Management Services Agreement” means any agreement relating to commercial credit or debit card, merchant card, or purchasing card programs (including non-card e-payables services), or treasury, depository, or cash management services (including automatic clearing house transfer of funds, overdraft, controlled disbursement, electronic funds transfer, lockbox, stop payment, return item and wire transfer services).

Change in Law” shall mean (a) the adoption of any law, rule or regulation after the date of this Agreement, (b) any change in any law, rule or regulation or in the interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority after the date of this Agreement or (c) compliance by any Lender or the Issuing Bank (or, for purposes of Section 2.14, by any lending office of such Lender or by such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any) with any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the date of this Agreement; provided that notwithstanding anything to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the rules and regulations with respect thereto, and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines and directions promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any similar or successor agency, or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case, pursuant to Basel III), shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date adopted or enacted.

Change of Control” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following:

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

(b) the consummation 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), in a single transaction or in a related series of transactions, by way of merger, consolidation or other business combination or purchase of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d 3 under the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of Holdings or any of its direct or indirect parent companies holding directly or indirectly 100% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of Holdings;

 

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(c) a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) of the board of directors of Holdings shall be occupied by individuals who are not Continuing Directors; or

(d) any Borrower ceases to be a wholly owned Subsidiary of Holdings (except in a transaction permitted under Section 6.05).

Charges” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.09.

Class”, when used in reference to (a) any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Revolving Credit Loans, New Revolving Credit Loans or Swingline Loans and (b) when used in reference to any Commitment, refers to whether such Commitment is a Revolving Credit Commitment or New Revolving Credit Commitment.

Closing Date” shall mean November 22, 2019.

Co-Manager” shall mean Citizens Bank, N.A. in its capacity as co-manager under this Agreement.

Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

Collateral” shall mean all the “Collateral” as defined in any Security Document and any other assets or property pledged or on which a Lien is granted pursuant to any Security Document and shall also include the Mortgaged Properties.

Collateral Agent” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble to this Agreement.

Commitment” shall mean, with respect to any Lender, such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment and New Revolving Credit Commitment.

Communications” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.01.

Competitor” means a bona fide competitor of the Borrowers or any of their respective Subsidiaries, that is in a similar line of business as the Borrowers, as determined in good faith by the Borrowers.

Compliance Certificate” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.04(c).

Consolidated EBITDA” shall mean, for any period, Consolidated Net Income for such period, plus: (a) without duplication and to the extent deducted in determining such Consolidated Net Income, the sum of: (i) consolidated interest expense for such period; (ii) provisions for taxes based on income, profits or losses (determined on a consolidated basis) during such period; (iii) all amounts attributable to depreciation and amortization for such period; (iv) any extraordinary losses for such period; (v) any fees, expenses or charges for such period related to any equity offering, Investment, acquisition permitted hereunder, permitted disposition, recapitalization or the incurrence of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred hereunder, including a

 

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refinancing thereof (in each case, whether or not successful) and any amendment or modification to the terms of any such transactions, deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income for such period; provided that the aggregate amount of such costs added back to Consolidated EBITDA shall not exceed $10,000,000 for any period of four consecutive quarters; (vi) any non-cash charges for such period (for the avoidance of doubt, including, but not limited to, purchase accounting adjustments, assets impairments and equity compensation charges); (vii) restructuring charges for such period relating to current or anticipated future cash expenditures, including restructuring costs related to closure or consolidation of facilities, and severance and other separation costs and post-retirement medical expenses in an aggregate amount not to exceed $10,000,000 for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters; (viii) [intentionally omitted]; (ix) other non-recurring charges for such period in an aggregate amount not to exceed $5,000,000 for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters (for the avoidance of doubt, including, but not limited to, acquisition related expenses, whether or not the acquisition was consummated); and (x) deferred financing fees (and any write-offs thereof); provided that to the extent not reflected in Consolidated Net Income for the period in which such cash payment is made, any cash payment made with respect to any non-cash charges added back in computing Consolidated EBITDA for any prior period pursuant to clause (v) above (or that would have been added back had this Agreement been in effect during such prior period) shall be subtracted in computing Consolidated EBITDA for the period in which such cash payment is made; and minus (b) without duplication and to the extent included in determining such Consolidated Net Income: (i) any extraordinary gains for such period; and (ii) any non-cash gains for such period (excluding any non-cash gain to the extent it represents the reversal of an accrual or reserve for a potential cash item that reduced Consolidated EBITDA in any prior period), in each case of clauses (a) and (b), all determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that Consolidated EBITDA for any period shall be calculated so as to exclude (without duplication of any adjustment referred to above) the effect of: (A) the cumulative effect of any changes in GAAP or accounting principles applied by management; (B) any gain or loss for such period that represents after-tax gains or losses attributable to any sale, transfer or other disposition or abandonment of assets by Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, other than dispositions or sales of inventory and other dispositions in the ordinary course of business; (C) any income or loss for such period attributable to the early extinguishment of Indebtedness or accounts payable; (D) any non-cash gains or losses on foreign currency derivatives and any foreign currency transaction non-cash gains or losses and any foreign currency exchange translation gains or losses that arise on consolidation of integrated operations; and (E) mark-to-market adjustments in the valuation of derivative obligations resulting from the application of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.

Consolidated First Lien Debt” shall mean, without duplication, as of any date of determination, (a) the aggregate principal amount of all Total Debt outstanding hereunder as of such date and all other outstanding Total Debt secured by Liens on the Collateral that are not junior in priority to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations as of such date minus (b) the aggregate amount of cash and Permitted Investments on the consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries on such date, excluding cash and Permitted Investments which are or should be listed as “restricted” on the consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date, but which amount shall not exceed $200,000,000 in the aggregate for the purposes of this definition. It is understood that the aggregate principal amount of Total Debt outstanding under the Credit Facilities as of the applicable date of determination shall be included in clause (a) above.

 

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Consolidated Interest Expense” shall mean, for any period, the excess of (a) the sum of (i) the interest expense (including imputed interest expense in respect of Capital Lease Obligations and Synthetic Lease Obligations) of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period (net of cash interest income of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period), determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP plus (ii) any interest accrued during such period in respect of Indebtedness of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary that is required to be capitalized rather than included in consolidated interest expense for such period in accordance with GAAP, plus (iii) any cash payments made during such period in respect of obligations referred to in clause (b)(ii) below that were amortized or accrued in a previous period, minus (b) to the extent included in the amount determined pursuant to clause (a) above for such period, the sum of (i) non cash amounts attributable to amortization of financing costs paid in a previous period, plus (ii) non-cash amounts attributable to amortization of debt discounts or accrued interest payable in kind for such period, plus (iii) non cash adjustments attributed to the effects of recording debt at fair value. For purposes of the foregoing, interest expense shall be determined after giving effect to any net payments made or received by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to interest rate Hedging Agreements and without giving effect to the movement of mark-to-market valuation of obligations under Hedging Agreements or other derivative instruments pursuant to GAAP (for the avoidance of doubt, up-front payments made to enter into Hedging Agreements to provide interest rate protection will be spread over the period of the protection provided thereunder).

Consolidated Net Income” shall mean, for any period, the net income or loss of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that, without duplication, there shall be (x) other than for the purposes of making calculations of the Net Total Leverage Ratio solely in connection with Sections 6.06(a) and 6.08(b), included an amount equal to the Owned Percentage of the income of any Majority-Owned Subsidiary that is consolidated with Holdings in accordance with GAAP and (y) excluded (a) the income of any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by the Restricted Subsidiary of that income is not at the time permitted by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to such Restricted Subsidiary, (b) the income or loss of any person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is merged into or consolidated with Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary or the date that such person’s assets are acquired by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, (c) the income of any person (other than any Majority-Owned Subsidiary) in which any other person (other than Holdings or a wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary or any director holding qualifying shares in accordance with applicable law) has a joint interest, except to the extent of the amount of dividends or other distributions actually paid to Holdings or a wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary by such person during such period, (d) any net after-tax gains or losses attributable to sales of assets out of the ordinary course of business (determined in good faith by the Borrowers), (e) any net after-tax extraordinary gains or extraordinary losses, (f) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles that occurs after the Closing Date, (g) any net after-tax income or loss from disposed, abandoned, closed or discontinued operations and any net after-tax gain or loss on disposal of disposed, abandoned, closed or discontinued operations, (h)

 

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any net after-tax income or loss (less all fees and expenses or charges relating thereto) attributable to the early extinguishment of Indebtedness, Hedging Agreements or other derivative instruments, (i) effects of purchase accounting adjustments in component amounts required or permitted by GAAP, resulting from the application of purchase accounting in relation to any acquisition permitted hereunder consummated after the Closing Date, (j) any non-cash expenses realized or resulting from stock option plans, employee benefit plans or post-employment benefit plans, or grants or sales of stock, stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock grants or other rights to officers, directors and employees of such person or any of its subsidiaries, (k) any accruals and reserves that are established within twelve months after the Closing Date and that are so required to be established in accordance with GAAP and (l) to the extent covered by insurance and actually reimbursed, or, so long as there exists reasonable evidence that such amount will in fact be reimbursed by the insurer and only to the extent that such amount is (i) not denied by the applicable carrier in writing within 180 days, and (ii) in fact reimbursed within 365 days of the date of such evidence (with a deduction for any amount so added back to the extent not so reimbursed within 365 days), expenses with respect to liability or casualty events or business interruption; provided that any proceeds of such reimbursement when received shall be excluded from the calculation of Consolidated Net Income to the extent the expense reimbursed was previously excluded pursuant to this clause (l).

Consolidated Secured Debt” shall mean, without duplication, as of any date of determination, (a) the aggregate principal amount of all Total Debt, outstanding hereunder as of such date and all other outstanding Total Debt secured by Liens on any assets or property of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary minus (b) the aggregate amount of cash and Permitted Investments on the consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries on such date, excluding cash and Permitted Investments which are or should be listed as “restricted” on the consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date, but which amount shall not exceed $200,000,000 in the aggregate for the purposes of this definition.

Continuing Directors” shall mean (i) the directors of Holdings on the Closing Date and (ii) each other director (A) whose election or nomination to the board of directors was approved by individuals referred to in clause (i) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of the board of directors or (B) whose election or nomination to the board was approved by individuals referred to in clause (i) and (ii)(A) above (or individuals previously approved under this clause (B)) constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of the board (in each case, with such approval either by a specific vote or by approval of Holdings’ proxy statement in which such member was named as a nominee for election as a director).

Contract” shall mean any agreement or invoice pursuant to, or under which, an Obligor shall be obligated to make payments with respect to any Account.

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 ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and the terms “Controlling” and “Controlled” shall have meanings correlative thereto.

 

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Convertible Bond Hedge Transactions” means any bond hedge, capped call or similar option transaction (including warrants) entered into in connection with the issuance of Convertible Bond Indebtedness.

Convertible Bond Indebtedness” means any notes, bonds, debentures or similar instruments issued by Holdings, the Borrowers or one of their Subsidiaries that are convertible into or exchangeable for (x) cash, (y) shares of Holdings’ common stock or preferred stock or other Equity Interests other than Disqualified Stock or (z) a combination thereof.

Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, in the case of any Convertible Bond Indebtedness for which the embedded conversion obligation must be settled by paying solely cash, so long as substantially concurrently with the offering of such Convertible Bond Indebtedness, Holdings, the Borrowers or a Subsidiary enters into a cash-settled Convertible Bond Hedge Transaction relating to such Convertible Bond Indebtedness, notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, for so long as such Convertible Bond Hedge Transaction (or a portion thereof corresponding to the amount of outstanding Convertible Bond Indebtedness) remains in effect, all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made as if the amount of Indebtedness represented by such Convertible Bond Indebtedness were equal to the face principal amount thereof without regard to any mark-to-market derivative accounting for such Indebtedness.

Copyrights” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

Covered Entity” shall mean any of the following: (i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

Covered Party shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.26.

Credit and Collection Policies” shall mean the written credit, collection, customer relations and service policies of the Loan Parties in effect on the Closing Date and attached as Exhibit G, excluding any amendment, restatement, supplement or other modification thereof unless the same is consistent with past practices or made solely to cure any ambiguity.

Credit Event” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.02.

Credit Facilities” shall mean the revolving credit, swingline and letter of credit facilities provided for by this Agreement.

Cumulative Credit” means, at any time (the “Reference Date”), the sum (not less than zero) of (without duplication and determined on a cumulative basis):

(a) 100% of the aggregate amount of capital contributions and net cash proceeds from the sale or issuance of Equity Interests of Holdings permitted hereunder (other than any amounts constituting proceeds of issuances of Disqualified Stock) received by Holdings during the period from and including the Business Day immediately following the Closing Date through and including the Reference Date; plus

 

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(b) an amount equal to any net cash returns (including dividends, interest, distributions, returns of principal, profits on sale, repayments, income and similar amounts) actually received by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of any Investments made pursuant to clause (ii) of Section 6.04(t); minus

(c) the aggregate amount of any Investments made pursuant to clause (ii) of Section 6.04(t), any Restricted Payment made pursuant to Section 6.06(a)(vi) of the Term Loan Agreement and any distribution, payment, redemption, repurchase, retirement or acquisition of Subordinated Indebtedness made pursuant to subclause (ii)(I) of Section 6.08(b) during the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the Reference Date (and, for purposes of this clause (c), without taking account of the intended usage of the Cumulative Credit on such Reference Date in the contemplated transaction).

Default” shall mean any Event of Default or any event or condition which upon notice, lapse of time or both would constitute an Event of Default.

Default Right” shall have the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

Defaulting Lender” shall mean, at any time, subject to Section 2.25(b), any Lender that (a) has failed to (i) fund all or any portion of its Loans within two Business Days of the date such Loans were required to be funded hereunder unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, or (ii) pay to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank, any Swingline Lender or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder (including in respect of its participation in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans) within two Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent or any Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender in writing that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations hereunder, or has made a public statement to that effect (unless such writing or public statement relates to such Lender’s obligation to fund a Loan hereunder and states that such position is based on such Lender’s determination that a condition precedent to funding (which condition precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing or public statement) cannot be satisfied), (c) has failed, within three Business Days after written request by the Administrative Agent or the Borrowers, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder (provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers) or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law, (ii) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity or (iii) become the subject

 

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of a Bail-In Action; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any equity interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender. Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under any one or more of clauses (a) through (d) above shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.25(b)) upon delivery of written notice of such determination to the Borrowers, each Issuing Bank, each Swingline Lender and each Lender.

Delaware Divided LLC” shall mean any Delaware LLC which has been formed upon consummation of a Delaware LLC Division.

Delaware LLC” shall mean any limited liability company organized or formed under the laws of the State of Delaware.

Delaware LLC Division” shall mean the statutory division of any Delaware LLC into two or more Delaware LLCs pursuant to Section 18-217 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act.

Designated Non-Cash Consideration” shall mean the fair market value of non-cash consideration received by Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with a disposition pursuant to Section 6.05(f) that is designated as Designated Non-Cash Consideration pursuant to a certificate of a Financial Officer, setting forth the basis of such valuation (which amount will be reduced by the fair market value of the portion of the non-cash consideration converted to cash or Permitted Investments in connection with a subsequent sale of such non-cash consideration within 270 days following the consummation of the applicable disposition).

Designated Pari Passu Amount” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.11(a).

Desktop Audit” means the determination of assets that are eligible to be included in the Borrowing Base by a review of the current assets specified in the financial statements of the Acquired Entity in a Permitted Acquisition, or, in connection with a material Investment that is not a Permitted Acquisition, a review of such other information regarding the acquired assets as may be acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion, as applicable, which determination (x) is reasonably made by the Administrative Agent using its Permitted Discretion and Holdings, and (y) can be supplemented by electronic access to books and records of such Acquired Entity or regarding the assets acquired in a material Investment that is not a Permitted Acquisition.

Dilution Factors” shall mean, with respect to any Account of any Loan Party, any portion of which (a) was reduced, canceled or written-off as a result of (i) any credits, rebates, freight charges, cash discounts, volume discounts, cooperative advertising expenses, royalty payments, warranties, cost of parts required to be maintained by agreement (either express or

 

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implied), allowances for early payment, warehouse and other allowances, defective, rejected, returned or repossessed merchandise or services, or any failure by any Loan Party to deliver any merchandise or services or otherwise perform under the underlying Contract or invoice, (ii) any change in or cancellation of any of the terms of the underlying Contract or invoice or any cash discount, rebate, retroactive price adjustment or any other adjustment by the applicable Loan Party, in each case, which reduces the amount payable by the Obligor on the related Account except to the extent based on credit related reasons, or (iii) any setoff in respect of any claim by the Obligor thereof (whether such claim arises out of the same or a related transaction or an unrelated transaction), other than (x) any credits issued that relate to Obligor chargebacks on Accounts that do not constitute Eligible Receivables and (y) any credits issued that relate to rebilled transactions if such credits were issued within 30 days of the date of the previously arising Account or (b) is subject to any specific dispute, offset, counterclaim or defense whatsoever (except discharge in bankruptcy of the Obligor thereof).

Dilution Ratio” shall mean, at any date, as to the Accounts owned by the Loan Parties, the amount (expressed as a percentage) obtained by dividing (a) the applicable seasonally adjusted Dilution Factors for the twelve most recently ended fiscal months with respect to the Loan Parties’ Accounts, by (b) the total gross sales with respect to the Loan Parties’ Accounts for the twelve fiscal month period ending two fiscal months prior to the end of the period described in clause (a).

Dilution Reserve” shall mean, at any date, 85% of the product of (a) the excess (if positive) of (i) the applicable Dilution Ratio minus (ii) 5.0% multiplied by (b) the aggregate amount of Eligible Receivables of the Loan Parties on such date; provided, that if such product is a negative number, the Dilution Reserve shall be deemed to be zero.

Disqualified Lenders” shall mean (i) such Persons that have been specified in writing to the Initial Arrangers prior to the date on which the Initial Arrangers commenced marketing of the Term Loans to potential Lenders, (ii) Competitors that have been specified by name in writing to the Administrative Agent from time to time and (iii) in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), any of their Affiliates that are (A) specified by name in writing to the Administrative Agent from time to time or (B) reasonably identifiable on the basis of such Affiliate’s name (in each case, other than Affiliates that are Bona Fide Debt Funds); it being understood, that any subsequent designation of a Disqualified Lender shall not apply retroactively to disqualify any person that has been assigned any Loans or any participation therein in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

Disqualified Stock” shall mean any Equity Interest that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event, (a) matures (excluding any maturity as the result of an optional redemption by the issuer thereof) or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, or requires the payment of any cash dividend or any other scheduled payment constituting a return of capital, in each case at any time on or prior to the first anniversary of the Latest Maturity Date (as determined at the time of incurrence or issuance), or (b) is convertible into or exchangeable (unless at the sole option of the issuer thereof) for (i) debt securities or (ii) any Equity Interest referred to in clause (a) above, in each case at any time prior to the first anniversary of the Latest Maturity Date (as determined at the time of incurrence or issuance).

 

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Domestic Subsidiaries” shall mean all Subsidiaries incorporated or organized under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia.

EEA Financial Institution” shall mean (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” shall mean any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

EEA Resolution Authority” shall mean any public administrative authority or any person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.

Eligible Assignee” shall mean any commercial bank, insurance company, investment or mutual fund, financial institution or other entity that is an “accredited investor” (as defined in Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) that extends credit or invests in bank loans in the ordinary course; provided that no natural person (or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated by or for the primary benefit of, natural persons) and none of the Borrowers, Disqualified Lenders, Defaulting Lenders or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Defaulting Lenders shall be an Eligible Assignee.

Eligible Inventory” shall mean all Inventory of the Loan Parties reflected in the most recent Borrowing Base Certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.04, except any Inventory with respect to which any of the exclusionary criteria set forth below applies (unless the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion elects to include such Inventory). No Inventory shall be Eligible Inventory if it is:

(a) Inventory to which a Loan Party does not have good, valid and unencumbered title, subject to no Liens other than Liens granted to the Collateral Agent under the Loan Documents, Liens that are subject to the Intercreditor Agreements and Permitted Encumbrances;

(b) Inventory that is not finished goods, raw materials or work in process or that consists of packaging or shipping materials, labels, samples, display items, bags, replacement parts or manufacturing supplies;

(c) Inventory placed on consignment by a Loan Party or subject to any deposit or down payment, unless the Collateral Agent has received an appropriate Lien Waiver or collateral access agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, or an appropriate Reserve has been established;

 

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(d) Inventory that is not in new and saleable condition or that is obsolete, non-conforming, unmerchantable, unusable, defective, damaged, shopworn or otherwise unfit for sale, or identified as a write-off, overstock or excess by a Loan Party (as determined in the ordinary course of business);

(e) Inventory that is subject to a recall or is otherwise being held for quality control purposes;

(f) Inventory that does not meet in all material respects all standards imposed by any Governmental Authority or that constitutes hazardous materials under any Environmental Law;

(g) Inventory that does not conform in all material respects with the representations and warranties contained in any Loan Document;

(h) Inventory that is not subject to the Collateral Agent’s duly perfected, first priority Lien (subject to Liens permitted pursuant to Section 6.02(d) or (l), in each case, to the extent such Liens arise by operation of law and are not created, granted or incurred with the consent of any Loan Party, and, in the case of Inventory otherwise permitted by clauses (n) (with respect to premises or locations covered by a Rent Reserve) or (o) below, any Lien permitted by Section 6.02(c));

(i) Inventory that is not within the United States, or that is in transit except between locations of the Loan Parties;

(j) Inventory that is subject to any warehouse receipt or negotiable Document;

(k) Inventory (other than Acquired Borrowing Base Collateral) for which field audits and appraisals have not been completed by the Administrative Agent or a qualified independent appraiser reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent utilizing procedures and criteria acceptable to the Administrative Agent for determining the value of such Inventory;

(l) Inventory to the extent any value thereof is attributable to intercompany profit among the Loan Parties or their Affiliates;

(m) Inventory that is subject to any License or other arrangement that restricts the Loan Parties’ or the Collateral Agent’s right to dispose of such Inventory, unless the Collateral Agent has received an appropriate Lien Waiver or evidence that the applicable royalties have been duly paid;

(n) Inventory that is located at third party premises or a location not owned by a Loan Party, and is subject to landlord’s or warehousemen’s Liens or other Liens arising by operation of law, unless the premises or location are covered by a Lien Waiver or an appropriate Rent Reserve (and a Reserve in respect of offset or counterclaim) has been established; or

(o) Inventory that is located at third party premises that is subject to landlord’s or warehousemen’s Liens or other Liens arising by operation of law, and the premises or location is not covered by a Lien Waiver or an appropriate Rent Reserve (and a Reserve in respect of offset or counterclaim), in excess of $100,000 at any one location;

 

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provided that prior to the date that occurs 60 days following the Closing Date (or such longer period not to exceed 120 days following the Closing Date, as the Administrative Agent may allow in its Permitted Discretion), Inventory held on consignment by depositories shall not be deemed ineligible by reason of clause (c), and Inventory shall not be deemed ineligible by reason of clause (n), in each case unless the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion shall determine otherwise.

If any Inventory at any time ceases to be Eligible Inventory, such Inventory shall promptly be excluded from the calculation of the Borrowing Base; provided, however, that if any Inventory ceases to be Eligible Inventory because of the adjustment of or imposition of new exclusionary criteria pursuant to the succeeding paragraph, the Administrative Agent will not require exclusion of such Inventory from the Borrowing Base until five (5) days following the date on which the Administrative Agent gives notice to the Borrowers of such ineligibility.

The Administrative Agent reserves the right, at any time and from time to time after the Closing Date, to adjust any of the exclusionary criteria set forth above and to establish new criteria, in its Permitted Discretion (based on an analysis of material facts or events first occurring, or first discovered by the Administrative Agent, after the Closing Date), subject to the approval of the Supermajority Lenders in the case of adjustments or new criteria which have the effect of making more credit available than would be available based upon the criteria in effect on the Closing Date. The Administrative Agent acknowledges that as of the Closing Date it does not know of any circumstance or condition with respect to the Inventory that would require the adjustment or imposition of any of the exclusionary criteria set forth above.

Eligible Receivable” shall mean, as of any date of determination, an Account owned by a Loan Party:

(a) (i) that is due and payable within 180 days of the Billing Date thereof and (ii) with respect to which no payment or part thereof remains unpaid for more than 120 days after its original Receivable Maturity Date or more than 180 days after its Billing Date; provided that if such Account is a Long-Term Account, such Account shall be deemed to be an Eligible Receivable for the period commencing with the day that is 90 days prior to the original Receivable Maturity Date of such Account until (so long as it remains unpaid) the day that is 60 days after the original Receivable Maturity Date of such Account;

(b) that is not a liability of an Obligor with respect to which more than 50% of the aggregate outstanding balance of all Accounts owing by such Obligor are not Eligible Receivables due to the criteria set forth in paragraph (a) above;

(c) that is not a liability of an Excluded Obligor;

(d) that is denominated and payable in U.S. Dollars and is not represented by a note or other negotiable instrument or by chattel paper;

(e) that is not subject to any right of rescission, dispute, offset (including, without limitation, as a result of customer promotional allowances, deposits, overpayments, discounts, rebates, or claims for damages), hold back defense, adverse claim or other claim or defense (with only the portion of any such Account subject to any such right of rescission, dispute, offset

 

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(including, without limitation, as a result of customer promotional allowances, deposits, overpayments, discounts, rebates, or claims for damages), hold back defense, adverse claim or defense or other claim being considered not an Eligible Receivable by virtue of this clause (d)), whether arising out of transactions concerning the Contract therefor or otherwise;

(f) with respect to which the Obligor thereunder is not a BK Obligor unless such Loan Party is determined in the applicable bankruptcy, receivership or insolvency proceedings to have a claim on such Account prior and senior to the claim of any other creditor of such Obligor on such Account;

(g) [intentionally omitted]

(h) that does not represent “billed but not yet shipped” goods or merchandise, partially performed or unperformed services, consigned goods or “sale or return” goods and does not arise from a transaction for which any additional performance by the applicable Loan Party, or acceptance by or other act of the Obligor thereunder, including any required submission of documentation, remains to be performed as a condition to any payments on such Account or the enforceability of such Account under applicable law;

(i) such Account is owned by such Loan Party, free and clear of any Liens other than Liens granted to the Collateral Agent under the Loan Documents, Liens that are subject to the Intercreditor Agreements and Permitted Encumbrances;

(j) that is not the liability of an Obligor that has any claim against or affecting such Loan Party or the property of such Loan Party which gives rise to a right of set-off against such Account (with only that portion of Accounts owing by such Obligor equal to the amount of such claim being not an Eligible Receivable);

(k) that was originated in accordance with and satisfies in all material respects all applicable requirements of the Credit and Collection Policies;

(l) that arises under a Contract, which, together with such Account, is in full force and effect and constitutes the genuine, legal, valid and binding obligation of the Obligor thereunder enforceable against such Obligor by the holder thereof in accordance with its terms;

(m) that is entitled to be paid pursuant to the terms of the Contract therefor and has not been paid in full or been compromised, adjusted, extended, reduced, satisfied, subordinated, rescinded or modified (except for adjustments to the outstanding balance thereof to reflect Dilution Factors made in accordance with the Credit and Collection Policies);

(n) that, together with the Contract, does not contravene any laws, rules or regulations applicable thereto (including laws, rules and regulations relating to usury, consumer protection, truth in lending, fair credit billing, fair credit reporting, equal credit opportunity, fair debt collection practices and privacy) and with respect to which no party to the Contract therefor is in violation of any such law, rule or regulation that, in each case, could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the collectability, value or payment terms of such Account;

 

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(o) with respect to which no proceedings or investigations are pending or threatened in writing before any Governmental Authority (i) asserting the invalidity of such Account or the Contract therefor, (ii) seeking payment of such Account or payment and performance of such Contract or (iii) seeking any determination or ruling that could reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the validity or enforceability of such Account or such Contract;

(p) (i) that is an “account” or a “payment intangible” within the meaning of the UCC (or any other applicable legislation) of the jurisdictions in which such Loan Party is organized and in which the chief executive office of such Loan Party is located and (ii) under the terms of the related Contract, the right to payment thereof may be freely assigned, including as a result of compliance with applicable law (or with respect to which, the prohibition on the assignment of rights to payment are made fully ineffective under applicable law);

(q) that is payable solely and directly to a Loan Party and not to any other Person (including any shipper of the merchandise or goods that gave rise to such Receivable);

(r) with respect to which all material consents, licenses, approvals or authorizations of, or registrations with, any Governmental Authority required to be obtained, effected or given in connection with the creation of such Account or the Contract therefor have been duly obtained, effected or given and are in full force and effect;

(s) that is created through the provision of merchandise, goods or services by such Loan Party in the ordinary course of its business;

(t) that is not the liability of an Obligor that, under the terms of the Credit and Collection Policies, (i) is receiving or should receive merchandise, goods or services on a “cash on delivery” basis or (ii) is a credit or collection risk or on credit hold or makes slow or inconsistent payments;

(u) that does not constitute a rebilled amount arising from a deduction taken by an Obligor with respect to a previously arising Account;

(v) that is subject to the Collateral Agent’s duly perfected, first-priority Lien (subject to Liens permitted pursuant to Section 6.02(d) or (l), in each case, to the extent such Liens arise by operation of law and are not created, granted or incurred with the consent of any Loan Party);

(w) that does not represent sales tax;

(x) that does not represent the balance owed by an Obligor on an Account in respect of which the Obligor has made partial payment;

(y) which arises under a Contract which does not contain a confidentiality provision that purports to restrict the ability of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to exercise its rights under the Loan Documents, including the right to review the Contract;

(z) which arises under a Contract that contains an obligation to pay a specified sum of money, contingent only upon the sale of goods or the provision of services by a Loan Party;

 

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(aa) with respect to which no check, draft or other item of payment was previously received that was returned unpaid or otherwise;

(bb) the Obligor of which is (x) domiciled in the United States of America, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam or Canada or (y) domiciled in any other jurisdiction approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that to the extent Accounts considered eligible by virtue of this clause (y) shall constitute more than ten (10%) percent of all Eligible Receivables, such excess shall constitute Eligible Receivables only to the extent backed by a letter of credit or insurance policy reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent;

(cc) the Obligor of which is not (i) the government (or any department, agency, public corporation, or instrumentality thereof) of any country other than the United States (except to the extent such Accounts are backed by a letter of credit reasonable acceptable to the Administrative Agent), or (ii) the government of the United States, or any department, agency, public corporation, or instrumentality thereof, unless (x) the Federal Assignment of Claims Act of 1940, as amended (31 U.S.C. § 3727 et seq. and 41 U.S.C. § 15 et seq.), and any other steps necessary to perfect the Lien of the Collateral Agent in such Accounts have been complied with to the Administrative Agent’s reasonable satisfaction or (y) in the case of clause (ii), the aggregate amount of Accounts of all Loan Parties described in clause (ii) does not exceed five (5%) percent of all Eligible Receivables;

(dd) which is not indebtedness of an Obligor (whether constituting an account, chattel paper, document, instrument or general intangible (under which the Obligor’s principal obligation is a monetary obligation) and whether or not earned by performance) arising from the provision of merchandise, goods or services by an Acquired Affiliate to such Obligor prior to becoming an Acquired Affiliate, including the right to payment of any interest or finance charges and other obligations of such Obligor with respect thereto, to the extent that the Loan Party acquiring such Acquired Affiliate has notified the Administrative Agent in writing that the sale, pledge or other transfer of such indebtedness by such Loan Party would constitute a breach of, or otherwise conflict with, any material agreement binding on or affecting such Acquired Affiliate or its property;

(ee) that is a liability of an Obligor the total amount of Accounts owing by which to the Loan Parties does not exceed (i) fifteen (15)% of the total amount of Accounts of all of the Loan Parties if such Obligor is organized, and has its principal place of business located, in the United States, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam or Canada or (ii) ten (10)% of the total amount of Accounts of all of the Loan Parties if such Obligor is organized, or has its principal place of business located, outside the United States, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam and Canada;

(ff) that does not represent any portion of any Loan Party’s deferred revenue; provided that (x) during the first two years after the Closing Date, during the period commencing on February 1 and ending on May 31 of each such year, no Reserves shall be implemented or required (or any such Reserves in existence shall not count against the Borrowing Base) with respect to Eligible Receivables with respect to deferred revenue up to an aggregate amount not to exceed 15% of the Borrowing Base as of the relevant date of determination; and (y) during any period other than the period commencing on February 1 and ending on May 31 of each of the

 

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first two years after the Closing Date, in the case of Accounts of Obligors for which specific identification cannot be made with respect to deferred revenue, the amount of such Accounts deemed not to be Eligible Receivables pursuant to this clause (ff) shall equal the following applicable percentage of all such Accounts: (i) during the period of June through November, the lesser of (A) 40% and (B) the percentage of the Obligors matched to the respective deferred revenue and (ii) during the period of December through May, the lesser of (A) 20% and (B) the percentage of the Obligors matched to the respective deferred revenue; and

(gg) that does not represent any portion of any unapplied cash receipts of any Loan Party.

If any Account at any time ceases to be an Eligible Receivable, then such Account shall promptly be excluded from the calculation of the Borrowing Base; provided, however, that if any Account ceases to be an Eligible Receivable because of the adjustment of or imposition of new exclusionary criteria pursuant to the succeeding paragraph, the Administrative Agent will not require exclusion of such Account from the Borrowing Base until five (5) days following the date on which the Administrative Agent gives notice to the Borrowers of such ineligibility.

The Administrative Agent reserves the right, at any time and from time to time after the Closing Date, to adjust any of the exclusionary criteria set forth above and to establish new criteria, in its Permitted Discretion (based on an analysis of material facts or events first occurring, or first discovered by the Administrative Agent, after the Closing Date), subject to the approval of Supermajority Lenders in the case of adjustments or new criteria which have the effect of making more credit available than would have been available based upon the criteria in effect on the Closing Date. The Administrative Agent acknowledges that as of the Closing Date it does not know of any circumstance or condition with respect to the Accounts that would require the adjustment or imposition of any of the exclusionary criteria set forth above.

In the case of any past due Accounts of any Obligor, the Administrative Agent may in its Permitted Discretion make adjustments to such Accounts to reflect any credit balance of the Accounts of such Obligor (but not any other Obligor).

Employee Benefit Plan” shall mean any “employee benefit plan” as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA (whether or not subject to ERISA) which is sponsored, maintained or contributed to by, or required to be contributed by, the Company, any of its subsidiaries or its ERISA Affiliates and is subject to Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Employee Equity Sales” shall mean the issuance or sale of Equity Interests of Holdings after the Closing Date to any present or former officer or employee of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary.

Environmental Laws” shall mean all applicable former, current and future Federal, state, local and foreign laws (including common law), treaties, regulations, rules, ordinances, codes, decrees, judgments, directives, orders (including consent orders), and agreements in each case, relating to protection of the environment, natural resources, human health and safety (as it relates to exposure to Hazardous Materials) or the presence, Release of, or exposure to, Hazardous Materials, or the generation, manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, transport, recycling or handling of, or the arrangement for such activities with respect to, Hazardous Materials.

 

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Environmental Liability” shall mean all liabilities, obligations, damages, losses, claims, actions, suits, judgments, orders, fines, penalties, fees, expenses and costs (including administrative oversight costs, natural resource damages and remediation costs), whether contingent or otherwise, arising out of or relating to (a) compliance or non-compliance with any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials Released into the environment, (d) the Release of any Hazardous Materials or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

Equity Interests” shall mean shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity interests in any person, and any option, warrant or other right entitling the holder thereof to purchase or otherwise acquire any such equity interest; provided, however, that Convertible Bond Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01 and Convertible Bond Hedge Transactions entered into as a part of, or in connection with, an issuance of such Convertible Bond Indebtedness shall in no event be deemed an Equity Interest hereunder.

ERISA” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as the same may be amended from time to time.

ERISA Affiliate” shall mean any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with a Borrower, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code, or solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

ERISA Event” shall mean (a) any “reportable event”, as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder, with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the 30 day notice period is waived), (b) any failure by any Plan to satisfy the minimum funding standard (within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA) applicable to such Plan, in each case whether or not waived, (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(c) of the Code or Section 302(c) of ERISA, of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan, (d) a determination that any Plan is, or is expected to be, in “at risk” status (as defined in Section 303(i)(4) of ERISA or Section 430(i)(4) of the Code), (e) the incurrence by a Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan or the withdrawal or partial withdrawal of a Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan, (f) the receipt by a Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to the intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan, (g) the receipt by a Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from a Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any notice, concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA or, is in endangered or critical status, within the meaning of Section 305 of ERISA, (h) the

 

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occurrence of a “prohibited transaction” with respect to which the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries is a “disqualified person” (within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code) or with respect to which a Borrower or any such Restricted Subsidiary could otherwise be liable, (i) any Foreign Benefit Event or (j) any other event or condition with respect to any Plan, Multiemployer Plan or Foreign Pension Plan that could result in the imposition of a Lien or the acceleration of any statutory obligation to fund any material unfunded accrued benefit liability of such Plan, Multiemployer Plan or Foreign Pension Plan.

EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule” shall mean the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person), as in effect from time to time.

Eurodollar” when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate.

Event of Default” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Article VII.

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

Excluded Accounts” shall mean (a) payroll accounts, employee benefit accounts, withholding tax and other fiduciary accounts, escrow accounts in respect of arrangements with non-affiliated third parties, customs accounts, cash collateral accounts subject to Liens permitted under the Loan Documents and accounts held by non-Loan Parties and (b) such other deposit accounts and other bank or securities accounts held by Loan Parties the balance of all of which is less than $10,000,000 in the aggregate at any time.

Excluded Obligor” shall mean any Obligor that is an Affiliate of a Loan Party.

Excluded Assets” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

Excluded Subsidiary” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(a).

Excluded Taxes” shall mean, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the Issuing Bank or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of a Borrower hereunder, (a) Taxes imposed on (or measured) by its net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case imposed (i) by the United States of America, (ii) by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable lending office is located or (iii) as a result of a present or former connection between such recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof), (b) in the case of a Lender, any U.S. federal withholding tax that is imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender at the time such Lender becomes a party to this Agreement (or designates a new lending office), except to the extent that such Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new lending office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from the Borrowers with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to Section 2.20(a), (c) Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with Sections 2.20(f) and (g), and (d) any Taxes imposed under FATCA.

 

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Executive Order” shall mean Executive Order No. 13224 on Terrorist Financing, effective on September 24, 2001.

Existing Credit Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preliminary statements to this Agreement.

Existing Letter of Credit” means each “Letter of Credit” (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) issued pursuant to the Existing Credit Agreement and outstanding on the Closing Date (each of which that is outstanding as of the date hereof is set forth on Schedule 1.01(a)).

Existing Term Loan Agreement” shall mean the Amended and Restated Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of May 29, 2015 among Holdings, the Borrowers, Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent and the other parties thereto, as amended prior to the date hereof.

Facility Increase” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.24(a).

FATCA” shall mean Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with) and any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code, any applicable intergovernmental agreements with respect thereto and laws enacting such intergovernmental agreements between the United States and any other jurisdiction to implement Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code (an “IGA”), and any law, regulation or other official guidance enacted in any jurisdiction implementing Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code or an IGA.

FCPA” shall mean the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

Federal Funds Effective Rate” shall mean, for any day, the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the average of the quotations for the day for such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the “Federal Funds Effective Rate” shall never be less than zero.

Fee Letter” shall mean with respect to any Agent, the applicable fee letter then in effect between such Agent and Holdings.

 

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Fees” shall mean the Unused Commitment Fees, the Administrative Agent Fees, the L/C Participation Fees, the Other Fees and the Issuing Bank Fees.

FEMA” means the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Financial Covenant” shall mean, at any time, the covenant contained in Section 6.11.

Financial Officer” of any person shall mean the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or controller of such person.

Fixed Amounts” has the meaning specified in Section 1.09.

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” shall mean, on any date, the ratio of (in each case on a consolidated basis for Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries) (a) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters most recently ended on or prior to such date for which financial statements are available minus non-financed Capital Expenditures paid in cash during such period, to (b) the sum of (i) taxes based on income, profits or losses paid in cash during such period (net of any refunds in cash received in respect of such taxes during such period), plus (ii) Consolidated Interest Expense for such period, plus (iii) the aggregate amount of all scheduled principal payments of Indebtedness for borrowed money paid in cash during such period, plus (iv) all Restricted Payments made pursuant to Section 6.06(a)(v) paid in cash during such period; provided that the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be determined for the relevant test period on a pro forma basis in accordance with Section 1.03.

Flood Compliance Event” means the occurrence of any of the following: (a) a Flood Redesignation with respect to any Mortgaged Property (if any), (b) any increase to the Commitments pursuant to Section 2.24 at any time there is a Mortgaged Property (if any), (c) the addition of any Mortgaged Property as Collateral pursuant to Section 5.12 and (d) any extension of the Revolving Credit Maturity Date at any time there is a Mortgaged Property.

Flood Hazard Determination” means a “Life-of-Loan” FEMA Standard Flood Hazard Determination obtained by Agent.

Flood Hazard Property” means any Mortgaged Property that on the relevant date of determination includes a Building and, as shown on a Flood Hazard Determination, such Building is located in a Special Flood Hazard Area.

Flood Insurance” means (a) federally-backed flood insurance which insures both Flood Hazard Properties and the personal property contained within them (to the extent such personal property is Collateral) and which is available under the National Flood Insurance Program to owners of real property improvements located in Special Flood Hazard Areas in a community participating in the National Flood Insurance Program or (b) to the extent permitted by the Flood Insurance Laws, a private flood insurance policy from a financially sound and reputable insurance company that is not an Affiliate of the Borrowers and which insures both Flood Hazard Properties and the personal property contained within them (to the extent such personal property is Collateral).

 

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Flood Insurance Documents” means (a) evidence as to whether each Mortgaged Property is a Flood Hazard Property pursuant to a Flood Hazard Determination, and (b) if such Mortgaged Property is a Flood Hazard Property, (i) evidence as to whether the community in which such Mortgaged Property is located is participating in the National Flood Insurance Program, (ii) the applicable Loan Party’s written acknowledgment of receipt of written notification from the Administrative Agent as to the fact that such Mortgaged Property is a Flood Hazard Property and as to whether the community in which each such Flood Hazard Property is located is participating in the National Flood Insurance Program and (iii) copies of the applicable Loan Party’s application for a Flood Insurance policy plus proof of premium payment, a declaration page confirming that Flood Insurance has been issued, or such other evidence of Flood Insurance, in an amount equal to at least the amount required by the Flood Insurance Laws and naming the Collateral Agent as sole loss payee and mortgagee on behalf of the Secured Parties, and otherwise including terms satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and each Lender.

Flood Insurance Laws” shall mean, collectively, (i) the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto, (ii) the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statue thereto, (iii) the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto and (iv) the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto.

Flood Redesignation” means the designation of any Mortgaged Property as a Flood Hazard Property where such property was not a Flood Hazard Property previous to such designation.

Foreign Benefit Event” shall mean, with respect to any Foreign Pension Plan, (a) the existence of unfunded liabilities in excess of the amount permitted under any applicable law, or in excess of the amount that would be permitted absent a waiver from a Governmental Authority, (b) the failure to make the required contributions or payments, under any applicable law, on or before the due date for such contributions or payments, (c) the receipt of a notice by a Governmental Authority relating to the intention to terminate any such Foreign Pension Plan or to appoint a trustee or similar official to administer any such Foreign Pension Plan, or alleging the insolvency of any such Foreign Pension Plan, (d) the incurrence of any liability in excess of $5,000,000 by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary under applicable law on account of the complete or partial termination of such Foreign Pension Plan or the complete or partial withdrawal of any participating employer therein, or (e) the occurrence of any transaction that is prohibited under any applicable law and that could reasonably be expected to result in the incurrence of any liability by Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, or the imposition on Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries of any fine, excise tax or penalty resulting from any noncompliance with any applicable law, in each case in excess of $5,000,000.

Foreign Lender” shall mean any Lender and, for purposes of Section 2.20, any Issuing Bank, that is not a U.S. Person.

Foreign Pension Plan” shall mean any defined benefit pension plan maintained outside the jurisdiction of the United States that is maintained or contributed to by Holdings, any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate and that under applicable law is required to be funded through a trust or other funding vehicle other than a trust or funding vehicle maintained exclusively by a Governmental Authority.

 

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Foreign Subsidiary” shall mean any Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

Fronting Exposure” shall mean, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender, (a) with respect to any Issuing Bank, such Defaulting Lender’s Pro Rata Percentage of the outstanding L/C Obligations with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank other than L/C Obligations as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof, and (b) with respect to any Swingline Lender, such Defaulting Lender’s Pro Rata Percentage of outstanding Swingline Loans made by such Swingline Lender other than Swingline Loans as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders.

GAAP” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles. References to GAAP shall mean GAAP in the United States, unless otherwise expressly provided.

Governmental Authority” shall mean any Federal, state, local or foreign court or governmental agency, authority, instrumentality or regulatory body.

Granting Lender” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(i).

Guarantee” of or by any person shall mean any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other monetary obligation of any other person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such person, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment of such Indebtedness or other obligation, (b) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation of the payment of such Indebtedness or other obligation or (c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation; provided, however, that the term “Guarantee” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.

Guarantee and Collateral Agreement” shall mean the Second Amended and Restated Revolving Facility Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit D, among the Loan Parties party thereto and the Collateral Agent.

Guarantors” shall mean Holdings and the Subsidiary Guarantors.

Hazardous Materials” shall mean (a) any petroleum products or byproducts and all other hydrocarbons, coal ash, radon gas, asbestos, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, polychlorinated biphenyls, chlorofluorocarbons and all other ozone-depleting substances and (b) any chemical, material, substance or waste that is prohibited, limited or regulated by or pursuant to any Environmental Law.

 

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Hedging Agreement” 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 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; provided, that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of Holdings, any Restricted Subsidiaries or any of their Affiliates shall be a Hedging Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent entered into in connection with Convertible Bond Indebtedness, Convertible Bond Hedge Transactions shall not constitute Hedging Agreements.

HMCo” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble to this Agreement.

HMHP” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble to this Agreement.

Holdings” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble to this Agreement.

IGA” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the definition of “FATCA”.

Immaterial Subsidiary” shall mean, at any date of determination, any Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings (a) whose total assets (when combined with the assets of such Restricted Subsidiary’s Subsidiaries, after eliminating intercompany obligations) are an amount equal to or less than 5% of the consolidated total assets of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such date and (b) whose gross revenues (when combined with the revenues of such Restricted Subsidiary’s Subsidiaries, after eliminating intercompany obligations) are an amount equal to or less than 5% of the consolidated gross revenues of Holdings, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP.

Increased Amount Date” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.24(a).

Incremental Facility Joinder Agreement” shall mean an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit H, among the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent and one or more new or existing Revolving Credit Lenders in respect of any Facility Increase or one or more New Revolving Credit Lenders in respect of any New Revolving Credit Loan Commitment.

 

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Incurrence Based Amounts” has the meaning specified in Section 1.09.

Indebtedness” of any person shall mean, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property or assets purchased by such person, (d) all obligations of such person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding earnouts (unless such earnout is not paid after it becomes due and payable in accordance with the terms thereof), trade accounts payable and accrued obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business), (e) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such person, whether or not the obligations secured thereby have been assumed, (f) all Guarantees by such person of Indebtedness of others, (g) Capital Lease Obligations and Synthetic Lease Obligations of such person, (h) all obligations of such person (including contingent obligations) as an account party in respect of letters of credit, (i) all obligations of such person in respect of bankers’ acceptances, (j) all net payments that such person would have to make in the event of any early termination, on the date Indebtedness is being determined, in respect of outstanding Hedging Agreements, and (k) all obligations of such person in respect of Disqualified Stock. The Indebtedness of any person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership in which such person is a general partner to the extent such person is liable therefor as a result of such person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such partnership, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness expressly provide that such person is not liable therefor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness will be deemed not to include obligations under, or in respect of Qualified Capital Stock.

Indemnified Costs” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.05(a).

Indemnified Taxes” shall mean (a) Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrowers under any Loan Document and (b) to the extent not described in clause (a), Other Taxes.

Indemnitee” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.05(b).

Information” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.16.

Initial Arrangers” shall mean Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc.

Intellectual Property” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

Intercreditor Agreement” shall mean (a) the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, (b) to the extent executed in connection with the incurrence of secured Indebtedness incurred by a Loan Party, the Liens on the Collateral which are intended to rank equal in priority to the Liens on the Collateral securing the obligations under the Term Loan Agreement, a customary intercreditor agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, which agreement shall provide that the Liens on the Collateral securing such Indebtedness shall be ranked in such manner and junior to the Liens on the Revolving Credit First Lien Collateral

 

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securing the Obligations and senior to the Liens on the Term Facility First Lien Collateral securing the Obligations to the same extent as the Liens securing the obligations under the Term Loan Agreement, and (c) to the extent executed in connection with the incurrence of secured Indebtedness incurred by a Loan Party, the Liens on the Collateral which are intended to rank junior in priority to the Liens on the Collateral securing the obligations under the Obligations, a customary intercreditor agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, which agreement shall provide that the Liens on the Collateral securing such Indebtedness shall rank junior in priority to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations, as the context requires.

Interest Payment Date” shall mean (a) with respect to any ABR Loan (including any Swingline Loan), the last Business Day of each calendar month, commencing with the last Business Day of December 2019, and (b) with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three months’ duration, each day that would have been an Interest Payment Date had successive Interest Periods of three months’ duration been applicable to such Borrowing.

Interest Period” shall mean, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day (or, if there is no numerically corresponding day, on the last day) in the calendar month that is 1, 2, 3 or 6 months thereafter (or, if made available by all participating Lenders, 12 months)as a Borrower may elect; provided, however, that (a) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day and (b) any Interest Period that commences on the last day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period. Interest shall accrue from and including the first day of an Interest Period to but excluding the last day of such Interest Period. For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.

Inventory” shall have the meaning specified in the UCC.

Investment/Acquisition Payment Conditions” shall mean prior to and after giving effect to the relevant action as to which the satisfaction of the Investment/Acquisition Payment Conditions is being determined, (a) no Default shall have occurred or be continuing and either (b) (I) on a pro forma basis, Holdings would be in compliance with the Financial Covenant (disregarding whether a Testing Period is then in effect) and (II) Availability (on a pro forma basis) for the preceding 30 calendar days shall be in excess of the greater of (x) $25,000,000 and (y) 12.5% of the lesser of (1) the Total Revolving Credit Commitment at such time and (2) the Borrowing Base at such time (as determined by reference to the most recent Borrowing Base Certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.04), as adjusted in accordance with this Agreement or (c) Availability (on a pro forma basis) for the immediately preceding 30 calendar days shall be in excess of the greater of (x) $37,500,000 and (y) 17.5% of the lesser of (1) the Total Revolving Credit Commitment at such time and (2) the Borrowing Base at such time (as determined by reference to the most recent Borrowing Base Certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.04), as adjusted in accordance with this Agreement.

 

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Investments” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.04.

IRS” shall mean the Internal Revenue Service of the United States.

Issuing Bank” shall mean, as the context may require, (a) Citibank, N.A. or Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., in each case acting through any of its Affiliates or branches, in its capacity as the issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, and (b) any other Lender that may become an Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.23(i) or 2.23(k), with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Lender. The Issuing Bank may, in its discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates or branches of the Issuing Bank, in which case the term “Issuing Bank” shall include any such Affiliate or branch with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate or branch.

Issuing Bank Fees” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05(c).

Joint Venture” shall mean any Person in which Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries beneficially own any Equity Interest that is not a wholly owned Subsidiary.

L/C Commitment” shall mean, in the case of each Issuing Bank on the Closing Date, the amount set forth opposite such Issuing Bank’s name on Schedule 1.01(b) as such Issuing Bank’s L/C Commitment. The aggregate amount of the L/C Commitment as of the Closing Date is $50,000,000.

L/C Disbursement” shall mean a payment or disbursement made by the Issuing Bank pursuant to a Letter of Credit.

L/C Exposure” shall mean, at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit and (b) the aggregate amount of all L/C Disbursements with respect to Letters of Credit that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrowers at such time. The L/C Exposure of any Revolving Credit Lender at any time shall equal its Pro Rata Percentage of the aggregate L/C Exposure at such time.

L/C Obligations” shall mean the due and punctual payment and performance of all obligations of each Loan Party under each Letter of Credit.

L/C Participation Fee” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05(c).

Latest Maturity Date” shall mean, at any date of determination, the latest maturity or expiration date applicable to any Loan or Commitment hereunder at such date.

LCT Election” means the Borrowers’ election to designate an Acquisition, or similar material Investment, or an irrevocable repayment or repurchase of Indebtedness, as a Limited Condition Transaction, pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

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LCT Test Date” means, for any Limited Condition Transaction, (x) the date on which the definitive agreement is entered into (or notice of irrevocable repayment or repurchase is given), provided that, if the closing of such Limited Condition Transaction is more than 120 days after the date on which the definitive agreement is entered into (or notice of irrevocable repayment or repurchase is given), the LCT Test Date shall be the date of the consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction, or (y) solely in connection with an acquisition to which the United Kingdom City Code on Takeovers and Mergers applies (or similar law in another jurisdiction), the date on which a “Rule 2.7 announcement” of a firm intention to make an offer (or equivalent announcement in another jurisdiction) in respect of a target of such acquisition (a “Public Offer”).

Lender Appointment Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.07.

Lenders” shall mean Revolving Credit Lenders and the Swingline Lender (unless the context clearly indicates otherwise in the case of the Swingline Lender).

Letter of Credit” shall mean any letter of credit issued (or deemed issued in the case of any Existing Letter of Credit) pursuant to Section 2.23.

LIBO Rate” shall mean, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) to be equal to the rate that results from interpolating on a linear basis between: (a) the LIBOR Screen Rate for the longest period (for which the LIBOR Screen Rate is available for the applicable currency) that is shorter than such Interest Period and (b) the LIBOR Screen Rate for the shortest period (for which the LIBOR Screen Rate is available for the applicable currency) that exceeds such Interest Period, in each case, at such time.

LIBOR Screen Rate” shall mean, for any period, the rate per annum determined on the basis of the rate for deposits in U.S. Dollars for a period equal to such period commencing on the first day of such period appearing on Reuters Screen Libor01 Page as of 11:00 A.M., London time, two Business Days prior to the beginning of such period. In the event that such rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the “LIBOR Screen Rate” shall be a rate per annum equal to the “LIBO Rate”; provided, however, that, for the avoidance of doubt, the “LIBOR Screen Rate” shall never be less than 0 %.

LIBOR Successor Rate” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.08.

LIBOR Successor Rate Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any proposed LIBOR Successor Rate, any conforming changes to the definition of “Adjusted LIBO Rate”, “Alternate Base Rate”, “Interest Period”, timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest and other administrative matters as may be appropriate, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent in consultation with the Borrowers, to reflect the adoption of such LIBOR Successor Rate and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent determines that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or that no market practice for the administration of such LIBOR Successor Rate exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent determines in consultation with the Borrowers).

 

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License” shall mean any license or agreement under which a Loan Party is authorized to use Intellectual Property in connection with any manufacture, marketing, distribution or disposition of Collateral or any other conduct of its business.

Lien” shall mean, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, encumbrance, charge or security interest in or on such asset, (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset and (c) in the case of securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such securities.

Lien Waiver” shall mean an agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, by which (a) for any material Collateral located on leased premises, the lessor waives or subordinates any Lien it may have on the Collateral, and agrees to permit the Administrative Agent to enter upon the premises and remove the Collateral; (b) for any Collateral held by a warehouseman, processor, shipper, customs broker or freight forwarder, such Person waives or subordinates any Lien it may have on the Collateral, agrees to hold any Documents (as defined in the UCC) in its possession relating to the Collateral as agent for the Collateral Agent, and agrees to deliver the Collateral to Agent upon request; (c) for any Collateral held by a repairman, mechanic or bailee, such Person acknowledges the Collateral Agent’s Lien, waives or subordinates any Lien it may have on the Collateral, and agrees to deliver the Collateral to the Collateral Agent upon request; and (d) for any Collateral subject to a licensor’s Intellectual Property rights, such licensor grants to Agent the right, vis-à-vis such licensor, to enforce the Collateral Agent’s Liens with respect to the Collateral, including the right to dispose of it with the benefit of the Intellectual Property, whether or not a default exists under any applicable License, or, in the case of each of clauses (a) to (d) above, has such other terms that are reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

Limited Condition Transaction” means (a) any Acquisition or similar material Investment, the consummation of which is not conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third party financing or (b) any redemption or repayment of Indebtedness requiring irrevocable advance notice or any irrevocable offer to purchase Indebtedness that is not subject to obtaining third party financing.

Loan Document Obligations” shall mean the due and punctual payment of (i) the principal of and interest (including interest accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, examination, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding) on the Loans, when and as due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, upon one or more dates set for prepayment or otherwise, (ii) each payment required to be made by the Borrowers under this Agreement in respect of any Letter of Credit, when and as due, including payments in respect of reimbursement of disbursements, interest thereon and obligations to provide cash collateral, (iii) all other monetary obligations of the Borrowers to any of the Secured Parties under this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents, including fees, costs, expenses and indemnities, whether primary, secondary, direct, contingent, fixed or

 

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otherwise (including monetary obligations incurred during the pendency of any bankruptcy, examination, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), (iv) the due and punctual performance of all other obligations of the Borrowers under or pursuant to this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents, and (v) the due and punctual payment and performance of all the obligations of each Loan Party under or pursuant to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents.

Loan Documents” shall mean this Agreement, the Security Documents, the Incremental Facility Joinder Agreements, if any, the promissory notes, if any, executed and delivered pursuant to Section 2.04(e) and the Fee Letters (except with respect to any Fee Letter, for the purposes of Section 9.08).

Loan Parties” shall mean the Borrowers and the Guarantors.

Loans” shall mean the Revolving Credit Loans and the Swingline Loans.

Local Time” shall mean with respect to a Loan, Borrowing or Letter of Credit, New York City time.

Long-Term Account” shall mean an Account of a Loan Party that (a) relates to a code “z” invoice and (b) has a Receivable Maturity Date occurring 151 days or more after its Billing Date.

Majority-Owned Subsidiary” shall mean a Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings of which securities (except for directors’ qualifying shares) or other ownership interests representing a majority of the aggregate outstanding Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary are, at the time any determination is being made, owned, Controlled or held by Holdings or one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries of Holdings or by Holdings and one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries of Holdings.

Margin Stock” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Regulation U.

Master Agreement” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of the term “Hedging Agreement.”

Material Adverse Effect” shall mean (a) a materially adverse effect on the business, assets, properties, results of operations or financial condition of Holdings and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (b) a material impairment of the ability of any Borrower or any other Loan Party to perform any of its obligations under any Loan Document to which it is or will be a party or (c) a material impairment of the rights and remedies of or benefits available to the Lenders under any Loan Document.

Material Indebtedness” shall mean Indebtedness (other than the Loans and Letters of Credit), or obligations in respect of one or more Hedging Agreements, of any one or more of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $35,000,000. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the “principal amount” of the obligations of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of any Hedging Agreement at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary would be required to pay if such Hedging Agreement were terminated at such time.

 

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Material Real Property” shall mean any parcel of owned real property with a fair market value of at least $5,000,000.

Maximum Rate” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.09.

Moody’s” shall mean Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., or any successor thereto.

Mortgaged Properties” shall mean, each parcel of owned real property and improvements thereto with respect to which a Mortgage is granted pursuant to Section 5.12.

Mortgages” shall mean, with respect to mortgages required to be delivered hereafter pursuant to Section 5.12, the mortgages, charges, deeds of trust, assignments of leases and rents and other security documents, substantially in the form of Exhibit F (with such changes as may be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel in order to account for local law matters) and otherwise pursuant to this Agreement.

Multiemployer Plan” shall mean a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA that is maintained or contributed to by Holdings, any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate.

National Flood Insurance Program” means the program created pursuant to the Flood Insurance Laws.

Net Cash Proceeds” shall mean (a) with respect to any Asset Sale, the cash proceeds (including cash proceeds subsequently received (as and when received) in respect of non-cash consideration initially received), net of (i) selling expenses (including reasonable broker’s fees or commissions, legal fees, transfer and similar taxes and the Borrowers’ good faith estimate of income taxes paid or payable in connection with such sale), (ii) amounts provided as a reserve, in accordance with GAAP, against any liabilities under any indemnification obligations or purchase price adjustment associated with such Asset Sale (provided that, to the extent and at the time any such amounts are released from such reserve, such amounts shall constitute Net Cash Proceeds) and (iii) the principal amount, premium or penalty, if any, interest and other amounts on any Indebtedness for borrowed money which is secured by the asset sold in such Asset Sale and which is required to be repaid with such proceeds (other than the Obligations, or any such Indebtedness assumed by the purchaser of such asset) and (b) with respect to any issuance or incurrence of Indebtedness or other event, the cash proceeds thereof, net of all taxes and customary fees, commissions, costs and other expenses incurred in connection therewith.

Net First Lien Leverage Ratio” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated First Lien Debt as of the last day of the test period most recently ended on or prior to such date of determination to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for such test period. In any test period in which a transaction described in Section 1.03 occurs, the Net First Lien Leverage Ratio shall be determined on a pro forma basis in accordance with Section 1.03.

 

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Net Secured Leverage Ratio” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Secured Debt as of the last day of the test period most recently ended on or prior to such date of determination to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for such test period. In any test period in which a transaction described in Section 1.03 occurs, the Net Secured Leverage Ratio shall be determined on a pro forma basis in accordance with Section 1.03.

Net Total Leverage Ratio” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Total Debt minus the aggregate amount of cash and Permitted Investments on the consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries on such date, excluding cash and Permitted Investments which are or should be listed as “restricted” on the consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date as of the last day of the test period most recently ended on or prior to such date of determination to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for such test period. In any test period in which a transaction described in Section 1.03 occurs, the Net Total Leverage Ratio shall be determined on a pro forma basis in accordance with Section 1.03.

New Revolving Credit Commitment” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.24(a).

New Revolving Credit Lender” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.24(a).

New Revolving Credit Loans” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.24(a).

Non-Defaulting Lender” shall mean, at any time, each Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender at such time.

Not for Profit Subsidiaries” shall mean, collectively, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Foundation, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and any other Subsidiary of Holdings that is exempt from U.S. federal income taxation under Section 501(a) of the Code.

Obligations” shall mean (a) the Loan Document Obligations and (b) the Other Secured Obligations.

Obligor” shall mean, with respect to any Account, the Person primarily obligated to make payments in respect thereof.

OFAC” shall mean the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State.

OID” shall mean original issue discount, as defined in Section 1273 of the Code.

Orderly Liquidation Value” shall mean, with respect to Eligible Inventory, the orderly liquidation value (net of costs and expenses incurred in connection with liquidation) of such Eligible Inventory, as a percentage of the cost of such Eligible Inventory, which percentage shall be determined by reference to, and adjusted seasonally in a manner consistent with, the most recent third-party appraisal of such Eligible Inventory received by the Administrative Agent.

 

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Other Fees” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05(b).

Other Pari Passu Secured Obligations” shall mean Other Secured Obligations designated as Other Pari Passu Secured Obligations in accordance with Section 8.11.

Other Secured Agreement” shall mean, to the extent designated as such by the Borrowers and each applicable Other Secured Party in writing to the Administrative Agent from time to time in accordance with Section 8.11, any agreement evidencing obligations owing by any Loan Party under (a) any Hedging Agreement entered into by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries with any Person that at the time of entering into such Hedging Agreement is a Lender, Arranger or Agent, or an Affiliate of a Lender, Arranger or Agent or (b) any Cash Management Services Agreement entered into by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries with any Person that at the time of entering into such arrangement is a Lender, Arranger or Agent, or an Affiliate of a Lender, Arranger or Agent; provided that all “Other Secured Agreements” (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) in existence on the Closing Date shall be deemed to be an Other Secured Agreement under this Agreement.

Other Secured Obligations” shall mean the due and punctual payment and performance of all obligations of each Loan Party under each Other Secured Agreement, excluding, in each case, any Excluded Swap Obligations (as defined in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement).

Other Secured Party” shall mean a Person that (a) is a party to an Other Secured Agreement and (b) at the time of entering into such Other Secured Agreement, is a Lender, Arranger or Agent, or an Affiliate of a Lender, Arranger or Agent (or was such a Person under the Existing Credit Agreement at the time of entering into such Other Secured Agreement); provided that, so long as any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, such Lender will not be an Other Secured Party with respect to any Other Secured Agreement entered into while such Lender was a Defaulting Lender.

Other Connection Taxes” means, with respect to any recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Commitment, Loan or Loan Document).

Other Taxes” shall mean any and all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes arising from any payment made under any Loan Document or from the execution, performance, delivery, registration or enforcement of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment between such recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 2.21(b)).

 

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Owned Percentage” shall mean, with respect to any Majority-Owned Subsidiary, the percentage of Equity Interests in such Majority-Owned Subsidiary owned by Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Participant Register” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(f).

Patents” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

PBGC” shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA.

Perfection Certificate” shall mean a perfection certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

Permitted Acquisition” shall mean the acquisition by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary of all or substantially all the assets of a person or line of business of such person, or not less than 100% of the Equity Interests (other than directors’ qualifying shares) not previously held by Holdings and its Subsidiaries of a person (referred to herein as the “Acquired Entity”); provided that (a) the Acquired Entity shall be engaged in a Permitted Business; (b) at the time of such transaction, both before and after giving effect thereto, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; (c) the aggregate amount of Investments made after the Closing Date pursuant to Section 6.04(e) by the Loan Parties in Persons that are not Loan Parties or do not become Loan Parties upon consummation of such acquisition (valued at the time made and without regard to any write-downs or write-offs of such Investments) shall not exceed the greater of $100,000,000 and 31% of the Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended four consecutive fiscal quarter period for which financial statements are required to have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.04(b); (d) the Borrowing Agent shall have delivered a certificate of a Financial Officer, certifying as to the foregoing and containing reasonably detailed calculations in support thereof, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; and (e) all persons which are Domestic Subsidiaries in which Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary shall hold any Investment as a result of such acquisition shall become a Subsidiary Guarantor and shall comply with the applicable provisions of Section 5.12 and the Security Documents.

Permitted Business” means (a) any business or business activity conducted by the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries on the Closing Date and (b) any other business that is a natural outgrowth or reasonable extension, development or expansion of any such business or any

business similar, reasonably related, incidental, complementary or ancillary to any of the foregoing.

Permitted Discretion” shall mean a determination made by the Administrative Agent in good faith and in the exercise of reasonable credit judgment in accordance with its usual and customary practices for comparable asset-based lending transactions (adhering to its established credit and collection policies) and, as it relates to the establishment or increase of Reserves or the adjustment or imposition of exclusionary criteria, shall require that, (a) such establishment, increase, adjustment or imposition after the Closing Date be based on the analysis of facts or events first occurring or first discovered by the Administrative Agent, after the Closing Date or

 

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that are materially different from facts or events occurring or known to the Administrative Agent, on the Closing Date, (b) the contributing factors to the imposition or increase of any Reserve shall not duplicate (i) the exclusionary criteria set forth in the definitions of “Eligible Inventory” and “Eligible Receivables” as applicable (and vice versa) or (ii) any reserves deducted in computing book value, cost or Orderly Liquidation Value and (c) the amount of any such Reserve so established or the effect of any adjustment or imposition of exclusionary criteria be a reasonable quantification of the incremental dilution of the Borrowing Base attributable to such contributing factors.

Permitted Encumbrances” shall mean Liens permitted pursuant to Section 6.02(d), (i), (l) and (z), in each case, to the extent such Liens arise by operation of law and are not created, granted or incurred with the consent of any Loan Party.

Permitted Investments” shall mean:

(a) direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States of America (or by any agency thereof to the extent such obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America), in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof;

(b) (i) investments in commercial paper maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof and having, at such date of acquisition, the highest credit rating obtainable from S&P or from Moody’s or (ii) corporate debt securities maturing within two years from the date of acquisition thereof and having, at such date of acquisition, a rating of at least A by S&P or A2 by Moody’s;

(c) investments in certificates of deposit, banker’s acceptances and time deposits maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof issued or guaranteed by or placed with, and money market deposit accounts issued or offered by, and demand deposit and general banking sweep accounts with, the Administrative Agent or any domestic office of any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or any State thereof that has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000;

(d) fully collateralized repurchase agreements with a term of not more than 60 days for securities described in clause (a) above and entered into with a financial institution satisfying the criteria of clause (c) above;

(e) securities with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, issued or fully guaranteed by any State, commonwealth or territory of the United States of America, or by any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof, and rated at least AA by S&P or Aa by Moody’s;

(f) asset backed securities maturing within two years from the date of acquisition thereof and having, at such date of acquisition, a rating of at least AAA by S&P or Aaa by Moody’s;

 

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(g) municipal variable rate demand obligations maturing within two years from the date of acquisition thereof and having, at such date of acquisition, a rating of at least AA by S&P or Aa2 by Moody’s;

(h) investments in money market funds within the meaning of Rule 2a 7 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, substantially all of whose assets are invested in investments of the type described in clauses (a) through (g) above, in each case (i) maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof and (ii) having, at such date of acquisition, one of the three highest credit rating obtainable from S&P or Moody’s; and

(i) other short-term investments by Holdings and Foreign Subsidiaries in currencies other than U.S. Dollars and of a type listed on Schedule 1.01(d).

Permitted Pari Passu Term Collateral Liens” means Liens permitted by Section 6.01(v)(i) or 6.01(w); provided that such Liens are subject to an Intercreditor Agreement.

Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” shall mean any Indebtedness (other than any Indebtedness incurred under this Agreement) of a Restricted Subsidiary, issued in exchange for, or the net cash proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund (collectively, to “Refinance”), Indebtedness of such Restricted Subsidiary (including all or a portion of any Indebtedness incurred under this Agreement) that is permitted by this Agreement to be Refinanced; provided that:

(i) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness so Refinanced (plus any related fees, commissions and expenses, unpaid accrued interest and premium thereon and underwriting discounts and defeasance costs),

(ii) except with respect to Section 6.01(k), the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is greater than or equal to (and the maturity of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is no earlier than) that of the Indebtedness being Refinanced,

(iii) if the Indebtedness being Refinanced is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall be subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations on terms at least as favorable to the Lenders as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being Refinanced,

(iv) no Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall have different obligors than the Indebtedness being Refinanced, unless such new obligors are Loan Parties, and no Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall have greater guarantees than the Indebtedness being Refinanced,

(v) the terms and covenants of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness (excluding pricing, call protection, premiums and prepayment or redemption terms, or covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the maturity date of the Indebtedness being refinanced) taken as a whole, shall either be, (x) not materially less

 

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favorable to the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries than the terms and covenants, taken as a whole, of the Indebtedness being so Refinanced, or (y) on market terms at the time of the establishment of such Indebtedness (in each case, as reasonably determined by Holdings) (except for, in each case, (1) terms otherwise implicitly permitted by this “Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” definition, (2) covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the latest maturity date of the relevant Indebtedness being Refinanced, or (3) to the extent any more restrictive covenant or provision is also added for the benefit of the Lenders under this Agreement to the extent it remains outstanding after the incurrence of such Indebtedness; it being understood and agreed that in each such case, no consent of the Administrative Agent and/or any Lender shall be required in connection with adding such covenant or provision); provided that a certificate of a Responsible Officer delivered to the Administrative Agent at least five Business Days prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, together with a reasonably detailed description of the material terms and covenants of such Indebtedness or drafts of the documentation relating thereto, stating that Holdings has determined in good faith that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirement, shall be conclusive evidence that such terms and covenants satisfy the foregoing requirement unless the Administrative Agent notifies Holdings within such five Business Day period that it disagrees with such determination (including a reasonable description of the basis upon which it disagrees), and

(vi) if the Indebtedness being Refinanced is secured by any collateral (whether equally and ratably with, or junior to, the Secured Parties or otherwise), the Lien securing such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall (x) not be senior in priority to the Lien on the Collateral securing the Indebtedness being Refinanced unless such Lien is otherwise permitted under any basket or exception under Section 6.02 (with such amounts constituting utilization of the applicable basket or exception under Section 6.02) and/or an Intercreditor Agreement is entered into and (y) shall not be secured by any additional assets that do not constitute Collateral unless such additional assets substantially concurrently become Collateral or a Lien on such assets is otherwise permitted under any basket or exception under Section 6.02 (with such amounts constituting utilization of the applicable basket or exception under Section 6.02);

provided, further, that with respect to a Refinancing of Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01(g), such Refinancing shall be in compliance with the ABL Intercreditor Agreement.

person” or “Person” shall mean any natural person, corporation, business trust, joint venture, association, company, limited liability company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.

Plan” shall mean any employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, and in respect of which a Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.

Platform” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.01.

 

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Preferred Stock” shall mean any Equity Interests with preferential rights of payment of dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up.

Prime Rate” shall mean the rate of interest announced publicly by Citibank, N.A. in New York, from time to time, as Citibank N.A.’s prime rate.

Pro Rata Percentage” of any Revolving Credit Lender at any time shall mean the percentage of the applicable aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment represented by such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment. In the event the aggregate applicable Revolving Credit Commitments shall have expired or been terminated, the aggregate applicable Pro Rata Percentages shall be determined on the basis of the Revolving Credit Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any subsequent assignments.

Protective Loans” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.01(b).

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 Offershall have the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “LCT Test Date”.

Publishers” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble to this Agreement.

QFC shall mean the meaning assigned to the term “qualified financial contract” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 5390(c)(8)(D).

QFC Credit Support shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.26.

Qualified Capital Stock” of any person shall mean any Equity Interest of such person that is not Disqualified Stock.

Rate” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the definition of “Type”.

Receivable Maturity Date” shall mean, with respect to any Account, the due date for payment therefor specified in the Contract therefor, or, if no date is so specified, 30 days from the Billing Date.

Reference Date” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the definition of “Cumulative Credit”.

Refinance” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness”.

Register” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(d).

Regulation T” shall mean Regulation T of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

 

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Regulation U” shall mean Regulation U of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

Regulation X” shall mean Regulation X of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

Related Fund” shall mean, with respect to any Lender that is a fund or commingled investment vehicle that invests in bank loans and similar extensions of credit, any other fund that invests in bank loans and is managed or advised by the same investment advisor as such Lender or by an Affiliate of such investment advisor.

Related Parties” shall mean, with respect to any specified person, such person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, trustees, officers, employees, partners, agents and advisors of such person and such person’s Affiliates.

Release” shall mean any release, spill, emission, leaking, dumping, injection, pouring, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, leaching or migration into or through the environment or within or upon any building, structure, facility or fixture.

Rent Reserve” shall mean the aggregate of (a) all past due rent and other past due amounts owing by a Loan Party to any landlord, warehouseman, processor, repairman, mechanic, shipper, freight forwarder, broker or other Person who possesses any Eligible Inventory or could assert a Lien on any Eligible Inventory plus (b) a reserve established by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion in an amount up to three months’ rent payments payable by any Loan Party for each third party or leased location at which Eligible Inventory in excess of $100,000 is located that is not subject to a Lien Waiver.

Required Lenders” shall mean, at any time, Lenders having Revolving Credit Exposure, unused Revolving Credit Commitments representing more than 50% of the sum of the Aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure and all unused Revolving Credit Commitments at such time; provided that (a) the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Defaulting Lender and (b) the unused Revolving Credit Commitments of any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in the determination of the Required Lenders at any time; provided, further, that “Required Lenders” must include at least two Lenders who are not Affiliates of one another.

Reserves” shall mean (a) Bank Product Reserves plus (b) Rent Reserves plus (c) Dilution Reserve plus (d) such other reserves as the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion may establish from time to time upon at least five days’ notice to the Borrowers or immediately, without prior written notice, during the continuance of an Event of Default, provided that such other reserves shall be subject to clause (x) of the proviso in clause (ff) of the definition of “Eligible Receivables”. The Administrative Agent acknowledges that as of the Closing Date, other than as agreed on or prior to the Closing Date between the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, it does not know of any other circumstance or condition with respect to the Accounts, Inventory or Borrowing Base that would require the imposition of a Reserve that has not been imposed as of the Closing Date.

Resolution Authority” shall mean any body which has authority to exercise any Write-down and Conversion Powers.

 

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Responsible Officer” of any person shall mean any executive officer or Financial Officer of such person and any other officer or similar official thereof responsible for the administration of the obligations of such person in respect of this Agreement.

Restricted Indebtedness” shall mean Subordinated Indebtedness of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, the payment, prepayment, repurchase or defeasance of which is restricted under Section 6.08(b).

Restricted Payment” shall mean (a) any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity Interests in Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, other than dividends or distributions payable solely in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the person paying such dividends or distributions, or (b) any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any Equity Interests in Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary.

Restricted Subsidiary” shall mean each Subsidiary of Holdings that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Revolving Credit Borrowing” shall mean a Borrowing comprised of Revolving Credit Loans advanced pursuant to Revolving Credit Commitments after the Closing Date pursuant to Section 2.01(a).

Revolving Credit Commitment” shall mean, with respect to each Revolving Credit Lender, on the date hereof, the amount set forth opposite such Revolving Credit Lender’s name on Schedule 1.01(e) as such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment, or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Revolving Credit Lender assumed its Revolving Credit Commitment, as applicable, as the same may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.09 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Revolving Credit Lender pursuant to Section 9.04.

Revolving Credit Exposure” shall mean, with respect to any Revolving Credit Lender after the Closing Date, the aggregate principal amount at such time of all outstanding Revolving Credit Loans of such Revolving Credit Lender, plus the aggregate amount at such time of such Revolving Credit Lender’s L/C Exposure, plus the aggregate amount at such time of such Revolving Credit Lender’s Swingline Exposure.

Revolving Credit Lender” shall mean a Lender with a Revolving Credit Commitment or Revolving Credit Exposure.

Revolving Credit Loans” shall mean the revolving credit loans made by the Revolving Credit Lenders to any Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01(a) and unless the context requires otherwise, shall be deemed to include any Protective Loan.

 

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Revolving Credit Maturity Date” shall mean

(a) with respect to the Revolving Credit Loans, the date that is the earlier of (i) November 22, 2024 and (ii) if the Indebtedness incurred under the Term Loan Agreement has not been Refinanced in full on or prior to the date that is 91 days prior to the stated maturity date for such Indebtedness, such 91st day; and

(b) with respect to New Revolving Credit Loans, the date set forth in the Incremental Facility Joinder Agreement.

Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement.

RP Payment Conditions” shall mean prior to and after giving effect to the relevant action as to which the satisfaction of the RP Payment Conditions is being determined, (a) no Default shall have occurred or be continuing, and either (b) (I) on a pro forma basis, Holdings would be in compliance with the Financial Covenant (disregarding whether a Testing Period is then in effect) and (II) Availability (on a pro forma basis) for the immediately preceding 30 calendar days shall be in excess of the greater of (x) $31,250,000 and (y) 15% of the lesser of (1) the Total Revolving Credit Commitment at such time and (2) the Borrowing Base at such time (as determined by reference to the most recent Borrowing Base Certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.04), as adjusted in accordance with this Agreement or (c) Availability (on a pro forma basis) for the immediately preceding 30 calendar days shall be in excess of the greater of (x) $42,500,000 and (y) 20% of the lesser of (1) the Total Revolving Credit Commitment at such time and (2) the Borrowing Base at such time (as determined by reference to the most recent Borrowing Base Certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.04), as adjusted in accordance with this Agreement.

S&P” shall mean Standard & Poor’s Ratings Service, or any successor thereto.

Sale and Lease Back Transaction” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.03.

Sanctioned Country” means, at any time, a country or territory, or government of a country or territory, that is the subject or target of any Sanctions that broadly prohibit dealings with that country or territory (which, as of the Closing Date, is the Crimea region of Ukraine, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria).

Sanctioned Person” means, at any time, (a) any Person listed in OFAC’s Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List, OFAC’s Sectoral Sanctions Identification List, and any other Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by OFAC, the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, or Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom, (b) a Person that resides in, is organized in or located in, or has a place of business in, a Sanctioned Country, (c) any Person owned 50% or more or controlled by any Person or Persons definition or (d) any Person with whom or with which a U.S. Person is prohibited from dealing under any of the Sanctions.

Sanctions” shall mean economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by (a) the U.S. government, including those administered or enforced by the OFAC, or (b) the United States Security Council, the European Union or Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom.

 

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Secured Parties” shall mean (i) the Lenders, (ii) the Administrative Agent, (iii) the Collateral Agent, (iv) any Issuing Bank, (v) each Other Secured Party, (vi) the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Loan Party under any Loan Document and (vii) the successors and assigns of each of the foregoing.

Security Documents” shall mean the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, any other Intercreditor Agreements and each of the security agreements, mortgages and other instruments and documents executed and delivered pursuant to any of the foregoing or pursuant to Section 5.12.

Senior Notesshall mean the 9.000% senior secured notes due 2025 of the Issuers, as defined in the Senior Secured Notes Indenture.

Senior Secured Notes Indenture” shall mean the Indenture, dated as of the Closing Date, among the Issuers (as defined therein), the guarantors party thereto and a trustee, pursuant to which the Senior Notes shall be issued, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance therewith.

SPC” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(i).

Special Flood Hazard Area” means an area that FEMA has designated as an area subject to special flood or mud slide hazards.

Specified Warehouses” shall mean, collectively, the warehouse owned by HMCo and located at 2700 N. Richardt Avenue, Indianapolis, Indiana 46219 and the warehouse owned by HMCo and located at 200 Academic Way, Troy, Missouri 63379.

Statutory Reserves” shall mean a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentages (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed as a decimal established by the Board and any other banking authority, domestic or foreign, to which the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including any branch, Affiliate or other fronting office making or holding a Loan) is subject for Eurodollar Liabilities (as defined in Regulation D of the Board). Eurodollar Loans shall be deemed to constitute Eurodollar Liabilities (as defined in Regulation D of the Board) and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under such Regulation D. Statutory Reserves shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.

Subordinated Indebtedness” shall mean any Indebtedness of a Loan Party that is (i) by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations and/or (ii) unsecured or secured by a lower priority Lien than the Liens securing the Obligations (excluding the Indebtedness under the Term Loan Agreement, any Refinancing Term Facility (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement) or any other Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01(g) hereof).

 

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Subsidiary” or “subsidiary” shall mean, with respect to any person (herein referred to as the “parent”), any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association or other business entity (a) of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, at the time any determination is being made, owned, Controlled or held, or (b) that is, at the time any determination is made, otherwise Controlled, by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of Holdings.

Subsidiary Guarantor” shall mean each wholly owned Domestic Subsidiary listed on Schedule 3.08 (other than HMH Intermediate Holdings (Delaware), LLC, the Borrowers, or any Excluded Subsidiary) and each other Restricted Subsidiary that is a wholly owned Domestic Subsidiary that becomes a party to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement after the Closing Date pursuant to Section 5.12(b).

Supermajority Lenders” shall mean, at any time, Lenders having Revolving Credit Exposure and unused Revolving Credit Commitments representing at least 6623% of the sum of the Aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure and all unused Revolving Credit Commitments at such time; provided that the Revolving Credit Exposure and unused Revolving Credit Commitments of any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in the determination of the Supermajority Lenders at any time provided, further, that “Supermajority Lenders” must include at least two Revolving Lenders who are not Affiliates of one another or Defaulting Lenders.

Supported QFC shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.26.

Swingline Exposure” shall mean at any time the aggregate principal amount at such time of all outstanding Swingline Loans. The Swingline Exposure of any Revolving Credit Lender at any time shall equal its Pro Rata Percentage of the aggregate Swingline Exposure at such time.

Swingline Lender” shall mean Citibank, N.A., acting through any of its Affiliates or branches, in its capacity as lender of Swingline Loans hereunder.

Swingline Limit” shall mean the amount equal to $20,000,000.

Swingline Loan” shall mean any loan made by the Swingline Lender pursuant to Section 2.22.

Synthetic Lease” shall mean, as to any person, any lease (including leases that may be terminated by the lessee at any time) of any property (whether real, personal or mixed) (a) that is accounted for as an operating lease under GAAP and (b) in respect of which the lessee retains or obtains ownership of the property so leased for U.S. federal income tax purposes, other than any such lease under which such person is the lessor.

Synthetic Lease Obligations” shall mean, as to any person, an amount equal to the capitalized amount of the remaining lease payments under any Synthetic Lease that would appear on a balance sheet of such person in accordance with GAAP if such obligations were accounted for as Capital Lease Obligations.

 

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Synthetic Purchase Agreement” shall mean any swap, derivative or other agreement or combination of agreements pursuant to which Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary is or may become obligated to make (a) any payment in connection with a purchase by any third party from a person other than Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary of any Equity Interest or Restricted Indebtedness or (b) any payment (other than on account of a permitted purchase by it of any Equity Interest or Restricted Indebtedness) the amount of which is determined by reference to the price or value at any time of any Equity Interest or Restricted Indebtedness; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only to current or former directors, officers or employees of Holdings or the Restricted Subsidiaries (or to their heirs or estates) shall be deemed to be a Synthetic Purchase Agreement.

Taxes” shall mean any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

Term Facility First Lien Collateral” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement.

Term Facility Obligations” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement.

Term Loan Agreement” shall mean the Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of the date hereof among Holdings, the Borrowers, Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent and the other parties thereto, as such agreement may be amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time, in each case to the extent permitted hereunder and under the ABL Intercreditor Agreement.

Testing Period” shall mean a period (a) commencing on the date (i) when Availability has been, for 3 consecutive Business Days including such date, less than the Availability Limit or (ii) on which Availability is less than $20,000,000, and (b) continuing until the date when Availability has been, for 20 consecutive calendar days including such date, greater than $35,000,000.

Total Debt” shall mean, at any time, the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding at such time; provided that (i) such Indebtedness shall not be included if it would not be reflected on a consolidated balance sheet of Holdings at such time in accordance with GAAP or to the extent such Indebtedness is Indebtedness under Hedging Agreements and (ii) if such Indebtedness were to be required to be reflected on a consolidated balance sheet of Holdings at such time in accordance with GAAP, the amount thereof that shall constitute Total Debt shall equal the principal amount outstanding at such time, including any portion of such principal amount outstanding that would not be required to be reflected on a consolidated balance sheet of Holdings in accordance with GAAP at such time as a result of original issue discount.

Total Revolving Credit Commitment” shall mean, at any time, the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments, as in effect at such time.

 

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Trademarks” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

Transactions” shall mean, collectively, (a) the entering into of the Loan Documents, (b) the entering into of the Term Loan Agreement and the Loan Documents (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement) required thereunder, (c) the entering into of the Senior Secured Notes Indenture and (d) payment of the transaction costs related to the foregoing.

Type” when used in respect of any Loan or Borrowing, shall refer to the Rate by reference to which interest on such Loan or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing is determined. For purposes hereof, the term “Rate” shall mean the Adjusted LIBO Rate and the Alternate Base Rate.

UCC” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect, from time to time, in the State of New York; provided that, if perfection or the effect of perfection or non-perfection or the priority of any security interest in any Collateral is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in a jurisdiction other than the State of New York, “UCC” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in such other jurisdiction for purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such perfection, effect of perfection or non-perfection or priority.

UK Bail-In Legislation” means (to the extent that the United Kingdom is not an EEA Member Country which has implemented, or implements, Article 55 BRRD) Part I of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 and any other law or regulation applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (otherwise than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings).

Uniform Customs” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.07.

Unrestricted Domestic Cash and Cash Equivalents” shall mean domestic cash and Permitted Investments of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are Domestic Subsidiaries, which cash and Permitted Investments are (a) free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens created under the Security Documents, the “Security Documents” (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement or any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) and Liens of banks permitted under Section 6.02(c) or (r)), (b) not subject to any contractual, regulatory or legal restrictions on the use thereof to repay the Loans and other obligations of any of the Loan Parties or any of their respective Subsidiaries under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents and (c) are held in accounts that are pledged to the Secured Parties pursuant to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and subject to one or more control agreements.

Unrestricted Subsidiary” shall mean a Subsidiary which has been designated as such pursuant to Section 6.15(a) and which has not been re-designated as a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 6.15(b).

Unused Commitment Fee” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05(a).

 

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U.S. Dollars” or “U.S.$” or “$” shall mean the lawful currency of the United States of America.

U.S. Person” shall mean any “United States Person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code and any Person treated as a “domestic corporation” for purposes of the Code.

U.S. Special Resolution Regimes shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.26.

USA PATRIOT Act” shall mean The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (Title III of Pub. L. No. 107 56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)).

Voting Stock” shall mean, with respect to any Person as of any date, the Equity Interests of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the board of directors of such Person.

Waterfall” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the second paragraph of Article VII.

Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing: (a) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (i) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (ii) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by (b) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.

wholly owned Domestic Subsidiary” of any person shall mean a Domestic Subsidiary of such person of which securities (except for directors’ qualifying shares) or other ownership interests representing 100% of the Equity Interests are, at the time any determination is being made, owned, Controlled or held by such person or one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries of such person or by such person and one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries of such person.

wholly owned Subsidiary” of any person shall mean a subsidiary of such person of which securities (except for directors’ qualifying shares) or other ownership interests representing 100% of the Equity Interests are, at the time any determination is being made, owned, Controlled or held by such person or one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries of such person or by such person and one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries of such person.

Withdrawal Liability” shall mean liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.

Withholding Agent” shall mean the Borrowers, any Loan Party and the Administrative Agent.

 

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Write-Down and Conversion Powers” shall mean:

(a) in relation to any Bail-In Legislation described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule from time to time, the powers described as such in relation to that Bail-In Legislation in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule;

(b) in relation to any other applicable Bail-In Legislation:

(i) any powers under that Bail-In Legislation to cancel, transfer or dilute shares issued by a person that is a bank or investment firm or other financial institution or affiliate of a bank, investment firm or other financial institution, to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of such a person or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers; and

(ii) any similar or analogous powers under that Bail-In Legislation; and

(c) in relation to any UK Bail-In Legislation: (i) any powers under that UK Bail-In Legislation to cancel, transfer or dilute shares issued by a person that is a bank or investment firm or other financial institution or affiliate of a bank, investment firm or other financial institution, to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of such a person or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that UK Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers; and (ii) any similar or analogous powers under that UK Bail-In Legislation.

Yield” shall mean, as to any Indebtedness, the yield thereof, whether in the form of interest rate, margin, original issue discount, upfront fees, or interest rate “floor” that is greater than any corresponding interest rate “floor” for the applicable Revolving Credit Loans (with such increased amount being equated to interest margins for purposes of determining any increase to the Applicable Percentage), or otherwise; provided that (i) original issue discount and upfront fees shall be equated to interest rate assuming a four year life to maturity (or, if less, the stated life to maturity at the time of incurrence of the applicable Indebtedness), (ii) “Yield” shall not include arrangement fees, structuring fees or underwriting or similar fees not generally paid to lenders in connection with such Indebtedness and (iii) any New Revolving Credit Commitment shall be deemed to be fully drawn at all times for purposes of determining the Yield thereof.

SECTION 1.02 Terms Generally. The definitions in Section 1.01 shall apply equally to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without

 

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limitation”. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”; and the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed as having the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights. Where reference is made to “Holdings and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis” or similar language, such consolidation shall not include any Subsidiaries of the Borrower other than Restricted Subsidiaries. All references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be deemed references to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement unless the context shall otherwise require. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, (a) any reference in this Agreement to any agreement or document shall mean such agreement or document as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time (subject to any restrictions in any Loan Document on the amendment, restatement, supplement or other modification thereof) and (b) all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided, however, that if the Borrowers notify the Administrative Agent that the Borrowers wish to amend any covenant in Article VI, any other provision hereof or any related definition to eliminate the effect of any material change in GAAP or the application thereof occurring after the date of this Agreement on the operation of such covenant or provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrowers that the Required Lenders wish to amend Article VI, any other provision hereof or any related definition for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or the application thereof, then such covenant or provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP in effect and applied immediately before such change became effective, until either such notice is withdrawn or such covenant or provision is amended in a manner satisfactory to the Borrowers and the Required Lenders. In addition, notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, the definitions set forth in the Loan Documents and any financial calculations required by the Loan Documents shall be computed to exclude any change to lease accounting rules from those in effect pursuant to Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 840 (Leases) and other related lease accounting guidance as in effect on December 15, 2018. When any Reserve is to be established or a change in any amount, percentage, reserve or other item in the definitions of the terms “Bank Product Reserves”, “Borrowing Base”, “Rent Reserve” and “Reserves” is to be determined in each case in the Administrative Agent’s Permitted Discretion, such Reserve shall be implemented or such change shall become effective on the fifth day after the date of delivery of a written notice thereof to the Borrowers, or immediately, without prior written notice, during the continuance of an Event of Default.

SECTION 1.03 Pro Forma Calculations. Unless otherwise provided herein, the applicable components of the Financial Covenant, the Net First Lien Leverage Ratio, the Net Secured Leverage Ratio, the Net Total Leverage Ratio and Consolidated EBITDA for purposes of “Permitted Acquisition” and Sections 6.01(k), 6.01(m), 6.01(n), 6.01(v), 6.04(b), 6.04(t), 6.04(u), 6.04(v), 6.05(f) and 6.08(b) as of any date shall be calculated based on the most recently completed period of four consecutive fiscal quarters for which financial statements are available, and on a pro forma basis, shall be calculated after giving effect to the Transactions and any acquisition or disposition of assets with a value in excess of $5,000,000, or any incurrence, payment, refinancing, restructuring or retirement of Indebtedness, any designation of any Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary and any re-designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or any other applicable transaction for which any calculation herein is

 

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required to be made on a pro forma basis, in each case which occurred during the most recently completed period of four consecutive fiscal quarters for which financial statements are available or after the end of such period but on or prior to such date, as though each such transaction had occurred at the beginning of such period, including, without duplication, giving effect to (i) all pro forma adjustments permitted or required by Article 11 of Regulation S X under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and (ii) even if inconsistent with preceding clause (i), pro forma adjustments for cost savings (net of continuing associated expenses) not to exceed in the aggregate for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters an amount equal to 15% of Consolidated EBITDA for such four fiscal quarter period without giving effect to this clause (ii) and to the extent such cost savings are factually supportable, are expected to have a continuing impact and have been realized or are reasonably expected to be realized within 12 months following such transaction; provided that all such adjustments shall be set forth in a reasonably detailed certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrowing Agent), using, for purposes of making such calculations, the historical financial statements of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries which shall be reformulated as if such transaction, and any other such transactions that have been consummated during the period, had been consummated on the first day of such period. Whenever pro forma effect is to be given to a transaction, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a Financial Officer of the Borrowing Agent. 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 calculation date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedging Agreements applicable to such Indebtedness). Interest on a Capital Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by a Financial Officer of the Borrowing Agent to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capital Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of making a pro forma computation hereunder, interest on any Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility computed on a pro forma basis shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period. Interest on Indebtedness that may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a eurodollar interbank offered rate, or other rate, shall be deemed to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or, if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as the Borrowing Agent may designate.

SECTION 1.04 Classification of Loans and Borrowings. For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a “Revolving Credit Loan”) or by Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Loan”) or by Class and Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Revolving Credit Loan”). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a “Revolving Credit Borrowing”) or by Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Borrowing”) or by Class and Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Revolving Credit Borrowing”).

SECTION 1.05 Delaware LLC Division. For all purposes under the Loan Documents, in connection with any division or plan of division under Delaware law (or any comparable event under a different jurisdiction’s laws): (a) if any asset, 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 (b) 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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SECTION 1.06 Limited Condition Transactions. In connection with any action being taken in connection with a Limited Condition Transaction, solely for the purpose of (i) measuring, testing availability under, or determining compliance with any provision that requires the calculation of, any applicable ratios (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Net First Lien Leverage Ratio, Net Secured Leverage Ratio, Net Total Leverage Ratio) and incurrence baskets (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any incurrence basket measured as a percentage of Consolidated EBITDA and, for the avoidance of doubt including with respect to the incurrence of any Indebtedness (including any New Loans), Liens, the making of any Acquisitions or other material Investments, Restricted Payments, prepayments of Subordinated Indebtedness, asset sales, fundamental changes or the designation or redesignation of any Restricted Subsidiaries or Unrestricted Subsidiaries, in each case, in connection with a Limited Condition Transaction) or (ii) determining compliance with the representations and warranties or the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, if the Borrower makes an LCT Election, the date of determination, in determining whether any such transaction is permitted shall be deemed to be the LCT Test Date, and if, after giving effect to the Limited Condition Transaction and the other transactions to be entered into in connection therewith as if they had occurred as of the date of determination, ending prior to the LCT Test Date on a pro forma basis, the Borrower could have taken such action on the relevant LCT Test Date in compliance with any such ratio, incurrence basket or other requirements, such ratio, incurrence basket or other requirements shall be deemed to have been complied with. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Borrower has made an LCT Election and any of the ratios or incurrence baskets for which compliance was determined or tested as of the LCT Test Date are exceeded as a result of fluctuations in any such ratio or incurrence basket at or prior to the consummation of the relevant transaction or action, such incurrence baskets or ratios will not be deemed to have been exceeded as a result of such fluctuations; provided that if such ratios or baskets improve as a result of such fluctuations, such improved ratios and/or baskets may be utilized. If the Borrower has made a LCT Election for any Limited Condition Transaction, then in connection with any subsequent calculation of any ratio or incurrence basket (other than in connection with availability to make a Restricted Payment) on or following the relevant LCT Test Date and prior to the earlier of (i) the date on which such Limited Condition Transaction is consummated or (ii) the date that the definitive agreement for such Limited Condition Transaction is terminated or expires (or, if applicable, the irrevocable notice, declaration of dividend or similar event is terminated or expires or, as applicable, the offer in respect of a Public Offer for, such acquisition is terminated) without consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction, any such ratio or incurrence basket shall be calculated and tested on a pro forma basis assuming such Limited Condition Transaction and other transactions in connection therewith (including any incurrence of debt and the use of proceeds thereof) have been consummated until such time as the applicable Limited Condition Transaction has actually closed or the definitive agreement with respect thereto has been terminated.

SECTION 1.07 [Reserved].

SECTION 1.08 Cashless Rolls. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, to the extent that any Lender extends the maturity date of, or replaces, renews or refinances, any of its then-existing Loans with loan made pursuant to any New Revolving Credit Commitment or loans incurred under a new credit facility, in each case, to the extent such extension, replacement, renewal or refinancing is effected by means of a “cashless roll” by such Lender, such extension, replacement, renewal or refinancing shall be deemed to comply with any requirement hereunder or any other Loan Document that such payment be made “in Dollars,” “in immediately available funds,” “in cash” or any other similar requirement.

 

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SECTION 1.09 Certain Calculations and Tests. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, with respect to any amounts incurred or transactions entered into (or consummated) in reliance on a provision of the same section of any Loan Document that does not require compliance with a financial ratio or test (any such amounts, the “Fixed Amounts”) substantially concurrently with any amounts incurred or transactions entered into (or consummated) in reliance on a provision of the same section of any Loan Document that requires compliance with any such financial ratio or test (any such amounts, the “Incurrence Based Amounts”), it is understood and agreed that, for purposes of this Agreement, the Fixed Amounts under such section shall be disregarded in the calculation of the financial ratio or test applicable to the Incurrence Based Amounts in connection with such substantially concurrent incurrence.

ARTICLE II

The Credits

SECTION 2.01 Commitments.

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions and relying upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, each Revolving Credit Lender agrees, severally and not jointly, to make Revolving Credit Loans to any Borrower, at any time and from time to time on or after the Closing Date and until the earlier of the Revolving Credit Maturity Date and the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Lender in accordance with the terms hereof, in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding that will not result in such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding the lesser of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment and such Lender’s Pro Rata Percentage of the Borrowing Base. Within the limits of the foregoing, and subject to the terms, conditions and limitations otherwise set forth herein, each Borrower may borrow, pay or prepay and reborrow Revolving Credit Loans.

(b) The Administrative Agent shall be authorized, in its discretion, at any time that any conditions in Section 4.02 are not satisfied, to make Revolving Credit Loans in Dollars that are ABR Loans (any such Revolving Credit Loans made pursuant to this Section 2.01(b), “Protective Loans”) in an aggregate amount not to exceed $10,000,000 at any time outstanding, if the Administrative Agent reasonably deems such Protective Loans necessary or desirable to preserve or protect Collateral, or to enhance the collectability or repayment of Obligations; provided that no Protective Loan shall continue outstanding for more than 90 consecutive days (and no further Protective Loan may be made for at least five consecutive days after the repayment by the Borrowers of any outstanding Protective Loans). Protective Loans shall constitute Revolving Credit Loans and Obligations secured by the Collateral and shall be entitled to all of the benefits of the Loan Documents. Immediately upon the making of a Protective Loan, each Revolving Credit Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the Administrative Agent a risk participation in such Protective Loan in an amount equal to such Lender’s Pro Rata Percentage of such Protective Loan. From and after the date, if any, on which any Lender is requested by the Administrative

 

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Agent to fund, and has funded its participation in any Protective Loan purchased hereunder, the Administrative Agent shall promptly distribute to such Lender, such Lender’s Pro Rata Percentage of all payments of principal and interest and all proceeds of Collateral received by the Administrative Agent in respect of such Protective Loan (and prior to such date, all payments on account of the Protective Loans shall be payable to the Administrative Agent solely for its own account). The Supermajority Lenders may at any time revoke the Administrative Agent’s authority to make further Protective Loans by written notice to the Administrative Agent. Absent such revocation, the Administrative Agent’s determination that funding of a Protective Loan is appropriate shall be conclusive. In no event shall Protective Loans cause any Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure to exceed such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment. Protective Loans shall be payable by the applicable Borrower on demand.

SECTION 2.02 Loans and Borrowings.

(a) Each Revolving Credit Loan (other than Swingline Loans) shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Loans made by the applicable Revolving Credit Lenders, as applicable, ratably in accordance with their applicable Commitments; provided, however, that the failure of any Revolving Credit Lender to make any Revolving Credit Loan, as applicable, shall not in itself relieve any other Revolving Credit Lender of its obligation to lend hereunder (it being understood, however, that no Revolving Credit Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Revolving Credit Lender to make any Revolving Credit Loan required to be made by such other Revolving Credit Lender, as applicable). Except for Revolving Credit Loans deemed made pursuant to Section 2.02(f), the Revolving Credit Loans comprising any Borrowing shall be in an aggregate principal amount that is (i) an integral multiple of the Borrowing Multiple and not less than the Borrowing Minimum or (ii) equal to the remaining available balance of the Revolving Credit Commitments.

(b) Subject to Sections 2.02(f), 2.08 and 2.15, each Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Eurodollar Loans as the applicable Borrower may request pursuant to Section 2.03. Each Lender may at its option make any Eurodollar Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan; provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrowers to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Borrowings of more than one Type may be outstanding at the same time; provided, however, that no Borrower shall be entitled to request any Borrowing that, if made, would result in more than 10 Eurodollar Borrowings outstanding hereunder at any time. For purposes of the foregoing, Borrowings having different Interest Periods, regardless of whether they commence on the same date, shall be considered separate Borrowings.

(c) Except with respect to Loans made pursuant to Section 2.02(f)(ii), each Lender shall make each Revolving Credit Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds to such account as the Administrative Agent may designate not later than 1:00 p.m., Local Time, and the Administrative Agent shall promptly credit the amounts so received to an account designated by the applicable Borrower in the applicable Borrowing Request or, if a Borrowing shall not occur on such date because any condition precedent herein specified shall not have been met, return the amounts so received to the respective Lenders.

 

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(d) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s portion of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such portion available to the Administrative Agent on the date of such Borrowing in accordance with paragraph (c) above and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the applicable Borrower on such date a corresponding amount. If the Administrative Agent shall have so made funds available then, to the extent that such Lender shall not have made such portion available to the Administrative Agent, such Lender and the Borrowers severally agree to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is made available to the applicable Borrower to but excluding the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at (i) in the case of the Borrowers, a rate per annum equal to the interest rate applicable at the time to the Loans comprising such Borrowing and (ii) in the case of such Lender, a rate determined by the Administrative Agent to represent its cost of overnight or short term funds (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error). If such Lender shall repay to the Administrative Agent such corresponding amount, such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan as part of such Borrowing for purposes of this Agreement.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no Borrower shall be entitled to request, or to elect to convert or continue, any Revolving Credit Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect thereto would end after the Revolving Credit Maturity Date.

(f) In the case of any L/C Disbursement with respect to a Letter of Credit, if the Issuing Bank shall not have received from the Borrowers the payment required to be made by Section 2.23(e) within the time specified in such Section, the Issuing Bank will promptly notify the Administrative Agent of the L/C Disbursement and the Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Revolving Credit Lender of such L/C Disbursement and its Pro Rata Percentage thereof. Each Revolving Credit Lender shall pay by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Administrative Agent not later than 2:00 p.m., Local Time, on such date (or, if such Revolving Credit Lender shall have received such notice later than 12:00 (noon), Local Time, on any day, not later than 10:00 a.m., Local Time, on the immediately following Business Day), an amount equal to such Lender’s Pro Rata Percentage of such L/C Disbursement (it being understood that (i) if the conditions precedent to borrowing set forth in Section 4.02 have been satisfied, such amount shall be deemed to constitute an ABR Revolving Credit Loan of such Lender and, to the extent of such payment, the obligations of the Borrowers in respect of such L/C Disbursement shall be discharged and replaced with the resulting ABR Revolving Credit Borrowing, and (ii) if such conditions precedent to borrowing have not been satisfied, then any such amount paid by any Revolving Credit Lender shall not constitute a Revolving Credit Loan and shall not relieve any Borrower from its obligation to reimburse such L/C Disbursement), and the Administrative Agent will promptly pay to the Issuing Bank amounts so received by it from the Revolving Credit Lenders. The Administrative Agent will promptly pay to the Issuing Bank any amounts received by it from any Borrower pursuant to Section 2.23(e) prior to the time that any Revolving Credit Lender makes any payment pursuant to this paragraph (f); any such amounts received by the Administrative Agent thereafter will be promptly remitted by the Administrative Agent to the Revolving Credit Lenders that shall have made such payments and

 

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to the Issuing Bank, as their interests may appear. If any Revolving Credit Lender shall not have made its Pro Rata Percentage of such L/C Disbursement available to the Administrative Agent as provided above, such Lender and the Borrowers severally agree to pay interest on such amount, for each day from and including the date such amount is required to be paid in accordance with this paragraph to but excluding the date such amount is paid, to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Bank at (i) in the case of the Borrowers, a rate per annum equal to the interest rate applicable to the Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to Section 2.06(a) or 2.07 (as applicable) and (ii) in the case of such Lender, for the first such day, the Federal Funds Effective Rate, and for each day thereafter, the Alternate Base Rate.

SECTION 2.03 Borrowing Procedure. In order to request a Revolving Credit Borrowing (other than a Swingline Loan or a deemed Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.02(f), as to which this Section 2.03 shall not apply), a Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by telephone or in writing (a) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 1:00 p.m., Local Time, three Business Days before a proposed Borrowing and (b) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., Local Time, on the requested date of any proposed Borrowing. Each such telephonic Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable, and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery, fax or electronic mail to the Administrative Agent of a written Borrowing Request and shall specify the following information: (i) whether such Borrowing is to be a Eurodollar Borrowing or an ABR Borrowing; (ii) the date of such Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day); (iii) the number and location of the account to which funds are to be disbursed; (iv) the amount of such Borrowing; and (v) if such Borrowing is to be a Eurodollar Borrowing, the Interest Period with respect thereto; provided that notwithstanding any contrary specification in any Borrowing Request, each requested Borrowing shall comply with the requirements set forth in Section 2.02. If no election as to the Type of Borrowing is specified in any such notice, then the requested Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing is specified in any such notice, then such Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration. The Administrative Agent shall promptly advise the applicable Lenders of any notice given pursuant to this Section 2.03(a) (and the contents thereof), and of each Lender’s portion of the requested Borrowing.

SECTION 2.04 Evidence of Debt; Repayment of Loans.

(a) Each Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Credit Loan of such Lender on the Revolving Credit Maturity Date. Each Borrower hereby promises to pay to the Swingline Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Swingline Loan on the Revolving Credit Maturity Date.

(b) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrowers to such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such Lender from time to time, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time under this Agreement.

 

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(c) The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it will record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Class, Type and series thereof (as applicable) and, if applicable, the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrowers to each Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder from any Borrower or any Guarantor and each Lender’s share thereof.

(d) The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraphs (b) and (c) above shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations therein recorded; provided, however, that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligations of any Borrower to repay the Loans in accordance with their terms.

(e) Any Lender may request that Loans made by it hereunder be evidenced by a promissory note. In such event, the Borrowers shall execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to such Lender and its registered assigns and in a form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in the event any Lender shall request and receive such a promissory note, the interests represented by such note shall at all times (including after any assignment of all or part of such interests pursuant to Section 9.04) be represented by one or more promissory notes payable to the payee named therein or its registered assigns.

SECTION 2.05 Fees.

(a) Each Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, in U.S. Dollars, for the account of each Revolving Credit Lender on the last Business Day of March, June, September and December of each year (commencing with the last Business Day of December 2019) during the period from and including the Closing Date to but excluding the Revolving Credit Maturity Date and on each date on which the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Lender shall expire or be terminated as provided herein a fee (an “Unused Commitment Fee”) at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Fee Percentage on the daily unused amount of the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Lender (but disregarding any of its share of any Swingline Exposure) during the preceding quarter (or other period commencing with the date hereof or ending with the Revolving Credit Maturity Date or the date on which the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Lender shall expire or be terminated, as applicable); provided that no Borrower shall pay any Unused Commitment Fee for the account of any Revolving Credit Lender that is a Defaulting Lender. All Unused Commitment Fees shall be computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in a year of 360 days.

(b) Each Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, in U.S. Dollars, for the account of the parties entitled thereto, such fees as shall be payable under the Fee Letter at the times and in the amounts specified therein, if any (the “Other Fees”).

(c) Each Borrower agrees to pay (i) to each Revolving Credit Lender, through the Administrative Agent, on the last Business Day of March, June, September and December of each year (commencing with the last Business Day of December 2019) during the period from and including the Closing Date to but excluding the Revolving Credit Maturity Date and on the date on which the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Revolving Credit Lender shall be terminated as provided herein, a fee (an “L/C Participation Fee”) calculated on such Revolving

 

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Credit Lender’s Pro Rata Percentage of the daily aggregate L/C Exposure (excluding the portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed L/C Disbursements) during the preceding quarter (or shorter period commencing with the date hereof or ending with the Revolving Credit Maturity Date or the date on which all Letters of Credit have been canceled or have expired and the Revolving Credit Commitments of all Revolving Credit Lenders shall have been terminated) at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Percentage from time to time used to determine the interest rate on Revolving Credit Borrowings comprised of Eurodollar Loans pursuant to Section 2.06, and (ii) to the Issuing Bank with respect to each Letter of Credit issued by it, on the last Business Day of March, June, September and December of each year (commencing with the last Business Day of December 2019) during the period from and including the Closing Date to but excluding the Revolving Credit Maturity Date and on any earlier date upon which all the Revolving Credit Commitments terminate, a fronting fee calculated on the daily aggregate L/C Exposure (excluding the portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed L/C Disbursements) attributable to such Letters of Credit during the preceding quarter (or shorter period commencing with the date hereof or ending with the Revolving Credit Maturity Date or the date on which such Letters of Credit have been canceled or have expired and the Revolving Credit Commitments of all Revolving Credit Lenders shall have been terminated) at a rate per annum equal to 0.25%, and the Issuing Bank’s standard issuance, administration, amendment, extension and drawing fees specified from time to time by the Issuing Bank (the “Issuing Bank Fees”). All L/C Participation Fees and Issuing Bank Fees shall be payable in U.S. Dollars computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in a year of 360 days.

(d) All Fees shall be paid on the dates due, in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent for distribution, if and as appropriate, among the Lenders, except that the Issuing Bank Fees shall be paid directly to the Issuing Bank. Once paid, none of the Fees shall be refundable under any circumstances.

SECTION 2.06 Interest on Loans.

(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.07, the Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing, including each Swingline Loan, shall bear interest (computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, when the Alternate Base Rate is determined by reference to the Prime Rate and over a year of 360 days at all other times and calculated from and including the date of such Borrowing to but excluding the date of repayment thereof) at a rate per annum equal to the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Percentage in effect from time to time.

(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.07, the Loans comprising each Eurodollar Borrowing shall bear interest (computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over a year of 360 days) at a rate per annum equal to the Adjusted LIBO Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Percentage in effect from time to time.

(c) Interest on each Loan shall be payable on the Interest Payment Dates applicable to such Loan except as otherwise provided in this Agreement. The applicable Alternate Base Rate or Adjusted LIBO Rate for each Interest Period or day within an Interest Period, as the case may be, shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

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SECTION 2.07 Default Interest. If at any time after the occurrence of and during the continuance of an Event of Default, all or a portion of the principal amount of any Loan, any interest on the Loans or any fees or other amounts owed hereunder shall not be paid when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), (a) such overdue amount shall bear interest payable on demand at a rate that is 2.00% per annum in excess of the interest rate otherwise payable hereunder with respect to the applicable Loans (or, in the case of any such fees and other amounts, at a rate which is 2.00% per annum in excess of the interest rate otherwise payable hereunder for ABR Loans) and (b) the respective rates for the L/C Participation Fee and the Issuing Bank Fees as set forth in Section 2.05(c) shall be each increased by 2.00% per annum. Payment or acceptance of the increased rates of interest and fees provided for in this Section 2.07 is not a permitted alternative to timely payment and shall not constitute a waiver of any Event of Default or otherwise prejudice or limit any rights or remedies of Administrative Agent or any Lender.

SECTION 2.08 Alternate Rate of Interest. In the event, and on each occasion, that on the day two Business Days prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall have determined that deposits in the principal amounts of the Loans comprising such Borrowing are not generally available in the relevant interbank market, or that the rates at which such deposits are being offered will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to any Lender of making or maintaining its Eurodollar Loan during such Interest Period, or that reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBO Rate, the Administrative Agent shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, give written, fax or electronic mail notice of such determination to the Borrowers and the Lenders. In the event of any such determination, and subject to the following paragraphs of this Section 2.08, until the Administrative Agent shall have advised the Borrowers and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (a) any request by any Borrower for a Eurodollar Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.03 shall be deemed to be a request for an ABR Borrowing and (b) any request by any Borrower for a Eurodollar Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.10 shall be deemed a request for an ABR Borrowing. Each determination by the Administrative Agent under this Section 2.08 shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Documents, if the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be made in good faith and shall be conclusive absent manifest error), or the Required Lenders notify the Administrative Agent (with a copy to the Borrowers delivered pursuant to Section 9.01) that the Required Lenders have determined, that:

(a) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBO Rate or LIBO Rate, as applicable for any requested Interest Period, including, without limitation, because the LIBOR Screen Rate is not available or published on a current basis and such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary; or

 

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(b) the supervisor for the administrator of the LIBOR Screen Rate or a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent has made a public statement or publication of information identifying a specific date after which the LIBOR Screen Rate, the LIBO Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate shall no longer be made available, or used for determining the interest rate of loans,

then, after such determination by the Administrative Agent or receipt by the Administrative Agent of such notice, as applicable, the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers may amend this Agreement to replace the LIBOR Screen Rate with an alternate benchmark rate (including any mathematical or other adjustments to the benchmark (if any) incorporated therein) that has been broadly accepted by the syndicated loan market in the United States in lieu of the LIBOR Screen Rate (any such proposed rate, a “LIBOR Successor Rate”), together with any proposed LIBOR Successor Rate Conforming Changes (but, for the avoidance of doubt, such related changes shall not include a reduction in the Applicable Percentage); provided, that if such alternate rate of interest would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for all purposes of this Agreement; provided further, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 9.08, any such amendment shall become effective at 5:00 p.m. (New York time) on the fifth Business Day after the Administrative Agent shall have posted such proposed amendment to all Lenders, Issuing Banks and the Borrowers unless, prior to such time, Lenders comprising the Required Lenders have delivered to the Administrative Agent notice that such Required Lenders do not accept such amendment.

If no LIBOR Successor Rate has been determined and the circumstances under clause (a) or (b) above exist, the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Eurodollar Loans shall be suspended (to the extent of the affected Loans or Interest Periods). Upon receipt of such notice, the applicable Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Eurodollar Borrowing or the conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Loans (to the extent of the affected Eurodollar Loans or Interest Periods) or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for ABR Loans in the amount specified therein.

SECTION 2.09 Termination and Reduction of Commitments.

(a) Any Revolving Credit Commitments shall automatically terminate on the Revolving Credit Maturity Date. Any L/C Commitment shall automatically terminate on the earlier to occur of (i) the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments and (ii) the date five days prior to the Revolving Credit Maturity Date. On the day a prepayment is required under Section 2.13(e), all Commitments shall automatically terminate on such day.

(b) Upon at least three Business Days’ prior irrevocable written, fax or electronic mail notice to the Administrative Agent, the Borrowers may at any time in whole permanently terminate, or from time to time in part permanently reduce, the Revolving Credit Commitments (if any); provided, however, that (i) each partial reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitments shall be in an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and in a minimum amount of $5,000,000, and (ii) the Revolving Credit Commitment shall not be reduced to an amount that is less than the Aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure at the time; provided further that, if a notice of termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments is given in connection with a conditional notice of optional prepayment as contemplated by Section 2.12(d), then such notice of termination may be revoked if such notice of optional prepayment is revoked in accordance with Section 2.12(d).

 

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(c) Each reduction in the Revolving Credit Commitments hereunder shall be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their respective applicable Commitments. The Borrowers shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Revolving Credit Lenders, on the date of each termination or reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitments, the Unused Commitment Fees, as applicable, on the amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments, so terminated or reduced accrued to but excluding the date of such termination or reduction.

SECTION 2.10 Conversion and Continuation of Borrowings. The Borrowers shall have the right at any time upon prior irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent (a) not later than 1:00 p.m., Local Time, one Business Day prior to conversion, to convert any Eurodollar Borrowing into an ABR Borrowing, (b) not later than 1:00 p.m., Local Time, three Business Days prior to conversion or continuation, to convert any ABR Borrowing into a Eurodollar Borrowing or to continue any Eurodollar Borrowing as a Eurodollar Borrowing for an additional Interest Period, and (c) not later than 1:00 p.m., Local Time, three Business Days prior to conversion, to convert the Interest Period with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing to another permissible Interest Period, subject in each case to the following:

(i) each conversion or continuation shall be made pro rata among the Lenders in accordance with the respective principal amounts of the Loans comprising the converted or continued Borrowing;

(ii) if less than all the outstanding principal amount of any Borrowing shall be converted or continued, then each resulting Borrowing shall satisfy the limitations specified in Sections 2.02(a) and 2.02(b) regarding the principal amount and maximum number of Borrowings of the relevant Type;

(iii) each conversion shall be effected by each Lender and the Administrative Agent by recording for the account of such Lender the new Loan of such Lender resulting from such conversion and reducing the Loan (or portion thereof) of such Lender being converted by an equivalent principal amount; accrued interest on any Eurodollar Loan (or portion thereof) being converted shall be paid by the Borrowers at the time of conversion;

(iv) if any Eurodollar Borrowing is converted at a time other than the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, the Borrowers shall pay, upon demand, any amounts due to the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.16;

(v) any portion of a Borrowing maturing or required to be repaid in less than one month may not be converted into or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing;

(vi) any portion of a Eurodollar Borrowing that cannot be converted into or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing by reason of the immediately preceding clause shall be automatically converted at the end of the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing into an ABR Borrowing; and

(vii) upon notice to the Borrowers from the Administrative Agent given at the request of the Required Lenders, after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, no outstanding Loan may be converted into, or continued as, a Eurodollar Loan.

 

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Each notice pursuant to this Section 2.10 shall be irrevocable and shall refer to this Agreement and specify (i) the identity and amount of the Borrowing that the Borrowers request be converted or continued, (ii) whether such Borrowing is to be converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing or an ABR Borrowing, (iii) if such notice requests a conversion, the date of such conversion (which shall be a Business Day) and (iv) if such Borrowing is to be converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing, the Interest Period with respect thereto. If no Interest Period is specified in any such notice with respect to any conversion to or continuation as a Eurodollar Borrowing, the Borrowers shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration. The Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of any notice given pursuant to this Section 2.10 and of each Lender’s portion of any converted or continued Borrowing. If the Borrowers shall not have given notice in accordance with this Section 2.10 to continue any Eurodollar Borrowing into a subsequent Interest Period (and shall not otherwise have given notice in accordance with this Section 2.10 to convert such Borrowing), such Borrowing shall, at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto (unless repaid pursuant to the terms hereof), automatically be continued into an ABR Borrowing.

SECTION 2.11 Repayment of Revolving Credit Loans.

(a) All Revolving Credit Loans shall be due and payable on the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, together with accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount to be paid to but excluding the date of payment.

(b) All repayments pursuant to this Section 2.11 shall be subject to Section 2.16, but shall otherwise be without premium or penalty.

SECTION 2.12 Optional Prepayment.

(a) Subject to paragraph (d) below, the Borrowers shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing, in whole or in part, (i) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, upon at least three Business Days’ (or such shorter period as Administrative Agent may allow) prior written, fax or electronic mail notice (or telephone notice promptly confirmed by written, fax or electronic mail notice) or (ii) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, upon at least one Business Day’s prior written, fax or electronic mail notice (or telephone notice promptly confirmed by written, fax or electronic mail notice), in each case to the Administrative Agent before 1:00 p.m., Local Time; provided, however, that (i) each partial prepayment shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of the Borrowing Multiple and not less than the Borrowing Minimum and (ii) any prepayment of a Borrowing pursuant to this Section 2.12(a) shall be made on a pro rata basis among the Loans comprising such Borrowing based on the aggregate principal amount of such Loans then outstanding.

(b) [Intentionally omitted]

(c) [Intentionally omitted]

(d) Each notice of prepayment shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing (or portion thereof) to be prepaid, shall be irrevocable and shall commit the Borrowers to prepay such Borrowing by the amount stated therein on the date stated therein; provided that, a notice of optional prepayment may state that such notice is

 

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conditioned upon the receipt of net proceeds from other Indebtedness or the closing of another material related transaction, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrowers (by written notice to the Administrative Agent) on or prior to the prepayment date specified therein. All prepayments under this Section 2.12 shall be subject to Section 2.16 but otherwise without premium or penalty. All prepayments under this Section 2.12 (other than prepayments of ABR Revolving Credit Loans that are not made in connection with the termination or permanent reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitments) shall be accompanied by accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount to be prepaid to but excluding the date of payment.

SECTION 2.13 Mandatory Prepayments.

(a) In the event of any termination of all the Revolving Credit Commitments, each Borrower shall, on the date of such termination, repay or prepay all its outstanding Revolving Credit Borrowings and all outstanding Swingline Loans and replace or cause to be canceled (or make other arrangements satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank with respect to) all outstanding Letters of Credit. If, after giving effect to any partial reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitments (if any), the Aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure would exceed the lesser of the Borrowing Base and the Total Revolving Credit Commitment, then the Borrowers shall, on the date of such reduction, repay or prepay the Revolving Credit Borrowings or Swingline Loans (or a combination thereof) and, after the Revolving Credit Borrowings and Swingline Loans shall have been repaid or prepaid in full, replace or cause to be canceled (or make other arrangements satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank with respect to) Letters of Credit in an amount sufficient to eliminate such excess.

(b) [Intentionally omitted]

(c) Each Borrower shall, on each Business Day, if applicable, prepay (with no corresponding Commitment reduction) an aggregate principal amount of the Loans in an amount equal to the amount, if any, by which (i) the Aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure exceeds (ii) the lesser of the Borrowing Base and the Total Revolving Credit Commitment (except as a result of Protective Loans made under Section 2.01(b) and not outstanding for more than 90 consecutive days); provided that in respect of any prepayment under this Section 2.13(c) directly attributable to any adjustment of Reserves, such prepayment shall be made not later than the Business Day immediately following the date such adjusted Reserves became effective; provided that in respect of any prepayment under this Section 2.13(c) directly attributable to the funding of a Protective Loan by the Administrative Agent, such prepayment shall be due on the earlier of (x) 90 days after the funding of such Protective Loan and (y) one Business Day after demand by the Administrative Agent.

(d) During any Cash Dominion Period, the Borrowers shall prepay outstanding Obligations in accordance with Section 5.15(a)(iii).

 

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SECTION 2.14 Reserve Requirements; Change in Circumstances.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if any Change in Law: (i) shall impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of or credit extended by any Lender or the Issuing Bank (except any such reserve requirement which is reflected in the Adjusted LIBO Rate); (ii) subjects the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of a Borrower hereunder to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes, (B) Taxes described in clauses (b) through (d) of the definition of Excluded Taxes, and (C) Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto; or (iii) shall impose on such Lender or the Issuing Bank or the London interbank market any other condition (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein, and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender or the Issuing Bank of making or maintaining any Eurodollar Loan or increase the cost to any Lender of issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit or purchasing or maintaining a participation therein or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or the Issuing Bank hereunder (whether of principal, interest or otherwise) by an amount deemed by such Lender or the Issuing Bank to be material, then the Borrowers will pay to such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, upon demand such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered; provided that in the case of any Change in Law only applicable as a result of the proviso set forth in the definition thereof, such Lender or Issuing Bank, as the case may be, will only be compensated to the extent the applicable Lender or Issuing Bank is imposing such charges on other generally similarly situated borrowers (but not necessarily all such borrowers) under comparable syndicated credit facilities.

(b) If any Lender or the Issuing Bank shall have determined that any Change in Law regarding capital adequacy or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement or the Loans made or participations in Letters of Credit purchased by such Lender pursuant hereto or the Letters of Credit issued by the Issuing Bank pursuant hereto to a level below that which such Lender or the Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity) by an amount deemed by such Lender or the Issuing Bank to be material, then from time to time the Borrowers shall pay to such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

(c) A certificate of a Lender or the Issuing Bank setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or the Issuing Bank or its holding company, as applicable, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) above, and if applicable, with calculations thereof, shall be delivered to the Borrowers and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrowers shall pay such Lender or the Issuing Bank the amount shown as due on any such certificate delivered by it within 10 days after its receipt of the same.

 

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(d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or the Issuing Bank to demand compensation for any increased costs or reduction in amounts received or receivable or reduction in return on capital shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrowers shall not be under any obligation to compensate any Lender or the Issuing Bank under paragraph (a) or (b) above with respect to increased costs or reductions with respect to any period prior to the date that is 120 days prior to such request if such Lender or the Issuing Bank knew or could reasonably have been expected to know of the circumstances giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of the fact that such circumstances would result in a claim for increased compensation by reason of such increased costs or reductions; provided further that the foregoing limitation shall not apply to any increased costs or reductions arising out of the retroactive application of any Change in Law within such 120 day period. The protection of this Section 2.14 shall be available to each Lender and the Issuing Bank regardless of any possible contention of the invalidity or inapplicability of the Change in Law that shall have occurred or been imposed.

SECTION 2.15 Change in Legality.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if any Change in Law shall make it unlawful for any Lender to make or maintain any Eurodollar Loan or to give effect to its obligations as contemplated hereby with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, then, by written notice to the Borrowers and to the Administrative Agent:

(i) such Lender may declare that Eurodollar Loans will not thereafter (for the duration of such unlawfulness) be made by such Lender hereunder (or be continued for additional Interest Periods) and ABR Loans will not thereafter (for such duration) be converted into Eurodollar Loans, whereupon any request for a Eurodollar Borrowing (or to convert an ABR Borrowing to a Eurodollar Borrowing or to continue a Eurodollar Borrowing for an additional Interest Period) shall, as to such Lender only, be deemed a request for an ABR Loan (or a request to continue an ABR Loan as such for an additional Interest Period or to convert such a Eurodollar Loan into an ABR Loan, as the case may be); and

(ii) such Lender may require that all outstanding Eurodollar Loans made by it be converted to ABR Loans, in which event all such Eurodollar Loans shall be automatically converted to ABR Loans as of the effective date of such notice as provided in paragraph (b) below.

In the event any Lender shall exercise its rights under clause (i) or (ii) above, all payments and prepayments of principal that would otherwise have been applied to repay the Eurodollar Loans that would have been made by such Lender or the converted Eurodollar Loans of such Lender shall instead be applied to repay the ABR Loans made by such Lender in lieu of, or resulting from the conversion of, such Eurodollar Loans.

(b) For purposes of this Section 2.15, a notice to the Borrowers by any Lender shall be effective as to each Eurodollar Loan made by such Lender, if lawful, on the last day of the Interest Period then applicable to such Eurodollar Loan; in all other cases such notice shall be effective on the date of receipt by the Borrowers.

 

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SECTION 2.16 Indemnity. The Borrowers shall indemnify each Lender against any loss or expense (other than any loss of the Applicable Percentage or other profit margin) that such Lender may sustain or incur as a consequence of (a) any event, other than a default by such Lender in the performance of its obligations hereunder, which results in (i) such Lender receiving or being deemed to receive any amount on account of the principal of any Eurodollar Loan prior to the end of the Interest Period in effect therefor (including pursuant to a required assignment pursuant to Section 2.21(a)), (ii) the conversion of any Eurodollar Loan to an ABR Loan, or the conversion of the Interest Period with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, in each case other than on the last day of the Interest Period in effect therefor, or (iii) any Eurodollar Loan to be made by such Lender (including any Eurodollar Loan to be made pursuant to a conversion or continuation under Section 2.10) not being made after notice of such Loan shall have been given by a Borrower hereunder (any of the events referred to in this clause (a) being called a “Breakage Event”) or (b) any default in the making of any payment or prepayment required to be made hereunder. In the case of any Breakage Event, such loss shall be equal to the excess, as reasonably determined by such Lender, of (i) its cost of obtaining funds for the Eurodollar Loan that is the subject of such Breakage Event for the period from the date of such Breakage Event to the last day of the Interest Period in effect (or that would have been in effect) for such Loan over (ii) the amount of interest likely to be realized by such Lender in redeploying the funds released or not utilized by reason of such Breakage Event for such period. A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts which such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 2.16, with calculations thereof, shall be delivered to the Borrowers and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand indemnification under this Section 2.16 shall not constitute a waiver of such right to demand such indemnification; provided that the Borrowers shall not be under any obligation to indemnify any Lender under this Section 2.16 for any claim made more than 180 days after the applicable Breakage Event.

SECTION 2.17 Pro Rata Treatment. Except as provided below in this Section 2.17 with respect to Swingline Loans and as required under Section 2.15, each Borrowing, each payment or prepayment of principal of any Borrowing, each payment of interest on the Loans, each payment of the Unused Commitment Fees, each reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitments and each conversion of any Borrowing to or continuation of any Borrowing as a Borrowing of any Type shall be allocated pro rata among the Lenders in accordance with their respective applicable Commitments (or, if such Commitments shall have expired or been terminated, in accordance with the respective principal amounts of their outstanding Loans of the applicable Class). For purposes of determining the available Revolving Credit Commitments of the Lenders at any time, each outstanding Swingline Loan shall be deemed to have utilized the Revolving Credit Commitments of the Lenders (including those Lenders which shall not have made Swingline Loans) pro rata in accordance with such respective Revolving Credit Commitments. Each Lender agrees that in computing such Lender’s portion of any Borrowing to be made hereunder, the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion, round each Lender’s percentage of such Borrowing to the next higher or lower whole dollar amount.

SECTION 2.18 Sharing of Setoffs. Each Lender agrees that if it shall, through the exercise of a right of banker’s lien, setoff or counterclaim against any Borrower or any other Loan Party, or pursuant to a secured claim under section 506 of the Bankruptcy Code or other security or interest arising from, or in lieu of, such secured claim, received by such Lender under

 

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any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law or otherwise, or by any other means, obtain payment (voluntary or involuntary) in respect of any Loan or Loans or L/C Disbursement as a result of which the unpaid principal portion of its Loans and participations in L/C Disbursements shall be proportionately less than the unpaid principal portion of the Loans and participations in L/C Disbursements of any other Lender, it shall be deemed simultaneously to have purchased from such other Lender at face value, and shall promptly pay to such other Lender the purchase price for, a participation in the Loans and L/C Exposure of such other Lender, so that the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Loans and L/C Exposure and participations in Loans and L/C Exposure held by each Lender shall be in the same proportion to the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Loans and L/C Exposure then outstanding as the principal amount of its Loans and L/C Exposure prior to such exercise of banker’s lien, setoff or counterclaim or other event was to the principal amount of all Loans and L/C Exposure outstanding prior to such exercise of banker’s lien, setoff or counterclaim or other event; provided, however, that if any such purchase or purchases or adjustments shall be made pursuant to this Section 2.18 and the payment giving rise thereto shall thereafter be recovered, such purchase or purchases or adjustments shall be rescinded to the extent of such recovery and the purchase price or prices or adjustment restored without interest. The Loan Parties expressly consent to the foregoing arrangements and agree that any Lender holding a participation in a Loan or L/C Disbursement deemed to have been so purchased may exercise any and all rights of banker’s lien, setoff or counterclaim with respect to any and all moneys owing by any Loan Party to such Lender by reason thereof as fully as if such Lender had made a Loan directly to a Borrower in the amount of such participation. The provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by any Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement.

SECTION 2.19 Payments.

(a) Each Borrower shall make each payment (including principal of or interest on any Borrowing or any L/C Disbursement or any Fees or other amounts) hereunder and under any other Loan Document not later than 1:00 p.m., Local Time, on the date when due in immediately available U.S. Dollars, without setoff, defense or counterclaim. Each such payment (other than (i) Issuing Bank Fees, which shall be paid directly to the Issuing Bank, and (ii) principal of and interest on Swingline Loans, which shall be paid directly to the Swingline Lender except as otherwise provided in Section 2.22(e)) shall be made to the Administrative Agent at its address set forth in Section 9.01. The Administrative Agent shall promptly distribute to each Lender any payments received by the Administrative Agent on behalf of such Lender.

(b) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, whenever any payment (including principal of or interest on any Borrowing or any Fees or other amounts) hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall become due, or otherwise would occur, on a day that is not a Business Day, such payment may be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and such extension of time shall in such case be included in the computation of interest or Fees, if applicable.

 

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(c) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the applicable Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or the Issuing Banks hereunder that such Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the Issuing Banks, as the case may be, the amount due. In such event, if such Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or the Issuing Banks, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or Issuing Bank, with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

SECTION 2.20 Taxes.

(a) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of a Borrower or any other Loan Party hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, unless required by applicable law. If any applicable law (as determined in good faith discretion of an applicable Withholding Agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from such payment by such Withholding Agent, then the applicable Withholding Agent shall be entitled to make such deduction and withholding of such Tax and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law. If such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the applicable Loan Party shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions or withholdings (including deductions or withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the Administrative Agent, Lender or Issuing Bank (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions or withholdings been made.

(b) In addition, each Borrower shall timely pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

(c) Each Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Issuing Bank, within 10 days after receipt of the certificate referred to below, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes paid by the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, on or with respect to any payment by or on account of any obligation of such Borrower or any other Loan Party hereunder or under any other Loan Document (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) and any penalties, interest and any other reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority; provided, however, that if the Borrower reasonably believes that any such Indemnified Taxes were not correctly or legally asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority, the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, will use reasonable efforts to cooperate with such Borrower to obtain a refund of such Taxes so long as such efforts would not result in any additional cost, expense or risk or be otherwise disadvantageous to any of the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such Issuing Bank. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability setting forth in reasonable detail the calculation thereof delivered to the Borrowers by a Lender or the Issuing Bank (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on behalf of itself, a Lender or the Issuing Bank, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

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(d) As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by a Borrower or any other Loan Party to a Governmental Authority, such Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(e) Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within 10 days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that the Loan Parties has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of such Loan Parties to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 9.04(f) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this paragraph (e).

(f) Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which a Borrower is located, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments under this Agreement shall deliver to such Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at such other time or times prescribed by applicable law or as reasonably requested by such Borrower, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by such Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding sentence, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth below) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender. In addition, each Foreign Lender shall, to the extent legally entitled to do so, (i) furnish on or before it becomes a party to this Agreement to the Borrowers (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) either (a) executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or successor form) or executed copies of IRS Form W-8ECI (or successor form), as applicable, certifying, in either case, such Foreign Lender’s legal entitlement to an exemption from U.S. federal withholding tax with respect to all payments hereunder or (b) to the extent the Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed copies of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E (together with a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit I-1, I-2, I-3 or I-4 (as applicable), if the beneficial owner providing the IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E is relying on the so-called portfolio interest

 

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exemption), IRS Form W-9 or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable, and, if applicable further IRS Forms W-8IMY with the accompanying documentation described in this clause (b), and (ii) provide a new Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or successor form) or IRS Form W-8ECI (or successor form) to the Borrowers (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) (a) upon the expiration or obsolescence of any previously delivered form or if the information on such form is or becomes incorrect, (b) at such other time or times prescribed by applicable law, or (c) as reasonably requested by the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent, to reconfirm any exemption from U.S. federal withholding tax with respect to any payment hereunder; provided that any Foreign Lender that is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrowers within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” related to the Borrowers as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code, and is relying on the so called “portfolio interest exemption” shall also furnish a statement substantially in the form of Exhibit I-1, I-2, I-3 or I-4 (as applicable), together with the applicable form. Any Lender or Issuing Bank that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrowers (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), (w) on or before the date such Lender becomes a party to this Agreement, (x) upon the expiration or obsolescence of any previously delivered form or if the information on such form is or becomes incorrect, (y) at such other time or times prescribed by applicable law, or (z) as reasonably requested by the Borrowers, two accurate and complete originally executed copies of IRS Form W-9, or any successor form certifying that such Lender or Issuing Bank is exempt from U.S. backup withholding.

(g) If a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this clause (g), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

(h) If the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank determines, in its reasonable discretion, that it has received a refund in respect of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes as to which indemnification or additional amounts have been paid to it by a Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.20, it shall promptly remit such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by such Borrower under this Section 2.20 with respect to the Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund plus any interest included in such refund by the relevant Governmental Authority attributable thereto) to such Borrower, net of all out of pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund to the Administrative Agent, Lender or Issuing Bank, as applicable); provided, that a Borrower, upon the request of the

 

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Administrative Agent, Lender or Issuing Bank, agrees to repay as soon as reasonably practicable the amount paid over to such Borrower (plus penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent, Lender or Issuing Bank to the extent that Administrative Agent, Lender or Issuing Bank is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (h), in no event will the Administrative Agent, any Lender, or any Issuing Bank be required to pay any amount pursuant to this paragraph (h) the payment of which would place the Administrative Agent, any Lender, or any Issuing Bank in a less favorable net after Tax position than such Administrative Agent, Lender, or Issuing Bank would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. This Section 2.20 shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes which it deems confidential) to any Borrower or any other person.

(i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, each party’s obligations under this Section 2.20 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Loan Document

SECTION 2.21 Assignment of Commitments Under Certain Circumstances; Duty to Mitigate.

(a) In the event (i) any Lender or the Issuing Bank delivers a certificate requesting compensation pursuant to Section 2.14, (ii) any Lender or the Issuing Bank delivers a notice described in Section 2.15, (iii) a Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or the Issuing Bank or any Governmental Authority on account of any Lender or the Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.20 or (iv) any Lender refuses to consent to any amendment, waiver or other modification of any Loan Document requested by the Borrowers that requires the consent of a greater percentage of the Lenders than the Required Lenders and such amendment, waiver or other modification is consented to by the Required Lenders, the Borrowers may, at their sole expense and effort (including with respect to the processing and recordation fee referred to in Section 9.04(b)), upon notice to such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, and the Administrative Agent, require any such Lender or the Issuing Bank to transfer and assign, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 9.04), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement to an assignee that shall assume such assigned obligations and, with respect to clause (iv) above, shall consent to such requested amendment, waiver or other modification of any Loan Documents (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (x) such assignment shall not conflict with any law, rule or regulation or order of any court or other Governmental Authority having jurisdiction, (y) the Borrowers shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (and, if a Revolving Credit Commitment is being assigned, of the Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender), which consents shall not unreasonably be withheld or delayed, and (z) the Borrowers or such assignee shall have paid to the affected Lender or the Issuing Bank in immediately available funds an amount equal to the sum of the principal of and interest accrued to the date of such payment on the outstanding Loans or L/C Disbursements of

 

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such Lender or the Issuing Bank, respectively, plus all Fees and other amounts accrued for the account of such Lender or the Issuing Bank hereunder with respect thereto (including any amounts under Sections 2.14 and 2.16); provided further that, if prior to any such transfer and assignment the circumstances or event that resulted in such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s claim for compensation under Section 2.14, notice under Section 2.15 or the amounts paid pursuant to Section 2.20, as the case may be, cease to cause such Lender or the Issuing Bank to suffer increased costs or reductions in amounts received or receivable or reduction in return on capital, or cease to have the consequences specified in Section 2.15, or cease to result in amounts being payable under Section 2.20, as the case may be (including as a result of any action taken by such Lender or the Issuing Bank pursuant to paragraph (b) below), or if such Lender or the Issuing Bank shall waive its right to claim further compensation under Section 2.14 in respect of such circumstances or event or shall withdraw its notice under Section 2.15 or shall waive its right to further payments under Section 2.20 in respect of such circumstances or event or shall consent to the proposed amendment, waiver, consent or other modification, as the case may be, then such Lender or the Issuing Bank shall not thereafter be required to make any such transfer and assignment hereunder. Each Lender hereby agrees that, in the event a Borrower exercises its rights under and in accordance with this Section 2.21 to effect a transfer and assignment of such Lender’s interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement (which may be effected without such Lender’s consent or execution and delivery of any Assignment and Acceptance), such Lender shall no longer be a party hereto or have any rights or obligations hereunder; provided that (i) the obligations of the Borrowers to such Lender under this Agreement which by their terms survive the termination of this Agreement or the transfer and assignment of the interests of a Lender hereunder and (ii) the obligations of such Lender under Section 9.05 (with respect to unreimbursed expenses or indemnity payments sought before or as a result of such assignment) shall, in each case, survive the Borrowers’ exercise of such rights.

(b) If (i) any Lender or the Issuing Bank shall request compensation under Section 2.14, (ii) any Lender or the Issuing Bank delivers a notice described in Section 2.15 or (iii) a Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or the Issuing Bank or any Governmental Authority on account of any Lender or the Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.20, then such Lender or the Issuing Bank shall use reasonable efforts (which shall not require such Lender or the Issuing Bank to incur an unreimbursed loss or unreimbursed cost or expense or otherwise take any action inconsistent with its internal policies or legal or regulatory restrictions or suffer any disadvantage or burden deemed by it to be significant) (x) to file any certificate or document reasonably requested in writing by the Borrowers or (y) to assign its rights and delegate and transfer its obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if such filing or assignment would reduce its claims for compensation under Section 2.14 or enable it to withdraw its notice pursuant to Section 2.15 or would reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.20, as the case may be, in the future. Each Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by any Lender or the Issuing Bank in connection with any such filing or assignment, delegation and transfer.

 

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SECTION 2.22 Swingline Loans.

(a) Swingline Facility. Subject to the terms and conditions and relying upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, at any time after the Closing Date that any Revolving Credit Commitment shall exist hereunder, the Swingline Lender agrees that, in its sole discretion, it may make loans to a Borrower in U.S. Dollars at any time and from time to time on and after the Closing Date and until the earlier of the Revolving Credit Maturity Date and the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments, in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding that will not result in (i) the aggregate principal amount of all Swingline Loans exceeding the Swingline Limit or (ii) the Aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure, after giving effect to any Swingline Loan, exceeding the lesser of the Borrowing Base and the Total Revolving Credit Commitment. Each Swingline Loan shall be in a principal amount that is an integral multiple of $250,000 and not less than $1,000,000. Within the foregoing limits, the Borrowers may borrow, pay or prepay and reborrow Swingline Loans hereunder, subject to the terms, conditions and limitations set forth herein.

(b) Swingline Loans. The Borrowers shall notify the Swingline Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) by fax, or by telephone (promptly confirmed by fax or electronic mail), not later than 12:00 (noon), Local Time, on the day of a proposed Swingline Loan. Such notice shall be delivered on a Business Day, shall be irrevocable and shall refer to this Agreement and shall specify the requested date (which shall be a Business Day) and amount of such Swingline Loan and the wire transfer instructions for the account of the Borrowers to which the proceeds of the Swingline Loan should be disbursed. The Administrative Agent will promptly advise the Swingline Lender of any notice received from the Borrowers pursuant to this paragraph (b). If the Swingline Lender shall decide to make such Swingline Loan, it shall make such Swingline Loan by wire transfer to the account specified in such request. The Borrower shall repay the outstanding principal amount of each Swingline Loan made by the Swingline Lender on the earlier of (x) the tenth Business Day following the making of such Swingline Loan and (y) the Revolving Credit Maturity Date.

(c) Prepayment. The Borrowers shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Swingline Loan, in whole or in part, upon giving written, fax or electronic mail notice (or telephone notice promptly confirmed by written, fax or electronic mail notice) to the Swingline Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) before 1:00 p.m., Local Time, on the date of prepayment at the Swingline Lender’s address for notices specified in Section 9.01.

(d) Interest. Each Swingline Loan shall be an ABR Loan and, subject to the provisions of Section 2.07, shall bear interest as provided in Section 2.06(a).

(e) Participations. The Swingline Lender may by written notice given to the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m., Local Time, on any Business Day require the Revolving Credit Lenders to acquire participations on such Business Day in all or a portion of the Swingline Loans outstanding. Such notice shall specify the aggregate amount of Swingline Loans in which Revolving Credit Lenders will participate. The Administrative Agent will, promptly upon receipt of such notice, give notice to each Revolving Credit Lender, specifying in such notice such Lender’s Pro Rata Percentage of such Swingline Loans. In furtherance of the foregoing, each Revolving Credit Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees, upon receipt of notice as provided above, to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Swingline Lender, such Revolving Credit Lender’s Pro Rata Percentage of such Swingline Loans. Each Revolving Credit Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire

 

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participations in Swingline Loans pursuant to this paragraph is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including the occurrence and continuance of a Default, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever. Each Revolving Credit Lender shall comply with its obligation under this paragraph by wire transfer of immediately available funds, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.02(c) with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.02(c) shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Revolving Credit Lenders) and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the Swingline Lender the amounts so received by it from the Revolving Credit Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrowers of any participations in any Swingline Loan acquired pursuant to this paragraph and thereafter payments in respect of such Swingline Loan shall be made to the Administrative Agent and not to the Swingline Lender. Any amounts received by the Swingline Lender from a Borrower (or other person on behalf of a Borrower) in respect of a Swingline Loan after receipt by the Swingline Lender of the proceeds of a sale of participations therein shall be promptly remitted to the Administrative Agent; any such amounts received by the Administrative Agent shall be promptly remitted by the Administrative Agent to the Revolving Credit Lenders that shall have made their payments pursuant to this paragraph and to the Swingline Lender, as their interests may appear. The purchase of participations in a Swingline Loan pursuant to this paragraph shall not relieve any Borrower (or other person liable for obligations of a Borrower) of any default in the payment thereof.

SECTION 2.23 Letters of Credit.

(a) General. (i) At any time after the Closing Date that any Revolving Credit Commitment shall exist hereunder, a Borrower may request the issuance of a Letter of Credit for its own account or for the account of any of its wholly owned Subsidiaries (in which case such Borrower and such wholly owned Subsidiary shall be co-applicants with respect to such Letter of Credit), in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank, at any time and from time to time while the L/C Commitment in respect of any Revolving Credit Commitment remains in effect.

(ii) Each Letter of Credit shall be denominated in U.S. Dollars. This Section 2.23 shall not be construed to impose an obligation upon the Issuing Bank to issue any Letter of Credit that is inconsistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

(iii) The Lenders (including each Lender that issued any Existing Letter of Credit) and the Borrowers agree that effective as of the Closing Date, the Existing Letters of Credit shall be deemed to have been issued and maintained under, and to be governed by the terms and conditions of, this Agreement as Letter of Credit.

(b) Notice of Issuance, Amendment, Renewal, Extension; Certain Conditions. In order to request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or to amend, renew or extend an outstanding Letter of Credit), a Borrower shall hand deliver, fax or email to the Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent (reasonably in advance of the requested date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension) a notice requesting the issuance of a Letter of Credit, or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended, renewed or extended, the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension, the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which

 

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shall comply with paragraph (c) below), the amount of such Letter of Credit, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof and such other information as shall be necessary to prepare such a Letter of Credit. A Letter of Credit shall be issued, amended, renewed or extended only if, and upon issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of each Letter of Credit the applicable Borrower shall be deemed to represent and warrant that, after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (i) the L/C Exposure shall not exceed the L/C Commitment and (ii) the Aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure shall not exceed the lesser of the Borrowing Base and the Total Revolving Credit Commitment.

(c) Expiration Date. Each Letter of Credit shall expire at the close of business on the earlier of (i) the date one year after the date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit and (ii) the date that is five Business Days prior to the Revolving Credit Maturity Date unless such Letter of Credit is Cash Collateralized prior to 12:00 noon, Local Time on the date that is five Business Days prior to the Revolving Credit Maturity Date; provided, however, that a Letter of Credit may, upon the request of the applicable Borrower, include a provision whereby such Letter of Credit shall be renewed automatically for additional consecutive periods of 12 months or less (but no such renewal shall be effected if such renewal would cause the then expiry of such Letter of Credit to extend beyond the date referred to in clause (ii) above) unless the Issuing Bank notifies the beneficiary thereof at least 30 days (or such longer period as may be specified in such Letter of Credit) prior to the then-applicable expiration date that such Letter of Credit will not be renewed.

(d) Participations. By the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or an amendment to a Letter of Credit increasing the amount thereof) and without any further action on the part of the Issuing Bank or the Revolving Credit Lenders, the Issuing Bank hereby grants to each Revolving Credit Lender, and each such Revolving Credit Lender hereby acquires from the Issuing Bank, a participation in such Letter of Credit equal to such Revolving Credit Lender’s Pro Rata Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit, effective upon the issuance of such Letter of Credit. In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each Revolving Credit Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Issuing Bank, such Revolving Credit Lender’s Pro Rata Percentage of each L/C Disbursement made by the Issuing Bank in respect of Letters of Credit and not reimbursed by the Borrowers (or, if applicable, another party pursuant to its obligations under any other Loan Document) forthwith on the date due as provided in Section 2.02(f)(ii). Each Revolving Credit Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations pursuant to this paragraph in respect of the Letters of Credit is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including the occurrence and continuance of a Default, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever.

(e) Reimbursement. If the Issuing Bank shall make any L/C Disbursement in respect of any Letter of Credit, the Borrowers shall pay to the Administrative Agent an amount equal to such L/C Disbursement not later than 12:00 noon, Local Time, on the next Business Day after the Borrowers receive notice of such L/C Disbursement.

 

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(f) Obligations Absolute. Each Borrower’s obligations to reimburse L/C Disbursements as provided in paragraph (e) above shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, under any and all circumstances whatsoever, and irrespective of:

(i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit or any Loan Document, or any term or provision therein;

(ii) any amendment or waiver of or any consent to departure from all or any of the provisions of any Letter of Credit or any Loan Document;

(iii) the existence of any claim, setoff, defense or other right that such Borrower, any other party guaranteeing, or otherwise obligated with, such Borrower, any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof or any other person may at any time have against the beneficiary under any Letter of Credit, the Issuing Bank, the Administrative Agent or any Lender or any other person, whether in connection with this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other related or unrelated agreement or transaction;

(iv) any draft or other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect;

(v) payment by the Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; and

(vi) any other act or omission to act or delay of any kind of the Issuing Bank, the Lenders, the Administrative Agent or any other person or any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section 2.23, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of such Borrower’s obligations hereunder.

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is expressly understood and agreed that the absolute and unconditional obligation of each Borrower hereunder to reimburse L/C Disbursements will not be excused by the gross negligence or wilful misconduct of the Issuing Bank. However, the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse the Issuing Bank from liability to any Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to consequential damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by each Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable law) suffered by such Borrower that are caused by the Issuing Bank’s gross negligence or wilful misconduct in determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof. It is further understood and agreed that the Issuing Bank may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary and, in making any payment under any Letter of Credit (i) the Issuing Bank’s exclusive reliance on the documents presented to it under such Letter of Credit as to any and all matters set forth therein, including reliance on the amount of any draft presented under such Letter of Credit, whether or not the amount due to the beneficiary thereunder equals the amount of such draft and whether or not any document presented pursuant to such Letter of Credit proves to be insufficient in any respect, if such document on its face appears to be in order, and whether or not any other statement or any other

 

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document presented pursuant to such Letter of Credit proves to be forged or invalid or any statement therein proves to be inaccurate or untrue in any respect whatsoever and (ii) any noncompliance in any immaterial respect of the documents presented under such Letter of Credit with the terms thereof shall, in each case, be deemed not to constitute gross negligence or wilful misconduct of the Issuing Bank.

(g) Disbursement Procedures. The Issuing Bank shall, promptly following its receipt thereof, examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit. The Issuing Bank shall as promptly as possible give telephonic notification, confirmed by fax or electronic mail, to the Administrative Agent and the applicable Borrower of such demand for payment and whether the Issuing Bank has made or will make an L/C Disbursement thereunder; provided that any failure to give or delay in giving such notice shall not relieve such Borrower of its obligation to reimburse the Issuing Bank and the applicable Revolving Credit Lenders with respect to any such L/C Disbursement.

(h) Interim Interest. If the Issuing Bank shall make any L/C Disbursement in respect of any Letter of Credit, then, unless a Borrower shall reimburse such L/C Disbursement in full on such date, the unpaid amount thereof shall bear interest for the account of the Issuing Bank, for each day from and including the date of such L/C Disbursement, to but excluding the earlier of the date of payment by a Borrower or the date on which interest shall commence to accrue thereon as provided in Section 2.02(f), at the rate per annum then applicable under this Agreement to ABR Revolving Credit Loans; provided that, if such Borrower fails to reimburse such L/C Disbursement when due pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section 2.23, then Section 2.07 shall apply.

(i) Resignation or Removal of the Issuing Bank. The Issuing Bank may resign at any time by giving 30 days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrowers, and may be removed at any time by the Borrowers by notice to the Issuing Bank, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as the Issuing Bank hereunder by a Lender that shall agree to serve as successor Issuing Bank, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all the interests, rights and obligations of the retiring Issuing Bank. At the time such removal or resignation shall become effective, the Borrowers shall pay all accrued and unpaid fees pursuant to Section 2.05(c)(ii). The acceptance of any appointment as the Issuing Bank hereunder by a successor Lender shall be evidenced by an agreement entered into by such successor, in a form satisfactory to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent, and, from and after the effective date of such agreement, (i) such successor Lender shall have all the rights and obligations of the previous Issuing Bank under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and (ii) references herein and in the other Loan Documents to the term “Issuing Bank” shall be deemed to refer to such successor or to any previous Issuing Bank, or to such successor and all previous Issuing Banks, as the context shall require. After the resignation or removal of the Issuing Bank hereunder, the retiring Issuing Bank shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it prior to such resignation or removal, but shall not be required to issue additional Letters of Credit.

 

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(j) Cash Collateralization. If any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the Borrowers shall, on the Business Day it receives notice from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders thereof and of the amount to be deposited, deposit in an account (or accounts) with the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Revolving Credit Lenders, an amount in cash necessary to Cash Collateralize the L/C Exposure as of such date. Such deposits shall be held by the Collateral Agent as collateral for the payment and performance of the Obligations. The Collateral Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over such account (or accounts). Other than any interest earned on the investment of such deposits in Permitted Investments, which investments shall be made at the option and sole discretion of the Collateral Agent, such deposits shall not bear interest. Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in such account. Moneys in such account (or accounts) shall (i) automatically be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse the Issuing Bank for L/C Disbursements for which it has not been reimbursed, (ii) be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Borrowers for the L/C Exposure at such time and (iii) if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated (but subject to the consent of the Required Lenders), be applied to satisfy the Obligations. If the Borrowers are required to provide an amount of cash collateral hereunder as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default, such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Borrowers within three Business Days after all Events of Default have been cured or waived.

(k) Additional Issuing Banks. The Borrowers may, at any time and from time to time with the consent of the Administrative Agent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) and such Lender, designate one or more additional Lenders to act as an issuing bank under the terms of this Agreement. Any Lender designated as an issuing bank pursuant to this paragraph (k) shall be deemed to be an “Issuing Bank” (in addition to being a Lender) in respect of Letters of Credit issued or to be issued by such Lender, and, with respect to such Letters of Credit, such term shall thereafter apply to the other Issuing Bank and such Lender.

SECTION 2.24 Incremental Facilities.

(a) The Borrowers may, by written notice to the Administrative Agent from time to time, elect to request prior to the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, one or more increases of the Revolving Credit Commitments (any such increase, a “Facility Increase”) and/or the establishment of revolving credit commitments under one or more new revolving credit tranches (any such revolving credit commitment, a “New Revolving Credit Commitment”; any Loan made in respect thereof, a “New Revolving Credit Loan”) in amounts that are (i) not to exceed, in the aggregate for all Facility Increases and New Revolving Credit Commitments, $100,000,000 and (ii) individually not less than $20,000,000 (or any lesser amount that is approved by the Administrative Agent) and integral multiples of $5,000,000 in excess of that amount. Each such notice shall specify (A) the date (each, an “Increased Amount Date”) on which the Borrowers propose that the Facility Increase or New Revolving Credit Commitments shall be effective, which shall be a date not less than five Business Days after the date on which such notice is delivered to the Administrative Agent and (B) the identity of each Lender or Affiliate of a Lender or other Eligible Assignee that is consented to by the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) to whom the Borrowers propose any portion of such Facility Increase or New Revolving Credit Commitments be allocated (any such

 

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lender, a “New Revolving Credit Lender”) and the amounts of such allocations; provided that any Lender approached to provide all or a portion of the Facility Increase or New Revolving Credit Commitments may elect or decline, in its sole discretion, to provide a portion of such Facility Increase or New Revolving Credit Commitments. Such Facility Increase or New Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, shall become effective as of such Increased Amount Date; provided that (1) no Event of Default shall exist on such Increased Amount Date before or after giving effect to such Facility Increase or New Revolving Credit Commitments, as the case may be, except, in the case of (x) a provision of any New Revolving Credit Loan in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or an Acquisition, to the extent such condition is omitted by the applicable Incremental Facility Joinder Agreement and (y) that the proceeds of such New Loans are being used to finance a Limited Condition Transaction, in which case no Event of Default under Sections 7.01(b), 7.01(c), 7.01 (g) or 7.01(h) shall exist on such Increased Amount Date before or after giving effect to such New Commitments; (2) such Facility Increase or New Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, shall be effected pursuant to one or more Incremental Facility Joinder Agreements executed and delivered by the Loan Parties to the Administrative Agent and each of which shall be recorded in the Register and shall be subject to the requirements set forth in Section 2.20; (3) the Borrowers shall make any payments required pursuant to Section 2.16 in connection with such Facility Increase or New Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable; (4) the Borrowers shall be in pro forma compliance with the Financial Covenant (disregarding whether a Testing Period is then in effect) after giving effect to such Facility Increase or New Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable and the Revolving Credit Loans to be made thereunder and the application of proceeds therefrom as if made and applied on such date; (5) the interest rate margins, original issue discount, upfront fees (if any) and interest rate floors (if any) for any New Revolving Credit Loan shall be determined by Borrowers and the applicable Lender; provided that if the Yield in respect of any New Revolving Credit Loans exceeds the Yield with respect to the Revolving Credit Loans by more than 50 basis points, the Applicable Percentage with respect to the Revolving Credit Loans shall be automatically increased on the Increased Amount Date with respect to the Revolving Credit Loans so that the Yield for the Revolving Credit Loans is equal to the Yield with respect to such New Revolving Credit Loans minus 50 basis points; provided further that, if the Adjusted LIBO Rate in respect of such New Revolving Credit Loan includes a floor greater than the floor applicable to the Revolving Credit Loan and such floor is greater than the Adjusted LIBO Rate in effect for a 3-month interest period at such time, such excess amount (above the greater of such floor and such Adjusted LIBO Rate) shall be equated to such interest rate for purposes of determining the applicable interest rate under such New Revolving Credit Loan; (6) any New Revolving Credit Loan shall have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity no shorter than that of the remaining Revolving Credit Loans; (7) the final maturity date of any New Revolving Credit Loan shall be no earlier than the Revolving Credit Maturity Date; (8) all representations and warranties made in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects (or if already qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, true and correct in all respects) immediately prior to, and after giving effect to, such New Revolving Credit Loan on such date; provided that to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, they shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date; (9) the New Revolving Credit Loans shall be senior secured obligations and shall rank pari passu in right of security and payment with the Revolving Credit Loans; and (10) the Borrowers shall deliver or cause to be delivered any other documents reasonably requested by Administrative Agent in

 

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connection with any such transaction. Once any Facility Increase or New Revolving Credit Commitments shall become effective as of their respective Increased Amount Dates in accordance with this Section 2.24(a), extensions of credit may be made thereunder in accordance with the terms of the applicable Incremental Facility Joinder Agreement without any additional conditions thereto; provided that, with respect to each such extension of credit, each of the conditions set forth in Sections 4.02 shall be satisfied.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the proceeds of any New Revolving Credit Loan will be used to consummate a Limited Condition Transaction, the condition set forth in clause (8) above that representations and warranties made in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects immediately prior to, and after giving effect to, such New Revolving Credit Loans on such date may instead be limited in accordance with the terms of the applicable Incremental Facility Joinder Agreement to the accuracy in all material respects of (i) the representations and warranties made by the Loan Parties in Sections 3.01(a), 3.01(d), 3.02(a), 3.02(b)(i)(A), 3.03, 3.11(b), 3.12, 3.19, 3.22 and 3.26 and (ii) in the case of a Permitted Acquisition or an Acquisition that is a Limited Condition Transaction, any representations and warranties made by or with respect to the target, its Subsidiaries and respective businesses in the acquisition, sale or purchase documentation in connection with such Permitted Acquisition or an Acquisition as are material to the interests of the Lenders (in their capacities as such) but only to the extent that Holdings or any of its Affiliate has the right to terminate its obligations under the applicable acquisition, sale or purchase documentation or decline to consummate the applicable acquisition as a result of a breach of such representation.

(b) To the extent that the Facility Increase is being established on a date when Revolving Credit Commitments exist, subject to the satisfaction of the foregoing terms and conditions, (i) each of the then existing Revolving Credit Lenders, if any, shall assign to each of the Revolving Credit Lenders providing such Facility Increase, and each of such Revolving Credit Lenders shall purchase from each of such existing Revolving Credit Lenders, at the principal amount thereof (together with accrued interest), such interests in the Revolving Credit Loans outstanding on such Increased Amount Date as shall be necessary in order that, after giving effect to all such assignments and purchases, such Revolving Credit Loans will be held by all Revolving Credit Lenders ratably in accordance with their Revolving Credit Commitments after giving effect to such Facility Increase.

(c) The Administrative Agent shall notify Lenders promptly upon receipt of the Borrowers’ notice of each Increased Amount Date and in respect thereof the Facility Increase or the New Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, the Lenders providing such Facility Increase or New Revolving Credit Commitments and their respective interests therein.

(d) The terms and provisions of the New Revolving Credit Loans shall be identical to the Revolving Credit Loans, except as otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and permitted by this Section 2.24; provided that (x) any applicable Incremental Facility Joinder Agreement in respect of any New Revolving Credit Commitment may establish an additional letter of credit (any such letter of credit commitment, a “New L/C Commitment”; any Letter of Credit issued in respect thereof, a “New Letter of Credit”) or swingline subfacility (any such swingline commitment, a “New Swingline Commitment”; any Swingline Loan made in respect thereof, a “New Swingline Loan”) and (y) any New Revolving Credit Loans may have different terms that are effective after the Revolving Credit Maturity Date with respect to the Revolving Credit Loans.

 

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(e) Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that, upon the effectiveness of any Incremental Facility Joinder Agreement, this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent (but only to the extent) necessary to reflect the terms of the Facility Increase or New Revolving Credit Commitments evidenced thereby, and to increase the Applicable Percentage if, and to the extent, designated in the applicable Incremental Facility Joinder Agreement. Any such deemed amendment may be memorialized in writing by the Administrative Agent with the Borrowers’ consent (not to be unreasonably withheld) and furnished to the other parties hereto.

SECTION 2.25 Defaulting Lenders.

(a) Defaulting Lender Adjustments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, until such time as such Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, to the extent permitted by applicable law:

(i) Waivers and Amendments. Such Defaulting Lender’s right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement shall be restricted as set forth in the definition of Required Lenders.

(ii) Defaulting Lender Waterfall. Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article VII or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.08 or 9.06 shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to any Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender hereunder; third, to Cash Collateralize the Issuing Banks’ Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender; fourth, as the Borrowers may request (so long as no Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; fifth, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers, to be held in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to (x) satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement and (y) Cash Collateralize the Issuing Banks’ future Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender with respect to future Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement; sixth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks or Swingline Lenders as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, the Issuing Banks or Swingline Lenders against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; seventh, so long as no Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrowers as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrowers against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and eighth, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided

 

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that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or L/C Disbursements in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (y) such Loans were made or the related Letters of Credit were issued at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and L/C Disbursements owed to, all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or L/C Disbursements owed to, such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded and unfunded participations in L/C Obligations and Swingline Loans are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Commitments without giving effect to clause (iv) below. Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 2.25(a)(ii) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

(iii) Certain Fees. (a) No Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive any Unused Commitment Fee or L/C Participation Fee for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Borrowers shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender).

(A) With respect to any fee not required to be paid to any Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (A) above, the Borrowers shall (x) pay to each Non-Defaulting Lender that portion of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations or Swingline Loans that has been reallocated to such Non-Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (iv) below, (y) pay to each Issuing Bank and Swingline Lender, as applicable, the amount of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender to the extent allocable to such Issuing Bank’s or Swingline Lender’s Fronting Exposure to such Defaulting Lender, and (z) not be required to pay the remaining amount of any such fee.

(iv) Reallocation of Participations to Reduce Fronting Exposure. All or any part of such Defaulting Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations and Swingline Loans shall be reallocated among the Non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Percentages (calculated without regard to such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment) but only to the extent that such reallocation does not cause the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure of any Non-Defaulting Lender to exceed such Non- Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Commitment. No reallocation hereunder shall constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder against a Defaulting Lender arising from that Lender having become a Defaulting Lender, including any claim of a Non-Defaulting Lender as a result of such Non-Defaulting Lender’s increased exposure following such reallocation.

(v) Cash Collateral, Repayment of Swingline Loans. If the reallocation described in clause (iv) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrowers shall, without prejudice to any right or remedy available to the Borrowers hereunder or under law, (x) first, prepay Swingline Loans in an amount equal to the Swingline Lenders’ Fronting Exposure and (y) second, Cash Collateralize the Issuing Banks’ Fronting Exposure.

 

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(b) Defaulting Lender Cure. If the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and each Swingline Lender and Issuing Bank agree in writing that a Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein (which may include arrangements with respect to any Cash Collateral), that Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase at par that portion of outstanding Loans of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans to be held pro rata by the Lenders in accordance with the Commitments (without giving effect to Section 2.25(a)(iv)), whereupon such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrowers while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided, further, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

(c) New Letters of Credit. So long as any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, no Issuing Bank shall be required to issue, extend, renew or increase any Letter of Credit unless it is satisfied that it will have no Fronting Exposure after giving effect thereto.

(d) Cash Collateral.

(i) At any time that there shall exist a Defaulting Lender, within one Business Day following the written request of the Administrative Agent or any Issuing Bank (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), the Borrowers shall Cash Collateralize the Issuing Banks’ Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender (determined after giving effect to Section 2.25(a)(iv) and any Cash Collateral provided by such Defaulting Lender). If at any time the Administrative Agent determines that Cash Collateral is subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Banks as herein provided or that the total amount of such Cash Collateral is less than 100% of the Fronting Exposure of such Defaulting Lender, the Borrowers will, promptly upon demand by the Administrative Agent, pay or provide to the Administrative Agent additional Cash Collateral in an amount sufficient to eliminate such deficiency (after giving effect to any Cash Collateral provided by the Defaulting Lender).

(ii) Application. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Cash Collateral provided under this Section 2.25 in respect of Letters of Credit shall be applied to the satisfaction of the Defaulting Lender’s obligation to fund participations in respect of L/C Obligations (including, as to Cash Collateral provided by a Defaulting Lender, any interest accrued on such obligation) for which the Cash Collateral was so provided, prior to any other application of such property as may otherwise be provided for herein.

 

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(iii) Termination of Requirement. Cash Collateral (or the appropriate portion thereof) provided to reduce any Issuing Bank’s Fronting Exposure shall no longer be required to be held as Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 2.25 following (i) the elimination of the applicable Fronting Exposure (including by the termination of Defaulting Lender status of the applicable Lender), or (ii) the determination by the Administrative Agent and each Issuing Bank that there exists excess Cash Collateral; provided that, the Person providing Cash Collateral and each Issuing Bank may agree that Cash Collateral shall be held to support future anticipated Fronting Exposure or other obligations.

SECTION 2.26 Flood Compliance Event. Any Flood Compliance Event described in part (b), (c) or (d) of the definition thereof shall be subject to and conditioned upon: (1) the prior delivery of all Flood Insurance Documents and evidence of Flood Insurance with respect to all Mortgaged Properties as required by the Flood Insurance Laws and as otherwise reasonably required by the Administrative Agent and any Lender (as requested by such Lender through the Administrative Agent) and (2) the Administrative Agent shall have received written confirmation from the Lenders that flood insurance due diligence and flood insurance compliance have been satisfactorily completed by the Lenders (such written confirmation not to be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed).

ARTICLE III

Representations and Warranties

Each Loan Party represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Issuing Bank and each of the Lenders on the Closing Date and, pursuant to (and subject to the limitations set forth in) Section 4.02(b), on the date of each Credit Event that:

SECTION 3.01 Organization; Powers. Each of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries (a) is duly organized or incorporated, validly existing and, to the extent recognized by the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, in good standing under the laws of such jurisdiction, (b) has all requisite power and authority to own its property and assets and to carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted, (c) is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing in, every jurisdiction where such qualification is required, except where the failure so to qualify could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect and (d) has the power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under each of the Loan Documents and each other agreement or instrument contemplated thereby to which it is or will be a party and, in the case of the Borrowers, to borrow hereunder.

SECTION 3.02 Authorization. The Transactions (a) have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate and, if required, stockholder action and (b) will not (i) violate (A) any provision of law, statute, rule or regulation, or of the certificate or articles of incorporation or other constitutive documents or by laws of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, (B) any order of any Governmental Authority or (C) any provision of any indenture, agreement or other instrument to which Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary is a party or by which any of them or any of their property is or may be bound, (ii) be in conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute (alone or with notice or lapse of time or both) a default under, or give rise to any right

 

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to accelerate or to require the prepayment, repurchase or redemption of any obligation under any such indenture, agreement or other instrument or (iii) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon or with respect to any property or assets now owned or hereafter acquired by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Lien created hereunder or under the Security Documents or permitted Liens that are subject to an Intercreditor Agreement).

SECTION 3.03 Enforceability. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party and constitutes, and each other Loan Document when executed and delivered by each Loan Party will constitute (to the extent such persons are a party thereto), a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party enforceable against such Loan Party in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar laws relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or by general principles of equity.

SECTION 3.04 Governmental Approvals. No action, consent or approval of, registration or filing with or any other action by any Governmental Authority is or will be required in connection with the Transactions, except for (a) the filing of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements and filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, (b) recordation of the Mortgages, (c) filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and (d) such as have been made or obtained and are in full force and effect.

SECTION 3.05 Intentionally Deleted.

SECTION 3.06 Intentionally Deleted.

SECTION 3.07 Title to Properties; Possession Under Leases.

(a) Each of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries has good and marketable title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all its material properties and assets (including all Mortgaged Properties), except for (i) Liens permitted by Section 6.02, (ii) minor defects in title that do not materially interfere with its ability to conduct its business as currently conducted or to utilize such properties and assets for their intended purposes and (iii) where the failure to have such title in the aggregate could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Each of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries has complied with all obligations under all leases to which it is a party and all such leases are in full force and effect except for such noncompliance or ineffectiveness which, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) As of the Closing Date, neither Holdings nor any Subsidiary has received any notice of, nor has any knowledge of, any pending or contemplated condemnation proceeding affecting the Mortgaged Properties or any sale or disposition thereof in lieu of condemnation.

(d) As of the Closing Date, none of Holdings or any of the Subsidiaries is obligated under any right of first refusal, option or other contractual right to sell, assign or otherwise dispose of any Mortgaged Property or any interest therein.

 

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SECTION 3.08 Subsidiaries. Schedule 3.08 sets forth as of the Closing Date a list of all Subsidiaries, including the correct legal name thereof, the jurisdiction in which each such person is organized or incorporated, the percentage ownership interest (whether direct or indirect) of Holdings therein and whether such Subsidiary is a Not for Profit Subsidiary. The shares of capital stock or other ownership interests so indicated on Schedule 3.08 are fully paid and non-assessable (to the extent applicable) and are owned by Holdings, directly or indirectly, free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens created under the Loan Documents, Liens permitted by clause (l), (q), (s), (t) (with respect to the other clauses listed in this provision), (u), (v), (x) or (cc) of Section 6.02 and in the case of Liens permitted under Section 6.02(v), (x) or (cc), subject to an Intercreditor Agreement). Each Not for Profit Subsidiary is exempt from U.S. federal income taxation under Section 501(a) of the Code, or if any Not for Profit Subsidiary is not so exempt from United States Federal income taxation, then such Not for Profit Subsidiary is a Subsidiary Guarantor in accordance with Section 5.12.

SECTION 3.09 Litigation; Compliance with Laws.

(a) Except as set forth on Schedule 3.09, there are no actions, suits, investigations or proceedings at law or in equity or by or before any Governmental Authority now pending or, to the knowledge of Holdings or the Borrowers, threatened in writing against or affecting Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, or any business, property or rights of any such person (i) that involve any Loan Document or the Transactions or (ii) as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination and that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Since the Closing Date, there has been no change in the status of the matters disclosed on Schedule 3.09 that, individually or in the aggregate, has resulted in, or materially increased the likelihood of, a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) None of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or any of their respective material properties or assets is in violation of, nor will the continued operation of their material properties and assets as currently conducted violate, any law, rule or regulation (including any zoning, building, Environmental Law, ordinance, code or approval or any building permits) or any restrictions of record or agreements affecting any Mortgaged Property, or is in default with respect to any judgment, writ, injunction, decree or order of any Governmental Authority, where such violation or default could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.10 Agreements.

(a) None of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries is a party to any agreement or instrument or subject to any corporate restriction that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) None of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries is in default in any manner under any provision of any indenture or other agreement or instrument evidencing Indebtedness, or any other material agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties or assets are or may be bound, where such default could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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SECTION 3.11 Federal Reserve Regulations.

(a) None of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries is engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of buying or carrying Margin Stock.

(b) No part of the proceeds of any Loan or any Letter of Credit will be used, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, for any purpose that entails a violation of, or that is inconsistent with, the provisions of the Regulations of the Board, including Regulation T, U or X.

SECTION 3.12 Investment Company Act. Neither Holdings nor any Restricted Subsidiary is an “investment company” as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940.

SECTION 3.13 Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of Revolving Credit Loans and Swingline Loans will be used to provide liquidity for working capital and for other general corporate purposes of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries. Letters of Credit will be used to support payment obligations of Holdings and the Subsidiaries.

SECTION 3.14 Taxes. Each of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries has timely filed or caused to be timely filed all Federal, and all state, local and foreign, Tax returns or materials required to have been filed by it and has paid or caused to be paid all Taxes due and payable by it and all assessments received by it, except (i) Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, shall have set aside on its books adequate reserves or (ii) Taxes and Tax returns for which the failure to so pay or file, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.15 No Material Misstatements. None of (a) the Borrowers’ presentation materials to the Lenders dated November 1, 2019 or (b) any other written information, report, financial statement, exhibit or schedule furnished by or on behalf of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the negotiation of any Loan Document or included therein or delivered pursuant thereto contained, contains or will contain (in each case, when furnished, and taken as a whole) any material misstatement of fact or omitted, omits or will omit (in each case, when furnished, and taken as a whole) to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were, are or will be made, not materially misleading; provided that to the extent any such information, report, exhibit or schedule was based upon or constitutes a forecast or projection or other forward-looking information, the Loan Parties represent only that such information, report, exhibit or schedule was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions that the Loan Parties believed to be reasonable at the time made and at the time such information, report, exhibit or schedule was or is so furnished. It is understood that any forecast, projection or other forward-looking information is not to be viewed as facts and that actual results during the periods covered thereby may differ from projected results.

 

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SECTION 3.16 Employee Benefit Plans.

(a) Each Plan is in compliance with the applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder except for such noncompliance which, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The present value of all benefit liabilities under each Plan (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87) did not, as of the last annual valuation date applicable thereto, exceed the fair market value of the assets of such Plan by an amount which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, and the present value of all benefit liabilities of all underfunded Plans (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87) did not, as of the last annual valuation dates applicable thereto, exceed the fair market value of the assets of all such underfunded Plans by an amount which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Each Foreign Pension Plan is in compliance with all requirements of law applicable thereto and the respective requirements of the governing documents for such plan except for such noncompliance which, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. With respect to each Foreign Pension Plan, none of Holdings, its Affiliates or any of their respective directors, officers, employees or agents has engaged in a transaction which would subject Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, to a tax or civil penalty which could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect. With respect to each Foreign Pension Plan, reserves have been established in the financial statements furnished to Lenders in respect of any unfunded liabilities in accordance with applicable law or, where required, in accordance with the ordinary accounting practices in the jurisdiction in which such Foreign Pension Plan is maintained. The aggregate unfunded liabilities with respect to such Foreign Pension Plans could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; the present value of the aggregate accumulated benefit liabilities of all such Foreign Pension Plans (based on those assumptions used to fund each such Foreign Pension Plan) did not, as of the last annual valuation date applicable thereto, exceed the fair market value of the assets of all such Foreign Pension Plans by an amount which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.17 Environmental Matters.

(a) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.17 and except with respect to any other matters that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, none of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (i) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law, (ii) has become subject to any Environmental Liability, (iii) has received notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or (iv) knows of any facts or circumstances that would be reasonably likely to result in any Environmental Liability.

 

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(b) Since the Closing Date, there has been no change in the status of the matters disclosed on Schedule 3.17 that, individually or in the aggregate, has resulted in, or materially increased the likelihood of, a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.18 Insurance. Schedule 3.18 sets forth a true, complete and correct description of all material insurance maintained by Holdings or the Restricted Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date. As of such date, such insurance is in full force and effect and all premiums have been duly paid. Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries have insurance in such amounts and covering such risks and liabilities as are in accordance with normal industry practice. Either (i) no Mortgaged Property is a Flood Hazard Property or (ii) if a Mortgaged Property is a Flood Hazard Property, the Borrowers or the applicable Loan Party has delivered to the Administrative Agent the Flood Insurance Documents with respect to such Mortgaged Property.

SECTION 3.19 Security Documents.

(a) The Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, upon execution and delivery thereof by the parties thereto, will create in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a legal, valid and enforceable security interest in the Collateral (as defined in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement) and the proceeds thereof and (i) when the Pledged Collateral (as defined in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement) is delivered to the Collateral Agent (or its bailee pursuant to the provisions of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement), the Lien created under Guarantee and Collateral Agreement shall constitute a fully perfected first priority Lien on, and security interest in, all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties in such Pledged Collateral, in each case prior and superior in right to any other person (other than the “Secured Parties” as defined in the Term Loan Agreement and the Noteholders as defined in the Senior Secured Notes Indenture whose relative rights in the Collateral are set forth in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement and the holders of Permitted Pari Passu Term Collateral Liens whose respective relative rights in the Collateral are set forth in the applicable Intercreditor Agreement), and (ii) when financing statements in appropriate form are filed in the offices specified in the Perfection Certificate, the Lien created under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement will constitute a fully perfected Lien on, and security interest in, all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties party to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement in such Collateral to the extent perfection can be obtained by filing Uniform Commercial Code financing statements (other than Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights described in Section 3.19(b)), in each case prior and superior in right to any other person, other than (x) the “Secured Parties” as defined in the Term Loan Agreement and the Noteholders as defined in the Senior Secured Notes Indenture whose respective relative rights in the Collateral are set forth in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement and the holders of Permitted Pari Passu Term Collateral Liens whose relative rights in the Collateral are set forth in the applicable Intercreditor Agreement and (y) with respect to Liens permitted by Section 6.02 that by operation of law or contract have priority over the Liens securing the Obligations.

 

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(b) Upon the timely recordation of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement (or a short-form security agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Borrowers and the Collateral Agent) with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, together with the financing statements in appropriate form filed in the offices specified in the Perfection Certificate, the Lien created under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement shall constitute a fully perfected Lien on, and security interest in, all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties party to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement in the Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights owned by and registered (or subject to an application for registration) in the name of the Loan Parties, and in which a security interest may be perfected by filing in the United States and its territories and possessions, in each case prior in right to any other person other than the “Secured Parties” as defined in the Term Loan Agreement whose relative rights in the Collateral are set forth in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement and the holders of Permitted Pari Passu Collateral Liens whose relative rights in the Collateral are set forth in the applicable Intercreditor Agreement (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 and Patents, Trademark and Patent applications and registered Copyrights and Copyright Applications).

(c) [Intentionally omitted].

(d) Each Security Document (other than the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, any short-form security agreement referred to in clause (b) above and the Mortgages) that purports (i) to create a Lien on any Collateral, when executed and delivered, will be effective under applicable law to create in favor of the Collateral Agent for the ratable benefit of the applicable Secured Parties a valid and enforceable Lien on the Collateral subject thereto, and (ii) to create a Guarantee of any of the Obligations, when executed and delivered, will be effective under applicable law to create in favor of the Collateral Agent for the ratable benefit of the applicable Secured Parties a valid and enforceable Guarantee of the Obligations subject thereto.

SECTION 3.20 Location of Real Property and Leased Premises.

(a) Schedule 3.20(a) lists completely and correctly as of the Closing Date all Material Real Property owned by Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries and the addresses, record owner and book and estimated fair value thereof. As of the Closing Date, Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries have good and marketable fee title to all the real property set forth on Schedule 3.20(a), in each case, free and clear of all Liens other than those Liens permitted under the Loan Documents.

(b) Schedule 3.20(b) lists completely and correctly as of the Closing Date all Material Real Property leased by Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries and the addresses, lessor, lessee and expiration date thereof. Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries have valid leases, subleases or licenses in, or rights to use and occupy, all the real property set forth on Schedule 3.20(b), except where such invalidity, inability, and/or limitation on use and occupation, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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SECTION 3.21 Labor Matters. As of the Closing Date, there are no strikes, lockouts or slowdowns against Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary pending or, to the knowledge of Holdings or the Borrowers, threatened in writing. The hours worked by and payments made to employees of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries have not been in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act or any other applicable Federal, state, local or foreign law dealing with such matters, except for such noncompliance which, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The consummation of the Transactions 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 Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary is bound.

SECTION 3.22 Solvency. On the Closing Date, immediately after giving effect to the consummation of the Transactions on and as of such date (a) the fair value of the assets of Holdings and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, at a fair valuation, will exceed the debts and liabilities, direct, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, of Holdings and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis; (b) the present fair saleable value of the property of Holdings and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis will be greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of Holdings and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis on their debts and other liabilities, direct, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured; (c) Holdings and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis will be able to pay their debts and liabilities, direct, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured; and (d) Holdings and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis will not have unreasonably small capital with which to conduct the businesses in which they are engaged as such businesses are now conducted and are proposed to be conducted following the Closing Date. As of the Closing Date, immediately after giving effect to the consummation of the Transactions, Holdings does not intend to, and Holdings does not believe that it or any of its Subsidiaries will, incur debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature, taking into account the timing and amounts of cash to be received by it or any such Subsidiary and the timing and amounts of cash to be payable on or in respect of its debts or the debts of any such Subsidiary.

SECTION 3.23 No Default. No Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

SECTION 3.24 Intellectual Property. Each of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries owns, is licensed to use or otherwise has the right to use, all Intellectual Property necessary for the conduct of its business except for those for which the failure to own or license could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No claim has been asserted in writing or is pending by any Person challenging the use by Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries of any such Intellectual Property or the validity or effectiveness of any such Intellectual Property, nor does any Loan Party know of any valid basis for any such claim, except, in either case, for such claims that in the aggregate could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The use of such Intellectual Property by Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries does not infringe on the Intellectual Property rights of any Person, nor has any claim been asserted in writing or is any claim pending with respect to the foregoing, except for such claims and infringements that, in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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SECTION 3.25 Existing Indebtedness, Liens and Investments.

(a) Set forth on Schedule 6.01 is a complete and accurate list as of the Closing Date of all Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than Indebtedness in an aggregate amount not exceeding $50,000,000), showing as of the Closing Date the obligor and the principal amount outstanding thereunder, the maturity date thereof and the amortization schedule therefor.

(b) Set forth on Schedule 6.02 hereto is a complete and accurate list as of the Closing Date of all Liens on the property or assets of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries securing any Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than Indebtedness in an aggregate amount not exceeding $50,000,000), showing as of the Closing Date the lienholder thereof, the principal amount of the obligations secured thereby and the property or assets of such Loan Party or such Subsidiary subject thereto.

(c) Set forth on Schedule 6.04 is a complete and accurate list as of the Closing Date of all Investments (other than Investments in wholly owned Subsidiaries of Holdings, Permitted Investments and other Investments in an aggregate amount not exceeding $50,000,000), showing as of the Closing Date the amount and description (including the parties thereto) of each such Investment.

SECTION 3.26 USA PATRIOT Act etc. To the extent applicable, each of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries is in compliance, in all material respects, with all Anti-Terrorism Laws. Neither Holdings nor, to the knowledge of Holdings, any Loan Party or any director, officer, agent, or employee of any Loan Party, is currently subject to any Sanctions, and the Loan Parties will not, knowingly, directly or indirectly use the proceeds from the Revolving Credit Loans or any Letter of Credit or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person, for the purpose of financing the activities of any Person currently subject to any Sanctions or for the purpose of funding any other transaction that will result in a violation by any Person (including any Person participating in the transaction, whether as a Lender, Issuing Bank, underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of any Sanctions. No part of the proceeds of the Revolving Credit Loans or any Letter of Credit 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 Anticorruption Laws. Holdings and, to the knowledge of Holdings, its Restricted Subsidiaries have conducted their businesses in compliance, in all material respects, with all Anticorruption Laws and Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries will conduct their business in a manner reasonably designed to promote and achieve compliance, in all material respects, with Anticorruption Laws and Anti-Terrorism Laws and, in all material respects, not in violation of any Sanctions, and with the representations and warranties contained herein.

SECTION 3.27 EEA Financial Institution. Neither any Borrower nor any other Loan Party is an EEA Financial Institution.

SECTION 3.28 Beneficial Ownership. As of the Closing Date, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification (to the extent required to be provided) is true and correct.

 

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ARTICLE IV

Conditions of Lending

The obligations of the Lenders to make Revolving Credit Loans and of the Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit (other than an Existing Letter of Credit) hereunder are subject to the satisfaction (or waiver in accordance with Section 9.08) of the following conditions:

SECTION 4.01 Conditions Precedent to Initial Extension of Credit. The obligation of the Lenders to provide the Commitments, and to make Loans, and of the Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit (other than any Existing Letters of Credit) hereunder on the Closing Date is subject to the satisfaction or waiver in accordance with Section 9.08 of the following conditions precedent:

(a) Each of the Loan Documents and other documentation relating to the Loans provided hereunder shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and duly executed and delivered by each of the Loan Parties and other parties thereto;

(b) Administrative Agent shall have received, in respect of each Loan Party;

(i) the notes payable to the order of the Lenders to the extent requested at least three Business Days prior to the Closing Date in accordance with Section 2.04(e);

(ii) copies of each organizational or constitutive document (along with any amendments thereto) certified as of the Closing Date or a recent date prior thereto by the appropriate Governmental Authority;

(iii) certificate of the secretary or an assistant secretary of each Loan Party certifying the names and true signatures of the officers of such Loan Party authorized to sign each Loan Document to which it is or is to be a party and the other documents to be delivered hereunder and thereunder;

(iv) resolutions of the board of directors (or similar governing body) of such Loan Party approving and authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party or by which it or its assets may be bound as of the Closing Date, certified as of the Closing Date by its secretary or an assistant secretary as being in full force and effect without modification or amendment; and

(v) a good standing certificate from the applicable Governmental Authority of such Loan Party’s jurisdiction of incorporation, organization or formation dated the Closing Date or a recent date prior thereto;

(c) All reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses (including reasonable and documented fees and expenses of outside counsel) required to be paid to the Administrative Agent on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid (including fees owed to the Lenders to be paid to the Administrative Agent for the accounts of the Lenders) to the extent invoiced at least three Business Days prior to the Closing Date;

 

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(d) The Administrative Agent and Lenders and their respective counsel shall have received originally executed copies of a favorable written opinion of (i) Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, counsel for the Loan Parties and (ii) local counsel for the Loan Parties in states in which the Loan Parties are organized or formed, in each case, dated as of the Closing Date, addressing such matters as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

(e) Since December 31, 2018, there has been no event or occurrence that has had a Material Adverse Effect;

(f) The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate from the chief financial officer of Holdings substantially in the form of Exhibit K;

(g) The Administrative Agent shall have received a completed Perfection Certificate, dated as of the Closing Date and signed by a Financial Officer of the Borrowers, together with all attachments contemplated thereby;

(h) (i) Each Lender shall have received at least one Business Day prior to the Closing Date all documentation and other information reasonably requested in writing by them at least three Business Days prior to the Closing Date in order to allow the Lenders to comply with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation, the USA PATRIOT Act and (ii) to the extent any Loan Party qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, at least three Business Days prior to the Closing Date, any Lender that has requested, in a written notice to Holdings at least five Business Days prior to the Closing Date, a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to such Loan Party, shall have received such Beneficial Ownership Certification;

(i) (i) The refinancing of the outstanding indebtedness under the Existing Term Loan Agreement shall have occurred or shall be consummated substantially concurrently with the Closing Date and (ii) the Closing Date (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement) under the Term Loan Agreement shall have occurred or will occur substantially concurrently with the Closing Date and the Loan Documents (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement) required by the terms of the Term Loan Agreement shall have been, or substantially concurrently with the Closing Date shall be, executed and delivered;

(j) The Senior Notes shall have been, or substantially concurrently with the Closing Date shall be, issued;

 

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(k) The ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and each other Security Document shall have been duly executed and delivered by each of the applicable Loan Parties, in each case, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and together therewith, the Administrative Agent shall have received the following, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:

(i) Proper uniform commercial code financing statements for all applicable jurisdictions of the Loan Parties as deemed necessary by the Administrative Agent in order to perfect and protect the Liens and security interests created or purported to be created pursuant to the Security Documents covering the Collateral;

(ii) Copies of a recent Lien and judgment search in each jurisdiction reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent with respect to the Loan Parties;

(iii) [Intentionally omitted];

(iv) Evidence of all insurance required to be maintained pursuant to Section 5.02, and evidence that the Administrative Agent shall have been named as an additional insured or loss payee, as applicable, on all insurance policies covering loss or damage to Collateral; and

(v) Evidence that such other documents, instruments or actions deemed necessary or advisable by the Administrative Agent to perfect and protect the Liens and security interests (and the first priority thereof with respect to Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral and the second priority thereof with respect to Term Facility First Lien Collateral) created or purported to be created pursuant to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement shall have been duly delivered or completed, including, without limitation, the delivery of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements in proper form for filing for all applicable jurisdictions of the Loan Parties and provision having been made for the payment of any fees or taxes required in connection with the filing of such documents, instruments or financing statements;

provided, however, that, each of the requirements set forth above, (except for the (I) execution and delivery of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, and (II) to the extent that a Lien on such Collateral may be perfected (x) by the filing of a financing statement under the Uniform Credit Code or customary “short form” intellectual property filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office or (y) by the delivery of stock certificates of the Borrowers) shall not constitute conditions precedent to the Commitment hereunder on the Closing Date after the Borrowers’ use of commercially reasonable efforts to provide such items on prior to the Closing Date if the Borrowers agree to deliver, or cause to be delivered, such search results, documents and instruments, or take or cause to be taken such other actions as may be required to perfect such security interests within ninety (90) days after the Closing Date (subject to extensions approved by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion).

(l) On the Closing Date, after giving effect to the Transactions, none of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries shall have any third party Indebtedness for borrowed money other than (i) the Term Loan Facility, (ii) the facilities provided under the Revolving Credit Agreement, (iii) the Senior Notes and (iv) other Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01.

The making of the initial Commitment to the Borrowers by the applicable Lenders hereunder on the Closing Date shall conclusively be deemed to constitute an acknowledgement by the Administrative Agent and each such Lender that each of the conditions precedent set forth in this Section 4.01 shall have been satisfied in accordance with its respective terms or shall have been irrevocably waived by such Person.

 

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SECTION 4.02 Conditions to All Credit Extensions. On the date of each Borrowing (other than a conversion or a continuation of a Borrowing), including each Borrowing of a Swingline Loan, and on the date of each issuance, extension or renewal of a Letter of Credit (other than the issuance of an Existing Letter of Credit) (each such event being called a “Credit Event”), except as otherwise provided in the applicable Incremental Facility Joinder Agreement with respect to any New Revolving Credit Loan incurred in connection with a Permitted Acquisition, Acquisition or Limited Condition Transaction to the extent contemplated by Section 2.24(a):

(a) The Administrative Agent shall have received a notice of such Borrowing as required by Section 2.03 (or such notice shall have been deemed given in accordance with Section 2.02) or, in the case of the issuance, extension or renewal of a Letter of Credit (other than the issuance of an Existing Letter of Credit), the Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent shall have received a notice requesting the issuance, amendment or renewal of such Letter of Credit as required by Section 2.23(b) or, in the case of the Borrowing of a Swingline Loan, the Swingline Lender and the Administrative Agent shall have received a notice requesting such Swingline Loan as required by Section 2.22(b).

(b) The representations and warranties set forth in Article III and in each other Loan Document shall be true and correct (or true and correct in all material respects, in the case of any such representation or warranty that is not qualified as to materiality) on and as of the date of such Credit Event (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct (or true and correct in all material respects, in the case of any such representation or warranty that is not qualified as to materiality) as of such earlier date).

(c) At the time of and immediately after such Credit Event, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

(d) The making of such Loan shall not violate any requirement of law and shall not be enjoined, temporarily, preliminarily or permanently.

(e) Each Credit Event shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by Holdings and the Borrowers on the date of such Credit Event as to the matters specified in paragraphs (b) through (d) of this Section 4.02.

ARTICLE V

Affirmative Covenants

Each Loan Party party to this Agreement jointly and severally with all of the other Loan Parties, covenants and agrees with each Lender that so long as this Agreement shall remain in effect and until all Commitments have been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan, all Fees and all other expenses or amounts (other than contingent indemnification liabilities to the extent no claim giving rise thereto has been asserted) payable under any Loan

 

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Document shall have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit have been canceled or have expired and all amounts drawn thereunder have been reimbursed in full, or such Letters of Credit shall have been Cash Collateralized, or other arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Issuing Bank shall have been made with respect to such Letters of Credit (which arrangements result in the release of the Revolving Credit Lenders from their obligation to make payments in respect of L/C Disbursements pursuant to Section 2.23(d)), unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise consent in writing, each of Holdings and the Borrowers will, and will cause each of the Restricted Subsidiaries to:

SECTION 5.01 Existence; Compliance with Laws; Businesses and Properties.

(a) Do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal existence, except as otherwise permitted under Section 6.05.

(b) Other than as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) do or cause to be done all things necessary to obtain, preserve, renew, extend and keep in full force and effect the rights, licenses, permits, franchises, authorizations and Intellectual Property necessary or desirable to the conduct of its business, (ii) comply with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and decrees and orders of any Governmental Authority, whether now in effect or hereafter enacted and (iii) maintain and preserve all property useful to the conduct of such business and keep such property in good repair, working order and condition and from time to time make, or cause to be made, all needful and proper repairs, renewals, additions, improvements and replacements thereto necessary in order that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly conducted at all times.

SECTION 5.02 Insurance.

(a) Keep its insurable properties adequately insured at all times by financially sound and reputable insurers; maintain such other insurance, to such extent and against such risks, including fire and other risks insured against by extended coverage, as is customary with companies in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations, including general liability insurance against claims for personal injury or death or property damage occurring upon, in, about or in connection with the use of any properties owned, occupied or controlled by it; and maintain such other insurance as may be required by law.

(b) Cause within thirty (30) days after the Closing Date (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree) all such policies covering any Collateral to be endorsed or otherwise amended to include a customary lender’s loss payable endorsement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent; deliver evidence of such coverage to the Collateral Agent; use commercially reasonable efforts to cause each such policy to provide that it shall not be canceled (i) by reason of nonpayment of premium upon not less than 10 days’ prior written notice thereof by the insurer to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent (giving the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent the right to cure defaults in the payment of premiums) or (ii) for any other reason upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice thereof by the insurer to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent.

 

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(c) (i) If any Responsible Officer of any Borrower becomes aware that any Mortgaged Property is at any time a Flood Hazard Property (or if the Administrative Agent or any Secured Party has provided notice to a Borrower that any Mortgaged Property is a Flood Hazard Property), promptly, provide to the Administrative Agent the Flood Insurance Documents with respect to such Mortgaged Property. The Administrative Agent shall provide to the Secured Parties copies of the Flood Insurance Documents (including any Flood Insurance Documents delivered in connection with a Flood Compliance Event), to the extent received from the Borrowers. The Administrative Agent agrees to request such Flood Insurance Documents at the request of any Secured Party. Unless the Borrowers provide the Administrative Agent with the Flood Insurance Documents, the Administrative Agent may purchase Flood Insurance meeting the requirements of clause (iii) of the definition of “Flood Insurance Documents” at the Borrowers’ expense to protect the interests of the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties. Each of Holdings and the Borrowers shall cooperate with the Administrative Agent and any Secured Party in connection with compliance with the Flood Insurance Laws, including by providing any information reasonably required by the Administrative Agent (or by any Secured Party through the Administrative Agent) in order to confirm compliance with the Flood Insurance Laws.

(ii) If a Flood Redesignation shall occur with respect to any Mortgaged Property, the Administrative Agent shall obtain a completed Flood Hazard Determination with respect to the applicable Mortgaged Property. If any Responsible Officer of any Borrower becomes aware that a Flood Redesignation has occurred with respect to any Mortgaged Property (or if the Administrative Agent or any Secured Party has provided notice to a Borrower that any such Flood Redesignation has occurred), the Borrowers shall promptly provide to the Administrative Agent the Flood Insurance Documents with respect to such Mortgaged Property. The Administrative Agent shall provide to the Secured Parties copies of the Flood Insurance Documents (including any Flood Insurance Documents delivered in connection with a Flood Compliance Event), to the extent received from the Borrowers. The Administrative Agent agrees to request such Flood Insurance Documents at the request of any Secured Party. Unless the Borrowers provide the Administrative Agent with the Flood Insurance Documents, the Administrative Agent may purchase Flood Insurance meeting the requirements of clause (iii) of the definition of “Flood Insurance Documents” at the Borrowers’ expense to protect the interests of the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties.

SECTION 5.03 Obligations and Taxes. Pay and discharge promptly when due all Taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed upon it or upon its income or profits or in respect of its property, before the same shall become delinquent or in default, as well as all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies or otherwise that, if unpaid, might give rise to a Lien upon such properties or any part thereof; provided, however, that such payment and discharge shall not be required with respect to any such Tax, assessment, charge, levy or claim so long as either (A) the validity or amount thereof shall be contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and Holdings shall have set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP and such contest operates to suspend collection of the contested obligation, tax, assessment or charge and enforcement of a Lien and, in the case of a Mortgaged Property, there is no material risk of forfeiture of such property, or (B) to the extent that the failure to do so, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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SECTION 5.04 Financial Statements, Reports, etc. In the case of the Borrowers, furnish to the Administrative Agent, which shall furnish to each Lender:

(a) within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year Holdings’ consolidated balance sheet and related statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows showing the financial condition of Holdings and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries as of the close of such fiscal year and the results of its operations and the operations of such Restricted Subsidiaries during such year, together with comparative figures for the immediately preceding fiscal year, all audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers or other independent registered public accounting firm of recognized national standing and accompanied by an opinion of such accountants (which opinion shall be without “going concern” or like qualifications or exceptions and without any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit (other than solely with respect to, or resulting solely from an upcoming maturity date with respect to the Revolving Credit Loans, the Senior Notes, the Term Loan Agreement or any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of the foregoing occurring within one year from the time such opinion is delivered or any potential inability to satisfy a financial maintenance covenant under the Term Loan Agreement (or any New Loan or Refinancing Debt, each as defined in the Term Loan Agreement) or this Agreement on a future date or in a future period) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements fairly present in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of Holdings and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that the financial statements for each such fiscal year shall cover a period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on December 31;

(b) within 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year, Holdings’ consolidated balance sheet and related statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows showing the financial condition of Holdings and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries as of the close of such fiscal quarter and the results of its operations and the operations of such Restricted Subsidiaries during such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, and comparative figures for the same periods in the immediately preceding fiscal year, all certified by a Financial Officer of the Borrowing Agent as fairly presenting in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of Holdings and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP;

(c) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under paragraph (a) above, a certificate of the accounting firm, and concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under paragraph (a) or (b) above, a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrowing Agent opining on or certifying such statements (which certificate, when furnished by an accounting firm, may be limited to accounting matters and disclaim responsibility for legal interpretations) (i) certifying that no Default has occurred or, if such a Default has occurred, specifying the nature and extent thereof and any corrective action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto and (ii) setting forth computations in reasonable detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent demonstrating compliance with the covenant contained in Section 6.11 (any such certificate furnished pursuant to this clause (c), a “Compliance Certificate”); provided that if there has been any material change in GAAP or in the application of GAAP referred to in Section 1.03, the Compliance Certificate from the Financial Officer shall identify such change and the effect of such change on the financial statements accompanying such certificate;

 

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(d) as soon as available, and in any event no later than 60 days after the beginning of each fiscal year of Holdings, a detailed consolidated budget for Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such fiscal year (including a projected consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal year, and the related consolidated statements of projected cash flow, projected changes in financial position and projected income), and, as soon as available, significant revisions, if any, of such budget with respect to such fiscal year (the Budget);

(e) promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all of the functions of said Commission, or with any national securities exchange, or distributed to its shareholders, as the case may be;

(f) [Intentionally omitted];

(g) promptly after the receipt thereof by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, a copy of any management letter received by any such person from its certified public accountants and the management’s response thereto to the extent such certified public accountants have consented to the delivery of such management letter to the Administrative Agent upon the request of the Borrowers;

(h) promptly after the request by any Lender, all documentation and other information that such Lender reasonably requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable know your customer and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation;

(i) promptly following any request therefor, copies of (i) any documents described in Section 101(k)(1) of ERISA that Holdings, any Borrower or any ERISA Affiliates may request with respect to any Multiemployer Plan and (ii) any notices described in Section 101(l)(1) of ERISA that any Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates may request with respect to any Multiemployer Plan; provided that if any Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates have not requested such documents or notices from the administrator or sponsor of the applicable Multiemployer Plan, Holdings, any Borrower or its ERISA Affiliates shall promptly make a request for such documents or notices from such administrator or sponsor and shall provide copies of such documents and notices promptly after receipt thereof;

(j) a Borrowing Base Certificate, in each case with supporting documentation (including, without limitation, the documentation described in Exhibit J), (i) on a monthly basis (as of the last day of each calendar month), within 15 days following the last day of each calendar month, commencing with the calendar month ending November 30, 2019 (or if such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day); and (ii) on a weekly basis (as of the last day of each calendar week), on or before the third Business Day following the last day of each calendar week, at any time during a Testing Period; provided that the Borrowing Agent may, at its option, deliver Borrowing Base Certificates more frequently than required by the foregoing provisions of this Section 5.04;

 

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(k) promptly, from time to time, such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of any Loan Document, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request; and

(l) within 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarter of Holdings and within 90 days after the end of the fourth fiscal quarter of Holdings, a narrative discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operations of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such fiscal quarter and for the period from the beginning of the then current fiscal year to the end of such fiscal quarter, as compared to the comparable periods of the previous year.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations in clauses (a), (b) and (l) of this Section 5.04 may be satisfied with respect to financial information of Holdings and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries by furnishing Holdings’ (or any direct or indirect parent thereof; provided that such parent holds no material assets other than cash and Equity Interests of Holdings or of any direct or indirect parent of Holdings (and performs the related incidental activities associated with such ownership) and complies with the requirements of Rule 3 10 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC (or any successor provision)) Form 10-K or 10-Q, as applicable, filed with the SEC; provided that, to the extent such information is in lieu of information required to be provided under clause (a) of this Section 5.04, such materials are accompanied by a report and opinion of PriceWaterhouseCoopers or other independent public accountants of recognized national standing, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and shall not be subject to any “going concern” or like qualification or exception or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit (other than solely with respect to, or resulting solely from an upcoming maturity date with respect to the Revolving Credit Loans, the Senior Notes, the Term Loan Agreement or any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of the foregoing occurring within one year from the time such opinion is delivered or any potential inability to satisfy a financial maintenance covenant under the Term Loan Agreement (or any New Loan, the Senior Notes or Refinancing Debt, each as defined in the Term Loan Agreement) or this Agreement on a future date or in a future period).

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to clauses (a), (b), (e) or (l) of this Section 5.04 may at Holdings or the Borrowers’ election be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the earliest of (i) the date on which such documents are electronically delivered to the Administrative Agent for posting if delivered before 5:00 p.m. Local Time on a Business Day or otherwise on the following Business Day, (ii) the date on which such documents are posted on Holdings or the Borrowers’ behalf on IntraLinks/IntraAgency or another relevant website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); or (iii) the date on which such documents are filed for public availability on the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering and Retrieval System.

 

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SECTION 5.05 Litigation and Other Notices. Furnish to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and each Lender written notice of the following promptly after any Responsible Officer of any Loan Party becomes aware thereof:

(a) any Default, specifying the nature and extent thereof and the corrective action (if any) taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto;

(b) the filing or commencement of, or any written threat or notice of intention of any person to file or commence, any action, suit or proceeding, whether at law or in equity or by or before any Governmental Authority, against HMHP or any Affiliate thereof that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

(c) the occurrence of any ERISA Event that, alone or together with any other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding $35,000,000, setting forth the details as to such ERISA Event and the action, if any, that Holdings or the Borrowers proposes to take with respect thereto; and

(d) any development that has resulted in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.06 [Reserved].

SECTION 5.07 Maintaining Records; Access to Properties and Inspections; Maintenance of Ratings.

(a) Keep proper books of record and account in which entries that are full, true and correct in all material respects and in conformity with GAAP and all applicable requirements of law are made of all material dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities. Each Loan Party will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, permit any representatives designated by the Administrative Agent or, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, any Lender to visit and inspect the financial records and the properties of such person upon reasonable notice, at reasonable times and as often as reasonably requested and to make extracts from and copies of such financial records, and permit any representatives designated by the Administrative Agent or any Lender to discuss the affairs, finances and condition of such person with the officers thereof and independent accountants therefor, in each case, subject to reasonable requirements of confidentiality, including requirements imposed by law or by contract; provided that (i) unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, such visits and inspections shall occur not more than once in any fiscal year and shall be arranged by one or more Lenders through the Administrative Agent and (ii) the Administrative Agent shall provide the Borrowers with the opportunity to participate in any such discussions with such accountants. In addition, each Loan Party will permit the Administrative Agent to conduct, at the sole cost and expense of the Loan Parties, field audits and examinations of receivables and inventory, and appraisals of inventory; provided that such field audits and examinations and appraisals may be conducted not more than once per any twelve-month period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if and for so long as (i) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or (ii) Availability is less than the Availability Limit, up to two such field audits and examinations and appraisals may be conducted at the Loan Parties’ expense per any twelve-month period at any time at the reasonable request of the Administrative Agent.

 

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(b) Use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain (i) a public corporate rating from S&P and (ii) a public corporate family rating from Moody’s.

SECTION 5.08 Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of the Loans and request the issuance of Letters of Credit only for the purposes specified in Section 3.13.

SECTION 5.09 Employee Benefits. Comply with the applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code and the laws applicable to any Foreign Pension Plan, except for such noncompliance which, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.10 Compliance with Environmental Laws. Comply, and use commercially reasonable efforts to cause all lessees and other persons occupying its properties to comply, in all material respects with all Environmental Laws applicable to its operations and properties; obtain and renew all material environmental permits necessary for its operations and properties; and conduct any remedial action in accordance with Environmental Laws, except in each case with respect to this Section 5.10, to the extent the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.11 Preparation of Environmental Reports. If at any time (x) there are any Mortgaged Properties securing the Obligations and (y) a Default caused by reason of a breach of Section 3.17 or Section 5.10 shall have occurred and be continuing for more than 20 days without Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary commencing activities reasonably likely to cure such Default, at the written request of the Required Lenders through the Administrative Agent, provide to the Lenders within 45 days after such request, at the expense of the Loan Parties, an environmental site assessment report regarding the matters which are the subject of such Default prepared by an environmental consulting firm reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and indicating the presence or absence of Hazardous Materials and the estimated cost of any compliance or remedial action in connection with such Default.

SECTION 5.12 Further Assurances.

(a) Execute any and all further documents, financing statements, agreements and instruments, and take all further action (including filing Uniform Commercial Code and other financing statements, mortgages and deeds of trust) that the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent may reasonably request, in order to effectuate the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents and in order to grant, preserve, protect and perfect the validity and first priority of the security interests created or intended to be created by the Security Documents. Holdings and the Borrowers will cause each wholly owned Subsidiary of Holdings that is a Domestic Subsidiary (other than: (i) any Domestic Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary of Holdings, (ii) any Unrestricted Subsidiary, (iii) any Immaterial Subsidiary, (iv) any Not for Profit Subsidiary, (v) any Domestic Subsidiary that is treated as a Foreign Subsidiary for United States federal income tax purposes, (vi) any

 

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Subsidiary that is prohibited by applicable law, rule, regulation or contract from providing the Guarantee or which would require governmental (including regulatory) consent, approval, license or authorization to provide the Guarantee (unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received), (vii) any Subsidiary for which the provision of the Guarantee with respect to which the Collateral Agent and the Borrowers reasonably agree in writing that the costs or other consequences (including material adverse tax consequences as reasonably determined by the Borrowers in good faith in consultation with the Collateral Agent) of providing such a Guarantee is excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Secured Parties, and (viii) any special purpose receivables or securitization Subsidiary (each, an “Excluded Subsidiary”)) on the Closing Date to become a Subsidiary Guarantor and Guarantee and secure the Obligations by becoming a party to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

If any Not for Profit Subsidiary that is a wholly owned Domestic Subsidiary ceases to be exempt from U.S. federal income taxation under Section 501(a) of the Code or any wholly owned Domestic Subsidiary ceases to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary, Immaterial Subsidiary or special purpose receivables or securitization Subsidiary (and, in each case, is not otherwise an Excluded Subsidiary), then Holdings and the Borrowers will cause such Subsidiary to become a Subsidiary Guarantor and Guarantee and secure the Obligations by becoming a party to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement. With respect to any provision or restriction affecting a wholly owned Domestic Subsidiary the reason for which such Subsidiary is not required to become a Guarantor in the foregoing paragraph, promptly upon the ineffectiveness, lapse or termination of such provision or restriction, Holdings and the Borrowers will cause such Subsidiary to become a Subsidiary Guarantor and Guarantee and secure the Obligations by becoming a party to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

(b) In addition, from and after the Closing Date, Holdings and the Borrowers will cause any subsequently acquired or organized wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Foreign Subsidiary or any Excluded Subsidiary) to become a Loan Party by executing the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and/or each applicable Security Document in favor of the Collateral Agent. In addition, from time to time, Holdings and the Borrowers will, at their cost and expense, promptly secure the Obligations by pledging or creating, or causing to be pledged or created, perfected security interests with respect to such of the assets and properties of Holdings and the wholly owned Restricted Subsidiaries (other than any Foreign Subsidiary or any Excluded Subsidiary) as the Administrative Agent shall designate (it being understood that it is the intent of the parties that the Obligations shall be secured (i) by substantially all the assets of Holdings and the wholly owned Restricted Subsidiaries (other than any Foreign Subsidiary or any Excluded Subsidiary), including Material Real Property (and not any other real property or interest therein) and personal property (other than Excluded Accounts or Excluded Assets) acquired subsequent to the Closing Date and (ii) in the case of Foreign Subsidiaries that are first tier Foreign Subsidiaries (or treated as first tier Foreign Subsidiaries for U.S. federal income tax purposes) or any Domestic Subsidiary which is treated as a first tier Foreign Subsidiary for U.S. federal income tax purposes, in each case, of a Loan Party, by 66% of the voting stock and 100% of the non-voting stock of such Subsidiary). Such security interests and Liens will be created under the Security Documents and other security agreements, mortgages, deeds of trust and other instruments and documents in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, and Holdings and the Borrowers shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Lenders all such instruments and documents (including legal opinions, title insurance policies and lien

 

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searches) as the Collateral Agent shall reasonably request to evidence compliance with this Section. Holdings and the Borrowers shall be in compliance with the requirements of this clause (b) if they shall cause such subsequently acquired or organized wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary to become a Loan Party, pledge its assets and deliver such instruments and documents (except with respect to Mortgages and related items in respect of Material Real Property, which shall be governed by the last sentence of this clause (b)) within 30 days (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may reasonably agree) after the acquisition or organization of such Restricted Subsidiary. Holdings and the Borrowers agree to provide such evidence as the Collateral Agent shall reasonably request as to the perfection and priority status of each such security interest and Lien. In furtherance of the foregoing, Holdings and the Borrowers will give prompt notice to the Administrative Agent of the acquisition by Holdings or any of the other Loan Parties of any Material Real Property and will, within 60 days (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may reasonably agree) following the acquisition of such Material Real Property, deliver to the Administrative Agent Mortgages and the Flood Insurance Documents as applicable to such Material Real Property, as well as such other items as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent (or any Lender through the Administrative Agent); provided, that the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers may agree in writing that a mortgage on a parcel of Material Real Property located in the State of New York is not required if they reasonably determine that the costs or other consequence of providing a Mortgage is excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Secured Parties therefrom.

SECTION 5.13 Intentionally Omitted.

SECTION 5.14 Intentionally Omitted.

SECTION 5.15 Cash Dominion.

(a) Maintain with the Collateral Agent or another depository reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent one or more deposit accounts (i) to be used by the Loan Parties as their principal concentration accounts, (ii) into which shall be swept or deposited, on each Business Day, during any Cash Dominion Period, all cash of the Loan Parties from any and all of their other deposit accounts and bank or securities accounts (other than the Excluded Accounts), (iii) from which cash shall be withdrawn and applied (A) in accordance with the Waterfall on each Business Day during any Cash Dominion Period, if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, or (B) to prepay outstanding Loans and to the extent due and payable, any fees, interest and other amounts owing under this Agreement, on each Business Day during any Cash Dominion Period, if an Event of Default shall not have occurred and be continuing, and (iv) which shall be subject to a control agreement reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and shall be under the sole control and dominion of the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent during any Cash Dominion Period.

SECTION 5.16 Sanctions; Anticorruption Laws and Anti-Terrorism Laws.

(a) Comply in all material respects with Anti-Terrorism Laws and anti-money laundering rules and regulations (including the USA PATRIOT Act).

 

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(b) Maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures reasonably designed to promote compliance, in all material respects, by Holdings, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anticorruption Laws and applicable Sanctions.

(c) Will not request any Loan, and the Borrowers will not use, and will procure, and Holdings will procure, that their respective Subsidiaries and their and their respective Subsidiaries’ respective directors, officers, employees and agents do not use, the proceeds of any Loan, or any Letter of Credit (i) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anticorruption Laws, (ii) for the purpose of funding, financing or facilitating any activities, business or transaction of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country, to the extent such activities, business or transaction would be prohibited by Sanctions if conducted by a corporation incorporated in the United States or in a European Union member state, except as otherwise permitted by applicable law or (iii) in any manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions applicable to any party hereto.

ARTICLE VI

Negative Covenants

Each Loan Party party to this Agreement jointly and severally with all of the other Loan Parties covenants and agrees with each Lender that, so long as this Agreement shall remain in effect and until all Commitments have been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan, all Fees and all other expenses or amounts (other than contingent indemnification liabilities to the extent no claim giving rise thereto has been asserted) payable under any Loan Document have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit have been cancelled or have expired and all amounts drawn thereunder have been reimbursed in full, or such Letters of Credit shall have been Cash Collateralized, or other arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Issuing Bank shall have been made with respect to such Letters of Credit (which arrangements result in the release of the Revolving Credit Lenders from their obligation to make payments in respect of L/C Disbursements pursuant to Section 2.23(d)), unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise consent in writing, neither Holdings nor any Borrower will, nor will they cause or permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to:

SECTION 6.01 Indebtedness. Incur, create, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness, except:

(a) (i) Indebtedness created hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and (ii) other Indebtedness existing on the Closing Date that is listed on Schedule 6.01;

(b) intercompany Indebtedness of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent permitted by Section 6.04(b); provided that any such intercompany Indebtedness owed by any Loan Party to a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party shall be subordinated to the Obligations;

 

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(c) Indebtedness incurred by Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries arising from agreements providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price, earnouts or similar obligations, or from guaranties or letters of credit, surety bonds or performance bonds securing the performance of Holdings or any such Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to such agreements, in connection with Permitted Acquisitions or Acquisitions or permitted dispositions of any business or assets of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries;

(d) Indebtedness which may be deemed to exist pursuant to any guaranties, performance, surety, statutory, appeal or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(e) Indebtedness in respect of netting services, overdraft protections, any cash management services arrangement and otherwise in connection with deposit accounts;

(f) guaranties in the ordinary course of business of the obligations of suppliers, customers, franchisees and licensees of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries;

(g) (i) Indebtedness under the Term Loan Agreement in an aggregate principal amount outstanding at any time not to exceed the aggregate of (A) $380,000,000 and (B) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of any Indebtedness incurred under any Incremental Facilities (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement), (ii) Indebtedness represented by the Senior Notes in an aggregate principal amount outstanding at any time not to exceed $306,000,000 and (iii) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of the Indebtedness referenced in clause (i) or (ii) above;

(h) Indebtedness owed to (including obligations in respect of letters of credit for the benefit of) any person providing worker’s compensation, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, pursuant to reimbursement or indemnification obligations to such person;

(i) Indebtedness of Holdings or the Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of performance bonds, bid bonds, appeal bonds, surety bonds and similar obligations and trade-related letters of credit, in each case provided in the ordinary course of business, including those incurred to secure health, safety and environmental obligations in the ordinary course of business and any extension, renewal or refinancing thereof to the extent that the amount of refinancing Indebtedness is not greater than the amount of Indebtedness being refinanced;

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

 

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(k) Indebtedness with respect to Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings and purchase money Indebtedness incurred by any Restricted Subsidiary prior to or within 270 days after the acquisition, lease, construction, repair, replacement or improvement of the respective asset (whether through the direct purchase of such asset or the Equity Interest of any person owning such asset) permitted under this Agreement in order to finance such acquisition, lease, construction, repair, replacement or improvement (including any Indebtedness acquired in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or an Acquisition); provided, any such Indebtedness (i) shall be secured only by the assets acquired, leased, constructed, repaired or improved in connection with the incurrence of such Indebtedness, and (ii) shall constitute not less than 75% of the aggregate consideration paid with respect to such asset, and any Indebtedness that Refinanced such Indebtedness pursuant to the definition of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness (disregarding clause (v) thereof), in an aggregate principal amount which, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence thereof, when aggregated with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness then outstanding that was incurred pursuant to this clause (k), is not in excess of the greater of (A) 23% of the Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended four fiscal quarter period ending with a fiscal quarter for which financial statements are required to have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.04(b) and (B) $75,000,000;

(l) Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary supported by a Letter of Credit in a principal amount not in excess of the stated amount of such Letter of Credit;

(m) (i) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings acquired after the Closing Date and Indebtedness of a person merged or consolidated with or into a Restricted Subsidiary after the Closing Date and Indebtedness assumed in connection with the acquisition of assets or Equity Interests, which Indebtedness in each case exists at the time of such acquisition, merger or consolidation and is not created in contemplation of such event and where such acquisition, merger or consolidation is permitted by this Agreement and (ii) any Indebtedness that Refinanced such Indebtedness pursuant to the definition of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness (disregarding clause (v) thereof); provided that (A) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Indebtedness acquired or assumed by non-Loan Parties under subclause (i) of this clause (m) shall not exceed $50,000,000 at any time and (B) at the time of such acquisition, merger or consolidation and at the time of the incurrence or assumption of such Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary, on a pro forma basis after giving effect thereto, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

(n) Indebtedness of Restricted Subsidiaries of Holdings that are not Loan Parties in an aggregate principal amount which, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence thereof, when aggregated with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness then outstanding that was incurred pursuant to this clause (n), is not in excess of the greater of (i) $25,000,000 and (ii) 10% of the Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended four fiscal quarter period ending with a fiscal quarter for which financial statements are required to have been delivered pursuant to
Section 5.04(b);

(o) Indebtedness incurred or assumed at any time when, on a pro forma basis after giving effect thereto, the RP Payment Conditions are satisfied at such time;

 

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(p) [Intentionally Omitted];

(q) [Intentionally Omitted];

(r) all premiums (if any), interest, fees, expenses, indemnities, charges and additional or contingent interest on obligations described in clauses (a) through (o) above;

(s) Guarantees of obligations of third parties to the extent treated as Investments in such third parties (in an amount equal to the aggregate amount of the obligations so Guaranteed) and permitted by Section 6.04;

(t) Indebtedness consisting of Indebtedness issued by any Loan Party to future, current or former officers, managers, directors, consultants and employees of Holdings, its subsidiaries or its direct or indirect parent companies, their respective estates, spouses or former spouses, in each case to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of Holdings or any direct or indirect parent company of Holdings to the extent described in Section 6.06(a)(i); provided that the terms of any such Indebtedness with a principal amount in excess of $2,000,000 shall be approved by the board of directors of Holdings;

(u) Indebtedness with respect to Hedging Agreements permitted under Section 6.04(h);

(v) Indebtedness if, after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof: (i) in the case of Indebtedness that will be secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the obligations under the Term Loan Agreement, the Net First Lien Leverage Ratio on a pro forma basis is not greater than 2.25 : 1.00, (ii) in the case of Indebtedness that will be secured by the Collateral by Liens that are junior and subordinated to the Liens securing the obligations under the Term Loan Agreement, the Net Secured Leverage Ratio on a pro forma basis is not greater than 2.50 : 1.00, and (iii) in the case of other Indebtedness, the Net Total Leverage Ratio on a pro forma basis is not greater than 4.00 : 1.00;

(w) (i) Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed at the time of incurrence an amount equal to the amount determined pursuant to clause (a) of the definition of “Incremental Amount” (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement) at such time; provided that (I) there shall be no obligor in respect of any such Indebtedness that is not a Loan Party and there shall be no borrower in respect of any such Indebtedness that is not a Borrower, (II) in the case of Indebtedness that is secured, the obligations in respect thereof shall not be secured by any Lien on any asset of Holdings, the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary other than any asset constituting Collateral, (III) such Indebtedness shall be senior secured obligations and shall rank pari passu in right of security with the Liens securing the Term Facility Obligations or, at the Borrowers’ option, junior in right of security to the Liens securing the Obligations and such Indebtedness shall be subject to an Intercreditor Agreement, (IV) the final maturity date of such Indebtedness shall be no earlier than the Term Loan Maturity Date (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement) and such Indebtedness shall have a Weighted Average Life to

 

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Maturity no shorter than that of the term loans then outstanding under the Term Loan Agreement, and (V) the terms of such Indebtedness shall not be subject to mandatory redemption, repurchase or prepayment (except with respect to change of control, asset sale and casualty event mandatory offers to purchase or prepayment events and customary acceleration rights after an event of default), in each case prior to the Term Loan Maturity Date, and (ii) Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof, in each case, other than any Indebtedness that takes the form of term loan facilities which are secured obligations and rank pari passu with the rights of the “Secured Parties” as defined in the Term Loan Agreement;

(x) Indebtedness of Joint Ventures and/or Indebtedness incurred on behalf of any Joint Venture or any Guarantees of Indebtedness of joint ventures, in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not to exceed $50,000,000 at any time; and

(y) any other Indebtedness in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not exceed $100,000,000 at any time, so long as such Indebtedness is not secured by the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral.

For the avoidance of doubt, the accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value and the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness shall not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this Section 6.01.

SECTION 6.02 Liens. Create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or assets (including Equity Interests or other securities of any person, including any Restricted Subsidiary) now owned or hereafter acquired by it or on any income or revenues or rights in respect of any thereof, except:

(a) Liens on property or assets of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary existing on the Closing Date and set forth in Schedule 6.02; provided that such Liens shall secure only those obligations which they secure on the date hereof and extensions, renewals and replacements thereof permitted hereunder;

(b) any Lien created under the Loan Documents;

(c) statutory Liens of landlords, banks (and rights of set-off), carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, repairmen, workmen and materialmen, and other Liens imposed by law (other than any such Lien imposed pursuant to Section 401(a)(29) or 412(n) of the Code or by ERISA), in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business (i) for amounts not yet overdue or (ii) for amounts that are overdue and that (in the case of any such amounts overdue for a period in excess of 30 days) are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, so long as such reserves or other appropriate provisions, if any, as shall be required by GAAP shall have been made for any such contested amounts;

(d) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security, or to secure the performance of tenders, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, bids, leases, government contracts, trade contracts, performance and return-of-money bonds

 

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and other similar obligations (exclusive of obligations for the payment of borrowed money or other Indebtedness), so long as no foreclosure, sale or similar proceedings have been commenced with respect to any portion of the Collateral on account thereof;

(e) with respect to real property of the Restricted Subsidiaries, covenants, conditions, easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, encroachments, encumbrances and other imperfections or irregularities in title, in each case which were not incurred in connection with and do not secure Indebtedness for borrowed money and do not or will not interfere in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of the business of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or with the use of such real property for its intended use;

(f) any interest or title of a lessor or sublessor under any lease of property permitted hereunder, and any Lien to which such interest or title is subject;

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

(h) purported Liens evidenced by the filing of precautionary UCC financing statements relating solely to operating leases of personal property entered into in the ordinary course of business and Liens on a Specified Warehouse created in connection with a Sale and Lease Back Transaction involving such Specified Warehouse;

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

(j) licenses of Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, trade secrets, service marks, tradenames and any other intellectual property rights granted by Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and not interfering in any material respect with the conduct of the business of Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary;

(k) construction liens arising in the ordinary course of business, including liens for work performed for which payment has not been made, securing obligations that are not due and payable or, in the case of any amounts overdue for a period in excess of 30 days, are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and in respect of which, if applicable, Holdings or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary thereof shall have set aside on its books reserves as shall be required by GAAP;

(l) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges or levies not yet delinquent, or which are for less than $5,000,000 in the aggregate, or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or for property taxes on property (other than Mortgaged Property or property that, pursuant to the terms hereof, is required to become Mortgaged Property) that Holdings or one of the Restricted Subsidiaries has determined to abandon if the sole recourse for such tax, assessment, charge, levy or claim is to such property;

 

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(m) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts (other than for Indebtedness), leases (other than Capital Leases), statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature made or incurred in the ordinary course of business, including those incurred to secure health, safety and environmental obligations in the ordinary course of business;

(n) zoning restrictions, easements, trackage rights, leases (other than Capital Leases), licenses, special assessments, rights-of-way, restrictions on use of real property and other similar encumbrances incurred in the ordinary course of business which were not incurred in connection with and do not secure Indebtedness for borrowed money, and, individually or in the aggregate, do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or with the use of such real property for its intended use;

(o) purchase money security interests in equipment or other property or improvements thereto hereafter acquired (or, in the case of improvements, constructed) by any Restricted Subsidiary (including the interests of vendors and lessors under conditional sale and title retention agreements); provided that (i) such security interests secure Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01(k), (ii) such security interests are incurred, and the Indebtedness secured thereby is created, within 270 days after such acquisition (or construction), (iii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed 100% of the cost of such equipment or other property or improvements at the time of such acquisition (or construction), including transaction costs incurred by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such acquisition (or construction) and (iv) such security interests do not apply to any other property or assets of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than to accessions to such equipment or other property or improvements; provided that individual financings of equipment provided by a single lender may be cross-collateralized to other financings of equipment provided solely by such lender);

(p) Liens arising out of operating lease or Capital Lease transactions permitted under Section 6.01(k) and transactions permitted by Section 6.03, so long as such Liens attach only to the property sold and being leased in such transaction and any accessions thereto or proceeds thereof and related property;

(q) Liens securing judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount not in excess of $10,000,000 (except to the extent covered by insurance, and the Administrative Agent shall be reasonably satisfied with the credit of such insurer), unless such judgments shall remain undischarged for a period of more than 30 consecutive days during which execution shall not be effectively stayed;

(r) Liens that are contractual rights of setoff (i) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness or (ii) pertaining to pooled deposit and/or sweep accounts of Holdings and/or any Restricted Subsidiary to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

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(s) any Lien on any property or asset of Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary securing Indebtedness (including Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness) permitted by Section 6.01(m); provided that such Lien does not apply to any other property or assets of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries not securing such Indebtedness at the date of the acquisition of such property or asset (other than after acquired property subjected to a Lien securing Indebtedness and other obligations incurred prior to such date and permitted hereunder which contains a requirement for the pledging of after acquired property, it being agreed that such after acquired property shall not include property of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries, other than any such acquired Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings, that would have been included but for such acquisition);

(t) the replacement, extension or renewal of any Lien permitted above; provided that such replacement, extension or renewal Lien shall not cover any property other than the property that was subject to such Lien prior to such replacement, extension or renewal; provided further, that the Indebtedness and other obligations secured by such replacement, extension or renewal Lien are permitted by this Agreement;

(u) Liens on any property or asset of a non-Loan Party securing Indebtedness of non-Loan Parties permitted by Section 6.01 or other obligations (other than Indebtedness) of a non-Loan Party not prohibited hereunder;

(v) subject to the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the Liens securing Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01(g);

(w) [Intentionally Omitted];

(x) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01(v) or (w), in each case subject to an Intercreditor Agreement, so long as any first priority Lien on the Collateral will be pari passu with the Lien thereon securing the Term Facility Obligations or any junior Lien on the Collateral will be junior and subordinated to the Lien thereon securing the Obligations;

(y) Liens encumbering reasonable customary initial deposits and margin deposits and similar Liens attaching to brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practices and not for speculative purposes;

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

(aa) Liens that are contractual rights of set-off relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of Holdings, any Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(bb) Liens of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the UCC on items in the course of collection;

 

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(cc) Liens securing Other Secured Obligations (under and as defined in the Term Loan Agreement);

(dd) Liens on cash or Permitted Investments used to satisfy or discharge Indebtedness; provided that, such satisfaction or discharge is permitted hereunder; and

(ee) Liens not otherwise permitted by this Section 6.02; provided that, the aggregate amount of Indebtedness and other obligations secured thereby does not exceed $100,000,000 at any time and such Liens are not secured by the Revolving Credit First Lien Collateral.

SECTION 6.03 Sale and Lease Back Transactions. Enter into any arrangement, directly or indirectly, with any person whereby it shall sell or transfer any property, real or personal, used or useful in its business, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and thereafter rent or lease such property or other property which it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property being sold or transferred (a “Sale and Lease Back Transaction”) unless (a) the sale or transfer of such property is permitted by clause (f) of Section 6.05 and (b) any Capital Lease Obligations, Synthetic Lease Obligations or Liens arising in connection therewith are permitted by Sections 6.01 and 6.02, as the case may be.

SECTION 6.04 Investments, Loans and Advances. Purchase, hold or acquire any Equity Interests, evidences of indebtedness or other securities of, make or permit to exist any loans or advances to, make or permit to exist any investment or any other interest in, or enter into any Hedging Agreement with, any other person (collectively, “Investments”), except:

(a) Permitted Investments and Investments that were Permitted Investments when made;

(b) Investments as of the Closing Date in Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary and Investments made after the Closing Date in Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (i) the aggregate amount of Investments made after the Closing Date by Loan Parties in, and Guarantees by Loan Parties of Indebtedness or other obligations of, Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties (determined at the time of the making thereof without regard to any write-downs or write-offs of such Investments) shall not exceed the greater of (A) $35,000,000 and (B) 15% of the Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended four fiscal quarter period ending with a fiscal quarter for which financial statements are required to have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.04(b) and (ii) no Event of Default under Sections 7.01(b), 7.01(c), 7.01(g) or 7.01(h) shall have occurred and be continuing; provided further that, for purposes of determining compliance with the foregoing limitation in clause (i) above as of any date, the amount of each Investment made on or prior to such date pursuant to this clause (b) that is subject to such limitation shall be deemed reduced (to not less than zero) by the aggregate amount of cash, dividends, interest, returns of principal or capital, repayments or other distributions returned to the applicable Loan Party in respect of such Investment prior to the date of determination;

(c) Capital Expenditures;

 

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(d) (i) Loans and advances to officers, directors and employees of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries made in the ordinary course of business in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $10,000,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding (calculated without regard to write-downs or write-offs thereof); provided that any such loans with a principal amount in excess of $2,000,000 shall be approved by the board of directors of Holdings and (ii) advances of payroll payments and expenses to employees in the ordinary course of business;

(e) Permitted Acquisitions;

(f) (i) any Investment acquired by a Loan Party (x) in exchange for any other Investment or accounts receivable held by a Loan Party in connection with or as a result of a bankruptcy, workout, reorganization or recapitalization of the Person in which such other Investment is made or which is the obligor with respect to such accounts receivable, (y) as a result of a foreclosure by a Loan Party with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default or (z) as a result of litigation, arbitration or other disputes with Persons who are not Affiliates, (ii) accounts receivable arising and trade credit granted in the ordinary course of business and any securities received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from financially troubled account debtors to the extent reasonably necessary in order to prevent or limit loss and (iii) prepayments and other credits to suppliers made in the ordinary course of business consistent with the past practices of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries;

(g) Investments held by a Person acquired in a Permitted Acquisition or an Acquisition so long as such Investment is not made in anticipation or contemplation of such acquisition;

(h) Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries may enter into and perform their obligations under (i) Hedging Agreements or other derivative instruments entered into in the ordinary course of business and so long as any such Hedging Agreement or other derivative instrument is not speculative in nature and (ii) to the extent constituting Investments, Convertible Bond Hedge Transactions entered into in connection with Convertible Bond Indebtedness;

(i) Investments existing as of the Closing Date and set forth in Schedule 6.04;

(j) Investments arising out of the receipt by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary of non-cash consideration with respect to sales of assets permitted under Section 6.05; provided that such consideration (if the stated amount or value thereof is in excess of $1,000,000) is pledged upon receipt pursuant to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement to the extent required thereby;

(k) Investments resulting from pledges and deposits referred to in Section 6.02;

(l) [Intentionally Omitted];

(m) [Intentionally Omitted];

 

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(n) Investments in the ordinary course of business consisting of purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, material or equipment or the licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing, joint development or similar arrangements with other Persons;

(o) any advances, loans, extensions of credit to suppliers, customers and vendors or other Investments in receivables owing to a Restricted Subsidiary, if created or acquired in the ordinary course of business and payable or dischargeable in accordance with customary trade terms; provided, however, that such trade terms may include such concessionary trade terms as such Restricted Subsidiary deems reasonable under the circumstances;

(p) [Intentionally Omitted];

(q) Investments (not consisting of any Eligible Receivables or Eligible Inventory) in Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties or a series of Investments from one Restricted Subsidiary to another solely to provide a Restricted Subsidiary that is consummating a Permitted Acquisition or an Acquisition with funds to pay the consideration in respect thereof in an aggregate amount not to exceed the amount of such consideration;

(r) Investments in HMH IP Company in the ordinary course of business in respect of operating expenses of HMH IP Company and other expenses incurred by HMH IP Company in connection with the digital development of Intellectual Property owned by the Borrowers and the Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that the amounts of such Investments shall be no more than amounts that would be otherwise payable to an unaffiliated third party providing such digital development services and in the aggregate shall not exceed $100,000,000 in any fiscal year;

(s) Investments made at any time when, on a pro forma basis after giving effect thereto, the Investment/Acquisition Payment Conditions are satisfied at such time;

(t) Investments (not consisting of any Eligible Receivables or Eligible Inventory) in an aggregate amount (determined at the time of the making thereof without regard to any write-downs or write-offs of such Investments) not to exceed the sum of (i) the greater of $75,000,000 and 20% of the Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended fiscal year for which financial statements are required to have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.04(b) plus (ii) the Cumulative Credit at any time outstanding; provided that, both before and after giving effect to such Investment, on a pro forma basis, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; provided, further that, for purposes of determining compliance with the foregoing limitation as of any date, the amount of each Investment made on or prior to such date pursuant to this clause (t) shall be deemed reduced (to not less than zero) by the aggregate amount of cash, dividends, interest, returns of principal or capital, repayments or other distributions returned to the applicable person in respect of such Investment prior to the date of determination;

 

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(u) Investments (not consisting of any Eligible Receivables or Eligible Inventory) in Joint Ventures in an amount (determined at the time of the making thereof without regard to any write-downs or write-offs of such Investments) not to exceed the greater of (i) $25,000,000 and (ii) 10% of the Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended four fiscal quarter period ending with a fiscal quarter for which financial statements are required to have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.04(b); provided that, both before and after giving effect thereto, on a pro forma basis, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; provided, further that, for purposes of determining compliance with the foregoing limitation as of any date, the amount of each Investment made on or prior to such date pursuant to this clause (u) shall be deemed reduced (to not less than zero) by the aggregate amount of cash, dividends, interest, returns of principal or capital, repayments or other distributions returned to the applicable person in respect of such Investment prior to the date of determination; provided, further, that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (u) is made in any person that was not a Subsidiary on the date on which such Investment was made but becomes a wholly owned Subsidiary thereafter, then such Investment may, at the option of the Borrowers, upon such person becoming a wholly owned Subsidiary and so long as such person remains a wholly owned Subsidiary, be deemed to have been made pursuant to Section 6.04(b) (to the extent permitted by the proviso thereto in the case of any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party) and not in reliance on this Section 6.04(u); and

(v) other Investments (not consisting of any Eligible Receivables or Eligible Inventory) so long as on a pro forma basis after giving effect thereto, (i) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (ii) the Net Total Leverage Ratio is not greater than 1.75 : 1.00.

The amount of any Investment made other than in the form of cash or cash equivalents shall be the fair market value thereof (as determined by the Borrowers in good faith) valued at the time of the making thereof, and without giving effect to any subsequent write-downs or write-offs thereof.

SECTION 6.05 Mergers, Consolidations, Sales of Assets and Acquisitions. Merge into or consolidate with any other person, or permit any other person to merge into or consolidate with it, or sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or any part of the assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary or less than all the Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) any Equity Interests in or assets of any other person, except:

(a) purchases or other acquisitions of inventory, materials, equipment or other assets in the ordinary course of business;

(b) if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, (i) the merger, consolidation or amalgamation of any Subsidiary of Holdings (other than a Borrower) into (or with) Holdings in which Holdings is the survivor, (ii) the merger, consolidation or amalgamation of any Borrower in a transaction in which such Borrower

 

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is the survivor, (iii) the merger, consolidation or amalgamation or consolidation of any Subsidiary (other than any Borrower) into or with any Loan Party in a transaction in which the surviving or resulting entity is a Loan Party and, in the case of each of clauses (ii) and (iii), no person other than the Borrower or the Loan Party receives any consideration, (iv) the merger or consolidation of any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party into or with any other Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, or (v) any Subsidiary may merge, consolidate or amalgamate with any other person in order to effect an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 6.04 so long as the continuing or surviving person shall be a Subsidiary, which shall be a Loan Party if the merging, consolidating or amalgamating Subsidiary was a Loan Party and which together with each of its Subsidiaries shall have complied with the requirements of Section 5.12;

(c) sales or other dispositions of assets described in clause (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi) or (vii) of the definition of “Asset Sale”;

(d) pursuant to Permitted Acquisitions;

(e) Investments made in accordance with Section 6.04 and Liens permitted by Section 6.02;

(f) any sale, transfer, lease or other disposition (including any Sale and Lease Back Transactions permitted by Section 6.03) of property; provided that (i) either (A) at the time of any such transaction, on a pro forma basis, the Investment/Acquisition Payment Conditions are satisfied at such time or (B) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, or would result therefrom, and the fair market value of property so sold, transferred, leased or otherwise disposed shall not exceed $75,000,000 in the aggregate in any fiscal year, (ii) the consideration received for such property shall be not less than 75% in cash and/or Permitted Investments; provided however, for the purposes of this clause (f)(ii), each of the following shall be deemed to be cash: (1) the amount of any liabilities (as shown on Holdings’ or such Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet or in the notes thereto) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets or are otherwise cancelled in connection with such transaction, (2) any Designated Non-Cash Consideration received in respect of such disposition having an aggregate fair market value as determined by the Borrowers in good faith, taken together with all other Designated Non-Cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause that is at that time outstanding, not in excess of the greater of (x) $25,000,000 and (y) 7.5% of the Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended four fiscal quarter period ending with a fiscal quarter for which financial statements are required to have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.04(b), at the time of 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, and (3) any non-cash proceeds received in the form of Indebtedness or Equity Interests are pledged to the Collateral Agent to the extent required under Section 5.12 and (iii) to the extent the property subject to such sale, transfer, lease or other disposition (or series of related such transactions) constitutes Eligible Receivables or Eligible Inventory with an aggregate fair market value in excess of $35,000,000, the Borrowing Agent shall deliver a Borrowing Base Certificate; provided further, that no sale of the Equity Interests of any Subsidiary may be made pursuant to this clause (f) except in connection with the sale of all its outstanding Equity Interests that is held by Holdings and any other Subsidiary;

 

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(g) the sale of defaulted receivables in the ordinary course of business and not as part of an accounts receivables financing transaction;

(h) the sale or other disposition of Term Facility First Lien Collateral (as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement);

(i) any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party may liquidate or dissolve into, and in connection therewith, transfer its assets and liabilities to, Holdings or another Restricted Subsidiary if the board of directors of Holdings or HMHP determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of Holdings and HMHP and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders;

(j) any Restricted Subsidiary may sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of, in one transaction or a series of transactions, all or any part of its assets or business to any other Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such transaction complies with Section 6.04 and Section 6.07; and

(k) the unwinding of any Hedging Agreement or Convertible Bond Hedge Transaction pursuant to its terms.

SECTION 6.06 Restricted Payments; Restrictive Agreements.

(a) Declare or make, or agree to declare or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment (including pursuant to any Synthetic Purchase Agreement), or incur any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to do so; provided, however, that (i) Holdings may repurchase, or may pay cash dividends or distributions with respect to its Equity Interests so that one or more of its parent holding companies (if any) may repurchase, its own Equity Interests owned by present or former officers or employees of Holdings or the Restricted Subsidiaries or make payments to present or former officers or employees of Holdings or the Restricted Subsidiaries upon termination of employment in connection with the exercise of stock options, stock appreciation rights or similar equity incentives or equity based incentives pursuant to management incentive plans or in connection with the death or disability, retirement or termination of employment of such present or former officers or employees; provided, that the aggregate amount of such Restricted Payments under this clause (i) shall not exceed in any calendar year $2,000,000; provided that any unused amount in any calendar year may be carried forward into any succeeding calendar year (plus the amount of net proceeds received by Holdings during such calendar year from Employee Equity Sales and the amount of net proceeds of any key-man life insurance received during such calendar year); and provided further, that the aggregate amount of such purchases or redemptions that may be made pursuant to this clause (i) shall not exceed $10,000,000 (plus the amount of net proceeds received by Holdings after the date of this Agreement from Employee Equity Sales); (ii) this Section 6.06(a) shall not apply to repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options or warrants if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options or warrants; (iii)

 

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any Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings may declare and make Restricted Payments to, repurchase its Equity Interests from or make other distributions to Holdings or to any wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings (or, in the case of non-wholly owned Restricted Subsidiaries, to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a direct or indirect parent of such Restricted Subsidiary and to each other owner of Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary on a pro rata basis (or more favorable basis from the perspective of Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary) based on their relative ownership interests; (iv) Holdings may pay any dividend or distribution within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof, if at the date of declaration such payment would have complied with the provisions of this Agreement (it being understood that a distribution pursuant to this Section 6.06(a)(iv) shall be deemed to have utilized capacity under such other provision of this Agreement); (v) Holdings and any Subsidiary may declare and pay regularly scheduled or accrued dividends to holders of a class or series of Disqualified Stock of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries issued not in violation of Section 6.01; (vi) Restricted Payments may be made at any time in an aggregate amount not exceeding $25,000,000 when, on a pro forma basis after giving effect thereto, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and (vii) Restricted Payments may be made at any time when, on a pro forma basis after giving effect thereto, the RP Payment Conditions are satisfied at such time.

(b) Enter into, incur or permit to exist any agreement or other arrangement that prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition upon (i) the ability of Holdings, or any Restricted Subsidiary to create, incur or permit to exist any Lien upon any of its property or assets to secure the Obligations, or (ii) the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to pay dividends or other distributions with respect to any of its Equity Interests or to make or repay loans or advances to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary or to Guarantee Indebtedness of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (A) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions imposed by law, any Loan Document, agreement governing any Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01(a), (g) or (v) or to the extent such restrictions and conditions do not contravene the Loan Documents, under Section 6.01(m) or (n) (with respect to Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties), (B) the foregoing shall not apply to customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of, or sale of the assets of, a Restricted Subsidiary pending such sale; provided such restrictions and conditions apply only to the Restricted Subsidiary that is or such assets that are to be sold and such sale is permitted hereunder, (C) restrictions or conditions imposed by any agreement relating to Liens permitted by Section 6.02 if such restrictions or conditions apply only to the property or assets subject to such Liens, (D) clause (i) of the foregoing shall not apply to customary provisions in leases and other contracts restricting the assignment thereof, (E) clause (i) of the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions or conditions imposed by the Term Loan Agreement or other Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof and other “Loan Documents” defined therein or the Senior Secured Notes Indenture, (F) the foregoing shall not apply to any Not for Profit Subsidiary, (G) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements applicable to joint ventures entered into in the ordinary course of business and (H) any agreement in effect at the time a person becomes a Subsidiary, so long as such agreement was not entered into in contemplation of such person becoming a Subsidiary.

 

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SECTION 6.07 Transactions with Affiliates. Except for transactions between or among Loan Parties, sell or transfer any property or assets to, or purchase or acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any of its Affiliates except (a) that Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary may (i) engage in any of the foregoing transactions upon terms no less favorable to Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary than could be obtained on an arm’s-length basis from unrelated third parties and (ii) in the case of a Restricted Subsidiary that is a Loan Party, make an Investment in any Affiliate that provides services to any Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that (x) such Investment is made pursuant to Section 6.04(g), (t), (u) or (v) and is permitted thereby, and (y) the board of directors of Holdings determines that such Investment is in the best interests of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries, (b) Restricted Payments permitted by Section 6.06(a), (c) the indemnification of, and the payment of reasonable and customary fees and indemnities to, directors, officers and employees of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, (d) Investments permitted by clause (b), (d), (q) or (r) of Section 6.04, Investments in joint ventures and non-Loan Parties permitted by clause (s), (t), (u) or (v) of Section 6.04 and transfers permitted under Section 6.05 of work-in-process and products in the ordinary course of business among Holdings and its Subsidiaries in connection with the digital development of Intellectual Property owned by the Loan Parties, (e)(i) any employment agreement entered into by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business, (ii) any subscription agreement or similar agreement pertaining to the repurchase of Equity Interests pursuant to put/call rights or similar rights with employees, officers or directors, and (iii) any employee compensation, benefit plan or arrangement, any health, disability or similar insurance plan which covers employees, and any reasonable employment contract and transactions pursuant thereto, (f) any issuance of securities, or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment arrangements, stock options and stock ownership plans entered into by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business and approved by the board of directors of Holdings or HMHP, (g) the existence of, or the performance by Holdings, any Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries of its obligations under the terms of, any stockholders agreement or its equivalent with the stockholders of Holdings or any direct or indirect parent of a Borrower (including any registration rights agreement or purchase agreement related thereto) to which it is a party as of the Closing Date and any similar agreements which it may enter into thereafter, (h) transactions by and among non-Loan Parties, (i) payments by Holdings, any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to an Affiliate for any financial advisory, financing, underwriting or placement services or in respect of other investment banking activities, including in connection with acquisitions or divestitures, which payments are approved by a majority of the members of the board of directors of Holdings in good faith, (j) transactions with respect to which Holdings, the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, delivers a letter from an independent financial advisor addressed to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent stating that such transaction is fair to Holdings, the Borrowers or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view, (k) investments by Affiliates in securities or Indebtedness of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary so long as (i) the investment is being offered generally to other investors on the same or more favorable terms and (ii) the aggregate investment by Affiliates constitutes less than 50% of the proposed or outstanding issue amount of such class of securities or Indebtedness; (l) any transaction with an Affiliate in which the consideration paid by Holdings, the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary consists only of Equity Interests of Holdings or any direct or indirect parent company of Holdings, and (m) any merger, consolidation or reorganization of Holdings with an Affiliate of Holdings not materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders and solely for the purpose of (i) forming or collapsing a holding company structure or (ii) reincorporating Holdings in a new jurisdiction.

 

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SECTION 6.08 Other Indebtedness and Agreements.

(a) Permit (i) any waiver, supplement, modification or amendment of any indenture, instrument or agreement pursuant to which any Subordinated Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $35,000,000 of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries is outstanding other than any such waiver, supplement, modification or amendment (A) that does not increase the obligations of the obligor or confer additional rights on the holder of such Subordinated Indebtedness in a manner adverse in any material respect to Holdings, any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or the Lenders or (B) otherwise complies with the definition of “Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” or (ii) except in connection with a transaction permitted by Section 6.05(b), any waiver, supplement, modification or amendment of its certificate of incorporation, by laws, operating, management or partnership agreement or other organizational documents, to the extent any such waiver, supplement, modification or amendment would be adverse to the Lenders in any material respect.

(b) (i) Make any distribution, whether in cash, property, securities or a combination thereof, other than regular scheduled payments of principal and interest as and when due (to the extent not prohibited by applicable subordination provisions) or from the proceeds of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, in respect of, or pay, or commit to pay, or, directly or indirectly (including pursuant to any Synthetic Purchase Agreement), redeem, repurchase, retire or otherwise acquire for consideration, or set apart any sum for the aforesaid purposes, any Subordinated Indebtedness in an aggregate outstanding principal amount exceeding $35,000,000 (or Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof), or (ii) pay in cash any amount in respect of any Subordinated Indebtedness in an aggregate outstanding principal amount exceeding $35,000,000 or Preferred Stock that may at the obligor’s option be paid in kind or in other securities, except, in each case, (I) payments at any time in an aggregate amount not exceeding the Cumulative Credit when, on a pro forma basis after giving effect thereto, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Net Total Leverage Ratio on a pro forma basis is not greater than 2.50 : 1.00 or (II) if, at the time of any such distribution or payment, on a pro forma basis after giving effect thereto, the RP Payment Conditions are satisfied.

SECTION 6.09 Intentionally Omitted.

SECTION 6.10 Intentionally Omitted.

SECTION 6.11 Minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. At any time during a Testing Period, permit the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio as of the last day of any fiscal quarter for which financial statements were required to be delivered to be less than 1.0:1.0.

SECTION 6.12 Fiscal Year. (a) Without the consent of the Administrative Agent, make or permit any changes in accounting policies or reporting practices, except as permitted or required by generally accepted accounting principles or (b) with respect to Holdings and any Borrower, change their fiscal year end to a date other than December 31.

 

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SECTION 6.13 Intentionally Omitted.

SECTION 6.14 Business of Holdings, Borrowers and Restricted Subsidiaries. (a) Except in the case of Holdings, engage at any time in any business or business activity other than a Permitted Business, or (b) in the case of Holdings, (i) engage in any business or activity other than (A) the ownership of Equity Interests in its Subsidiaries (and any promissory note issued to it by any Subsidiary, provided that such promissory note is subordinated to the Obligations on terms reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and pledged as Collateral) and activities incidental thereto, (B) performance of its obligations under the Loan Documents and other Indebtedness permitted hereunder, (C) issuance of Equity Interests or (D) as otherwise required by law or incidental to its being a public company, (ii) own or acquire any assets (other than Equity Interests in its Subsidiaries or any other Loan Party, any such promissory note or any cash or other assets received as a dividend or other distribution in respect of such Equity Interests, its books and records and deposit accounts) or (iii) incur any liabilities other than liabilities under the Loan Documents and guarantees of Indebtedness of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries permitted hereunder, liabilities imposed by law (including tax liabilities) and other liabilities incidental to its existence and permitted business and activities.

SECTION 6.15 Designation of Unrestricted Subsidiaries and Re-Designation of Restricted Subsidiaries. (a) Designate any Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such designation is made by Holdings delivering to the Administrative Agent a certificate of a Responsible Officer of Holdings certifying the resolutions of its board of directors authorizing such designation and the satisfaction of the following conditions: (i) neither such Subsidiary nor any of its Subsidiaries that have been (or concurrently with such designation will be) designated as Unrestricted Subsidiaries owns any Equity Interests or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Lien on, any property of, Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, (ii) any Investment in such Subsidiary by Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries existing at the time of or subsequent to such designation shall be permitted by Section 6.04, (iii) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom and Holdings shall be in compliance with the Financial Covenant on a pro forma basis and (iv) all representations and warranties contained herein and in the other Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on and as of the date of such designation, unless stated to relate to a specific earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date.

(b) Re-designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary unless such re-designation is made by Holdings delivering to the Administrative Agent a certificate of a Responsible Officer of Holdings certifying the resolutions of its board of directors authorizing such re-designation and certifying that both before and after giving effect to such re-designation, (i) such Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Borrowers, (ii) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom and Holdings shall be in compliance with the Financial Covenant on a pro forma basis and (iii) all representations and warranties contained herein and in the other Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on and as of the date of such re-designation, unless stated to relate to a specific earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date.

 

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(c) Holdings represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Issuing Bank and each of the Lenders on the Closing Date that as of the Closing Date, there are no Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

ARTICLE VII

Events of Default

SECTION 7.01 Events of Default. In case of the happening of any of the following events (“Events of Default”):

(a) any representation or warranty made or deemed made in or in connection with any Loan Document, the Borrowings or issuances of Letters of Credit hereunder, or any representation, warranty, statement or information contained in any report, certificate, financial statement or other instrument furnished in connection with or pursuant to any Loan Document, shall prove to have been false or misleading in any material respect when so made, deemed made or furnished; provided that, in each case, such materiality qualifier shall not be applicable to any representations and warranties that are already qualified by materiality in the text thereof;

(b) default shall be made in the payment of any principal of any Loan or the reimbursement with respect to any L/C Disbursement when and as the same shall become due and payable whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment thereof or by acceleration thereof or otherwise;

(c) default shall be made in the payment of any Fee, any interest on any Loan or L/C Disbursement, or any other amount (other than an amount referred to in (b) above) due under any Loan Document, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of three Business Days;

(d) default shall be made in the due observance or performance by Holdings, any Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary of any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 5.01(a) (with respect to Holdings and any Borrower), 5.05(a) or 5.08 or in Article VI;

(e) default shall be made in the due observance or performance by Holdings, any Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary of any covenant, condition or agreement contained in (i) Section 5.15 and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of five days after notice thereof from the Administrative Agent or any Lender to the Borrowers or (ii) any Loan Document (other than those specified in clause (b), (c), (d) or (e)(i) above) and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of 30 days after notice thereof from the Administrative Agent or any Lender to the Borrowers;

 

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(f) (i) Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary shall fail to pay any principal or interest, regardless of amount, due in respect of any Material Indebtedness, when and as the same shall become due and payable (with all applicable grace periods having expired), or (ii) any other event or condition occurs that results in any Material Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or that enables or permits (with or without the giving of notice, the lapse of time or both) the holder or holders of any Material Indebtedness or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to cause any Material Indebtedness to become due, or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity, provided that this clause (ii) shall not apply to (x) secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness, (y) any conversion of Convertible Bond Indebtedness in accordance with its terms unless such conversion results from any default or event of default by any Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary thereunder or a “change of control”, “fundamental change” or similar occurrence thereunder, or (z) any required repurchase, repayment or redemption of (or offer to repurchase, repay or redeem) any Indebtedness that was incurred for the specified purpose of financing all or a portion of the consideration for an Acquisition; provided that such repurchase, repayment or redemption (or offer to repurchase, repay or redeem) results solely from the failure of such Acquisition to be consummated;

(g) an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed in a court of competent jurisdiction seeking (i) relief in respect of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, or of a substantial part of the property or assets of Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary, under Title 11 of the United States Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended, or any other Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, administration, insolvency, receivership, examinership or similar law, (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator, examiner or similar official for Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary or for a substantial part of the property or assets of Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary or (iii) the winding-up or liquidation of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary; and such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed for 60 days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;

(h) Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary shall (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking relief under Title 11 of the United States Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended, or any other Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, administration, insolvency, receivership, examinership or similar law, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or the filing of any petition described in (g) above, (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator, examiner or similar official for Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary or for a substantial part of the property or assets of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, (vi) become unable, admit in writing its inability or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due or (vii) take any action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing;

 

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(i) one or more judgments shall be rendered against Holdings, any Restricted Subsidiary or any combination thereof and the same shall remain undischarged for a period of 30 consecutive days during which execution shall not be effectively stayed, or any action shall be legally taken by a judgment creditor to levy upon assets or properties of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary to enforce any such judgment and such judgment for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of $35,000,000 (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance not disputing coverage);

(j) an ERISA Event shall have occurred that, in the opinion of the Required Lenders, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

(k) any Guarantee under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or any other material provision of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or any other Security Document for any reason shall cease to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with its terms or the terms of any other Loan Document), or any Loan Party shall deny in writing that it has any further liability under the Guarantee in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or under any material provision of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or any other Security Documents (other than as a result of the discharge of such Loan Party in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents);

(l) any security interest purported to be created by any Security Document shall cease to be, or shall be asserted by any Loan Party not to be, a valid, perfected, first priority (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, any other Loan Document or such Security Document) security interest in the securities, assets or properties covered thereby, except (i) to the extent that any such loss of perfection or priority results from the failure of the Collateral Agent to maintain possession of certificates representing securities pledged under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, (ii) to the extent that any such loss is covered by a lender’s title insurance policy and the related insurer promptly after such loss shall have acknowledged in writing that such loss is covered by such title insurance policy and (iii) to the extent that all such losses of perfection or priority do not involve a material portion of the Collateral; or

(m) there shall have occurred a Change of Control;

then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to any event described in paragraph (g) or (h) above), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrowers, take either or both of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate forthwith the Commitments and (ii) declare the Loans then outstanding to be forthwith due and payable in whole or in part, whereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and any unpaid accrued Fees and all other liabilities of the Borrowers accrued hereunder and under any other Loan Document, shall become forthwith due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or any other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrowers, anything contained herein or in any other Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding; and in any event described in paragraph (g) or (h) above, the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and any unpaid accrued Fees and all other liabilities of the Borrowers accrued hereunder and under any other Loan Document, shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or any other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrowers, anything contained herein or in any other Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding.

 

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After the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default and acceleration of the Loans, all proceeds realized from any Loan Party or on account of any Collateral owned by any Loan Party, any payments in respect of any Obligations and all proceeds of the Collateral, shall be applied in the following order (the “Waterfall”):

(i) first, ratably to pay the Obligations in respect of any fees and expenses, indemnities and other amounts (including, without limitation, amounts in respect of any Loans advanced by the Administrative Agent on behalf of a Lender for which the Administrative Agent has not been reimbursed) then due to the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, until paid in full;

(ii) second, to the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Swingline Lender and any Lender that has acquired and fully paid for its participating interest in the applicable Swingline Loans, ratably to pay Obligations in respect of Swingline Loans then due to the Swingline Lender and each such Lender, until paid in full;

(iii) third, to the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Issuing Banks and any Lender that has acquired and fully paid for its participating interest in the applicable Letters of Credit, ratably to pay Obligations in respect of such Letters of Credit then due to the Issuing Banks and each such Lender, until paid in full;

(iv) fourth, ratably to pay any expenses, indemnities, and fees then due to the Lenders and Issuing Banks, until paid in full;

(v) fifth, ratably to pay the accrued but unpaid interest and fees in respect of the Loans, until paid in full;

(vi) sixth, ratably (A) to pay the unpaid principal in respect of the Loans and to Cash Collateralize L/C Exposure and (B) to the extent a Bank Product Reserve has been established therefor by the Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms hereof, to pay or cash collateralize unpaid Other Pari Passu Secured Obligations, until paid in full;

(vii) seventh, ratably to pay other Obligations then due, including Other Secured Obligations that are not Other Pari Passu Secured Obligations, until paid in full; and

(viii) eighth, to the Borrowers or such other person entitled thereto under applicable law.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

Agents

SECTION 8.01 Authorization and Action.

(a) Each Lender hereby irrevocably appoints Citibank, N.A. to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.

(b) Each Lender hereby further irrevocably appoints Citibank, N.A. to act on its behalf as Collateral Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Collateral Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Collateral Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The Collateral Agent shall act on behalf of the Lenders and shall have all of the benefits and immunities (i) provided to the Collateral Agent in this Article VIII with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by the Collateral Agent in connection with its activities in such capacity as fully as if the term “Agent” as used in this Article VIII included the Collateral Agent with respect to such acts or omissions, and (ii) as additionally provided herein with respect to the Collateral Agent.

(c) The provisions of this Article (except Sections 8.07 and 8.11) are solely for the benefit of the Agents, the Arrangers, the Co-Manager, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders, and neither Holdings nor any other Loan Party shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions (except Sections 8.07 and 8.11).

SECTION 8.02 Agent Individually.

(a) The Person serving as an Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not an Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as an 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 or any of its Subsidiaries or other Affiliate thereof as if such person were not an Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

(b) Each Lender understands that the Person serving as an Agent, acting in its individual capacity, and its Affiliates (collectively, an “Agent’s Group”) are engaged in a wide range of financial services and businesses (including investment management, financing, securities trading, corporate and investment banking and research) (such services and businesses are collectively referred to in this Section 8.02 as “Activities”) and may engage in the Activities with or on behalf of one or more of the Loan Parties or their respective Affiliates. Furthermore, each Agent’s Group may, in undertaking the Activities, engage in trading in financial products or undertake other investment businesses for its own account or on behalf of others (including the Loan Parties and their Affiliates and including holding, for its own account or on behalf of others, equity, debt and similar positions in Holdings or another Loan Party or their respective Affiliates), including trading in or holding long, short or derivative positions in securities, loans or other financial products of one or more of the Loan Parties or their Affiliates. Each Lender understands and agrees that in engaging in the Activities, each Agent’s Group may receive or

 

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otherwise obtain information concerning the Loan Parties or their Affiliates (including information concerning the ability of the Loan Parties to perform their respective Obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents) which information may not be available to any of the Lenders that are not members of such Agent’s Group. None of the Agents nor any member of any Agent’s Group shall have any duty to disclose to any Lender or use on behalf of the Lenders, and shall not be liable for the failure to so disclose or use, any information whatsoever about or derived from the Activities or otherwise (including any information concerning the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition or creditworthiness of any Loan Party or any Affiliate of any Loan Party) or to account for any revenue or profits obtained in connection with the Activities, except that the Administrative Agent shall deliver or otherwise make available to each Lender such documents as are expressly required by any Loan Document to be transmitted by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders.

(c) Each Lender further understands that there may be situations where members of an Agent’s Group or their respective customers (including the Loan Parties and their Affiliates) either now have or may in the future have interests or take actions that may conflict with the interests of any one or more of the Lenders (including the interests of the Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents). Each Lender agrees that no member of an Agent’s Group is or shall be required to restrict its activities as a result of the person serving as Agent being a member of such Agent’s Group, and that each member of an Agent’s Group may undertake any Activities without further consultation with or notification to any Lender. None of (i) this Agreement nor any other Loan Document, (ii) the receipt by any Agent’s Group of information (including Information) concerning the Loan Parties or their Affiliates (including information concerning the ability of the Loan Parties to perform their respective Obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents) nor (iii) any other matter shall give rise to any fiduciary, equitable or contractual duties (including without limitation any duty of trust or confidence) owing by any Agent or any member of any Agent’s Group to any Lender including any such duty that would prevent or restrict any Agent’s Group from acting on behalf of customers (including the Loan Parties or their Affiliates) or for its own account.

SECTION 8.03 Duties of Agents; Exculpatory Provisions.

(a) The Agents’ duties hereunder and under the other Loan Documents are solely ministerial and administrative in nature and an Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (i) an Agent shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing, (ii) an Agent shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that an Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents), provided that an Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose any Agent or any of its Affiliates to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law, including for the avoidance of doubt, any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any Bankruptcy Law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any Bankruptcy Law and (iii) an Agent shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to any Borrower or any of their Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as an Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.

 

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(b) An 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 such Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Section 9.08) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. An Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default or the event or events that give or may give rise to any Default unless and until the Borrowers or any Lender shall have given notice to such Agent describing such Default and such event or events.

(c) Neither any Agent nor any member of an Agent’s Group shall be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty, representation or other information made or supplied in or in connection with this Agreement, any other Loan Document or the information presented to the other Lenders by any Borrower, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith or the adequacy, accuracy and/or completeness of the information contained therein, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or the perfection or priority of any Lien or security interest created or purported to be created by the Collateral Documents or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than (but subject to the foregoing clause (ii)) to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Agents.

(d) Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall require any Agent or any of its Related Parties to carry out any know your customer or other checks in relation to any Person on behalf of any Lender and each Lender confirms to an Agent that it is solely responsible for any such checks it is required to carry out and that it may not rely on any statement in relation to such checks made by an Agent or any of its Related Parties.

SECTION 8.04 Reliance by Agents.

The Agents 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. Each 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, or the issuance of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender, an Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender unless an officer of such Agent responsible for the transactions contemplated hereby shall have received

 

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notice to the contrary from such Lender prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit, and in the case of a Borrowing, such Lender shall not have made available to such Agent such Lender’s ratable portion of such Borrowing. Each Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for a Borrower or any other Loan Party), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

SECTION 8.05 Indemnification.

(a) Each Lender severally agrees to indemnify the Agents (to the extent not promptly reimbursed by the Borrowers to the extent required by Section 9.05) from and against such Lender’s pro rata share (based on the Loans and unused Commitments held by such Lender relative to the total Loans and unused Commitments then outstanding) of any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever that may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against any Agent in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any action taken or omitted by any Agent under this Agreement (collectively, the “Indemnified Costs”), provided that no Lender shall be liable for any portion of the Indemnified Costs resulting from such Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct as found in a non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender agrees to reimburse each Agent promptly upon demand for its ratable share of any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable counsel fees) incurred by such Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under, this Agreement, to the extent that such Agent is not promptly reimbursed for such expenses by the Borrowers to the extent required by Section 9.05. In the case of any investigation, litigation or proceeding giving rise to any Indemnified Costs, this Section 8.05 applies whether any such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by any Agent, any Lender or a third party.

(b) Each Lender severally agrees to indemnify the Issuing Banks (to the extent not promptly reimbursed by the Borrowers) from and against such Lender’s Pro Rata Percentage of any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever that may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against any such Issuing Bank in any way relating to or arising out of the issuance of the Letters of Credit or any action taken or omitted by such Issuing Bank hereunder or in connection herewith; provided, however, that no Lender shall be liable for any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulting from such Issuing Bank’s gross negligence or willful misconduct as found in a non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender agrees to reimburse any such Issuing Bank promptly upon demand for its ratable share of any costs and expenses (including, without limitation, fees and expenses of counsel) payable by the Borrowers under Section 9.05, to the extent that such Issuing Bank is not promptly reimbursed for such costs and expenses by the Borrowers.

 

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(c) The failure of any Lender to reimburse any Agent or any Issuing Bank promptly upon demand for its ratable share of any amount required to be paid by the Lenders to such Agent as provided herein shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation hereunder to reimburse such Agent or any Issuing Bank for its ratable share of such amount, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to reimburse any Agent or any Issuing Bank for such other Lender’s Pro Rata Percentage of such amount. Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreement of any Lender hereunder, the agreement and obligations of each Lender contained in this Section 8.05 shall survive the payment in full of principal, interest and all other amounts payable hereunder and under the promissory notes, if any. Each of the Agents and each Issuing Bank agrees to return to the Lenders their respective ratable shares of any amounts paid under this Section 8.05 that are subsequently reimbursed by the Borrowers.

SECTION 8.06 Delegation of Duties.

Each Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more co-agents or sub-agents appointed by such Agent. Any Agent and any such co-agent or sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties. Each such co-agent and sub-agent and the Related Parties of an Agent and each such co-agent and sub-agent (including their respective Affiliates in connection with the syndication of the revolving credit facility provided pursuant to this Agreement) shall be entitled to the benefits of all provisions of this Article VIII and Article IX (as though such co-agents and sub-agents were such “Agent” under the Loan Documents) as if set forth in full herein with respect thereto.

SECTION 8.07 Resignation of Agent.

(a) The Agents may at any time give notice to the Lenders and the Borrowers of its resignation. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrowers, to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in New York, New York, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in New York, New York. 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 (such 30-day period, the “Lender Appointment Period”), then the retiring Agent may on behalf of the applicable Lenders, appoint a successor Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above, which successor may not be a Defaulting Lender or a Disqualified Lender. In addition and without any obligation on the part of the retiring Agent to appoint, on behalf of the Lenders, a successor Agent, the retiring Agent may at any time upon or after the end of the Lender Appointment Period notify the Borrowers and the Lenders that no qualifying person has accepted appointment as successor Agent and the effective date of such retiring Agent’s resignation. Upon the resignation effective date established in such notice and regardless of whether a successor Agent has been appointed and accepted such appointment, the retiring Agent’s resignation shall nonetheless become effective and (i) the retiring Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations as Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents as to which it has resigned and (ii) all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the retiring Agent shall instead be made by or to each applicable Lender directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Agent as provided for above in this paragraph. 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 as Agent of the retiring (or retired) Agent as to which it has

 

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resigned, and the retiring Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations as Agent hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this paragraph). The fees payable by the Borrowers to a successor Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrowers and such successor. After the retiring Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article VIII and Section 8.05 and Section 9.05 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.

(b) Any resignation pursuant to this Section by a Person acting as Agent shall, unless such Person shall notify the Borrowers and the Lenders otherwise, also act to relieve such Person and its Affiliates of any obligation to issue new, or extend existing, Letters of Credit where such issuance or extension is to occur on or after the effective date of such resignation. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Agent hereunder, (i) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Issuing Bank, (ii) the retiring Issuing Bank shall be discharged from all of their respective duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents arising on or after the effective date of such successor’s appointment, and (iii) the successor Issuing Bank shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangement satisfactory to the retiring Issuing Bank to effectively assume the obligations of the retiring Issuing Bank with respect to such Letters of Credit.

SECTION 8.08 Non-Reliance on Agent and Other Lenders.

(a) Each Lender confirms to the Agents, the Arrangers, each other Lender and each of their respective Related Parties that it (i) possesses (individually or through its Related Parties) such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that it is capable, without reliance on any Agent, any Arranger, any other Lender or any of their respective Related Parties, of evaluating the merits and risks (including tax, legal, regulatory, credit, accounting and other financial matters) of (x) entering into this Agreement, (y) making Loans and other extensions of credit hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and (z) in taking or not taking actions hereunder and thereunder, (ii) is financially able to bear such risks and (iii) has determined that entering into this Agreement and making Loans and other extensions of credit hereunder and under the other Loan Documents is suitable and appropriate for it.

(b) Each Lender acknowledges that (i) it is solely responsible for making its own independent appraisal and investigation of all risks arising under or in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (ii) that it has, independently and without reliance upon any Agent, any Arranger, any other Lender or any of their respective Related Parties, made its own appraisal and investigation of all risks associated with, and its own credit analysis and decision to enter into, this Agreement based on such documents and information, as it has deemed appropriate and (iii) it will, independently and without reliance upon any Agent, any Arranger, any other Lender or any of their respective Related Parties, continue to be solely responsible for making its own appraisal and investigation of all risks arising under or in connection with, and its own credit analysis and decision to take or not take action under, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, which may include, in each case:

(A) the financial condition, status and capitalization of the Borrowers and each other Loan Party;

 

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(B) the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of this Agreement and each other Loan Document and any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Loan Document;

(C) determining compliance or non-compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance of a Letter of Credit and the form and substance of all evidence delivered in connection with establishing the satisfaction of each such condition;

(D) the adequacy, accuracy and/or completeness of any information delivered by any Agent, any Arranger, any other Lender or by any of their respective Related Parties under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Loan Document.

SECTION 8.09 No Other Duties, etc.

Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Persons acting as Arranger or Co-Manager listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or as a Lender hereunder.

SECTION 8.10 Agent May File Proofs of Claim.

In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or obligation in respect of any Letter of Credit shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on any Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, obligations in respect of Letters of Credit and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Administrative Agent hereunder) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

 

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(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, interim receiver, monitor, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and Issuing Bank to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, if the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders and Issuing Bank, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent hereunder.

SECTION 8.11 Other Secured Agreements.

(a) The Borrowers and any Other Secured Party may from time to time designate an agreement that otherwise would qualify as an Other Secured Agreement as an Other Secured Agreement upon written notice to the Administrative Agent from the Borrowers and such Other Secured Party, in form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, which form shall include a description of such Other Secured Agreement, the maximum amount of obligations thereunder which are to constitute Other Pari Passu Secured Obligations (each, a “Designated Pari Passu Amount”); provided that any such Designated Pari Passu Amount of obligations shall constitute Other Pari Passu Secured Obligations only to the extent that such Designated Pari Passu Amount, together with all other Designated Pari Passu Amounts under all other Other Secured Agreements that have been theretofore designated as Other Pari Passu Secured Obligations and that remain in effect, does not exceed in the aggregate $70,000,000.

(b) The Borrowers and each applicable Other Secured Party may increase, decrease or terminate any Designated Pari Passu Amount in respect of each applicable Other Secured Agreement upon written notice to the Administrative Agent; provided that any increase in a Designated Pari Passu Amount shall be deemed to be a new designation of a Designated Pari Passu Amount, as the case may be, and shall be subject to the limitations set forth in Section 8.11(a). No obligations under any Other Secured Agreement in excess of the applicable Designated Pari Passu Amount shall constitute Obligations hereunder or the other Loan Documents.

(c) No counterparty to an Other Secured Agreement that obtains the benefits of the Waterfall, the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or any Collateral by virtue of the provisions hereof or of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or any Security Document shall have any right to notice of any action or to consent to, direct or object to any action hereunder or under any other Loan Document or otherwise in respect of the Collateral (including the release or impairment of any Collateral) other than in its capacity as a Lender and, in such case, only to the extent expressly provided in the Loan Documents. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article VIII to the contrary, no Agent shall be required to verify the payment of, or that other satisfactory arrangements have been made with respect to, any Obligations arising under any Other Secured Agreement unless the Administrative Agent has received written notice of such Obligations, together with such supporting documentation as such Agent may request, from each applicable counterparty to such Other Secured Agreement.

 

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ARTICLE IX

Miscellaneous

SECTION 9.01 Notices.

(a) All notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be either (x) in writing (including telegraphic, telecopy or electronic communication) and mailed, telecopied or delivered or (y) as and to the extent set forth in Section 9.01(b) and in the proviso to this Section 9.01(a), in an electronic medium and delivered as set forth in Section 9.01(b), if to Holdings or to any Borrower, to the attention of Joseph Abbott, Chief Financial Officer, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, 125 High Street, Boston, MA 02110-2777, Tel: (617) 351-5200, Fax: (617) 249-1673, Email Joe.Abbott@hmhco.com, with copies to William Bayers, Executive Vice-President & General Counsel, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, 125 High Street, Boston, MA 02110-2777, Tel: (617) 351-5125, Fax: (617) 249-2118, Email Bill.Bayers@hmhco.com, Joseph Flaherty, Senior Vice-President & Treasurer, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, 125 High Street, Boston, MA 02110-2777, Tel: (617) 351-5223, Fax: (617) 351-1104, Email Joe.Flaherty@hmhco.com and David Mills, Assistant Treasurer, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, 125 High Street, Boston, MA 02110-2777, Tel: (617) 351-3766, Fax: (617) 933-7632, Email David.Mills@hmhco.com; if to any other Lender, at its Domestic Lending Office specified in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender; if to the Administrative Agent, (i) in the case of any Borrowing Request and notice of conversion or continuation regarding the Type of any Loan, at the following address: Citibank, N.A., 1615 Brett Road, New Castle, DE 19720, Attn: ABTF Global Loans, Email: glabfunitloansops@citi.com and (ii) in other cases, at the following address: Citibank, N.A., 390 Greenwich St, 1st Floor, New York, NY 10014, Att: Thomas Halsch, Email: thomas.halsch@citi.com; or, as to any Borrower or any Agent, at such other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to the other parties and, as to each other party, at such other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to such Borrower and the Administrative Agent; provided, however, that materials and information described in Section 9.01(b) shall be delivered to the Administrative Agent in accordance with the provisions thereof or as otherwise specified to the Borrowers by the Administrative Agent. All such notices and other communications shall, when mailed, telecopied, or emailed, be effective when deposited in the mails, transmitted by telecopier or sent by electronic communication, respectively, except that notices and communications to any Agent pursuant to Article II, III or VII shall not be effective until received by such Agent and, in the case of notice sent by email, until replied to by such Agent confirming expressly receipt thereof. Delivery by telecopier of an executed counterpart of a signature page to any amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any Loan Document shall be effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart thereof.

(b) Each Borrower hereby agrees that it will provide to the Administrative Agent all information, documents and other materials that it is obligated to furnish to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Loan Documents, including, without limitation, all notices, requests, financial statements, financial and other reports, certificates and other information materials, but excluding any such communication that (i) relates to a request for a new, or a conversion of an existing, Borrowing or other Credit Event (including any election of an interest

 

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rate or interest period relating thereto), (ii) relates to the payment of any principal or other amount due under this Agreement prior to the scheduled date therefor, (iii) provides notice of any Default under this Agreement or (iv) is required to be delivered to satisfy any condition precedent to the effectiveness of this Agreement and/or any Borrowing or other Credit Event hereunder (all such non-excluded communications being referred to herein collectively as “Communications”), by transmitting the Communications in an electronic/soft medium in a format acceptable to the Administrative Agent to an electronic mail address specified by the Administrative Agent to such Borrower. In addition, each Borrower agrees to continue to provide the Communications to the Administrative Agent in the manner specified in the Loan Documents but only to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent. Each Borrower further agrees that the Administrative Agent may make the Communications available to the Lenders by posting the Communications on IntraLinks or a substantially similar electronic transmission system (the “Platform”).

(c) THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE”. THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE COMMUNICATIONS, OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN THE COMMUNICATIONS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY THE AGENT PARTIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS OR THE PLATFORM. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, THE COLLATERAL AGENT OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, ADVISORS OR REPRESENTATIVES (COLLECTIVELY, “AGENT PARTIES”) HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO ANY BORROWER, ANY LENDER OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DIRECT OR INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOSSES OR EXPENSES (WHETHER IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF ANY BORROWER’S OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT’S TRANSMISSION OF COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH THE INTERNET, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THE LIABILITY OF ANY AGENT PARTY IS FOUND IN A FINAL NON-APPEALABLE JUDGMENT BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION TO HAVE RESULTED PRIMARILY FROM SUCH AGENT PARTY’S GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT.

(d) The Administrative Agent agrees that the receipt of the Communications by the Administrative Agent at its email address set forth above shall constitute effective delivery of the Communications to the Administrative Agent for purposes of the Loan Documents. Each Lender agrees that notice to it (as provided in the next sentence) specifying that the Communications have been posted to the Platform shall constitute effective delivery of the Communications to such Lender for purposes of the Loan Documents. Each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent in writing (including by electronic communication) from time to time of such Lender’s email address to which the foregoing notice may be sent by electronic transmission and that the foregoing notice may be sent to such email address. Nothing herein shall prejudice the right of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to give any notice or other communication pursuant to any Loan Document in any other manner specified in such Loan Document.

 

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SECTION 9.02 Survival of Agreement. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by any Borrower or Holdings herein and in the certificates or other instruments prepared or delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the Lenders and the Issuing Bank and shall survive the making by the Lenders of the Loans and the issuance of Letters of Credit by the Issuing Bank, regardless of any investigation made by the Lenders or the Issuing Bank or on their behalf, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any Fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement or any other Loan Document is outstanding and unpaid or any Letter of Credit is outstanding and as long as all Commitments have not been terminated. The provisions of Sections 2.14, 2.16, 2.20 and 9.05 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of the expiration of the term of this Agreement, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of any of the Loans, the expiration of the Commitments, the expiration of any Letter of Credit, the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, any Lender or the Issuing Bank.

SECTION 9.03 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Loan Parties and the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto.

SECTION 9.04 Successors and Assigns.

(a) Whenever in this Agreement any of the parties hereto is referred to, such reference shall be deemed to include the permitted successors and assigns of such party; and all covenants, promises and agreements by or on behalf of the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Lenders that are contained in this Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns.

(b) Each Lender may assign to one or more Eligible Assignees all or a portion of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it), with the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided, however, that (i) in the case of an assignment of a Revolving Credit Commitment and Revolving Credit Loan, each of the Borrowers, the Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender must also give its prior written consent to such assignment (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided, that (A) the consent of the Borrowers shall not be required to any such assignment (x) made to another Lender or an Affiliate or a Related Fund of a Lender, or (y) after the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default under Section 7.01(b), 7.01(c), 7.01(g) or 7.01(h) and (B) the Borrowers shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall have objected thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within ten Business Days after having received written notice thereof from the Administrative

 

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Agent, (ii) 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 Administrative Agent) shall be in an integral multiple of, and not less than, $5,000,000 (or, if less, the entire remaining amount of such Lender’s Commitment or Loans of the relevant Class) without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent; provided that (A) such minimum amount shall be aggregated for two or more simultaneous assignments to or by two or more Related Funds and (B) this clause (ii) shall not apply to assignments to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or a Related Fund, (iii) each such assignment of Commitments and/or Loans shall be of a constant, and not varying, percentage of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement in respect of such Lender’s Commitments and/or Loans so assigned, (iv) the parties to each such assignment shall (A) execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Acceptance via an electronic settlement system acceptable to the Administrative Agent or (B) if previously agreed to by the Administrative Agent, manually execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Acceptance, together, in each case, with a processing and recording fee of $3,500 (which fee may be waived or reduced in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent), (v) the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire and all applicable tax forms and (vi) the consent of the Administrative Agent shall not be required as to any assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or a Related Fund. In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment will be effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or subparticipations or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent and each other Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon), and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder becomes effective under applicable law without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, then the assignee of such interest will be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs. Subject to acceptance and recording pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section 9.04, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance, (A) the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement and (B) the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering all or the remaining portion of an assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.14, 2.16, 2.20 and 9.05, as well as to any Fees accrued for its account and not yet paid).

 

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(c) By executing and delivering an Assignment and Acceptance, the assigning Lender thereunder and the assignee thereunder shall be deemed to confirm to and agree with each other and the other parties hereto as follows: (i) such assigning Lender warrants that it is the legal and beneficial owner of the interest being assigned thereby free and clear of any adverse claim and that its Revolving Credit Commitment, and the outstanding balances of its Revolving Credit Loans, in each case without giving effect to assignments thereof which have not become effective, are as set forth in such Assignment and Acceptance, (ii) except as set forth in (i) above, such 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 the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto, or the financial condition of Holdings or any Subsidiary or the performance or observance by Holdings or any Subsidiary of any of its obligations under this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto; (iii) such assignee represents and warrants that it is an Eligible Assignee, legally authorized to enter into such Assignment and Acceptance; (iv) such assignee confirms that it has received a copy of this Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.04, and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into such Assignment and Acceptance; (v) such assignee will independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, such assigning Lender or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement; (vi) such assignee appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement as are delegated to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, respectively, by the terms hereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto; and (vii) such assignee agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all the obligations which by the terms of this Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

(d) The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as an agent of the Borrowers, shall maintain at one of its offices a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitment of, and principal amount (and stated interest) of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error and the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders shall treat each person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrowers, the Issuing Bank, the Collateral Agent and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

(e) Upon its receipt of, and consent to, a duly completed Assignment and Acceptance executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, an Administrative Questionnaire completed in respect of the assignee (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) above, if applicable, and the written consent of the Administrative Agent and, if required, the Borrowers, the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Bank to such assignment and any applicable tax forms, the Administrative Agent shall promptly (i) accept such Assignment and Acceptance and (ii) record the information contained therein in the Register. No assignment shall be effective unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph (e).

 

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(f) Each Lender may without the consent of the Loan Parties, the Swingline Lender, the Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent sell participations to one or more banks or other persons in all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans owing to it); provided, however, that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations, (iii) the participating banks or other persons shall be entitled to the benefit of the cost protection provisions contained in Sections 2.14, 2.16 and 2.20 to the same extent as if they were Lenders (but, with respect to any particular participant, to no greater extent than the Lender that sold the participation to such participant, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the participant acquired the applicable participation) and provided such participant complies with Sections 2.20(f) and (g) as if it were a Lender and (iv) the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, and such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce the obligations of the Borrowers relating to the Loans or L/C Disbursements and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the participant, agree to any amendments, modifications or waivers decreasing any fees payable to such participating bank or person hereunder or the amount of principal of or the rate at which interest is payable on the Loans in which such participating bank or person has an interest, extending any scheduled principal payment date or date fixed for the payment of interest on the Loans in which such participating bank or person has an interest, increasing or extending the Commitments in which such participating bank or person has an interest or releasing or all or substantially all of the value of the Guarantees under the Security Documents or all or substantially all of the Collateral. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of a Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any participant or any information relating to a participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the U.S. Treasury Regulations. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

 

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(g) Any Lender or participant may, in connection with any assignment or participation or proposed assignment or participation pursuant to this Section 9.04, disclose to the assignee or participant or proposed assignee or participant any information relating to Holdings and the Subsidiaries furnished to such Lender by or on behalf of the Borrowers; provided that, prior to any such disclosure of information designated by the Borrowers as confidential, each such assignee or participant or proposed assignee or participant shall execute an agreement whereby such assignee or participant shall agree (subject to customary exceptions) to preserve the confidentiality of such confidential information on terms no less restrictive than those applicable to the Lenders pursuant to Section 9.16.

(h) Any Lender may, without the consent of any Borrower or the Administrative Agent, at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure extensions of credit to such Lender or in support of obligations owed by such Lender; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

(i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a “Granting Lender”) may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle (an “SPC”), identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Lender to the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers, the option to provide to the Borrowers all or any part of any Loan that such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to make to the Borrowers pursuant to this Agreement; provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment by any SPC to make any Loan and (ii) if an SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to provide all or any part of such Loan, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to make such Loan pursuant to the terms hereof. 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. Each party hereto hereby agrees that no SPC shall be liable for any indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement (all liability for which shall remain with the Granting Lender). In furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby agrees (which agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement) that, prior to the date that is one year and one day after the payment in full of all outstanding commercial paper or other senior indebtedness of any SPC, it will not institute against, or join any other person in instituting against, such SPC any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceedings under the laws of the United States or any State thereof. In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 9.04, any SPC may (i) with notice to, but without the prior written consent of, any Borrower and the Administrative Agent and without paying any processing fee therefor, assign all or a portion of its interests in any Loans to the Granting Lender or to any financial institutions (consented to by the Borrowers and Administrative Agent) providing liquidity and/or credit support to or for the account of such SPC to support the funding or maintenance of Loans and (ii) disclose on a confidential basis any non-public information relating to its Loans to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of any surety, guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPC.

(j) No Loan Party shall assign or delegate any of its rights or duties hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and each Lender, and any attempted assignment without such consent shall be null and void.

 

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SECTION 9.05 Expenses; Indemnity.

(a) The Borrowers and Holdings agree, jointly and severally, to pay all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Co-Manager and the Arrangers in connection with the syndication of the Commitments and Loans and the preparation and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or in connection with any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions hereby or thereby contemplated shall be consummated) or incurred by the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Co-Manager, the Arrangers or any Lender in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or in connection with the Loans made hereunder, including without limitation, the fees, charges and disbursements of Shearman & Sterling LLP, as counsel to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent and any other local or foreign counsel for the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, and, in connection with any such enforcement or protection, the fees, charges and disbursements of any other counsel for the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender. Expenses payable under this clause shall include, without limitation, as expenses incurred in connection with the protection of the rights of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Co-Manager, the Arrangers or any Lender, the fees, charges and disbursements of Shearman & Sterling LLP, as counsel to the Administrative Agent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrowers’ and Holdings’ obligation to reimburse the fees and expenses of outside counsel under this Section 9.05(a) shall be limited to one firm of counsel for the Co-Manager, the Arrangers, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, taken as a whole and, if necessary, of a single local counsel in each appropriate jurisdiction and, in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest where the party affected by such conflict informs the Borrowers of such conflict and thereafter retains its own counsel for such affected party, each such additional retained counsel.

(b) The Borrowers and Holdings agree, jointly and severally, to indemnify each Arranger, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Co-Manager, each Lender, the Issuing Bank, the Swingline Lender and each Related Party of any of the foregoing persons (each such person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and to hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses, including reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel (which shall be limited to one counsel in each relevant jurisdiction and, in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest where the party affected by such conflict informs the Borrowers of such conflict and thereafter retains its own counsel for such affected party, each such additional retained counsel), incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in any way connected with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated thereby, the performance by the parties thereto of their respective obligations thereunder or the consummation of the Transactions and the other transactions contemplated thereby (including the syndication of the Credit Facilities), (ii) the use of the proceeds of the Loans or issuance of Letters of Credit, (iii) any claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether or not any Indemnitee is a party thereto (and regardless of whether such matter is initiated by a third party or by the Borrowers, Holdings or any other Loan Party or any of their respective Affiliates), or (iv) any actual or alleged presence or Release of Hazardous Materials on any property currently or formerly owned or operated by

 

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Holdings or any of the Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to Holdings or the Subsidiaries; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available (A) to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence, willful misconduct, bad faith or Hazardous Materials first Released at any property after such property is transferred to any Indemnitee or its successors or assigns by foreclosure, deed-in-lieu of foreclosure or similar transfer where such Release is not attributable to a condition existing on or prior to the date of such foreclosure or other transfer or (y) relate to claims between the Lenders that do not involve an act or omission of any Loan Party or any of their Affiliates (other than claims against any Arranger, the Administrative Agent, the Co-Manager, or the Collateral Agent or any of their Affiliates in their capacities, or in fulfilling roles, as such (or any similar roles) in connection with the credit facilities provided for herein) and (B) in the event of any settlement entered into by such Indemnitee without the Borrowers’ written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided, however, that this clause (B) shall not apply to any such settlement that occurs after the Borrowers were offered the ability to assume the defense of the action that was the subject matter of such settlement and elected not to assume such defense. This Section 9.05 shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages or liabilities arising from any non-Tax claim.

(c) To the extent that Holdings and the Borrowers fail to pay any amount required to be paid by them to an Arranger, the Administrative Agent, the Co-Manager, the Collateral Agent, any Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section (and without limiting their obligation to do so), each Lender severally agrees to pay to such Arranger, the Administrative Agent, the Co-Manager, the Collateral Agent, any Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender, 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 such Arranger, the Administrative Agent, the Co-Manager, the Collateral Agent, any Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender in its capacity as such. For purposes hereof, a Lender’s “pro rata share” shall be determined based upon its share of the aggregate amount of outstanding Aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure and unused Revolving Credit Commitments for all Lenders at the time (or, if there shall be no outstanding Revolving Credit Exposure or unused Revolving Credit Commitments at such time, based upon such Lender’s share of the aggregate amount of outstanding Aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure and unused Revolving Credit Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any subsequent assignments).

(d) To the extent permitted by applicable law, neither any Loan Party nor any Indemnitee shall assert, and each hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee or any Loan Party, 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 or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the Transactions, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof in connection with which an Indemnitee is otherwise entitled to indemnification or reimbursement hereunder.

 

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(e) The provisions of this Section 9.05 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of the expiration of the term of this Agreement, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of any of the Loans, the expiration of the Commitments, the expiration of any Letter of Credit, the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any investigation made by or on behalf of either Arranger, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Co-Manager, any Lender or the Issuing Bank. All amounts due under this Section 9.05 shall be payable on written demand therefor.

SECTION 9.06 Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, except to the extent prohibited by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other indebtedness at any time owing by such Lender to or for the credit or the account of any Borrower or Holdings against any of and all the obligations of any Borrower or Holdings now or hereafter existing under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents held by such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement or such other Loan Document and although such obligations may be unmatured; provided that in the event that any Defaulting Lender exercises any right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off will be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.25(a)(ii) and, pending such payment, will be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and (y) the Defaulting Lender will provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. The rights of each Lender under this Section 9.06 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) which such Lender may have.

SECTION 9.07 Applicable Law. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS (OTHER THAN LETTERS OF CREDIT AND AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS) SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. EACH LETTER OF CREDIT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OR RULES DESIGNATED IN SUCH LETTER OF CREDIT, OR IF NO SUCH LAWS OR RULES ARE DESIGNATED, THE UNIFORM CUSTOMS AND PRACTICE FOR DOCUMENTARY CREDITS MOST RECENTLY PUBLISHED AND IN EFFECT, ON THE DATE SUCH LETTER OF CREDIT WAS ISSUED, BY THE INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (THE “UNIFORM CUSTOMS”) AND, AS TO MATTERS NOT GOVERNED BY THE UNIFORM CUSTOMS, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

SECTION 9.08 Waivers; Amendment.

(a) No failure or delay of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, any Lender or the Issuing Bank in exercising any power or right hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The

 

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rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or consent to any departure by any Borrower, or any other Loan Party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) below, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. No notice or demand on any Borrower or Holdings in any case shall entitle any Borrower or Holdings to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.

(b) Neither this Agreement nor any other Loan Document nor any provision hereof or thereof may be waived, amended or modified except, in the case of this Agreement, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrowers, Holdings and the Required Lenders or, in the case of any other Loan Document, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Administrative Agent and each Loan Party (to the extent such Loan Party is a party thereto), in each case with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided, however, that no such agreement shall (i) decrease or forgive the principal amount of, or extend the maturity of or any scheduled principal payment date or date for the payment of any interest on any Loan or any date for reimbursement of an L/C Disbursement, or waive or excuse any such payment or any part thereof, or decrease the rate of interest on any Loan or L/C Disbursement, without the prior written consent of each Lender directly adversely affected thereby, (ii) except as provided in Section 2.24, increase or extend the Commitment or decrease or extend the date for payment of any Fees of any Lender without the prior written consent of such Lender (it being understood that the waiver of any Default, or any mandatory prepayment, or the mandatory reduction of the Commitments, shall not, in each case, constitute an extension or increase of any Commitment of any Lender), (iii) amend or modify the pro rata requirements of Section 2.17 or the sharing of payments provisions of Section 2.18 or the provisions of this Section or release all or substantially all of the value of the Guarantees under the Security Documents or all or substantially all of the Collateral (except in a transaction expressly permitted in the Loan Documents), without the prior written consent of each Lender, (iv) change the provisions of any Loan Document in a manner that by its terms adversely affects the rights in respect of payments due to Lenders holding Loans of one Class differently from the rights of Lenders holding Loans of any other Class without the prior written consent of Lenders holding a majority in interest of the outstanding Loans and unused Commitments of each adversely affected Class, (v) modify the protections afforded to an SPC pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.04(i) without the written consent of such SPC, (vi) reduce the percentage contained in the definition of the term “Required Lenders” or the term “Supermajority Lenders” without the prior written consent of each Lender (it being understood that with the consent of the Required Lenders, additional extensions of credit pursuant to this Agreement may be included in the determination of the Required Lenders on substantially the same basis as the Revolving Credit Commitments on the date hereof), (vii) amend the term “Borrowing Base” or any definition related thereto to increase the advance rates set forth therein or amend any other provision of the Loan Documents (excluding any modifications effected pursuant to the exercise of the Administrative Agent’s Permitted Discretion permitted under the Loan Documents) that causes the Borrowing Base or Availability under the Credit Facilities provided for herein to be increased, without the consent of the Supermajority Lenders, (viii) amend or modify the provisions of this Section 9.08(b) without the prior written consent of each Lender directly

 

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adversely affected thereby or (ix) amend or modify any provision of the second paragraph of Section 7.01 of the Credit Agreement or Section 5.02 of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement that alters the priority of payments under the Waterfall without the prior written consent of each Lender directly adversely affected thereby; provided further that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender, as applicable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Loan Document may be amended or modified pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers and each other Loan Party that is a party thereto, without the consent of any of the Lenders, if such amendment or modification is beneficial to the Lenders (or the Lenders holding Loans or Commitments of any Class) and does not adversely affect the rights or obligations of any Lender under any Loan Document.

SECTION 9.09 Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan or participation in any L/C Disbursement, together with all fees, charges and other amounts which are treated as interest on such Loan or participation in such L/C Disbursement under applicable law (collectively the “Charges”), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the “Maximum Rate”) which may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by the Lender holding such Loan or participation in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Loan or participation hereunder, together with all Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Charges that would have been payable in respect of such Loan or participation but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section 9.09 shall be cumulated and the interest and Charges payable to such Lender in respect of other Loans or participations or periods shall be increased (but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the Federal Funds Effective Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender.

SECTION 9.10 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the Fee Letter and the other Loan Documents constitute the entire contract between the parties relative to the subject matter hereof. Any other previous agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof is superseded by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Nothing in this Agreement or in the other Loan Documents, expressed or implied, is intended to confer upon any person (other than the parties hereto and thereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereunder (including any Affiliate of the Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders) any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents.

SECTION 9.11 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS. EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER

 

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PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, AS APPLICABLE, BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 9.11.

SECTION 9.12 Severability. In the event any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein and therein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby (it being understood that the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not in and of itself affect the validity of such provision in any other jurisdiction). The parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

SECTION 9.13 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract, and shall become effective as provided in Section 9.03. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Agreement.

SECTION 9.14 Headings. Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and are not to affect the construction of, or to be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

SECTION 9.15 Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process.

(a) Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State court or Federal court of the United States of America sitting in New York City, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents against any of the Loan Parties or their respective properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

(b) Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents in any New York State or Federal court. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

 

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(c) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

SECTION 9.16 Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates’ officers, directors, trustees, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel, and other advisors and service providers to the Agents and the Lenders in connection with the administration and management of this Agreement (it being understood that the persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority or quasi-regulatory authority (such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners); provided that other than with respect to requests or requirements by such regulatory authority pursuant to its oversight or supervisory function over such Agents, Issuing Bank or Lender (or their affiliates) such Agents, Issuing Bank or Lender shall (i) give the applicable Loan Party written notice prior to disclosing the information to the extent permitted by such requirement, (ii) cooperate with the Loan Party to obtain a protective order or similar confidential treatment (or, in the case of any requests or requirements by a Governmental Authority pursuant to its oversight or supervisory function, inform such Governmental Authority of the confidential nature of such information) and (iii) only disclose that portion of the Information as counsel for such Agents, Issuing Bank or Lender advises such Person it must disclose pursuant to such requirement, (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under the other Loan Documents or any suit, action or proceeding relating to the enforcement of its rights hereunder or thereunder, (e) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section 9.16, to (i) any actual or prospective assignee of or participant in any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including any actual or prospective pledgee or assignee of a pledge or assignment effected pursuant to Section 9.04(h)) or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to any Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their respective obligations, (f) with the consent of Holdings or a Borrower, or (g) to the extent such Information becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 9.16. For the purposes of this Section, “Information” shall mean all information received from any Borrower or Holdings and related to any Borrower or Holdings, their Subsidiaries or their or their Subsidiaries’ business, other than any such information that was available to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to its disclosure by such Borrower or Holdings. Any person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section 9.16 shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such person would accord its own confidential information.

 

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SECTION 9.17 USA PATRIOT Act Notice. Each Lender and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies Holdings and the Borrowers that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies Holdings and each Borrower, which information includes the name and address of Holdings and each Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify Holdings and each Borrower in accordance with the USA PATRIOT Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

SECTION 9.18 Joint and Several Liability of the Borrower Group.

(a) In order to induce the Lenders and the Issuing Bank to extend credit hereunder, HMHP, Publishers and HMCo (collectively, the “Borrower Group”) agree that they will be jointly and severally liable for all the Obligations, including the principal of and interest on all Loans made to, and reimbursement obligations in respect of Letters of Credit issued for the accounts of, any Borrower. Each member of the Borrower Group further agrees that the due and punctual payment of the Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice to or further assent from it, and that it will remain bound hereunder notwithstanding any such extension or renewal of any Obligation.

(b) Each member of the Borrower Group waives presentment to, demand of payment from and protest to any other member of the Borrower Group of any of the Obligations, and also waives notice of acceptance of its obligations and notice of protest for nonpayment. The Obligations of any Borrower hereunder shall not be affected by (i) the failure of any Lender, the Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent to assert any claim or demand or to enforce or exercise any right or remedy against any member of the Borrower Group under the provisions of this Agreement or otherwise or (ii) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement or any other agreement (other than the payment in full in cash of all the Obligations and except to the extent that such Obligations have been explicitly modified pursuant to an amendment or waiver that has become effective in accordance with Section 9.08).

(c) Each member of the Borrower Group further agrees that its agreement under this Section 9.18 constitutes a promise of payment when due (whether or not any bankruptcy or similar proceeding shall have stayed the accrual or collection of any of the Obligations or operated as a discharge thereof) and not of collection, and waives any right to require that any resort be had by any Lender, the Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent to any balance of any deposit account or credit on the books of such Lender, the Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent in favor of any member of the Borrower Group or any other Person.

(d) The obligations of each member of the Borrower Group under this Section 9.18 shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason, and shall not be subject to any defense or setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever, by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Obligations, any impossibility in the performance of the Obligations or otherwise. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the obligations of the member of the Borrower Group under this Section 9.18 shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by (i) the failure of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy

 

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under this Agreement or any other agreement, (ii) any waiver or modification in respect of any thereof, (iii) any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of any of the Obligations or (iv) any other act or omission that may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of such member of the Borrower Group or otherwise operate as a discharge of such member of the Borrower Group or any member of the Borrower Group as a matter of law or equity.

(e) Each member of the Borrower Group further agrees that its obligations under this Section 9.18 shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of any Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of any other member of the Borrower Group or otherwise.

(f) In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right which the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender may have at law or in equity against any member of the Borrower Group by virtue of this Section 9.18, upon the failure of any other member of the Borrower Group to pay any Obligation when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, after notice of prepayment or otherwise, each member of the Borrower Group hereby promises to and will, upon receipt of written demand by the Administrative Agent, forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, in cash the amount of such unpaid Obligation.

(g) If by virtue of the provisions set forth herein, any member of the Borrower Group is required to pay and shall pay Obligations of another member of the Borrower Group, all rights of such member of the Borrower Group against such other member of the Borrower Group arising as a result thereof by way of right of subrogation, right of contribution or otherwise shall in all respects be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all the Obligations, and any of these rights among members of the Borrower Group shall not be due or paid until all Obligations shall have been paid in full.

SECTION 9.19 Borrowing Agent. Each member of the Borrower Group hereby irrevocably and unconditionally appoints HMHP as borrowing agent (the “Borrowing Agent”) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents to act as agent for each other member of the Borrower Group for all purposes of the Loan Documents, including, as applicable, (A) requesting Loans (including pursuant to Section 2.02 or 2.24 hereof) and Letters of Credit, (B) delivering certificates, (C) receiving and allocating (to the extent permitted in the Loan Documents) the proceeds of the Loans, (D) taking any other action or receiving any communication on behalf of the Borrower Group in connection with the Loan Documents, and (E) taking such other actions and having such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The Borrowing Agent agrees to act upon the express conditions contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, as applicable. No fees shall be payable to the Borrowing Agent for acting as the Borrowing Agent. In performing its functions and duties under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the Borrowing Agent shall act solely as an agent of the members of the Borrower Group. The Administrative Agent and each Lender 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, posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise

 

157


authenticated by the Borrowing Agent. The Administrative Agent and each Lender also may rely upon any statement made to them orally or by telephone and believed by them to have been made by the Borrowing Agent, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. Any oral or written statement, certificate, representation or commitment made, given or delivered by the Borrowing Agent under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents shall be deemed to have been approved by, made, given and delivered on behalf of, and shall bind the members of the Borrower Group, jointly and severally, as fully as if any member of the Borrower Group had made, given or delivered such statement, certificate, representation or commitment. The provisions of this Section 9.19 are solely for the benefit of the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and Lenders, and no other Person shall have any rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.

SECTION 9.20 LEGEND. THE ISSUE PRICE, AMOUNT OF OID (IF ANY), ISSUE DATE AND YIELD TO MATURITY OF THE LOANS MAY BE OBTAINED BY WRITING TO THE BORROWERS AT THE ADDRESS SET FORTH IN SECTION 9.01.

SECTION 9.21 No Fiduciary Duty. The Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, the Co-Manager, each Arranger, each Lender and their Affiliates (collectively, solely for purposes of this paragraph, the “Lenders”), may have economic interests that conflict with those of a Borrower. Each Borrower agrees that nothing in the Loan Documents or otherwise will be deemed to create an advisory, fiduciary or agency relationship or fiduciary or other implied duty between the Lenders and any Borrower, its stockholders or its Affiliates. Each Borrower acknowledges and agree that (i) the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents are arm’s length commercial transactions between the Lenders, on the one hand, and the Borrowers, on the other, (ii) in connection therewith and with the process leading to such transaction each of the Lenders is acting solely as a principal and not the agent or fiduciary of any Borrower, its management, stockholders, creditors or any other person, (iii) no Lender has assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of any Borrower with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether any Lender or any of its affiliates has advised or is currently advising any Borrower on other matters) or any other obligation to any Borrower except the obligations expressly set forth in the Loan Documents and (iv) each Borrower has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the extent deemed appropriate. Each Borrower further acknowledges and agrees that it is responsible for making its own independent judgment with respect to such transactions and the process leading thereto. Each Borrower agrees that it will not claim that any Lender has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owes a fiduciary or similar duty to any Borrower, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto.

SECTION 9.22 Release of Liens and Guarantees. In the event that any Loan Party conveys, sells, leases, assigns, transfers or otherwise disposes of all or any portion of any of the Equity Interests of any Loan Party or any assets to a person that is not (and is not required to become) a Loan Party in a transaction not prohibited by Section 6.05, any Liens created by any Loan Document in respect of such Equity Interests or assets shall be automatically released and the Administrative Agent shall promptly (and the Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent to) take such action and execute any such documents as may be reasonably requested by the Borrowing Agent and at the Borrowers’ expense to release any Liens created by any Loan Document in respect of such Equity Interests or assets, and, in the

 

158


case of a disposition of the Equity Interests of any Loan Party in a transaction permitted by Section 6.05, and as a result of which such Subsidiary would cease to be a Loan Party, such Loan Party’s obligations under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement shall be automatically terminated and the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent shall promptly (and the Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent to) take such action and execute any such documents as may be reasonably requested by the Borrowing Agent to terminate such Loan Party’s obligations under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement. In addition, the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent agrees to take such actions as are reasonably requested by the Borrowing Agent and at the Borrowers’ expense to terminate the Liens and security interests created by the Loan Documents when all Commitments have been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan, all Fees and all other expenses or amounts (other than contingent indemnification liabilities to the extent no claim giving rise thereto has been asserted) payable under any Loan Document have been paid in full, all Letters of Credit have been cancelled or have expired and all amounts drawn thereunder have been reimbursed in full, or such Letters of Credit shall have been Cash Collateralized, or other arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Issuing Bank shall have been made with respect to such Letters of Credit (which arrangements result in the release of the Revolving Credit Lenders from their obligation to make payments in respect of L/C Disbursements pursuant to Section 2.23(d)) and the Administrative Agent and/or Collateral Agent shall have received satisfactory evidence that all Other Secured Obligations either are not due or shall have been paid in full or arrangements with respect thereto reasonably satisfactory to the applicable Other Secured Parties shall have been made (and the applicable Other Secured Parties have notified the Collateral Agent of their consent to terminating such Liens and security interests).

SECTION 9.23 Intercreditor Agreements. The Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent are authorized to enter into each Intercreditor Agreement and the parties hereto acknowledge that each Intercreditor Agreement is binding upon them. Each Lender (a) hereby consents to the provisions of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement and each other Intercreditor Agreement, (b) hereby agrees that it will be bound by and will take no actions contrary to the provisions of any Intercreditor Agreement and (c) hereby authorizes and instructs the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent to enter into the ABL Intercreditor Agreement and, if applicable, any other Intercreditor Agreement and to subject the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations to the provisions thereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, without the consent of any Lender, may enter into one or more written amendments, supplements or modifications, in each case, pursuant to procedures and documentation reasonably required by the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, to any Intercreditor Agreement as may be required or permitted under the Loan Documents (i) to add other parties (or any authorized agent or representative thereof or trustee therefor) holding Indebtedness that is incurred in compliance with this Agreement that is secured by Liens on the Collateral permitted under this Agreement, and (ii) to amend, supplement or modify other provisions of any Intercreditor Agreement to implement any of the foregoing as reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent. The authority provided to the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent under this Section 9.23 shall be deemed to constitute the approval and consent of the Lenders with respect to the amendments, supplements and modifications described in this Section 9.23 for purposes of any Intercreditor Agreement.

 

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SECTION 9.24 Lender Representations.

(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 Administrative Agent and its 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 in connection with the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments,

(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 the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement,

(iii) (A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, or

(iv) such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender to the effect that the Lender’s entry into the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and the Agreement is not a non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.

(b) In addition, unless sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or such Lender has not provided another representation, warranty and covenant as provided in sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (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 Administrative Agent and its Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrowers or any other Loan Party, that neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its Affiliates is a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related to hereto or thereto).

 

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SECTION 9.25 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Certain Financial Institutions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges and accepts that any liability of any Lender arising under any Loan Document, may be subject to Bail-In Action by the relevant Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by the effect of:

(a) any Bail-In Action in relation to any such liability, including (without limitation):

(i) a reduction in full or in part, in the principal amount, or outstanding amount due (including any accrued but unpaid interest) in respect of any such liability;

(ii) a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; and

(iii) a cancellation of any such liability and

(b) the variation of the terms of any Loan Document to the extent necessary to give effect to any Bail-In Action in relation to any such liability.

SECTION 9.26 Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs. To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for any Hedging Agreement or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support, “QFC Credit Support”, and each such QFC, a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the “U.S. Special Resolution Regimes”) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Loan Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of New York and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States): In the event a Covered Entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, a “Covered Party”) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution

 

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Regime, Default Rights under the Loan Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Loan Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties with respect to a Defaulting Lender shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support.

SECTION 9.27 Amendment and Restatement; No Novation.

Until this Agreement becomes effective in accordance with the requirements of Section 4.01, the Existing Credit Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be affected hereby. On the Closing Date, the Existing Credit Agreement will be automatically amended and restated to read as set forth in this Agreement. The rights and obligations of the parties hereto shall be governed (i) prior to the Closing Date, by the Existing Credit Agreement and (ii) on and after the Closing Date, by this Agreement. Once the Closing Date has occurred, all references to the “Credit Agreement” in any Loan Document or any other document, instrument, agreement or writing shall be deemed to refer to the Credit Agreement as amended and restated hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement shall not serve to effect a novation of the Obligations owing to the Lenders or the Administrative Agent under the Existing Credit Agreement based on facts or events occurring or existing prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by their respective proper and duly authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT COMPANY, as Holdings
By:    /s/ William F. Bayers
  Name: William F. Bayers
 

Title:   Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHERS, INC., as a Borrower
By:    /s/ William F. Bayers
  Name: William F. Bayers
 

Title:   Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel

HMH PUBLISHERS LLC, as a Borrower
By:    /s/ William F. Bayers
  Name: William F. Bayers
 

Title:   Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY, as a Borrower
By:    /s/ William F. Bayers
  Name: William F. Bayers
 

Title:   Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel

[Signature Page to the Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement]


GREENWOOD PUBLISHING GROUP, LLC

as a Subsidiary Guarantor

By:    /s/ William F. Bayers
  Name: William F. Bayers
 

Title:   Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY INTERNATIONAL, INC.

as a Subsidiary Guarantor

By:    /s/ William F. Bayers
  Name: William F. Bayers
 

Title:   Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel

[Signature Page to the Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement]


CITIBANK, N.A., as the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, a Lender and an Issuing Bank
By:    /s/ David L. Smith
  Name:  David L. Smith
  Title:    Vice President and Director

[Signature Page to the Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement]


MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.,
as a Lender
By:   /s/ Joanne Braidi
  Name:  Joanne Braidi
  Title:    Authorized Signatory

[Signature Page to the Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement]


BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender

By:  

/s/ Omarleen Richardson

  Name:  Omarleen Richardson
  Title:    Credit Officer

[Signature Page to the Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement]


WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender and an Issuing Bank

By:  

/s/ Marc J. Breier

  Name:  Marc J. Breier
  Title:    Authorized Signatory

[Signature Page to the Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement]


CITIZENS BANK, N.A., as a Lender

By  

/s/ Peter Yelle

Name:  Peter Yelle
Title:    VP

[Signature Page to the Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement]


SIEMENS FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC., as a Lender
By:   /s/ William D. Jentsch
  Name:  William D. Jentsch
  Title:    Vice President
By:   /s/ Sonia Vargas
  Name:  Sonia Vargas
  Title:    Sr. Loan Closer

[Signature Page to the Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement]


Exhibit A

[Form of Administrative Questionnaire]

(Refer to the following page)


LOGO

ADMINISTRATIVE QUESTIONNAIRE

Name of company:

 

Agent Address:    1615 Brett Rd    Return form to:    Denise Perry
   New Castle, DE    Telephone:    212-723-3744
   19720    Facsimile:    646-291-3358
      E-mail:    denise.perry@citi.com

It is very important that all of the requested information be completed accurately and that this questionnaire be returned promptly. If your institution is sub-allocating its allocation, please fill out an administrative questionnaire for each legal entity.

Legal Name of Lender to appear in Documentation:

 

 

Signature Block Information:                                                                                                                                                                                                           

 

                                             Signing Credit Agreement    ☐  Yes    ☐  No
   Coming in via Assignment    ☐  Yes    ☐  No

Type of Lender:                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

(Bank, Asset Manager, Broker/Dealer, CLO/CDO; Finance Company, Hedge Fund, Insurance, Mutual Fund, Pension Fund, Other Regulated Investment Fund, Special Purpose Vehicle, Other-please specify)

Lender Parent:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

 

Domestic Address       Eurodollar Address
         
         
         
         

 

1


LOGO

Contacts/Notification Methods: Borrowings, Paydowns, Interest, Fees, etc

 

   Primary Credit Contact       Secondary Credit Contact
Name:             
Company:             
Title:             
Address:             
            
            
Telephone:             
Facsimile:             
E-Mail Address:             

 

   Primary Operations Contact       Primary Disclosure Contact
Name:             
Company:             
Title:             
Address:             
            
            
Telephone:             
Facsimile:             
E-Mail Address:             

 

   Bid Contact       L/C Contact
Name:             
Company:             
Title:             
Address:             
            
            
Telephone:             
Facsimile:             
E-Mail Address:             

 

2


LOGO

Lender’s Domestic Wire Instructions

 

Bank Name:     
ABA/Routing No.:     
Account Name:     
Account No.:     
FFC Account Name:     
FFC Account No.:     
Attention:     
Reference:     

Lender’s Foreign Wire Instructions

 

Currency:     
Bank Name:     
Swift/Routing No.:     
Account Name:     
Account No.:     
FFC Account Name:     
FFC Account No.:     
Attention:     
Reference:     

Agent’s Wire Instructions

 

Bank Name:    Citibank N.A.
ABA/Routing No.:    021-000-089
Account Name:    Agency/Medium Term Finance
Account No.:    3685-2248
Reference:    HMH - ABL

 

3


LOGO

Tax Documents

NON-U.S. LENDER INSTITUTIONS:

I. Corporations:

If your institution is incorporated outside of the United States for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and is the beneficial owner of the interest and other income it receives, you must complete one of the following three tax forms, as applicable to your institution: a.) Form W-8BEN (Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner), b.) Form W-8ECI (Income Effectively Connected to a U.S. Trade or Business), or c.) Form W-8EXP (Certificate of Foreign Government or Governmental Agency).

A U.S. taxpayer identification number is required for any institution submitting Form W-8ECI. It is also required on Form W-8BEN for certain institutions claiming the benefits of a tax treaty with the U.S. Please refer to the instructions when completing the form applicable to your institution. In addition, please be advised that U.S. tax regulations do not permit the acceptance of faxed forms. An original tax form must be submitted.

II. Flow-Through Entities:

If your institution is organized outside the U.S., and is classified for U.S. federal income tax purposes as either a Partnership, Trust, Qualified or Non-Qualified Intermediary, or other non-U.S. flow-through entity, an original Form W-8IMY (Certificate of Foreign Intermediary, Foreign Flow-Through Entity, or Certain U.S. Branches for United States Tax Withholding) must be completed by the intermediary together with a withholding statement. Flow-through entities other than Qualified Intermediaries are required to include tax forms for each of the underlying beneficial owners.

Please refer to the instructions when completing this form. In addition, please be advised that U.S. tax regulations do not permit the acceptance of faxed forms. Original tax form(s) must be submitted.

U.S. LENDER INSTITUTIONS:

If your institution is incorporated or organized within the United States, you must complete and return Form W-9 (Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification). Please be advised that we request that you submit an original Form W-9.

Pursuant to the language contained in the tax section of the Credit Agreement, the applicable tax form for your institution must be completed and returned prior to the first payment of income. Failure to provide the proper tax form when requested may subject your institution to U.S. tax withholding.

 

4


Exhibit B

FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

This Assignment and Assumption (the “Assignment and Assumption”) is dated as of the Effective Date set forth below (the “Effective Date”) and is entered into by and between [Insert name of Assignor] (the “Assignor”) and [Insert name of Assignee] (the “Assignee”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement identified below (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit_Agreement”), receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged by the Assignee. The Standard Terms and Conditions set forth in Annex 1 attached hereto are hereby agreed to and incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Assignment and Assumption as if set forth herein in full.

For an agreed consideration, the Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to the Assignee, and the Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from the Assignor, subject to and in accordance with the Standard Terms and Conditions and the Credit Agreement, as of the Effective Date inserted by the Administrative Agent as contemplated below (i) all of the Assignor’s rights and obligations in its capacity as a Lender under the Credit Agreement and any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto to the extent related to the amount and percentage interest identified below of all of such outstanding rights and obligations of the Assignor under the respective facilities identified below and (ii) to the extent permitted to be assigned under applicable law, all claims, suits, causes of action and any other right of the Assignor (in its capacity as a Lender) against any Person, whether known or unknown, arising under or in connection with the Credit Agreement, any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto or the loan transactions governed thereby or in any way based on or related to any of the foregoing, including contract claims, tort claims, malpractice claims, statutory claims and all other claims at law or in equity related to the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clause (i) above (the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above being referred to herein collectively as the “Assigned Interest”). Such sale and assignment is without recourse to the Assignor and, except as expressly provided in this Assignment and Assumption, without representation or warranty by the Assignor.

 

1.    Assignor:                                                                                              
2.    Assignee:                                                                                              
      [and is an Affiliate/Approved Fund of [identify
      Lender]1[Affiliated Lender]]
3.    Borrowers:    Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers Inc., HMH
      Publishers LLC, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing
      Company

 

1

Select as applicable.


4.    Administrative Agent:    Citibank, N.A., as the administrative agent under the Credit Agreement
5.    Credit Agreement:    The Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time), among Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers Inc., HMH Publishers LLC, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, the entities listed on the signature pages thereto as subsidiary guarantors, the Lenders party thereto, Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent for the Lenders, and Citibank, N.A. as Collateral Agent for the Lenders.


6. Assigned Interest:

 

Facility Assigned2

   Aggregate Amount of
Commitment/Loans
for all Lenders
     Amount of
Commitment/Loans
Assigned
     Percentage Assigned
of
Commitment/Loans3
 
   $          $                
   $          $                
   $          $                

Effective Date:    _____________ ___, 20___ [TO BE INSERTED BY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND WHICH SHALL BE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF RECORDATION OF TRANSFER IN THE REGISTER THEREFOR.]

The Assignee, unless the Assignee is a Lender, agrees to deliver to the Administrative Agent a completed Administrative Questionnaire in which the Assignee designates one or more credit contacts to whom all syndicate-level information (which may contain material non-public information about the Loan Parties and their Related Parties or their respective securities) will be made available and who may receive such information in accordance with the Assignee’s compliance procedures and applicable laws, including Federal and state securities laws.

The terms set forth in this Assignment and Assumption are hereby agreed to:

 

ASSIGNOR
[NAME OF ASSIGNOR]
By:    
  Title:

 

ASSIGNEE
[NAME OF ASSIGNEE]
By:    
  Title:

 

3 

Set forth, to at least 9 decimals, as a percentage of the Commitment/Loans of all Lenders thereunder.


[Consented to and] Accepted:

CITIBANK, N.A., as
Administrative Agent

By    

  Title:

 
By    

  Title:

 

 

[Consented to and] Accepted:

[NAME OF RELEVANT PARTY],
as Borrower,
By    

  Title:

 
By    

  Title:

 

 

[Consented to:]4

[NAME OF RELEVANT PARTY]

By    

  Title:

 

 

4 

In the case of an assignment of a Revolving Credit Commitment and Revolving Credit Loan, each of the Borrowers, the Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender must also give its prior written consent to such assignment (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided, that (A) the consent of the Borrowers shall not be required to any such assignment (x) made to another Lender or an Affiliate or Related Fund of a Lender, or (y) after the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default under Section 7.01(b), 7.01(c), 7.01(g) or 7.01(h) and (B) the Borrowers shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless they shall have objected thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within ten Business Days after having received written notice thereof from the Administrative Agent.


ANNEX 1

TO

FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

1. Representations and Warranties.

1.1 Assignor. The Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of the Assigned Interest, (ii) the Assigned Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim and (iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; and (b) assumes no responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Loan Documents or any collateral thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of Holdings, the Borrowers, any of their Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person obligated in respect of any Loan Document or (iv) the performance or observance by Holdings, the Borrowers, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person of any of their respective obligations under any Loan Document.

1.2. Assignee. The Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) it satisfies the requirements, if any, specified in the Credit Agreement that are required to be satisfied by it in order to acquire the Assigned Interest and become a Lender, (iii) from and after the Effective Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement as a Lender thereunder and, to the extent of the Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder, (iv) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.04(a), (b) and (c) thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase the Assigned Interest on the basis of which it has made such analysis and decision independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, and (v) attached to the Assignment and Assumption is any documentation required to be delivered by it pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by the Assignee; and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent, the Assignor or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Loan Documents, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

2. Payments. From and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments in respect of the Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to the Assignor for amounts which have accrued to but excluding the Effective Date and to the Assignee for amounts which have accrued from and after the Effective Date.


3. General Provisions. This Assignment and Assumption shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Assignment and Assumption may be executed in any number of counterparts, which together shall constitute one instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Assignment and Assumption by facsimile or other electronic means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Assumption. This Assignment and Assumption shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.


Exhibit C

Form of Borrowing Request

Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent

Attention: ABTF Global Loans

1615 Brett Road

New Castle, DE 19720

glabfunitloansops@citi.com

[DATE]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The undersigned, HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHERS INC., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (“HMHP”), is the Borrowing Agent under the Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement November 22, 2019 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT COMPANY (Holdings”), HMH PUBLISHERS LLC (“Publishers”), HMHP, HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY (HMCo), and together with HMHP and Publishers, collectively, the Borrowers”), the entities listed on the signature pages thereto as subsidiary guarantors and the other lenders from time to time party thereto (the “Lenders”), CITIBANK, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the Administrative Agent”) and CITIBANK, N.A. as collateral agent (in such capacity, the Collateral Agent”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

The Borrower hereby gives you notice pursuant to Section 2.03 of the Credit Agreement that it requests a Borrowing under the Credit Agreement, and in that connection sets forth below the terms on which such Borrowing is requested to be made:

 

(A)    Type of Borrowing:1        
            
(B)    Date of Borrowing:2        
            
(C)    Account number and location to which funds are to be disbursed:        
            
(D)    Principal amount and currency of Borrowing:        
            
(E)    Interest Period:3        
            
          
            

 

1 

Specify whether such Borrowing is to be a Eurodollar Borrowing or an ABR Borrowing.

2 

Date of Borrowing must be a Business Day.

3 

Not applicable in the case of an ABR Borrowing.


The Borrowers hereby represent and warrant to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that, on the date of the Borrowing requested hereby and after giving effect thereto, the conditions to lending specified in Section 4.02 of the Credit Agreement are satisfied.

 

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHERS INC.,
    By:    
    Name:  
    Title:  


Exhibit D

[Form of Guarantee and Collateral Agreement]

(Refer to the following page)


Execution Version

 

 

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED REVOLVING FACILITY GUARANTEE AND

COLLATERAL AGREEMENT

dated as of

November 22, 2019

among

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT COMPANY,

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHERS INC.,

HMH PUBLISHERS LLC,

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY,

the Subsidiaries of HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT COMPANY

from time to time party hereto

and

CITIBANK, N.A.,

as Collateral Agent

Reference is made to (i) that certain Second Amended and Restated Term Loan / Notes / Revolving Facility Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of November 22, 2019, among Citibank, N.A., as agent for the Revolving Facility Secured Parties referred to therein, Citibank, N.A., as agent for the Term Facility Secured Parties referred to therein, Citibank, N.A., as agent for the Notes Secured Parties referred to therein, Holdings, the Borrowers referred to therein, such other agents as may subsequently become parties thereto, and the Subsidiary Guarantors named therein (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ABL Intercreditor Agreement”) and (ii) that certain Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019, among Citibank, N.A., as agent for the Term Facility Secured Parties referred to therein, Citibank, N.A, as agent for the Notes Secured Parties referred to therein, such other agents as may subsequently become parties thereto, Holdings, the Borrowers referred to therein and the Subsidiary Guarantors named therein (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time the “Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement and together with the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the “Intercreditor Agreements”). Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, this Agreement, the Liens created hereby and the rights, remedies, duties and obligations provided for herein are subject in all respects to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreements and, to the extent provided therein, the applicable Junior Secured Obligations Security Documents (as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement).

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  
ARTICLE I

 

Definitions

 

SECTION 1.01

   Credit Agreement      2  

SECTION 1.02

   Other Defined Terms      2  
ARTICLE II

 

Guarantee

 

SECTION 2.01

   Guarantee      6  

SECTION 2.02

   Guarantee of Payment      6  

SECTION 2.03

   No Limitations, Etc.      7  

SECTION 2.04

   Reinstatement      8  

SECTION 2.05

   Agreement to Pay; Subrogation      8  

SECTION 2.06

   Information      8  
ARTICLE III

 

Pledge of Securities

 

SECTION 3.01

   Pledge      8  

SECTION 3.02

   Delivery of the Pledged Collateral      9  

SECTION 3.03

   Representations, Warranties and Covenants      10  

SECTION 3.04

   Certification of Limited Liability Company Interests and Limited Partnership Interests      11  

SECTION 3.05

   Registration in Nominee Name; Denominations      12  

SECTION 3.06

   Voting Rights; Dividends and Interest, Etc      12  
ARTICLE IV

 

Security Interests in Personal Property

 

SECTION 4.01

   Security Interest      14  

SECTION 4.02

   Representations and Warranties      17  

SECTION 4.03

   Covenants      19  

SECTION 4.04

   Other Actions      22  

SECTION 4.05

   Covenants Regarding Patent, Trademark and Copyright Collateral      23  


   ARTICLE V   
   Remedies   

SECTION 5.01

   Remedies Upon Default      25  

SECTION 5.02

   Application of Proceeds      26  

SECTION 5.03

   Grant of License to Use Intellectual Property      27  

SECTION 5.04

   Securities Act, Etc.      27  
   ARTICLE VI   
   Indemnity, Subrogation and Subordination   

SECTION 6.01

   Indemnity and Subrogation      28  

SECTION 6.02

   Contribution and Subrogation      28  

SECTION 6.03

   Subordination      29  
   ARTICLE VII   
   [Intentionally Omitted.]   
   ARTICLE VIII   
   [Intentionally Omitted]   
   ARTICLE IX   
   Miscellaneous   

SECTION 9.01

   Notices      29  

SECTION 9.02

   Security Interest Absolute      30  

SECTION 9.03

   Survival of Agreement      30  

SECTION 9.04

   Binding Effect; Several Agreement      30  

SECTION 9.05

   Successors and Assigns      31  

SECTION 9.06

   Applicable Law      31  

SECTION 9.07

   Waivers; Amendment      31  

SECTION 9.08

   WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL      31  

SECTION 9.09

   Severability      32  

SECTION 9.10

   Counterparts      32  

SECTION 9.11

   Headings      32  

SECTION 9.12

   Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process      32  

SECTION 9.13

   Termination or Release      33  

SECTION 9.14

   Additional Subsidiaries      33  

SECTION 9.15

   Right of Setoff      34  

SECTION 9.16

   Conflicts      34  

SECTION 9.17

   Paramountcy      35  

SECTION 9.18

   Continuing Security Interest; Assignment      35  

SECTION 9.19

   Acknowledgment Regarding Any Supported QFCs      35  

SECTION 9.20

   Ratification of Security Agreement      35  

 

ii


Schedules   
Schedule I    Subsidiary Guarantors
Schedule II    Equity Interests; Pledged Debt Securities
Schedule III    Intellectual Property
Exhibits   
Exhibit A    Form of Supplement
Exhibit B    Form of Intellectual Property Security Agreement
Exhibit C    Form of Intellectual Property Security Agreement Supplement

 

iii


This SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED REVOLVING FACILITY GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL AGREEMENT, dated as of November 22, 2019 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Agreement”), among HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT COMPANY, a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (“Holdings”), HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHERS INC., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (HMHP), HMH PUBLISHERS LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (“Publishers”), HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY, a corporation organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (“HMCo”, and, together with HMHP and Publishers, collectively, the “Borrowers” and each a “Borrower”), the subsidiaries of Holdings from time to time party hereto and Citibank, N.A. (together with its affiliates, “Citibank”), as collateral agent (in such capacity, together with any successor in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”).

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

Holdings, the Borrowers, the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined therein), Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent (the “Administrative Agent”), the Collateral Agent, each of the lenders party thereto and the other parties thereto entered into an Amended and Restated Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of July 22, 2015 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof, the “Existing Credit Agreement”) pursuant to which the lenders thereto extended certain credit facilities to the Borrowers.

Holdings, the Borrowers, the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined therein) and the Collateral Agent entered into an Amended and Restated Revolving Facility Guaranty and Collateral Agreement dated as of July 22, 2015 (as further amended, supplemented or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof, the “Existing Security Agreement”) pursuant to which each Grantor granted to the Collateral Agent a security interest in its respective Collateral (as defined therein).

Holdings, the Borrowers and the Subsidiary Guarantors desire to obtain liquidity for working capital and for other general corporate purposes of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries by extending the maturity of the commitments under the Existing Credit Agreement. Holdings, the Borrowers, and the Subsidiary Guarantors have requested that (a) the Existing Credit Agreement be amended and restated in the form of that certain Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (as so amended and restated, and as it may hereafter be amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”) and (b) the lenders party to the Credit Agreement (the “Lenders”) provide them with a senior secured revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $250,000,000 on the terms and conditions set forth in the Credit Agreement.

The obligations of the Lenders and the Issuing Bank to extend credit to the Borrowers pursuant to the Credit Agreement are conditioned upon, among other things, the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Borrowers and each Guarantor. Each Guarantor is an affiliate of the Borrowers, will derive substantial benefits from the extension of credit to the Borrowers pursuant to the Credit Agreement, and is willing to execute and deliver this Agreement in order to induce the Lenders and the Issuing Bank to extend such credit. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree as follows:


ARTICLE I

Definitions

SECTION 1.01 Credit Agreement. (a) Terms used in this Agreement that are defined in the Credit Agreement and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement. All capitalized terms used in this Agreement that are defined in the New York UCC (as such term is defined herein) and not otherwise defined in this Agreement have the meanings specified in the New York UCC. All references to the Uniform Commercial Code shall mean the New York UCC unless the context requires otherwise.

(b) The rules of construction specified in Section 1.02 of the Credit Agreement also apply to this Agreement.

SECTION 1.02 Other Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

ABL Intercreditor Agreement shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the legend on the cover page of this Agreement.

Administrative Agent shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preliminary statement of this Agreement.

Applicable Collateral Agent shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement; provided that if the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement is terminated in accordance with the terms thereof and not replaced by an intercreditor agreement on substantially similar terms, then “Applicable Collateral Agent” shall mean the Collateral Agent.

Article 9 Collateral shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.01(a).

Borrowers” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble of this Agreement.

CFCshall mean any direct or indirect foreign subsidiary of Holdings that is a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of 957 of the code.

CFC Holding Company means any direct or indirect subsidiary of Holdings or its subsidiaries materially all of its assets of which consists of equity interests of a CFC.

Collateral” shall mean the Article 9 Collateral and the Pledged Collateral.

Collateral Agent shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble of this Agreement.

 

2


Commodity Exchange Act” shall mean the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.), as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

Copyright License” shall mean any written agreement, now or hereafter in effect, granting any right to any third person under any Copyright now or hereafter owned by any Grantor or that such Grantor otherwise has the right to license, or granting any right to any Grantor under any Copyright now or hereafter owned by any third person, and all rights of such Grantor under any such agreement.

Copyrights” shall mean all of the following now owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor: (a) all copyright rights in any work subject to the copyright laws of the United States or any other country, whether as author, assignee, transferee or otherwise, and (b) all registrations and applications for registration of any such copyright in the United States or any other country, including registrations, recordings, supplemental registrations and pending applications for registration in the United States Copyright Office (or any successor office or any similar office in any other country), including those listed on Schedule III.

Credit Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preliminary statement of this Agreement.

Excluded Assets” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.01.

Excluded Pledged Stock” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.01.

Excluded Swap Obligation” shall mean, with respect to any Guarantor, (a) any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the guarantee of such Guarantor pursuant to the Guarantee of, or the grant by such Guarantor of a security interest to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any guarantee pursuant to the 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) (a) by virtue of such Guarantor’s failure to constitute an “eligible contract participant,” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder (determined after giving pro forma effect to any applicable keep well, support, or other agreement for the benefit of such Guarantor and any and all applicable guarantees of such Guarantor’s Swap Obligations by other Loan Parties), at the time the guarantee of (or grant of such security interest by, as applicable) such Guarantor becomes or would become effective with respect to such Swap Obligation or (ii) in the case of a Swap Obligation that is subject to a clearing requirement pursuant to section 2(h) of the Commodity Exchange Act, because such Guarantor is a “financial entity,” as defined in section 2(h)(7)(C) of the Commodity Exchange Act, at the time the guarantee of (or grant of such security interest by, as applicable) such Guarantor becomes or would become effective with respect to such Swap Obligation or (b) any other Swap Obligation designated as an “Excluded Swap Obligation” of such Guarantor as specified in any agreement between the relevant Loan Parties and relevant Other Secured Party applicable to such Swap Obligations. If a Swap Obligation arises under a Master Agreement governing more than one Swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to the Swap for which such guarantee or security interest is or becomes excluded in accordance with the first sentence of this definition.

 

3


Existing Credit Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preliminary statement of this Agreement.

Federal Securities Laws” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.04.

Grantors” shall mean the Borrowers and the Guarantors.

Guarantee” shall mean the guarantee made by each Guarantor in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties hereunder.

Guarantors” shall mean Holdings and the Subsidiary Guarantors.

Intellectual Property” shall mean all intellectual and similar property of any Grantor of every kind and nature now owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor, including, without limitation: (a) inventions, designs, internet websites, Patents, Copyrights, Licenses, and Trademarks, (b) trade secrets, confidential or proprietary technical and business information, know how, show how or other data or information of a similar nature (collectively, “Trade Secrets”), (c) all computer software, programs, and databases (including, without limitation, source code, object code and all related applications and data files), firmware and documentation and materials relating thereto, and (d) all embodiments or fixations thereof and related documentation, registrations and franchises, and all additions, improvements and accessions to, and books and records describing or used in connection with, any of the foregoing.

Intercreditor Agreements” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the legend on the cover page of this Agreement.

Lenders” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preliminary statement of this Agreement.

License” shall mean any Patent License, Trademark License, Copyright License or other license or sublicense agreement relating to Intellectual Property to which any Grantor is a party including those listed on Schedule III.

New York UCC” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as from time to time in effect in the State of New York.

Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the legend on the cover page of this Agreement.

Patent License” shall mean any written agreement, now or hereafter in effect, granting to any third person any right to make, use or sell any invention on which a Patent, now or hereafter owned by any Grantor or that any Grantor otherwise has the right to license, is in existence, or granting to any Grantor any right to make, use or sell any invention on which a Patent, now or hereafter owned by any third person, is in existence, and all rights of any Grantor under any such agreement.

 

4


Patents” shall mean all of the following now owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor: (a) all letters patent of the United States or the equivalent thereof in any other country, all registrations and recordings thereof, and all applications for letters patent of the United States or the equivalent thereof in any other country, including registrations, recordings and pending applications in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (or any successor or any similar offices in any other country), including those listed on Schedule III, and (b) all reissues, continuations, divisions, continuations-in-part, renewals, extensions or reexaminations thereof, and the inventions disclosed or claimed therein, including the right to make, use and/or sell the inventions disclosed or claimed therein.

Pledged Collateral” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.01.

Pledged Debt Securities” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.01.

Pledged Securities” shall mean any promissory notes, stock certificates or other securities now or hereafter included in the Pledged Collateral, including all certificates, instruments or other documents representing or evidencing any Pledged Collateral.

Pledged Stock” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.01.

Publishers” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble of this Agreement.

Registered” means issued by, registered, recorded or filed with, renewed by or the subject of a pending application before any Governmental Authority.

Security Interest” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.01(a).

Senior Representative” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement; provided, that if the ABL Intercreditor Agreement is terminated in accordance with the terms thereof and not replaced by an intercreditor agreement on substantially similar terms, then “Senior Representative” shall mean the Collateral Agent.

Subsidiary Guarantor” shall mean (a) the Subsidiaries identified on Schedule I hereto as Subsidiary Guarantors and (b) each other Domestic Subsidiary that becomes a party to this Agreement as a Subsidiary Guarantor after the Closing Date.

Swap” shall mean any agreement, contract, or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of Section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

Swap Obligation” shall mean any obligation to pay or perform under any Swap.

 

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Trademark License” shall mean any written agreement, now or hereafter in effect, granting to any third person any right to use any Trademark now or hereafter owned by any Grantor or that any Grantor otherwise has the right to license, or granting to any Grantor any right to use any Trademark now or hereafter owned by any third person, and all rights of any Grantor under any such agreement.

Trademarks” shall mean all of the following now owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor: (a) all trademarks, service marks, trade names, corporate names, company names, business names, fictitious business names, trade styles, trade dress, logos, other source or business identifiers, designs and general intangibles of like nature, now existing or hereafter adopted or acquired, all registrations and recordings thereof, and all registration and recording applications filed in connection therewith, including registrations and registration applications in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (or any successor office) or any similar offices in any State of the United States or any other country or any political subdivision thereof, and all extensions or renewals thereof, including those listed on Schedule III, (b) all goodwill associated therewith or symbolized thereby and (c) all other assets, rights and interests that uniquely reflect or embody such goodwill.

ARTICLE II

Guarantee

SECTION 2.01 Guarantee. (a) Each of the Guarantors unconditionally guarantees, jointly with the other Guarantors and severally, as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety, the due and punctual payment and performance of the Obligations. Each Guarantor further agrees that the Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice to or further assent from it, and that it will remain bound upon its guarantee notwithstanding any extension or renewal of any Obligation. Each Guarantor waives presentment to, demand of payment from and protest to any Borrower or any other Loan Party of any Obligation, and also waives notice of acceptance of its guarantee and notice of protest for nonpayment.

(b) Anything herein or in any other Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding, (i) the maximum liability of each Guarantor hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and any Other Secured Agreement shall in no event exceed the amount which can be guaranteed by such Guarantor under applicable federal and state laws relating to fraudulent conveyances or transfers or the insolvency of debtors and (ii) the maximum liability of a Borrower under this Section 2 shall in no event exceed the amount which can be guaranteed by such Borrower under applicable federal and state laws relating to fraudulent conveyances or transfers or the insolvency of debtors.

SECTION 2.02 Guarantee of Payment. Each Guarantor further agrees that its guarantee hereunder constitutes a guarantee of payment when due (including interest accruing at the then applicable rate in accordance with Section 2.07 of the Credit Agreement, whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is allowed under applicable law following the institution of a proceeding (including all such amounts which would become due but for the existence of a bankruptcy reorganization or similar proceeding involving a Loan Party)) and not

 

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of collection, and waives any right to require that any resort be had by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to any security held for the payment of the Obligations or to any balance of any Deposit Account or credit on the books of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party in favor of the Borrowers or any other person.

SECTION 2.03 No Limitations, Etc. (a) Except for termination or release of a Guarantor’s obligations hereunder as expressly provided in Section 9.13, 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 or setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Obligations or otherwise. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by, and each Guarantor hereby irrevocably waives any defenses it may now or hereafter have in any way relating to (i) the failure of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any right or remedy under the provisions, or any lack of validity or enforceability of, of any Loan Document or otherwise, (ii) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of, or any consent to departure from, or any release from any of the terms or provisions of, any Loan Document or any other agreement, including with respect to any other Guarantor under this Agreement, (iii) the release of, or any impairment of or failure to perfect any Lien on or security interest in, any security held by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party for the Obligations or any of them, or any defense based on right of setoff or counterclaim against or in respect of such Guarantor’s obligations hereunder, (iv) any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of the Obligations, (v) any changes to, or restructuring or termination of the corporate structure or existence of any Loan Party or Subsidiary, or (vi) any failure on the part of any Secured Party or Agent to disclose to any Loan Party any information relating to the financial condition, operations, properties or prospects of any Loan Party, or any other act or omission that may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of any Guarantor or otherwise operate as a discharge of any Guarantor as a matter of law or equity (other than the indefeasible payment in full in cash of all the Obligations). Each Guarantor hereby unconditionally waives any right to revoke this Agreement and acknowledges that this Agreement is continuing in nature and applies to all Obligations, whether existing now or in the future. Each Guarantor expressly authorizes the Collateral Agent to take and hold security for the payment and performance of the Obligations, to exchange, waive or release any or all such security (with or without consideration), to enforce or apply such security and direct the order and manner of any sale thereof in its sole discretion or to release or substitute any one or more other guarantors or obligors upon or in respect of the Obligations, all without affecting the obligations of any Guarantor hereunder.

(b) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor waives any defense based on or arising out of any defense of any Borrower or any other Loan Party or the unenforceability of the Obligations or any part thereof from any cause, or the cessation from any cause of the liability of any Borrower or any other Loan Party, other than the indefeasible payment in full in cash of all the Obligations. The Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties may, at their election, foreclose on any security held by one or more of them by one or more judicial or nonjudicial sales, accept an assignment of any such security in lieu of foreclosure, compromise or adjust any part of the Obligations, make any other accommodation with any

 

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Borrower or any other Loan Party or exercise any other right or remedy available to them against any Borrower or any other Loan Party, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of any Guarantor hereunder except to the extent the Obligations have been fully and indefeasibly paid in full in cash. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor waives any defense arising out of any such election even though such election operates, pursuant to applicable law, to impair or to extinguish any right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of such Guarantor against any Borrower or any other Loan Party, as the case may be, or any security.

SECTION 2.04 Reinstatement. Each Guarantor agrees that its guarantee hereunder shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of any Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of any Borrower, any other Loan Party or otherwise.

SECTION 2.05 Agreement to Pay; Subrogation. In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right that the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party has at law or in equity against any Guarantor by virtue hereof, upon the failure of any Borrower or any other Loan Party to pay any Obligation when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, after notice of prepayment or otherwise, each Guarantor hereby promises to and will forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, to the Collateral Agent for distribution to the applicable Secured Parties in cash the amount of such unpaid Obligation. Upon payment by any Guarantor of any sums to the Collateral Agent as provided above, all rights of such Guarantor against any Borrower or any other Guarantor arising as a result thereof by way of right of subrogation, contribution, reimbursement, indemnity or otherwise shall in all respects be subject to Article VI.

SECTION 2.06 Information. Each Guarantor assumes all responsibility for being and keeping itself informed of each Borrower’s and each other Loan Party’s financial condition and assets and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Obligations and the nature, scope and extent of the risks that such Guarantor assumes and incurs hereunder, and agrees that neither the Collateral Agent nor any other Secured Party will have any duty to advise such Guarantor of information known to it or any of them regarding such circumstances or risks.

ARTICLE III

Pledge of Securities

SECTION 3.01 Pledge. As security for the payment or performance, as the case may be, in full of the Obligations, each of the Grantors hereby pledges to the Collateral Agent, its successors and assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, its successors and assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in, all of such Grantor’s right, title and interest in, to and under (a)(i) the Equity Interests owned by such Grantor on the date hereof (including all such Equity Interests listed on Schedule II), (ii) any other Equity Interests obtained in the future by such Grantor and (iii) the certificates representing all such Equity Interests (all the foregoing collectively referred to herein

 

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as the “Pledged Stock”); provided, however, that the Pledged Stock shall not include the following (collectively, the “Excluded Pledged Stock): (A) more than 66% of the issued and outstanding voting Equity Interests of any Foreign Subsidiary, any Domestic Subsidiary which is treated as a Foreign Subsidiary for United States federal income tax purposes, or any CFC Holding Company, (B) any Equity Interest in any Not for Profit Subsidiary, Immaterial Subsidiary, Unrestricted Subsidiary, special purpose receivables or securitization Subsidiary or Margin Stock, (C) Equity Interests, the pledge of which is prohibited by applicable law, rule or regulation, or which would require governmental (including regulatory) consent, approval, license or authorization to be pledged (unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received), (D) any Equity Interests in joint ventures or any non-wholly owned Subsidiaries, but only to the extent that any applicable organizational documents, joint venture agreements, shareholder agreements or other agreements with other equity holders do not permit or otherwise restrict the pledge of such Equity Interest, (E) any Equity Interest to the extent a pledge thereof could reasonably be expected to result in material adverse tax consequences to Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries as determined in good faith by Holdings in consultation with the Applicable Collateral Agent, or (F) any Equity Interest with respect to which Holdings and the Applicable Collateral Agent reasonably agree, in writing, that the cost or other consequence of obtaining a security interest or perfection thereof are excessive in relation to the collateral value afforded thereby, and (b)(i) the debt securities held by such Grantor on the date hereof (including all such debt securities listed opposite the name of such Grantor on Schedule II), (ii) any debt securities in the future issued to such Grantor and (iii) the promissory notes and any other instruments evidencing such debt securities (all the foregoing collectively referred to herein as the “Pledged Debt Securities”), (c) all other property that may be delivered to and held by the Collateral Agent (or its bailee) pursuant to the terms of this Section 3.01, (d) subject to Section 3.06, all payments of principal or interest, dividends, cash, instruments and other property from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of, in exchange for or upon the conversion of, and all other Proceeds received in respect of, the items referred to in clauses (a) and (b) above, (e) subject to Section 3.06, all rights and privileges of such Grantor with respect to the securities and other property referred to in clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) above, and (f) all Proceeds of any of the foregoing (the items referred to in clauses (a) through (e) above being collectively referred to as the “Pledged Collateral” subject to the exclusions set forth in Section 4.01(d) below).

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the Pledged Collateral, together with all right, title, interest, powers, privileges and preferences pertaining or incidental thereto, unto the Collateral Agent, its successors and assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, forever; subject, however, to the terms, covenants and conditions hereinafter set forth.

SECTION 3.02 Delivery of the Pledged Collateral. (a) Each Grantor agrees promptly to deliver or cause to be delivered to the Applicable Collateral Agent (or its bailee) any and all certificates, instruments or other documents representing or evidencing Pledged Securities to the extent required by Section 4.04(c).

(b) Each Grantor agrees promptly to deliver or cause to be delivered to the Applicable Collateral Agent (or its bailee) any and all Pledged Debt Securities to the extent required by Section 4.04(a).

 

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(c) Upon delivery to the Applicable Collateral Agent (or its bailee), (i) any certificate, instrument or document representing or evidencing Pledged Securities shall be accompanied by undated stock powers duly executed in blank or other undated instruments of transfer satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and duly executed in blank and by such other instruments and documents as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request and (ii) all other property comprising part of the Pledged Collateral shall be accompanied by proper instruments of assignment duly executed by the applicable Grantor and such other instruments or documents as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request. Each delivery of Pledged Securities shall be accompanied by a schedule describing the applicable securities, which schedule shall be attached hereto as Schedule II and made a part hereof; provided that failure to attach any such schedule hereto shall not affect the validity of the pledge of such Pledged Securities. Each schedule so delivered shall supplement any prior schedules so delivered.

SECTION 3.03 Representations, Warranties and Covenants. The Grantors jointly and severally represent, warrant and covenant to and with the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, that:

(a) as of the date hereof, Schedule II correctly sets forth the percentage of the issued and outstanding shares of each class of the Equity Interests of the issuer thereof represented by such Pledged Stock and includes all Equity Interests, debt securities and promissory notes required to be pledged hereunder;

(b) except for the security interests granted hereunder (or otherwise permitted under the Credit Agreement), each Grantor (i) is and, subject to any transfers made in compliance with the Credit Agreement, will continue to be the direct owner, beneficially and of record, of the Pledged Securities indicated on Schedule II as owned by such Grantor, (ii) holds the same free and clear of all Liens, other than Liens permitted by Section 6.02(a), (b), (g), (l), (q), (s), (t), (u), (v), (x) or (cc) of the Credit Agreement, (iii) will make no assignment, pledge, hypothecation or transfer of, or create or permit to exist any security interest in or other Lien on, the Pledged Collateral, other than assignments, pledges, hypothecations or transfers made in compliance with the Credit Agreement (including Liens permitted by Section 6.02 and restrictive agreements permitted by Section 6.06(b) of the Credit Agreement) and (iv) subject to Section 3.06, will cause any and all certificated securities representing Pledged Stock of any of its Subsidiaries, whether for value paid by such Grantor or otherwise, to be delivered to the Applicable Collateral Agent (or its bailee) and pledged or assigned hereunder on the Closing Date (with respect to Subsidiaries owned on the Closing Date), or within 30 days (or such longer period as the Applicable Collateral Agent may reasonably agree) after the acquisition or organization of any Subsidiary after the Closing Date in accordance with Section 5.12(b) of the Credit Agreement;

(c) except for restrictions and limitations imposed by (i) the Loan Documents, (ii) securities laws generally and other applicable law if the Pledged Collateral is issued by an issuer organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside of the United States, by agreements related to any Pledged Collateral that is a General Intangible that is described in clause (a) of Section 4.01(d) but constitutes Pledged Collateral by operation of the parenthetical clause in subclause (i)(z) thereof, (iii) the organizational documents of any joint ventures or any non-wholly owned Subsidiary, the Equity Interests of which are included in the Pledged Collateral,

 

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(iv) the Revolving Facility Debt Documents (as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement), (v) agreements governing Indebtedness secured by Permitted Pari Passu Collateral Liens, (vi) the Notes Documents (as defined in the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement) and (vii) agreements governing Indebtedness that is subject to a Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Pledged Collateral is and will continue to be freely transferable and assignable, and none of the Pledged Collateral is or will be subject to any option, right of first refusal, shareholders agreement, charter or by-law provisions or contractual restriction of any nature that might prohibit, impair, delay or otherwise affect the pledge of such Pledged Collateral hereunder, the sale or disposition thereof pursuant hereto or the exercise by the Collateral Agent of rights and remedies hereunder;

(d) by virtue of the execution and delivery by each Grantor of this Agreement, when any Pledged Securities are delivered to the Collateral Agent (or its bailee) in accordance with this Agreement, the Collateral Agent will obtain a legal, valid and perfected first priority lien (subject only to liens permitted by Section 6.02(l) of the Credit Agreement, and liens securing the Shared Obligations (as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement) upon and security interest in such Pledged Securities as security for the payment and performance of the Obligations;

(e) the pledge effected hereby is effective to vest in the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, the rights of the Collateral Agent in the Pledged Collateral as set forth herein and in the Intercreditor Agreements and all action by any Grantor necessary or desirable to protect and perfect the Lien on the Pledged Collateral has been duly taken;

(f) each of the Grantors has the power and authority to pledge the Pledged Collateral pledged by it hereunder in the manner hereby done or contemplated; and

(g) no consent or approval of any Governmental Authority, any securities exchange or any other Person was or is necessary to the validity of the pledge effected hereby (other than such as have been obtained and are in full force and effect).

SECTION 3.04 Certification of Limited Liability Company Interests and Limited Partnership Interests. (a) Each Grantor acknowledges and agrees that each interest in any limited liability company or limited partnership pledged hereunder that is represented by a certificate, a “security” within the meaning of Article 8 of the UCC and governed by Article 8 of the New York UCC, shall at all times hereafter be represented by a certificate, a “security” within the meaning of Article 8 of the UCC and governed by Article 8 of the UCC.

(b) Each Grantor further acknowledges and agrees that (i) the interests in any limited liability company or limited partnership pledged hereunder and not represented by a certificate shall not be a “security” within the meaning of Article 8 of the UCC and shall not be governed by Article 8 of the UCC and (ii) the Grantors shall at no time elect to treat any such interest as a “security” within the meaning of Article 8 of the UCC or issue any certificate representing such interest (except that the Grantors may elect to so treat any such interest as a “security” and issue any certificate representing such interest if simultaneously therewith the Grantors deliver such certificate to the Applicable Collateral Agent (or its bailee)).

 

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SECTION 3.05 Registration in Nominee Name; Denominations. Subject to the terms of the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement, the Applicable Collateral Agent (or its bailee), on behalf of the Secured Parties, shall have the right (in its sole and absolute discretion) to hold the Pledged Securities required to be delivered hereunder in its own name as pledgee, the name of its nominee (as pledgee or as sub-agent) or the name of the applicable Grantor, endorsed or assigned in blank or in favor of the Senior Representative. Each Grantor will promptly give to the Collateral Agent copies of any material notices or other material communications received by it with respect to Pledged Securities in its capacity as the registered owner thereof. The Applicable Collateral Agent (or its bailee) shall at all times have the right to exchange the certificates representing Pledged Securities required to be delivered hereunder for certificates of smaller or larger denominations for any purpose consistent with this Agreement.

SECTION 3.06 Voting Rights; Dividends and Interest, Etc. (a) Unless and until an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Collateral Agent shall have given the Grantors notice of its intent to exercise its rights under this Agreement (which notice shall be deemed to have been given immediately upon the occurrence of an Event of Default under paragraph (g) or (h) of Section 7.01 of the Credit Agreement):

(i) Each Grantor shall be entitled to exercise any and all voting and/or other consensual rights and powers inuring to an owner of Pledged Securities or any part thereof for any purpose consistent with the terms of this Agreement, the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents; provided, however, that such rights and powers shall not be exercised in any manner that could reasonably expected to be materially and adversely affect the rights inuring to a holder of any Pledged Securities or the rights and remedies of any of the Collateral Agent or the other Secured Parties under this Agreement or the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document or the ability of the Secured Parties to exercise the same.

(ii) The Collateral Agent shall execute and deliver to each Grantor, or cause to be executed and delivered to each Grantor, all such proxies, powers of attorney and other instruments as such Grantor may reasonably request for the purpose of enabling such Grantor to exercise the voting and/or consensual rights and powers it is entitled to exercise pursuant to paragraph (i) above.

(iii) Each Grantor shall be entitled to receive and retain any and all dividends, interest, principal and other distributions paid on or distributed in respect of the Pledged Securities to the extent and only to the extent that such dividends, interest, principal and other distributions are permitted by, and otherwise paid or distributed in accordance with, the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement, the other Loan Documents and applicable law; provided, however, that any noncash dividends, interest, principal or other distributions that would constitute Pledged Stock or Pledged Debt Securities, whether resulting from a subdivision, combination or reclassification of the outstanding Equity Interests of the issuer of any Pledged Securities or received in exchange for Pledged Securities or any part thereof, or in redemption thereof, or as a result of any merger, consolidation, acquisition or other exchange of assets to which such issuer may be a party or otherwise, shall be and become part of the Pledged Collateral, and shall be subject to the provisions of this Agreement.

 

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(b) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, after the Collateral Agent shall have notified (or shall be deemed to have notified pursuant to the first parenthetical of Section 3.06(a)) the Grantors of the suspension of their rights under paragraph (a)(iii) of this Section 3.06, then all rights of any Grantor to dividends, interest, principal or other distributions that such Grantor is authorized to receive pursuant to paragraph (a)(iii) of this Section 3.06 shall cease, and all such rights shall thereupon become vested in the Senior Representative, which shall have the sole and exclusive right and authority to receive and retain such dividends, interest, principal or other distributions. All dividends, interest, principal or other distributions received by any Grantor contrary to the provisions of this Section 3.06 shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Collateral Agent, shall be segregated from other property or funds of such Grantor and shall be forthwith delivered to the Senior Representative upon demand in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement or instrument of assignment). Any and all money and other property paid over to or received by the Senior Representative pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph (b) shall be retained by the Senior Representative in an account to be established by the Senior Representative upon receipt of such money or other property and shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.02. After all Events of Default have been cured or waived and each applicable Grantor has delivered to the Administrative Agent certificates to that effect, the Senior Representative shall, promptly after all such Events of Default have been cured or waived, repay to each applicable Grantor (without interest) all dividends, interest, principal or other distributions that remain in such account.

(c) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, after the Collateral Agent shall have notified (or shall be deemed to have notified pursuant to the first parenthetical of Section 3.06(a)) the Grantors of the suspension of their rights under paragraph (a)(i) of this Section 3.06, then all rights of any Grantor to exercise the voting and consensual rights and powers it is entitled to exercise pursuant to paragraph (a)(i) of this Section 3.06, and the obligations of the Collateral Agent under paragraph (a)(ii) of this Section 3.06, shall cease, and all such rights shall thereupon become vested in the Senior Representative, which shall have the sole and exclusive right and authority to exercise such voting and consensual rights and powers; provided that, unless otherwise directed by the Required Lenders, the Collateral Agent shall have the right from time to time following and during the continuance of an Event of Default to permit the Grantors to exercise such rights.

(d) Any notice given by the Collateral Agent to the Grantors exercising its rights under paragraph (a) of this Section 3.06 (i) may be given by telephone if promptly confirmed in writing, (ii) may be given to one or more of the Grantors at the same or different times and (iii) may suspend the rights of the Grantors under paragraph (a)(i) or paragraph (a)(iii) of this Section 3.06 in part without suspending all such rights (as specified by the Collateral Agent in its sole and absolute discretion) and without waiving or otherwise affecting the Collateral Agent’s rights to give additional notices from time to time suspending other rights so long as an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

 

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ARTICLE IV

Security Interests in Personal Property

SECTION 4.01 Security Interest. (a) As security for the payment or performance, as the case may be, in full of the Obligations, each Grantor hereby pledges to the Collateral Agent, its successors and assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, its successors and assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a lien and security interest (the “Security Interest”), in all right, title or interest in or to any and all of the following assets and properties now owned or at any time hereafter acquired by such Grantor or in which such Grantor now has or at any time in the future may acquire any right, title or interest (collectively, the “Article 9 Collateral”), subject to the exclusions set forth in Section 4.01(d) below:

(i) all Accounts;

(ii) all Chattel Paper;

(iii) all cash and Deposit Accounts;

(iv) all Documents;

(v) all Equipment;

(vi) all General Intangibles;

(vii) all Intellectual Property, and all claims for damages and injunctive relief for past, present and future infringement, dilution, misappropriation, violation, misuse or breach with respect to any of the foregoing, with the right, but not the obligation, to sue for and collect, or otherwise recover, such damages;

(viii) all Instruments;

(ix) all Inventory;

(x) all Investment Property;

(xi) all Letter-of-Credit Rights;

(xii) all Commercial Tort Claims;

(xiii) all books and records pertaining to the Article 9 Collateral;

(xiv) all Goods; and

(xv) to the extent not otherwise included, all Proceeds and products of any and all of the foregoing and all collateral security and guarantees given by any person with respect to any of the foregoing.

 

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(b) Each Grantor hereby irrevocably authorizes the Collateral Agent at any time and from time to time to file in any relevant jurisdiction any initial financing statements (including fixture filings) with respect to the Article 9 Collateral or any part thereof and amendments thereto that (i) indicate the Article 9 Collateral as “all assets” of such Grantor or words of similar effect, and (ii) contain the information required by Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code of each applicable jurisdiction for the filing of any financing statement or amendment, including (A) whether such Grantor is an organization, the type of organization and any organizational identification number issued to such Grantor and (B) in the case of a financing statement filed as a fixture filing, a sufficient description of the real property to which such Article 9 Collateral relates. Each Grantor agrees to provide such information to the Collateral Agent promptly upon request.

Each Grantor also ratifies its authorization for the Collateral Agent to file in any relevant jurisdiction any initial financing statements or security registrations or amendments thereto if filed prior to the date hereof.

The Collateral Agent is further authorized to file with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or United States Copyright Office (or any successor office or any similar office in any other country) such documents as may be necessary or advisable for the purpose of perfecting, confirming, continuing, enforcing or protecting the Security Interest granted by each Grantor, without the signature of any Grantor, and naming any Grantor or the Grantors as debtors and the Collateral Agent as secured party.

(c) The Security Interest is granted as security only and shall not subject the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to, or in any way alter or modify, any obligation or liability of any Grantor with respect to or arising out of the Article 9 Collateral.

(d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event shall the security interest granted under Section 3.01 or 4.01 hereof attach to the following (collectively, the “Excluded Assets”) (a) any lease, license, General Intangible, contract or agreement to which any Grantor is a party or any of its rights or interests thereunder to the extent that (and for as long as) (i) such lease, license, General Intangible, contract or agreement, or assets subject thereto, are (x) not assignable, (y) a grant of a security interest therein would violate or invalidate, or create a right of termination under (in favor of any other party thereto other than a Grantor), any such agreement, or (z) is not capable of being encumbered as a matter of law or under the terms of the lease, license, franchise, charter, authorization, General Intangible, contract or agreement applicable thereto (but, in each case of the foregoing, solely to the extent that any such restriction shall be enforceable under applicable law, including Sections 9-406, 9-407, 9-408 or 9-409 of the New York UCC, in respect of the grant of a security interest hereunder), without the consent of the licensor or lessor thereof, or Governmental Authority, or other applicable party thereto and (ii) such consent has not been obtained; (b) any United States intent-to-use application for a Trademark to the extent that, and solely during the period in which, the grant of a security interest therein would impair the validity or enforceability of such intent-to-use application for a Trademark under federal law, provided that, upon submission and acceptance by the United States Patent and Trademark Office of a statement of use pursuant to 15 U.S.C. Section 1051 or an amendment to allege use pursuant to 15 U.S.C. Section 1060(a) (or any successor provision), such intent-to-use trademark application shall be considered Collateral, (c) any vehicle or other

 

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assets owned by any Grantor that is subject to a certificate of title, (d) Excluded Pledged Stock, (e) assets that are subject to or secured by Liens (i) permitted by Section 6.02(d), (g) or (m) of the Credit Agreement, (ii) permitted by Section 6.02(s) of the Credit Agreement securing Indebtedness described in Section 6.01(m)(i) of the Credit Agreement (but only to the extent that (x) the documentation pursuant to which such Liens were granted prohibits the granting of a Lien hereunder, (y) such documentation and Liens were in effect prior to such acquisition and (z) such Liens were not incurred, and such documentation was not entered into, by a Grantor in anticipation of such acquisition) of the Credit Agreement, (iii) securing a purchase money obligation or Capital Lease Obligations permitted to be incurred pursuant to the provisions of the Credit Agreement, in each case to the extent the documentation relating to such Lien prohibits, or requires any consent for, any other Lien on such asset, or (iv) securing a Sale and Lease Back Transaction permitted by the Credit Agreement, (f) any governmental licenses or state or local franchises, charters and authorizations, to the extent security interests in such licenses, franchises, charters or authorizations are prohibited or restricted thereby, (g) any Letter-Of-Credit Rights to the extent perfection of a Lien in such Letter-Of-Credit Rights cannot be obtained by filing financing statements, (h) any Commercial Tort Claims with respect to which notice is not required to be delivered under Section 4.04(f), (i) any fee owned real property with a fair market value of less than $5,000,000 on the date of acquisition (or on the date of substantial completion of any material improvement thereon or new construction thereof) and all real property leasehold interests, (j) any property with respect to which the Collateral Agent and Holdings reasonably agree in writing that the costs or other consequences of granting or perfecting a security interest therein is excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Secured Parties therefrom, (k) any property to the extent a security interest in such assets could reasonably be expected to result in adverse tax consequences to Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries as determined in good faith by Holdings, (l) any property the pledge of which or security interest in is prohibited by applicable law, rule or regulation, or which could require governmental (including regulatory) consent, approval, license or authorization to be pledged (unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received), (m) assets subject to liens securing permitted receivables or securitization financings, (n) any accounts or funds held or received on behalf of third parties, and (o) other customary exclusions to be agreed by Holdings and Collateral Agent under applicable local law or in applicable local jurisdictions. With respect to any provision or restriction affecting the Collateral the reason for which such Collateral constitutes an Excluded Asset, immediately upon the ineffectiveness, lapse or termination of such provision or restriction with respect to such Excluded Asset, the Collateral shall include, and such Grantor shall be deemed to have granted a security interest in, the rights and interests in such Collateral as if such provision or restriction had never been in effect and if and when such property shall cease to be an Excluded Asset, such property shall be deemed at all times from and after the date thereof to constitute Collateral.

(e) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event shall any Grantor be required to (i) take actions in any non-U.S. jurisdiction or required by the laws of any non-U.S. jurisdiction in order to create any security interests in Collateral located or titled outside of the United States or to perfect such security interests, including any Intellectual Property Registered in any non-U.S. jurisdiction (it being understood that there shall be no security agreements or pledge agreements governed under the laws of any non-U.S. jurisdiction), (ii) obtain any landlord, mortgagee or bailee waivers, or (iii) send any notice to account debtors or other contractual parties of, or relating to, the Grantors.

 

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SECTION 4.02 Representations and Warranties. The Grantors jointly and severally represent and warrant to the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties that:

(a) Each Grantor has good and valid rights in and title to the Article 9 Collateral with respect to which it has purported to grant a Security Interest hereunder and has full power and authority to grant to the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, the Security Interest in such Article 9 Collateral pursuant hereto and to execute, deliver and perform its obligations in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, without the consent or approval of any other person other than any consent or approval that has been obtained.

(b) The Perfection Certificate has been duly prepared, completed and executed and the information set forth therein (x) with respect to the exact legal name of each Grantor and the jurisdiction of organization of each Grantor, is correct and complete in all respects, and (y) with respect to all other information, is correct and complete in all material respects, in each case as of the Closing Date. Uniform Commercial Code financing statements (including fixture filings, as applicable) or other appropriate filings, recordings or registrations containing a description of the Article 9 Collateral have been prepared by the Collateral Agent based upon the information provided to the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties in the Perfection Certificate for filing in each governmental, municipal or other office specified in Section 2 of the Perfection Certificate (or specified by notice from Holdings to the Administrative Agent after the Closing Date in the case of filings, recordings or registrations required by Section 4.03(m) hereof or 5.12 of the Credit Agreement), which are all the filings, recordings and registrations (other than filings required to be made in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office in order to perfect the Security Interest in the Article 9 Collateral consisting of United States Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights owned by and Registered in the name of a Grantor) that are necessary to publish notice of and protect the validity of and to establish a legal, valid and perfected security interest in favor of the Collateral Agent (for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties) in respect of all Article 9 Collateral (excluding any Intellectual Property that is not owned and Registered in the name of a Grantor) in which the Security Interest may be perfected by filing, recording or registering in the United States (or any political subdivision thereof) and its territories and possessions, and no further or subsequent filing, refiling, recording, rerecording, registration or reregistration is necessary in any such jurisdiction, except as provided under applicable law with respect to the filing of continuation statements or to the extent that any of the changes described in Section 4.03(m) occurs. Each Grantor represents and warrants that a fully executed agreement in the form hereof (or a fully executed short form agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent), and containing a description of all Article 9 Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property with respect to United States Patents and United States registered Trademarks (and Trademarks for which United States registration applications are pending) and United States registered Copyrights owned by a Grantor (other than certain Intellectual Property registered before January 1, 1994), has been or will be substantially contemporaneously herewith, delivered to the Collateral Agent for recording by the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §261, 15 U.S.C. §1060 or 17 U.S.C. §205 and the regulations thereunder, as applicable, to protect the validity of and to establish a legal, valid and perfected security interest in favor of the Collateral Agent (for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties) in respect of all Article 9 Collateral consisting of Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights owned by and Registered

 

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in the name of a Grantor in which a security interest may be perfected by filing, recording or registering in the United States (or any political subdivision thereof) and its territories and possessions, and no further or subsequent filing, refiling, recording, rerecording, registration or reregistration is necessary (other than the filing of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements and such actions as are necessary to perfect the Security Interest with respect to any Article 9 Collateral consisting of Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights owned by and Registered in the name of a Grantor (or registration or application for registration thereof) acquired or developed after the date hereof).

(c) The Security Interest constitutes (i) a legal and valid security interest in all Article 9 Collateral securing the payment and performance of the Obligations, (ii) subject to the filings described in Section 4.02(b), a perfected security interest in all Article 9 Collateral (excluding any Intellectual Property that is not owned and Registered in the name of a Grantor) in which a security interest may be perfected by filing, recording or registering a financing statement or analogous document in the United States (or any political subdivision thereof) and its territories and possessions pursuant to the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law in such jurisdictions and (iii) upon completion of the filings described in Section 4.02(b), a perfected security interest in all Article 9 Collateral in which a security interest may be perfected upon the receipt and recording of this Agreement (or a fully executed short form agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent) with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, as applicable. The Security Interest is and shall be prior to any other Lien on any of the Article 9 Collateral, other than Liens expressly permitted pursuant to the Credit Agreement.

(d) The Article 9 Collateral is owned by the Grantors free and clear of any Lien, except for Liens expressly permitted pursuant to the Credit Agreement. No Grantor has filed or consented to the filing of (i) any financing statement or analogous document under the Uniform Commercial Code or any other applicable laws covering any Article 9 Collateral, (ii) any assignment in which any Grantor assigns any Collateral or any security agreement or similar instrument covering any Article 9 Collateral with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office, (iii) any notice under the Assignment of Claims Act, or (iv) any assignment in which any Grantor assigns any Article 9 Collateral or any security agreement or similar instrument covering any Article 9 Collateral with any foreign governmental, municipal or other office, which financing statement or analogous document, assignment, security agreement or similar instrument is still in effect, except, in each case, for Liens expressly permitted pursuant to the Credit Agreement. As of the date hereof, no Grantor holds any Commercial Tort Claims except as indicated on the Perfection Certificate.

(e) As to each Grantor and its Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property: Schedule III hereto sets forth a list of each of the Registered Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights owned by such Grantor as of the date hereof (other than certain Intellectual Property Registered before January 1, 1994), including the descriptions with respect thereto that are true and complete in all material respects. Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property is subsisting and has not been adjudged invalid or unenforceable, and to the best of such Grantor’s knowledge, is valid and enforceable; (ii) a Grantor is the exclusive owner of or otherwise has the right to use each item of Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property that is owned by such Grantor (other than

 

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Licenses); (iii) the operation of such Grantor’s business and the use of the Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property in connection therewith do not infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate the Intellectual Property rights of any Person, nor has any claim been asserted in writing or is any claim pending with respect to the foregoing; (iv) no Person is engaging in any activity that infringes, misappropriates, dilutes otherwise violates the Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property or such Grantor’s rights in or use thereof, nor has any claim been asserted in writing or is any claim pending with respect to the foregoing; and (v) each License included in the Collateral is valid and binding and in full force and effect, and the rights of such Grantor thereunder shall not be altered as a result of the rights and interest granted herein.

SECTION 4.03 Covenants. (a) Each Grantor agrees to maintain, at its own cost and expense, such complete and accurate records with respect to the Article 9 Collateral owned by it as is consistent with its current practices and in accordance with such prudent and standard practices used in industries that are the same as or similar to those in which such Grantor is engaged. Each Grantor shall, at its own expense, take any and all commercially reasonable actions necessary to defend title to the Article 9 Collateral against all persons and to defend the Security Interest of the Collateral Agent in the Article 9 Collateral and the priority thereof against any Lien not expressly permitted pursuant to the Credit Agreement.

(b) Each Grantor agrees, at its own expense, promptly to execute, acknowledge, deliver and cause to be duly filed all such further instruments and documents and take all such actions as the Collateral Agent may from time to time reasonably request to better assure, obtain, preserve, protect and perfect the Security Interest and the rights and remedies created hereby, including the payment of any fees and Taxes required in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the granting of the Security Interest and the filing of any financing or continuation statements (including fixture filings) or other documents in connection herewith or therewith.

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Grantor hereby authorizes the Collateral Agent, with prompt notice thereof to the Grantors, to supplement this Agreement by supplementing Schedule III or adding additional schedules hereto to identify specifically any asset or item of a Grantor that may, in the Collateral Agent’s judgment, constitute Copyrights, Licenses, Patents or Trademarks; provided that any Grantor shall have the right, exercisable within 30 days after it has been notified by the Collateral Agent of the specific identification of such Collateral, to advise the Collateral Agent in writing of any inaccuracy of the representations and warranties made by such Grantor hereunder with respect to such Collateral. Each Grantor agrees that it will use its commercially reasonable efforts to take such action as shall be necessary in order that all representations and warranties hereunder shall be true and correct with respect to such Collateral within 30 days after the date it has been notified by the Collateral Agent of the specific identification of such Collateral.

(c) The Collateral Agent and such persons as the Collateral Agent may designate shall have the right to visit and inspect the records and properties of the Grantors in accordance with Section 5.07(a) of the Credit Agreement.

 

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(d) At its option and upon written notice to the Grantors, the Collateral Agent may discharge past due Taxes, assessments, charges, fees, Liens, security interests or other encumbrances at any time levied or placed on the Article 9 Collateral and not expressly permitted pursuant to the Credit Agreement, and may pay for the maintenance and preservation of the Article 9 Collateral to the extent any Grantor fails to do so as required by the Credit Agreement or this Agreement, and each Grantor jointly and severally agrees to reimburse the Collateral Agent within 10 days of written demand therefor for any payment made or any expense incurred by the Collateral Agent pursuant to the foregoing authorization; provided, however, that nothing in this paragraph shall be interpreted as excusing any Grantor from the performance of, or imposing any obligation on the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party to cure or perform, any covenants or other promises of any Grantor with respect to Taxes, assessments, charges, fees, Liens, security interests or other encumbrances and maintenance as set forth herein or in the other Loan Documents.

(e) If at any time any Grantor shall take a security interest in any property with a value individually in excess of $5,000,000 of an Account Debtor or any other Person to secure payment and performance of an Account, such Grantor shall promptly notify the Collateral Agent thereof and, upon the request of the Collateral Agent, promptly assign such security interest to the Collateral Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, but only to the extent not deemed to have already granted such a security interest pursuant to Section 9-203 of the New York UCC. Such assignment need not be filed of public record unless necessary to continue the perfected status of the security interest against creditors of and transferees from the Account Debtor or other person granting the security interest.

(f) Each Grantor shall remain liable to observe and perform all the conditions and obligations to be observed and performed by it under each contract, agreement or instrument relating to the Article 9 Collateral, all in accordance with the terms and conditions thereof, and each Grantor jointly and severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties from and against any and all liability for such performance.

(g) No Grantor shall make or permit to be made an assignment, pledge or hypothecation of the Article 9 Collateral or shall grant any other Lien in respect of the Article 9 Collateral or permit any notice to be filed under the Assignment of Claims Act, except, in each case, as expressly permitted by the Credit Agreement. No Grantor shall make or permit to be made any transfer of the Article 9 Collateral and each Grantor shall remain at all times in possession or otherwise in control of the Article 9 Collateral owned by it, except as permitted by the Credit Agreement.

(h) No Grantor will, without the Collateral Agent’s prior written consent, grant any extension of the time of payment of any Accounts included in the Article 9 Collateral, compromise, compound or settle the same for less than the full amount thereof, release, wholly or partly, any person liable for the payment thereof or allow any credit or discount whatsoever thereon, other than extensions, credits, discounts, compromises, compoundings or settlements granted or made in the ordinary course of business, in a manner otherwise consistent with past practices or consistent with commercially reasonable conduct.

 

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(i) Each Grantor irrevocably makes, constitutes and appoints the Collateral Agent (and all officers, employees or agents designated by the Collateral Agent) as such Grantor’s true and lawful agent (and attorney-in-fact) for the purpose, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, of making, settling and adjusting claims in respect of Article 9 Collateral under policies of insurance, endorsing the name of such Grantor on any check, draft, instrument or other item of payment for the proceeds of such policies of insurance and for making all determinations and decisions with respect thereto. In the event that any Grantor at any time or times shall fail to obtain or maintain any of the policies of insurance required under the Credit Agreement or to pay any premium in whole or part relating thereto, the Collateral Agent may upon written notice to the Grantors, without waiving or releasing any obligation or liability of any Grantor hereunder or any Default or Event of Default, in its sole discretion, obtain and maintain such policies of insurance and pay such premium and take any other actions with respect thereto as the Collateral Agent deems advisable. All sums disbursed by the Collateral Agent in connection with this paragraph, including reasonable out-of-pocket attorneys’ fees, court costs, expenses and other charges relating thereto, shall be payable, 10 days after written demand therefor, by the Grantors to the Collateral Agent and shall be additional Obligations secured hereby.

(j) Each Grantor shall maintain, in accordance with prudent and standard industry practices, records of its Chattel Paper in excess of $5,000,000 and its books, records and documents evidencing or pertaining thereto.

(k) Each Grantor shall use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the security interest created by this Agreement as a perfected security interest in all material portions of the Collateral to the extent required hereunder having at least the priority described in Section 4.02(c).

(l) Each Grantor will not, except upon prior notice to the Collateral Agent and delivery to the Collateral Agent of any additional documents reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent that are necessary to maintain the validity, perfection and priority of the security interests provided for herein, effect any change (i) in name, (ii) in its identity or type of organization or corporate structure, (iii) in its federal taxpayer identification number or organizational identification number or (iv) in its jurisdiction of organization. Each Grantor agrees to promptly provide the Collateral Agent with certified organizational documents reflecting any of the changes described in the first sentence of this paragraph. Each Grantor agrees not to effect or permit any change referred to in the preceding sentence unless all filings have been made under the Uniform Commercial Code or otherwise that are required in order for the Collateral Agent to continue at all times following such change to have a valid, legal and perfected security interest (with the same priority as immediately before such change) in all the Article 9 Collateral. Holdings and the Borrowers also agree promptly to notify the Collateral Agent if any material portion of the Collateral is damaged or destroyed.

(m) Subject to the rights of each Grantor under the Credit Agreement to dispose of the Collateral, each Grantor shall, at its own expense, use commercially reasonable efforts to (x) defend title to material portions of the Article 9 Collateral against all Persons and (y) defend the Security Interest of the Collateral Agent in material portions of the Article 9 Collateral and the priority thereof, in each case against any Lien not expressly permitted pursuant to Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement.

 

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SECTION 4.04 Other Actions. In order to further insure the attachment, perfection and priority of, and the ability of the Collateral Agent to enforce, the Security Interest in the Article 9 Collateral, each Grantor agrees, in each case at such Grantor’s own expense, to take the following actions with respect to the following Article 9 Collateral:

(a) Instruments. If any Grantor shall at any time hold or acquire any Instruments the fair market value of which equals or exceeds $5,000,000 individually, such Grantor shall promptly notify the Collateral Agent thereof and, upon the request of the Collateral Agent, endorse, assign and deliver the same to the Applicable Collateral Agent (or its bailee), accompanied by such undated instruments of endorsement, transfer or assignment duly executed in blank as the Collateral Agent may from time to time specify.

(b) Deposit Accounts. For each Deposit Account (excluding the Excluded Accounts) that any Grantor at any time opens or maintains in the United States, such Grantor shall notify the Collateral Agent thereof and, upon the Collateral Agent’s request, cause the depositary bank to agree to comply at any time with instructions from the Collateral Agent to such depositary bank directing the disposition of funds from time to time credited to such Deposit Account, without further consent of such Grantor or any other person, pursuant to an agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent. The Collateral Agent agrees with each Grantor that the Collateral Agent shall not give any such instructions or withhold any withdrawal rights from any Grantor, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; provided, however, that the Grantors shall not be required to comply with this Section 4.04(b) with respect to any Excluded Accounts. The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to any Deposit Account for which any Grantor, the depositary bank and the Collateral Agent have entered into a cash collateral agreement specially negotiated among such Grantor, the depositary bank and the Collateral Agent for the specific purpose set forth therein.

(c) Investment Property. Except to the extent otherwise provided in Article III, if any Grantor shall at any time hold or acquire any certificated securities the value of which at the time acquired equals or exceeds $5,000,000 individually, such Grantor shall endorse, assign and deliver the same to the Applicable Collateral Agent (or its bailee), accompanied by such undated instruments of transfer or assignment duly executed in blank as the Applicable Collateral Agent may from time to time specify. If any securities, whether certificated or uncertificated, or other Investment Property now or hereafter acquired by any Grantor are held by such Grantor or its nominee through a Securities Intermediary or Commodity Intermediary, such Grantor shall notify the Collateral Agent thereof and, at the Collateral Agent’s request and option, use commercially reasonable efforts to, pursuant to an agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, cause such Securities Intermediary or Commodity Intermediary, as the case may be, to agree to comply with instructions from the Senior Representative to such Securities Intermediary as to such securities or other Investment Property, or (as the case may be) to apply any value distributed on account of any commodity contract as directed by the Senior Representative to such Commodity Intermediary, in each case without further consent of any Grantor or such nominee; provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided in Article III, the Grantors shall not be required to comply with the foregoing provisions of this sentence with respect to Excluded Accounts. The Collateral Agent agrees with each Grantor that the Collateral Agent shall not give any such instructions or directions to any such issuer, Securities Intermediary or Commodity Intermediary,

 

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and shall not withhold its consent to the exercise of any withdrawal or dealing rights by any Grantor, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing. The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to any Financial Assets credited to a Securities Account for which the Collateral Agent is the Securities Intermediary.

(d) Electronic Chattel Paper and Transferable Records. If any Grantor at any time holds or acquires an interest in any Electronic Chattel Paper or any “transferable record”, as that term is defined in Section 201 of the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, or in Section 16 of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act as in effect in any relevant jurisdiction, and the value of such Electronic Chattel Paper or “transferable record equals or exceeds $5,000,000 individually, such Grantor shall notify the Collateral Agent thereof and, at the request of the Collateral Agent, shall take such action as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request to vest in the Senior Representative control under New York UCC Section 9-105 of such Electronic Chattel Paper or control under Section 201 of the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act or, as the case may be, Section 16 of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, as so in effect in such jurisdiction, of such transferable record. The Collateral Agent agrees with such Grantor that the Collateral Agent will arrange, pursuant to procedures satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and so long as such procedures will not result in the Senior Representative’s loss of control, for the Grantor to make alterations to the Electronic Chattel Paper or transferable record permitted under UCC Section 9-105 or, as the case may be, Section 201 of the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act or Section 16 of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act for a party in control to allow without loss of control, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur after taking into account any action by such Grantor with respect to such Electronic Chattel Paper or transferable record.

(e) [Reserved].

(f) Commercial Tort Claims. If any Grantor shall at any time hold or acquire a Commercial Tort Claim in an amount reasonably estimated to exceed $5,000,000, the Grantor shall notify the Collateral Agent thereof in a writing signed by such Grantor including a summary description of such claim and thereafter, upon the request of the Collateral Agent, grant to the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest therein and in the proceeds thereof, all upon the terms of this Agreement, with such writing to be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent.

SECTION 4.05 Covenants Regarding Patent, Trademark and Copyright Collateral. (a) Except to the extent the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, each Grantor agrees that it will (i) pursue all application for a Patent included in the Collateral and (ii) not, and will not authorize any of its licensees to, do any act, or omit to do any act, whereby any Patent included in the Collateral may become invalidated, unenforceable or dedicated to the public.

(b) Except to the extent the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, each Grantor (either itself or through its licensees or its sublicensees) will (i) pursue all applications for a Trademark included in the Collateral, (ii) maintain all applications for and registrations of a Trademark included in the Collateral in

 

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full force free from any claim of abandonment or invalidity for non-use, (iii) maintain the quality of products and services offered under such Trademark, consistent with the quality of the products and services as of the date hereof, (iv) display such Trademark with notice of Federal or foreign registration to the extent necessary and sufficient to establish and preserve its maximum rights under applicable law and (v) not knowingly use or knowingly permit the use of such Trademark in violation of any third person rights.

(c) Except to the extent the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, each Grantor agrees that it will not, and will not authorize any of its licensees to, do any act, or omit to do any act, whereby any Copyright included in the Collateral may become invalidated, unenforceable or dedicated to the public.

(d) [Reserved].

(e) With respect to Collateral consisting of United States Registered Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights owned by each Grantor on the Closing Date, each Grantor agrees to execute or otherwise authenticate an agreement, in substantially the same form set forth on Exhibit B hereto (an “Intellectual Property Security Agreement”), for recording the security interest granted hereunder to the Collateral Agent in such Collateral consisting of Registered Intellectual Property with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office and any other governmental authorities necessary to perfect the security interest hereunder in the Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property.

(f) Each Grantor agrees that should it obtain an ownership interest in any item of Intellectual Property that is not on the date hereof a part of the Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property (“After-Acquired Intellectual Property”) (i) the provisions of this Agreement shall automatically apply thereto, and (ii) any such After-Acquired Intellectual Property and, in the case of Trademarks, the goodwill symbolized thereby, shall automatically become part of the Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement with respect thereto. On or before the time the next Compliance Certificate is due under Section 5.04(c) of the Credit Agreement, Holdings shall deliver to the Collateral Agent written notice identifying the Registered After-Acquired Intellectual Property acquired or filed during such fiscal quarter, and such Grantor shall execute and deliver to the Collateral Agent, or otherwise authenticate, an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto (an “IP Security Agreement Supplement”) covering such Registered After-Acquired Intellectual Property, which such IP Security Agreement Supplement shall be recorded with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office and any other governmental authorities necessary to perfect the security interest hereunder in such Registered After-Acquired Intellectual Property. Each Grantor hereby appoints the Collateral Agent as its attorney-in-fact to execute and file such IP Security Agreement Supplement for the foregoing purposes, all acts of such attorney being hereby ratified and confirmed; such power, being coupled with an interest, is irrevocable.

(g) [Reserved].

 

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(h) In the event that any Grantor knows or has reason to believe that any Article 9 Collateral consisting of a Patent, Trademark or Copyright material to the conduct of any Grantor’s business has been or is being materially infringed, misappropriated or diluted by a third person, such Grantor shall, if consistent with good business judgment, promptly sue for infringement, misappropriation or dilution and to recover any and all damages for such infringement, misappropriation or dilution, and take such other actions as such Grantor reasonably deems are appropriate under the circumstances to protect such Article 9 Collateral.

(i) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, each Grantor shall, upon the request of Collateral Agent, use its best efforts to obtain all requisite consents or approvals by the licensor of each material Copyright License, Patent License or Trademark License, and each other material License, to effect the assignment of all such Grantor’s right, title and interest thereunder to the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, or its designee.

ARTICLE V

Remedies

SECTION 5.01 Remedies Upon Default. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, each Grantor agrees to deliver each item of Collateral to the Applicable Collateral Agent or its bailee on demand, and it is agreed that the Collateral Agent shall have the right, to the extent permitted by law, to take any of or all the following actions at the same or different times: (a) with respect to any Article 9 Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property, on demand, to cause the Security Interest to become an assignment, transfer and conveyance of any of or all such Article 9 Collateral by the applicable Grantor to the Collateral Agent, or to license or sublicense, whether general, special or otherwise, and whether on an exclusive or nonexclusive basis, any such Article 9 Collateral throughout the world on such terms and conditions and in such manner as the Collateral Agent shall determine (other than in violation of any then-existing licensing arrangements to the extent that waivers cannot be obtained), and (b) with or without legal process and with or without prior notice (other than the notice required pursuant to the following paragraph) or demand for performance, to take possession of the Article 9 Collateral and without liability for trespass to enter any premises where the Article 9 Collateral may be located for the purpose of taking possession of or removing the Article 9 Collateral and, generally, to exercise any and all rights afforded to a secured party under the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Grantor agrees that the Collateral Agent shall have the right, subject to the mandatory requirements of applicable law, to sell or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the Collateral at a public or private sale or at any broker’s board or on any securities exchange, for cash, upon credit or for future delivery as the Collateral Agent shall deem appropriate. The Collateral Agent shall be authorized at any such sale (if it deems it advisable to do so) to restrict the prospective bidders or purchasers to persons who will represent and agree that they are purchasing the Collateral for their own account for investment and not with a view to the distribution or sale thereof, and upon consummation of any such sale the Collateral Agent shall have the right to assign, transfer and deliver to the purchaser or purchasers thereof the Collateral so sold. Each such purchaser at any such sale shall hold the property sold absolutely, free from any claim or right on the part of any Grantor, and each Grantor hereby waives (to the extent permitted by law) all rights of redemption, stay and appraisal which such Grantor now has or may at any time in the future have under any rule of law or statute now existing or hereafter enacted.

 

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The Collateral Agent shall give each applicable Grantor 10 days’ written notice (which each Grantor agrees is reasonable notice within the meaning of Section 9-611 of the New York UCC or its equivalent in other jurisdictions) of the Collateral Agent’s intention to make any sale of Collateral. Such notice, in the case of a public sale, shall state the time and place for such sale and, in the case of a sale at a broker’s board or on a securities exchange, shall state the board or exchange at which such sale is to be made and the day on which the Collateral, or portion thereof, will first be offered for sale at such board or exchange. Any such public sale shall be held at such time or times within ordinary business hours and at such place or places as the Collateral Agent may fix and state in the notice (if any) of such sale. At any such sale, the Collateral, or portion thereof, to be sold may be sold in one lot as an entirety or in separate parcels, as the Collateral Agent may (in its sole and absolute discretion) determine. The Collateral Agent shall not be obligated to make any sale of any Collateral if it shall determine not to do so, regardless of the fact that notice of sale of such Collateral shall have been given. The Collateral Agent may, without notice or publication, adjourn any public or private sale or cause the same to be adjourned from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed for sale, and such sale may, without further notice, be made at the time and place to which the same was so adjourned. In case any sale of all or any part of the Collateral is made on credit or for future delivery, the Collateral so sold may be retained by the Collateral Agent until the sale price is paid by the purchaser or purchasers thereof, but the Collateral Agent shall not incur any liability in case any such purchaser or purchasers shall fail to take up and pay for the Collateral so sold and, in case of any such failure, such Collateral may be sold again upon like notice. Subject to the prior written consent of the Collateral Agent, at any public (or, to the extent permitted by law, private) sale made pursuant to this Agreement, any Secured Party may bid for or purchase, free (to the extent permitted by applicable law) from any right of redemption, stay, valuation or appraisal on the part of any Grantor (all said rights being also hereby waived and released to the extent permitted by applicable law), the Collateral or any part thereof offered for sale and may make payment on account thereof by using any claim then due and payable to such Secured Party from any Grantor as a credit against the purchase price, and such Secured Party may, upon compliance with the terms of sale, hold, retain and dispose of such property without further accountability to any Grantor therefor. For purposes hereof, a written agreement to purchase the Collateral or any portion thereof shall be treated as a sale thereof; the Collateral Agent shall be free to carry out such sale pursuant to such agreement and no Grantor shall be entitled to the return of the Collateral or any portion thereof subject thereto, notwithstanding the fact that after the Collateral Agent shall have entered into such an agreement all Events of Default shall have been remedied and the Obligations paid in full. As an alternative to exercising the power of sale herein conferred upon it, the Collateral Agent may proceed by a suit or suits at law or in equity to foreclose this Agreement and to sell the Collateral or any portion thereof pursuant to a judgment or decree of a court or courts having competent jurisdiction or pursuant to a proceeding by a court-appointed receiver. Any sale pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.01 shall be deemed to conform to the commercially reasonable standards as provided in Section 9-610(b) of the New York UCC or its equivalent in other jurisdictions.

SECTION 5.02 Application of Proceeds. The Collateral Agent shall apply the proceeds of any collection, sale, foreclosure or other realization upon any Collateral, including any Collateral consisting of cash in accordance with the Waterfall. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amounts received from any Grantor shall be applied to any Excluded Swap Obligation of such Grantor.

 

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The Collateral Agent shall have absolute discretion as to the time of application of any such proceeds in accordance with this Agreement. Upon any sale of Collateral by the Collateral Agent (including pursuant to a power of sale granted by statute or under a judicial proceeding), the receipt of the proceeds thereof by the Collateral Agent or the officer making the sale shall be a sufficient discharge to the purchaser or purchasers of the Collateral so sold and such purchaser or purchasers shall not be obligated to see to the application of any part of the purchase money paid over to the Collateral Agent or such officer or be answerable in any way for the misapplication thereof.

SECTION 5.03 Grant of License to Use Intellectual Property. For the purpose of enabling the Collateral Agent to exercise rights and remedies under this Agreement after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, at such time as the Collateral Agent shall be lawfully entitled to exercise such rights and remedies, each Grantor hereby grants to the Collateral Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties an irrevocable, nonexclusive license (exercisable without payment of royalty or other compensation to the Grantors), to use, license or sublicense any of the Article 9 Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property now owned or hereafter acquired by such Grantor (subject, in the case of Trademarks, to quality control measures sufficient to maintain the validity of and such Grantor’s rights in such Trademarks), and wherever the same may be located, and including in such license access to all media in which any of the licensed items may be recorded or stored and to all computer software and programs used for the compilation or printout thereof; provided, however, that this license shall not violate the express terms of any agreement between a Grantor and a third party governing such Grantor’s use of such Intellectual Property in effect on the date hereof and those granted by any Grantor hereafter, as permitted under the Loan Documents, to the extent conflicting. The Applicable Collateral Agent shall have the right, but not the obligation, after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, to bring suit in its own name to enforce the Article 9 Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property of each Grantor and, if the Applicable Collateral Agent shall commence any such suit, the appropriate Grantor shall, at the request of the Applicable Collateral Agent, do any and all lawful acts and execute any and all proper documents reasonably required by the Applicable Collateral Agent in aid of such enforcement. The use of such license by the Collateral Agent may be exercised, at the option of the Collateral Agent, only upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default; provided, however, that any license, sublicense or other transaction entered into by the Collateral Agent in accordance herewith shall be binding upon each Grantor notwithstanding any subsequent cure of an Event of Default.

SECTION 5.04 Securities Act, Etc. In view of the position of the Grantors in relation to the Pledged Collateral, or because of other current or future circumstances, a question may arise under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as now or hereafter in effect, or any similar statute hereafter enacted analogous in purpose or effect (such Act and any such similar statute as from time to time in effect being called the “Federal Securities Laws”) with respect to any disposition of the Pledged Collateral permitted hereunder. Each Grantor understands that compliance with the Federal Securities Laws might very strictly limit the course of conduct of

 

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the Collateral Agent if the Collateral Agent were to attempt to dispose of all or any part of the Pledged Collateral, and might also limit the extent to which or the manner in which any subsequent transferee of any Pledged Collateral could dispose of the same. Similarly, there may be other legal restrictions or limitations affecting the Collateral Agent in any attempt to dispose of all or part of the Pledged Collateral under applicable “blue sky” or other state securities laws or similar laws analogous in purpose or effect. Each Grantor recognizes that in light of such restrictions and limitations the Collateral Agent may, with respect to any sale of the Pledged Collateral, limit the purchasers to those who will agree, among other things, to acquire such Pledged Collateral for their own account, for investment, and not with a view to the distribution or resale thereof. Each Grantor acknowledges and agrees that in light of such restrictions and limitations, the Collateral Agent, in its sole and absolute discretion (a) may proceed to make such a sale whether or not a registration statement for the purpose of registering such Pledged Collateral or part thereof shall have been filed under the Federal Securities Laws and (b) may approach and negotiate with a limited number of potential purchasers (including a single potential purchaser) to effect such sale. Each Grantor acknowledges and agrees that any such sale might result in prices and other terms less favorable to the seller than if such sale were a public sale without such restrictions. In the event of any such sale, the Collateral Agent shall incur no responsibility or liability for selling all or any part of the Pledged Collateral at a price that the Collateral Agent, in its sole and absolute discretion, may in good faith deem reasonable under the circumstances, notwithstanding the possibility that a substantially higher price might have been realized if the sale were deferred until after registration as aforesaid or if more than a limited number of purchasers (or a single purchaser) were approached. The provisions of this Section 5.04 will apply notwithstanding the existence of a public or private market upon which the quotations or sales prices may exceed substantially the price at which the Collateral Agent sells.

ARTICLE VI

Indemnity, Subrogation and Subordination

SECTION 6.01 Indemnity and Subrogation. In addition to all such rights of indemnity and subrogation as the Subsidiary Guarantors may have under applicable law (but subject to Section 6.03), Holdings and each Borrower jointly and severally agree that (a) in the event a payment shall be made by any Subsidiary Guarantor under this Agreement, Holdings and each Borrower shall indemnify such Subsidiary Guarantor for the full amount of such payment and such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be subrogated to the rights of the person to whom such payment shall have been made to the extent of such payment and (b) in the event any assets of any Subsidiary Guarantor shall be sold pursuant to this Agreement or any other Security Document to satisfy in whole or in part a claim of any Secured Party, Holdings and each Borrower shall indemnify such Subsidiary Guarantor in an amount equal to the greater of the book value or the fair market value of the assets so sold.

SECTION 6.02 Contribution and Subrogation. Each Subsidiary Guarantor (each, a “Contributing Guarantor”) agrees (subject to Section 6.03) that, in the event a payment shall be made by any other Contributing Guarantor hereunder in respect of any Obligation, or assets of any other Contributing Guarantor shall be sold pursuant to any Security Document to satisfy any Obligation owed to any Secured Party, and such other Contributing Guarantor (the

 

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Claiming Guarantor”) shall not have been fully indemnified by Holdings or the Borrowers as provided in Section 6.01, the Contributing Guarantor shall indemnify the Claiming Guarantor in an amount equal to (i) the amount of such payment or (ii) the greater of the book value or the fair market value of such assets, as the case may be, in each case multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the net worth of the Contributing Guarantor on the date hereof and the denominator shall be the aggregate net worth of all the Contributing Guarantors on the date hereof (or, in the case of any Contributing Guarantor becoming a party hereto pursuant to Section 9.14, the date of the supplement hereto executed and delivered by such Contributing Guarantor). Any Contributing Guarantor making any payment to a Claiming Guarantor pursuant to this Section 6.02 shall be subrogated to the rights of such Claiming Guarantor under Section 6.01 to the extent of such payment.

SECTION 6.03 Subordination. (a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, all rights of the Subsidiary Guarantors under Sections 6.01 and 6.02 and all other rights of indemnity, contribution or subrogation under applicable law or otherwise shall be fully subordinated to the indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Obligations. No failure on the part of the Grantor to make the payments required by Sections 6.01 and 6.02 (or any other payments required under applicable law or otherwise) shall in any respect limit the obligations and liabilities of any Guarantor with respect to its obligations hereunder, and each Guarantor shall remain liable for the full amount of its obligations hereunder.

(b) Each Grantor hereby agrees that all Indebtedness and other monetary obligations owed by it to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary shall be fully subordinated to the Obligations until the indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Obligations (other than contingent indemnification liabilities to the extent no claim giving rise thereto has been asserted).

ARTICLE VII

[Intentionally Omitted.]

ARTICLE VIII

[Intentionally Omitted]

ARTICLE IX

Miscellaneous

SECTION 9.01 Notices. All communications and notices hereunder shall (except as otherwise expressly permitted herein) be in writing and given as provided in Section 9.01 of the Credit Agreement. All communications and notices hereunder to any Subsidiary Guarantor shall be given to it in care of Holdings or the Borrower as provided in Section 9.01 of the Credit Agreement.

 

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SECTION 9.02 Security Interest Absolute. All rights of the Collateral Agent hereunder, the Security Interest, the grant of a security interest in the Pledged Collateral and all obligations of each Grantor hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional unless such Grantor is released from its obligations hereunder in a writing signed by the Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 9.13 or this Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, irrespective of (a) any lack of validity or enforceability of the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document, any agreement with respect to any of the Obligations or any other agreement or instrument relating to any of the foregoing, (b) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the Obligations, or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to any departure from the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement or instrument relating to the foregoing, (c) any exchange, release or non-perfection of any Lien on other collateral, or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent under or departure from any guarantee, securing or guaranteeing all or any of the Obligations, or (d) any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, any Grantor in respect of the Obligations or this Agreement (other than a defense of payment in full of all Obligations (other than contingent indemnification liabilities to the extent no claim giving rise thereto has been asserted).

SECTION 9.03 Survival of Agreement. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Loan Parties in the Loan Documents and in the certificates or other instruments prepared or delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the Lenders and the Issuing Bank and shall survive the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents and the making of any Loans and issuance of any Letters of Credit, regardless of any investigation made by any Lender or Issuing Bank or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended under the Credit Agreement, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under any Loan Document (other than contingent indemnification liabilities to the extent no claim giving rise thereto has been asserted) is outstanding and unpaid or the aggregate L/C Exposure does not equal zero and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated.

SECTION 9.04 Binding Effect; Several Agreement. This Agreement shall become effective as to any Loan Party when a counterpart hereof executed on behalf of such Loan Party shall have been delivered to the Collateral Agent and a counterpart hereof shall have been executed on behalf of the Collateral Agent, and thereafter shall be binding upon such Loan Party and the Collateral Agent and their respective permitted successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of such Loan Party, the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties and their respective successors and assigns, except that no Loan Party shall have the right to assign or transfer its rights or obligations hereunder or any interest herein or in the Collateral (and any such assignment or transfer shall be void) except as expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement or the Credit Agreement. This Agreement shall be construed as a separate agreement with respect to each Loan Party and may be amended, modified, supplemented, waived or released with respect to any Loan Party without the approval of any other Loan Party and without affecting the obligations of any other Loan Party hereunder.

 

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SECTION 9.05 Successors and Assigns. Whenever in this Agreement any of the parties hereto is referred to, such reference shall be deemed to include the permitted successors and assigns of such party; and all covenants, promises and agreements by or on behalf of any Grantor or the Collateral Agent that are contained in this Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns.

SECTION 9.06 Applicable Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

SECTION 9.07 Waivers; Amendment. (a) No failure or delay by the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver hereof or thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of any Loan Document or consent to any departure by any Loan Party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section 9.07, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan or issuance of a Letter of Credit shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time. No notice or demand on any Loan Party in any case shall entitle any Loan Party to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.

(b) Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Collateral Agent and the Loan Party or Loan Parties with respect to which such waiver, amendment or modification is to apply, subject to any consent required in accordance with Section 9.08 of the Credit Agreement.

SECTION 9.08 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS. EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, AS APPLICABLE, BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 9.08.

 

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SECTION 9.09 Severability. In the event any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein and therein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby (it being understood that the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not in and of itself affect the validity of such provision in any other jurisdiction). The parties shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

SECTION 9.10 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract, and shall become effective as provided in Section 9.04. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Agreement.

SECTION 9.11 Headings. Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and are not to affect the construction of, or to be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

SECTION 9.12 Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process. (a) Each of the Grantors hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State court or Federal court of the United States of America, sitting in New York City, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the Loan Parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal court. Each of the Loan Parties agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall affect any right that the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any Grantor or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

(b) Each of the Loan Parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document in any court referred to in paragraph (a) of this Section 9.12. Each of the Loan Parties hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

 

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(c) Each party hereto hereby irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document will affect the right of the Collateral Agent or any Loan Party to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

SECTION 9.13 Termination or Release. (a) This Agreement, the guarantees made herein, the Security Interest, the pledge of the Pledged Collateral and all other Liens and security interests created by the Loan Documents hereby shall terminate when (i) all the Loan Document Obligations have been paid in full and all Commitments have been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan, all Fees and all other expenses or amounts (other than contingent indemnification liabilities to the extent no claim giving rise thereto has been asserted) payable under any Loan Document have been paid in full, all Letters of Credit have been cancelled or have expired and all amounts drawn thereunder have been reimbursed in full, or such Letters of Credit shall have been Cash Collateralized, or other arrangements satisfactory to the Issuing Bank have been made with respect thereto, and (ii) all Other Secured Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full and the related Other Secured Agreements have been terminated or such other arrangements satisfactory to each Other Secured Party with respect to the Other Secured Obligations owing to it and the Other Secured Agreements to which it is a party have been made.

(b) A Subsidiary Guarantor shall automatically be released from its obligations hereunder and the Security Interests created hereunder in the Collateral of such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be automatically released upon the consummation of any transaction permitted by the Credit Agreement as a result of which such Subsidiary Guarantor ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary.

(c) Upon any sale or other transfer by any Grantor of any Collateral that is permitted under the Credit Agreement to any person that is not a Grantor, or, upon the effectiveness of any written consent to the release of the Security Interest granted hereby in any Collateral pursuant to Section 9.08 of the Credit Agreement, the Security Interest in such Collateral shall be automatically released.

(d) In connection with any termination or release pursuant to paragraph (a), (b) or (c) above, the Collateral Agent shall promptly execute and deliver to any Grantor, at such Grantor’s expense, all Uniform Commercial Code termination statements and similar documents that such Grantor shall reasonably request to evidence such termination or release. Any execution and delivery of documents pursuant to this Section 9.13 shall be without recourse to or representation or warranty by the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party. Without limiting the provisions of Section 9.05 of the Credit Agreement, Holdings shall or shall cause a Grantor to reimburse the Collateral Agent upon demand for all out of pocket costs and expenses, including the fees, charges and expenses of counsel, incurred by it in connection with any action contemplated by this Section 9.13.

SECTION 9.14 Additional Subsidiaries. Any Restricted Subsidiary that is required to become a party hereto pursuant to Section 5.12 of the Credit Agreement shall enter into this Agreement as a Subsidiary Guarantor and a Grantor upon becoming such a Restricted Subsidiary. Upon execution and delivery by the Collateral Agent and such Subsidiary of a

 

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supplement in the form of Exhibit A hereto, such Restricted Subsidiary shall become a Subsidiary Guarantor and a Grantor hereunder with the same force and effect as if originally named as a Subsidiary Guarantor and a Grantor herein. The execution and delivery of any such instrument shall not require the consent of any other Loan Party hereunder. The rights and obligations of each Loan Party hereunder shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the addition of any new Loan Party as a party to this Agreement.

SECTION 9.15 Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and is continuing, each Secured Party is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all Collateral (including any deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final)) at any time held and other obligations at any time owing by such Secured Party to or for the credit or the account of any Grantor against any and all of the obligations of such Grantor now or hereafter existing under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents held by such Secured Party, irrespective of whether or not such Secured Party shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations may be unmatured. The rights of each Secured Party under this Section 9.15 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) which such Secured Party may have.

SECTION 9.16 Conflicts. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Liens and security interests granted to the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document and the exercise of any right or remedy by the Collateral Agent hereunder or under any other Loan Document are subject to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreements. Subject to the next sentence, in the event of any conflict between the terms of the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement, this Agreement and any other Loan Documents, the terms of the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement shall govern and control. With respect to Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral (as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement), in the event of any conflict between (i) the terms of the ABL Intercreditor on one hand and (ii) the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement and/or this Agreement and any other Loan Documents, on the other hand, the terms of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement shall govern and control. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any obligation of any Loan Party hereunder or under any other Loan Document with respect to the delivery of control or possession of any of the Collateral, the notation of any Lien on any certificate of title, bill of lading or other document, the giving of any notice to any bailee or other Person, the provision of voting rights pursuant to any proxy granted or the obtaining of any consent of any person with respect to the grant of a security interest, in each case, with respect to such Collateral, shall be deemed to be satisfied if the Loan Party complies with the requirements of the similar provision of the applicable loan documents of the Senior Representative (or, with respect to the Shared First Lien Collateral (as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement) the loan documents of the Applicable Collateral Agent); provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained in this sentence shall limit or otherwise adversely affect the grant of a lien on or a security interest in the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral pursuant to Article 4 of this Agreement. To the extent that any covenants, representations or warranties set forth in this Agreement are untrue or incorrect solely as a result of the delivery to, or grant of possession or control to, the Senior Representative or the Applicable Collateral Agent in accordance with the preceding sentence, such covenant, representation or warranty shall not be deemed to be untrue or incorrect for purposes of this Agreement.

 

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SECTION 9.17 Paramountcy. Subject to Section 9.16, in the event of a conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of the Credit Agreement, the provisions of the Credit Agreement shall prevail to the extent of such conflict.

SECTION 9.18 Continuing Security Interest; Assignment. This Agreement shall create a continuing security interest in the Collateral and shall (i) be binding upon each Grantor, and each of their permitted successors and assigns and (ii) inure, together with the rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent hereunder, to the benefit of the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties and each of their respective permitted successors, transferees and assigns. No other persons (including any other creditor of any Grantor) shall have any interest herein or any right or benefit with respect hereto. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing clause (ii), any Secured Party may assign or otherwise transfer any indebtedness held by it secured by this Agreement to any other person, and such other person shall thereupon become vested with all the benefits in respect thereof granted to such Secured Party, herein or otherwise, to the extent permitted by the provisions of the Credit Agreement and, in the case of a Secured Party that is a party to a Hedging Agreement, such Hedging Agreement.

SECTION 9.19 Acknowledgment Regarding Any Supported QFCs. To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for any QFC Credit Support, the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Loan Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of New York and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States): In the event a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Loan Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Loan Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties with respect to a Defaulting Lender shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support.

SECTION 9.20 Ratification of Security Agreement.

(a) As of the date of this Agreement, each reference in the Credit Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents to the “Guarantee and Collateral Agreement”, “Credit Agreement Security Agreement”, or “Revolving Facility Security Document”, as applicable or “thereunder”, “thereof” or words of similar import referring to this Agreement shall mean and be a reference to this Agreement, as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

35


(b) Each Grantor hereby acknowledges and agrees that this Agreement, as specifically amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified herein or hereby, and each of the other Loan Documents, as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, and the obligations of and liens and security interests granted by each Grantor hereunder or thereunder, are and shall continue to be in full force and effect and are hereby in all respects ratified and confirmed. The execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Agreement shall not operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of any Lender or the Collateral Agent under any of the Loan Documents. The rights and obligations of the parties hereto shall be governed (i) prior to the date hereof, by the Existing Security Agreement (as in effect prior to the date hereof) and (ii) on and after the date hereof, by this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the execution of this Agreement shall not constitute a novation of the security interests created pursuant to the Existing Security Agreement (as in effect prior to the date hereof), and the liens and security interests granted in favor of the Collateral Agent created thereunder do and shall continue to secure the payment of all Obligations of each Grantor under the Loan Documents, to the extent provided in this Agreement, and all such liens and security interests shall continue to be perfected as security for the Obligations secured thereby.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

36


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

 

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHERS INC., as a Borrower
By  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

HMH PUBLISHERS LLC, as a Borrower

By  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY, as a Borrower

By  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT COMPANY, as Holdings

By  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

GREENWOOD PUBLISHING GROUP, LLC, as a Subsidiary Guarantor

By  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY INTERNATIONAL, INC., as a Subsidiary Guarantor

By  

 

  Name:
  Title:


CITIBANK, N.A., as Collateral Agent,
By  

 

  Name:
  Title:


Schedule I

Revolving Facility Guarantee and Collateral Agreement

Schedule I

Subsidiary Guarantors

Greenwood Publishing Group, LLC

Houghton Mifflin Company International, Inc.


Schedule II

Revolving Facility Guarantee and Collateral Agreement

Schedule II

Equity Interests; Pledged Debt Securities

Pledged Stock

 

Issuer

  

Record Owner

   Certificate
No.
   No. Shares/Interest   Percent
Pledged
 

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers Inc.

   Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company    7    580     100

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

   Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers Inc.    7    1,000     100

HMH Publishers LLC

   Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers Inc.    N/A    100% Interest     100

Tribal Nova, Inc.

  

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Publishing Company

   C-2    3,079,554.16     66
   C-3    1,586,426.84  

Houghton Mifflin Company International, Inc.

  

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Publishing Company

   2    100     100

Greenwood Publishing Group, LLC

   Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company    N/A    100% Interest     100

HMH IP Company

Unlimited Company

   Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company    15    1,980     66
   16    1,020  

Pledged Debt Securities

None.


Schedule III

Revolving Facility Guarantee and Collateral Agreement

Schedule III

Intellectual Property

[See Attached.]


Exhibit A to the Revolving Facility Guarantee and

Collateral Agreement

FORM OF REVOLVING FACILITY GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL

AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT

This SUPPLEMENT NO. [•] (this “Supplement”) dated as of [•], to the Second Amended and Restated Revolving Facility Guarantee and Collateral Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Guarantee and Collateral Agreement”) among HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT COMPANY, a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (“Holdings”), HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHERS INC., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (“HMHP”), HMH PUBLISHERS LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (“Publishers”), HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY, a corporation organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (“HMCo”, and, together with HMHP and Publishers, collectively, the “Borrowers” and each a “Borrower”), the subsidiaries of Holdings from time to time party hereto and Citibank, N.A. (together with its affiliates, “Citibank”), as collateral agent (in such capacity, together with any successor in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”).

A. Reference is made to the Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among Holdings, the Borrowers, the lenders from time to time party thereto (the “Lenders”) and Citibank, as administrative agent for the Lenders and as Collateral Agent.

B. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement or the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, as applicable.

C. The Grantors have entered into the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement in order to induce the Lenders to make Loans and the Issuing Banks to issue Letters of Credit. Section 9.14 of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement provides that additional Restricted Subsidiaries of the Borrower may become Subsidiary Guarantors and Grantors under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and the Credit Agreement by execution and delivery of an instrument in the form of this Supplement. The undersigned Restricted Subsidiary (the “New Subsidiary”) is executing this Supplement in accordance with the Credit Agreement to become a Subsidiary Guarantor and a Grantor under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and the Credit Agreement in order to induce the Lenders to make additional Loans and the Issuing Banks to issue additional Letters of Credit and as consideration for Loans previously made and Letters of Credit previously issued.

 

A-1


Accordingly, the Collateral Agent and the New Subsidiary agree as follows:

Section 1 In accordance with Section 9.14 of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, the New Subsidiary by its signature below becomes a Grantor and Subsidiary Guarantor under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and the Credit Agreement with the same force and effect as if originally named therein as a Grantor and Subsidiary Guarantor and the New Subsidiary hereby (a) agrees to all the terms and provisions of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and Credit Agreement applicable to it as a Grantor and Subsidiary Guarantor thereunder and (b) represents and warrants that the representations and warranties made by it as a Grantor and Subsidiary Guarantor thereunder are true and correct on and as of the date hereof. In furtherance of the foregoing, the New Subsidiary, as security for the payment and performance in full of the Obligations (as defined in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement), does hereby create and grant to the Collateral Agent, its successors and assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, their successors and assigns, a security interest in and lien on all of the New Subsidiary’s right, title and interest in and to the Collateral (as defined in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement) of the New Subsidiary. Each reference to a “Grantor” or a “Subsidiary Guarantor” in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and Credit Agreement shall be deemed to include the New Subsidiary. The Guarantee and Collateral Agreement is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Section 2 The New Subsidiary represents and warrants to the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties that this Supplement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by it and constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

Section 3 This Supplement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Supplement shall become effective when the Collateral Agent shall have received counterparts of this Supplement that, when taken together, bear the signatures of the New Subsidiary and the Collateral Agent. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Supplement by facsimile transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Supplement.

Section 4 The New Subsidiary hereby represents and warrants that (a) set forth on Schedule I attached hereto is a true and correct schedule of (i) any and all Equity Interests and Pledged Debt Securities now owned by the New Subsidiary and (ii) any and all Registered Intellectual Property now owned by the New Subsidiary and (b) set forth under its signature hereto, is the true and correct legal name of the New Subsidiary and its jurisdiction of organization.

Section 5 Except as expressly supplemented hereby, the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 6 THIS SUPPLEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Section 7 In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Supplement should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein and in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby (it being understood

 

A-2


that the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not in and of itself affect the validity of such provision in any other jurisdiction). The parties hereto shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

Section 8 All communications and notices hereunder shall (except as otherwise expressly permitted by the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement) be in writing and given as provided in Section 9.01 of the Credit Agreement. All communications and notices hereunder to the New Subsidiary shall be given to it in care of the Borrower as provided in Section 9.01 of the Credit Agreement.

Section 9 The New Subsidiary agrees to reimburse the Collateral Agent for its out-of-pocket expenses in connection with this Supplement, including the fees, other charges and disbursements of counsel for the Collateral Agent.

 

A-3


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the New Subsidiary and the Collateral Agent have duly executed this Supplement to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

[NAME OF NEW SUBSIDIARY],

       By:    
    Name:
    Title:
    Address:
    Legal Name:
    Jurisdiction of Formation:
Citibank, N.A. as Collateral Agent,
  By:    
    Name:
    Title:

 

A-4


Schedule I to

Supplement No. [●] to the

Revolving Facility Guarantee and

Collateral Agreement

Collateral of the New Subsidiary

EQUITY INTERESTS

 

Issuer

  

Number of

Certificate

  

Registered

Owner

  

Number and Class of
Equity Interest

  

Percentage of
Equity Interests

PLEDGED DEBT SECURITIES

 

Issuer

 

Principal Amount

  

Date of Note

  

Maturity Date

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

[Follow format of Schedule III to the

Revolving Facility Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.]

 

A-5


Exhibit B to the

Guarantee and Collateral Agreement

FORM OF [PATENT][TRADEMARK][COPYRIGHT] SECURITY AGREEMENT

This [PATENT][TRADEMARK][COPYRIGHT] SECURITY AGREEMENT (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the [Patent][Trademark][Copyright] Security Agreement”) dated __________, 20__, is made by the Persons listed on the signature pages hereof (collectively, the “Grantors”) in favor of Citibank, N.A., as collateral agent (the “Collateral Agent”) for the Secured Parties (as defined in the Credit Agreement referred to below).

WHEREAS, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (“Holdings”), Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (“HMHP”), HMH Publishers LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (Publishers), Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, a corporation organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (“HMCo”, and, together with HMHP and Publishers, collectively, the “Borrowers” and each a “Borrower”), and certain subsidiaries of Holdings, have entered into a Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), with Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent and as Collateral Agent, and the Lenders party thereto. Terms defined in the Credit Agreement and not otherwise defined herein are used herein as defined in the Credit Agreement.

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Credit Agreement, each Grantor has executed and delivered that certain Second Amended and Restated Revolving Facility Guarantee and Collateral Agreement dated November 22, 2019, made by the Grantors to the Collateral Agent (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Security Agreement”).

WHEREAS, under the terms of the Security Agreement, the Grantors have granted to the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in, among other property, certain Intellectual Property of the Grantors, and have agreed as a condition thereof to execute this [Patent][Trademark][Copyright] Security Agreement for recording with the [United States Patent and Trademark Office][United States Copyright Office] and other governmental authorities.

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, each Grantor hereby agrees as follows:

Section 1 Grant of Security. Each Grantor hereby grants to the Collateral Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties a security interest in all of such Grantor’s right, title and interest in and to the following (the “[Patent][Trademark][Copyright] Collateral”):

(a) [the Patents and Patent applications set forth in Schedule A hereto;]


(b) [all Trademark and service mark registrations and applications, including those set forth in Schedule A hereto (provided that no security interest shall be granted in United States intent-to-use Trademark applications to the extent that, and solely during the period in which, the grant of a security interest therein would impair the validity or enforceability of such intent-to-use Trademark applications under applicable federal law), together with the goodwill symbolized thereby;]

(c) [all Copyrights and Copyright applications, including those set forth in Schedule A hereto;]

(d) any and all claims for damages and injunctive relief for past, present and future infringement, dilution, misappropriation, violation, misuse or breach with respect to any of the foregoing, with the right, but not the obligation, to sue for and collect, or otherwise recover, for such damages.

Section 2 Recordation. Each Grantor authorizes and requests that the [Register of Copyrights][Commissioner for Patents][Commissioner for Trademarks] and any other applicable government officer to record this [Patent][Trademark][Copyright] Security Agreement.

Section 3 Execution in Counterparts. This [Patent][Trademark][Copyright] Security Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

Section 4 Grants, Rights and Remedies. This [Patent][Trademark][Copyright] Security Agreement has been entered into in conjunction with the provisions of the Security Agreement. Each Grantor does hereby acknowledge and confirm that the grant of the security interest hereunder to, and the rights and remedies of, the Collateral Agent with respect to the [Patent][Trademark][Copyright] Collateral are more fully set forth in the Security Agreement, the terms and provisions of which are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein. The Security Agreement shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with its terms. In the event of any conflict between the Security Agreement and this [Patent][Trademark][Copyright] Security Agreement, the terms of the Security Agreement shall control.

Section 5 Governing Law. This [Patent][Trademark][Copyright] Security Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

2


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Grantor has caused this [Patent][Trademark][Copyright] Security Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by its officer thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above written.

 

[NAME OF BORROWER]
By  

 

  Name:
  Title:
Address for Notices:
 
 
 

[NAME OF GRANTOR]

By  

 

  Name:
  Title:
Address for Notices:
     
     
     
[NAME OF GRANTOR]
By  

 

  Name:
  Title:
Address for Notices:
 
 
 


Schedule A

[Patents][Trademarks][Copyrights]

[●]


Exhibit C to the

Guarantee and Collateral Agreement

FORM OF [PATENT][TRADEMARK][COPYRIGHT] SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT

This [PATENT][TRADEMARK][COPYRIGHT] SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT (this [Patent][Trademark][Copyright] Security Agreement Supplement”) dated __________, 20__, is made by the Person listed on the signature page hereof (the “Grantor”) in favor of Citibank, N.A., as collateral agent (the Collateral Agent”) for the Secured Parties (as defined in the Credit Agreement referred to below).

WHEREAS, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (“Holdings”), Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (“HMHP”), HMH Publishers LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (“Publishers”), Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, a corporation organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (“HMCo”, and, together with HMHP and Publishers, collectively, the “Borrowers” and each a “Borrower”), and certain subsidiaries of Holdings, have entered into a Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement”), with Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent and as Collateral Agent, and the Lenders party thereto. Terms defined in the Credit Agreement and not otherwise defined herein are used herein as defined in the Credit Agreement.

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Credit Agreement, each Grantor has executed and delivered that certain Second Amended and Restated Revolving Facility Guarantee and Collateral Agreement dated November 22, 2019, made by the Grantors to the Collateral Agent (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Security Agreement”) and that certain [Patent][Trademark][Copyright] Security Agreement dated November 22, 2019 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “[Patent][Trademark][Copyright] Security Agreement”).

WHEREAS, under the terms of the Security Agreement, the Grantor has granted to the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in the Additional [Patent][Trademark][Copyright] Collateral (as defined in Section 1 below) of the Grantor and has agreed as a condition thereof to execute this [Patent] [Trademark][Copyright] Security Agreement Supplement for recording with the [United States Patent and Trademark Office][United States Copyright Office] and other governmental authorities.


NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Grantor hereby agrees as follows:

Section 1 Grant of Security. Each Grantor hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in all of such Grantor’s right, title and interest in and to the following (the “Additional [Patent] [Trademark][Copyright] Collateral”):

(a) [the Patents and Patent applications set forth in Schedule A hereto;]

(b) [all Trademark and service mark registrations and applications, including those set forth in Schedule A hereto (provided that no security interest shall be granted in United States intent-to-use Trademark applications to the extent that, and solely during the period in which, the grant of a security interest therein would impair the validity or enforceability of such intent-to-use Trademark applications under applicable federal law), together with the goodwill symbolized thereby;]

(c) [all Copyrights and Copyright applications, including those set forth in Schedule A hereto;]

(d) any and all claims for damages and injunctive relief for past, present and future infringement, dilution, misappropriation, violation, misuse or breach with respect to any of the foregoing, with the right, but not the obligation, to sue for and collect, or otherwise recover, for such damages.

Section 2 Recordation. The Grantor authorizes and requests that the [Register of Copyrights][Commissioner for Patents][Commissioner for Trademarks] and any other applicable government officer to record this [Patent][Trademark][Copyright] Security Agreement Supplement.

Section 3 Grants, Rights and Remedies. This [Patent][Trademark] [Copyright] Security Agreement Supplement has been entered into in conjunction with the provisions of the Security Agreement. The Grantor does hereby acknowledge and confirm that the grant of the security interest hereunder to, and the rights and remedies of, the Collateral Agent with respect to the Additional [Patent][Trademark][Copyright] Collateral are more fully set forth in the Security Agreement, the terms and provisions of which are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein. The Security Agreement shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with its terms. In the event of any conflict between the Security Agreement and this [Patent][Trademark][Copyright] Security Agreement Supplement, the terms of the Security Agreement shall control.

Section 4 Governing Law. This [Patent][Trademark][Copyright] Security Agreement Supplement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

2


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Grantor has caused this [Patent][Trademark][Copyright] Security Agreement Supplement to be duly executed and delivered by its officer thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above written.

 

By

 

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

Address for Notices:

 
 
 

 

3


Schedule A

[Patents][Trademarks][Copyrights]

[·]


Exhibit E

[Form of ABL Intercreditor Agreement]

(Refer to the following page)


Execution Version

 

 

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED TERM LOAN / NOTES / REVOLVING FACILITY

LIEN SUBORDINATION AND INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT

dated as of

November 22, 2019

among

CITIBANK, N.A.,

as Original Revolving Facility Agent,

CITIBANK, N.A.,

as Original Term Facility Agent,

CITIBANK, N.A.,

as Original Notes Agent,

U.S. Bank National Association,

as Notes Trustee

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT COMPANY, as Holdings

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHERS INC.,

HMH PUBLISHERS LLC, and

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY, as Borrowers,

THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS NAMED HEREIN

 

 


This SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED TERM LOAN / NOTES/ REVOLVING FACILITY LIEN SUBORDINATION AND INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT, dated as of November 22, 2019 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this Agreement”), among CITIBANK, N.A., as agent for the Revolving Facility Secured Parties referred to herein (in such capacity, and together with its successors in such capacity, the “Original Revolving Facility Agent”), CITIBANK, N.A., as agent for the Term Facility Secured Parties referred to herein (in such capacity, and together with its successors in such capacity, the “Original Term Facility Agent”), CITIBANK, N.A., as agent for the Notes Secured Parties referred to herein (in such capacity, and together with its successors in such capacity, the Original Notes Agent”), U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as notes trustee (in such capacity, the “Notes Trustee”), HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT COMPANY (“Holdings”), HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHERS INC. (“HMHP”), HMH PUBLISHERS LLC (“Publishers”), HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY (“HMCo” and, together with HMHP and Publishers, the “Borrowers”) and the other Restricted Subsidiaries of Holdings party hereto (the “Subsidiary Guarantors” and together with Holdings and the Borrowers, the “Loan Parties” and each a “Loan Party”).

Reference is made to (a) the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement, (b) the Term Facility Credit Agreement, and (c) the Notes Indenture.

In consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Original Revolving Facility Agent (for itself and on behalf of the Revolving Facility Secured Parties), the Original Term Facility Agent (for itself and on behalf of the Term Facility Secured Parties), the Original Notes Agent (for itself and on behalf of the Notes Secured Parties), and the Loan Parties party hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

Definitions

SECTION 1.01. Construction; Certain Defined Terms. (a) The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.” The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.” Unless the context requires otherwise, (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument, other document, statute or regulation herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument, other document, statute or regulation as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, but shall not be deemed to include the Subsidiaries of such Person unless express reference is made to such Subsidiaries, (iii) the words “herein,” “hereof and “hereunder,” and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular


provision hereof, (iv) all references herein to Articles, Sections and Annexes shall be construed to refer to Articles, Sections and Annexes of this Agreement, (v) unless otherwise expressly qualified herein, the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights and (vi) the term “or” is not exclusive.

(b) All terms used in this Agreement that are defined in Article 1, 8 or 9 of the New York UCC (whether capitalized herein or not) and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in Article 1, 8 or 9 of the New York UCC. If a term is defined in Article 9 of the New York UCC and another Article of the UCC, such term shall have the meaning assigned to it in Article 9 of the New York UCC.

(c) As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

Agreement Currency” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.14.

Applicable Creditor” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.14.

Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code.

Borrowers” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble of this Agreement.

Business Day ” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or day on which banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to close; provided, however, that when used in connection with a Eurodollar Loan, the term Business Day shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open for dealings in deposits in such currency in the London interbank market.

Collateral” means all of the assets and property of any Grantor, whether real, personal or mixed, constituting the Revolving Facility Collateral and the Shared Collateral.

Designated Junior Representative” means (a) with respect to the Shared First Lien Collateral, (i) until the Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations has occurred with respect to Revolving Facility Obligations, the Revolving Facility Agent, and (ii) thereafter, until the Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations has occurred with respect to Second Lien Shared Obligations, the Designated Shared Second Lien Representative, and (b) with respect to the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral, (i) until the Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations has occurred with respect to the First Lien Shared Obligations, the Designated Shared First Lien Representative, and (ii) thereafter, until the Discharge of the Senior Secured Debt Obligations has occurred with respect to Second Lien Shared Obligations, the Designated Shared Second Lien Representative.

 

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Designated Senior Representative means (a) with respect to the Shared First Lien Collateral, (i) until the Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations has occurred with respect to the First Lien Shared Obligations, the Designated Shared First Lien Representative, and (ii) thereafter, until the Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations has occurred with respect to the Second Lien Shared Obligations, the Designated Shared Second Lien Representative, and (b) with respect to the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral, (i) until the Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations has occurred with respect to Revolving Facility Obligations, the Revolving Facility Agent, and (ii) thereafter, until the Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations has occurred with respect to the First Lien Shared Obligations, the Designated Shared First Lien Representative.

Designated Shared First Lien Representative means, at any time, the “Controlling Collateral Agent” (as defined in, and as determined pursuant to the terms of, the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement) at such time; provided, that upon any change in “Controlling Collateral Agent” (as defined in the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement), such new “Controlling Collateral Agent” (as defined in the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement) shall promptly notify each party hereto in writing.

Designated Shared Second Lien Representative means, (i) the initial Second Lien Term Facility Agent if only Second Lien Term Loan Obligations are outstanding, (ii) the initial Second Lien Notes Agent if only Second Lien Notes Obligations are outstanding or (iii) if there are (A) Second Lien Term Loan Obligations and Second Lien Notes Obligations outstanding, (B) two or more tranches of Second Lien Term Loan Obligations outstanding or (C) two or more tranches of Second Lien Notes Obligations outstanding that are each secured by separate Liens on the Collateral, the Second Lien Agent that is designated as the “Designated Shared Second Lien Representative” for the purposes of this Agreement pursuant to the terms of the pari passu lien intercreditor agreement or agreements that govern such tranches of Second Lien Shared Obligations.

Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations means, with respect to any particular Senior Secured Obligations, the occurrence of all of the following:

(a) termination or expiration of all commitments to extend credit that would constitute such Senior Secured Obligations;

(b) payment in full in cash of the principal of and interest and premium (if any) on all such Senior Secured Obligations (other than any undrawn letters of credit or Other Secured Obligations);

(c) termination, expiration, cash collateralization or other credit support, including by backstopping with other letters of credit (at the lower of (i) 105% of the aggregate undrawn amount, and (ii) the percentage of the aggregate undrawn amount required for release of liens under the terms of the applicable Senior Documents), or other arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the relevant issuing bank shall have been made, in each case with respect to all outstanding letters of credit constituting such Senior Secured Obligations;

 

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(d) termination or expiration of all Other Secured Obligations whether as defined in the Term Facility Credit Agreement or the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement, the Obligations under which would constitute such Senior Secured Obligations, or arrangements with respect thereto reasonably satisfactory to the applicable Other Secured Parties (as defined in the Term Facility Credit Agreement or the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement, as applicable) having been made; and

(e) payment in full in cash of all other such Senior Secured Obligations that are outstanding and unpaid at the time the other events described in clauses (a) through (d) above occur (other than any letters of credit or Other Secured Obligations described in clauses (c) and (d) above, or contingent indemnification obligations which are not then due and payable; provided that in the case of any such contingent indemnification obligations as to which the applicable Representative or any applicable Secured Party has made a claim which has not been satisfied, such obligations have been cash collateralized in an amount sufficient in the reasonable judgment of such Representative or Secured Party to satisfy such claim); provided that the Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations shall not be deemed to have occurred in connection with a Replacement as contemplated by, and in compliance with, Section 2.10.

Equity Interests shall mean shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity interests in any person, and any option, warrant or other right entitling the holder thereof to purchase or otherwise acquire any such equity interest.

Event of Default means an “Event of Default” under and as defined in the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement, the Term Facility Credit Agreement or any Future Term Facility Credit Agreement, as the context may require.

Excluded Assets has the meaning set forth in the Revolving Facility Secured Documents or the Term Facility Secured Documents, as the context may require.

Existing ABL Intercreditor Agreement means the Amended and Restated Term Loan / Revolving Facility Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement dated as of July 22, 2015, among Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent for the Revolving Facility Secured Parties referred to therein, Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent for the Term Facility Secured Parties referred to therein, Holdings, the Borrowers, the Subsidiary Guarantors named therein (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof).

First Lien Notes Agent means, collectively, (a) the Original Notes Agent, (b) the collateral agent for any Future Senior Notes Indebtedness, and, (c) from and after the date of execution and delivery of a Notes Substitute Indenture in respect of Future Senior Notes Indebtedness, the agent, collateral agent, trustee or other representative of the lenders or other holders of the indebtedness and other obligations evidenced thereunder or governed thereby, in each case, together with its successors in such capacity.

 

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First Lien Notes Obligations means (a) the “Obligations” as such term is defined in the Notes Indenture, and (b) the principal amount of all Future Senior Term Indebtedness plus any interest, fees, attorneys fees, costs, expenses and indemnities payable on account of such principal amount or otherwise in respect of, or arising under, the Notes Debt Documents related to such Future Senior Term Indebtedness, including all fees and expenses of the collateral agent for any Future Senior Term Indebtedness plus all interest and expenses accrued or accruing (or that would, absent the commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, accrue) after the commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding in accordance with and at the rate specified in the relevant Notes Debt Documents to the extent that the claim for such interest or expense is allowed or allowable as a claim in such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

First Lien Shared Obligations means, collectively, the First Lien Term Loan Obligations and the First Lien Notes Obligations.

First Lien Term Facility Agent means, collectively, (a) the Original Term Facility Agent, (b) the collateral agent for any Future Senior Term Indebtedness, and, (c) from and after the date of execution and delivery of a Term Substitute Facility in respect of Future Senior Term Indebtedness, the agent, collateral agent, trustee or other representative of the lenders or other holders of the indebtedness and other obligations evidenced thereunder or governed thereby, in each case, together with its successors in such capacity.

First Lien Term Loan Obligations means (a) the “Obligations” as such term is defined in the Term Facility Credit Agreement, and (b) the principal amount of all Future Senior Term Indebtedness plus any interest, fees, attorneys fees, costs, expenses and indemnities payable on account of such principal amount or otherwise in respect of, or arising under, the Term Facility Debt Documents related to such Future Senior Term Indebtedness, including all fees and expenses of the collateral agent for any Future Senior Term Indebtedness plus all interest and expenses accrued or accruing (or that would, absent the commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, accrue) after the commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding in accordance with and at the rate specified in the relevant Term Facility Debt Document to the extent that the claim for such interest or expense is allowed or allowable as a claim in such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

Future Indenture means any credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument that is entered into by a Loan Party under which Future Secured Indebtedness is issued or incurred, as amended, restated, adjusted, waived, renewed, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time and any credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument evidencing or governing the terms of any Notes Substitute Indenture.

 

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Future Second Lien Notes Indebtedness means Future Secured Indebtedness that is to be secured by Liens on Collateral that are junior in priority to the Liens on such Collateral that secure the First Lien Shared Obligations and is so designated by the Borrowers at the time of incurrence thereof as Future Second Lien Notes Indebtedness hereunder; provided that such indebtedness is incurred, and the Liens securing such Future Secured Indebtedness are granted, in compliance with the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement, the Term Facility Credit Agreement, the Notes Indenture, any Future Indenture and any Future Term Facility Credit Agreement as in effect at the time of such incurrence and grant.

Future Second Lien Term Indebtedness means Future Secured Indebtedness that is to be secured by Liens on Collateral that are junior in priority to the Liens on such Collateral that secure the First Lien Shared Obligations and is so designated by the Borrowers at the time of incurrence thereof as Future Second Lien Term Indebtedness hereunder; provided that such indebtedness is incurred, and the Liens securing such Future Secured Indebtedness are granted, in compliance with the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement, the Term Facility Credit Agreement, the Notes Indenture, any Future Indenture and any Future Term Facility Credit Agreement as in effect at the time of such incurrence and grant.

Future Secured Indebtedness means Indebtedness or Obligations (other than (i) First Lien Term Loan Obligations contemplated by clause (a) of the definition of “First Lien Term Loan Obligations”, (ii) First Lien Notes Obligations contemplated by clause (a) of the definition of “First Lien Notes Obligations”, and (iii) Revolving Facility Obligations) of Holdings and its Subsidiaries that is to be secured by Liens on Collateral.

Future Senior Notes Indebtedness means Future Secured Indebtedness that is to be equally and ratably secured by Liens on Collateral with the First Lien Shared Obligations and is so designated by the Borrowers at the time of incurrence thereof as Future Senior Notes Indebtedness hereunder; provided that such Indebtedness is incurred, and the Liens securing such Future Secured Indebtedness are granted, in compliance with the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement, the Term Facility Credit Agreement, the Senior Secured Notes Indenture, any Future Indenture and any Future Term Facility Credit Agreement as in effect at the time of such incurrence and grant.

Future Senior Term Indebtedness means Future Secured Indebtedness that is to be equally and ratably secured by Liens on Collateral with the First Lien Shared Obligations and is so designated by the Borrowers at the time of incurrence thereof as Future Senior Term Indebtedness hereunder; provided that such Indebtedness is incurred, and the Liens securing such Future Secured Indebtedness are granted, in compliance with the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement, the Term Facility Credit Agreement, the Senior Secured Notes Indenture, any Future Indenture and any Future Term Facility Credit Agreement as in effect at the time of such incurrence and grant.

Future Term Facility Credit Agreement means any credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument that is entered into by a Loan Party under which Future Secured Indebtedness is issued or incurred, as amended, restated, adjusted, waived, renewed, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time and any credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument evidencing or governing the terms of any Term Substitute Facility.

 

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Grantor” means each Loan Party that shall have granted any Lien in favor of the Revolving Facility Agent, the Notes Agents and the Term Facility Agents on any of its assets or properties to secure any of the Revolving Facility Obligations or the Shared Obligations.

HMCo” has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

HMHP” has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

Holdings” has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding” means:

(a) any case commenced by or against Holdings or any other Grantor under the Bankruptcy Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors, any other proceeding for the reorganization, recapitalization or adjustment or marshalling of the assets or liabilities of Holdings or any other Grantor, any receivership or assignment for the benefit of creditors relating to Holdings or any other Grantor or any similar case or proceeding relative to Holdings or any other Grantor or its creditors, as such, in each case whether or not voluntary;

(b) any liquidation, dissolution, marshalling of assets or liabilities or other winding up of or relating to Holdings or any other Grantor, in each case whether or not voluntary and whether or not involving bankruptcy or insolvency, in each case to the extent not permitted under the Senior Documents;

(c) any proceeding seeking the appointment of any trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other insolvency official with similar powers with respect to Holdings or any other Grantor or any of its assets; or

(d) any other proceeding of any type or nature in which substantially all claims of creditors of Holdings or any other Grantor are determined and any payment or distribution is or may be made on account of such claims.

Intercreditor Agreement Joinder” means an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A.

Judgment Currency” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.14.

Junior Documents” means (a) in respect of the Shared First Lien Collateral, the Revolving Facility Debt Documents and (b) in respect of the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral, the Shared Obligations Debt Documents.

 

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Junior Liens” means (a) in respect of the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral, the Shared Liens on such Collateral, and (b) in respect of the Shared First Lien Collateral, the Revolving Facility Liens on such Collateral.

Junior Representative” means (a) with respect to the Shared First Lien Collateral, the Revolving Facility Agent, and (b) with respect to the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral, (i) until the Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations has occurred with respect to the First Lien Shared Obligations, the Designated Shared First Lien Representative, and (ii) thereafter, until the Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations has occurred with respect to the Second Lien Shared Obligations, the Designated Shared Second Lien Representative.

Junior Secured Obligations” means (a) with respect to the Shared Obligations (to the extent such Obligations are secured, or intended to be secured, by the Shared First Lien Collateral), the Revolving Facility Obligations and (b) with respect to Revolving Facility Obligations (to the extent such Obligations are secured, or intended to be secured, by the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral), the Shared Obligations.

Junior Secured Obligations Collateral” means the Collateral in respect of which the Junior Representative (on behalf of itself and the Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties) holds a Junior Lien.

Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties” means (a) with respect to the Shared First Lien Collateral, the Revolving Facility Secured Parties and (b) with respect to the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral, the Shared Obligations Secured Parties.

Junior Secured Obligations Security Documents” means (a) with respect to the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral, the Shared Obligations Security Documents, and (b) with respect to the Shared First Lien Collateral, the Revolving Facility Security Documents.

Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any agreement to give a security interest therein and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes of any jurisdiction).

Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation Joinder” means an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit B.

Loan Parties” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

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

 

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Notes Agent” means, collectively, the First Lien Notes Agent and the Second Lien Notes Agent.

Notes Debt Documents” means the Notes Indenture, the Future Indenture, the Shared Obligations Security Documents, the other “Security Documents” (as defined in the Notes Indenture) and all other loan documents, notes, guarantees, instruments and agreements governing or evidencing, or executed or delivered in connection with, any Future Indenture or Notes Substitute Indenture.

Notes Indenture” means the indenture dated November 22, 2019 as amended, restated, adjusted, waived, renewed, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time (including without limitation to add new series of notes thereunder or increase the amount of notes thereunder) and any credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument evidencing or governing the terms of any Notes Substitute Indenture.

Notes Obligations” means, collectively, the First Lien Notes Obligations and the Second Lien Notes Obligations.

Notes Secured Parties” means, at any time, the Notes Agent, the Notes Trustee, each noteholder under the Notes Indenture, the Other Secured Parties (as defined under the Notes Indenture), the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Grantor under any Notes Debt Document, and each other holder of, or obligee in respect of, any Notes Obligations (including pursuant to a Notes Substitute Indenture), in each case to the extent designated as a secured party (or a party entitled to the benefits of the security) under any Notes Debt Document outstanding at such time.

Notes Security Documents” means the “Security Documents” as referred to in the Notes Security Documents, each agreement listed in part B of Exhibit C hereto, and any other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, control agreements, guarantees, notes or any other documents or instruments now existing or entered into after the date hereof that create Liens on any assets or properties of any Grantor to secure any Notes Obligations (including any such agreements, assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents or instruments associated with any Notes Substitute Indenture), together with an intercreditor agreements that govern the Liens of the Notes Secured Parties on the Collateral.

Notes Substitute Indenture” means any facility with respect to which the requirements contained in Section 2.10 of this Agreement have been satisfied and that Replaces the Notes Indenture then in existence. For the avoidance of doubt, no Notes Substitute Indenture shall be required to be an indenture and may be indebtedness evidenced or governed by a credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument; provided that any Notes Obligations Lien securing such Notes Substitute Indenture shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement for all purposes (including the lien priorities as set forth herein as of the date hereof).

 

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Notes Trustee” means U.S. Bank National Association, solely in its capacity as Trustee under the Notes Indenture, and its successors in such capacity, and any agent, trustee or other representative representing holders or lenders under any Notes Substitute Indenture.

Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, any payment, performance or other obligation of such Person of any kind, including, without limitation, any liability of such Person on any claim, whether or not the right of any creditor to payment in respect of such claim is reduced to judgment, liquidated, unliquidated, fixed, contingent, matured, disputed, undisputed, legal, equitable, secured or unsecured, and whether or not such claim is discharged, stayed or otherwise affected by any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Obligations of the Grantors under the Secured Documents include (a) the obligation to pay principal, interest, (if applicable) letter of credit commissions, charges, expenses, fees, reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements, indemnities and other amounts payable by any Grantor under any Secured Document and (b) the obligation of any Grantor to reimburse any amount in respect of any of the foregoing that any Secured Party, in its sole discretion, may elect to pay or advance on behalf of such Grantor.

Officer” means, with respect to any Person, the chief executive officer, president, any executive vice president, chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, controller, chief restructuring officer or treasurer of such Person.

Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of Holdings, and not in an individual capacity, by at least two Officers of Holdings, one of whom must be the chief executive officer, the chief financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of Holdings.

Original Notes Agent” has the meaning assigned to that term in the preamble hereto.

Original Revolving Facility Agent” has the meaning assigned to that term in the preamble hereto.

Original Term Facility Agent” has the meaning assigned to that term in the preamble hereto.

Other Secured Obligations” has the meaning set forth in the Term Facility Credit Agreement or the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement, as the context may require.

Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement” shall mean that certain Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among the Company, the other Grantors party thereto and each Shared Obligations Agent.

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

 

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Publishers” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Real Estate Asset” means, at any time of determination, any fee interest then owned by Holdings or any other Grantor in any real property.

Replaces” means, (a) in respect of any agreement with reference to the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement or the Revolving Facility Obligations or any Revolving Substitute Facility, that such agreement refunds, refinances or replaces the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement or such Revolving Substitute Facility in whole (in a transaction that is in compliance with Section 2.10) and that all commitments thereunder are terminated, or, to the extent permitted by the terms of the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement or such Revolving Substitute Facility, in part, (b) in respect of any agreement with reference to the Term Facility Credit Agreement, any Future Term Facility Credit Agreement, the Term Facility Obligations or any Term Substitute Facility, that such agreement refunds, refinances or replaces the Term Facility Credit Agreement, such Future Term Facility Credit Agreement or such Term Substitute Facility in whole (in a transaction that is in compliance with Section 2.10) and that all commitments thereunder are terminated, or, to the extent permitted by the terms of the Term Facility Credit Agreement, such Future Term Facility Credit Agreement or such Term Substitute Facility, in part and (c) in respect of any agreement with reference to the Notes Indenture, any Future Indenture, the Notes Obligations or any Notes Substitute Indenture, that such agreement refunds, refinances or replaces the Notes Indenture, such Future Indenture or such Notes Substitute Indenture in whole (in a transaction that is in compliance with Section 2.10) and that all obligations thereunder are terminated, or, to the extent permitted by the terms of the Notes Indenture, such Future Notes Indenture or such Notes Substitute Indenture, in part. “Replace,” “Replaced” and “Replacement” shall have correlative meanings.

Representative” means (a) in the case of any Term Facility Obligations, the Term Facility Agents, (b) in the case of any Revolving Facility Obligations, the Revolving Facility Agent, and (c) in the case of any Notes Obligations, the Notes Agents.

Restricted Subsidiary” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement.

Revolving Facility Administrative Agent” means Citibank, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent under the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement, and its successors in such capacity, and any agent, trustee or other representative representing holders or lenders under any Revolving Substitute Facility.

Revolving Facility Agent” means the Original Revolving Facility Agent, and, from and after the date of execution and delivery of a Revolving Substitute Facility, the agent, collateral agent, trustee or other representative of the lenders or holders of the indebtedness and other Obligations evidenced thereunder or governed thereby, in each case, together with its successors in such capacity.

 

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Revolving Facility Collateral” means all assets and properties subject to Liens created by the Revolving Facility Security Documents to secure the Revolving Facility Obligations.

Revolving Facility Credit Agreement” means the Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of November 22, 2019, among Holdings, the Borrowers, the Subsidiary Guarantors named therein, the Revolving Facility Administrative Agent, the Revolving Facility Agent, the lenders party thereto from time to time and the other agents named therein, as amended, restated, adjusted, waived, renewed, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time and any credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument evidencing or governing the terms of any Revolving Substitute Facility.

Revolving Facility Debt Documents” means the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement, the Revolving Facility Security Documents, the other “Loan Documents” (as defined in the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement) and all other loan documents, notes, guarantees, instruments and agreements governing or evidencing, or executed or delivered in connection with, any Revolving Substitute Facility.

Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral” means all present and future right, title and interest of Holdings and the other Grantors in and to the following, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, existing or arising, and wherever located:

(a) accounts and payment intangibles, including tax refunds, but excluding payment intangibles that constitute identifiable proceeds of Shared First Lien Collateral;

(b) inventory and indebtedness owed to Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that arises from cash advances to enable the obligor thereof to acquire inventory;

(c) deposit accounts, commodity accounts, securities accounts and lock-boxes, including all money and certificated securities, uncertificated securities (other than as each may relate to Equity Interests of Holdings or the other Grantors), securities entitlements and investment property credited thereto or deposited therein (including all cash, marketable securities and other funds held in or on deposit in any deposit account, commodity account or securities account), instruments, including intercompany notes, chattel paper and all cash and cash equivalents, including cash and cash equivalents securing reimbursement obligations in respect of letters of credit or other Revolving Facility Obligations, but excluding the Shared First Lien Account;

(d) general intangibles pertaining to the other items of property included within clauses (a), (b), (c), (e) and (f) of this definition;

(e) books and records, supporting obligations, documents and related letters of credit, commercial tort claims or other claims and causes of action, in each case, to the extent related primarily to any of the foregoing; and

 

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(f) all substitutions, replacements, accessions, products and proceeds (including, without limitation, insurance proceeds, licenses, royalties, income, payments, claims, damages and proceeds of suit) of all or any of the foregoing;

provided that notwithstanding the above, the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral shall not include any Excluded Assets. Nothing in this definition shall supersede or override, as against Holdings or the other Grantors, the description of such Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral as granted under the Revolving Facility Security Documents.

Revolving Facility Liens” means Liens on the Revolving Facility Collateral created under the Revolving Facility Security Documents to secure the Revolving Facility Obligations (including Liens on such Collateral under the security documents associated with any Revolving Substitute Facility).

Revolving Facility Obligations” means the “Obligations” as such term is defined in the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement.

“Revolving Facility Secured Parties” means, at any time, the Revolving Facility Agent, the Revolving Facility Administrative Agent, each lender or issuing bank under the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement, the Other Secured Parties (as defined under the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement), the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Grantor under any Revolving Facility Debt Document, each other Person that provides letters of credit, guarantees or other credit support related thereto under any Revolving Facility Debt Document and each other holder of, or obligee in respect of, any Revolving Facility Obligations (including pursuant to a Revolving Substitute Facility), in each case to the extent designated as a secured party (or a party entitled to the benefits of the security) under any Revolving Facility Debt Document outstanding at such time.

Revolving Facility Security Documents” means the “Security Documents” as referred to in the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement, each agreement listed in part A of Exhibit C hereto, and any other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, control agreements, guarantees, notes or any other documents or instruments now existing or entered into after the date hereof that create Liens on any assets or properties of any Grantor to secure any Revolving Facility Obligations (including any such agreements, assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents or instruments associated with any Revolving Substitute Facility).

Revolving Substitute Facility” means any facility with respect to which the requirements contained in Section 2.10 of this Agreement have been satisfied and that Replaces the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement then in existence. For the avoidance of doubt, no Revolving Substitute Facility shall be required to be a revolving or asset-based loan facility and may be a facility evidenced or governed by a credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument; provided that any Revolving Facility Lien securing such Revolving Substitute Facility shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement for all purposes (including the lien priorities as set forth herein as of the date hereof).

 

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Second Lien Agents” means, collectively, the Second Lien Notes Agent and the Second Lien Term Facility Agent.

Second Lien Notes Agent” means, collectively, (a) the collateral agent for any Future Second Lien Notes Indebtedness, and (b) from and after the date of execution and delivery of a Notes Substitute Indenture that constitutes Future Second Lien Notes Indebtedness, the agent, collateral agent, trustee or other representative of the lenders or other holders of the indebtedness and other obligations evidence thereunder or governed thereby, in each case, together with its successors in such capacity.

Second Lien Notes Obligations” means the principal amount of all Future Second Lien Indebtedness plus any interest, fees, attorneys fees, costs, expenses and indemnities payable on account of such principal amount or otherwise in respect of, or arising under, the Notes Debt Documents related to such Future Second Lien Term Indebtedness, including all fees and expenses of the collateral agent for any Future Second Lien Term Indebtedness plus all interest and expenses accrued or accruing (or that would, absent the commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, accrue) after the commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding in accordance with and at the rate specified in the relevant Notes Debt Documents to the extent that the claim for such interest or expense is allowed or allowable as a claim in such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

Second Lien Shared Obligations” means collectively, the Second Lien Term Loan Obligations and the Second Lien Notes Obligations.

Second Lien Term Facility Agent” means, collectively, (a) the collateral agent for any Future Second Lien Term Indebtedness, and (b) from and after the date of execution and delivery of a Term Substitute Facility that constitutes Future Second Lien Term Indebtedness, the agent, collateral agent, trustee or other representative of the lenders or other holders of the indebtedness and other obligations evidence thereunder or governed thereby, in each case, together with its successors in such capacity.

Second Lien Term Loan Obligations” means the principal amount of all Future Second Lien Term Indebtedness plus any interest, fees, attorneys fees, costs, expenses and indemnities payable on account of such principal amount or otherwise in respect of, or arising under, the Term Facility Debt Documents related to such Future Second Lien Term Indebtedness, including all fees and expenses of the collateral agent for any Future Second Lien Term Indebtedness plus all interest and expenses accrued or accruing (or that would, absent the commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, accrue) after the commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding in accordance with and at the rate specified in the relevant Term Facility Debt Document to the extent that the claim for such interest or expense is allowed or allowable as a claim in such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

 

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Secured Parties” means the Revolving Facility Secured Parties, the Notes Secured Parties and the Term Facility Secured Parties.

Secured Documents” means the Revolving Facility Debt Documents, the Notes Debt Documents and the Term Facility Debt Documents.

Security Documents” means the Revolving Facility Security Documents, the Term Facility Security Documents and the Notes Security Documents.

Senior Documents” means (a) in respect of the Shared First Lien Collateral, the Shared Obligations Debt Documents, and (b) in respect of the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral, the Revolving Facility Debt Documents.

Senior Liens” means (a) in respect of the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral, the Revolving Facility Liens on such Collateral, and (b) in respect of the Shared First Lien Collateral, the Shared Liens on such Collateral.

Senior Representative” means (a) with respect to the Shared First Lien Collateral, (i) until the Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations has occurred with respect to First Lien Shared Obligations, the Shared Obligations Agents, and (ii) thereafter, the Second Lien Agents, as applicable, and (b) with respect to the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral, the Revolving Facility Agent.

Senior Secured Obligations” means (a) with respect to the Revolving Facility Obligations (to the extent such obligations are secured, or are intended to be secured, by the Shared First Lien Collateral), the Shared Obligations, and (b) with respect to the Shared Obligations (to the extent such obligations are secured, or are intended to be secured, by the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral), the Revolving Facility Obligations.

Senior Secured Obligations Collateral” means the Collateral in respect of which the Senior Representative (on behalf of itself and the applicable Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties) holds a Senior Lien.

Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties” means (a) with respect to the Shared First Lien Collateral, the Shared Obligations Secured Parties, and (b) with respect to the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral, the Revolving Facility Secured Parties.

Senior Secured Obligations Security Documents” means (a) with respect to the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral, the Revolving Facility Security Documents, and (b) with respect to the Shared First Lien Collateral, the Shared Obligations Security Documents.

Shared Collateral” means all assets and properties subject to Liens created by the Shared Obligations Security Documents to secure the Shared Obligations.

 

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Shared First Lien Account” shall mean that certain deposit or securities account of the Loan Parties that (a) is subject to a blocked account agreement in favor of the Designated Shared First Lien Representative (who shall have first priority rights with respect to exercising control over such account), and the Revolving Facility Agent (who shall have second priority rights with respect to exercising control over such account) and (b) contains only identifiable proceeds of any Shared First Lien Collateral (including any proceeds arising from a sale or disposition thereof) and the proceeds of any investment thereof, and other proceeds that may constitute Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral and be required hereunder to be turned over to the Revolving Facility Agent.

Shared First Lien Collateral” means all present and future right, title and interest of Holdings and the other Grantors, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, existing or arising, and wherever located, in all of the assets and property of any Grantor, whether real, personal or mixed (other than in the Excluded Assets and the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral), including, without limitation, all: (a) equipment; (b) Real Estate Assets; (c) intellectual property; (d) all general intangibles that do not constitute Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral; (e) documents of title related to equipment; (f) records, supporting obligations and related letters of credit, commercial tort claims or other claims and causes of action, in each case, to the extent related primarily to the foregoing; (g) substitutions, replacements, accessions, products and proceeds (including, without limitation, insurance proceeds, licenses, royalties, income, payments, claims, damages and proceeds of suit) of any or all of the foregoing and (h) the Shared First Lien Account, but excluding any identifiable proceeds of Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral deposited therein. Nothing in this definition shall supersede or override, as against Holdings or the other Grantors, the description of such Shared First Lien Collateral as granted under the Shared Obligations Security Documents.

Shared Liens” means Liens on the Shared Collateral created under the Shared Obligations Security Documents to secure the Shared Obligations (including Liens on such Collateral under the security documents associated with any Term Substitute Facility and/or Notes Substitute Indenture).

Shared Obligations Agent” means, collectively, the Term Facility Agents and the Notes Agents.

Shared Obligations” means, collectively, the Term Facility Obligations and the Notes Obligations.

Shared Obligations Debt Documents” means, collectively, the Term Facility Debt Documents and the Notes Debt Documents.

Shared Obligations Secured Parties” means, collectively, the Term Facility Secured Parties and the Notes Secured Parties.

Shared Obligations Security Documents” means, collectively, the Term Facility Security Documents and the Notes Security Documents

 

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“Subsidiary shall mean, with respect to any person (herein referred to as the “parent”), any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association or other business entity (a) of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, at the time any determination is being made, owned, controlled or held, or (b) that is, at the time any determination is made, otherwise controlled, by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a Subsidiary or to Subsidiaries shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of Holdings.

Term Facility Administrative Agent means Citibank, N.A., in its capacity as Administrative Agent under the Term Facility Credit Agreement, and its successors in such capacity, and any agent, trustee or other representative representing holders or lenders under any Term Substitute Facility.

Term Facility Agent means, collectively, the First Lien Term Facility Agents and the Second Lien Term Facility Agent.

Term Facility Credit Agreement means the Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019, among Holdings, the Borrowers, the Subsidiary Guarantors named therein, the Term Facility Administrative Agent, the Term Facility Agent, the lenders party thereto from time to time and the other agents named therein, as amended, restated, adjusted, waived, renewed, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time and any credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument evidencing or governing the terms of any Term Substitute Facility.

Term Facility Debt Documents means the Term Facility Credit Agreement, the Future Term Facility Credit Agreements, the Shared Obligations Security Documents, the other “Loan Documents” (as defined in the Term Facility Credit Agreement) and all other loan documents, notes, guarantees, instruments, security documents and other agreements governing or evidencing, or executed or delivered in connection with, any Future Term Facility Credit Agreement or Term Substitute Facility.

Term Facility Obligations means, collectively, the First Lien Term Loan Obligations and the Second Lien Term Loan Obligations.

Term Facility Secured Parties” means, at any time, the Term Facility Agents, the Term Facility Administrative Agent, each lender or issuing bank under the Term Facility Credit Agreement, each Other Secured Party (as defined under the Term Facility Credit Agreement), the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Grantor under any Term Facility Debt Document, each other Person that provides letters of credit, guarantees or other credit support related thereto under any Term Facility Debt Document and each other holder of, or obligee in respect of, any Term Facility Obligations (including pursuant to any Term Substitute Facility), in each case to the extent designated as a secured party (or a party entitled to the benefits of the security) under any Term Facility Debt Document outstanding at such time.

 

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Term Facility Security Documents means the “Security Documents” as referred to in the Term Facility Security Documents, each agreement listed in part B of Exhibit C hereto, and any other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, control agreements, guarantees, notes or any other documents or instruments now existing or entered into after the date hereof that create Liens on any assets or properties of any Grantor to secure any Term Facility Obligations (including any such agreements, assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents or instruments associated with any Term Substitute Facility), together with an intercreditor agreements that govern the Liens of the Term Facility Secured Parties on the Collateral.

Term Substitute Facility means any facility with respect to which the requirements contained in Section 2.10 of this Agreement have been satisfied and that is permitted to be incurred pursuant to the Revolving Facility Debt Documents and the Term Facility Debt Documents, the proceeds of which are used to, among other things, Replace the Term Facility Credit Agreement or any Future Term Facility Credit Agreement then in existence. For the avoidance of doubt, no Term Substitute Facility shall be required to be a term loan facility and may be a facility evidenced or governed by a credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument; provided that any Shared Lien securing such Term Substitute Facility shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement for all purposes (including the lien priority as set forth herein as of the date hereof).

ARTICLE II

Subordination of Junior Liens; Certain Agreements

SECTION 2.01. Subordination of Junior Liens. (a) The grant of the Revolving Facility Liens pursuant to the Revolving Facility Security Documents and the grant of the Shared Obligations Liens pursuant to the Shared Obligations Security Documents create separate and distinct Liens on the Collateral.

(b) All Junior Liens in respect of any Collateral are expressly subordinated and made junior in right, priority, operation and effect to any and all Senior Liens in respect of such Collateral, notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement, the Revolving Facility Debt Documents, the Term Facility Debt Documents, the Notes Debt Documents or any other agreement or instrument or operation of law to the contrary, and irrespective of the time, order or method of creation, attachment or perfection of such Junior Liens and Senior Liens or any failure, defect or deficiency or alleged failure, defect or deficiency in any of the foregoing.

(c) It is acknowledged that (i) the aggregate amount of the Senior Secured Obligations may be increased from time to time pursuant to the terms of the Senior Documents, (ii) a portion of the Senior Secured Obligations consists or may consist of indebtedness that is revolving in nature, and the amount thereof that may be outstanding at any time or from time to time may be increased or reduced and subsequently reborrowed, and (iii) the Senior Secured Obligations may be increased,

 

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extended, renewed, replaced, restated, supplemented, restructured, repaid, refunded, refinanced or otherwise amended or modified from time to time, all without affecting the subordination of the Junior Liens hereunder or the provisions of this Agreement defining the relative rights of the Revolving Facility Secured Parties, the Notes Secured Parties and the Term Facility Secured Parties.

(d) The lien priorities provided for herein shall not be altered or otherwise affected by any amendment, modification, supplement, extension, increase, renewal, restatement or Replacement of either the Junior Secured Obligations (or any part thereof) or the Senior Secured Obligations (or any part thereof), by the release of any Collateral or of any guarantees for any Senior Secured Obligations or by any action that any Representative or Secured Party may take or fail to take in respect of any Collateral.

SECTION 2.02. No Action With Respect to Junior Secured Obligations Collateral Subject to Senior Liens. Subject to Sections 2.04 and 2.13, no Junior Representative or other Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party shall commence or instruct any Junior Representative to commence any judicial or nonjudicial foreclosure proceedings with respect to, seek to have a trustee, receiver, liquidator or similar official appointed for or over, attempt any action to take possession of, exercise any right, remedy or power (including any right of setoff or rights under any account agreement, landlord waiver, bailee letter or collateral access agreement) with respect to, or otherwise take any action to enforce its interest in or realize upon, or take any other action available to it in respect of, any Junior Secured Obligations Collateral under any Junior Secured Obligations Security Document, applicable law or otherwise until the associated Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations, it being agreed that only the Designated Senior Representative, acting in accordance with the applicable Senior Secured Obligations Security Documents, shall be entitled to take any such actions or exercise any such remedies prior to the associated Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Junior Representative may, subject to Section 2.05, (i) take all such actions as it shall deem necessary to perfect or continue the perfection of its Junior Liens, (ii) take all such actions as it shall deem necessary to create, preserve or protect (but not enforce) the Junior Liens on any Collateral, (iii) in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding commenced by or against any Borrower or any other Grantor, file a proof of claim or statement of interest with respect to the Junior Secured Obligations and vote on any plan of reorganization (including a vote to accept or reject a plan of partial or complete liquidation) to the extent such vote is not in violation of the terms of this Agreement, (iv) file any necessary responsive or defensive pleadings in opposition to any motion, claim, adversary proceeding or other pleading made by any person objecting to or otherwise seeking the disallowance of the claims of the Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties, including any claims secured by the Collateral, if any, in each case in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, (v) exercise the rights available to a holder of unsecured claims in accordance with Section 2.13, (vi) file any proof of claim, make other filings and make any arguments and motions in order to preserve or protect its Liens on the Collateral that are, in each case, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, with respect to the Junior Secured Obligations and the Collateral and/or (vii) present a cash bid at any Section 363 hearing or with respect to any other Collateral disposition.

 

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SECTION 2.03. No Duties of Senior Representative. Each Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party acknowledges and agrees that neither the Senior Representative nor any other Senior Secured Obligations Secured Party shall have any duties or other obligations to such Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party with respect to any Senior Secured Obligations Collateral, other than to transfer to the Junior Representative any remaining Collateral that constitutes Junior Secured Obligations Collateral and any proceeds of the sale or other disposition of any such Collateral that constitutes Junior Secured Obligations Collateral remaining in its possession following the associated Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations, in each case without representation or warranty on the part of the Senior Representative or any Senior Secured Obligations Secured Party. In furtherance of the foregoing, each Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party acknowledges and agrees that until the associated Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations secured by any Collateral on which such Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party holds a Junior Lien, the Senior Representative shall be entitled, for the benefit of the holders of such Senior Secured Obligations, to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of or deal with such Collateral, as provided herein and in the Senior Secured Obligations Security Documents, without regard, except to account for excess proceeds as provided above, to any Junior Lien or any rights to which the holders of the Junior Secured Obligations would otherwise be entitled as a result of such Junior Lien. Without limiting the foregoing, each Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party agrees that neither the Senior Representative nor any other Senior Secured Obligations Secured Party shall have any duty or obligation first to marshal or realize upon any type of Senior Secured Obligations Collateral (or any other collateral securing the Senior Secured Obligations), or to sell, dispose of or otherwise liquidate all or any portion of such Collateral (or any other collateral securing the Senior Secured Obligations), in any manner that would maximize the return to the Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties, notwithstanding that the order and timing of any such realization, sale, disposition or liquidation may affect the amount of proceeds actually received by the Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties from such realization, sale, disposition or liquidation. Following the associated Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations, the Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties may, subject to any other agreements binding on such Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties, assert their rights under the New York UCC or otherwise to any proceeds remaining following a sale, disposition or other liquidation of Collateral by, or on behalf of the Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties. Each of the Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties waives any claim such Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party may now or hereafter have against the Senior Representative or any other Senior Secured Obligations Secured Party (or their representatives) arising out of any actions which the Senior Representative or the Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties take or omit to take (including actions with respect to the creation, perfection or continuation of Liens on any Collateral, actions with respect to the foreclosure upon, sale, release or depreciation of, or failure to realize upon, any of the Collateral, and actions with respect to the collection of any claim for all or any part of the Senior Secured Obligations from any account debtor, guarantor or any other party) in accordance with this Agreement and the Senior Secured Obligations Security Documents or any other agreement related thereto or to the collection of the Senior Secured Obligations or the valuation, use, protection or release of any security for the Senior Secured Obligations.

 

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SECTION 2.04. No Interference; Payment Over; Reinstatement. (a) Each Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party agrees that (i) it will not take or cause to be taken any action the purpose or effect of which is, or could be, to make any Junior Lien pari passu with, or to give such Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party any preference or priority relative to, any Senior Lien with respect to the Collateral subject to such Senior Lien and Junior Lien or any part thereof, (ii) it will not challenge or question in any proceeding the validity or enforceability of any Senior Secured Obligations or Senior Secured Obligations Security Document, or the validity, attachment, perfection or priority of any Senior Lien, or the validity or enforceability of the priorities, rights or duties established by or other provisions of this Agreement, (iii) it will not take or cause to be taken any action the purpose or intent of which is, or could be, to interfere, hinder or delay, in any manner, whether by judicial proceedings or otherwise, any sale, transfer or other disposition of the Collateral subject to any Junior Lien by any Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties secured by Senior Liens on such Collateral or any Senior Representative acting on their behalf, (iv) it shall have no right to (A) direct any Senior Representative or any holder of Senior Secured Obligations to exercise any right, remedy or power with respect to the Collateral subject to any Junior Lien or (B) consent to the exercise by any Senior Representative or any other Senior Secured Obligations Secured Party of any right, remedy or power with respect to the Collateral subject to any Junior Lien, (v) it will not institute any suit or assert in any suit or Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding any claim against any Senior Representative or other Senior Secured Obligations Secured Party seeking damages from or other relief by way of specific performance, instructions or otherwise with respect to, and neither any Senior Representative nor any other Senior Secured Obligations Secured Party shall be liable to any Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party for, any action taken or omitted to be taken by such Senior Representative or other Senior Secured Obligations Secured Party with respect to any Collateral securing such Senior Secured Obligations that is subject to any Junior Lien, (vi) it will not seek, and hereby waives any right, to have any Senior Secured Obligations Collateral subject to any Junior Lien or any part thereof marshaled upon any foreclosure or other disposition of such Collateral and (vii)it will not attempt, directly or indirectly, whether by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to challenge the enforceability of any provision of this Agreement.

(b) The Junior Representative and each other Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party hereby agrees that until the associated Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations, if it shall obtain possession of any Senior Secured Obligations Collateral or shall realize any proceeds or payment in respect of any such Collateral, pursuant to remedies taken under any Junior Secured Obligations Security Document or by the exercise of any rights available to it under applicable law or in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or through any other exercise of remedies, at any time prior to the associated Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations secured, or intended to be secured, by such Collateral, then it shall hold such Collateral, proceeds or payment in trust for the applicable Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties and transfer such Collateral, proceeds or payment, as the case may be, to the Designated Senior Representative reasonably promptly after obtaining actual knowledge or notice from the Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties that it has possession of such Senior Secured Obligations Collateral or proceeds or payments in respect thereof. Each Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party agrees that if, at any time, it obtains actual knowledge or receives notice that all or part of any payment

 

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with respect to any Senior Secured Obligations previously made shall be rescinded for any reason whatsoever, such Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party shall promptly pay over to the Designated Senior Representative any payment received by it and then in its possession or under its control in respect of any Collateral subject to any Senior Lien securing such Senior Secured Obligations and shall promptly turn any Collateral subject to any such Senior Lien then held by it over to the Designated Senior Representative, and the provisions set forth in this Agreement shall be reinstated as if such payment had not been made, until the payment and satisfaction in full of the Senior Secured Obligations. All Junior Liens will remain attached to and enforceable against all proceeds so held or remitted. Anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, this Section 2.04(b) shall not apply to any proceeds of Senior Secured Obligations Collateral realized in a transaction not prohibited by the Senior Documents and as to which the possession or receipt thereof by the Junior Representative or other Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party is otherwise permitted by the Senior Documents.

SECTION 2.05. Release of Liens; Automatic Release of Junior Liens. (a) The Junior Representative and each other Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party agree that (i) in the event the Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties release their Lien on any Senior Secured Obligations Collateral subject to any Junior Lien pursuant to the terms contained in this Agreement (other than a release in connection with a sale, transfer or other disposition of Senior Secured Obligations Collateral, which shall be governed by clause (a)(ii) below), such Junior Lien on such Collateral shall terminate and be released automatically and without further action unless, at the time of such release by the Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties, an Event of Default shall then have occurred and be continuing under the Junior Documents (provided that any Junior Lien that would have otherwise been released and terminated pursuant to this clause (a)(i) in the absence of such an Event of Default under the Junior Documents shall terminate and be released automatically and without further action when such Event of Default (and all other Events of Default under the Junior Documents) cease to exist); and (ii) in the event of a sale, transfer or other disposition of Senior Secured Obligations Collateral subject to any Junior Lien (regardless of whether or not an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under the Junior Documents at the time of such sale, transfer or other disposition), such Junior Lien on such Collateral shall terminate and be released automatically and without further action if the applicable Senior Liens on such Collateral are released and if such sale, transfer or other disposition either (A) is then not prohibited by the Junior Documents or (B) occurs in connection with the foreclosure upon or other exercise of rights and remedies with respect to such Senior Secured Obligations Collateral; provided that such Junior Lien shall remain in place with respect to any proceeds of a sale, transfer or other disposition under this clause (a)(ii) that remain after the associated Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations. In addition, for the avoidance of doubt, the Junior Representative and each Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party agree that, with respect to any property or assets that would otherwise constitute Senior Secured Obligations Collateral, the requirement that a Junior Lien attach to, or be perfected with respect to, such property or assets shall be waived automatically and without further action so long as the requirement that a Senior Lien attach to, or be perfected with respect to, such property or assets is waived by the Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties (or the Senior Representative) in accordance with the Senior Documents and so long as no Event of Default under the Junior Documents

 

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shall have occurred, be continuing or would result therefrom at such time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of release of Liens by the Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties on all or substantially all of the Senior Secured Obligations Collateral (other than when such release occurs in connection with the Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties’ foreclosure upon or other exercise of rights and remedies with respect to such Collateral), no release of the Junior Lien on such Senior Secured Obligations Collateral under this Section 2.05 shall be made (it being understood that this Section 2.05 shall not affect any other obligation of the Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties to any other Person, including a Loan Party, to release Liens pursuant to the Junior Documents or the Junior Secured Obligations Security Documents or otherwise) unless (A) consent to the release of such Junior Liens has been given by the requisite percentage or number of the Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties at the time outstanding as provided for in the applicable Junior Documents and (B) Holdings has delivered an Officers’ Certificate to the Revolving Facility Agent and the Shared Obligations Agents certifying that all such consents have been obtained.

(b) The Revolving Facility Agent and the Shared Obligations Agents agree for the benefit of Holdings and the other Grantors that, with respect to the release of any Collateral, if the Revolving Facility Agent or the Designated Shared First Lien Representative, as applicable, at any time receives:

(i) an Officers’ Certificate stating that (A) the signing officers have read this Section 2.05(b) and understand the provisions and the definitions relating hereto, (B) such officers have made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable such Persons to express an informed opinion as to whether or not the conditions precedent in this Section 2.05(b) and all other Secured Documents, if any, relating to the release of such Collateral have been (or will be substantially simultaneously with the delivery of such certificate) complied with and (C) in the opinion of such officers, such conditions precedent, if any, have (or will be substantially simultaneously with the delivery of such certificate) been complied with;

(ii) the proposed instrument or instruments releasing such Lien as to such property in recordable form, if applicable; and

(iii) prior to the associated Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations, the written confirmation of the Designated Senior Representative (or, at any time after the associated Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations, the Designated Junior Representative) (such confirmation to be given following receipt of, and based solely on, the Officers’ Certificate described in clause (i) above) that, in its view, such release is permitted by Section 2.05(a) and the respective Secured Documents governing the Revolving Facility Obligations or the applicable Shared Obligations, as applicable, the holders of which such Representative represents;

then the Revolving Facility Agent or the Designated Shared First Lien Representative, as applicable, will execute (with such acknowledgements and/or notarizations as are required) and deliver such release to Holdings or other applicable Grantor on or before the later of (x) the date specified in such request for such release and (y) the second business day after the date of receipt of the items required by this Section 2.05(b) by the applicable Representative.

 

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(c) The Junior Representative agrees to execute and deliver (at the sole cost and expense of the Grantors) all such releases and other instruments as shall reasonably be requested by the Designated Senior Representative to evidence and confirm any release of Junior Secured Obligations Collateral provided for in this Section 2.05.

SECTION 2.06. Certain Agreements With Respect to Insolvency or Liquidation Proceedings. (a) This Agreement shall continue in full force and effect, notwithstanding the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding by or against Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiaries.

(b) Other than with respect to the Chapter 11 Cases (as defined in the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement), if Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall become subject to a case under the Bankruptcy Code and shall, as debtor(s)-in-possession, move for approval of financing (“DIP Financing”) to be provided by one or more lenders (the “DIP Lenders”) under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code or the use of cash collateral under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code, each Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party agrees that it will raise no objection, and will waive any claim such Person may now or hereafter have, to any such financing or to the Liens on the Senior Secured Obligations Collateral securing the same (“DIP Financing Liens”), or to any use of cash collateral that constitutes Senior Secured Obligations Collateral or to any grant of administrative expense priority under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code, unless (i) the Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties, or a representative authorized by the Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties, shall then oppose or object to such DIP Financing or such DIP Financing Liens or such use of cash collateral or (ii) such DIP Financing Liens are neither senior to, nor rank pari passu with, the Senior Liens upon any property of the estate in such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding. To the extent such DIP Financing Liens are senior to, or rank pari passu with, the Senior Liens, the Junior Representative will, for itself and on behalf of the other Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties, subordinate the Junior Liens on the Senior Secured Obligations Collateral to the Senior Liens and the DIP Financing Liens, so long as the Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties retain Liens on all the Junior Secured Obligations Collateral, including proceeds thereof arising after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, with the same priority relative to the Senior Secured Obligations Collateral as existed prior to the commencement of the case under the Bankruptcy Code.

(c) Each Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party agrees that it will not object to or oppose a sale or other disposition of any Senior Secured Obligations Collateral (or any portion thereof) under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code or any other provision of the Bankruptcy Code if the Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties, or a representative authorized by the Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties, shall have consented to such sale or disposition of such Senior Secured Obligations Collateral and all Senior Liens and Junior Liens will attach to the proceeds of the sale.

 

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(d) The holders of Junior Secured Obligations and the Junior Representative will not file or prosecute in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding any motion for adequate protection (or any comparable request for relief) based upon their interest in the Collateral under the Junior Liens, and will not object to or contest (i) any request by the Senior Representative or the holders of Senior Secured Obligations for adequate protection or (ii) any objection by the Senior Representative or the holders of Senior Secured Obligations to any motion, relief, action or proceeding based on the Senior Representative or holders of the Senior Secured Obligations claiming a lack of adequate protection, except that the holders of Junior Secured Obligations and the Junior Representative may:

(i) freely seek and obtain relief granting a Junior Lien co-extensive in all respects with, but subordinated (as set forth in Section 2.01) to, all Liens granted in the Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding to, or for the benefit of, the holders of Senior Secured Obligations;

(ii) freely vote on any plan of reorganization or similar dispositive restructuring plan; and

(iii) freely seek and obtain any relief upon a motion for adequate protection (or any comparable relief), without any condition or restriction whatsoever, at any time after the associated Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations.

(e) Each of the Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties waives any claim such Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party may now or hereafter have against the Senior Representative or any other Senior Secured Obligations Secured Party (or their representatives) arising out of any election by the Senior Representative or any Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties, in any proceeding instituted under the Bankruptcy Code, of the application of Section 1111(b) of the Bankruptcy Code.

SECTION 2.07. Reinstatement. In the event that any of the Senior Secured Obligations shall be paid in full and such payment or any part thereof shall subsequently, for whatever reason (including an order or judgment for disgorgement of a preference under the Bankruptcy Code, or any similar law, or the settlement of any claim in respect thereof), be required to be returned or repaid, the terms and conditions of this Article II shall be fully applicable thereto until all such Senior Secured Obligations shall again have been paid in full in cash. In the event that any of the Junior Secured Obligations shall be paid in full and such payment or any part thereof shall subsequently, for whatever reason (including an order or judgment for disgorgement of a preference under the Bankruptcy Code, or any similar law, or the settlement of any claim in respect thereof), be required to be returned or repaid, the terms and conditions of this Article II shall be fully applicable thereto until all such Junior Secured Obligations shall again have been paid in full in cash.

 

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SECTION 2.08. Entry Upon Premises by the Revolving Facility Agent and the Revolving Facility Secured Parties. (a) If the Revolving Facility Agent takes any enforcement action with respect to the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral, the Shared Obligations Secured Parties (i) shall reasonably cooperate with the Revolving Facility Agent (at the sole cost and expense of the Revolving Facility Agent (it being understood nothing in this Section 2.08 affects any Grantor’s reimbursement or indemnity obligations under any Secured Document) and subject to the condition that the Shared Obligations Secured Parties shall have no obligation or duty to take any action or refrain from taking any action that could reasonably be expected to result in the incurrence of any liability or damage to the Shared Obligations Secured Parties) in its efforts to enforce its security interest in the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral and to finish any work-in-process and assemble the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral, (ii) shall not take any action designed or intended to hinder or restrict in any respect the Revolving Facility Agent from enforcing its security interest in the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral or from finishing any work-in-process or assembling the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral, and (iii) subject to the rights of any landlords under real estate leases, shall permit the Revolving Facility Agent, its employees, agents, advisers and representatives, at the sole cost and expense of the Revolving Facility Secured Parties (it being understood nothing in this Section 2.08 affects any Grantor’s reimbursement or indemnity obligations under any Secured Document) and upon reasonable advance notice, to enter upon and use the Shared First Lien Collateral (including (A) equipment, processors, computers and other machinery related to the storage or processing of records, documents or files and (B) intellectual property (in connection with which the Shared Obligations Agents and the Shared Obligations Secured Parties shall grant a nonexclusive right to use and license and sublicense Shared Collateral consisting of intellectual property to enable the Revolving Facility Agent to assemble, prepare for sale, advertise, market and dispose of the Revolving Facility Collateral, it being understood that such right will not impose additional obligations on the Grantors, and will be solely as between the relevant creditors)), for a period not to exceed 180 days after the taking of such enforcement action, for purposes of (1) assembling and storing the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral and completing the processing of and turning into finished goods of any Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral consisting of work-in-process, (2) selling any or all of the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral located on such Shared First Lien Collateral, whether in bulk, in lots or to customers in the ordinary course of business or otherwise, (3) removing any or all of the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral located on such Shared First Lien Collateral, or (4) taking reasonable actions to protect, secure and otherwise enforce the rights of the Revolving Facility Secured Parties in and to the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Agreement shall restrict the rights of the Shared Obligations Agents from selling, assigning or otherwise transferring any Shared First Lien Collateral prior to the expiration of such 180-day period if the purchaser, assignee or transferee thereof agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Section. If any stay or other order prohibiting the exercise of remedies with respect to the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral has been entered by a court of competent jurisdiction, such 180-day period shall be tolled during the pendency of any such stay or other order. If the Revolving Facility Agent conducts a public auction or private sale of the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral at any of the real property included within the Shared First Lien Collateral, the Revolving Facility Agent shall provide the Shared Obligations Agents with reasonable notice and use reasonable efforts to hold such auction or sale in a manner which would not unduly disrupt the Shared Obligations Agents’ use of such real property.

 

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(b) During the period of actual occupation, use or control by the Revolving Facility Secured Parties or their agents or representatives of any Shared First Lien Collateral, the Revolving Facility Secured Parties shall (i) be responsible for the ordinary course third-party expenses related thereto, including costs with respect to heat, light, electricity, water and real property taxes with respect to that portion of any premises so used or occupied, and (ii) be obligated to repair at their expense any physical damage to such Shared First Lien Collateral or other assets or property resulting from such occupancy, use or control, and to leave such Shared First Lien Collateral or other assets or property in substantially the same condition as it was at the commencement of such occupancy, use or control, ordinary wear and tear excepted. The Revolving Facility Secured Parties jointly and severally agree to pay, indemnify and hold the Shared Obligations Agents and their officers, directors, employees and agents harmless from and against any liability, cost, expense, loss or damages, including legal fees and expenses, resulting from the negligence or willful misconduct of the Revolving Facility Agent or any of its agents, representatives or invitees in its or their operation of such facilities. In the event, and only in the event, that in connection with its use of some or all of the premises constituting Shared First Lien Collateral, the Revolving Facility Agent requires the services of any employees of Holdings or any of their Subsidiaries, the Revolving Facility Agent shall pay directly to any such employees the appropriate, allocated wages of such employees, if any, during the time periods that the Revolving Facility Agent requires their services. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Revolving Facility Secured Parties have any liability to the Shared Obligations Secured Parties pursuant to this Section as a result of any condition (including any environmental condition, claim or liability) on or with respect to the Shared First Lien Collateral existing prior to the date of the exercise by the Revolving Facility Secured Parties of their rights under this Section and the Revolving Facility Secured Parties shall have no duty or liability to maintain the Shared First Lien Collateral in a condition or manner better than that in which it was maintained prior to the use thereof by the Revolving Facility Secured Parties, or for any diminution in the value of the Shared First Lien Collateral that results solely from ordinary wear and tear resulting from the use of the Shared First Lien Collateral by the Revolving Facility Secured Parties in the manner and for the time periods specified under this Section 2.08. Without limiting the rights granted in this paragraph, the Revolving Facility Agent, to the extent that rights have been exercised under this Section 2.08 by the Revolving Facility Agent, shall cooperate with the Shared Obligations Secured Parties in connection with any efforts made by the Shared Obligations Secured Parties to sell the Shared First Lien Collateral.

SECTION 2.09. Insurance. Unless and until written notice by the Revolving Facility Agent to the Shared Obligations Agents that the Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations in respect of the Revolving Facility Obligations has occurred, as between the Revolving Facility Agent, on the one hand, and the Shared Obligations Agents, on the other hand, only the Revolving Facility Agent will have the right (subject to the rights of the Grantors under the Revolving Facility Debt Documents and the Shared Obligations Debt Documents) to adjust or settle any insurance policy or claim covering or constituting Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral in the event of any loss thereunder and to approve any award granted in any condemnation or similar proceeding affecting the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral. Unless and until written notice by the Designated Shared First Lien Representative to the Revolving Facility Agent that the Discharge of

 

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Senior Secured Debt Obligations in respect of the Shared Obligations has occurred, as between the Revolving Facility Agent, on the one hand, and the Shared Obligations Agents, on the other hand, only the Shared Obligations Agents will have the right (subject to the rights of the Grantors under the Revolving Facility Debt Documents and the Shared Obligations Debt Documents) to adjust or settle any insurance policy covering or constituting Shared First Lien Collateral in the event of any loss thereunder and to approve any award granted in any condemnation or similar proceeding solely affecting the Shared First Lien Collateral. To the extent that an insured loss covers or constitutes both Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral and Shared First Lien Collateral, then the Revolving Facility Agent and the Shared Obligations Agents will work jointly and in good faith to collect, adjust or settle (subject to the rights of the Grantors under the Revolving Facility Debt Documents and the Shared Obligations Debt Documents) under the relevant insurance policy.

SECTION 2.10. Refinancings and Additional Secured Debt. The Revolving Facility Obligations and the Shared Obligations may be Replaced, by any Revolving Substitute Facility, Notes Substitute Indenture or Term Substitute Facility, as the case may be, and Future Secured Indebtedness may be incurred by a Loan Party, in each case, without notice to, or the consent of any Secured Party hereunder, all without affecting the Lien priorities provided for herein or the other provisions hereof; provided, however, that the Designated Shared First Lien Representative and the Revolving Facility Agent shall receive on or prior to incurrence of the Replacement of a Notes Substitute Indenture, Revolving Substitute Facility or Term Substitute Facility or Future Secured Indebtedness, as the case may be (i) an Officers’ Certificate from Holdings stating that (A) the Replacement or such indebtedness is permitted by each other applicable Secured Document to be incurred or to the extent a consent is otherwise required to permit the Replacement or such incurrence of indebtedness under any other Secured Document, Holdings and each other Grantor have obtained the requisite consent and (B) the requirements of Section 2.12 have been (or will be substantially simultaneously with the delivery of such certificate) satisfied, and (ii) a Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation Joinder from the holders or lenders of such new indebtedness (or an authorized agent, trustee or other representative on their behalf).

Each of the then-exiting Notes Agents, Revolving Facility Agent and Term Facility Agents, as applicable, shall upon receipt of the Officers’ Certificate described in clause (i) above, be authorized to execute and deliver such other documents and agreements (including amendments or supplements to this Agreement) as such holders, lenders, agent, trustee or other representative may reasonably request to give effect to such Replacement or incurrence, it being understood that the Notes Agents, the Revolving Facility Agent and the Term Facility Agents, without the consent of any other Secured Party hereunder, may amend, supplement, modify or restate this Agreement to the extent necessary or appropriate to facilitate such amendments or supplements to effect such Replacement or incurrence all at the expense of Holdings; provided that in the event that such amendments, supplements, modifications or restatements materially adversely affect the rights of the Grantors under the Secured Documents or imposes material additional obligations or liability on any Grantor or any Subsidiary of Holdings, then the written consent of Holdings will be required prior thereto. Upon the consummation of such Replacement or incurrence and the execution and delivery of the documents and agreements contemplated in the preceding sentence, the holders or lenders of such indebtedness and any authorized agent, trustee or other representative thereof shall be entitled to the benefits of this Agreement.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement will be construed to allow any Loan Party to incur additional indebtedness unless otherwise permitted by the terms of each applicable Secured Document.

SECTION 2.11. Amendments to Security Documents. (a) Without the prior written consent of the Designated Senior Representative, no Junior Secured Obligations Security Document may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified or entered into to the extent such amendment, supplement or modification, or the terms of any new Junior Secured Obligations Security Document, would be prohibited by, or would require any Grantor to act or refrain from acting in a manner that would violate, any of the terms of this Agreement.

(b) In the event that the Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties or the Senior Representative and Holdings or any other Grantors thereunder enters into any amendment, waiver or consent in respect of any of the Senior Secured Obligations Security Documents for the purpose of adding to, or deleting from, or waiving or consenting to any departures from any provisions of, any Senior Secured Obligations Security Document or changing in any manner the rights of the Senior Representative, the Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties, Holdings or any other Grantor thereunder (including the release of any Liens in Senior Secured Obligations Collateral to the extent permitted by Section 2.05), then such amendment, waiver or consent shall apply automatically to any comparable provision of the comparable Junior Secured Obligations Security Document without the consent of the Junior Representative or any Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party and without any action by the Junior Representative; provided, however, that reasonable prior written notice of such amendment, waiver or consent shall have been given to the Junior Representative by the Senior Representative. The Junior Representative and each Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party agree to take such action and execute such documents as reasonably requested by the Senior Representative or Holdings to carry out the purpose and intent of this Section 2.11(b).

SECTION 2.12. Legends. The Revolving Facility Agent acknowledges with respect to the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement and the Revolving Facility Security Documents, on the one hand, and each Shared Obligations Agent acknowledges with respect to the Notes Indenture, Term Facility Credit Agreement, the applicable Future Term Facility Credit Agreement, the applicable Future Indenture and the Shared Obligations Security Documents, on the other hand, that the Notes Indenture and the applicable Future Indenture, Revolving Facility Credit Agreement, the Term Facility Credit Agreement and the applicable Future Term Facility Credit Agreement, each of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement (as defined in the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement), the Credit Agreement Security Agreement and the Notes Security Agreement (each as defined in the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement) granting any security interest in the Collateral will contain the appropriate legend set forth on Annex I.

 

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SECTION 2.13. Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties Rights as Unsecured Creditors. Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 2.02, 2.04(a) and 2.06(b), (c) and (d) or otherwise, both before and during an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, any of the Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties may take any actions and exercise any and all rights that would be available to a holder of unsecured claims, including, without limitation, the commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding against Holdings or any other Grantor in accordance with applicable law; provided, that the Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties may not take any of the actions prohibited by Section 2.02, clauses (i) through (vii) of Section 2.04(a) or Section 2.06(b), (c) and (d); provided, further, that in the event that any of the Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties becomes a judgment lien creditor in respect of any Collateral as a result of its enforcement of its rights as an unsecured creditor with respect to the Junior Secured Obligations, such judgment lien shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement for all purposes (including in relation to the Senior Secured Obligations) as the other Liens securing the Junior Secured Obligations are subject to this Agreement.

ARTICLE III

Gratuitous Bailment for Perfection of Certain Security Interests; Rights Under Permits and Licenses

SECTION 3.01. General. The Senior Representative agrees that if it shall at any time hold a Senior Lien on any Junior Secured Obligations Collateral that can be perfected by the possession or control of such Collateral or of any account in which such Collateral is held, and if such Collateral or any such account is in fact in the possession or under the control of the Senior Representative, the Senior Representative will serve as gratuitous bailee and/or agent for the Junior Representative for the sole purpose of perfecting the Junior Lien of the Junior Representative on such Collateral, including by having control of such Junior Secured Obligations Collateral on behalf of the Junior Representative and the other Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties as contemplated by Section 9-104(5) of the New York UCC. It is agreed that the obligations of the Senior Representative and the rights of the Junior Representative and the other Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties in connection with any such bailment or agency arrangement will be in all respects subject to the provisions of Article II. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Senior Representative will be deemed to make no representation as to the adequacy of the steps taken by it to perfect the Junior Lien on any such Collateral and shall have no responsibility, duty, obligation or liability to the Junior Representative or other Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party or any other person for such perfection or failure to perfect, it being understood that the sole purpose of this Article is to enable the Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties to obtain a perfected Junior Lien in such Collateral to the extent, if any, that such perfection results from the possession or control of such Collateral or any such account by the Senior Representative. Subject to Section 2.07, from and after the associated Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations, the Senior Representative shall take all such actions in its power as shall reasonably be requested by the Junior Representative (at the sole cost and expense of the Grantors) to transfer possession or control of such Collateral or any such account (in each case to the

 

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extent the Junior Representative has a Lien on such Collateral or account after giving effect to any prior or concurrent releases of Liens) to the Junior Representative (and with respect to any Collateral constituting (i) Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral, to the Designated Shared First Lien Representative for the benefit of all applicable Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties and (ii) Shared First Lien Collateral, to the Revolving Facility Agent for the benefit of all applicable Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties).

SECTION 3.02. Deposit Accounts.

(a) The Grantors, to the extent required by the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement, may from time to time establish deposit accounts (the “Deposit Accounts”) with certain depositary banks in which collections from Inventory and Accounts may be deposited. To the extent that any such Deposit Account is under the control of the Revolving Facility Agent at any time, the Revolving Facility Agent will act as gratuitous bailee for the Shared Obligations Agents for the purpose of perfecting the Liens of the Shared Obligations Secured Parties in such Deposit Accounts and the cash and other assets therein as provided in Section 3.01 (but will have no duty, responsibility or obligation to the Shared Obligations Secured Parties (including, without limitation, any duty, responsibility or obligation as to the maintenance of such control, the effect of such arrangement or the establishment of such perfection) except as set forth in the last sentence of this Section 3.02(a)). Unless the Junior Liens on such Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral shall have been or concurrently are released, after the occurrence of Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations, the Revolving Facility Agent shall, at the request of any Shared Obligations Agent, cooperate with the Grantors and the Shared Obligations Agents (at the expense of the Grantors) in permitting control of any other Deposit Accounts to be transferred to the Shared Obligations Agents (or for other arrangements with respect to each such Deposit Accounts reasonably satisfactory to the Shared Obligations Agents to be made).

(b) To the extent that the Shared First Lien Account is under the control of the Designated Shared First Lien Representative at any time, the Designated Shared First Lien Representative will act as gratuitous bailees and/or agents for the Revolving Facility Agent for the purpose of perfecting the Liens of the Revolving Facility Secured Parties in such account and the cash and other assets therein as provided in Section 3.01 (but will have no duty, responsibility or obligation to the Revolving Facility Secured Parties (including, without limitation, any duty, responsibility or obligation as to the maintenance of such control, the effect of such arrangement or the establishment of such perfection) except as set forth in the last sentence of this Section 3.02(b)), including by having control of such Shared First Lien Account on behalf of the Revolving Facility Agent and the other Revolving Facility Secured Parties as contemplated by Section 9-104(5) of the New York UCC. Unless the Junior Liens on such Shared First Lien Collateral shall have been or concurrently are released, after the occurrence of Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations with respect to the Shared Obligations, the Shared Obligations Agents shall, at the request of the Revolving Facility Agent, cooperate with the Grantors and the Revolving Facility Agent (at the expense of the Grantors) in permitting control of such account to be transferred to the Revolving Facility Agent (or for other arrangements with respect to each such account reasonably satisfactory to the Revolving Facility Agent to be made).

 

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SECTION 3.03. Rights under Permits and Licenses. Each Shared Obligations Agent agrees that if the Revolving Facility Agent shall require rights available under any permit or license controlled by such Shared Obligations Agent (as certified to the Designated Shared First Lien Representative by the Revolving Facility Agent, upon which the Designated Shared First Lien Representative and each Shared Obligations Agent may rely) in order to realize on any Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral, the Designated Shared First Lien Representative shall (subject to the terms of the the Term Facility Credit Agreement, the Notes Indenture or the applicable Future Term Facility Credit Agreement or Future Indenture, including such Shared Obligations Agent’s rights to indemnification thereunder) take all such actions as shall be available to it (at the sole expense of the Grantors), consistent with applicable law and reasonably requested by the Revolving Facility Agent in writing, to make such rights available to the Revolving Facility Agent, subject to the Shared Obligations Liens. The Revolving Facility Agent agrees that if the Designated Shared First Lien Representative or any other Shared Obligations Agent shall require rights available under any permit or license controlled by the Revolving Facility Agent (as certified to the Revolving Facility Agent by the Designated Shared First Lien Representative or such other Shared Obligations Agent, upon which the Revolving Facility Agent may rely) in order to realize on any Shared First Lien Collateral, the Revolving Facility Agent shall take all such actions as shall be available to it (at the sole expense of the Grantors), consistent with applicable law and reasonably requested by the Designated Shared First Lien Representative in writing, to make such rights available to the Designated Shared First Lien Representative or such other Shared Obligations Agent, subject to the Revolving Facility Liens.

SECTION 3.04. Grantors’ Actions Regarding Collateral. To the extent any Secured Document requires any Grantor to deliver any certificate, instrument, promissory note, chattel paper, control agreement or proceeds or to take any other action with respect to the perfection of (or the realization of benefits on) the Revolving Facility Liens or the Shared Obligations Liens on any item of Collateral, and to the extent such delivery or other action is of such nature that it may not be made or taken with respect to both the Senior Liens and the Junior Liens concurrently (for example, the granting of exclusive control (as defined in the New York UCC) to one but not both Representatives with respect to bank accounts), such Grantor shall make such delivery or take such other action so required under the applicable Senior Document with respect to such item of Collateral and the Senior Representative shall comply with this Article III and other applicable provisions of this Agreement with respect to such item of Collateral (which delivery or other action by such Grantor will be deemed to satisfy any such requirement under the applicable Junior Documents). To the extent any covenants, representations or warranties set forth in any Secured Document are untrue or incorrect solely as a result of the delivery to, or grant of possession or control to, one but not both Representatives by any Grantor, such covenants, representation or warranty shall not be deemed to be untrue or incorrect for purposes of such Secured Document.

 

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ARTICLE IV

Existence and Amounts of Liens and Obligations

Whenever a Representative shall be required, in connection with the exercise of its rights or the performance of its obligations hereunder, to determine the existence or amount of any Senior Secured Obligations (or the existence of any commitment to extend credit that would constitute Senior Secured Obligations) or Junior Secured Obligations, or the existence of any Lien securing any such obligations, or the Collateral subject to any such Lien, it may request that such information be furnished to it in writing by the other Representative and shall be entitled to make such determination on the basis of the information so furnished; provided, however, that if a Representative shall fail or refuse reasonably promptly to provide the requested information, the requesting Representative shall be entitled to make any such determination by such customary method as it may, in the exercise of its good faith judgment, determine, including by reliance upon a certificate of Holdings. Each Representative may, absent manifest error, rely conclusively, and shall be fully protected in so relying, on any determination made by it in accordance with the provisions of the preceding sentence (or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction) and shall have no liability to Holdings or any of their Subsidiaries, any Secured Party or any other person as a result of such determination.

ARTICLE V

Consent of Grantors

Each Grantor hereby consents to the provisions of this Agreement and the intercreditor arrangements provided for herein and agrees that the obligations of the Grantors under the Security Documents will in no way be diminished or otherwise affected by such provisions or arrangements (except as expressly provided herein or therein).

ARTICLE VI

Representations and Warranties

SECTION 6.01. Representations and Warranties of Each Party. Each party hereto represents and warrants to the other parties hereto as follows:

(a) Such party is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and has all requisite power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement.

(b) This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such party.

 

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(c) The execution, delivery and performance by such party of this Agreement (i) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with or any other action by any governmental authority of which the failure to obtain could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement), (ii) will not violate any applicable law or regulation or any order of any governmental authority or any indenture, agreement or other instrument binding upon such party which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (iii) will not violate the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of such party.

SECTION 6.02. Representations and Warranties of Each Representative. Each of the Original Term Facility Agent, the Original Notes Agent and the Revolving Facility Agent represents and warrants to the other parties hereto that it is authorized under the Term Facility Credit Agreement, the Notes Indenture and the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement, as the case may be, to enter into this Agreement.

ARTICLE VII

Miscellaneous

SECTION 7.01. Notices. All notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by electronic transmission, as follows:

(a) if to the Revolving Facility Agent, to it at Citibank, N.A., Citibank, N.A., 1615 Brett Road, New Castle, DE 19720, Attn: ABTF Global Loans , Email: glabfunitloansops@citi.com;

(b) if to the Original Term Facility Agent, to it at Citibank, N.A., Citibank, N.A., 1615 Brett Road, New Castle, DE 19720, Attn: ABTF Global Loans, Email: glabfunitloansops@citi.com;

(c) if to the Original Notes Agent, to it at Citibank, N.A., 388 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10013, Attn: SPAG Administration (e-mail: cts.spag@citi.com; jenny.cheng@citi.com);

(d) if to the Notes Trustee, to it at U.S. Bank National Association, Global Corporate Trust, One Federal Street, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02110, Attention: Steven J. Gomes, Email: steven.gomes@usbank.com;

(e) if to Holdings, at: Joseph Abbott, Chief Financial Officer, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, 125 High Street, Boston, MA 02110-2777, (617) 249-1673, Email Joe.Abbott@hmhco.com, with copies to William Bayers, Executive Vice-President & General Counsel, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, 125 High Street, Boston, MA 02110-2777, Tel: (617) 351-5125, Fax: (617) 249-2118, Email Bill.Bayers@hmhco.com, Joseph Flaherty, Senior Vice-President & Treasurer, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, 125 High Street, Boston, MA 02110-2777, Tel: (617) 351-5223, Fax: (617) 351-1104, Email Joe.Flaherty@hmhco.com and David Mills, Assistant Treasurer, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, 125 High Street, Boston, MA 02110-2777, Tel: (617) 351-3766, Fax: (617) 933-7632, Email David.Mills@hmhco.com; and

 

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(f) if to any other Grantor, to it in care of Holdings as provided in clause (d) above.

Any party hereto may change its postal address or e-mail address for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto (and for this purpose a notice to Holdings shall be deemed to be a notice to each Grantor). All notices and other communications given to any party hereto in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given on the date of receipt (if a business day) and on the next business day thereafter (in all other cases) if delivered by hand or overnight courier service or sent by electronic transmission. As agreed to in writing among Holdings, the Notes Agents, the Term Facility Agents and the Revolving Facility Agent from time to time, notices and other communications may also be delivered by e-mail to the e-mail address of a representative of the applicable person provided from time to time by such person.

SECTION 7.02. Waivers; Amendment. (a) No failure or delay on the part of any party hereto in exercising any right or power hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the parties hereto are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by any party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. No notice or demand on any party hereto in any case shall entitle such party to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.

(b) Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be terminated, waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by each Representative and, if such termination, waiver, amendment or modification which by the terms of this Agreement requires a Grantor’s consent, or which adversely affects the rights of the Grantors under the Secured Documents or increases the obligations or reduces the rights of any Grantor or any Subsidiary of Holdings, then the written consent of Holdings will be required prior to such termination, waiver, amendment or modification; provided, however, that an executed copy of any such termination, waiver, amendment or modification shall be provided to Holdings upon the effectiveness thereof; provided, further, however, that this Agreement may be amended from time to time (x) as provided in Section 2.10 and (y) at the sole request and expense of Holdings, and without the consent of either Representative, to add, pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement Joinder, additional Grantors whereupon such Person will be bound by the terms hereof to the same extent as if it had executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date hereof. Any amendment of this Agreement that is proposed to be effected without the consent of a Representative as permitted by the proviso to the preceding sentence shall be submitted to such Representative for its review at least 5 business days prior to the proposed effectiveness of such amendment.

 

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SECTION 7.03. Parties in Interest. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, as well as the other Secured Parties, all of whom are intended to be bound by, and to be third party beneficiaries of, this Agreement.

SECTION 7.04. Survival of Agreement. This is a continuing agreement of lien subordination and may not be revoked. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by any party in this Agreement shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement, including in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

SECTION 7.05. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Agreement.

SECTION 7.06. Severability. Any provision of this Agreement held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction. The parties shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

SECTION 7.07. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process. (a) This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York (and to the extent applicable prior to the Exit Facility Conversion Date (as defined in the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement) the Bankruptcy Code).

(b) Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or, to the extent permitted by law, in such federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that any party hereto may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement in the courts of any jurisdiction.

 

36


(c) Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

(d) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 7.01. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

SECTION 7.08. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

SECTION 7.09. Headings. Article, Section and Annex headings used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and are not to affect the construction of, or to be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

SECTION 7.10. Conflicts. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of any Secured Documents, the Other Secured Agreements, in each case whether as defined in the Notes Indenture, the Term Facility Credit Agreement or the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall control.

(a) The parties hereto acknowledge, authorize and consent to the entry by each Shared Obligations Agent acting on behalf of the relevant Shared Obligations Secured Parties that are or shall be secured by a Lien on Shared Collateral into the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement with respect to the Shared Collateral, the provisions of the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement shall govern and control.

 

37


SECTION 7.11. Provisions Solely to Define Relative Rights. Except as otherwise provided, the provisions of this Agreement are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Revolving Facility Secured Parties, on the one hand, and the Shared Obligations Secured Parties, as the case may be, on the other hand. None of Holdings, any other Grantor or any other creditor thereof shall have any rights or obligations hereunder, except as expressly provided in this Agreement (provided that nothing in this Agreement (other than Sections 2.05, 2.06, 2.10, 2.11 or Article VII) is intended to or will amend, waive or otherwise modify the provisions of the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement, the Notes Indenture, any Future Indentures, the Term Facility Credit Agreement or any Future Term Facility Credit Agreement), and neither Holdings nor any other Grantor may rely on the terms hereof (other than Sections 2.05, 2.06, 2.10, 2.11, Article VI and Article VII). Nothing in this Agreement is intended to or shall impair the obligations of Holdings or any other Grantor, which are absolute and unconditional, to pay the Obligations under the Secured Documents as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any Secured Document, the Grantors shall not be required to act or refrain from acting (a) pursuant to this Agreement or any Shared Obligations Debt Document, the Other Secured Agreements (as defined under the Term Facility Credit Agreement) with respect to any Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral in any manner that would cause a default under any Revolving Facility Debt Document, or (b) pursuant to this Agreement or any Revolving Facility Debt Document or any Other Secured Agreement (as defined in the Revolving Facility Credit Agreement) with respect to any Shared First Lien Collateral in any manner that would cause a default under any Shared Obligations Debt Document.

SECTION 7.12. Certain Terms Concerning Revolving Facility Agent and Shared Obligations Agents. None of the Revolving Facility Agent nor any Shared Obligations Agent shall have any liability or responsibility for the actions or omissions of any other Secured Party, or for any other Secured Party’s compliance with (or failure to comply with) the terms of this Agreement. None of the Revolving Facility Agent nor any Shared Obligations Agent shall have individual liability to any Person if it shall mistakenly pay over or distribute to any Secured Party (or Holdings) any amounts in violation of the terms of this Agreement, so long as the Revolving Facility Agent or such Shared Obligations Agent, as the case may be, is acting in good faith.

SECTION 7.13. Subrogation. Each Junior Representative, on behalf of itself and the Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties, hereby waives any rights of subrogation it may acquire as a result of any payment hereunder until the Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations has occurred.

SECTION 7.14. Conversion of Currencies.

(a) If, for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court, it is necessary to convert a sum owing hereunder in one currency into another currency, each party hereto agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so, that the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures in the relevant jurisdiction the first currency could be purchased with such other currency on the Business Day immediately preceding the day on which final judgment is given.

 

38


(b) The obligations of Holdings or other Grantors in respect of any sum due to any party hereto or any holder of the obligations owing hereunder (the “Applicable Creditor”) shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency (the “Judgment Currency”) other than the currency in which such sum is stated to be due hereunder (the “Agreement Currency”), be discharged only to the extent that, on the Business Day following receipt by the Applicable Creditor of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment Currency, the Applicable Creditor may in accordance with normal banking procedures in the relevant jurisdiction purchase the Agreement Currency with the Judgment Currency; if the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to the Applicable Creditor in the Agreement Currency, Holdings and other Grantors agree, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify the Applicable Creditor against such loss, and if the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased exceeds the sum originally due to the Applicable Creditor in the Agreement Currency, the Applicable Creditor shall refund the amount of such excess to Holdings or such Grantor, as applicable. The obligations of the parties contained in this Section 7.14 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of all other amounts owing hereunder.

SECTION 7.15. No Novation. This Agreement amends and restates the Existing ABL Intercreditor Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement shall not serve to effect a novation of the Existing ABL Intercreditor Agreement.

SECTION 7.16. Agents. Notwithstanding any term herein to the contrary, it is hereby expressly agreed and acknowledged that the agreements set forth herein by the Shared Obligations Agents and the Revolving Facility Agent, as applicable, are made solely in their capacity as collateral agents under the Shared Obligations Debt Documents and Revolving Facility Debt Documents, as applicable, and not in an individual capacity. In the case of any reference herein to the giving of any consent, approval or direction by the Original Notes Agent it is understood in all cases the Original Notes Agent shall only take such action under this Agreement as directed in writing by the Notes Trustee as the relevant Authorized Representative (as such term is defined in the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement) in accordance with the terms of the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement. The Shared Obligations Agents shall be entitled to all of the rights, protections, immunities and indemnities set forth in the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement and Shared Obligations Debt Documents as if specifically set forth herein.

SECTION 7.17. Notes Trustee Not Fiduciary for other Secured Parties. The Notes Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to any of the Secured Parties (other than the Noteholders for which it is the Authorized Representative, and then only to the extent, if any, set forth in the Notes Indenture), and shall not be liable to any Secured Parties (other than the Noteholders for which it is the Authorized Representative, and then only to the extent, if any, set forth in the Notes Indenture), if the Notes Trustee shall in good faith mistakenly pay over or distribute to any person cash, property or securities to which any Secured Party shall be entitled by virtue of this Agreement or otherwise. The Notes Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants or obligations as are specifically set forth in the Notes Indenture and this Agreement and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the Notes Trustee.

[Remainder of this page intentionally left blank]

 

39


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

CITIBANK, N.A., as Revolving Facility Agent
By     
Name:  
Title:  

[Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Credit Agreement]


CITIBANK, N.A., as Original Term Facility Agent

By     
Name:  
Title:  

[Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Credit Agreement]


CITIBANK, N.A., as Original Notes Agent

By     
Name:  
Title:  

[Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Credit Agreement]


U.S. Bank National Association, as Notes Trustee

By     
Name:  
Title:  

[Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Credit Agreement]


HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT COMPANY

By     
Name:  
Title:  
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHERS INC.
By     
Name:  
Title:  
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY
By     
Name:  
Title:  
HMH PUBLISHERS LLC
By     
Name:  
Title:  
EACH OF THE SUBSIDIARIES LISTED ON SCHEDULE I HERETO
By     
Name:  
Title:  

[Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Credit Agreement]


SCHEDULE I

 

Greenwood Publishing Group, LLC

Houghton Mifflin Company International, Inc.


ANNEX I

Reference is made to the Second Amended and Restated Term Loan / Notes / Revolving Facility Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019, among Citibank, N.A., as agent for the Revolving Facility Secured Parties referred to therein, Citibank, N.A., as agent for the Term Facility Secured Parties referred to therein, Citibank, N.A., as agent for the Notes Secured Parties referred to therein, Holdings, the Borrowers and the Subsidiary Guarantors named therein (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ABL Intercreditor Agreement”). Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, this Agreement, the Liens created hereby and the rights, remedies, duties and obligations provided for herein are subject in all respects to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement and, to the extent provided therein, the applicable Junior Secured Obligations Security Documents (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement).


EXHIBIT A

to Intercreditor Agreement

[FORM OF]

INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT JOINDER

The undersigned, _____________________, a _______________, hereby agrees to become party as a Grantorunder the Amended and Restated Term Loan / Notes / Revolving Facility Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019 (as amended, restated, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified, the Intercreditor Agreement) among Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, the Grantors from time to time party thereto, Citibank, N.A., as agent for the Revolving Facility Secured Parties (as defined therein), [ ] as agent for the Notes Secured Parties (as defined therein) and Citibank, N.A., as agent for the Term Facility Secured Parties (as defined therein), for all purposes thereof on the terms set forth therein, and to be bound by the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement as fully as if the undersigned had executed and delivered the Intercreditor Agreement as of the date thereof.

The provisions of Article 7 of the Intercreditor Agreement will apply with like effect to this Joinder.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Intercreditor Agreement Joinder to be executed by their respective officers or representatives as of ___________________, 20____.

 

[___________________________]
By:         
Name:    
Title:     
[Notice Address]


EXHIBIT B

to Intercreditor Agreement

[FORM OF]

LIEN SHARING AND PRIORITY CONFIRMATION JOINDER

Reference is made to the Second Amended and Restated Term Facility / Notes / Revolving Facility Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of November 22, 2019 (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the “Intercreditor Agreement”) among CITIBANK, N.A., as Agent for the Revolving Facility Secured Parties (as defined therein), CITIBANK, N.A., as Agent for the Term Facility Secured Parties (as defined therein), [    ], as Agent for the Notes Secured Parties (as defined therein), Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company (“Holdings”) and the Subsidiaries of Holdings named therein.

Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement. This Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation Joinder is being executed and delivered pursuant to Section 2.10 of the Intercreditor Agreement as a condition precedent to the debt for which the undersigned is acting as representative being entitled to the rights and obligations of being additional secured debt under the Intercreditor Agreement.

1. Joinder. The undersigned, [_________________], a [_______________], (the New Representative”) as [trustee] [collateral trustee] [administrative agent] [collateral agent] under that certain [described applicable indenture, credit agreement or other document governing the additional secured debt] hereby:

(a) represents that the New Representative has been authorized to become a party to the Intercreditor Agreement on behalf of the [Revolving Facility Secured Parties under a Revolving Substitute Facility] [Term Facility Secured Parties under a Term Substitute Facility] [Notes Secured Parties under a Notes Substitute Indenture] as [a Revolving Facility Agent under a Revolving Substitute Facility] [a First Lien Term Facility Agent under a Term Substitute Facility] [a Second Lien Term Facility Agent under a Term Substitute Facility] [a First Lien Notes Agent under a Notes Substitute Indenture] [a Second Lien Notes Agent under a Notes Substitute Indenture] under the Intercreditor Agreement for all purposes thereof on the terms set forth therein, and to be bound by the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement as fully as if the undersigned had executed and delivered the Intercreditor Agreement as of the date thereof; and

(b) agrees that its address for receiving notices pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement shall be as follows:

[Address];


2. Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation.

[Option A: to be used if Additional Debt constitutes Revolving Facility Obligations] The undersigned New Representative, on behalf of itself and each holder of Revolving Facility Obligations for which the undersigned is acting as [Revolving Facility Administrative Agent] hereby agrees, for the benefit of all Secured Parties, and as a condition to having such Obligations being treated as Revolving Facility Obligations under the Intercreditor Agreement, that the New Representative is bound by the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, including the provisions relating to the ranking of Revolving Facility Liens. [or]

[Option B: to be used if Additional Debt constitutes Shared Obligations] The undersigned New Representative, on behalf of itself and each holder of Shared Obligations for which the undersigned is acting as [First Lien Term Facility Agent] [Second Lien Term Facility Agent] [First Lien Notes Agent] [Second Lien Notes Agent] hereby agrees, for the benefit of all Secured Parties, and as a condition to having such Obligations being treated as Shared Obligations under the Intercreditor Agreement, that the New Representative is bound by the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, including the provisions relating to the ranking of Shared Obligations Liens.

3. Governing Law and Miscellaneous Provisions. The provisions of Article 7 of the Intercreditor Agreement will apply with like effect to this Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation Joinder.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the party hereto has caused this Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation Joinder to be executed by its officers or representatives as of [___________________, 20____].

 

[insert name of New Representative]
By:    
Name:  
Title:  


EXHIBIT C

to Intercreditor Agreement

SECURITY DOCUMENTS

PART A.

List of Revolving Facility Security Documents

 

1.

Second Amended and Restated Guaranty and Collateral Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019, among the Grantors party thereto and the Revolving Facility Agent, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, replaced, restructured or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

2.

Trademark Security Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019 among the Grantors party thereto and the Revolving Facility Agent, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, replaced, restructured or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

3.

Patent Security Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019 among the Grantors party thereto and the Revolving Facility Agent, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, replaced, restructured or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

4.

Copyright Security Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019 among the Grantors party thereto and the Revolving Facility Agent, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, replaced, restructured or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

5.

One or more deposit account control agreements entered into among the Grantors party thereto, the Term Facility Agent, the Revolving Facility Agent, the Notes Agent and Citibank, N.A., as depository bank, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, replaced, restructured or otherwise modified from time to time.


PART B.

List of Term Facility Security Documents

 

1.

Second Amended and Restated Guaranty and Collateral Agreement, dated as of November 22, 2019, among the Grantors party thereto and the Term Facility Agent, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, replaced, restructured or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

2.

Trademark Security Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019 among the Grantors party thereto and the Term Facility Agent, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, replaced, restructured or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

3.

Patent Security Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019 among the Grantors party thereto and the Term Facility Agent, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, replaced, restructured or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

4.

Copyright Security Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019 among the Grantors party thereto and the Term Facility Agent, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, replaced, restructured or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

5.

Deed of Trust, Security Agreement, Assignment of Rents and Leases and Fixture Filing (Missouri) dated as of July 13, 2012 among Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company and the Term Facility Agent, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, replaced, restructured or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

6.

Mortgage, Security Agreement, Assignment of Rents and Leases and Fixture Filing (Indiana) dated as of July 13, 2012 among Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company and the Term Facility Agent, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, replaced, restructured or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

7.

One or more deposit account control agreements entered into among the Grantors party thereto, the Revolving Facility Agent, the Term Facility Agent, the Notes Agent and Citibank, N.A., as depository bank, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, replaced, restructured or otherwise modified from time to time.


PART C.

List of Notes Security Documents

 

1.

Collateral Agreement, dated as of November 22, 2019, among the Grantors party thereto and the Notes Agent, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, replaced, restructured or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

2.

Trademark Security Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019 among the Grantors party thereto and the Notes Agent, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, replaced, restructured or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

3.

Patent Security Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019 among the Grantors party thereto and the Notes Agent, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, replaced, restructured or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

4.

Copyright Security Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019 among the Grantors party thereto and the Notes Agent, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, replaced, restructured or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

5.

One or more deposit account control agreements entered into among the Grantors party thereto, the Revolving Facility Agent, the Term Facility Agent, the Notes Agent and Citibank, N.A., as depository bank, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, replaced, restructured or otherwise modified from time to time.


Exhibit F

[Form of Mortgage]

(Refer to the following page)


Exhibit F

Form of Mortgage

DEED OF TRUST, SECURITY AGREEMENT, ASSIGNMENT OF RENTS

AND LEASES AND FIXTURE FILING ([STATE])

by and from

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY, “Grantor”

to

[_____________ ], “Trustee”

for the benefit of

CITIBANK, N.A., in its capacity as Agent, “Beneficiary”

Dated as of [________________ ], 20     

Location:                     [______________]

Location:                     [______________]

County:                       [______________]

State:                           [______________]

THE SECURED PARTY (BENEFICIARY) DESIRES THIS FIXTURE FILING

TO BE INDEXED AGAINST THE RECORD OWNER OF THE REAL ESTATE DESCRIBED HEREIN.

PREPARED BY, RECORDING REQUESTED BY,

AND WHEN RECORDED MAIL TO:

Shearman & Sterling LLP

599 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10022-6069

Attention: Malcolm K. Montgomery, Esq.

File #35609/33


Exhibit F

DEED OF TRUST, SECURITY AGREEMENT, ASSIGNMENT OF RENTS

AND LEASES AND FIXTURE FILING ([STATE])

THIS DEED OF TRUST, SECURITY AGREEMENT, ASSIGNMENT OF RENTS AND LEASES AND FIXTURE FILING ([STATE]) (this Deed of Trust) is dated as of [___________, 20____] by and from HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY, a company organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (Grantor), whose address is 222 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 12116 to [_____________] (Trustee), with an address at [___________], for the benefit of CITIBANK, N.A., as collateral agent (in such capacity, “Agent”) for the Secured Parties as defined in the Credit Agreement (defined below), having an address 390 Greenwich Street, 1st Floor, New York, NY 10014 (Agent, together with its successors and assigns, Beneficiary).

WHEREAS, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company (“Holdings”), each of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers Inc., HMH Publishers LLC and Grantor (collectively, the “Borrowers”) the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined therein), Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent (“Administrative Agent”), the Agent, as collateral agent, each of the Lenders party thereto and the other parties thereto entered into a Superpriority Senior Secured Debtor-in-Possession and Exit Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of May 22, 2012 (as amended and restated as of June [    ], 2015, and as the same may be further amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”) pursuant to which a revolving credit facility has been made available to the Borrowers. All capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Credit Agreement.

WHEREAS, in connection with the Credit Agreement, Holdings, Borrowers, the subsidiaries of Holdings party thereto from time to time, and the Agent, as collateral agent, entered into that certain Revolving Facility Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, dated as of May 22, 2012 (as amended and restated as of June [ ], 2015, and as the same may be further amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Guarantee and Collateral Agreement”). The obligations of the Lenders and the Issuing Bank to continue to extend credit to the Borrowers are conditioned upon, among other things, the execution and delivery of this Deed of Trust by the Grantor.

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1.01. Definitions. As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(a) Event of Default: An Event of Default under and as defined in the Credit Agreement.

(b) First Lien Credit Agreement: That certain Superpriority Senior Secured Debtor-in-Possession and Exit Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of May 22, 2012, among Holdings, the Borrowers, the Subsidiary Guarantors and Lenders party thereto, Citibank, N.A. as Administrative Agent and Citibank, N.A. as Collateral Agent and the other parties thereto, as amended and restated on May 29, 2015, and as the same may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.


(c) Indebtedness: (1) All indebtedness of Grantor to Beneficiary or any of the other Secured Parties under the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, including, without limitation, the sum of all (a) principal, interest and other amounts owing under or evidenced or secured by the Loan Documents, (b) principal, interest and other amounts which may hereafter be lent by Beneficiary or any of the other Secured Parties under or in connection with the Credit Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, whether evidenced by a promissory note or other instrument which, by its terms, is secured hereby, and (c) obligations and liabilities of any nature now or hereafter existing under or arising in connection with Letters of Credit and other extensions of credit under the Credit Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents and reimbursement obligations in respect thereof, together with interest and other amounts payable with respect thereto, and (2) all other indebtedness, obligations and liabilities now or hereafter existing of any kind of Grantor to Beneficiary or any of the other Secured Parties under documents which recite that they are intended to be secured by this Deed of Trust. The Indebtedness secured hereby includes, without limitation, all interest and expenses accruing after the commencement by or against Grantor or any of its affiliates of a proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code (defined below) or any similar law for the relief of debtors. The Credit Agreement contains a revolving credit facility which permits Borrowers to borrow certain principal amounts, repay all or a portion of such principal amounts, and reborrow the amounts previously paid to the Secured Parties, all upon satisfaction of certain conditions stated in the Credit Agreement. This Deed of Trust secures all advances and re-advances under the Credit Agreement, including, without limitation, those under the revolving credit facility contained therein.

(d) Mortgaged Property: The fee interest in the real property described in Exhibit A attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference, together with any greater estate therein as hereafter may be acquired by Grantor (the Land), and all of Grantor’s right, title and interest now or hereafter acquired in and to (1) all improvements now owned or hereafter acquired by Grantor, now or at any time situated, placed or constructed upon the Land (the Improvements; the Land and Improvements are collectively referred to as the Premises”), (2) all materials, supplies, equipment, apparatus and other items of personal property now owned or hereafter acquired by Grantor and now or hereafter attached to, installed in or used in connection with any of the Improvements or the Land, and water, gas, electrical, telephone, storm and sanitary sewer facilities and all other utilities whether or not situated in easements, and all equipment, inventory and other goods in which Grantor now has or hereafter acquires any rights or any power to transfer rights and that are or are to become fixtures (as defined in the UCC, defined below) related to the Land (the Fixtures), (3) all goods, accounts, inventory, general intangibles, instruments, documents, contract rights and chattel paper, including all such items as defined in the UCC, now owned or hereafter acquired by Grantor and now or hereafter affixed to, placed upon, used in connection with, arising from or otherwise related to the Premises (the Personalty), (4) all reserves, escrows or impounds required under the Credit Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents and all deposit accounts maintained by Grantor with respect to the Mortgaged Property (the Deposit Accounts), (5) all leases, licenses, concessions, occupancy agreements or other agreements (written or oral, now or at any time in effect) which grant to any Person a possessory interest in, or the right to use, all or any part of the Mortgaged Property, together with all related security and other deposits (the Leases), (6) all of the rents, revenues, royalties, income, proceeds, profits, accounts receivable, security and other types of deposits, and other benefits paid or payable by parties to the Leases for using, leasing, licensing possessing, operating from, residing in, selling or otherwise enjoying the Mortgaged Property (the Rents), (7) all other agreements, such as construction contracts, architects’ agreements, engineers’ contracts, utility contracts, maintenance agreements, management agreements, service contracts, listing agreements, guaranties, warranties, permits, licenses, certificates and entitlements in any way relating to the construction, use, occupancy, operation, maintenance, enjoyment or ownership of the Mortgaged Property (the Property Agreements), (8) all rights, privileges, tenements, hereditaments, rights-of-way, easements, appendages and appurtenances appertaining to the foregoing, (9) all property tax refunds payable with respect to the Mortgaged Property (the Tax Refunds), (10) all accessions, replacements and substitutions for any of the foregoing and all proceeds thereof (the Proceeds), (11) all insurance policies, unearned premiums therefor and proceeds from such policies covering any of the above property now or hereafter acquired by Grantor (the Insurance), and (12) all awards, damages, remunerations, reimbursements, settlements or compensation heretofore made or hereafter to be made by any governmental authority pertaining to any condemnation or

 

2


other taking (or any purchase in lieu thereof) of all or any portion of the Land, Improvements, Fixtures or Personalty (the Condemnation Awards). Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the Mortgaged Property would include any “Excluded Asset”, as such term is defined in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, such Excluded Asset shall be deemed not to be a part of the Mortgaged Property until such time as such property shall cease to be an “Excluded Asset” under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and from and after such time, such property shall be deemed to constitute Mortgaged Property. As used in this Deed of Trust, the term “Mortgaged Property” shall mean all or, where the context permits or requires, any portion of the above or any interest therein.

(e) Obligations: All of the agreements, covenants, conditions, warranties, representations and other obligations of Grantor under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party.

(f) Permitted Liens: Liens permitted under the Loan Documents.

(g) UCC: The Uniform Commercial Code of [________________] or, if the creation, perfection and enforcement of any security interest herein granted is governed by the laws of a state other than [___________________], then, as to the matter in question, the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in that state.

ARTICLE II

GRANT; INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT

SECTION 2.01. Grant. To secure the full and timely payment of the Indebtedness and the full and timely performance of the Obligations, Grantor GRANTS, BARGAINS, ASSIGNS, SELLS, CONVEYS and CONFIRMS, to Trustee the Mortgaged Property, subject, however, only to the matters that are set forth on Exhibit B attached hereto (the Permitted Encumbrances) and to Permitted Liens, TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the Mortgaged Property, IN TRUST, WITH POWER OF SALE, and Grantor does hereby bind itself, its successors and assigns to WARRANT AND FOREVER DEFEND the title to the Mortgaged Property unto Trustee.

SECTION 2.02. Intercreditor Agreement. Reference is made to the Term Loan / Revolving Facility Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement dated as of May 22, 2012, among Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent for the Term Facility Secured Parties referred to therein, Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent for the Revolving Facility Secured Parties referred to therein, Holdings, the Borrowers, the Subsidiary Guarantors named therein (as amended and restated on June [    ], 2015, and as further amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Intercreditor Agreement”). Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, this Deed of Trust, the Liens created hereby and the rights, remedies, duties and obligations provided for herein are subject in all respects to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement and, to the extent provided therein, the applicable Senior Secured Obligations Security Documents (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement). In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of this Deed of Trust and the Intercreditor Agreement, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement shall control.

ARTICLE III

WARRANTIES, REPRESENTATIONS AND COVENANTS

Grantor warrants, represents and covenants to Beneficiary as follows:

SECTION 3.01. Title to Mortgaged Property and Lien of this Instrument. Grantor owns the Mortgaged Property free and clear of any liens, claims or interests, except the Permitted Encumbrances and the Permitted Liens. Upon recordation in the official real estate records in the county (or other applicable jurisdiction) in which the Mortgaged Property is located, this Deed of Trust creates a valid, enforceable lien and security interest against the Mortgaged Property, subject only to the Permitted Encumbrances and the Permitted Liens.

 

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SECTION 3.02. Lien Status. Grantor shall preserve and protect the lien and security interest status of this Deed of Trust. Promptly upon being notified by Beneficiary, or otherwise becoming aware, that any lien or security interest other than a Permitted Encumbrance or a Permitted Lien is asserted against the Mortgaged Property, Grantor shall promptly, and at its expense, (a) give Beneficiary a detailed written notice of such lien or security interest (including origin, amount and other terms), and (b) pay the underlying claim in full or take such other action so as to cause it to be released or contest the same, in each case in accordance with the requirements of the Credit Agreement (including the requirement of providing a bond or other security satisfactory to Beneficiary).

SECTION 3.03. Payment and Performance. Grantor shall pay the Indebtedness when due under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents and shall perform the Obligations in full when they are required to be performed.

SECTION 3.04. Replacement of Fixtures and Personalty. Grantor shall not, without the prior written consent of Beneficiary, permit any of the Fixtures or Personalty owned or leased by Grantor to be removed at any time from the Land or Improvements, unless the removed item (i) is removed temporarily for maintenance or repair or, if removed permanently, is obsolete or unnecessary for the then-current operations of the Premises or is replaced by an article of similar or better suitability and value, owned by Grantor subject to the lien and security interest of this Deed of Trust or (ii) is permitted to be removed by the Credit Agreement.

SECTION 3.05. Inspection. Grantor shall permit Beneficiary and the other Secured Parties and their respective agents, representatives and employees, upon reasonable prior notice to Grantor, to inspect the Mortgaged Property and all books and records of Grantor located thereon, and to conduct such environmental and engineering studies as Beneficiary or the other Secured Parties may require, provided that such inspections and studies shall not materially interfere with the use and operation of the Mortgaged Property and shall be made in accordance with, and to the extent permitted by the Credit Agreement. Costs of any such inspections shall be paid as provided in the Credit Agreement.

SECTION 3.06. Other Covenants. All of the covenants in the Credit Agreement are incorporated herein by reference and, together with covenants in this Article 3, shall be covenants running with the Land.

SECTION 3.07. Insurance; Condemnation Awards and Insurance Proceeds.

(a) Insurance. Grantor shall maintain or cause to be maintained such insurance as is required to be maintained under the Credit Agreement.

(b) Condemnation Awards. Grantor assigns all Condemnation Awards to Beneficiary and authorizes Beneficiary to collect and receive such Condemnation Awards and to give proper receipts and acquittances therefor, subject to the terms of the Credit Agreement.

(c) Insurance Proceeds. Grantor assigns to Beneficiary all proceeds of any insurance policies insuring against loss or damage to the Mortgaged Property (the “Insurance Proceeds”). Subject to the terms of the Credit Agreement, Grantor authorizes Beneficiary to collect and receive such proceeds and authorizes and directs the issuer of each of such insurance policies to make payment for all such losses directly to Beneficiary, instead of to Grantor and Beneficiary jointly.

 

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(d) Repairs, Restoration etc. Notwithstanding clauses (b) and (c) of this Section 3.07, to the extent that Grantor is not required by the terms of the Credit Agreement or other Loan Documents to apply Condemnation Awards or Insurance Proceeds received by it to repayment of the Indebtedness, and provided that no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, Grantor shall diligently apply such Condemnation Awards or Insurance Proceeds to the repair, restoration and/or replacement of the Mortgaged Property that has been damaged or subject to a taking or condemnation. Until such amounts are so applied, Grantor shall hold such amounts in trust for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

ARTICLE IV

[Intentionally Omitted]

ARTICLE V

DEFAULT AND FORECLOSURE

SECTION 5.01. Remedies. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, Beneficiary may, at Beneficiary’s election and by or through Trustee or otherwise, exercise any or all of the following rights, remedies and recourses:

(a) Acceleration. Subject to any provisions of the Loan Documents providing for the automatic acceleration of the Indebtedness upon the occurrence of certain Events of Default, declare the Indebtedness to be immediately due and payable, without further notice, presentment, protest, notice of intent to accelerate, notice of acceleration, demand or action of any nature whatsoever (each of which hereby is expressly waived by Grantor), whereupon the same shall become immediately due and payable.

(b) Entry on Mortgaged Property. Enter the Mortgaged Property and take exclusive possession thereof and of all books, records and accounts relating thereto or located thereon. If Grantor remains in possession of the Mortgaged Property following the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default and without Beneficiary’s prior written consent, Beneficiary may invoke any legal remedies to dispossess Grantor.

(c) Operation of Mortgaged Property. Hold, lease, develop, manage, operate or otherwise use the Mortgaged Property upon such terms and conditions as Beneficiary may deem reasonable under the circumstances (making such repairs, alterations, additions and improvements and taking other actions, from time to time, as Beneficiary deems necessary or desirable), and apply all Rents and other amounts collected by Trustee or Beneficiary in connection therewith in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.07.

(d) Foreclosure and Sale. Institute proceedings for the complete foreclosure of this Deed of Trust by judicial action or by power of sale, in which case the Mortgaged Property may be sold for cash or credit in one or more parcels as Beneficiary may determine. With respect to any notices required or permitted under the UCC, Grantor agrees that ten (10) days’ prior written notice shall be deemed commercially reasonable. At any such sale by virtue of any judicial proceedings, power of sale, or any other legal right, remedy or recourse, the title to and right of possession of any such property shall pass to the purchaser thereof, and to the fullest extent permitted by law, Grantor shall be completely and irrevocably divested of all of its right, title, interest, claim, equity, equity of redemption, and demand whatsoever, either at law or in equity, in and to the property sold and such sale shall be a perpetual bar both at law and in equity against Grantor, and against all other Persons claiming or to claim the property sold or any part thereof, by, through or under Grantor. Beneficiary or any of the other Secured Parties may be a purchaser

 

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at such sale. If Beneficiary or such other Secured Party is the highest bidder, Beneficiary or such other Secured Party may credit the portion of the purchase price that would be distributed to Beneficiary or such other Secured Party against the Indebtedness in lieu of paying cash. In the event this Deed of Trust is foreclosed by judicial action, appraisement of the Mortgaged Property is waived.

(e) Receiver. Make application to a court of competent jurisdiction for, and obtain from such court as a matter of strict right and without notice to Grantor or regard to the adequacy of the Mortgaged Property for the repayment of the Indebtedness, the appointment of a receiver of the Mortgaged Property, and Grantor irrevocably consents to such appointment. Any such receiver shall have all the usual powers and duties of receivers in similar cases, including the full power to rent, maintain and otherwise operate the Mortgaged Property upon such terms as may be approved by the court, and shall apply such Rents in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.07.

(f) Other. Exercise all other rights, remedies and recourses granted under the Loan Documents or otherwise available at law or in equity.

SECTION 5.02. Separate Sales. The Mortgaged Property may be sold in one or more parcels and in such manner and order as Trustee in its sole discretion may elect. The right of sale arising out of any Event of Default shall not be exhausted by any one or more sales.

SECTION 5.03. Remedies Cumulative, Concurrent and Nonexclusive. Trustee, Beneficiary and the other Secured Parties shall have all rights, remedies and recourses granted in the Loan Documents and available at law or equity (including the UCC), which rights (a) shall be cumulative and concurrent, (b) may be pursued separately, successively or concurrently against Grantor or others obligated under the Loan Documents, or against the Mortgaged Property, or against any one or more of them, at the sole discretion of Trustee, Beneficiary or such other Secured Party, as the case may be, (c) may be exercised as often as occasion therefor shall arise, and the exercise or failure to exercise any of them shall not be construed as a waiver or release thereof or of any other right, remedy or recourse, and (d) are intended to be, and shall be, nonexclusive. No action by Trustee, Beneficiary or any other Secured Party in the enforcement of any rights, remedies or recourses under the Loan Documents or otherwise at law or equity shall be deemed to cure any Event of Default.

SECTION 5.04. Release of and Resort to Collateral. Beneficiary may release, regardless of consideration and without the necessity for any notice to or consent by the holder of any subordinate lien on the Mortgaged Property, any part of the Mortgaged Property without, as to the remainder, in any way impairing, affecting, subordinating or releasing the lien or security interest created in or evidenced by the Loan Documents or their status as a prior lien and security interest in and to the Mortgaged Property. For payment of the Indebtedness, Beneficiary may resort to any other security in such order and manner as Beneficiary may elect.

SECTION 5.05. Waiver of Redemption, Notice and Marshalling of Assets. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Grantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives and releases (a) all benefit that might accrue to Grantor by virtue of any present or future statute of limitations or law or judicial decision exempting the Mortgaged Property from attachment, levy or sale on execution or providing for any stay of execution, exemption from civil process, redemption or extension of time for payment, (b) all notices of any Event of Default or of any election by Trustee or Beneficiary to exercise or the actual exercise of any right, remedy or recourse provided for under the Loan Documents, and (c) any right to a marshalling of assets or a sale in inverse order of alienation.

 

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SECTION 5.06. Discontinuance of Proceedings. If Trustee, Beneficiary or any other Secured Party shall have proceeded to invoke any right, remedy or recourse permitted under the Loan Documents and shall thereafter elect to discontinue or abandon it for any reason, Trustee, Beneficiary or such other Secured Party, as the case may be, shall have the unqualified right to do so and, in such an event, Grantor, Trustee, Beneficiary and the other Secured Parties shall be restored to their former positions with respect to the Indebtedness, the Obligations, the Loan Documents, the Mortgaged Property and otherwise, and the rights, remedies, recourses and powers of Trustee, Beneficiary and the other Secured Parties shall continue as if the right, remedy or recourse had never been invoked, but no such discontinuance or abandonment shall waive any Event of Default which may then exist or the right of Trustee, Beneficiary or any other Secured Party thereafter to exercise any right, remedy or recourse under the Loan Documents for such Event of Default.

SECTION 5.07. Application of Proceeds. If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the proceeds of any sale of, and the Rents and other amounts generated by the holding, leasing, management, operation or other use of the Mortgaged Property, shall be applied by Beneficiary or Trustee (or the receiver, if one is appointed) in accordance with Section 7.01 of the Credit Agreement.

SECTION 5.08. Occupancy After Foreclosure. Any sale of the Mortgaged Property or any part thereof in accordance with Section 5.01(d) will divest all right, title and interest of Grantor in and to the property sold. Subject to applicable law, any purchaser at a foreclosure sale will receive immediate possession of the property purchased. If Grantor retains possession of such property or any part thereof subsequent to such sale, Grantor will be considered a tenant at sufferance of the purchaser, and will, if Grantor remains in possession after demand to remove, be subject to eviction and removal, forcible or otherwise, with or without process of law.

SECTION 5.09. Additional Advances and Disbursements; Costs of Enforcement.

(a) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, Beneficiary and each of the other Secured Parties shall have the right, but not the obligation, to cure such Event of Default in the name and on behalf of Grantor. All sums advanced and expenses incurred at any time by Beneficiary or any other Secured Party under this Section 5.09, or otherwise under this Deed of Trust or any of the other Loan Documents or applicable law, shall bear interest from the date that such sum is advanced or expense incurred, to and including the date of reimbursement, computed at the interest rate payable under Section 2.07 of the Credit Agreement, and all such sums, together with interest thereon, shall be secured by this Deed of Trust.

(b) Grantor shall pay all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) of or incidental to the perfection and enforcement of this Deed of Trust and the other Loan Documents, or the enforcement, compromise or settlement of the Indebtedness or any claim under this Deed of Trust and the other Loan Documents, and for the curing thereof, or for defending or asserting the rights and claims of Beneficiary in respect thereof, by litigation or otherwise.

SECTION 5.10. No Mortgagee in Possession. Neither the enforcement of any of the remedies under this Article 5, the assignment of the Rents and Leases under Article 6, the security interests under Article 7, nor any other remedies afforded to Beneficiary under the Loan Documents, at law or in equity shall cause Trustee, Beneficiary or any other Secured Party to be deemed or construed to be a mortgagee in possession of the Mortgaged Property, to obligate Trustee, Beneficiary or any other Secured Party to lease the Mortgaged Property or attempt to do so, or to take any action, incur any expense, or perform or discharge any obligation, duty or liability whatsoever under any of the Leases or otherwise.

 

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ARTICLE VI

ASSIGNMENT OF RENTS AND LEASES

SECTION 6.01. Assignment. In furtherance of and in addition to the assignment made by Grantor in Section 2.01 of this Deed of Trust, Grantor hereby absolutely and unconditionally assigns, sells, transfers and conveys to Trustee (for the benefit of Beneficiary) and to Beneficiary all of its right, title and interest in and to all Leases, whether now existing or hereafter entered into, and all of its right, title and interest in and to all Rents. This assignment is an absolute assignment and not an assignment for additional security only. So long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, Grantor shall have a revocable license from Trustee and Beneficiary to exercise all rights extended to the landlord under the Leases, including the right to receive and collect all Rents and to hold the Rents in trust for use in the payment and performance of the Obligations and to otherwise use the same. The foregoing license is granted subject to the conditional limitation that no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, whether or not legal proceedings have commenced, and without regard to waste, adequacy of security for the Obligations or solvency of Grantor, the license herein granted shall automatically expire and terminate, without notice to Grantor by Trustee or Beneficiary (any such notice being hereby expressly waived by Grantor to the extent permitted by applicable law).

SECTION 6.02. Perfection Upon Recordation. Grantor acknowledges that Beneficiary and Trustee have taken all actions necessary to obtain, and that upon recordation of this Deed of Trust Beneficiary and Trustee shall have, to the extent permitted under applicable law, a valid and fully perfected, present assignment of the Rents arising out of the Leases and all security for such Leases. Grantor acknowledges and agrees that upon recordation of this Deed of Trust Trustee’s and Beneficiary’s interest in the Rents shall be deemed to be fully perfected, “choate” and enforced as to Grantor and to the extent permitted under applicable law, all third parties, including, without limitation, any subsequently appointed trustee in any case under Title 11 of the United States Code (the Bankruptcy Code), without the necessity of commencing a foreclosure action with respect to this Deed of Trust, making formal demand for the Rents, obtaining the appointment of a receiver or taking any other affirmative action.

SECTION 6.03. Bankruptcy Provisions. Without limitation of the absolute nature of the assignment of the Rents hereunder, Grantor, Trustee and Beneficiary agree that (a) this Deed of Trust shall constitute a “security agreement” for purposes of Section 552(b) of the Bankruptcy Code, (b) the security interest created by this Deed of Trust extends to property of Grantor acquired before the commencement of a case in bankruptcy and to all amounts paid as Rents and (c) such security interest shall extend to all Rents acquired by the estate after the commencement of any case in bankruptcy.

SECTION 6.04. No Merger of Estates. So long as part of the Indebtedness and the Obligations secured hereby remain unpaid and undischarged, the fee and leasehold estates to the Mortgaged Property shall not merge, but shall remain separate and distinct, notwithstanding the union of such estates either in Grantor, Beneficiary, any tenant or any third party by purchase or otherwise.

ARTICLE VII

SECURITY AGREEMENT

SECTION 7.01. Security Interest. This Deed of Trust constitutes a “security agreement” on personal property within the meaning of the UCC and other applicable law and with respect to the Personalty, Fixtures, Leases, Rents, Deposit Accounts, Property Agreements, Tax Refunds, Proceeds, Insurance and Condemnation Awards. To this end, Grantor grants to Beneficiary a security interest in the Personalty, Fixtures, Leases, Rents, Deposit Accounts, Property Agreements, Tax Refunds, Proceeds, Insurance, Condemnation Awards and all other Mortgaged Property which is personal property to secure

 

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the payment of the Indebtedness and performance of the Obligations, subject, in each case, to the Permitted Liens and the Permitted Encumbrances, and agrees that Beneficiary shall have all the rights and remedies of a secured party under the UCC with respect to such property. Any notice of sale, disposition or other intended action by Beneficiary with respect to the Personalty, Fixtures, Leases, Rents, Deposit Accounts, Property Agreements, Tax Refunds, Proceeds, Insurance and Condemnation Awards sent to Grantor at least ten (10) days prior to any action under the UCC shall constitute reasonable notice to Grantor. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the terms of this Deed of Trust and the terms of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement with respect to the collateral covered both therein and herein, the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement shall control and govern to the extent of any such conflict or inconsistency.

SECTION 7.02. Financing Statements. Grantor shall prepare and deliver to Beneficiary such financing statements, and shall execute and deliver to Beneficiary such other documents, instruments and further assurances, in each case in form and substance satisfactory to Beneficiary, as Beneficiary may, from time to time, reasonably consider necessary to create, perfect and preserve Beneficiary’s security interest hereunder. Grantor hereby irrevocably authorizes Beneficiary to cause financing statements (and amendments thereto and continuations thereof) and any such documents, instruments and assurances to be recorded and filed, at such times and places as may be required or permitted by law to so create, perfect and preserve such security interest. Grantor represents and warrants to Beneficiary that Grantor’s jurisdiction of organization is the State of Delaware. After the date of this Deed of Trust, Grantor shall not change its name, type of organization, organizational identification number (if any), jurisdiction of organization or location (within the meaning of the UCC) without giving at least thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to Beneficiary.

SECTION 7.03. Fixture Filing. This Deed of Trust shall also constitute a “fixture filing” for the purposes of the UCC against all of the Mortgaged Property which is or is to become fixtures. The information provided in this Section 7.03 is provided so that this Deed of Trust shall comply with the requirements of the UCC for a mortgage instrument to be filed as a financing statement. Grantor is the “Debtor” and its name and mailing address are set forth in the preamble of this Deed of Trust immediately preceding Article 1. Beneficiary is the “Secured Party” and its name and mailing address from which information concerning the security interest granted herein may be obtained are also set forth in the preamble of this Deed of Trust immediately preceding Article 1. A statement describing the portion of the Mortgaged Property comprising the fixtures hereby secured is set forth in Section 1.1(c) of this Deed of Trust. Grantor represents and warrants to Beneficiary that Grantor is the record owner of the Mortgaged Property, the employer identification number of Grantor is [_____________] and the organizational identification number of Grantor is [____________].

ARTICLE VIII

[CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

SECTION 8.01. Certain Rights. With the approval of Beneficiary, Trustee shall have the right to select, employ and consult with counsel. Trustee shall have the right to rely on any instrument, document or signature authorizing or supporting any action taken or proposed to be taken by it hereunder, believed by it in good faith to be genuine. Trustee shall be entitled to reimbursement for actual, reasonable expenses incurred by it in the performance of its duties and to reasonable compensation for Trustee’s services hereunder as shall be rendered. Grantor shall, from time to time, pay the compensation due to Trustee hereunder and reimburse Trustee for, and indemnify, defend and save Trustee harmless against, all liability and reasonable expenses which may be incurred by it in the performance of its duties, including those arising from joint, concurrent, or comparative negligence of Trustee; provided, however, that Grantor shall not be liable under such indemnification to the extent such liability or expenses result solely from Trustee’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. Grantor’s obligations under this Section 8.01 shall not be reduced or impaired by principles of comparative or contributory negligence.

 

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SECTION 8.02. Retention of Money. All moneys received by Trustee shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they were received, but need not be segregated in any manner from any other moneys (except to the extent required by law), and Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any moneys received by Trustee hereunder.

SECTION 8.03. Successor Trustees. If Trustee or any successor Trustee shall die, resign or become disqualified from acting in the execution of this trust, or Beneficiary shall desire to appoint a substitute Trustee, Beneficiary shall have full power to appoint one or more substitute Trustees and, if preferred, several substitute Trustees in succession who shall succeed to all the estates, rights, powers and duties of Trustee. Such appointment may be executed by any authorized agent of Beneficiary and as so executed, such appointment shall be conclusively presumed to be executed with authority, valid and sufficient, without further proof of any action.

SECTION 8.04. Perfection of Appointment. Should any deed, conveyance or instrument of any nature be required from Grantor by any successor Trustee to more fully and certainly vest in and confirm to such successor Trustee such estates, rights, powers and duties, then, upon request by such Trustee, all such deeds, conveyances and instruments shall be made, executed, acknowledged and delivered and shall be caused to be recorded and/or filed by Grantor.

SECTION 8.05. Trustee Liability. In no event or circumstance shall Trustee or any substitute Trustee hereunder be personally liable under or as a result of this Deed of Trust, either as a result of any action by Trustee (or any substitute Trustee) in the exercise of the powers hereby granted or otherwise.]1

ARTICLE IX

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 9.01. Notices. Any notice required or permitted to be given under this Deed of Trust shall be given in accordance with Section 9.01 of the Credit Agreement.

SECTION 9.02. Covenants Running with the Land. All Obligations contained in this Deed of Trust are intended by Grantor, Beneficiary and Trustee to be, and shall be construed as, covenants running with the Land. As used herein, “Grantor” shall refer to the party named in the first paragraph of this Deed of Trust and to any subsequent owner of all or any portion of the Mortgaged Property. All Persons who may have or acquire an interest in the Mortgaged Property shall be deemed to have notice of, and be bound by, the terms of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents; provided, however, that no such party shall be entitled to any rights thereunder without the prior written consent of Beneficiary.

SECTION 9.03. Attorney-in-Fact. Grantor hereby irrevocably appoints Beneficiary as its attorney-in-fact, which agency is coupled with an interest and with full power of substitution, with full authority in the place and stead of Grantor and in the name of Grantor or otherwise (a) to execute and/or record any notices of completion, cessation of labor or any other notices that Beneficiary deems appropriate to protect Beneficiary’s interest, if Grantor shall fail to do so within ten (10) days after written request by Beneficiary, (b) upon the issuance of a deed pursuant to the foreclosure of this Deed of Trust or the delivery of a deed in lieu of foreclosure, to execute all instruments of assignment, conveyance or further assurance with respect to the Leases, Rents, Deposit Accounts, Property Agreements, Tax Refunds, Proceeds, Insurance and Condemnation Awards in favor of the grantee of any such deed and as may be necessary or desirable for such purpose, (c) to prepare and file or record financing statements and continuation

 

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To be included only if a deed of trust or trust deed.

 

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statements, and to prepare, execute and file or record applications for registration and like papers necessary to create, perfect or preserve Beneficiary’s security interests and rights in or to any of the Mortgaged Property, and (d) after the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, to perform any obligation of Grantor hereunder; provided, however, that (1) Beneficiary shall not under any circumstances be obligated to perform any obligation of Grantor; (2) any sums advanced by Beneficiary in such performance shall be added to and included in the Indebtedness and shall bear interest at the rate at which interest is then computed on any portion of the Indebtedness; (3) Beneficiary as such attorney-in-fact shall only be accountable for such funds as are actually received by Beneficiary; and (4) Beneficiary shall not be liable to Grantor or any other person or entity for any failure to take any action which it is empowered to take under this Section 9.03.

SECTION 9.04. Successors and Assigns. This Deed of Trust shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of Beneficiary, the other Secured Parties, Trustee and Grantor and their respective successors and assigns. Grantor shall not, without the prior written consent of Beneficiary, assign any rights, duties or obligations hereunder, except as permitted under the Credit Agreement.

SECTION 9.05. No Waiver. Any failure by Beneficiary, the other Secured Parties or Trustee to insist upon strict performance of any of the terms, provisions or conditions of the Loan Documents shall not be deemed to be a waiver of same, and Beneficiary, the other Secured Parties and Trustee shall have the right at any time to insist upon strict performance of all of such terms, provisions and conditions.

SECTION 9.06. Credit Agreement. If any conflict or inconsistency exists between this Deed of Trust and the Credit Agreement, the Credit Agreement shall control and govern to the extent of any such conflict or inconsistency.

SECTION 9.07. Release or Reconveyance. At any time and to the extent that the liens and security interests created by this Deed of Trust are permitted to be released pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement, at Grantor’s request and expense, Beneficiary shall release the liens and security interests created by this Deed of Trust or reconvey the Mortgaged Property to Grantor, in each case, to the extent so permitted. In connection therewith, Beneficiary shall promptly deliver to Grantor such documents as Grantor shall reasonably request to evidence the termination of the lien and security interest created hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if requested by Grantor, Beneficiary shall, at Grantor’s expense, assign the liens and security interests created herein in lieu of terminating or releasing such liens and security interests pursuant to this Section 9.07. Upon the release of any Mortgaged Property pursuant to this Section 9.07, none of the Secured Parties shall have any continuing right or interest in such Mortgaged Property pursuant to this Deed of Trust.

SECTION 9.08. Waiver of Stay, Moratorium and Similar Rights. Grantor agrees, to the full extent that it may lawfully do so, that it will not at any time insist upon or plead or in any way take advantage of any stay, marshalling of assets, extension, redemption or moratorium law now or hereafter in force and effect so as to prevent or hinder the enforcement of the provisions of this Deed of Trust or the Indebtedness or Obligations secured hereby, or any agreement between Grantor and Beneficiary or any rights or remedies of Trustee, Beneficiary or any other Secured Party.

SECTION 9.09. Applicable Law. The provisions of this Deed of Trust regarding the creation, perfection and enforcement of the liens and security interests herein granted shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the state in which the Mortgaged Property is located. All other provisions of this Deed of Trust shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York (including, without limitation, Section 5-1401 of the General Obligations Law of the State of New York).

 

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SECTION 9.10. Headings. The Article, Section and Subsection titles hereof are inserted for convenience of reference only and shall in no way alter, modify or define, or be used in construing, the text of such Articles, Sections or Subsections.

SECTION 9.11. Severability. If any provision of this Deed of Trust shall be held by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unlawful, void or unenforceable for any reason, such provision shall be deemed severable from and shall in no way affect the enforceability and validity of the remaining provisions of this Deed of Trust.

SECTION 9.12. Entire Agreement. This Deed of Trust and the other Loan Documents embody the entire agreement and understanding between Grantor and Beneficiary relating to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings between such parties relating to the subject matter hereof and thereof. Accordingly, the Loan Documents may not be contradicted by evidence of prior, contemporaneous or subsequent oral agreements of the parties. There are no unwritten oral agreements between the parties.

SECTION 9.13. Beneficiary as Agent; Successor Agents.

(a) Agent has been appointed to act as Agent hereunder by the other Secured Parties. Agent shall have the right hereunder to make demands, to give notices, to exercise or refrain from exercising any rights, and to take or refrain from taking any action (including, without limitation, the release or substitution of the Mortgaged Property) in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement, any related agency agreement among Agent and the other Secured Parties (collectively, as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified or replaced from time to time, the “Agency Documents”) and this Deed of Trust. Grantor and all other Persons shall be entitled to rely on releases, waivers, consents, approvals, notifications and other acts of Agent, without inquiry into the existence of required consents or approvals of the Secured Parties therefor.

(b) Beneficiary shall at all times be the same Person that is Agent under the Agency Documents. Written notice of resignation by Agent pursuant to the Agency Documents shall also constitute notice of resignation as Agent under this Deed of Trust. Removal of Agent pursuant to any provision of the Agency Documents shall also constitute removal as Agent under this Deed of Trust. Appointment of a successor Agent pursuant to the Agency Documents shall also constitute appointment of a successor Agent under this Deed of Trust. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Agent by a successor Agent under the Agency Documents, that successor Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring or removed Agent as the Beneficiary under this Deed of Trust, and the retiring or removed Agent shall promptly (i) assign and transfer to such successor Agent all of its right, title and interest in and to this Deed of Trust and the Mortgaged Property, and (ii) execute and deliver to such successor Agent such assignments and amendments and take such other actions, as may be necessary or appropriate in connection with the assignment to such successor Agent of the liens and security interests created hereunder, whereupon such retiring or removed Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Deed of Trust. After any retiring or removed Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder as Agent, the provisions of this Deed of Trust and the Agency Documents shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it under this Deed of Trust while it was Agent hereunder.

SECTION 9.14. Subrogation. If any or all of the proceeds of the Indebtedness are used to extinguish, extend or renew any indebtedness heretofore existing against the Mortgaged Property, then, to the extent of the funds so used, Beneficiary and the other Secured Parties shall be subrogated to all of the rights, claims, liens, titles, and interests existing against the Mortgaged Property heretofore held by, or in favor of, the holder of such indebtedness and such former rights, claims, liens, titles, and interests, if any, are not waived but rather are continued in full force and effect in favor of Beneficiary and the other Secured Parties and are merged with the lien and security interest created herein as cumulative security for the repayment of the Indebtedness and the performance of the Obligations.

 

12


ARTICLE X

LOCAL LAW PROVISIONS

[To Come]

ARTICLE XI

SUBORDINATION

The liens and security interests created by this Deed of Trust shall be, until such time as all Senior Secured Obligations (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) have been satisfied in full, a second priority lien (subject to Permitted Encumbrances and Permitted Liens), subordinate in all respects (including the exercise of remedies with respect to the Mortgaged Property covered hereby) to the prior lien of the applicable Mortgage (as defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement) on and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement.

[The remainder of this page has been intentionally left blank]

 

13


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Grantor has on the date set forth in the acknowledgement hereto, effective as of the date first above written, caused this instrument to be duly EXECUTED AND DELIVERED by authority duly given.

 

GRANTOR:

    HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY, a company organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
    By:  

 

      Name:
      Title:

 

S-1


STATE OF                             )
     ) ss.:
COUNTY OF                             )

On this _____ day of _____________, 20___, before me appeared _________________, to me personally known, who being by me duly sworn did say that [he/she] is the _____________ of HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY, a company organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, [and that the seal affixed to the foregoing instrument is the corporate seal of said corporation] and that said instrument was signed and sealed on behalf of said corporation by authority of its Board of Directors, and said ______________ acknowledged said instrument to be the free act and deed of said corporation, [and that said corporation has no corporate seal].

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal at my office in ______________ the day and year last above written.

[Notary Seal]

 

                                                                  

Notary Public in and for said State:

Print Name:                                               

Commissioned in                          County

My Commission Expires:

                                                   

                                                   

 

N-1


EXHIBIT A TO FORM OF MORTGAGE

LEGAL DESCRIPTION

Legal Description of premises located at [_______________________________]:

[See Attached Page(s) For Legal Description]

 

Exh. A-1


EXHIBIT B TO FORM OF MORTGAGE

PERMITTED ENCUMBRANCES

Those exceptions set forth in Schedule B of that certain policy of title insurance issued to Beneficiary by [________________] on or about the date hereof pursuant to commitment number [________].

 

2


Exhibit G

[Credit and Collection Policies]

(Refer to the following page)


Exhibit H

Form of Incremental Facility Joinder Agreement

This [First] Incremental Facility Joinder Agreement, dated             , 20     (this “Incremental Joinder”) made by HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT COMPANY, a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (“Holdings”), HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHERS INC., a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware (“HMHP”), HMH PUBLISHERS LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (“Publishers”), HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY, a corporation organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (“HMCo”, and together with HMHP and Publishers, collectively, the “Borrowers”), the LENDERS identified on the signature pages hereto (each, a “New Revolving Credit Lender”), and CITIBANK, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”) is entered into pursuant to Section 2.24 of that certain Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among Holdings, the Borrowers, the lenders party thereto from time to time, the entities listed as subsidiary guarantors thereto, the Administrative Agent and CITIBANK, N.A., as collateral agent (in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”). Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement.

(a) Each party hereto listed on the signature page as a “New Revolving Credit Lender” shall be a New Revolving Credit Lender, Revolving Credit Lender and Lender for the purposes of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents and hereby agrees to establish the New Revolving Credit Commitment set forth on its signature page hereto pursuant to and in accordance with Section 2.24(a) of the Credit Agreement. [For Incremental Joinder establishing Swingline Commitment only: The New Revolving Credit Lender party hereto as Swingline Lender hereby agrees to establish the New Swingline Commitment in the amount set forth on its signature page hereto pursuant to and in accordance with Sections 2.22 and 2.24(a) of the Credit Agreement.] [For Incremental Joinder establishing L/C Commitments only: The New Revolving Credit Lender or other Person party hereto as an “Issuing Bank” hereby agrees to establish a New L/C Commitment in the amount set forth on its signature page hereto and to issue New Letters of Credit from time to time pursuant to and in accordance with Sections 2.23 and 2.24(a) of the Credit Agreement.]

(b) The [New Revolving Credit Lenders] [the Swingline Lender] [the Issuing Bank], the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent acknowledge and agree that the [New Revolving Credit Commitments and New Revolving Credit Loans] provided pursuant to this Incremental Joinder shall constitute [Revolving Credit Commitments and Revolving Credit Loans] for all purposes of the Credit Agreement and the other applicable


Loan Documents. The [New Revolving Credit Lenders] [Swingline Lender] [ Issuing Bank] party to this Incremental Joinder shall be subject to all of the terms in the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and shall be entitled to all the benefits afforded by the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and shall, without limiting the foregoing, benefit equally and ratably from the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and the security interests created by the Security Documents.

(c) The New Revolving Credit Lenders hereby agree to be responsible for their Pro Rata Percentage of all outstanding obligations under all New Letters of Credit from time to time issued under the Credit Agreement, including, without limitation, participations in outstanding New Letters of Credit. For the avoidance of doubt, the prior sentence shall be deemed, as necessary, to amend the Credit Agreement and to automatically effect assignments (without recourse or warranty) of outstanding obligations under New Letters of Credit and participations in outstanding New Letters of Credit, such that all Revolving Credit Lenders hold all outstanding obligations under New Letters of Credit and participations in outstanding New Letters of Credit in accordance with their Pro Rata Percentage after giving effect to this Incremental Joinder (and similarly hold any corresponding benefits or security).

(d) [The] [Each of the] New Revolving Credit Lender[, Swingline Lender] [and Issuing Bank] (i) confirms that it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with any other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Incremental Joinder and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement; (ii) agrees that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Credit Agreement; (iii) appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to take such action as agents on its behalf and to exercise such powers and discretion under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents as are delegated to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral 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 that by the terms of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

(e) Conditions Precedent. The obligations of the [New Revolving Credit Lenders] [Swingline Lender] to make [New Revolving Credit Loans] [New Swingline Loans] [and of the Issuing Bank to issue New Letters of Credit] are subject to the satisfaction (or waiver in accordance with Section 9.08 of the Credit Agreement) of the following conditions (collectively, the “Conditions Precedent”): (i) the execution of a


counterpart of this Incremental Joinder by the parties hereto; (ii) the delivery to the Administrative Agent of a fully executed counterpart (including by way of facsimile or other electronic transmission) hereof pursuant to which the Administrative Agent shall record such new commitments in the Register subject to the requirements set forth in Section 2.24 of the Credit Agreement; (iii) [each Borrower certifies that the representations and warranties set forth in Article III of the Credit Agreement and in each other Loan Document shall be true and correct (or true and correct in all material respects, in the case of any such representation or warranty that is not qualified as to materiality) on and as of the date hereof (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct (or true and correct in all material respects, in the case of any such representation or warranty that is not qualified as to materiality) as of such earlier date)];1 (iv) [no Event of Default shall exist on the date hereof before or after giving effect to the [New Revolving Credit Commitments] established hereunder and the Loans to be made thereunder on the date hereof and the application of the proceeds therefrom;]2 [(v) for New Revolving Credit Commitments only: the Borrower shall make any payments required pursuant to Section 2.16 of the Credit Agreement]; (vi) the Borrower shall be in pro forma compliance with the Financial Covenant after giving effect to the [New Revolving Credit Commitments] established hereunder and the Loans to be made thereunder on the date hereof and the application of proceeds therefrom; (vii) the Borrower has provided the Administrative Agent at least five Business Days’ notice in advance of the effectiveness of the [New Revolving Credit Commitments]3 and (viii) the Borrower has delivered or has caused to be delivered any other documents reasonably requested by Administrative Agent in connection with any such transaction.

Upon the satisfaction of the Conditions Precedent, each undersigned [New Revolving Credit Lender] [Swingline Lender] [Issuing Bank] shall have the [New Revolving Credit Commitment] [New Swingline Commitment] [New L/C Commitment] set forth on its signature page hereto, and such commitment[s] shall be effective as of the date set forth in the notice provided pursuant to clause (g) below.

 

1 

To be updated in the case of a provision of any New Revolving Credit Loan used to consummate a Permitted Acquisition or an Acquisition that is a Limited Condition Transaction.

2 

Condition to be omitted / amended in the case of a provision of any New Revolving Credit Loan in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or an Acquisition that is a Limited Condition Transaction.

3 

Administrative Agent to notify other Lenders of Increased Amount Date in accordance with Section 2.24(d) of the Credit Agreement.


(f) Representations and Warranties. Each Borrower hereby represents and warrants that:

(i) immediately after giving effect to the New Revolving Credit Commitments referenced herein, the aggregate amount of New Revolving Credit Commitments incurred pursuant to Section 2.24 on and prior to the date hereof, does not exceed (i) $100,000,000 in the aggregate for all Facility Increases and New Revolving Credit Commitments and (ii) individually not less than $20,000,000 (or any lesser amount that is approved by the Administrative Agent) and integral multiples of $5,000,000 in excess of that amount;

(ii) [the representations and warranties set forth in Article III of the Credit Agreement and in each other Loan Document are true and correct (or true and correct in all material respects, in the case of any such representation or warranty that is not qualified as to materiality) on and as of the date hereof (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties are true and correct (or true and correct in all material respects, in the case of any such representation or warranty that is not qualified as to materiality) as of such earlier date);]4

(iii) [as of the date hereof, no Default or Event of Default exists both before and after giving effect to the New Revolving Credit Commitments established hereunder and the Loans to be made thereunder on the date hereof (including the application of proceeds therefrom);]5

(iv) the Borrower is in pro forma compliance with the Financial Covenant after giving effect to the New Revolving Credit Commitments established hereunder and the Loans to be made thereunder on the date hereof and the application of proceeds therefrom; and

(v) the Administrative Agent has consented to the [New Revolving Credit Lender] party hereto in accordance with Section 2.24(a) of the Credit Agreement.

(g) Certain Terms.

(i) Interest Rate. The interest rate for the New Revolving Credit Loans shall be: [equal to the interest rate applicable to the Revolving Credit Loans under the Credit Agreement (as modified from time to time in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement)] OR [            %]6; and

 

4 

To be updated in the case of a provision of any New Revolving Credit Loan used to consummate a Permitted Acquisition or an Acquisition that is a Limited Condition Transaction.

5 

Representation to be omitted / amended in the case of a provision of any New Revolving Credit Loan in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or an Acquisition that is a Limited Condition Transaction.

6 

If the interest rate in respect of any New Revolving Credit Loans exceeds the Yield with respect to the Revolving Credit Loans and/or the previously incurred New Revolving Loans by more than 50 basis points, the interest rate with respect to the Revolving Credit Loans and previously incurred New Revolving Credit Loan shall be automatically increased on the Increased Amount Date with respect to such New Revolving Credit Loan so that the Yield for the Revolving Credit Loan and/or the previously incurred New Revolving Credit Loan is equal to the Yield with respect to such New Revolving Credit Loan minus 50 basis points; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to any New Revolving Credit Loan with a final maturity date that occurs 24 months after the Revolving Credit Maturity Date or later.


(ii) Maturity Date. The Revolving Credit Maturity Date applicable to the New Revolving Credit Loans established hereunder shall be: [the same as the Revolving Credit Maturity Date applicable to the Revolving Credit Loans under the Credit Agreement (as modified from time to time in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement)] OR [                , 20    ].7

(h) After the execution and delivery to the Administrative Agent of a fully executed copy of this Incremental Joinder (including by way of facsimile or other electronic transmission) by the parties hereto, this Incremental Joinder may only be changed, modified or varied by written instrument in accordance with the requirements for the modification of Loan Documents pursuant to Section 9.08(b) of the Credit Agreement.

(i) This Incremental Joinder shall be deemed a Loan Document under the Credit Agreement.

(j) This Incremental Joinder may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract, and shall become effective as provided in Section 9.03 of the Credit Agreement. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Incremental Joinder by facsimile transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Incremental Joinder.

(k) THIS INCREMENTAL JOINDER SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

7 

The final maturity date of any New Revolving Credit Loan shall be no earlier than the Revolving Credit Maturity Date.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Incremental Joinder to be duly executed on the date first above written.

 

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT COMPANY
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHERS INC.
HMH PUBLISHERS LLC
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY
By:    
Name:  
Title:  

Signature Page to Incremental Facility Joinder Agreement


[________], as a New Revolving Credit Lender [and as Swingline Lender] [and as Issuing Bank]
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

 

New Revolving Credit Commitment:
[New Swingline Commitment:]
[New L/C Commitment:]
Notice Address:  
Attention:  
Email:  
Telephone:  
Facsimile:  

Signature Page to Incremental Facility Joinder Agreement


CITIBANK, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent
By:    
Name:  
Title:  

Signature Page to Incremental Facility Joinder Agreement


Exhibit I-1

Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

(For Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is made to the Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement), among Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers Inc., HMH Publishers LLC, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company (collectively, the Borrowers), the financial institutions from time to time parties thereto (the Lenders), the entities listed as subsidiary guarantors thereto, and Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the Administrative Agent) for the Lenders and Citibank, N.A. as Collateral Agent for the Lenders.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.20 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the Loans in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a ten percent shareholder of any of the Borrowers within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to any of the Borrowers as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF LENDER]
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
Date: __________ __, 20[    ]


Exhibit I-2

Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

(For Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is made to the Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers Inc., HMH Publishers LLC, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company (collectively, the “Borrowers”), the financial institutions from time to time parties thereto (the “Lenders”), the entities listed as subsidiary guarantors thereto, and Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”) for the Lenders and Citibank, N.A. as Collateral Agent for the Lenders.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.20 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the participation in the Loans in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a ten percent shareholder of any of the Borrowers within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code, and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to any of the Borrowers as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

The undersigned has furnished its participating Lenders with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lenders in writing, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lenders with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

Date:                  , 20[  ]


Exhibit I-3

Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

(For Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is made to the Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers Inc., HMH Publishers LLC, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company (collectively, the “Borrowers”), the financial institutions from time to time parties thereto (the “Lenders”), the entities listed as subsidiary guarantors thereto, and Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”) for the Lenders and Citibank, N.A. as Collateral Agent for the Lenders.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.20 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the participation in the Loans in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such participation, (iii) with respect such participation, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of any of the Borrowers within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to any of the Borrowers as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

The undersigned has furnished its participating Lenders with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN, (ii) an IRS Form W-8BEN-E or (iii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lenders and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lenders with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

Date:                  , 20[  ]


Exhibit I-4

Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

(For Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is made to the Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers Inc., HMH Publishers LLC, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company (collectively, the “Borrowers”), the financial institutions from time to time parties thereto (the “Lenders”), the entities listed as subsidiary guarantors thereto, and Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”) for the Lenders and Citibank, N.A. as Collateral Agent for the Lenders.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.20 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the Loans in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such Loans, (iii) with respect to the extension of credit pursuant to this Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of any of the Borrowers within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to any of the Borrowers as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN, (ii) IRS Form W-8BEN-E or (iii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF LENDER]

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

Date:                  , 20[  ]


Exhibit J

BORROWING BASE CERTIFICATE

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHERS INC.

Borrowing Base Certificate

Period ending __/__/__

Citibank, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent under the Credit Agreement referred to below

[388 Greenwich St, 1st Floor

New York, NY 10013

Att: SPAG Administration

Email: cts.spag@citi.com]

Pursuant to, and in accordance with, the terms and provisions of that certain Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT COMPANY, a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (“Holdings”), HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHERS INC., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (“Borrowing Agent”), HMH PUBLISHERS LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (“Publishers”), HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY, a corporation organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (“HMCo”, and, together with the Borrowing Agent and Publishers and together with any of their successors pursuant to the Approved Plan of Reorganization, collectively, the “Borrowers”), the subsidiaries of Holdings from time to time party hereto and Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”) and as collateral agent, the Borrowing Agent is executing and delivering to the Administrative Agent this Borrowing Base Certificate accompanied by the calculation of the Borrowing Base attached as Schedule I as the Administrative Agent has requested in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement (collectively referred to as the “Certificate”). The Borrowing Agent represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent that (i) this Certificate is true and correct in all material respects, (ii) this Certificate is based on information contained in the Borrowing Agent’s own financial accounting records and (iii) the amounts set forth in this Certificate are determined in accordance with the Credit Agreement.

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]


HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHERS INC.,

as Borrowing Agent

By:    
  Name:
  Title: Responsible Officer


Exhibit K

FORM OF

SOLVENCY CERTIFICATE

[DATE]

This Solvency Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 4.01(f) of the Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of November 22, 2019, among Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers Inc., HMH Publishers LLC, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, the entities listed on the signature pages thereto as subsidiary guarantors, the Lenders party thereto, Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent for the Lenders, and Citibank, N.A. as Collateral Agent for the Lenders (the “Credit Agreement”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

The undersigned hereby certifies, solely in his capacity as an officer of Holdings and not in his individual capacity, as follows:

1. I am the [Chief Financial Officer] of Holdings. I am familiar with the Transactions, and have reviewed the Credit Agreement, the most recent financial statements of Holdings and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries and such documents and made such investigation as I have deemed relevant for the purposes of this Solvency Certificate.

2. As of the date hereof, immediately after giving effect to the consummation of the Transactions, on and as of such date (i) the fair value of the assets of Holdings and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, at a fair valuation, will exceed the debts and liabilities, direct, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, of Holdings and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis; (ii) the present fair saleable value of the property of Holdings and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis will be greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of Holdings and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis on their debts and other liabilities, direct, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured; (iii) Holdings and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis will be able to pay their debts and liabilities, direct, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured; and (iv) Holdings and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis will not have unreasonably small capital with which to conduct the businesses in which they are engaged as such businesses are now conducted and are proposed to be conducted following the Closing Date.

3. As of the date hereof, immediately after giving effect to the consummation of the Transactions, Holdings does not intend to, and Holdings does not believe that it or any of its subsidiaries will, incur debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature, taking into account the timing and amounts of cash to be received by it or any such subsidiary and the timing and amounts of cash to be payable on or in respect of its debts or the debts of any such subsidiary.


This Solvency Certificate is being delivered by the undersigned officer only in his capacity as [Chief Financial Officer] of Holdings and not individually and the undersigned shall have no personal liability to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders with respect thereto.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Solvency Certificate on the date first written above.

 

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT COMPANY

By:

   
 

Name:

 

Title:   [Chief Financial Officer]